Item Parameter Templates

1Purpose #

The Product Parameter master says what a parameter is . This master says which parameters a given product actually asks for, in what order, and with what behaviour for that product .

The rows here are copies. Adding a parameter brings its definition across, and from then on the template row is what the voucher reads — so tightening a range or changing a default for one product leaves every other product alone.

A template can also price its parameters: a flat Unit Price per row, or a rate that depends on the value chosen.

2Step by step #

A template bundles parameters (and optional per-value rates) so a product captures a consistent set.

1. Press Add (F3) , pick the template name and add one line per parameter it should capture.
2. Enter per-value rates only when price varies by the captured value.
3. Press Save (F5) and confirm; attach the template to products on the Product master.

3How to use it #

1. Add (F3) starts a new template. Pick the template name and the product, then bring parameters in.
2. Add Parameters (F7) opens the parameter list; tick several and add them in one go. A parameter already on the template is skipped rather than duplicated.
3. Copy From… takes the rows from a template that already works — the quickest way to set up the tenth product that behaves like the first nine. Rows whose parameter is already present are skipped.
4. Edit any row afterwards. The copy is yours: change the default, tighten the range, add a formula, without touching the parameter master. Selection Values and Calculation Formula are multiline cells — drag their bottom edge for more room.
5. On a long template, type in the filter row under the column headers to narrow the rows, or drag a column header into the band above the grid to group by it. Clearing the filter brings every row back — nothing is removed.
6. A product missing from the pick-list can be created on the spot: the ＋ Create new item button at the bottom of the Product list opens the Product master right here.
7. Rate By Value turns on per-value pricing for a row. The Rates button then opens a small grid, pre-filled with the row's selection values, where each value gets its own rate.
8. Save (F5) writes the header, its rows and their rates in one transaction, after a confirmation. Cancel (Esc) abandons the edit.
9. Find (F2) lists the templates already built; pick one to open it read-only, then Modify (F4) to edit. Delete removes the whole document.

4Field details #

Header

• Template Name — required, from the Parameter Template Names master. Together with the product it identifies the template.
• Product — required. Only products with item parameters enabled are listed.
• Description — free text for whoever maintains the template.
• Create an item code from the captured values — builds a code for the line out of the parameter values. With it off, the prefix, suffix and per-row item-code settings are switched off too.
• Item Code Prefix / Suffix — fixed text wrapped around the generated code.
• Build the code from the raw materials instead — for manufactured items, takes the code from the raw materials' values rather than the finished item's.
• Inactive — retires the template without deleting it.

Parameter row

• Parameter — required, from the Product Parameter master. Picking one copies its whole definition into the remaining cells.
• Variable Name — required, and unique within the template. Formulas address the row by it.
• Value Type , Print Name , Selection Values , Popup Query , Default Value , Min , Max , Calculation Formula , Short Code , Line Column Mapping , Compulsory , Read Only — the parameter's behaviour for this product . Each starts as a copy of the master definition and may be changed freely.
• Unit Price — a flat price contributed per unit of this parameter.
• Rate By Value — price depends on the value chosen instead. Turning it off drops the value rates when you save.
• Rates — opens the per-value rate grid. The count on the button is how many values are priced.
• In Item Code — this row's value takes part in the generated item code. Only available when the header switch is on.
• Chars — how many characters of the value to take for the code. Required once In Item Code is on.

5Shortcut keys #

• F2 — Find: list the templates already built.
• F3 — Add: start a new template.
• F4 — Modify the loaded template.
• F5 — Save. While a dialog is open F5 belongs to that dialog instead — it confirms the save, applies the query editor, adds the ticked parameters, or closes the rate grid.
• F7 — Add Parameters.
• Esc — close the topmost open dialog; with nothing open it cancels the edit.
• Enter — move to the next cell; off the last cell of the last row it starts a new row.
• Tab — move to the next cell without the new-row behaviour.

Shortcuts belong to whichever copy of the page has focus, so a second tab of this page does not steal them.

6Why is a pick-list empty? #

• Template Name comes from the Parameter Template Names master. Empty means no name has been created there yet.
• Product lists only products with item parameters enabled in the Product master. A product missing here almost always means that switch is off — turn it on there and the product appears.
• Parameter comes from the Product Parameters master. Empty means nothing has been defined there yet.
• Line Column Mapping lists the system voucher-line columns. Empty means that reference data is not set up in this company database; mapping is optional.
• Rates pre-fills from the row's Selection Values . A SELECTION row with no values listed opens an empty rate grid — fill the selection values first.
• Value Type is a fixed list built into the application; it is never empty.

7Rules and integrity #

• A product carries a given template name only once. The second attempt is refused — open the existing template instead of creating a duplicate.
• A template needs a name, a product and at least one parameter row.
• A parameter may appear only once in a template, and variable names must not repeat within it — a formula addresses the row by that name.
• A row that takes part in the item code needs a character count.
• A minimum above its maximum is refused.
• Header, rows and rates are written in ONE database transaction — they all succeed or none of them do. A failed save leaves nothing behind.
• Turning off Rate By Value drops that row's value rates when you save; they are not kept in the background.
• Deleting a row deletes its rates with it. Deleting the template deletes every row and rate under it.
• Rows are written individually by state, so an untouched row is never rewritten.
• Adding, changing and deleting are each permission-checked by the database. A restricted user gets an explicit refusal, not a silent no-op.