Auto-Print Orders Overview

Batch Printing vs. Auto-Printing

• With Auto-Print OFF, all new orders, recalled orders and released back orders, future orders and held orders are accumulated in a batch until they are scheduled and printed by manually running programs Order Scheduling (OE32) and Print Shipping Documents (OE34).

• With Auto-Print ON in Automatic Mode, these orders are submitted to the Auto-Print Processor (OE33) where they are automatically scheduled and printed without operator intervention. In Automatic Mode, the printer is assigned when Auto-Print is started. Upon completion of an order in OE30, it is automatically passed to the Auto-Print Processor and the operator may immediately begin entry of the next order; no delay is incurred.

• With Auto-Print ON in Manual Mode, orders are submitted to the Auto-Print Processor (OE33) but they are not scheduled or printed until invoked by the operator in OE33. When you START Manual Mode, all orders in the queue are scheduled and listed in the "Orders Ready for Print" list box. Then, when you choose Print, you select a printer and those orders are printed. You might choose to flip to Manual Mode if for some reason you wish to stop the Automatic process and process orders in a batch; it simply saves you running OE32 and OE34 independently.

Activating Auto-Print

• By warehouse, Activate Auto-Processor (OE33) is used to turn auto-printing of orders ON/OFF and to identify the system printer that is dedicated to this job. Once auto-print has been turned ON, the program is typically left running all day. OE33 continuously monitors the queue of unprinted Sales Orders and submits them to scheduling and printing. Pick slips will be printed for orders that are successfully scheduled.

• Sales Orders in the queue that are waiting for pre-authorizations appear in the Order Waiting on Pre-Authorization list box in OE33. Authorizations are manually entered in Process EFT Authorizations (AR39) or automatically process by EFT Authorizations Auto-Processor (AR38).

• Once an order is processed by OE33, the Order Print flags are set the same as if you had entered the Acceptance Codes in OE34. Program Recall Scheduled Orders (OE67) is used to recall a printed order for revision or reprint.

• At the end of the day, simply exit OE33 for each warehouse to turn Auto-Print OFF.

• Note: Release Backorders (OE61) and Release Future Orders (OE64) are locked out if OE33 is running for the warehouse where you are trying to run the release program. If this happens mid-day, turn Auto-Print OFF for that warehouse, run the release program and then turn Auto-Print back ON. OE33 will automatically pick up and process all orders that have queued in the interim.