Related topics
This program is used to define the manner in which data, that has been received by the DC1 Alert Management system, may be interpreted and logically arranged to be understood. The contents is received in the form of a data string with the details therein being determined by what the event type is, as configured in Work with event types.
Since the data arrives in this string of characters and figures (of up to 512 character spaces), the system needs to understand in what order the information is being sent. An unpacking program therefore needs to be run. Via this panel, you are able to establish various methods through which this can be done.
| Method | Details |
|---|---|
| *FIXED | The most common of the methods used. In these cases, the string of data is sent in a format where each field is allocated a specific number of positions (or character spaces) within the string. The system is able to recognise, for instance, that the Order number field’s data is to be found between positions 36 and 47. |
| *CHRSEPRTR | Differing slightly from the method *FIXED, this method makes use of a separator (usually a symbol such as “#”,”ยค” or “;”) to distinguish where a parameter field begins and ends. In this way, the length of each parameter is not taken into account; the length of a parameter is determined by the unpacking program encountering a new separator.
Note: The character or symbol that is used as a separator must be one that is not already used in the string of data. The use of “-“, for example, is not permitted, as a dash is often used in Item numbers and will result in the system translating this to mean that a new parameter value has been detected. |
| *FIELDNAME | The parameters that are used for an event type are configured in Work with event types, with each parameter being allocated a name. For instance, ORNO depicts order number. This method makes use of these names in the data string, with the field value for each being listed thereafter. With the above example, the string might contain ORNO=50060, indicating that the Order number field was 50060. |
| *PARMNUMBR | In this method the data string is sent in the form of a list of parameter numbers. It is configured in such a way that the system will understand that if part of the string were to read, for instance, as PARM01=600987, that the order number would be 600987. This is since PARM01 would be set to include the details of the Order number field. |
Options
Selection fields
- Method
- This column lists all the methods that have been configured according to their name.
- Description
- This column lists the descriptions of the methods that have already been configured.
Work with unpack methods (EDSD02904)
On this panel you configure and maintain the details of the unpack methods.
Function keys
- Unpack method
- Enter a name to identify the new method that you are creating. For existing records, this field cannot be changed.
- Description
- Enter a description of the method that you are creating.
- Unpack program
- Enter a program name that will be used by the system, in order to unpack the information received. Each method makes use of a specific program, with the preloaded methods utilising the following:
Program Description EDSR025 *CHRSEPRTR EDSR026 *FIELDNAME EDSR027 *PARMNUMBR The preloaded methods should not be changed.
The *FIXED method does not require an unpack program due to the fact that the fixed positioning values in the data string suffice in distinguishing the various information. Note: If a new method is created, then it will be necessary for a new unpack program to be written. In such cases, you should contact your System Administrator.
- Field separator
- Enter the symbol that you want to make use of, that will separate the information in the data string.
Note: Except for the *FIXED method, a field separator must always be used, even for the *CHRSEPRTR method. In addition, the last parameter must also end with a field separator. The character or symbol that is used as a separator must be one that is not already used in the string of data. The use of “-“, for example, is not permitted, as a dash is often used in item numbers and will result in the system translating this to mean that a new parameter string has been detected.
The *FIXED method does not require a field separator, due to the fact that the fixed positioning values in the data string suffice in distinguishing the various information.
- Date format template
- Since dates can be written in varying formats, enter the format that you want the system to interpret dates by. The following symbols are used to represent the different parts of the date:
Symbol Represents cc Century yy Year mm Month dd Day of month For example:
If you want the date 13 March 2011 to be represented as 13032011, then the format will read ddmmccyy. Alternatively, if you want this to be represented as 03/13/11, enter mm/dd/yy. If you want sections of the date to be distinguished by a separator in the date (such as “/”), then this must also be entered.
Work with unpack methods, Copy (EDSD02905)
- Method
- Displays the name of the method you selected to copy.
- New method
- Enter the name of the new method that you are creating.