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Contents
Contents
Introduction............................................................................................................................6
Before You Begin....................................................................................................................7
Audience.........................................................................................................................................................7
Prerequisites....................................................................................................................................................7
Environment Setup..........................................................................................................................................7
User Accounts.........................................................................................................................9
User Accounts Details......................................................................................................................................9
Workshop - Manage User Accounts...............................................................................................................10
Create User Account...............................................................................................................................10
Test the Account....................................................................................................................................12
Startup Configurations.........................................................................................................13
Configuration Settings File.............................................................................................................................13
Multiple Configuration Files....................................................................................................................14
Workshop - Modify Configuration Setting Files.......................................................................................14
Copy the Default Configuration File.................................................................................................14
The Configuration Editor.................................................................................................................14
Run Time Arguments.....................................................................................................................................16
Workshop - Activate Run Time Arguments..............................................................................................16
System Setup........................................................................................................................17
Workshop - Company Maintenance...............................................................................................................17
Define General Settings..........................................................................................................................17
Define Emailing and Reporting Options...................................................................................................19
Define Attachments................................................................................................................................20
Enable BAQ External Datasources...........................................................................................................21
Enable Tax Connect................................................................................................................................22
Workshop - Company Configuration.............................................................................................................22
Enter Company Details...........................................................................................................................23
Define Module Options...........................................................................................................................24
Workshop - Site Maintenance........................................................................................................................24
Create a Site...........................................................................................................................................25
Workshop - Site Configuration.......................................................................................................................26
Modify Site Options................................................................................................................................26
Workshop - Company and Site Rights............................................................................................................28
Assign Company/Site Rights....................................................................................................................28
Assign External Companies.....................................................................................................................29
Test User Account...................................................................................................................................29
Contents
Create a Schedule...........................................................................................................................32
Workshop - Manage the System Agent...................................................................................................33
Select a Schedule.............................................................................................................................33
View Task Parameters......................................................................................................................34
Process Sets...................................................................................................................................................34
Workshop - Manage Process Sets...........................................................................................................34
Create a Process Set........................................................................................................................34
Add Tasks to a Process Set...............................................................................................................35
Schedule a Process Set.....................................................................................................................36
System Monitor.............................................................................................................................................37
Workshop - Use the System Monitor.......................................................................................................37
Security..................................................................................................................................39
Security Privileges...........................................................................................................................................40
Company Security...................................................................................................................................40
Security Group Maintenance...................................................................................................................40
Workshop - Create a Security Group................................................................................................40
User Security...........................................................................................................................................42
Security Manager............................................................................................................................42
Workshop - Manage User Security...................................................................................................42
Assign Security Privileges..........................................................................................................43
Assign Security Groups.............................................................................................................45
Assign Security...............................................................................................................................................45
Run Time Argument Menu Control.........................................................................................................45
Workshop - Define Run Time Arguments.........................................................................................46
Security Group Conflicts.........................................................................................................................46
Workshop - Menu Security.....................................................................................................................47
Create a Security Code....................................................................................................................47
Assign Menu Security......................................................................................................................49
Test Menu Security..........................................................................................................................49
Workshop - Field Security.......................................................................................................................50
Assign Global Field Security.............................................................................................................51
Security Group Field Security............................................................................................................52
Test Field Security............................................................................................................................53
Security Management....................................................................................................................................53
Menu Security Report.............................................................................................................................53
System Activity Log.................................................................................................................................54
Customization Management...............................................................................................55
Workshop - Customization Rights..................................................................................................................56
Assign Customization Rights...................................................................................................................56
Workshop - Personalization Purge..................................................................................................................57
Use Personalization Purge.......................................................................................................................57
Workshop - Customization Maintenance.......................................................................................................58
Review, Update, and Delete Customizations...........................................................................................59
Export Customizations............................................................................................................................60
Contents
Import Customizations............................................................................................................................61
Verify Customizations.............................................................................................................................62
Run or Modify Customizations................................................................................................................63
Workshop - Dashboard Maintenance.............................................................................................................64
Review Dashboards.................................................................................................................................64
Manage and Generate Dashboards.........................................................................................................66
Workshop - Help Annotations Maintenance...................................................................................................67
Update an Annotation............................................................................................................................67
Workshop - Solution Management................................................................................................................68
Review Solution Elements.......................................................................................................................68
Add a Solution Element..........................................................................................................................69
Review Solution Types............................................................................................................................71
Add a Solution Type...............................................................................................................................72
Use Solution Workbench........................................................................................................................73
Track Your Activity..................................................................................................................................73
Add Items to Solution.............................................................................................................................75
Build a Solution......................................................................................................................................75
Install a Solution.....................................................................................................................................76
Verify the Solution Installed....................................................................................................................77
Conclusion.............................................................................................................................79
Introduction
Introduction
This course explores how you set up and manage the Epicor ERP application. By understanding these tools, you
control how users access and run the application as well as manage automatic processes and customizations.
You leverage several tools to configure the Epicor ERP application so it reflects the structure of your organization
and the requirements of your business. This course begins by setting up a basic user account, and then reviews
configuration settings files and run time arguments. Configuration settings (.sysconfig) files contain parameters
you can modify; these parameters then activate when a user logs into the client. Likewise, run time arguments
are switches which launch alternate menus and processes (like automatic updates) when users log in.
If you use the Multi-Site module, the Epicor ERP application can have multiple companies, and then each company
can contain multiple sites. Use these features to reflect the structure of your organization. Through these
management tools, you define how each company and site interacts with the modules licensed by your
organization. Then on user accounts, you determine which users have access to each company and site. To further
improve security, use the security tools. Through these management programs, you restrict user access to specific
programs, processes, and fields.
Reports, processes, and executive dashboards can generate automatically through recurring schedules. You first
create these recurring schedules on a system agent, and then users link a report or process to these recurring
schedules. These processing tasks then activate automatically at times that work best for your organization generating the data when its needed and when it can be most efficiently processed.
Lastly, users can modify the application through personalizations, customizations, and other tools. You can
manage these custom modifications using a series of maintenance programs. Through the features on these
programs, you can evaluate each modification, correct errors, and remove the modification. To complete the
customization management options, you can use the Solution Management module to bundle toether selected
customizations, personalizations, BAQs, and other items and distribute them from one Epicor ERP application
server to another server.
Together these setup and management tools give you control over how your organization and users interact
with the Epicor ERP application. By leveraging these tools, you can maximize your investment in the application.
Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:
Create a user account.
Modify startup configurations on client machines.
Configure companies and sites so they reflect the needs your organization and industry.
Grant user access to companies and sites.
Set up schedules that automatically generate data for reports and processes.
Restrict user access to the ERP application through the security features.
Manage customizations, personalizations, dashboards, help annotations, and other custom items in the Epicor
ERP application.
Create solutions that combine various items for installation in other companies.
Audience
Specific audiences will benefit from this course.
System Administrators
IT/Technical Staff
Security Managers
Prerequisites
To complete the workshops in this course, the necessary modules must be licensed and operating in your training
environment. For more information on the modules available, contact your Epicor Customer Account Manager
at EpicorCAM@epicor.com. It is also important you understand the prerequisite knowledge contained in other
valuable courses.
Interface Navigation Course - This course introduces navigational aspects of the Epicor application's user
interface. Designed for a hands-on environment, general navigation principles and techniques available in
two user interface modes - Classic Menu and Modern Shell Menu. Workshops focus on each of these
modes and guide you through each navigational principle introduced.
System Administration Course - This course explores how Microsoft SQL Server interacts with the Epicor
application. Designed for database administrators, this course describes the SQL Server features administrators
manage to run the Epicor application.
Environment Setup
The environment setup steps and potential workshop constraints must be reviewed in order to successfully
complete the workshops in this course.
Your Epicor training environment, in which the Epicor demonstration database is found, enables you to experience
Epicor functionality in action but does not affect data in your live, production environment.
The following steps must be taken to successfully complete the workshops in this course.
1.
Verify the following or ask your system administrator to verify for you:
Your Epicor training icon (or web address if you are using Epicor Web Access) points to your
Epicor training environment with the Epicor demonstration database installed. Do not complete
the course workshops in your live, production environment.
Note It is recommended that multiple Epicor demonstration databases are installed. Contact
Support or Systems Consulting for billable assistance.
The Epicor demonstration database is at the same service pack and patch as the Epicor
application. Epicor's education team updates the Epicor demonstration database for each service pack
and patch. If your system administrator upgrades your Epicor application to a new service pack or patch,
he or she must also download the corresponding Epicor demonstration database from EPICweb > Support
> Epicor > Downloads and install it. If this is not performed, unexpected results can occur when completing
the course workshops.
Your system administrator restored (refreshed) the Epicor demonstration database prior to
starting this course. The Epicor demonstration database comes standard with parts, customers, sales
orders, and so on, already defined. If the Epicor demonstration database is shared with multiple users
(that is, the database is located on a server and users access the same data, much like your live, production
environment) and is not periodically refreshed, unexpected results can occur. For example, if a course
workshop requires you to ship a sales order that came standard in the Epicor demonstration database,
but a different user already completed this workshop and the Epicor demonstration database was not
restored (refreshed), then you will not be able to ship the sales order. Epicor's education team has written
the course workshops to minimize situations like this from occurring, but Epicor cannot prevent users
from manipulating the data in your installation of the Epicor demonstration database.
2.
Log in to the training environment using the credentials epicor/epicor. If you are logged in to your training
environment as a different user, from the Options menu, select Change User.
3.
From the Main menu, select the company Epicor Education (EPIC06).
4.
User Accounts
User Accounts
Each person who will access the Epicor ERP application must have a user account. This user account contains the
primary information for each user and defines both program access and system permissions.
You create user accounts within User Account Security Maintenance. You will frequently launch this program
to add and update user accounts. As users change roles within your organization, you manage what programs
they can launch and what tools they can use. User Account Security Maintenance can only be launched by users
who have Security Manager rights, so be sure at least one account is set up with this permission option.
During this section of the course, you will create a basic user account. This account is then used later throughout
other parts of this course.
User Accounts
10
User Accounts
Do not activate this feature during this workshop. You will set this up later through a different method on
the configuration settings file.
8. Enter the Session Timeout Minutes you need for this user; for this example, enter 30 minutes. This value
determines how long this user account can be inactive before the application times out the session. This
value cannot be less than 15 minutes.
Tip When the application times out, the user's account licenses are released, allowing additional
users to log in. If you have enough licenses available for all the users, consider increasing this value
so the user account never (or rarely) times out.
9. You can limit this user to only see a specific set of programs by entering a menu identifier in the Client
Start Menu ID field.
When this user logs in, only the modules or module nodes available under this menu display on the Main
Menu. For example if you enter the identifier for the Job Management module, only the programs in this
module display on the Main Menu.
You use Menu Maintenance to find the menu ID you need. This feature is described more detail later in the
Security section of this course.
10. You manage account passwords through the fields in the Account Actions group box. Select the Expire
Password check box.
11. Now in the Password Expires Days field, enter how long the user's password can be active. For this
workshop, enter 75 and then click Save.
The current password for this user account can now stay active for 75 days. The Password Expires field
populates with the last date on which this password can be used.
12. Now select the Clear Password check box. This forces the user to create a new password during the next
login.
13. A requisition is a request for material from a supplier, and it can be used to acquire parts for a job or
miscellaneous item. To give users the ability to create these records, select the Allow Requisitions check
box.
14. To indicate how long before the data refreshes in the Shop Tracker, enter a value in the Shop Tracker
Refresh Minutes field. The default value is 10 minutes.
15. Each user account must have access to at least one company and site. Click the Down Arrow next to the
New button; select New Company.
The Company > Detail sheet displays.
16. Click the Company drop-down list and select Epicor Education.
The Available Sites list displays the current sites set up for this company.
17. Select the Main site option and click the Right Arrow button.
18. To complete the user account, you need to activate it. Return to the Detail sheet and clear the Account
Disabled check box.
19. Click Save.
20. Close User Account Security Maintenance.
11
User Accounts
The user account is active. The new user can now log into the Epicor ERP application.
9. Click OK.
The Epicor ERP application launches, and it uses the permissions you set up on the new user account.
10. Click on the Menu tile.
11. Notice you can access the modules in the Main site, but you can't access the Evanston, Los Angeles,
Orange County, and Rockford sites.
12. You need to logon as a system administrator again. Return to the Main Menu and click the Settings tile.
13. Click the Change User... option.
The Log in window displays.
14. Login using the User Name/Password of epicor/epicor.
12
Startup Configurations
Startup Configurations
You can modify application launch settings throughout your system and on specific workstations. To do this, you
leverage configuration settings files and run time arguments.
By using different startup configurations and run time arguments, you define how the application runs on each
workstation and interacts with the server.
For example, if you want the application help hosted on a separate server from the deployment server, you would
modify the configuration settings file by entering the server's URL in the helpServerURL attribute. You would
then update this parameter on configuration setting files you use throughout the company. You can also change
how the application launches on a specific workstation with these tools; for example you can activate a run time
argument that launches the application using the MES interface.
Startup Flow
13
Startup Configurations
14
Startup Configurations
3. Notice this window automatically displays all the files contained within your Config folder. Select the file
you want to edit. In this example, you select the XXX.sysconfig file (where XXX are your initials).
4. Click Open.
The Configuration Editor displays.
5. The configuration file settings are divided into several sheets. Available sheets:
a. The Application sheet displays all the settings that apply to the overall application. You define settings
like AppServerURL, ResourceFile, and Version here.
b. The User sheet contains the settings you can adjust for the specific user on this client workstation.
c. The Deployment sheet contains the settings for moving, or deploying, files from your server to the client
installation.
d. The Help sheet contains the settings that define the directory paths for the application help, on-line
support, and the Feature Summary. Use these options to define where this configuration file looks for
documentation and support resources.
e. Use the Sort sheet to define the method used globally to sort strings within the application. Your options
are stringSort and wordSort. You can also create exceptions to the default sort method on this sheet.
f. The Tools sheet contains the default settings needed to use the Software Developer Kit (SDK). Sold
separately from the application, this toolset enables developers and advanced users to extend the
application to create new tables, business objects, and UI forms. If you use the SDK, these default values
are automatically added to your configuration file. However if you need, you can edit them on this sheet.
To change a setting, enter an expected value in its field. An expected value is a parameter compatible with
the setting.
Tip For details on the settings contained on these sheets, read the Settings The Complete List topic
in the application help. You can also review the Startup Configurations chapter in the Epicor
Implementation User Guide.
6. You want to modify this .sysconfig file so that you can automatically log into the application when you
launch the Epicor ERP application. Click the User tab.
7. Enter a UserID. This value is the identifier for the user who is logging into the application from this
workstation. Enter the XXX_User identifier you created for the new account within User Account Security
Maintenance.
8. Enter a Password. This value is the password for the user who is automatically logging into the application
from this workstation. Enter the password you defined for this account.
9. Click Save.
10. Click Close. This configuration file is saved with the new settings.
The selected configuration file now has your revised settings. You next add a run-time argument to the Epicor
ERP application icon so it launches using your XXX.sysconfig file (where XXX are your initials).
15
Startup Configurations
6. Click Apply.
7. Click OK.
8. Return to the desktop and launch the Epicor ERP application.
The Main Menu automatically displays, bypassing the Log in window. Notice the application launches with the
user account settings as well, so you can only access the Main site.
You need to log back into using the system manager account. From the Home screen, click the Settings tile.
Select General Options and launch the Change User... option. Enter manager/manager and log back into the
Epicor ERP application.
16
System Setup
System Setup
You set up the structure of your organization through companies and sites. Each company and site has a unique
set of programs that handle transactions within this area of the organization.
A company is a related section of business functions. How you structure companies within the Epicor ERP
application reflects how your organization runs its various areas of business activity. A company could represent
a product line, a different location, a recent acquisition, and so on. A site defines a location, like a distribution
or manufacturing center, for which your organization needs to separately record and track transactions.
Tip To use multiple companies and sites, you must have the Multi-Site module. This module contains the
programs and network protocols that allow companies to share global records like customers and invoices.
You create companies using the Epicor Administration Console. Use this separate program to create the SQL
databases and application servers that run the Epicor ERP application. You can then create multiple companies
for each application server. After you set up the companies through this console, they appear the next time you
log into the Epicor ERP application. You then launch the Company Maintenance and Company Configuration
programs to define the system and module options for each company.
Each company can have multiple sites, and unlike companies, you create sites within the Epicor ERP application.
You launch the Site Maintenance and Site Configuration programs to define the system and module options
for each site.
This section of the course guides you through how you set up the companies and sites that make up your
organization. It also illustrates how you grant users access to specific companies and sites.
17
System Setup
This address information is used on various reports and records to identify they originate from this company.
3. If this company will use Service Connect, define how the current company links to this separate application
through the fields in the Service Connect Options group box.
a. Server - Enter the server where Epicor Service Connect is installed. For this workshop, enter EpicorSI.
b. User and Password - Now enter the user account that can access the Service Connect server. For this
workshop, enter admin for the User and leave the Password blank.
c. To verify the connection works, click the Test Connection button.
d. The UBAQ Workflow Package is the folder on the Service Connect server that contains the workflow
processes required to modify data through updatable business activity queries (BAQs). If you will use
Service Connect to update business activity queries, select the package you need from this drop-down
list.
When users enter data through a dashboard that has an external BAQ, this workflow package connects
the company with the external Service Connect application.
4. The options available in the Activity Tracking group box indicate how you want to record user actions at
the current company.
a. System Activities - Select this check box. The activity log now track updates to the application like BAQ
definitions, dashboard definitions, customizations, BPM directives, and so on.
b. Personalization - Select this check box. The activity log trackers user personalizations in the current
company.
Tip You review each system and personalization change through the System Activity Log
Tracker.
Menu Path: System Setup > Security Maintenance > System Activity Log
5. If this company will run Enterprise Search, use the fields in this group box to link this company to the
search index. Enterprise Search is an optional search feature which you can use to retrieve indexed content
from within your Epicor ERP application and then quickly launch specific programs to display the data
returned from the search.
a. Search URL - Defines the Uniform Resource Locator (URL) for Enterprise Search. For example:
http://EpicorApps:8098/search/default
b. Global URL - Verify this check box is selected. This indicates the Search URL is the global location for
Enterprise Search. Users can then search for records located in other companies within your organization.
6. Now use the Web Access section to indicate how this company connects with the web form version of the
Epicor ERP application.
a. Web Access URL - Defines the uniform resource locator for the Epicor Web Access forms. For example:
http://lis-t60/EpicorWeb
b. MetaData Output Path - Defines the directory location used by this company to receive metadata.
When metadata generates through Epicor Web Access, this metadata is stored in this directory path.
For example: C:\Inetpub\wwwroot\EpicorWebAccess
18
System Setup
7. If this company uses Epicor Enterprise Performance Canvas, use the Performance Canvas URL field to
indicate the web location that contains this company's performance canvases.
Each performance canvas is a visual display of selected information from your Epicor database. To use this
functionality, the Epicor Enterprise Performance Canvas must be installed and active on your system.
8. Use the fields in the Social Enterprise section to define how this company interacts with the Epicor Social
Enterprise (ESE) application. Epicor Social Enterprise is an information network designed to support
information exchange across your business enterprise. Available options:
a. Social Enterprise URL - Indicates the URL for the Epicor Social Enterprise website associated with this
Epicor ERP application. Users who access Epicor Social Enterprise from within the Epicor ERP application
connect to ESE through this website. Your Epicor Social Enterprise administrator will have the URL you
enter in this field.
b. Notification Source ID - Indicates the name of the notification source created by the Epicor Social
Enterprise administrator to connect to this Epicor ERP application. When users access Epicor Social
Enterprise functionality from within the Epicor ERP application, the notification source named here, along
with the URL specified in Social Enterprise URL field, enable interactions with the Epicor Social Enterprise
website. Your Epicor Social Enterprise administrator will have the notification source ID you enter in this
field.
9. When you finish defining the general settings, click Save.
19
System Setup
d. You can connect to the SMTP Server using the following ways:
Authenticate Anonymously - used for performing anonymous access to your exchange server. In
order to use this feature, anonymous access must be allowed on the SMTP server.
Use Specified Credentials - used to connect to your email server using the specified account. When
selected, this option enables User and Password fields. Use these fields to enter your SMTP account
credentials.
If Use Specified Credentials is selected, but no User name is entered, the application uses the AppPool
account to connect to SMTP server.
5. The Form Print Options group box contains fields that define how reporting is handled in the current
company.
a. Allowed Report Style - Use this drop-down list to select what report generation systems are available
to use in the company. Select SSRS Only.
Tip You can also select the Crystal and SSRS option. Use this option if you used Crystal Reports
in a previous Epicor version, and you need to run these legacy Crystal Reports while your
organization makes the transition into SSRS reports.
b. Work Station Method - This selection defines what method is used to calculate the workstation ID.
The method determines what reports a user can print or preview in the System Monitor. For this
workshop, select Machine Name + User ID.
c. Epicor SSRS URL - This value defines the uniform resource locator (URL) the current company uses for
the Epicor SQL Server Report Portal web site.
Tip Use the Configure Epicor SSRS Service Utility to verify the URL you enter in this field. To
do this, press the Windows + F keys to display the Charms bar. Select the Configure Epi SSRS
Service icon to display the Configure Epicor SQL Report Monitor. Review the value in the Epi
SSRS site field.
6. The Auto-Print Defaults section indicate the default printers used for printing reports and labels.
a. Reports Printer - Select the default printer this company uses for reports. Whenever a user within the
selected company prints a report, the report is sent to this printer machine.
b. Labels Printer - Select the default printer this company uses to print out label forms. Whenever a user
within this company prints labels, the labels are sent to this printer machine.
7. When you finish setting up the email and form options, click Save.
Define Attachments
Use the Attachments sheet to indicate where you store files attached to emails within the current company.
You can attach files to various
records throughout the application. These files are stored in either a server directory
location or a SharePoint site library. When users attach these files, they save within this central location to ensure
other users in the company can access these file attachments. During this workshop, you will set up a SharePoint
site library.
20
System Setup
Tip For more information on how you set up the entire document attachment system, review the Enterprise
Content Management chapter in the Epicor Implementation User Guide.
1. Click the Attachments sheet.
2. In this environment, attachments will be stored in a SharePoint library. However if the attachments will be
stored in a file system folder, use the fields in the File System Location section to define the location of
this field.
a. To activate this storage option, select the Enable File System check box.
b. Now enter the Default Base URL for this file system location. The value you enter is a directory path
on your server; this folder will be the repository for attachment files when you use a central file system.
For example: \\myserver\sharedfolder\attachments
3. The attachments will be stored in a SharePoint library, so use the fields in the SharePoint Integration
section to set up this library.
a. Select the Enable SharePoint check box.
b. Now enter the SharePoint Site for the current company. This web site location defines the repository
that will contain the attached files. Enter http://epicorsi/EpicorDocuments/_layouts/15/start.aspx#/ in this
field.
c. Click the Create Site Library button. The SharePoint library is created and attachments are stored in
this site library.
4. Select the Allow Default Document check box to indicate attachments can be dragged onto the
Attachments nodes on the tree view for a specific record. Users can then right-click the tree view in an
entry or maintenance program and attach a file to the current record.
5. You then need to define the storage Method when users attach a file to a record. Select the SharePoint
Document option.
Available options:
File System Document - The attachment is automatically saved to the Default Base URL directory path.
SharePoint Document - The attachment is automatically saved to the SharePoint Site location.
Attachment Link - Causes a default attachment value to populate the File Name field on the Attachment
window.
6. When you finish defining the attachment options, click Save.
21
System Setup
Tip For more information about creating external datasources, review the External Datasource
Maintenance topics in the application help.
3. If you do not want to run security checking against the selected datasource, select the Skip Filter check
box.
4. Likewise if you want to skip security for a specific group in the datasource, navigate to the Filter Groups
grid and select the Skip Filter check box.
5. If the selected filter group uses a BAQ constant to filter data, you can use the Filter Definitions grid to
override this constant. The current value of the BAQ constant displays in the ConstantValue field. To do
this, clear the Use Default check box.
6. Enter a custom constant in the FilterValue field.
7. When you finish defining the BAQ external databases and their filters, click Save.
22
System Setup
7. Likewise, click the Fiscal Calendar... button to find and select the base fiscal calendar you will use with this
company. The financial records users enter in this company then follow this financial schedule.
Tip You create fiscal calendars in Fiscal Calendar Maintenance. Review the application help or the
Epicor Implementation User Guide for more information about how to create these calendars.
Menu Path: Financial Management > General Ledger > Setup > Fiscal Calendar
8. Click the Employment Code drop-down list to select either the 941 (Option R) or the 944 (Option F) tax
form.
The option you select depends on the tax form this company will file. Your selection is used when W2 forms
are exported by W2 Processing to generate the W2 files.
9. Select the Kind of Employer radio button to define tax exempt status, if needed, for the company. By
default, the None Apply radio button option is selected.
10. When you finish modifying the company details, click Save.
23
System Setup
3. The rest of the tabs organize the options by module groups. For example, click on the Sales tab.
Sheets for each module within this group display.
4. You can now access the options for the Quote, Order, CRM, Case Management, and Demand modules.
You would use the module sheets to configure how the current company interacts with each module.
5. When you finish making changes to the company configuration, click Save.
24
System Setup
To add more than one site record through this program, license the Multi-Site module. You can then set up as
many sites as you need for each company.
Create a Site
During this workshop, you add a new site to the current company.
1. Navigate to Site Maintenance.
Menu Path: System Setup > Company/Site Maintenance > Site Maintenance
2. Click the Down Arrow next to the New button; select New Site.
The fields on the Detail > Detail sheet activate for data entry.
3. Enter the Site ID that will help you quickly identify this site. Enter XXX_Site (where XXX are your initials).
This value displays throughout the application within various programs and reports.
4. For the Name, enter XXX Site (where XXX are your initials).
5. If another site will performance equipment maintenance at the new site, select a Maintenance Site from
the drop-down list.
This optional value is available if you use the Maintenance Management module. You select a maintenance
site when the current company has multiple sites and a maintenance team is responsible for maintaining
the equipment at one or more site locations. You then consolidate the maintenance demands through one
site. If you do not select a maintenance site, maintenance transactions are handled by the current site.
6. You now define various production and scheduling details for this site. For example, click the Scheduling
Send Ahead For drop-down list and select Production.
This options specifies if the start-to-start job operation offset will be used for Production or Setup time.
If you choose Production, the production time of the secondary operation is scheduled to start XXX
minutes (where XXX is the number of minutes defined in the operation) after the production starts on
the primary operation.
If you choose Setup, a secondary operation with a start-to-start relationship will schedule setup to begin
XXX minutes (where XXX is the number of minutes defined in the operation) after the production starts
on the primary operation.
Tip For more information on the fields on the Planning group box, review the Site Maintenance
topics, the Scheduling Technical Reference Guide, and the MRP Technical Reference Guide. This
documentation is available in the application help.
7. Select a Production Calender for the new site. This calendar determines how many hours for production
are available each week. Click the Calendar ID... button.
The Production Calendar Search window displays.
8. Click Search.
The production calendars available in your Epicor ERP application display in the Search Results grid.
9. Select the D5H16 (5 Days 16 Hrs per day) option and click OK.
This calendar indicates that this site has 16 hours of production capacity available five days each week.
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System Setup
10. Enter your name in the Manager Name field. This value identifies the person in charge of this new site.
11. Click on the Address sheet to enter the Mailing Address and Phone/Fax details for the new site. Place
an address in these fields.
12. Now click the GL Controls tab.
You use this sheet to select the general ledger controls used to record financial transactions for the new
site. GL controls define the account and journal contexts used to generate GL accounts for the site.
13. To add a new GL control, click the Down Arrow next to the New button; select New Site GL Control.
14. Click the Type... button to select the GL Control Type that contains the general ledger controls you wish
to use.
15. Now click the Control... button to select a general ledger control available in this general ledger control
type.
16. When you finish setting up the site, click Save.
2. Click the Site... button to find and select your new XXX_Site (where XXX are your initials).
The XXX_Site record populates the sheets in this program.
3. Click on the Modules tab to access the configuration sheets for each module. Work with your distribution
and production managers to determine the values to define for each module.
26
System Setup
4. Notice tabs organize the options relating to Inventory, Time and Expense, Production, Advanced
Material Management (AMM), and Shipping/Receiving. Some tabs have multiple child sheets that
contain several options. For example, select the Inventory Management tab.
5. You use the General > Detail tab to define the warehouses the site uses
a. For the Receiving warehouse, select Receiving Area.
b. For the Shipping warehouse, select Shipping Area.
c. For the DMR Processing and Inspection warehouses, select Inspection Area.
d. For the General warehouse, select Main.
Tip To learn about the rest of the fields on this sheet, review the Site Configuration Control >
Modules > Inventory Management > General > Detail topic in the application help.
6. You can define a number of items on the other Inventory Management sheets:
a. Use the Shared Warehouses sheet to indicate which remote warehouses share inventory with this site.
b. You use the Transfer Definition and Transfer Resources sheets to define transfer orders by setting
up the definitions for transferring part quantities and the resources involved in transfer orders.
c. You define the Serial Tracking and Cycle Counting for parts manufactured and/or distributed through
each site.
7. Click on the Time and Expense tab.
These settings determine whether labor hours and/or incurred expenses entered by employees require
approval by other authorized employees. If approval is required, you also define approver rights.
8. Now click the Production Management tab.
These settings define the prefixes used on unfirm, firm, and kanban jobs at the site. You can also define
some production yield parameters and other production options.
9. Use the Maintenance Management sheet to determine the job template for maintenance jobs at this site.
You can also enter a job prefix for the maintenance jobs; this prefix automatically displays in front of the
generated job numbers.
10. Click on the Advanced Material Management (AMM) tab.
You use these settings to indicate how the site interacts with the Material Request Queue and other AMM
functionality.
11. Click on the Shipping/Receiving tab.
Through this functionality, you enter the various manifests this site uses for General, International, FedEx,
and UPS shipping. You also define how shipment Billing is handled by the current site.
12. When you finish modifying the site configuration parameters, click Save.
27
System Setup
2. In the User ID field, enter XXX_User (where XXX are your initials).
3. Navigate to the Company > Detail sheet.
4. From the tree view, select the EPIC06 company.
5. Notice your new site displays in the Available Sites list. Highlight the XXX Site (where XXX are your initials)
and click the Right Arrow button.
6. You need add a company to this user account. Click the Down Arrow next to the New button; select New
Company.
7. Now click the Company drop-down list and select the Epicor Financial Co.
8. If the user will use the Manufacturing Execution System (MES), select the appropriate Employee for this
user at this company; select David L. Brown.
This employee record will be used for MES transactions entered by the current user.
Tip You create the employee records that appear on this drop-down list in Shop Employee
Maintenance.
Menu Path: Production Management > Job Management > Setup > Employee
9. Optionally, select a Work Station for this user account. Workstations, or packing stations, establish the
scale and manifest interface for shipping and receiving at this company. If the user is involved with shipping
and receiving, select the work station for the user. Select the Shipping Station option.
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System Setup
Note You create the workstation records that appear on this drop-down list in Workstation
Maintenance.
Menu Path: Material Management > Shipping / Receiving > Setup > Workstation
10. If this user can update time and/or expense records for employees in this company, select the Can Update
Time for All Employees and/or Can Update Expenses for All Employees check boxes. For this workshop,
do not select either check box.
11. Now determine the sites this user can access. The Available Sites list displays the current sites in the selected
company. Highlight Main from the list and click the Right Arrow button.
12. Click Save.
4. Click Save.
5. Close User Account Security Maintenance.
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System Agents
Use System Agent Maintenance to modify the system agent, define schedules that occur during specific
intervals, and create rules to divide processing between different application servers. A powerful tool, use System
Agent Maintenance to streamline the flow of data throughout your company.
When you first install the Epicor ERP application or update your existing application, the system agent is
automatically created. You use the Detail sheet to modify how the system agent interacts with the application
server. You can have only one system agent, so you cannot delete it. However if the system agent is accidentally
deleted by an external method, you can create a new agent using System Agent Maintenance.
You will primarily use System Agent Maintenance to define schedules users select on reports, processes, and
executive queries. Each schedule is set up to activate at regular, specific intervals - seconds, minutes, days, weeks,
and months. When the system clock activates a schedule, all the tasks assigned to this schedule run. Depending
on the task, this could cause a specific report to generate and print, a business activity query to export, a global
alert to be sent, and so on.
What Can Be Automated
Many reports and process programs throughout the application have a Schedule list. If a program has this list,
you can automate it through the system agent.
All schedules you create through System Agent Maintenance appear on this Schedule list. To automate the
program, first select the Recurring check box. This activates the Schedule list. When you select a schedule other
than Now, this program is added to the selected schedule's tasks. When the system agent launches the selected
schedule, this program runs automatically.
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6. Use the Processing Delay field to regulate how long the system agent waits before looking for new tasks.
Enter 30 (seconds) in this field.
If you have a fast server that can accommodate the network traffic, enter a lower number. A value of 10
indicates ten seconds must pass before the system agent looks for new tasks to run; a value of 60 indicates
a minute must pass before the next batch of tasks is processed.
7. The User Name and Password fields define the name and password of the user who logs onto the
application server (AppServer). Enter the user name and password combination in these fields; this account
is validated against the existing user accounts in the database. If the application cannot find a valid user
name/password combination, an error message displays.
Important This user account must also have permission to use the system agent. You set up this
permission within User Account Security Maintenance; find the user account you need, navigate
to the Options sheet, and select the Allow Session Impersonation check box.
8. You next define the various directories used with the application server connection. The Server File Directory
defines the root directory for files created by tasks run by the system agent. This directory should be a shared
location. Typically it is a local directory located on the same machine that runs the application server. For
example, C:\EpicorData10.
9. The Client File Directory is the name of the root directory for common client files such as configuration,
photos, and drawings. This should be a shared directory, normally on the same machine where the application
server is running. For example: \\Server\EpicorData10
10. The Client Program Directory defines the location of the server deployment directory. You must enter
this path using the UNC convention. Typically this value uses the \\Server\Epicor10\Server format.
11. The Status group box indicates the current state of the system agent and when it was started.
12. When you finish modifying the system agent details, click Save.
Create a Schedule
You can create as many schedules as you need. These schedules display as options on reports, processes, and
other tasks you can link to a recurring schedule.
1. Click the Down Arrow next to the New button; select New Schedule.
2. The Schedules > Detail sheet displays.
3. The Schedule Number defines each schedule as it is added to the system agent. This number is automatically
assigned.
4. Enter a Description for the schedule. For this workshop you need a schedule that runs once every Sunday,
so you enter Sunday Tasks in this field.
5. Click the Next Run drop-down list to define the first date during which this schedule should run. Select
today's date.
6. Select a Schedule Type. You can select Interval (hours/minutes/seconds), Daily, Weekly, or Monthly
schedule types. Select the Weekly type.
The Weekly sheet becomes active.
7. You want this schedule to run one time each week. Enter a "1" in the Recur every <value> week(s) field.
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Your new schedule is available throughout the application. Users can select it on reports, processes, executive
queries, and process sets.
Select a Schedule
After you enter the schedules, you can set up programs to run using a specific schedule. These programs
automatically refresh and generate data when the schedule activates them.
During this workshop, you set up the Production Detail report to automatically generate its data through the
weekly Sunday schedule you previously created.
1. Navigate to the Production Detail report.
Menu Path: Production Management > Job Management > Reports > Production Detail
2. Select the Schedule during which you want this report to generate. Because you want this report to generate
on Sunday, select the Sunday Tasks schedule.
3. You now indicate you want this report to run each time the system agent launches the Sunday Task schedule.
To do this, select the Recurring check box.
4. Lastly indicate these selections are the default values you want for this report. From the Actions menu,
select Save Defaults.
Tip Additional options are available on this Actions menu. To restore the program to its original
parameters, select Get Defaults. To clear the current default parameters, select Remove Defaults.
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Process Sets
Use Process Set Maintenance to create process sets; these records group together related tasks you want to
run automatically.
You mainly use process sets when you have tasks that need to run through a specific sequence. Process sets can
contain an extensive number of tasks - like reports, processes, and executive queries. When the process set is
activated by the system agent, these tasks automatically run in the sequence you define.
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6. Optionally, select the Allow Simultaneous Processing of Tasks check box to cause the process set to
asynchronously run and complete tasks.
These tasks run at the same time, improving performance. Activating this option causes the application to
ignore the task sequence defined in the Process Set Tasks grid. For this workshop, do not select this check
box.
Tip If the tasks only generate a small amount of data and you have the system resources to handle
these tasks simultaneously, consider selecting this check box.
7. As tasks are added to this process set, they display within the Process Set Tasks grid. However no tasks
are currently added to this process set, so the grid is empty.
8. Click Save.
9. Close the program.
This process set is now available. Executive queries, processes, and reports can be added to this process set.
35
13. Now review the sequence this process set uses when it launches each task. Return to Process Set
Maintenance.
Menu Path: System Management > Process Sets > Process Set Maintenance
Important This program is not available in the Epicor Web Access.
14. Click the Process Set ID button to find and select the JobTasks process set.
15. The tasks you added to this process set display within the Process Set Tasks grid.
Notice each task is assigned a number. In this example, the Job Traveler is run first, the Auto Job Closing
Process is run second, and the Auto Job Completion Process is run third. When a schedule activates this
process set, the tasks launch in this order.
16. You want the Job Traveler to print after the close and complete processes. Highlight the Job Traveler and
click the Move Down button until the Job Traveler is below the Auto Job Completion Process.
17. Click Save.
When the process set activates, it now processes the tasks in this sequence:
1.
2.
3.
Job Traveler
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System Monitor
Use the System Monitor to verify the processes, reports, and other scheduled tasks you have run.
This program interacts with the data by displaying items scheduled to run within your Epicor ERP application.
The sheets in the System Monitor display records that indicate a specific program such as a report, executive
query, or process (for example, Process MRP) is run. The status of the record determines the sheet where each
record displays. Use the System Monitor to do the following tasks:
Manage - Review the status of the item being run.
Preview - Click the Print Preview button to preview a report/form on your screen before it prints. This
functionality is only available on the Reports sheet.
Print - Click the Print button to print a generated report/form. You can also reprint reports/forms. Use this
function to reprint a report (for instance, the Stock Status Report) from a previous date. This functionality is
only available on the Reports sheet.
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The System Monitor is an important tool that helps you manage tasks sent to the server - both manual and
automatic tasks. Use this program to verify data processing generates as expected.
38
Security
Security
You use the security tools to control user access to the Epicor ERP application.
Through the security feature set, you can:
Protect sensitive data.
Guard against users accidentally making harmful changes.
Grant users access to the programs, reports, and processes they need to perform their specific tasks, streamlining
their use of the Epicor ERP application.
Prevent users from accessing areas of the Epicor ERP application that fall outside of their work functions.
You leverage both Security Group Maintenance and User Account Maintenance to set up security levels. You
can then grant users, or groups of users, security privileges for specific areas in the application. Security privileges
can be set at the menu, field, business object, and method levels.
To manage security, you can run the Menu Security report and the System Activity Log to review the security
settings within the current company. You can then make adjustments to the security settings you need.
39
Security
Security Privileges
This section of the course describes how you establish security privileges for users within your current company.
Company Security
If your organization has multiple companies, you will need to set up security separately within each company.
The users within each company will then access the Epicor ERP application using the security plan you have
defined.
Note each database will have at least one company in it. During installation, the Epicor ERP application automatically
creates a blank company (TEST) and a single user (EPICOR) with Security Manager privileges in every database.
You can then successfully log into the Epicor ERP application for the first time.
2. Click New.
3. In the Group Code field, enter XXX_PROD (where XXX are your initials).
This defines the identifier used for the security group.
4. In the Description field, enter _Production Staff.
This text displays within the security programs, so enter a brief, concise explanation for the group in this
field.
40
Security
Tip If you place an underscore (_) or a period (.) in front of the Description, the security group sorts
to the top of the list in the security programs. This makes the new security group much easier to find.
5. Click Save.
6. Exit Security Group Maintenance.
You have now created the Production Staff security group. You will select this group in various programs during
the next workshops.
41
Security
User Security
Launch User Account Security Maintenance to assign users to both security privileges and security groups.
The security privileges give a specific user access to various Epicor ERP application features. For example, you can
give a user access to the customization tools, but not allow this user to make language string changes. You can
also give a user Security Manager rights; this user can then modify security settings for other users.
Through the security group functionality, you can assign a single user to multiple security groups. When you
allow or disallow a security group on security sheets in other programs, the users assigned to this security group
will either have access or have no access to functionality assigned to the security group.
Security Manager
The Security Manager status is a special permission granted to certain users. If your user account has these rights,
you can modify menu and process security options to restrict a module, program, or process to specific users.
The Epicor ERP application restricts access to the System Management module; the programs used to create a
security strategy are available within this module. Epicor creates a single user (manager) with security manager
privileges in every database. This default record is created during installation, and you use this account to create
user account records - including other accounts that have the Security Manager status.
As a good business practice, you should not give yourself Security Manager access on your normal user account.
This ensures the menu choices you make on your normal login are appropriate for your typical daily routine. It
also ensures that other employees do not grant security access to themselves when you are away from your
computer. Instead, create a separate Security Manager account that you only use for security tasks.
42
Security
1. In the User ID field, enter XXX_User (where XXX are your initials).
2. You can limit what this user sees on the Main Menu by entering a value in the Client Side Menu ID field.
Enter a menu identifier for either a sub-menu or a program. Enter XAMN2000 in this field.
When this user launches the Epicor ERP application, only the contents under the specific sub-menu identifier
or the specific program appear on the Main Menu.
Tip You can find the specific menu identifier you need within Menu Maintenance. This program is
described later within this course.
43
Security
15. In the Access Options group box, verify the Allow Password Change check box is selected.
Use the check boxes in the Access Options group box to allow or prevent this user from updating the login
password. You can also allow this user to view information within a web browser, mobile device, and
enterprise-wide searches.
16. In the System Options group box, verify the Can Maintain Favorites Programs and Can Change Save
Settings On Exit check boxes are selected.
With these permissions selected, users can add program tiles to the Favorites box and define default options
like automatic data processing on reports, processes, and executive queries.
17. After you finish defining the options, click Save.
Tip To learn more about each security privilege available on this sheet, review the User Account Maintenance
> Options topic in the application help.
44
Security
Assign Security
You explore how to assign security to programs, processes, and fields during this section of the course.
You assign security through the following features:
Run Time Arguments - Limit access to a specific menu node on a client installation.
Menu Maintenance - Use security groups and user accounts to prevent or allow access to specific programs.
Process Security Maintenance - Use security groups and user accounts to prevent or allow access to specific
business objects (Iike customers, parts, sales orders, and so on) and/or methods within these business object
(like Get New, Update, Delete, and so on).
Field Security Maintenance - Use security groups and user accounts to prevent or allow access to specific
fields in programs.
45
Security
to display only these specific functions or when you want to set up additional licenses separate from the general
user pool.
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1.
If a user is assigned to security group _Production Staff, which allows access to the Engineering Workbench,
and security group Purchasing, which does not, the user will still be able to launch the Engineering
Workbench. The security group with more access overrides the security group with less access.
2.
Likewise, if a user is assigned rights to a program, but is assigned to a security group which is not, the user
is still able to launch the program. User rights have precedence over group rights.
3.
The Allow Access mode also has precedence over the Disallow Access mode. You select these modes in
the Menu Maintenance, Process Security Maintenance, and Field Security Maintenance programs.
Security
4. Click the Down Arrow next to the New button and select New Security.
5. In the Security ID field, enter UD_XXX (where XXX are your initials).
6. In the Description field, enter Prevent Financial Access.
This value briefly describes the purpose of the new security code.
7. The Current Company Only check box to apply this security code against the Main Menu structure for
the current company. For this workshop, do not select this check box.
If this check box is selected, only users with access through this security code can display and launch the
programs within this company node, but this security code is not applied against other companies. If the
Current Company Only check box is not selected (check box is clear), this security code is applied against
all companies.
8. Notice the Security Manager Access Only option. Do not select this option for this workshop. However
this option is useful when you are first setting up security, as it blocks all access until you create a security
plan. As described previously in the course, you assign security rights to user accounts within User Account
Security Maintenance.
9. Select the Exclude Epicor Web Access check box. This prevents users assigned to this security code from
launching the Epicor ERP application through an internet browser.
10. Verify the Allow Access sheet is active.
47
Security
Important You can use either the Allow Access and Disallow sheets to assign security; remember
the Allow Access method overrides the Disallow Access method. If a user is assigned to both sheets,
the user has access to the programs assigned to this security code.
48
Security
49
Security
50
Security
2. Click the Schema drop-down list and select the Erp schema option.
3. In the Table field, enter ShipVia and press <Tab>.
The Description field displays the purpose of the selected table.
4. In the tree view, select the Description field.
The Field Name displays the name of the selected field.
Tip If the Primary Key check box is selected, it indicates the current field is required by the database.
You cannot change the security option for a Primary Key field; usually these fields are for identifiers
like the customer ID, part ID, and so on. However the Description field is not a primary key, so for this
example, the check box is clear.
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Security
52
Security
4. Click the Code... button and find/select all the ship via codes.
The ship via codes display in the tree view. You can now see each of the security settings you defined for
the _Production Staff security group.
5. The Description field displays a value, but you cannot change it.
6. You can enter a value in the Web Description field.
7. A Carrier option displays, but you cannot click on the drop-down list to change this option.
8. The Intrastat Code does not display a value and you cannot enter text in this field.
Security Management
You can use the Menu Security report to review the security settings defined for your organization and the System
Activity Log to monitor user database activity.
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Security
54
Customization Management
Customization Management
The Epicor ERP application contains a diverse suite of customization tools. Through these tools, users can modify
the application to better reflect the needs of your organization and industry.
Customization refers to a series of related tools embedded in the Epicor ERP application. The customization tools:
Personalization - Each user has limited access to personalize the look of programs and grid layouts. Certain
users can also have additional personalization rights to modify how fields are placed on the interface. These
changes are linked to a specific user account, so other users cannot access these personalized programs.
Customization - Users can also create customization layers of programs which are available to the entire
company. Besides manipulating program interfaces, users can also add new fields and entire sheets to programs.
They can also enter custom code that runs unique processes.
Styling - Users can modify the look and feel of the application through the styling tools. Users with styling
rights can create new themes that change the color, font, and other characteristics of the interface. This
functionality is typically used to differentiate between companies and sites available in the Epicor ERP application.
Dashboards - Through the dashboard functionality, users with dashboard developer rights can create custom
views of data. They can first create a custom business activity query (BAQ) that pulls in data from one or
multiple tables. These BAQs can be read only views or updatable BAQs through which users can enter company
specific data. These users then define what columns display from each BAQ and they can also create calculated
fields to further customize the data results. These BAQs can then be placed on custom dashboards where the
data is further organized through grids and charts. If the BAQ is updatable, these dashboards can be custom
entry programs.
Localization - The localization tools display the interface using different language and culture options. These
users can change the base strings to the selected language, and then update specific strings to reflect usage
specific to a region or culture.
Business Process Management (BPM) - By creating method, data, and updatable BAQ directives, users can
better manage data transactions. Users can intercept data before it's recorded to a database, send alert
messages to selected users, and other automatic data monitoring tasks.
Help Annotations - The application help system can be customized to document processes and procedures
specific to your company or area within your company. Each topic in the application help can contain two
annotations, a User annotation and a Company annotation. User annotations are personalized help notes
linked to a user account; only the specific user can display these annotations. Company annotations are
custom help notes available for all users in a specific company.
Solution Management - When users finish customizing the application, they need a way to distribute their
new items custom programs, business objects, new dashboards, Business Process Management directive
groups, user-defined codes, extended properties, and so on at the same time. Users can bundle these items
together using the Solution Workbench. This program can track current user's activity, for example, new
dashboards, and then automatically add these items into the solution. Another way of adding objects is to
select existing database items, such as previously created customizations, menu items, and so on. Users then
bundle these items together by creating a .cab file. This single file can be distributed and imported into another
Epicor ERP application environment.
You grant users different levels of customization rights through User Security Maintenance. By controlling who
can modify the Epicor ERP application, you reduce the chance an issue occurs from a poorly created customization,
personalization, and dashboard. You also have a better idea of what customization layers are added to the system,
so you can prepare these custom programs for a smooth transition when you upgrade the system.
This section of the course explores how you manage customization rights. It also shows you the management
programs available for monitoring the personalizations, customizations, dashboards, and help annotations. The
section concludes with Solution Management overview - through this section you will learn how to use solution
types, get to know predefined solution elements, and add custom items into the solution.
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Customization Management
2. Click the User ID... button to find and select the XXX_User account (where XXX are your initials).
3. Click the Options sheet.
This sheet displays the privileges available for each user account.
4. To grant access to the customization tools, select the Customize Privileges check box.
This user can then switch the Epicor ERP application to Developer Mode and create customization layers
for most programs.
5. Select the Allow Personalization check box to give this user access to Personalization mode.
This user can then change fonts, font sizes, colors, and tab stops on program interfaces; these changes only
appear when the user logs in with this account.
6. To grant localization privileges, select the Allow Translation check box.
This user can then select different language sets for the text strings displayed throughout the application.
This user can also run the Translation Utility to modify the default language strings to reflect regional
spellings and phrases.
Important Selecting this check box slows down performance. This option causes the translation
functionality to load with each form. As a best practice, create a separate account for this user that
has translation privileges. When the user needs access to Language Maintenance and the other
translation tools, the user logs in with this specific translation account.
7. Select the Dashboard Developer check box to give the current user right to switch the dashboard program
into Designer Mode.
This user can then modify existing dashboards or create new ones.
8. To give this user access to the entire business process management (BPM) feature set, select the BPM
Advanced User check box.
This user can then work with the source code that runs each method directive.
9. Select the BAQ Advanced User check box to indicate the current user can create updatable business activity
queries (BAQs).
This user can then create BAQs that allow data entry; these BAQs can then be placed on dashboards to
create custom entry programs.
Important To create updatable BAQs, the current user must also have BPM Advanced User rights.
Because updatable BAQs run through business process management (BPM) methods, the current user
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requires permission for both advanced BPM and advanced BAQ to create and modify updatable BAQs.
This user can also create BPM methods that activate when users enter or modify data through an
updatable BAQ.
10. Select the Allow Creation of Cross Company BAQ check box to give this user the ability to build BAQs
that can store data from multiple companies.
11. Select the Can Build Solutions check box to indicate a user can build a solution in the Solution Workbench
by exporting and packaging objects that are part of the solution into a .cab file.
12. To provide a user with the ability to install solutions created in the Solution Workbench, select the Can
Install Solutions check box.
13. To provide a user with the ability to use the solution tracking feature, select the Can Track Solutions check
box. This user can then start tracking Epicor ERP application activity within the Solution Workbench and add
the tracked items into the solution.
14. To give this user access to the styling tools, select the Can Maintain Themes check box. This user can then
modify the look and feel of the application. This feature set is used when a user wants to create different
interface styles for different companies.
15. You define help annotation rights through two check boxes. To give this user permission to write and edit
user annotations, select the Can Edit User Annotations check box; these annotations only display for the
current user account. To give this user rights to create and edit company annotations, select the Can Edit
Company Annotations check box.
16. When you finish, click Save.
The next time this user logs into the Epicor ERP application, the tools you activated for the user account are
available.
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2. Click the Search button to find and select the specific user's personalizations you wish to review; select the
personalizations linked to the Chris Fullerton user account.
The selected personalizations display in the Search Results grid.
3. Click the Select All button and the OK button.
4. Select one of the personalizations.
5. Review the following fields:
a. The Company field displays the name of the company record that contains the personalizations.
b. The Product ID field indicates the Epicor ERP application used to create the personalizations.
c. The User field displays the identifier for the user who created the personalizations.
d. The Type Code indicates what kind of personalization was made to the selected item.
e. The Last Updated By field indicates the user who most recently updated the personalization, and the
Last Updated field displays the date on which this personalization was most recently modified.
f. The Description field contains additional information about the personalization.
g. The Form Name field displays the application filename of the modified program.
6. You can also review this user's activity recorded in Epicor Social Enterprise (ESE). This may help you decide
whether you should remove the personalization. To do this, click Actions > Activity Stream.
7. Click on the Activity Stream tab.
This user's activity displays on this sheet.
8. Remove the selected personalization. click Actions > Purge Selected.
9. If you wanted to delete all the personalizations created by this user, click Actions > Purge All.
The selected personalizations are removed from the Epicor ERP application.
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remove custom program stages you no longer need or remove personalizations made by employees who are no
longer with your company.
If you work in a multi-company environment, you can display and update customizations/personalizations in the
companies for which you have access. Any personalized and customized programs created in the companies
selected on your user account within User Account Security Maintenance display within this program. If you work
in an Epicor Express environment, you can display and update customizations/personalizations made within the
current company.
For System Administrators with Security Manager rights, this program can be used to modify fields and delete
customizations and personalizations. For System Administrators without Security Manager rights, this program
displays in a read-only format.
2. To display customizations and personalizations, click the Name button. The Customization/ Personalization
Search program displays.
3. Click Search.
The customizations and personalizations display in the Search Results grid.
4. Click Select All and then click OK.
The customizations and personalizations populate the tree view.
5. Highlight the first epicor option; this should be personalization created for AR Invoice Entry.
6. The Description field displays the brief explanation entered by the user when the
personalization/customization was created. If you need, you can update the description; enter XXX AR
Invoice Personalization (where XXX are your initials).
7. Review the following fields:
a. The Form Name field contains the .xml filename of the customized or personalized form.
b. The Parent Layer displays the code layer above this customization or personalization. This value is set
and managed by the application and displays for your information. For example, if a user personalized
a customization, the name of the customization displays in this field.
c. The Company field displays the name of the company using the customization/personalization.
d. The Product ID indicates the application that was used to create the customization/personalization
for this example EP (Epicor) displays.
e. The Last Updated By field displays the user who most recently worked on this customized or personalized
program.
8. Select the Work In Progress check box. This check box indicates the modification is not available yet in
Run Mode for users. You can then continue to develop the personalization or customization before releasing
it.
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13. To record changes to the current customized or personalized program, click Save.
14. If you want to remove the selected customization/personalization, click the Delete button. This customized
or personalized program is now completely removed from the application.
Export Customizations
You can use Customization/Personalization Maintenance to export a selected customized or personalized program
into a folder you select. You can also change the name of the exported file.
Typically you export a customization/personalization into a shared folder so other users can then import it into
their application using Customization/ Personalization Maintenance. Review the next workshop section to learn
how to import a customization or personalization.
Important The export file uses a special format that can only be imported within
Customization/Personalization Maintenance. You cannot use this format for importing within the
Customization Tools Dialog.
To export a customization:
1. Clear the Work In Progress check box you selected in the previous section.
2. Click Save.
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Import Customizations
You can use Customization/Personalization Maintenance to import a selected customization or personalization
into your application. You can also change the name of the imported file.
During this exercise, you will import the personalization you previously exported into a different company. You
can then use the customization/personalization as you need in this company. You can indicate it is a Work in
Process customization, modify the imported customization, correct issues, and so on.
To import a customization or personalization:
1. Return to the Menu screen.
2. Notice Epicor Education, Main displays as a link in the upper left corner. Click this link.
The Change Current Company and/or Site window displays.
3. Select the Epicor Distribution, Main Site option.
4. Click the Refresh icon.
The Menu now displays the Epicor Distribution, Main Site location.
5. Navigate to Customization/Personalization Maintenance.
Menu Path: System Management > Upgrade/Mass Regeneration > Customization Maintenance
Important This program is not available in the Epicor Web Access.
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9. Navigate to the EPIC06 > Shared > Export folder. Select the XXXARInvoicePers.xml file you created in the
previous exercise (where XXX are your initials).
10. Click Open.
11. Optionally, enter a New Name for the customized or personalized program. This new name might help
you locate the program later within your application. In this field, enter XXX AR Invoice Entry Personalization
Import.
Tip If you leave this field blank, the imported file uses the name of the file that was exported. If the
Import Customization program finds a file with the same name, you are asked if you want to copy
over the existing file.
Verify Customizations
Use Customization/Personalization Maintenance to verify the selected customization contains valid code and will
run correctly.
1. From the tree view, select the XXX AR Invoice Entry Personalization Import you just imported.
2. Now from the Actions menu, select Verify Customization.
The customization or personalization is run through the verification process. This process launches the
program in a hidden mode that simulates what happens when a user launches the program during Run
Mode.
Tip Notice you can also verify a group of customizations and personalizations. To do this, find and
select several customizations and personalizations. Then click Actions > Verify All.
3. Most likely the Status field (on the Detail sheet) displays Pass. However if this field displays an Error value,
you would next click the Compile/Script Errors tab.
4. The compile errors for this customization display on the Errors grid. You can sort the errors through the
columns on this grid. Review these fields:
a. The Level column indicates the severity of each error. If the Error value displays in this column, it indicates
these items must be fixed before the custom code can successfully compile.
b. The Error Code column displays the C# error code number.
c. The Line# column contains the specific line within the code which generated the compile error.
d. The Warning column displays the specific error that occurred.
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e. The Record Type column indicates the code type which caused the error.
5. You can click the Selected Issue Helper button to display the Customization Data window. Use this
window to correct specific problems with the customization.
6. Now click the Warnings sheet. This sheet displays elements within the customized or personalized program
that did not validate. These elements display within the Warnings grid.
a. The Control Name field defines the elements within the program that could not be verified.
b. The PropName and PropValue fields display the property name and value for the selected property.
c. The Warning field displays why the warning was generated.
d. The Record Type column indicates the code type which caused the error.
7. To remove a specific element from the program, click its Select check box. To remove multiple elements,
choose multiple Select check boxes.
8. To select all the elements that generated warnings, click the Select All button.
9. Now click the Remove Selected Items button. The elements that you selected are removed from the
Warnings grid.
You can now use the Run, Modify, and Show Custom Data features to help you identify these issues. This
functionality is described during the next exercise.
6. Click the Name button. The Customization/ Personalization Search program displays.
7. Click Search.
The customizations and personalizations display in the Search Results grid.
8. Click Select All and then click OK.
The customizations and personalizations populate the tree view.
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9. Now click through the Manager personalizations and select the personalization for the
App.ObjectSecurityEntry.ObjectSecurityForm.
10. To activate the customization in Run Mode, click Actions > Run Customization.
Process Security Maintenance displays in Run Mode. You can now test the customization by entering
data, clicking buttons, and running other actions.
11. Close Process Security Maintenance.
12. You can review the customization or personalization activity recorded in Epicor Social Enterprise (ESE).
This may help you decide what actions you should take on the customization or personalization. To do this,
click Actions > Activity Stream.
13. Click on the Activity Stream tab.
This user's activity displays on this sheet.
14. You can also launch a customization or personalization in Developer Mode. Click Actions > Modify
Customization.
The Select Customization window displays.
15. Select one of the Manager personalizations and click OK.
The personalized program displays.
16. Developer Mode is active, so you can display the customization tools for this program. To do this, click
the Tools menu, select Customization.
The Customization Tools Dialog displays; you can now work on the customized or personalized program
as needed.
17. Close the Customization Tools Dialog and Process Security Maintenance.
Review Dashboards
During the following, you will find and select the uTip dashboard and review its details. This custom dashboard
displays the tips available in the Epicor ERP application. Through this dashboard, users can update existing tips
and add their own tips.
1. Navigate to Dashboard Maintenance.
Menu Path: System Management > Upgrade/Mass Regeneration > Dashboard Maintenance
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8. The fields on the right side of the Detail sheet display additional information, including the global information
for the dashboard.
a. The Global Company identifier displays the company from which the current dashboard originated.
b. The DB Version Number displays the database version used when this dashboard was generated.
c. The Last Updated and Last Deployed fields display the dates on which this dashboard was most
recently changed and deployed to the Menu.
d. If the Global Dashboard check box is selected, it indicates this dashboard is used by multiple companies
in your Epicor ERP application.
9. The Where Used grid displays the locations where this dashboard is currently located on the Menu.
10. To save your updated Description with the dashboard, click Save.
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8. If multiple dashboards display in the tree view, you can deploy them all at once by selecting the Actions >
Deploy All UI Applications option.
9. Select the Actions > Generate Web Form option.
This converts the current dashboard into a program you can display within an internet browser.
10. Select the Actions > Generate All Web Forms option to convert the dashboards currently displayed on
the tree view into web forms accessible from an internet browser.
11. You can also review this user's activity recorded in Epicor Social Enterprise (ESE). To do this, click Actions
> Activity Stream.
12. Click on the Activity Stream tab.
This user's activity displays on this sheet.
13. When you finish managing dashboards, click Save.
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Update an Annotation
Do the following to manage your help annotations.
1. Navigate to Help Annotations Maintenance.
Menu Path: System Setup > System Maintenance > Help Annotations
2. Click the Search button on the Standard toolbar.
The Help Annotation Search window displays.
3. Click Search.
The current annotations display in the Search Results grid.
4. Click Select All and then click OK.
5. Select an annotation from either the tree view or the List sheet.
6. The Detail sheet displays the current information about the annotation.
a. The Help Page Reference field indicates which help topic is linked to the annotation.
b. The Language field indicates the language used when the annotation was created.
c. The Annotation Type defines whether the annotation is a Company or User annotation.
d. The Created By fields display who first entered the help or course annotation and the date on which it
was entered.
e. The Modified fields display the identifier for the user who last updated the annotation and the date on
which it was updated.
7. Now enter changes you need to make in the Annotation field. For this workshop, enter "Valid process for
Epicor 10."
8. Click Save.
The help annotation is updated with your change.
Continue to review and update other annotations as you need.
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Element
Description
Parent
BusinessObject
Table Name
BAQ
QueryHdr
BAQReport
Ice.Contracts.BO.DynamicReport
BpDirective
Ice.Contracts.BO.BpMethod
BpDirective
Ice.Contracts.BO.BAQDesigner
Element
Description
Customization Management
Parent
BusinessObject
Table Name
DashBdDef
Ice.Contracts.BO.DashBoard
IPForm
IPForm
Ice.Contracts.BO.InfoPromptForm
Menu
Menu
Ice.Contracts.BO.Menu
Report
Ice.Contracts.BO.Report
ReportStyle
Ice.Contracts.BO.Report
ReportStyle
Ice.Contracts.BO.RptDataDef
Security
Ice.Contracts.BO.Security
Security
Ice.Contracts.BO.GenXData
ZBODef
Ice.Contracts.BO.ZBODef
ZDataSet
Ice.Contracts.BO.ZDataSet
ZDataTable
Ice.Contracts.BO.ZDataTable
ZDataTable
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Tip You can also replicate an existing element by using the Actions > Copy Delivered Element option.
Through this feature, you could make some modifications to the duplicated element. You can then track
something not specifically tracked by the default solution elements. For more information, review the
Element Maintenance topics within the application help.
If you use this example in your environment and you install help annotations that do not apply, you could launch
Help Annotation Maintenance to remove annotations you do not need.
Description
ALL
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Solution
Type
Description
<blank>
This type does not filter activity by elements. Instead, it tracks an activity of a user in the
Epicor ICE environment, which includes performing insert, update and delete operations
against ICE tables.
Important When you select this type in the Solution Workbench, the Tracked
sheet displays elements based on the performed activity. You can use this information
to identify and create custom elements you would like to track in a solution later.
With this option selected, the Move Tracked To Solution and Add To Solution
options are disabled in the current solution. The information in the Solution
Workbench displays for your information only.
4. Your custom Annotations element is added to the ALL solution type. From the tree view, select the ALL
solution type.
5. Click on the Solution TypeDetail sheet.
Notice in the ElementID grid, the Annotations element displays in the top row of the grid. You automatically
added this element when you created the record in Solution Element Maintenance.
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2. On the Change Current Tracked Solution window, select the XXXHelpBAQ (where XXX are your initials)
solution record and click OK.
While a solution is actively being tracked it is monitoring the Update, Insert and Delete events the user is
doing within the application or Service Designer. To discontinue tracking for this user, clear the value in the
Solution field.
Tip You can control the solution tracking directly from the status bar. When running the application
using the Classic Style, navigate to Options > Preferences window and select the Solution check
box on. Click OK to activate this option.
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Build a Solution
You are now ready to build your solution.
Before you run this command, finish adding the items and files you want included within your solution.
Your user account must have the Can Build Solution privileges enabled in User Account Security
Maintenance.
To build a solution:
1. Click on the Actions menu and select Build Solution.
The Build Solution window displays.
2. Notice you can define some Settings for the new .cab file:
Encrypt Source Code - Select this check box to create a secure .cab file. The compiled .cab file solution
then contains encrypted project files, preventing materials and property from being viewable during the
distribution process. Even if the project does not build correctly, the files are encrypted and a user cannot
see the files as unencrypted.
Create Code Documentation - Select this check box to automatically generate .xml documentation
for the generated assemblies on custom project items.
Prompt for CAB File Name and Location - Select this check box to display a directory path window.
User this window to define the path where you want to place the .cable file sand enter the filename to
use for the solution. by default the .cab file is created in the application client directory.
3. For this workshop, select the Prompt for CAB File Name and Location checkbox.
4. Click the Build button.
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Install a Solution
You are now ready to install the annotations .cab file in a different company.
The solution you wish to import (.cab file) has been created.
Your user account must have the Can Install Solutions privilege enabled in User Account Security
Maintenance.
To import a solution:
1. Return to the Menu screen.
Now you have to switch the company.
2. Navigate to the Epicor Distribution, Main Site option.
3. Verify the help annotations do not display in this company. Navigate to Count Cycle Maintenance.
Menu Path: Material Management > Inventory Management > General Operations > Count Cycle
Maintenance
4. Press <F1> on your keyboard.
The application help window displays.
5. Click on the Annotations tab.
Notice this topic does not have any help annotations.
6. Close the application help window and Count Cycle Maintenance.
7. Navigate to the Solution Workbench in this company.
Menu Path: System Management > Solution Management > Solution Workbench
8. Click on the Actions menu and select Install Solution.
The Install Solution window displays.
9. Click on the Solution File button to navigate to the folder that contains the generated .cab file. For this
example, navigate to the \\Epicor\ERP10\ERP10.0.100\Client folder.
10. Select the XXXHelpBAQ_CustomerSolution_3.0.1.cab file (where XXX are your initials).
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Tip Notice the ICE version number is added as a suffix to the .cab file name.
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78
Conclusion
Conclusion
Congratulations! You have completed the course.
Please take a moment to let Epicor University know how to serve you better by completing an evaluation at htt
p://www.keysurvey.com/survey/379199/e92f/. Your feedback provides the guidelines for the future direction of
Epicor University offerings.
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