Combining Communication Formats and Distribution Logic

You can use a combination of communication formats and distribution logic to minimize administrative overheads when making changes to communication settings.

Following settings can be used:

• Define a general communication format (e.g. for all field staff) which communicates configuration settings and rep- and territory-independent data, see Communicating System Tables and Defining a Communication Format.
• Add distribution logic records for the laptops used by field staff. Use the distribution logic records to distribute records based on companies, territories, sales group etc., see Defining the Distribution Logic.

The output conditions in the communication format and distribution logic record are combined using a logical AND by default (i.e. records are only output if the meet both sets of conditions). Enable the Link with OR fields in the Distribution Logic info area to change this behavior.

You can define bottom-up conditions, for example, using distribution logic records. To do so, enter the desired bottom-up condition in the communication format and define the condition applied to the dependent info area for each station in the Distribution Logic info area.

In this example, the following data should be output for all reps:

• all companies where the rep is entered in a sales group
• all these companies' dependent records
• the expenses records of the rep
• all ongoing activities

Define the following settings:

1. Switch to the C.Format info area.
2. Enable the Output and Input cells for all info areas by clicking on the column header.
3. Click in the Conditional Output cell of the Marketing Activity info area.
4. Define the condition Status = 'In Progress'.
5. Click on OK.
6. Click in the Bottom-Up Condition cell of the Sales Group info area.
7. Select the Company info area.
8. Click on OK.

   

   

9. Save the communication format.
10. Switch to the Station info area.
11. Add two distribution logic records for each of the desired stations (i.e. the notebooks used by field staff), see Defining the Distribution Logic:
    • For the Sales Group (SB) info area: F97 = '<Rep>' (determines that the specified rep must be entered in the Rep 1 field)
    • For the Expenses (B2) info area: F64 = '<Rep>' (determines that the specified rep must be entered in the Rep field)