Companion Codes

The Inventory Companion Code option is available on the Sales Order Entry and Packing Slip Maintenance forms. Use it to view defined inventory companion codes when you enter a transaction to add them to the order, or make a suggestion to the customer that they purchase a related item.

Setup

To enable the companion code function:

Select the Sales Order User Preference option Enable companion item selection. If this is not selected, you can't view companion codes when you enter a transaction.
Define inventory companion codes on the Options Maintenance form. Use this form to assign multiple companion items to an inventory item, as well as specify a default quantity, enabling selection of a companion item to add to the order. The companion code default quantity is for a single unit of the parent item, using the item's stocking unit of measure.

Sales Order Entry

When you enter a sales order line for an item that has companion codes defined, this form displays when the parent line is saved.

These actions are available:

Click the Save icon to add Selected companion lines to the sales order.
Amend the Qty Req'd before saving (this is the default quantity defined for the companion item on the Inventory Item Options Maintenance form.
Click X or press ESC to close the form without adding any companion lines.

The Qty Avail displayed in the table represents a total quantity on hand for each companion item, across all locations if the item is in more than one location.

If there is insufficient inventory on hand of the companion item, the IN Insufficient Inventory Available form displays.

The price book of the parent item defaults to companion item lines.

If the parent item's line unit of measure (stocking or selling) is different from the companion item's unit of measure, a unit of measure conversion applies, if one is defined. If none are defined, enter the Qty Req'd for the companion item, as Greentree Desktop is unable to perform a conversion.

If the Sales Order Module Control option Allow additional order lines on packing slip is selected, you can add sales order lines to the Packing Slip Maintenance form. If you add a line that has companion items for it, the process outlined above applies.

Companion codes only apply when SO or PS lines are entered for the first time. If you edit or delete the original item line, any companion item lines associated with that line remains unaffected. Once a companion item line has been added to a sales order or packing slip, it is treated the same way as any other inventory line.

You can delete companion codes on the Options Maintenance form. Any sales orders or packing slips that contain lines for these items remain unaffected as there is no link established with companion items beyond initial entry of the line.

If an item has an inactive status, you can't select it as a companion item on the Options Maintenance form. If an item is assigned as a companion, and is subsequently made inactive, Greentree Desktop warns you when entering a sales order or editing a packing slip that the item is no longer active.

You can define nested companions, whereby an item that is defined as a companion (for example, TELESTD200BR) also has companion items assigned to it. When entering a sales order or editing a packing slip, Greentree Desktop only applies one level of companion item assignment.