Batch Mode vs. Online Update Mode

Because setting up product structures for a large number of parts can take a long time, you can choose to maintain the Product Structure File in batch mode rather than online.  In batch mode, you can enter information for a large number of product structures at one time; the file does not get updated with that information until a batch job is run (usually at the end of processing for the day).  Because the system does not process the data when you enter it, you can type the information more quickly.  However, the information will not appear in inquiries or reports until after the batch job is run.  During the batch update process, a report is created listing all transactions that contained invalid data.  In online update mode, each screen of information is validated when it is entered.  When a screen is valid, the file is updated with the information.  Information entered online is available immediately for inquiries and reports. 

In general, you will use batch mode when you first set up MAC-PAC.  To use batch entry, you select the Alternative Maintenance Mode option on the Design Engineering Menu, then select the highlighted Product Structure Data Entry option.  Note that you cannot use the multi-line conversation in batch mode; each parent/component relationship is entered in a separate transaction.