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Fast Path And Mnemonic Codes
Fast Path And Mnemonic Codes
The Menu Authorization utility maintains three types of fast path functions: mnemonic codes, fast path codes, and fast path for command keys. A fast path is a method of selecting options without using menus by entering a specific code on the command line to execute an option. The paths or maps necessary to perform these functions are maintained on the Menu Fast Path File (CT135M). Each option defined in the system contains a fast path map in this file. When a mnemonic or fast path code is selected on a command line, or a command key is pressed, the Menu Fast Path File is accessed to determine the necessary path of options that need to be executed to reach the desired option or menu.
Mnemonic codes are short, easy to remember codes defined for a specific option in the Option Maintenance Conversation. See the Options section of this overview for more information on defining mnemonic codes. If you enter a mnemonic code on a command line, the fast path associated with the option is retrieved from the Menu Fast Path File to execute the option.
For example, the mnemonic code associated with the option to display the Customer Service Rep. Menu is CSMENU. Assume this code is entered on the command line of the Accounts Receivable Menu, see the figure below.
Accounts Receivable Menu
Select one of the following:
Invoice Processing Inquiry Processing
1. Invoice and DR/CR Memo Entry 10. Account Master Inquiry
2. Invoice, DR/CR Memo Roster Sel
3. Batch Open Item Post Confirm Credit Management Function
11. Credit Mgt Report Selection
Payment Processing 12. Dunning Processing and Letters
4. Payment Entry and Application 13. Dunning Reports
5. Payment Register Selection 14. Calculate Avg Days Late/Pay
6. Corp/Multi-Cust Payment Entry 15. Expected Payments
7. Batch Payment Entry Confirm
Accounting Function
Inquiry Processing 16. Period-to-Date Acctg Reports
8. Accounts Receivable Inquiry 17. End-of-Period Acctg Reports
9. Currency Rate Inquiry 18. VAT History Report +
Selection or command
===> CSMENU
F3=Exit F4=Prompt F9=Retrieve F15=Mnemonic List
F19=Mnemonic Dsp
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The Accounts Receivable Menu with the Mnemonic Code for the New Customer
Service Representative Menu Entered on the Command Line.
When the Enter key is pressed, the fast path for the customer service menu is retrieved from the Menu Fast Path File and executed. The next screen displayed is the Customer Service Rep. Menu, see the figure below.
Customer Service Rep. Menu
Select one of the following:
Customer Other Options
01. Customer Master Maintenance 89. Return
02. Customer Master Inquiry 90. Signoff
Account Balance
03. Accounts Receivable Inquiry
Availability
04. Lot Availability Inquiry
Order Processing
05. Order Processing
Selection or command
===>
F3=Exit F4=Prompt F15=Mnemonic List F19=Mnemonic Dsp
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The Customer Service Representative Menu.
Fast path codes also execute an option, but they are entered differently on a command line. To use a fast path code, you enter a series of user option numbers, separated by commas. The first number entered is read as a user option number (the number displayed on the screen next to an option description) from the user's initial menu. Each number after that corresponds to a user option number on the next menu level. The path needed to reach each of these options is retrieved from the Menu Fast Path File, beginning with the option on the initial menu.
For example, assume you want to access the Accounts Receivable Inquiry Conversation off the Customer Service Rep. Menu, and your initial menu is the system menu shown in the figure below.
System Application Menu
Select one of the following:
Common Functions Manufacturing
1. Design Engineering 12. Shop Floor Control
13. Capacity Planning
Manufacturing 14. Inventory Accounting
2. Manufacturing Engineering 15. Just-In-Time
3. Bill of Documents 16. CONBON
4. Job Control 17. Manufacturing Inquiry
5. Job Costing
6. Product Costing Distribution
7. Material Planning 18. Customer Service Rep.
8. Material Control 19. Synchro
9. Inventory Analysis 20. Sales Analysis
10. Master Scheduling 21. Purchasing
11. Requirements Planning 22. Transfer Control +
Selection or command
===>
F3=Exit F4=Prompt F15=Mnemonic List F19=Mnemonic Dsp
Copyright 1991, Andersen Consulting. All rights reserved. Patent pending.
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The System Application Menu.
The customer service menu is accessed from the initial menu as shown, with user option number 18; therefore, the first number in the fast path would be 18 since fast path codes are decoded beginning with the initial menu. To enter a fast path code to access this option, you would enter 18 as the first number in your fast path.
The second number would be the user option number for Accounts Receivable Inquiry on the customer service menu. As seen in Figure 25, this number is 3, making the second number entered in the fast path a 3. The entire fast path code can be entered on any command line and would be entered as 18,3 (with no spaces) to access the Accounts Receivable Inquiry Conversation. See the figure below for an example of this fast path entered from the System Processing Menu.
SYSTEM PROCESSING MENU
Select one of the following:
System Processing Other Options
1. All Pending Operations 90. Signoff
2. Pending Operations By Module
3. File Support
4. File Compatibility Check
5. System Support
6. Menu Authorization
7. Recovery Management
8. Initiate/Cancel Monitors
9. Help Facility
Other Options
88. Work With Spooled Files
89. Return
Selection or command
===> 18,3
F3=Exit F4=Prompt F9=Retrieve
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The System Processing Menu with a Fast Path Code Entered on the
Command Line.
When the Enter key is pressed from the screen shown in Figure 27, the fast path code is processed, and the Accounts Receivable Inquiry Function Select Screen is displayed as shown in figure below.
WILLIAMS ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE INQUIRY 9/10/92
DSP01 SELECTION
Co Loc
Customer
Document Type
Acct Date
Currency Code
Company/Location
Document/Payment
F2=Command F3=Exit F4=Prompt
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The Accounts Receivable Inquiry Function Select Screen.
By using a fast path code, you may bypass the normal routine of exiting each menu level in order to access a new conversation from your initial menu.
Fast path codes are defined on the Menu Fast File (CT135M), and are generated for user option numbers by selecting Fast Path Generation from the Menu Authorization Menu. This conversation prompts you to submit a batch job that creates fast paths for user options. These fast paths are, essentially, maps of options that need to be followed to access a particular conversation or menu. In the example, the Menu Authorization utility determined the proper "map" for the fast path entered on the System Processing Menu for the user and "followed" that map to reach the Accounts Receivable Inquiry Conversation.
For reasons of data integrity, some programs must be ended before calling another program (such as an inquiry calling a maintenance program). To create a direct link between such programs, fast paths can be created to allow command keys to directly call a program by defining mnemonic codes for the program in the Fast Path Maintenance Conversation. This conversation prompts you for the name of a program for which you wish to create a mnemonic and writes it to the Fast Path Control File (CT130M). The mnemonic code is used to determine the path of options to be followed on the Menu Fast Path File (CT135M) when the command key is pressed to access the program. When such a command key is pressed, processing of the current conversation is ended, the menu authorization utility retrieves the mnemonic associated with the called program, and executes the fast path for the new conversation.
Command key fast path is often found in inquiry conversations to allow you to enter the associated maintenance conversation. For example, in the Sales Order Inquiry Conversation, you may perform maintenance by pressing F9 and entering the Sales Order Maintenance Conversation, see the figure below.
WILLIAMS SALES ORDER INQUIRY 9/10/92
DSP01 SELECT
Selected Order
Order Number
Line Number
Orders By Customer
Customer Co Loc
PO Number
Company/Warehouse
Order Type
Order Status
Hold Code
Orders By Part
Part Number
Configuration Code
Customer Co Loc
Company/Warehouse
Order Type
Line Status
F2=Command F3=Exit F4=Prompt F9=Maintenance
F15=Rekey Data F23=Cfg Template
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The Sales Order Inquiry Function Select Screen.
By pressing F9 - Maintenance from this screen, you will go directly to the maintenance
conversation.
When the F9 key is pressed, the Menu Authorization utility ends the inquiry conversation, retrieves the mnemonic code associated with the Sales Order Maintenance Conversation, and executes the control program for the maintenance conversation. The mnemonic codes used in this process are maintained through the Fast Path Control Maintenance Conversation. To enter this conversation, select Fast Path Control Maintenance from the Menu Authorization Menu to display the Fast Path Maintenance Function Select Screen (MA180S01). When the screen is displayed, you are prompted to enter a program name and a maintenance code, see the figure below for a function select screen to perform fast path maintenance for the Sales Order Maintenance Program.
WILLIAMS MENU AUTHORIZATION 1/13/92
DSP01 FAST PATH MAINTENANCE FUNCTION SELECT
Program Name OP100E
Maintenance Code 1
1 - Add
2 - Delete
F3=Exit F4=Prompt
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The Fast Path Maintenance Function Select Screen (MA180S01).
After the Enter key is pressed and the data is validated, the Fast Path Maintenance Detail Screen (MA180S02) is displayed to allow you to enter a mnemonic code for the program, see the figure below.
WILLIAMS MENU AUTHORIZATION 1/13/92
DSP01 FAST PATH MAINTENANCE ADDITION
Program Name OP100E
Fast Path Mnemonic SLSORDMNT
F3=Exit F10=Function Select
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The Fast Path Maintenance Detail Screen (MA180S02).
Once the Enter key is pressed and the data is validated, the mnemonic code for the program is created and written to the Fast Path Control File (CT130M). When a command key is set up to call a program, this mnemonic code is used to access the Menu Fast Path File (CT135M) to execute the command.
In the sales order example, when F9 is pressed, the mnemonic code (SLORDMNT) associated with the maintenance conversation (OP100E) is retrieved from the Fast Path Control File (CT130M) and used to access the Menu Fast Path File (CT135M) for the "map" to the maintenance conversation.