Re: BPCS and using the Sys Req Attn key.

Hi John,
If you are on a older version of BPCS, BPCS Security Maint (SYS600) allows you to define the applications, programs, etc. that each User is authorized to.  There is a parameter there on the top line for Attn Key which is set to Y or N.  If Y, then when the Attn Key (i.e. ESC key) is pressed, a panel displays that will allow the user to select a Program, Menu, or Product.  This process in essence suspends the current program and allows the User to do something else.  Users can sometimes forget that they are using this function and inadvertently access the same menu option again which could cause a conflict or lock them up if accessing the same Order, for example.
Is this what sometimes is happening?  If so, you can change the parameter to N for those Users for whom you do not want them to be able to use the Attention Key.
Regarding the Workstation ID on these versions, you must limit the WSID to at most 8 characters which must be unique.  In this way, you will not have a potential conflict in those programs where a Data Area or a File Member is used.  As you mentioned, some of these options use the 8 characters of the WSID and append either a 2-character prefix or suffix which could cause a conflict between two (2) Users if the first 8 characters of their WSID are identical.
Hope that this information helps.
 Thanks.

Les Mittman

From: Rob Berendt <rob@xxxxxxxxx>
To: BPCS ERP System <bpcs-l@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, December 5, 2016 11:28 AM
Subject: Re: [BPCS-L] BPCS and using the Sys Req Attn key.

Is this a shop which follows some weird auditor requirement that system
value QLMTDEVSSN be turned on?  Therefore inhibiting them from using
multiple sessions the "right" way and requiring the Sys-Req-"1. Display
sign on for secondary job" option?  I would fight that and maybe your
issue would go away.

IMNSHO QLMTDEVSSN should have been deprecated after the first multiple
session twinax terminal came out.  Are there system values which limit
someone from multiple http sessions?  Multiple File Transfer sessions?
Having more than one shared folder open?


Rob Berendt