The purge programs are designed to remove unwanted (old) data from files. This increases the amount of available space for data storage and improves the overall performance of the system. The Purge Dependent Files menu is shown below:

OPTION: _________ PURGE DEPENDENT FILES MENU

-- PURGE IN THIS ORDER --
1. Purge Res/Quote Files PURGERES
2. Purge RA File PURGERA
3. Purge Non-Rev Movements PURGENR
4. Purge Cust/Vendor Files PURGECV
5. Purge Vehicle File PURGEVEH
6. Purge Rental Rules/Rates PURGERAT
7. Purge Option Rates PURGEOPT
8. Purge Tour Files PURGETR
9. Purge Credit Card File PURGECC




ORDER OF PURGING

There are two submenus of Purge Programs

Purging Dependent Files. Some records will purge only if other records referring to them have already been purged. For example, customer records will not purge if there is a Reservation or RA still on file referencing that customer number. If the last 2 years of RAs are kept, any customer who is referenced on those RAs will not be eligible for purging. Purge records in the order they are listed on the Purge Dependent Files Menu.

Purging Non-Dependent Files. Other files within CARS+ are not dependent on any other files. As a result these files can be purged at any time and do not need to be done in any sequence. As an example, the Physical Inventory purge is not dependent on other purges and, therefore, can be done at any time.


DECISIONS ABOUT PURGING

The following items must be considered when making decisions about purging:

  1. How long should data be kept? For those users processing credit cards through the CARS+ EDC logic, running the system in a PCI/PA-DSS Compliant mode requires that certain data such as credit card numbers and everything that references them (Reservations, RAs, Customer records) be kept on file only if there is a "legitimate business reason" to do so.
  2. What is an acceptable level of performance? (Smaller files allow the system to run faster).
  3. Stand alone systems: How much unused storage space is needed to run the file maintenance programs? It is possible to reach a point where insufficient free space is available to conduct file maintenance.
  4. Stand alone systems: How much time should be spent in managing the data? Backups take longer with large files; purges are required more frequently as the limit of available storage is approached.


DEFINITIONS

The following definitions should help in understanding the concepts involved in the purge process:

RECORD - A collection of information logically belonging together. For example, a customer record contains name and address, special codes, sales data, etc. Certain fields within records such as customer number and customer name are known as KEY fields which are used to obtain direct access to the desired record without reading the entire file.

PURGE - Removing unwanted records from files. When running the purge programs, records are purged from the midst of the file without reducing the size of the file. In other words, gaps are made in the midst of the file which are then reused or filled in when adding new records to the file. These gaps are still considered to be part of the file when the computer calculates the file size. This means that running the purge programs will not visibly increase the amount of free storage, but will allow addition of new records without increasing file size. If a file is allowed to become too large, thereby using too much free space, it can first be purged to remove unwanted records and then rebuilt. Rebuilding a file means to copy it without the gaps left by purged records. The copied file will be smaller. The original file is then deleted.


CHANGING VEHICLE NUMBERS

Some licensees are assigned a range of vehicle numbers and, therefore, must recycle the numbers after a period of time. To keep the old vehicle history records on the system, do the following:

Instead of selling and purging the old inventory record, change the unit’s number by using the Change Vehicle Number program (Fleet Menu). This must be done one vehicle at a time.

For example, assume unit # 12345 was sold 2 years ago and now that number needs to be used for a new vehicle. Rather than purging the old record, use the Change Vehicle Number program to change unit # 12345 to X12345. The system will then have no record of unit # 12345 and that unit number can be used to in-fleet the new vehicle.

Be forewarned, however, that changing a vehicle number will likely require a significant amount of processing time due to the fact that the RA, Reservation, Vehicle History, and other files need to be updated with the change. Refer to the chapter of the manual titled Change Vehicle Number for more information.


PROCEDURES TO BE FOLLOWED IN PERFORMING PURGES

STEP 1: BACKUP DATA PRIOR TO PURGING

Stand alone systems: A complete backup of data should be made prior to purging any file. This provides the security of being able to restore the original file to its pre-purge condition should any problem occur.

CARS+ Internet users need not be concerned about this step as Thermeon backs up data each day.

STEP 2: PRINT REPORTS PRIOR TO PURGING

Some operations want a record of the data which is to be purged PRIOR to running the purge program. For example, it may be desirable to run a Vehicle History Report prior to purging the Vehicle History file. Like other CARS+ reports, it is recommended that these reports be sent as e-mails rather than printing them.

STEP 3: PURGE IN THE PROPER SEQUENCE

Some records cannot be purged without first purging all cross references to records in other files. Though it is not fatal to the integrity of the data, purging out of order may fail to remove the unwanted records.

Purge records in the order they are listed on the Purge Menu.

STEP 4: RUN THE PURGE PROGRAM

See the instructions for each purge program following this section.

User tip: Operations who use the RealWorld A/R module should purge A/R Open Item file using the "Purge A/R Open Item File" program found on page 2 of the RealWorld A/R Menu. Operations who do not use RealWorld should purge the A/R Open Item file using the CARS+ "Purge A/R Open Items" program found on the PURGE.


THE FOLLOWING CHART LISTS ALL THE FILES/RECORDS THAT ARE PURGED BY EACH OF THE PURGE PROGRAMS ON THE PURGE MENU

For more information as to how records are selected for purging, see the individual chapters on each purge program.

RES/QUOTE PURGE
RESFIL
RESCHG - for reservations being purged
XREFIL - cross reference records for the reservations being purged
NTSFIL - notes attached to the reservations being purged
DEPPAY - deposits taken on reservations being purged
CCAUTH - for DEPPAY records being purged
CCATHR - for DEPPAY records being purged
CCSTTL - for DEPPAY records being purged
STLQUE - for DEPPAY records being purged
HZRES

RA FILE PURGE

RAFILE
RACHRG - for RAs being purged
EXCHNG - for RAs being purged
VCHVAL - for RAs being purged
DRVFIL - for RAs being purged
DMGFIL - damage reports for RAs being purged
XREFIL - cross reference records associated with the RAs being purged
NTSFIL - notes attached to the RAs being purged
DEPPAY - deposits and payments taken on RAs being purged and Petty Cash records
CCAUTH - for DEPPAY records being purged
CCATHR - for DEPPAY records being purged
CCSTTL - for DEPPAY records being purged
STLQUE - for DEPPAY records being purged
NFFILE - for RAs being purged
NFRAFL - for RAs being purged
ONEWAY - for RAs being purged
INCFIL - incident records related to the RAs being purged
The following log files: RAFILE.log, AUXFIL.log, RACHRG.log

NON-REV MOVEMENT

NRVFIL

VEHICLE HISTORY FILE

VEHHST - except those with Service Code 92 or which have a Damage Report number
VEHSLS
VENINV
OBJFIL
CUSTOMER/VENDOR FILES
CUSFIL
FFTFIL - for the customers being purged
VENFIL
ADRFIL - Address's for the customers and vendors being purged
CUSADR - Address's for the customers being purged
VENADR - Address's for the vendors being purged
NTSFIL - notes attached to the customers or vendors being purged
XREFIL - cross reference records associated with the customers being purged
VEHICLE FILE
VEHFIL
NTSFIL - notes attached to the vehicles being purged
XREFIL - cross reference records associated with the vehicles being purged
VEHFIL.log
VEHHST - all records for vehicles being purged
PLANNING CALENDAR
CLSFUT
RTEFUT
RENTAL RULES/RATES FILE
OBJFIL
RULEFL
RATEFL
NBRRATE - upsell rates
NTSFIL - notes attached to the rates being purged
LOG FILES
all other log files other than those listed elsewhere

MARKETING PROMO RECORDS
NBRFIL - incident entry rental certificates
XREFIL - records for certificates being purged
RATE CONTROL RECORDS
RTECAP
EMPLOYEE INCENTIVES
EXTREV

FLEET UTILIZATION FILES
FLTSUM

FOP VIEWING LOG
FOPVEW
LOST & FOUND FILE
LOSTFL

TOUR FILES
ITFILE
MANDIT - for IT records being purged
TPRFIL - for IT records being purged
CREDIT CARD FILE
CCFILE

PHYSICAL INVENTORY FILE
PHSINV
A/R OPEN ITEM FILE
AROPEN
OPTIONAL RATES
OPTRTE
OPTFIL
TRACKED SPECIAL DOCUMENTS
XREFIL - records of individual special documents