Table of contents

Introduction

CommLinc Master Data setup is required to setup parameters and static data elements required for processing transactional data in CommLinc.

CommLinc Setup

The Setup table contains a set of master settings used to initiate default values and behaviors in CommLinc.

Settings Screen

The first set of values specify the various number sequence ranges used for master data. Number Series can be managed through the standard No. Series functionality in Business Central.

Default Load Type specifies the what type of load will be created when a user creates a new load.

Default Load Size specifies the value to be used for Estimate Weight when a new Load is created.

Inv. Adjustment Gen Bus Posting specifies the posting group to use when inventory adjustments are created to cater for differences in loaded and off loaded weights.

Option Premium Basis Element is used to specify which Basis Element Type to use to accumulate Option Premiums incurred when Options are used in Contract Pricing as a hedging instrument.

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Contract Types

Contract types are used to drive behavior of Contract.

Contract Types

Editing a contract type will open the Contract Type page. On the Contract Type Record Is Hedged determines if Futures Trades can be associated Contract Schedules to calculate the Contract Schedule Price. Hedge Category is a reporting field intended to allow grouping of contracts. Allow Price Override indicates whether the calculated price on hedged contracts can be overridden. Signature Workflow Required indicates whether signature workflow is required for the contract type.

Contract Type Elements

Per Contract Type a set of default Basis Elements can be defined. When new contract are creates a standard set of basis elements are generated as per defined on the Contract Type.

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Futures Exchanges

Futures Exchanges define the futures exchanges on which futures contracts can be traded in CommLinc

Futures Exchanges

Futures Exchange Dealer

Futures Exchange Dealers define the individuals executing futures trades on the relevant Futures Exchanges.

Futures Exchange Dealer

Trader is linked to the standard BC Salespeople.Purchaser functionality.

Futures Instruments

Futures Instruments represent the various commodities traded on the different exchanges. Each Instrument is linked to a Futures Exchange and an Item, Items represent commodities in CommLinc.

Futures Instrument

Contract Size is used by CommLinc to convert contracts traded exchange in quantities.

Futures Contracts

Each Futures Instrument has a set of Futures Contracts representing the actual contracts which can be traded on the exchange and represented in CommLinc as Futures Trades. The Contract Symbol is used to match trades imported from external trading applications or clearing house summaries.

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Items

Items are used to represent commodities in CommLinc.

Three additional fields have been added to the Item Table: Default Variant, Default Variant Discount Table and Transport Loss Item.

Item Table

Two important fields in the Items table are Type and Costing Method, care should be taken in selecting the appropriate values for these fields. Once transactions have been posted on an Item in Business Central the Type and Costing Method can not be modified. To manage stock in Business Central Item Type must be set to Inventory.

Default Variant specifies the default variant to be used when creating Contract Schedules. Generally grade discounts Variant Value Adjustments are calculated using the default variant as the base.

Default Variant Adjustment Table specifies the default variant adjustment table to be used when creating contract schedules.

Transport Loss Item specifies the related Item to be used when creating charges on Transport Purchase orders for transport losses. If Transport Loss items are created as service items charges for transport losses can be excluded from effecting stock. The price charged per unit of measure of the transport loss item should be updated periodically.

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Item Variants

Item Variants are used to represent Commodity Grades.

Item Variants

Two fields have been added to the Item Variant table, namely Item Charge Purchase and Item Charge Sales. These are standard Items Charges which indicate the Item Charges to be used when premiums or discounts are generated during Invoicing due to different Variants (grades) having been delivered than what was contracted.

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Variant Value Adjustment Table

Each Variant Discount Table is associated with a particular Item and has a related set of records in the Variant Discount Matrix. The Variant Discount Matrix specifies the discount or premium applicable for each variant pair or the Item.

Variant Adjustment Table

The Variant Value Adjustment Matrix above specifies, for example, for a purchase contract for Item Wheat Variant B1, and the producer delivers a Variant B2 a discount of 70 per ton at the base currency will be applied at invoicing. Should the producer deliver SG (Super Grade) a premium of 140 per ton at the base currency will be applied at invoicing. The relevant Item Charge Purchase defined on the Item Variant will be used for the charge line on the invoice, in the example above P-B1 and P-SG.

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Item Attributes

Item Attributes are part of standard Business Central, but have been extended to include two additional fields. As with Variants, Item Charge Purchase and Item Charge Sales fields have been added. These are standard Items Charges in Business Central which can be edited in the Item Charges page. Item Attributes applicable to an Item can be defined on ether on an Item or for all Items in an Item Category. When capturing a Load the Grading function can be used to capture the values of attributes for the applicable load.

AttributeTable

Item Charge Purchase and Item Charge Sale indicate the Item Charges to be used when premiums or discounts are generated during Invoicing due to Attribute values (grade values) within ranges specified in the Attribute Value Adjustment Matrix.

Attribute Value Adjustment Table

Each Attribute Value Adjustment Table is associated with a particular Item and has a related set of records in the Attribute Attribute Value Matrix. The matrix specifies the premium or discount applicable per season from the Peak Value .

Variant Adjustment Table

The Variant Value Adjustment Matrix above specifies, for example, assume a purchase contract for Item Wheat Variant B1, and the producer delivers a Variant B2 a discount of 70 per ton at the base currency will be applied at invoicing. Should the producer deliver SG (Super Grade) a premium of 140 per ton at the base currency will be applied at invoicing. The relevant Item Charge Purchase defined on the Item Variant will be used for the charge line on the invoice, in the example above P-B1 and P-SG.

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Attribute Mass Adjustment Table

CommLinc calculates Mass Adjustments based on Attribute values entered in Grading screen on Loads. Through Attribute Mass Adjustment Tables records can be created with different Tolerance %’s. The tolerance % is the permissable value of the attribute, thereafter the system will adjust the mass bt the percentage above the tolerance. Mass Adjustment tables can be Items and Locations through Item Mass Adjustment Tables.

Attribute Mass Adjustment

In the tables above two Mass Adjustment Tables are defined for Moisture. WHTSTANDARD as a tolerance of 12.5% while WHTWETBASIS has a tolerance of 15%. Transactions where WHTSTANDARD are specified will be allowed to deliver Items with Moisture up to 12.5%, should product with 14% moisture be delivered it will result in a 1.5% mass adjustment. Items with WHTWETBASIS will be allowed to deliver up to 15% moisture.

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Item Mass Adjustment Tables

Item Mass Adjustment tables specify the default mass adjustment tables are for Items or an Item and Location Combinations. An Item and Location combination takes precedence over a Item only record.

Item Mass Adjustment

In the example above Wheat would by default use the WHTSTANDARD table for loading and offloading loads for all locations except Location Wheat Milling Depot which will accept loads using the WHTWETBASIS. The Wheat Milling Depot has no default mass adjustment table for loading loads.

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Seasons

Seasons are used to specify commodity growing and marketing seasons by Item Category

Seasons

Attribute Value Adjustments and Variant Value Adjustments are indexed by season to facilitate pricing specifications per season.

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Transport Methods

CommLinc extends the Transport Method table in Business Central to include Base Unit of Measure, Load Rate, Loss Tolerance % and Certificate Transfer. For each transport method a related set of records is added to define the Inbound and Outbound Item Charge per Item Category. Item Charges are used to define the Line Item Charge type when creating Purchase Orders and Invoices for transport in CommLinc.

Transport Method

In the example above Road Fixed Rate is flagged as a Load Rate, meaning that the transport rate is calculated as a rate per load as opposed to the usual rate per unit of measure, normally rate per tons. Road transport has a transport loss tolerance of 0.025% which specifies the maximum transport loss which will be tolerated per load. Certificate Transfer indicates that the movement of product on contracts with this transport method will be via transfer of ownership via certificate or stock transfer, therefore there will be no physical transport involved.

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