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Explore the functionalities, considerations, limitations, and examples of Browser Workbenches for regular tasks. Learn how to build, save, and leverage workbenches effectively for enhanced efficiency in your workflow.
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XA BROWSER WORKBENCHES ARE COOL! (Broadcast/Receive for Regular Tasks) Brenda Butler, Senior Consultant brenda.butler@cistech.net
Agenda for Today • Browser Workbenches • What are they? • Where are they? • Considerations and limitations • Sample tasks • Building, saving, closing, using workbenches
Workbenches – What Are They? • Two or more open Browser view windows on the desktop • Linked in broadcast/receive function to communicate information interactively. • Great for: • Inquiry • Performing certain tasks – daily or occasional
To find and use, click NAVIGATION anywhere it is found and select WORKBENCHES.
For detail of a workbench, “Plus out” to see windows and which are broadcasting/receiving.
Open & Delete a Workbench You can also open a workbench by double-clicking the icon.
Considerations • What is the task/inquiry needed? • What specific information do I need? • Is the desired information in the DISPLAY list of your broadcast window? If not, it is unavailable for the workbench. • Which views and subsets are appropriate? • Should workbench be public or private?
Limitations • Number of screens is limited by the size of your monitor (and others). • Size/configuration saved by creator may not fit your monitor (make your private version). • In R6 need broadcasting window to have master records not “transient” records (orders that move to history). R7 solved this problem. • Tree structure/hierarchical windows will not work.
Workbench Examples • Customer Service: by customer, see open orders, shipments and AR balance. • Materials: on-hand, item locations, PO’s and maybe PO history. • Purchasing: requisitions, open PO’s and PO history. • Engineering: item revision, bill of material and routing. • Shipping: items in shipping location, customer orders for those items with shipment promise date. • Accounts Payable: vendor, PO’s, AP invoices
Workbench Examples • Item Availability: on-hand, purchase orders, customer orders, manufacturing orders. • MO Component usage: from item warehouse, inventory transaction history for IP’s. • PO Item Expedite: subset past due items and link to vendor record for vendor name and telephone number.
Workbench Problems • Why can’t I see a workbench? Was it created as “Public”? • Are the views and subsets “Public”? • It’s not talking! • The broadcasting window should have the correct broadcast settings in your preferences. Set by user, not by the workbench. • Are broadcast/receive icons enabled?
Select CUSTOMIZE and PREFERENCES and the BROADCAST tab. Double click or highlight and click ADD to adjust settings.
Broadcast Combinations • Broadcast a window to one or more windows. • Broadcast from window 1 to 2 and then from 2 to 3 (reason – because you can’t access information from first window).
1 to 2 and 2 to 3 Vendors broadcasting to PO’s PO’s broadcasting to PO items
Saving a Workbench • Close all extraneous Browser windows when building or saving a workbench because any open window will be locked in the workbench. • No SAVE command—use ADD WORKBENCH — even when it already exists and you are just making changes.
Name the workbench (area, task or windows) • Domain – • Public • Private • Options – • Global Broadcast • Global Receive • or neither (Global broadcasting & receiving means broadcasting windows will broadcast to windows outside of the workbench.)
Closing a Workbench • Click “X” on any window. • Will receive this message. • May need to just close the window selected. If so, answer NO. If finished with workbench, answer YES.
TIP: Double click the workbench symbol on one window to auto maximize all windows in the workbench.
Workbench Security at R6 • Introduced without a lock-down for Public workbenches. • PTF SH13931 at level 40 and higher ties workbench security to subset security; i.e., users with authority to create public subsets also can create public workbenches.
Release 7 Improvements • Broadcast window can be records which go to history. Workbench adjusts for missing records. Select another and continue. • Separate workbench security now available. • Even maintenance history will broadcast.
How Can I Leverage Browser?Browser Bootcamp • ½ day of group Browser Education • ½ day with each department to develop tailored views, subsets, workbenches, create reports, etc. • Result: at the end of the engagement, users have incorporated Browser into their daily activities to become more productive.
Thanks for joining us today! For more information or assistance: Brenda.butler@cistech.net Mike.taylor@cistech.net