FIFO Inventory / Storage Fee Accrual problem...

[Matthew Wilson]

I'm working with Alpha 5 version 4.5 build 266.

I'm working on a database that records prolonged storage of large quantities of beans. Farmers will drop off batches of beans over a period of months. After a 30-day grace period, storage fees are calculated daily.

Scenario: Let's say a grower dropped off 50,000 lbs of beans, and then another 50,000 lbs a month later. Three months later, we sell 70,000 lbs.

When we make the sale, my form needs to show how much total accrued storage fee we should charge for the 70,000 lbs.

I have field rules set up that automatically calculate number of days in storage for each batch of beans, but how do I set it up so that the sale subtracts from the oldest batch of beans first and then subtracts the rest from the next recent batch?

[whanigsberg]

RE: FIFO Inventory / Storage Fee Accrual problem..

Matthew,

Don't laugh but the medical people are going to help you on this one because they have had to solve the problem of applying a payment to multiple invoices starting with the oldest one and moving forward in time.

It was Peter Wayne and Ohlen Cartmell if I remember right and the post will be on the Version 4 board--this board.

Seems to me you will have to order deliveries by date, starting with the oldest:
-subtract a sale amount from the first invoice
-calculate storage days
-remember any remainder so you can carry it over to the next delivery

-repeat the process.

I know I have left a lot out.

Search the board for "apply payments to multiple invoices". It will get you started.

Bill

[Matthew Wilson]

RE: FIFO Inventory / Storage Fee Accrual problem..

Thanks William :-)

I found the article at http://www.learn alpha.com/Autopay/Autopay.htm

I'm still a novice at code, but from the article, it looks like my first step is to dig into setting up code for a query that'll put my dates in a sequence that Alpha can use.

If I figure this out, I'll post an example of the code.

Thanks for the tip. :-)

[Tom Cone Jr]

RE: FIFO Inventory / Storage Fee Accrual problem..

Matthew,

A good way to get started with script writing is to build a system that does what you want manually.

For instance, in your case, you could add a field to each receiving transaction record to display the remaining portion of the original transaction which still remains in storage.

When a sale occurs you could display the receiving transaction records in a browse object, and manually allocate the sale among the oldest entries. Doing this several times will help you understand the sequence your script must follow to automate the allocation process.

-- tom

[Matthew Wilson]

RE: FIFO Inventory / Storage Fee Accrual problem..

Thanks for the feedback Tom :-)

The possibility of setting up a manual entry form next to a browse that shows remaining balances of each batch had occurred to me, and I've been leaning towards doing that until I can figure out how to get Alpha to do it automatically. I can understand the sequence of events and logic that Alpha must follow, but frankly, I'm stumped about the Xbasic code for it.

I just now getting to the "Queries?" chapter in "Alpha Five: Xbasic for Everyone". If I make any headway, I'll be sure to post.

:-)