Define Broadcast

Explanation

This activity is used to define scheduling broadcasts. Broadcasts are company specific and each company can have one or more broadcasts defined for it. The broadcast tells the Scheduling Engine how and when a plan is to be returned to IFS Applications. Broadcasts can be set up per allocation type, i.e., DSE (Dynamic Scheduling Engine), SDS (Scheduling Dispatch Service) or ISWB (Internet Scheduling Work Bench). The connection between the broadcast and allocation type is made on the applicable dataset. For more information on setting up a dataset, refer to the activity Define Dataset. Note: There can be one broadcast set up for both DSE and SDS broadcasts, whereas a separate broadcast is required for a ISWB broadcast.

• For DSE broadcasts, the DSE produces a plan which you can choose to assign or unassign directly on the work order.
• For SDS broadcasts, the SDS will return the suggested dispatches, i.e., the work orders and employees that are suggested to be assigned, to IFS Applications. The work orders that are returned are automatically promoted to the Assigned status and the Executed By field on the work order is set to the suggested employee's ID.
• For ISWB broadcasts, IFS Applications will be synchronized with the changes made to the data in the ISWB.

For DSE broadcasts, how the plan is to be returned is determined by the broadcast type that is selected. If the broadcast is set up with the File broadcast type, the plan is returned and stored using File transfer. If the Webservice broadcast type is selected, the plans will be returned using HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol) services. The parameters for each broadcast type must be entered when defining the broadcast. For the File broadcast type, you need to enter the "file_path" parameter with the relevant output path for the File messages. For the Webservice broadcast type, the "username" "password", "url" and "wsid'' parameters must be defined with the name and password of the user who is allowed to access the 360 Scheduling Interface, and the address and name of the web service that is to be accessed. When the plan is to be returned is determined by several values, i.e., the minimum plan quality, maximum wait and maximum frequency. The minimum plan quality determines the minimum quality of the plan that is to be returned while the maximum wait determines the maximum time to wait before returning the plan (in minutes). The plan will be returned when either the minimum plan quality is reached or when the maximum wait time is reached, whichever occurs first. The maximum frequency determines the frequency (in minutes) at which the plans should be returned. You can choose the type of plan that should be returned, i.e., a complete plan or a workbench plan. When setting up an ISWB broadcast, the minimum plan quality, maximum wait minutes and maximum frequency are not applicable.

Broadcast Parameter Values

The value of the selected broadcast parameter. Valid values are:

File:

• file_path - enter the full output path of the FTP messages

Http:

• username - enter the name of the user who is allowed to access the 360 Scheduling Interface (User name of user granted to the permission set SCH360_WEBSERVICE, selected as the integration user)
• password - enter the password of the user who is allowed to access the 360 Scheduling Interface (Password of user granted to the permission set SCH360_WEBSERVICE, selected as the integration user)
• url - enter the address of the web service (http://SERVERNAME:58080/fndext/soapgateway). The url can also be defined using substitution variables e.g., #URL#/fndext/soapgateway. For more information on substitution variables please refer to the Sch360 Configuration section in List of Object Properties - Maintenance.
• wsid - enter the name of the web service you wish to access (IFS or IFSWORKBENCH)

Prerequisites

To perform this activity, the company must have been defined in IFS/Enterprise.

System Effects

• Scheduling broadcasts are defined for the company and the applicable broadcast can be activated.
• The broadcasts can be connected to scheduling datasets.

Window

Scheduling Broadcast

Related Window Descriptions

Scheduling Broadcast

Procedure

Follow this procedure to define a DSE or SDS broadcast:

1. Open the Scheduling Broadcast window.
2. Verify that the correct company is in use. If not, right-click and click Change Company to change the company.
3. Create a new record (F5).
4. In the Broadcast ID field, enter the identity of the broadcast.
5. In the Description field, enter a description of this broadcast.
6. In the Minimum Plan Quality (%) field, enter the plan quality as a percentage.
7. In the Broadcast Type field, enter the broadcast type. Note: For iSWB broadcasts, this field should be set to Webservice.
8. In the Plan Type field, enter the type of plan that is to be generated for the broadcast.
9. In the Maximum Wait Minutes field, enter the maximum time in minutes to wait before a plan to be returned.
10. In the Maximum Frequency Minutes field, enter the frequency in minutes for the plan to be generated.
11. In the Parameter Value field, enter the valid value of the parameter. For instance, for the wsid parameter, you need to enter the parameter value IFS.
12. Save the information (F12).

Follow this procedure to define an ISWB broadcast:

1. Open the Scheduling Broadcast window.
2. Verify that the correct company is in use. If not, right-click and click Change Company to change the company.
3. Create a new record (F5).
4. In the Broadcast ID field, enter the identity of the broadcast.
5. In the Description field, enter a description of this broadcast.
6. In the Minimum Plan Quality (%) field, enter 0. This value is not used for ISWB broadcasts.
7. In the Broadcast Type field, enter the broadcast type.
8. In the Plan Type field, enter the type of plan that is to be generated for the broadcast.
9. In the Maximum Wait Minutes field, enter 0 or leave the field blank. This value is not used for ISWB broadcasts.
10. In the Maximum Frequency Minutes field, enter 0 or leave the field blank. This value is not used for ISWB broadcasts.
11. In the Parameter Value field, enter the valid value of the parameter. For instance, for the wsid parameter, you need to enter the parameter value IFSWORKBENCH.
12. Save the information (F12).