Customizing the DecisioNet System
Overview
Many features of the DecisioNet System can be customized to meet
site-specific requirements. Feature availability depends on which
software packages are installed. The features listed below can be used
with the system default settings, or the settings can be modified.
The system defaults provide basic functionality for all features except
Status Tag Manager which requires the set up of site-specific files.
•
•
Information Messaging System Package
• Label Data Manager
•
Promotional Message Verifier
•
External Data Interface (with AMS capabilities)
•
Automated Messaging System
Price Redundancy Package
• Price Verifier
•
•
Sale Price Verifier
System Information Package
•
Log Monitor
•
Orphan Tag Report
•
Unattended EPL Backup
•
Failure Detection and Analysis
•
Status Tag Manager
Two additional sections, “Windows NT Automatic Services” and
“UNIX Automatic Restart” follow the feature customization sections.
D-2
Customizing the DecisioNet System
Default Directories
In a default DecisioNet installation, the home directory is \epl for a
Windows NT system and /appl/epl for an NCR UNIX or SCO UNIX
system. The location of files, scripts, applications, etc. in this appendix
references the default directories. Reference the ESCONFIGDIR
environment variable to identify the home directory for your system.
DecisioNet System Start and Stop Scripts
The following table identifies the start and stop scripts used with the
DecisioNet System to control the installed applications, utilities, and
functions.
On a default DecisioNet Windows NT system, these scripts are
installed in the \epl\bin\scripts\ directory. On a default DecisioNet
UNIX system these scripts are installed in the /appl/epl/bin/scripts/
directory.
The start (S#) scripts are executed in ascending order to start the
DecisioNet System. The stop or kill (K#) scripts are executed in
ascending order to stop the DecisioNet System.
Windows NT
UNIX
Function
S00logger.bat
S00logger
Start the Logger
S05tblmgr.bat
S05tblmgr
Start Table Manager
S10cbsmgr.bat
S10cbsmgr
Start CBS Manager
s15sched.bat
S15sched
Start Data Scheduler
S35bedchk.bat
S35bedchk
Start Bedcheck
S40ldmmgr.bat
S40ldmmgr
Start Label Data Manager
s45plurdr.bat
S45plurdr
Start PLU Reader
s50bridge.bat
S50bridge
Start PLU Bridge
S52stat.bat
S52stat
Start Status Tag Manager
Customizing the DecisioNet System
D-3
Windows NT
UNIX
Function
s55extdi.bat
S55extdi
Start Extended Data Interface
S55fda.bat
S55fda
Start Failure Detection & Analysis
S60lm.bat
S60lm
Start Log Monitor
S90prcchk.bat
S90prcchk
Start Price Checker
S90prcvrf.bat
S90prcvrf
Start Price Verifier
S90sprcvrf.bat
S90sprcvrf
Start Sale Price Verifier
S90promovrf.bat
S90promovrf
Start Promotion Verifier
K05ldmmgr.bat
K05ldmmgr
Stop Label Data Manager
K07fda.bat
K07fda
Stop Failure Detection & Analysis
K10bedchk.bat
K10bedchk
Stop Bedcheck
k11extdi.bat
K11extdi
Stop Extended Data Interface
k12bridge.bat
K12bridge
Stop the PLU Bridge
k13plurdr.bat
K13plurdr
Stop PLU Reader
k15prcchk.bat
K15prcchk
Stop Price Checker
K20prcvrf.bat
K20prcvrf
Stop Price Verifier
K21sprcvrf.bat
K21sprcvrf
Stop Sale Price Verifier
K22promovrf.bat
K22promovrf
Stop Promotion Verifier
k25sched.bat
K25sched
Stop Data Scheduler
K27stat.bat
K27stat
Stop Status Tag Manager
K30cbsmgr.bat
K30cbsmgr
Stop CBS Manager
K35tblmgr.bat
K35tblmgr
Stop Table Manager
K45lm.bat
K45lm
Stop Log Monitor
K50logger.bat
K50logger
Stop the Logger
D-4
Customizing the DecisioNet System
Label Data Manager
The Label Data Manager tracks changes to the selected EPL Table
record fields (Label Data Maintenance Configuration screen - PLU
Number, Price Level, Serial Number, Measure, Unit of Measure,
and/or Package Size) and PLU file description field changes. It uses
this information to create an ASCII, comma-separated, print files that
can be used to print SmarTalker labels.
How the print process is implemented depends on the print
application and the type of printer used at your store. This section
describes the available configuration options and provides a sample
ASCII, comma-separated print file.
Setting the Granularity and Records Number Options
These options are used when tracking changes to the PLU File
description field. The EPL Information Messaging System Package
must be installed to have this extended LDM functionality. To change
these options from the system default settings, edit the Label Data
Manager section of the basesw.cfg file. This file is in the
/appl/epl/data directory on a default DecisioNet UNIX system and in
the \epl\data directory on a default DecisioNet Windows NT system.
#################################################
#LABEL DATA MANAGER
#################################################
#An integer value which designates the elapsed time (seconds) between
#accesses of the PLU File to determine the descriptions which have changed
# [0]
"LDM_GRANULARITY",300
#Designates the number of EPL records processed at one time when description
#changes are checked. [100]
"LDM_RECORDS_NUMBER",100
The first parameter is the time interval (in seconds) between the times
LDM checks the PLU file for description field changes.
Customizing the DecisioNet System
D-5
The second parameter specifies the maximum number of records LDM
reads at one time when checking for description field changes. The
larger this number the faster LDM performs the checks. However,
LDM reads this number of records into memory, so more memory is
required for larger values.
LDM Parameters in the Application Configuration File
The parameters set using the Label Data Manager configuration screen
in EPL Administration are in the esappl.cfg file. The following list
identifies the default parameters. Changes should only be made using
the configuration screen.
"LDI_DBIT_FLAG", "ALL"
"MAX_QKPRINT_FILES", 5
"MAX_CHGPRINT_FILES", 5
"MAX_ALLPRINT_FILES", 5
"MAX_SELPRINT_FILES", 5
"MAX_DATPRINT_FILES", 5
The following parameter is set when the EPL Information Messaging
System Package is installed to tell the system the extended LDM
functionality is present. This parameter should not be edited and
changed.
LDM_INSTALLED,1
The following parameters identify the names and locations of the start
script and stop script files and whether the start and stop scripts are
enabled for printing. In a DecisioNet Windows NT system, these files
must be created to meet your system-specific printer requirements. In a
DecisioNet UNIX system, default shell script files are provided and
must be modified to meet your system-specific printer requirements.
The enable options are set using the Label Data Maintenance screen in
EPL Maintenance application. These parameters should only be
changed through this screen
"LDI_START_SCRIPT", "C:\epl\bin\prescript.bat"
"LDI_STOP_SCRIPT", "C:\epl\bin\postscript.bat"
"LDI_START_ENABLED", 0
"LDI_STOP_ENABLED", 0
D-6
Customizing the DecisioNet System
Prescript and Postscript Files
The following two shell script files, prescript.sh and postscript.sh, are
default entries in a DecisioNet UNIX system. They are both in the
/appl/epl/bin/ directory. These files can be modified for systemspecific printing requirements.
prescript.sh
#!/usr/bin/ksh
echo "Pre-Prosessing Script"
postscript.sh
#!/usr/bin/ksh
#NOTE: This script now supports synchronous USER input/output control - 4/18/96.
echo "Post-Processing Script"
echo "The file is $1"
echo "The field is $2"
# This will cause the $1 input file to be sorted on label TYPE.
sortbyfield.sh $1 5 sorted.out n
Label Data Manager - Print File layout
The information in the sample print files below is based on the
following data.
Field
Symbol
Type
Size
Item Number
PLU
alphanumeric
13
Price Level
LVL
numeric
Location
LOC
numeric
12
Serial Number
SN
alphanumeric
EPL Type
TYPE
numeric
Measure
MEAS
numeric
Unit of Measure
UMEAS
alphanumeric
<=15
Package Size
PKGSIZE
alphanumeric
Description
DESC
alphanumeric
<=30
Customizing the DecisioNet System
Field
Symbol
Type
Size
Case Size
CASE
alphanumeric
Brand
BRAND
alphanumeric
D-7
Note: The header identifies the LDM print type, date, time, and
number of records in the file.
[ALLPRINT 97/02/11 18:00:22 00000003 ]
PLU,0000000001111,LVL,00,LOC,Isle#1,SN,00054321,TYPE,01,MEAS,0
001,UMEAS,0001,PKGSIZE,1,DESC,Test Item
1111,CASE,024,BRAND,Brand x
PLU,0000000002222,LVL,00,LOC,Isle#2,SN,00054322,TYPE,01,MEAS,0
001,UMEAS,0001,PKGSIZE,1,DESC,Test Item
2222,CASE,024,BRAND,Brand y
PLU,0000000003333,LVL,00,LOC,Row#22,SN,00054323,TYPE,01,MEAS,0
001,UMEAS,0001,PKGSIZE,1,DESC,Test Item
3333,CASE,024,BRAND,Brand z
[QWKPRINT 97/02/13 14:37:12 00000004 ]
PLU,0000000001111,LVL,00,LOC,Isle#1,SN,00054321,TYPE,01,MEAS,0
001,UMEAS,0001,PKGSIZE,1,DESC,Test Item 1111,CASE,024,BRAND,
Brand x
PLU,0000000002222,LVL,00,LOC,Isle#2,SN,00054322,TYPE,01,MEAS,0
001,UMEAS,0001,PKGSIZE,1,DESC,Test Item
2222,CASE,024,BRAND,Brand y
PLU,0000000003333,LVL,00,LOC,Row#22,SN,00054323,TYPE,01,MEAS,0
001,UMEAS,0001,PKGSIZE,1,DESC,Test Item 3333,CASE,024,BRAND,
Brand z
PLU,0000000004444,LVL,00,LOC,Isle
4,SN,00054324,TYPE,01,MEAS,0001,UMEAS,0001,PKGSIZE,1,DESC,Test
Item 4444,CASE,024,BRAND, Brand w
D-8
Customizing the DecisioNet System
Promotional Message Verifier
When the optional EPL Information Messaging System package is
installed, the Promotional Message Verifier starts with the other EPL
applications. The Promotional Message Verifier ensures that the
SmarTalkers accurately display promotions by comparing the
promotion information in the EPL Item table against the promotion
information in the PLU table. In a default system, a comparison is
made every 60 minutes. To change the timing, edit the start scripts and
change the espromovrf options to meet your requirements.
Changing the Promotional Message Verifier Time Interval
The default time is 60 minutes in the S90promovrf.bat file in the
Windows NT \epl\bin\scripts directory. Edit the batch file and set the
time frame to the desired length.
@echo off
echo Starting Promotional Message Verifier
if "%1" == "startservice" goto startservice
start /min ..\espromovrf -r 60
goto finish
:startservice
..\startsrv svpromovrf
:finish
The default time is 60 minutes in the S90promovrf script in the
UNIX /epl/bin/scripts directory. Edit the batch file and set the time
frame to the desired length.
echo Starting Promotional Message Verifier
espromovrf -r 60 > $ESCONFIGDIR/ espromovrf.out 2>&1 &
Customizing the DecisioNet System
D-9
The syntax and options for espromovrf are as follows:
Syntax
espromovrf [-fv?] [-s] [-r]
where:
-?
Displays release information and available options
-v
Verbose mode: displays messages to standard output
-f
Forces promotion updates to all tags regardless of
mismatch status
-s
Sets rate of promotion verification in seconds
-r
Sets rate of promotion verification in minutes
Examples:
•
Start promotion verifications every 30 seconds
espromovrf -s30
•
Start promotion verifications every 30 minutes
espromovrf -r30
D-10 Customizing the DecisioNet System
External Data Interface (with AMS)
When the optional EPL Information Messaging System package is
installed, the External Data Interface starts with the other EPL
applications. The External Data Interface audits price changes from the
scheduler and ensures that the SmarTalkers accurately display
promotions by comparing the promotion information in the EPL Item
table against the promotion information defined by the IDX (item type)
in the AMS configuration file (default file name = AMSCFG.TXT) and
user data provided by the PLU reader. The esextdi process also looks
for EDIMOD files to process and applies the PROMO data contained in
these files to the appropriate SmarTalkers by PLU number, price level,
and location.
In a default system, EDIMOD files are looked for every five minutes
(-s300). To change the timing, edit the start scripts and change the
esextdi sleep time option (-s) to meet your requirements.
Changing the External Data Interface Time Interval
The default time is 300 seconds (5 minutes) in the S55extdi.bat file
in the Windows NT \epl\bin\scripts directory. Edit the batch file
using the –s option to set the time frame to the desired length.
@echo off
echo Starting EPL External Data Interface Application
if "%1" == "startservice" goto startservice
start /min ..\esextdi
goto finish
:startservice
..\startsrv svextdi
:finish
The default time is 300 seconds (5 minutes) in the S55extdi script in
the UNIX /epl/bin/scripts directory. Edit the batch file using the –s
option to set the time frame to the desired length.
echo Starting EPL External Data Interface
esextdi > $ESCONFIGDIR/ esextdi.out 2>&1 &
Customizing the DecisioNet System D-11
The syntax and options for esextdi are as follows:
Syntax
esextdi [-?v] [-d] [-f] [-k]
[-i] [-s] [-n]
where:
-?
Displays release information and available options
-v
Verbose mode: displays messages to standard output
-d
Directory to read EDIMOD files from
-f
Name of message configuration file
(default = AMSCFG.TXT)
-i
Message IDX: promo index used for PLU item changes
(default = all message IDXs automatic from PLU
reader)
-k
Disables promo updates for price changes
-s
Sets sleep time in seconds
-n
Sets number of retries performed when updating an
EPL
Examples:
•
Use a message IDX other then the default index
esextdi –i200
Note: EDI will only update PROMO info for PLU’s of the item type
200, using the IDX 200 data defined in the AMSCFG.TXT file.
•
Disable promo updates for price changes
esextdi –k
Note: EDI will only not audit price change messages from the
scheduler.
D-12 Customizing the DecisioNet System
Automated Messaging System
When the optional EPL Information Messaging System package is
installed, the Automated Messaging Program (esams) is available to
automatically build any number of EDIMOD files that contain
information based on user supplied parameters. These EDIMOD files
can then be processed by the External Data Interface which applies the
PROMO data contained in the EDIMOD files to the SmarTalkers.
These user parameters include AMS configuration files, message IDX,
user files (list of PLUs), and apply date.
Running the Automated Messaging Program
Create all AMS configuration and user files to be processed. The
contents of these files must be based on specific customer
requirements. The AMS program can then be run to create EDIMOD
files for processing by the External Data Interface (EDI) at the
appropriate time, by placing them in the EPL data directory or the
directory specified by the –d option when the EDI was started. The
AMS program can then run using the appropriate parameters to create
the proper EDIMOD files for updating SmarTalker PROMO data.
The syntax and options for esams are as follows:
Syntax
esams [-?v] [-f] [-p] [-i]
[-t
Source Exif Data:
File Type : PDF
File Type Extension : pdf
MIME Type : application/pdf
PDF Version : 1.2
Linearized : Yes
Create Date : 2001:06:11 10:57:08
Producer : Acrobat Distiller 4.0 for Windows
Modify Date : 2001:06:11 10:57:10-04:00
Page Count : 45