Configure jobs and subjobs in Retail Scheduler

Applies To: Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 R3, Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 R2, Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 Feature Pack

In Retail, scheduler jobs are the mechanism for distributing data to and from locations. Each job consists of one or more subjobs. This topic explains how to create jobs and subjobs to distribute retail data.

Initialize predefined jobs and subjobs

Microsoft Dynamics AX includes predefined scheduler jobs and subjobs that meet the replication requirements of most organizations. To populate these jobs and subjobs, you must initialize Retail. Complete this task even if you want to customize these jobs and subjobs, because it helps save time.

1. Click Retail > Setup > Parameters > Retail parameters.

2. On the General tab, click Initialize.

Predefined jobs in AX 2012 R3

In AX 2012 R3, the following types of predefined jobs are created:

• Download jobs – Download jobs send data that has changed from Microsoft Dynamics AX to channel databases. Modifications to records are tracked through SQL Server change tracking.

• Upload jobs (P jobs) – Upload jobs pull sales transactions from a channel into the Microsoft Dynamics AX database.

  P jobs upload data incrementally. When a P job runs, Async Client checks the replication counter for records that have already been received from a location. The instance of Async Client for the channel sends only those records that have a replication counter that is greater than the largest value found. P jobs do not update data that was previously uploaded.

Predefined jobs in AX 2012 R2 and AX 2012 Feature Pack

In AX 2012 R2 and AX 2012 Feature Pack, the following types of predefined jobs are created:

• Action (A) jobs – A jobs send data that has changed from Microsoft Dynamics AX to channel databases. Data modifications are tracked as actions. The locations that receive the jobs are determined by the distribution settings for the records that changed or their parent records.

  Use A jobs to distribute data incrementally. A jobs can be used to transfer data to a specific channel, or to customize the way that changes to tables are distributed. If the data in a table is company-specific, an A job sends only the rows that match the legal entity of the destination.

• Normal (N) jobs – N jobs send data from Microsoft Dynamics AX to channel databases. N jobs do not depend on actions. Instead, N jobs send all data in a table. N jobs delete all existing data in the destination tables and then insert data.

  Use N jobs to bulk copy data to all the channel locations in your organization. If the data in a table is company-specific, an N job sends only the rows that match the legal entity of the destination.

• Pull (P) jobs – P jobs pull data from a distribution location list and insert that data into the Microsoft Dynamics AX database. Typically, P jobs are used to copy transactions and orders from a channel into Microsoft Dynamics AX.

  P jobs distribute data incrementally, but not in the same way as A jobs. When a P job runs, the instance of Synch Service at headquarters checks the replication count for records that have already been received from a location. The instance of Synch Service for the location sends only those records that have a replication count that is greater than the largest value found at headquarters. P jobs do not update data that was previously distributed.

Create or modify a subjob in AX 2012 R3

If you’re using AX 2012 R3, complete this procedure to create or modify subjobs that distribute data between Microsoft Dynamics AX and retail channels. A subjob contains information about a single table.

1. Click Retail > Setup > Retail scheduler > Scheduler subjobs.

2. Click New to create a new subjob, or select the subjob to modify.

   You can also copy the settings of an existing subjob to a new subjob.

3. If you are creating a subjob, enter a unique identifier for the subjob in the Subjob number field. Optionally, enter a description.

4. If the subjob replicates data from the channel database and writes data to the Microsoft Dynamics AX database, select the Pull data check box.

5. In the Retail channel schema field, select the schema to use for the subjob, based on the Microsoft Dynamics AX version and type of channel.

6. In the Channel table name field, enter the name of the table in the channel database. In the Microsoft Dynamics AX table name field, enter the name of the table in the Microsoft Dynamics AX database. For P jobs, you must also specify the temporary database table to use. To create the temporary table, click Create staging table.

7. Enter other information in the form, if more information is required. For help with fields that are not described in this topic, see Scheduler subjobs (form).

Create or modify a subjob in AX 2012 R2 and AX 2012 Feature Pack

If you’re using AX 2012 R2 or AX 2012 Feature Pack, complete this procedure to create or modify subjobs that distribute data modifications in selected tables to specific locations. A subjob contains information about a single table.

1. Click Retail > Setup > Retail scheduler > Scheduler subjobs.

2. Click New to create a new subjob, or select the subjob to modify.

   You can also copy the settings of an existing subjob to a new subjob.

3. If you are creating a subjob, enter a unique identifier for the subjob in the Subjob number field.

4. If the subjob replicates data from the channel database and writes data to the Microsoft Dynamics AX database, select the Pull data check box.

   If the subjob replicates data from the Microsoft Dynamics AX database and writes data to the channel database, select Normal or By actions in the Replication method field. If you select Normal, all existing data is deleted in the destination tables, and then updated data is inserted. If you select By actions, only data that changed is distributed, and the distribution is based on action filters.

5. In the Channel table name field, enter the name of the table in the destination database. In the Microsoft Dynamics AX table name field, enter the name of the table in the Microsoft Dynamics AX database. For P jobs, you must also specify the temporary database table to use. To create the temporary table, click Create staging table.

6. Enter other information in the form, if more information is required. For help with fields that are not described in this topic, see Scheduler subjobs (form).

Create or modify a scheduler job

Each scheduler job consists of one or more subjobs. Jobs should contain subjobs that are related. For example, the Currency job contains subjobs that update currencies and exchange rates.

1. Click Retail > Setup > Retail scheduler > Scheduler jobs.

2. Click New to create a new job, or select the job to modify.

   You can also copy the settings of an existing job to a new job.

3. If you are creating a job, enter a unique identifier for the job in the Job name field. Optionally, add a description.

4. In the Retail channel schema field, select the schema to use for the job, based on the Microsoft Dynamics AX version and type of channel.

5. In AX 2012 R3, if the subjob replicates data from the channel database and writes data to the Microsoft Dynamics AX database, select the Is upload check box.

6. Add subjobs to the job.

   Note

   You can assign a subjob to more than one job.

7. Enter other information in the form, if more information is required. For help with fields that are not described in this topic, see Scheduler job (form).