Credit Task Refresh

Menu Path: Credit and Collections Images\bluerarw.gif Credit Check Processing Images\bluerarw.gif Credit Task Refresh

Purpose

Create or update credit tasks.

Overview

Use Credit Task Refresh to create and/or update credit tasks that appear in Credit Task Management, as well as other date-specific updates. Credit Task Refresh should be run for all customers during off-hours (e.g., 1 AM each morning) using Scheduling Assistant.

Images\warning.gif Use the database server as Scheduling Assistant to complete the refresh process quickly.

Credit Task Creation and Closing

This program is unbundled into several processing sections:

The Creation and/or Closing sections of this program are also executed in the background for specific customers in certain programs (see table below). This helps to keep Credit Task Management up-to-date dynamically throughout the day, rather than having to wait until the next day for updated information.

The following table lists programs that create or close each type of credit task.

 

Credit Task Refresh

Credit Checking

Customer Credit Rule Maintenance

Batch Credit and Collection Task Refresh

Credit Task Management

Credit Hold

Close

Create

Create/Close

Close

 

Review Date

Create

 

Create

 

Close

Credit Alert

Create/Close

 

Create/Close

Create/Close

 

Over Limit

Close

Create

Create/Close

Create/Close

 

Processing Performed

The following table lists the processing performed when you refresh credit tasks.

Refresh Process

Description

Creates review date credit tasks

Review dates are defined for credit customers on the Credit Dates tab in Customer Credit Rule Maintenance. A credit task is created for every review date as it occurs.

Example 6/30/20 is entered in the Next Credit Review Date field for Customer A. If Credit Task Refresh is run on 6/30/20, a credit task is created. If Credit Task Refresh is not run on 6/30/20, but is run on 7/2/20, a credit task is still created. If a credit task has been created already for the entered review date, and is not yet closed, another credit task is not created.

Note If a review date credit task is closed, update the review date to a future date so that another credit task is created at some time in the future.

Creates credit alert credit tasks

Credit alerts are defined for credit customers on the Credit Alert tab in Customer Credit Rule Maintenance. A credit task is created for a credit customer if a payment statistic falls outside of the range of the credit alert triggers setup.

Note The Use Credit Alerts check box must be selected for the customer (or the customer's default credit group or credit division) for credit alert credit tasks to be created.

Implements future credit rules

Certain credit rules can be set up in Customer Credit Rule Maintenance with future effectivity dates. When that future date arrives, the changes are made. These credit rules include:

  • Minimum Credit Score

  • Actual Credit Score

  • Credit Limit

  • Credit Limit Overage %

  • Credit Insurance

 

Note The software searches the Credit Changes table to determine what changes have not yet been completed (update-completed in ar-credit-changes).

Attempts to release credit hold tasks

The software looks at all credit hold tasks to evaluate whether the related sales orders can be released from credit hold based on current credit rules.

Attempts to release over limit tasks

The software looks at all credit hold tasks to evaluate whether the related sales orders can be released from credit hold based on current credit rules, and if released, whether a related over limit task can be closed.

Determines if future orders can be credit checked

Future orders marked as pending credit check are re-evaluated to determine if they are now within the time frame to be credit checked. If the order’s required date minus the future credit check days is less than or equal to today’s date, then credit checking is performed on the sales order.

Example A sales order’s required date is 6/30/20. The future credit check days is 5. The credit check will be performed on or after 6/25/20.

Ribbon Home Tab Buttons

Button

Description

Exit

Click this button to close the Credit Task Refresh window.

Print

Click this button to refresh credit tasks for the selected range of credit customers.

Select Tab Fields and Buttons

Field or Button

Description

All Customer Names

Select this check box to refresh credit tasks for all credit customer names. This check box is selected by default.

From (Customer Name)

Enter the first customer name in a range of credit customers for which to refresh credit tasks, or click the Lookup button to select a customer name. This field is only enabled if you clear the All Customer Names check box.

To (Customer Name)

Enter the last customer name in a range of credit customers for which to refresh credit tasks, or click the Lookup button to select a customer name. This field is only enabled if you clear the All Customer Names check box.

All Customer Codes

Select this check box to refresh credit tasks for all credit customer codes. This check box is selected by default.

From (Customer Code)

Enter the first customer code in a range of credit customers for which to refresh credit tasks, or click the Lookup button to select a customer code. This field is only enabled if you clear the All Customer Codes check box.

To (Customer Code)

Enter the last customer code in a range of credit customers for which to refresh credit tasks, or click the Lookup button to select a customer code. This field is only enabled if you clear the All Customer Codes check box.

Print Options Tab Fields and Buttons

Field or Button

Description

Output Option

Select one of the following output options:

  • Screen - Output to a PDF so you can immediately view the report. If you select this option, you cannot output using Scheduling Assistant.

  • File - Output to a PDF, Excel, Access, or delimited file to be stored for later use. If you select this option, specify the file type and either the output folder or file name.

  • Printer - Output to a selected printer. If you select this option, specify a printer in the Printer field and the number of copies to print in the Number of Copies field.

  • Email - Output to your default email application. If you select this option, you are prompted to select recipients for the email, then an email is created with the report attached as a PDF file.

  • Excel - Output directly to Excel. You can specify the location of the Excel application in the Spreadsheet File field in User Profile Maintenance. If you output to Excel, the report may include additional information. If you select this option and select to output to Scheduling Assistant, you are prompted to select recipients for an email, and Scheduling Assistant sends an email with the report attached as an Excel file.

Save Report File

Select this check box to save the Crystal Reports report (.rpt) file for the report to the folder entered in the Report Working Directory field for your user ID in User Profile Maintenance. You can use the report file to customize the report. For more information, see Crystal Reports FAQ. This check box is only available if you select the Screen radio button.

Save Access Database File

Select this check box to save the Access database (.mdb) file for the report to the folder entered in the Report Working Directory field for your user ID in User Profile Maintenance. You can use the Access database file to customize the report. For more information, see Crystal Reports FAQ. This check box is only available if you select the Screen radio button.

Output File Type

Select whether to output to a PDF, Excel, Access, or delimited (CSV, DAT, or TXT) file. These radio buttons are only available if you select the File radio button.

Specify File Name

Select this check box to specify the file name of the output report. This check box is only available if you select the File radio button.

Output Directory

Enter the location for the output report, or click the Lookup button to navigate to and select a location. This field is only available if the Specify File Name check box is cleared.

Output File Name

Enter a location and file name for the output report, or click the Lookup button to navigate to and select a location and file name. The file extension of the file name should match the selected output file type. This field is only available if you select the Specify File Name check box.

Excel Format Name

Enter an Excel format name, or click the Lookup button to select an Excel format name. Excel formats can be set up to specify which fields are output to Excel, and the order and sort order of the fields. This field is only available if you select the Excel radio button.

Format Maintenance

Click this button to display Excel Format Maintenance, which allows you to set up Excel formats. This button is only available if you select the Excel radio button.

Save As Type

Click the Lookup button to select whether to save the delimited file as a CSV, DAT, or TXT file. This field is only available if you select the Delimited radio button, and only enabled if the Specify File Name check box is cleared.

Include header

Select this check box to include a row of header information in the exported delimited file, which labels the data. This check box is only available if you select the Delimited radio button.

Delimiter

Enter a comma (,), caret (^), or vertical bar (|) as a delimiter for the exported delimited file. This field is only available if you select the Delimited radio button.

Enclosing Character

If you want to use single or double quotation marks around data exported to a delimited file, enter ' or " in this field. Even if this field is left blank, text fields that have commas or carriage returns are enclosed in quotes. This field is only available if you select the Delimited radio button.

Printer

Click the Lookup button to select a printer. This field is only available if you select the Printer radio button.

Subject

Enter a subject for the report email. This field is only available if you select the Email radio button. If you leave this field blank, the subject is the report title.

Report File Prefix

Enter a prefix for the report file name. This field is only available if you select the Email radio button.

Add Additional Comments

Select this check box if you want to include additional comments with the emailed report. If you select this check box, the Additional Comments window appears after you click the Print button in the ribbon, and allows you to enter the comments. This check box is only available if you select the Email radio button.

Print Full Heading on All Pages

Select this check box to include the entire heading from the first page of the report on all pages of the report. This check box is cleared by default, and only enabled if you select the Screen, File, Printer, or Email radio button.

Print Title Line on All Pages

Select this check box to include the report title, page number, and printed date/time on all pages of the report. This check box is selected by default and only enabled if you select the Screen, File, Printer, or Email radio button, and if the Print Full Heading on All Pages check box is cleared.

Report Language 1

Enter the first language for the report, or click the Lookup button to select a language.

Report Language 2

Enter the second language for the report, or click the Lookup button to select a language. If you enter a language in this field, the report is printed in this language and the language entered in the Report Language 1 field.

Horizontal Shading

Select this check box to include horizontal shading on alternate lines of the report to make it easier to read report data. This check box is cleared by default, and is only enabled if you select the Screen, File, Printer, or Email radio button.

Collate

Select this check box to collate the printed copies of the report (if you are printing multiple copies of the report). This check box is cleared by default, and is only enabled if you select the Printer radio button and enter a value greater than 1 in the Number of Copies field.

Example You are printing five copies of a 20 page report to distribute to five different people. Leave this check box selected, so that pages 1-20 of the first copy prints, then pages 1-20 of the second copy, etc. If you clear this check box, five copies of page 1 prints, then five copies of page 2, etc.

Horizontal Shading Color

Click the Lookup button to select the color of horizontal shading on the report. This Lookup button is only enabled if you select the Horizontal Shading check box.

Number of Copies

Enter the number of copies of the report to print. This field is only enabled if you select the Printer radio button.

Process

Select whether the task is run now or run by Scheduling Assistant. If you select the Schedule radio button, you can specify when the task occurs, and optionally set up an alert to be created when the task completes. These radio buttons are only enabled if the Disable Scheduling Assistant check box is cleared for your user ID in User Profile Maintenance.

Note If you select the Schedule radio button, you cannot output to the screen.

Time

Enter the time to output or process, and select AM or PM.

These fields are only enabled if the Schedule radio button is selected, and only available if the Once or Every radio button is selected.

Date

Enter the date (or first date) to output or process. This field is only enabled if the Schedule radio button is selected, and only available if the Once or Every radio button is selected.

Task Occurs

Select one of the following options:

  • Once - Output or process at a specified date and time.

  • Every - Output or process on a recurring basis. You can select to output/process at a specific time:

    • every week on specified days

    • after a specified number of days

    • on the first or last day of each month

    • after a specified number of minutes

  • After - Output/process after a specified task is completed.

These radio buttons are only enabled if you select the Schedule radio button.

Frequency

Select one of the following:

  • Day of Week - Output or process every week on the selected days.

  • Days - Output or process after a specified number of days, starting on a specified date.

  • Month - Output or process on the first or last day of each month, starting on a specified date.

  • Time - Output or process after a specified number of minutes, starting on a specified date.

These radio buttons are only available if you select the Every radio button.

Day of Week

Select the day(s) of the week to output or process.

These check boxes are only enabled if you select the Schedule radio button, and select the Every and Day of Week radio buttons.

Repeat Every X Days

Enter a number of days after which to output or process. This field is only available if you select the Days radio button.

Repeat On

Click the Lookup button and select whether to output or process on the first or last day of the month. This field is only available if you select the Month radio button.

Repeat Every X Minutes

Enter a number of minutes after which to output or process. This field is only available if you select the Time radio button.

Triggering Task Id

Click the Lookup button to select a task ID that will trigger the task. This field is only available if the After radio button is selected.

Triggering Task Name

This field displays the name of the triggering task. This field is only available if the After radio button is selected.

Triggering Task Description

This field displays the description of the triggering task. This field is only available if the After radio button is selected.

Task Description

Enter a description of the task. This can help users understand the purpose of a recurring task.

Scheduling Assistant Queue

Enter an active Scheduling Assistant queue for the task, or click the Lookup button to select a Scheduling Assistant queue. This defaults to the default queue for your user ID. This field is only enabled if you select the Schedule radio button, and you are assigned to a queue other than the Default queue.

External Email

Select this check box to send an email (outside of Apprise, using SMTP) when the task is completed.

Screen Alert

Select this check box to display an alert when the task is completed.

Internal Email

Select this check box to send an internal Apprise email when the task is completed.

Report Files

This grid displays report files set up for the report, and is only available if report files are set up for the program in Report File Maintenance. This grid includes the following columns:

  • Print - Select the check box in this column to output the report file.

  • Number of Copies - Enter the number of copies of the report file to print. This column is only available if you select the Printer radio button.

  • Report Description - This column displays the description of each report file.

  • Report Filename - This column displays the .rpt file name for each report file.

  • Report Name - This column displays the name of each report file.