ACT Defining Charging Elements
Charging elements identify:
micsrm140cd
Charging elements identify:
- The data elements that are to be billed
- The computation codes associated with the charging elements
- The invoice categories in which they will be reported
- The units in which they are measured
- Whether or not the element resides discretely in the database or must be calculated from other data elements
You should research each element that is used for charging.
Some charging elements are not carried permanently in the
MICS
product files. These elements may be computed from other elements or they may be created by user exits. MICS Accounting and Chargeback
can charge for these elements.Because each charging element must be associated with a computation code, the terms are often used synonymously. However, the same charging element can be associated with more than one computation code.
For example, you might want to charge CPU time by zone and see a separate line item and description on the invoice for each zone. To do this, you would define multiple computation codes associated with CPU time, each having a different description. Then, in the Rate Table, you would specify a different computation code and rate to be used for each zone (using control variable charging).
Although charging elements must be defined in the Charging Element Table before they can be used in a charging algorithm, this does not cause the element to actually be used for charging. For it to be used for charging, you must specify the computation code associated with the charging element in a Rate Table charging algorithm.
A default charging element table is distributed with the system. However, to provide maximum flexibility, you may make additions or changes so that the reporting structure is consistent with installation requirements. Typically, user computation codes are added to define new charging elements for debits, field-developed applications, or external files; or to provide for more granularity of descriptions as in the earlier example. You should use a computation code above 8000 for any computation codes that you add.
Before you can delete a computation code that has been used in a rate table, you must delete the computation code from all charging algorithms in which it has been used. This is the case even if the computation code has been used for a journal file that is currently not active.
If you delete a computation code that was used at one time, but is no longer present in any of the charging algorithms, the associated description will be deleted. Consequently, any reports from previously created files containing that computation code will not show its description.
You must run the CHRGELEM job in sharedprefix.MICS.CNTL after changing the Charging Element Definition. This job executes the Invoice Category generation and then generates the following formats in sharedprefix.MICS.MCOLIB:
- $ACTCOMP
- This format relates each computation code to its charging element name and indicates whether the charging element needs to be computed.
- $ACTCMPF
- This format relates each computation code to its description.
- $ACTCICF
- This format relates each computation code to an invoice category.
- $ACTCPUF
- This format relates each computation code to its units description.
- $ACTCSRC
- This format relates each computation code to its data source.
Steps to Define Charging Elements
- Select Option 5, Charging Element Definition, on the Parameter Specifications menu to display the Charging Element Definition panel and make the changes that you need. Use the Select line command to change the specifications for a charging element.
- Submit the job CHRGELEM in sharedprefix.MICS.CNTL. If you made any changes, you are automatically asked to submit this job when you END from the Charging Element Definition panel.You can also submit this job from TSO as follows:SUB 'sharedprefix.MICS.CNTL(CHRGELEM)'
- If you changed the element name of a charging element that is being used in the Rate Table Definition for a unit, you must submit the MAGRUN job for the unit.You can submit this job from TSO as follows:SUB 'prefix.MICS.CNTL(MAGRUN)'
Charging Element Worksheet
+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | | | Date: ____/____/____ Administrator: ____________________________________________ | +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ CHARGING ELEMENT WORKSHEET Complex- Level External File Comp Inv. Element File Element Units Description Computation Routine Code Catgy (Y/N) Name ____ ____ ____ ____ ________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ____ ____ ____ ____ ________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ____ ____ ____ ____ ________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ____ ____ ____ ____ ________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ____ ____ ____ ____ ________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ____ ____ ____ ____ ________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ____ ____ ____ ____ ________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ____ ____ ____ ____ ________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ____ ____ ____ ____ ________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ____ ____ ____ ____ ________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ____ ____ ____ ____ ________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ____ ____ ____ ____ ________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ____ ____ ____ ____ ________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ____ ____ ____ ____ ________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________
Use the Charging Element Worksheet to define the following parameters:
- Computation Code
- Description: Uniquely identifies this charging element toMICS Accounting and ChargebackOption.
- Default: None
- Values: Character, length 4, 0 - 9, A - F
- Note:User-defined computation codes should be in the range of 8000 and above.
- Invoice Category
- Description: The Invoice Category provides a way to map the detailed charging elements referenced by the computation code into categories more easily understood by the user. In some cases, there may be one-to-one correspondence between the computation code and the invoice category; in others, many computation codes may be reported in one invoice category.
- Default: None
- Values: Alphanumeric, length 4
- Note:This must be a valid entry in the Invoice Category Table.
- Complex-level External File Element
- Description: This field indicates whether the charging element belongs to a complex-level external file.
- Default: NO
- Values: Character, length 3
- Note:For the standard and recurring debit and credit files, specify YES and refer to the directions for FILE and ELEMENT NAME.
- File
- Description: TheMICSAnalyzer file in which the charging element resides.
- Default: None
- Values: Character, length 3
- Note:If the source of the data element is a non-MICS(external) file, code the external file identifier (the last three characters of the external file name). For debit and credit files, specify SDT or SCT, as appropriate.
- Element Name
- Description: The value of this data element will be multiplied by the rate to calculate the charge. If the database discretely retains the charging element, you must specify the element name that is listed in theMICS Data Dictionary. If you want to calculate the element, specify an unused element name.
- Default: None
- Values: Character, length 8
- Notes:This name must followMICSnaming conventions (the first three characters must be the same as the file name). For example, if the source of the data is the BATJOB file, code JOB as the first three characters of the element name.
- For the Debit and Credit Files, specify SDTQNT or SCTQNT, as appropriate.
- Measured Units
- Description: A description (up to 16 characters) of the units (for example, seconds) in which the charging element was measured.
- Default: None
- Values: Character, length 16. You cannot use the single quote character in this field.
- Note:This text will appear on the invoice.
- Charging Element Description
- Description: A label that describes the charging element.
- Default: None
- Values: Character, length 40. You cannot use the single quote character in this field.
- Computation Routine
- Description: The appropriateMICSprogram uses the computation routine to calculate the value of the charging element. Testing the routine is your responsibility. If the element is already computed, leave this field blank.
- Default: None
- Values: See the Note.
- Note:Your computation routine can use any of the data elements that theMICSdatabase files contain. TheMICS Data Dictionarydocuments these elements. In addition, the exit can make use of some data elements (such as ACTFLD1-5 in theMICS Batch and Operations Analyzer(SMF) files) that are not written to the database.
Computation Routine Coding Considerations
In coding the computation routine, observe the following conventions:
- The routine must be a valid SAS routine with no embedded DATA or PROC statements.
- Do not use SAS labels because you may include the routine in theMICScode multiple times and any label could cause a "duplicate SAS label" error.
- Do not use a RETURN or DELETE command. The invoking routine may not make a single pass through the DATA step for each observation.
Charging Element Example
In the following Charging Element Worksheet example, the installation wants to add computation codes for tape and DASD volumes that will be brought in through the complex-level external file interface processing. The data from the complex-level external file interface is brought into the Debit File.
CHARGING ELEMENT WORKSHEET Complex- Level External File Comp Inv. Element File Element Units Description Computation Routine Code Catgy (Y/N) Name 8001 7100 Y USR USRTAP Reel Days Tape Volumes ______________________ 8002 7200 Y USR USRDSD Volume Days DASD Volumes ______________________