1. PowerLink Workbenches
The New Face of MAPICS
PowerLink Workbenches
What do they do and how can they help me?
John Grindley

2. Agenda for Today Power Link Workbench What is it, what does it do.
Considerations in developing a workbench
Preference Setting
Broadcast vs. Receive
Steps in creating a workbench
Browser gives COMPLETE DATA VIEW!!

3. Workbench LINKS MULTIPLE WINDOWS TOGETHER TO PERFORM
A SET TASK
SIMULTANEOUS INQUIRY OF INFORMATION ACROSS MULTIPLE APPLICATIONS
QUICK AND EASY ACCESS TO INFORMATION
STANDARDIZATION OF WORK
Browser gives COMPLETE DATA VIEW!!

4. WORKBENCH – 4 Windows linked together
Item Revision/Indented BOM/Item Warehouse/Routing
All screens change at the same time to the new Item Number
when click on the next item from the Broadcast window.
Receive
Broadcast
Here’s a view in Item Revisions, the EPDM item master record. This view was created for a presentation.
Receive
Receive

5. Workbench with Card File
Make item Card
Cards on
right
Broadcast
Receive
Add in Item Warehouse Card for Maintenance
Add in Item warehouse card for additional
Maintenance option
Purchase item Card
NEEDED FIELDS
If not using revision control in item revisions in EPDM, take it off the view. If not using value class in item warehouse, take it off the view.
If using XA informational fields for something else, rename heading. Packing code in the item revision is a popular one. Department is a good 4-character field. Our customer number in Procurement can be used for vendor category, that is large, small, woman-owned, disadvantaged, etc. if your company must track that. (FYI-With Integrator I can rename the field so no matter where that attribute is viewed in the system all are clear that this field is used for this purpose.) User fields in Browser are fantastic for tracking information that is “near and dear” to my company but there’s no special field for that info…but rename in views and cards.
ORDER – most important toward left of view so easily viewable. Less important ones in scroll area to the right..
You can temporarily drag and drop a field for a different view, but it is temporary and will return when you exit
the object.
CODE ID’S & DESCRIPTIONS –
New users may need both.
More experienced may want only codes to conserve space
Casual users may need just description
DECIMAL PLACES
Purchasing needs 4 to buy those tiny hardware items.
Accounting may want to see all 8. We know how our “bean counters” love those numbers.
Most of us can deal with 2 for $ fields and possible whole numbers for units mfg’d or purchased components.
TOTAL COLUMNS
Where appropriate.
Outstanding PO items due this month.
Sales for today.
$ value of scrap transactions this month.
Cards on
Bottom to
save Space
Receive
Cards on
Bottom to
save Space

6. Workbench Function
For all of the windows in a workbench, the workbench function retains:
The size and position of each window on your desktop.
The selected card in the card file, for any windows that contain card files.
The view, subset, and sort applied to a list, for any windows that contain list windows.
Browser gives COMPLETE DATA VIEW!!

7. Considerations in Developing Workbench
What Task is to be accomplished
What Data needs to be viewed
What Objects need to be linked
Do Views or Cards have to be Changed to provide
correct information.
Private or Public Security

8. Receiving Workbench – Link Scheduled Receipts to Transaction History
Receive the item to stock from the BROADCAST screen ( Scheduled Receipts) and see the results below on the RECEIVE screen ( Transaction History).
Broadcast
Receive

9. Workbench – Customer order Inquiry
List of Customer Orders
Receive
Broadcast
Inventory status of the Item in each Warehouse
MRP Requirements - Status
Receive
Receive

10. SETTING PREFERENCES- Steps in Developing Workbenches
1) Remove Check box to
Broadcast objects:
Triggers Activation
2) Move Objects to
Broadcast Side

11. Steps in Developing Workbench
3) Identify the Primary
Subset and View to
Broadcast From
4) Set the
Length &
Width on
Terminal
screen

12. Steps in Developing Workbench
5) Highlight a line item on screen and
From the DISPLAY options select the next
Window to link to,( Routing Operations.)

13. Steps in Developing a Workbench
6) After Selection of Routing Operations
the window appears. The user needs to
arrange screens in the physical
location and dimension they want it
displayed.
Name all public customization clearly and concisely.
Group your private customization at the top by beginning with a period (favorites in R7).
7) Repeat the steps selecting additional options
from the Display drop down and physically
adding the windows to the same screen.

14. Steps in Developing a Workbench
Click on Satellite to
Activate Receive selection
8) Selection of Indented BOM
is added as the 3rd linked
Window. Item number from
The first screen remains
Highlighted at all times.
Name all public customization clearly and concisely.
Group your private customization at the top by beginning with a period (favorites in R7).
Click on Satellite to
Activate Receive selection
Click on Antennae to
Activate Broadcast selection

15. Steps in Saving a Workbench
9) Need to save
The workbench
Once completed
When activated Satellite is Red
New dialog box appears when Click
on “ Add Workbench”. Changes the subset
selection for the broadcast window
Name all public customization clearly and concisely.
Group your private customization at the top by beginning with a period (favorites in R7).
When activated Satellite is Red
When activated Antennae is Red

16. Steps to Save a Workbench
11) Use a recognizable Name to “Title” the Workbench
12)Workbench can be
saved as a Public
Or Private workbench
Name all public customization clearly and concisely.
Group your private customization at the top by beginning with a period (favorites in R7).
13)Check off “Global Broadcast”
And “Global Receive”

17. Steps to Close a Workbench
14) Close a Workbench click
on any of the RED X, and
Dialog Box appears.
15) User has option to close
entire workbench or “One”
window at a time.

18. Steps to Launch a Workbench
16) Click on “Navigation” on Menu Bar; Workbenches.

19. Steps to Launch a Workbench
17) List of Workbenches appears
which can be launched
18 ) Double Click
To launch Workbench
Private Workbench

20. Let’s create a Workbench!

21. Did We Cover the Agenda? Powerlink Workbenches What are they?
Workbench considerations
Preference Setting
Broadcast vs. Receive
Steps in creating a workbench

22. Thanks for attending today!