ABS Data File Housekeeping/Maintenance

This page outlines the data files created by ABS which may require monthly (and yearly) housekeeping/maintenance procedures to reduce disk storage space. All ABS data files that end in “.KSI” are located in \ABS\DATA.

~ Monthly Maintenance ~

Detailed Receipts/Usage/Adjustments

Each month the ABS Inventory Control System creates three (3) new detailed transaction files:

1. One with all the receipts (REmmyyyy.KSI);

2. One with all the usage information (USmmyyyy.KSI);

3. One with all the material changes or adjustments (ADmmyyyy.KSI).

The size of these files will depend upon the amount of activity that occurs within your company. To reduce server storage, you can simply copy or zip up any old files you wish. For example, you might establish a policy to remove the detailed files after 6 months.

Refer to the Inventory Receipts/Usage (INV) program documentation in the ABS User’s Reference Guide for more information about the Inventory Control System.

MARS History Files

If your company is using the Management Reporting System (MARS), a history file is created in \ABS\LOGS for each heat/charge reserved. The file name is the heat/charge number, with dollar sign ($) fillers, and ends with an “L”. For example, heat/charge number “A4679” will become log file “A4679$$$.$$L”.

To remove old heat log files, the MARS Export Utility function should be used in conjunction with the MARS Delete function. Within the Export function, select the records you wish to remove. After a confirmation that you wish to continue, the Export function creates a consolidated export file. This file contains all of the selected records and will be named “Xmmddyyn.EXP”. After the export file has been created, it can then be zipped or copied off-line to reduce storage requirements.

Next, the Delete function should be activated and the identical search request re-entered. NOTE: The Export and Delete functions should both select the same number of records. The Delete function will require the “ABS Program Password” before the records are actually deleted.

Refer to “Setting/Changing Passwords” in the ABS Systems Administrator’s Reference Guide for more information about ABS passwords.

Refer to the Management Reporting (MARS) program documentation in the ABS User’s Reference Guide for more information about the MARS Export and Delete functions.

~ Yearly Maintenance ~

Expired Material Files

If Master Directory Special Option #59 has been set to “Yes”, a new expired material data file and pointer file will be created each year. The file names are:

• EXPDyyyy.KSI (expired data file)

• EXPPyyyy.KSI (expired pointer file)

The expired file contains all records deleted from ABS inventory for the year indicated “yyyy” (i.e. 2000). If you decide to remove (delete or zip up) the expired files, you will not be able to recall or view any raw material records deleted for the year (yyyy). If you decide to remove a year, be sure and remove both the pointer file and the data file. For example, if you decided that 1996 expired data was no longer required on-line, you should copy or zip up EXPD1996.KSI and EXPP1996.KSI.

Refer to “Utility Programs” in the ABS Systems Administrator’s Reference Guide for more information about the expired material file.

Grade/Alloy History Files

Each year ABS creates a new grade/alloy adjustments file named “ADJGyyyy.KSI”. This file contains all of the permanent grade/alloy changes made during the year “yyyy” (i.e. 2000). When grade/alloy changes are made, two records are written for each change. One is written in \ABS\GLOG for the specific grade/alloy code that was changed, and a second record is written to the historical grade/alloy adjustments file ADJGyyyy.KSI. Both records are identical.

When viewing a grade/alloy record, the user is asked if they would like to view the change history for the grade. If “Yes” is selected, the changes shown are extracted from \ABS\GLOG. The history file is primarily used when you wish to view specific types of grade changes or to view all changes for a specific time period.

Refer to the Grade Editor (GRADED) program documentation in the ABS User’s Reference Guide for more information about grade records.

Year-To-Date Files

If the Month-To-Date System is being used by your company, ABS creates a new year-to-date file each year. The year-to-date file contains the month ending values for receipts, usage, adjustments, etc. The year-to-date files are named “YTDyyyy.KSI”.

Refer to “Year-To-Date Export File Layout” in the ABS Systems Administrator’s Reference Guide for information on the year-to-date export file “YTDEXP.EXP”.

Refer to the Month-To-Date (MTD) program documentation in the ABS User’s Reference Guide for more information about the actual contents of the year-to-date file.