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Fraction and Unit of Measure Conversion
Fraction and Unit of Measure Conversion
The Expert Configurator has the capability to call the ECFRAC program in addition to other MAC-PAC provided programs, which are discussed in this section.
The ECFRAC program
· converts alphanumeric measurements to their numeric equivalents
· converts fractions to decimals
· performs unit of measure conversion
This capability allows you to enter measurements and specifications that contain fractions and up to two unit of measure characters, which are then converted to a standard numeric/decimal format for use in mathematical calculations. The following table includes examples of conversions to numeric/decimal format:
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5 ft 6 1/2 in
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66.5 (inches)
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5 ft 6 1/2 in
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166.25 (centimeters)
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5 ft 6.5 in
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66.5 (inches)
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5 1/2 ft
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66 (inches)
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6 1/2in
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0.54 (feet)
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Inputs for the ECFRAC program are alphanumeric measurements you enter on Expert Configurator Option screens and conversion types you define on Reference File category I67.
Alphanumeric measurements should be entered in the following format:
(value 1) space(s) (numerator 1/denominator 1) space(s) (unit of measure character 1) space(s) (value 2) space(s) (numerator 2/denominator 2) space(s) (unit of measure character 2)
Note: There can be one or more spaces between values, fractions, and unit of measure characters, and information for value 2 can precede information for value 1.
Reference File category I67 Setup
Conversion types enable the ECFRAC program to perform unit of measure conversion. Information you define on Reference File category I67 for conversion types includes:
· Unit of measure character 1
· Unit of measure character 2
· Convert-to unit of measure
· Numerator 1
· Denominator 1
· Numerator 2
· Denominator 2
To convert fractions to decimals, Reference File category I67 should be set up with a blank key and the following values:
WILLIALMS COMMON FEATURES 3/04/96
DSP01 REFERENCE FILE CATEGORY I67 CHANGE
Category Name EC CONVERSION TYPES
CONVERSION TYPE
Category Key
Unit of Measure(1) Unit of Measure(2)
Data
XX XX
Convert-To-UOM Conv. Numerator(1) Conv. Denominator(1)
Data 00001 00001
XX NNNNN NNNNN
Conv. Numerator(2) Conv. Denominator(2)
Data 00001 00001
NNNNN NNNNN
F2=Command F3=Exit F9=Inquiry F10=Function Select
F12=Lower Case F15=Rekey Data
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Conversion Type Definition. Fraction-to-Decimal Conversions.
In addition to the blank key, Reference File category I67 can also be set up with specific key values that represent conversion types. These conversion types are used to specify conversions between units of measure. To setup Reference File category I67, the following information should be specified:
WILLIAMS COMMON FEATURES 3/04/96
DPS01 REFERENCE FILE CATEGORY I67 CHANGE
Category Name EC CONVERSION TYPES
CONVERSION TYPE
Category Key 01
Unit of Measure(1) Unit of Measure(2)
Data FT IN
XX XX
Convert-To-UOM Conv. Numerator(1) Conv. Denominator(1)
Data FT 00001 00001
XX NNNNN NNNNN
Conv. Numerator(2) Conv. Denominator(2)
Data 00001 00012
NNNNN NNNNN
F2=Command F3=Exit F9=Inquiry F10=Function Select
F12=Lower Case F15=Rekey Data
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Conversion Type Definition. Unit of Measure Conversion.
This sample illustrates the setup of Reference File category I67 to convert values in inches to feet.
Note If an error occurs during processing, the ECFRAC program will pass a numeric value containing all 9s back to the Expert Configurator.
Additional ECFRAC Setup
In order to use ECFRAC, a Component Parameter Rule must pass from the option value. If you are converting from one unit of measure to another then the I67 value must be passed in a second component Parameter Rule.
In addition to Reference File category I67, use the following items to set up the ECFRAC conversions:
1. Set up an alphanumeric field on your Screen Generation rule, such as LENGTH. This field will be used to enter the original value.
2. Set up a Create Parameter rule to pass the value from the option to ECFRAC by putting the option you want passed, such as O-Length, in the Parameter Value.
3. Set up a second Create Parameter rule to pass the conversion type to ECFRAC. If you wanted to use conversion type 01 from Reference File category I67 you would enter "01" as the Parameter Value.
4. Set up a Modify Option (or Secondary Variable) rule to retrieve the decimal value from ECFRAC. To do this, specify the option you want modified in the Option to be Modified field and P-ECFRAC in the New Value field.
Since the option you originally modified was an alphanumeric option, the value that is retrieved will not show any decimal places, so the value will be shown as a string of numbers in other Screen Generation rules. If you want the value to be entered as a fraction on the first Screen Generation, and then, after ECFRAC was called, display the options entered by the users showing the decimal value, set up a new option in the Modify Option rule, such as DECLENGTH. Then, on the next Screen Generation that displays the value, define DECLENGTH as a numeric value and display it instead of LENGTH, which is defined as an alphanumeric value. Setting it up this way will also allow you to have both the originally entered value, such as 5' 6 1/2" in LENGTH, and the retrieved value, such as 5.5416 in DECLENGTH, in EC200M.
MAC-PAC Provided Programs
MAC-PAC provided programs are included on the system to handle common tasks required during Expert Configuration processing. These programs can be used with Program Variables, external program calls from Screen Generation Rules, and External Program Rules for Sales Force Automation.
ECCLSP
This program converts a calendar date into a shop date. This version of this function assumes that Saturday and Sunday are non-working days. On the host, this program uses the shop date file (CT140M) to determine the exact date.
ECSPCL
This program converts a shop date into a calendar date. This version of this function assumes that Saturday and Sunday are non-working days. On the host, this program uses the shop date file (CT140M) to determine the exact date.
ECDOCF
This program writes a new document format for use in the interfaces to the document generation system.
ECDOCP
This program writes a new parameter (defined by the customer). This parameter will appear in a section called Other.
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