HELP INFORMATION CONTENTS

  1. FEATURES OF THE WEB-BASED DEPARTMENT ORDER PROCESS
  2. HEADER INFORMATION
  3. ITEM INFORMATION
  4. SUMMARY
  5. CHANGING THE ORDER
  6. COMPLETING AND APPROVING THE ORDER
  7. PRINTING AND FONTS
  8. CANCELING THE ORDER
  9. INVOICE INFORMATION
  10. ALPHABETICAL INDEX TO TOPICS ON THIS PAGE
Other Useful Links:

1. FEATURES OF THE WEB-BASED DEPARTMENT ORDER PROCESS
  • Buttons on the Blue Side Bar
    • Unapproved Documents:Existing documents not yet completed or approved can be viewed and selected from this button. You will be transferred to the Unapproved Documents page, where you can select a document. When you click on the document number, the selected document will be displayed in a summary. Use your yellow navigational buttons at the top of the screen to make corrections, or the complete/approve button to approve.
    • Create New Department Order: Use this function to create a new order even if you are viewing an existing order. By clicking on the Create New Department Order button, the screen will refresh allowing the entry of a new order.
    • View Existing Department Order: View existing orders by entering the PO number and clicking on the "Find It" button. The selected document will be displayed in a summary view. If the selected document is not complete/approved, use your yellow navigational buttons at the top of the screen to make corrections, or the complete/approve button to approve.
    • Request New Vendor to be set up: If a vendor is not included in the vendor database, it will need to be added by staff in the Purchasing office. To notify us to add a new vendor, click on the yellow side bar button "Request a New Vendor to be set up". Follow the steps to generate a request to Purchasing to add the desired vendor.
    • Request New Address Type for a Vendor: If the vendor is included in our data base, but the associated address is not listed, that address type will need to be added by staff in the Purchasing office. To notify us to add another vendor address type, click on the yellow side bar button "Request New Address Type for Vendor". Follow the steps to generate a request to Purchasing for the desired address.
    • Did You Get What You Wanted? We ask that you send your comments and suggestions via this communication method so that ACT and Purchasing can address any issues that may arise. If you have urgent questions or concerns that requires immediate assistance, please contact the Purchasing customer service representative X43084.

  • Submit Buttons: Gray 'SUBMIT' buttons are displayed at the bottom of each screen. The SUBMIT button acts to transmit data and/or changes to the IFIS mainframe system. Navigating to other web-based department order features before transmitting the entered data by use 'SUBMIT', will cause a loss of entered data and require re-entry of the data. (For former mainframe users, this is the equivalent to pressing 'ENTER' or 'RETURN'.)

  • Refresh Buttons:The REFRESH button is displayed at the bottom of each screen. The REFRESH button acts to "undo" the last typing action, much like the undo function in word processing.

  • Yellow Navigational Buttons: The yellow rectangular navigational buttons located at the top of the screens allow users to return to previous screens within the Department Order application to make changes. The buttons that are displayed vary depending upon the screen being presented and the status of your PO. For example, printing a PO is not allowed until the document is complete and has received final approval, so the Print function is not displayed when orders are not complete/approved. Also, navigational buttons are not present when creating a PO until the header information is entered and submitted.

  • Continue Buttons: The small blue 'CONTINUE' button is present when entry of data on a screen in complete and submitted. If this button displays, the system has accepted the entered data and is ready to proceed to the next step.

  • Logging Out of the System: At the top of each screen, on the Link Services navigation bar, you will notice a red "X" next to the word LOGOUT. Below the bar, is the message: You are currently logged on. Please remember to log out when you are done. Failure to log out can result in a compromise to the security of the system

  • Back Buttons - Web-based Department Order Application:The browser back-button should not be used to navigate throughout the functions of the web-based department order application. These pages are controlled behind the scenes by programs that pass a multitude of data from one page to the next. Use of the browser back functions versus the application navigation buttons risks that entered data will not be captured and will generate a MAINFRAME ERROR. If this occurs, log out of the system, and then log back in. Use your View Existing Department Order button to return to your PO, or look it up on the Unapproved Documents page.
  • Back Buttons - Department Order Help Text:Department Order Help Text is displayed through a second browser window. Navigating throughout the different sections of the help text, or linking to other reference sites, is supported by the use of the standard browser back and forward button features.

  • Help Information:Help text is available throughout the various web-based department orders screens by selecting the help button. The help text explains navigation features of the applications, describes the purpose and use of each field on every screen, and provides links to policies and procedures about the Department Order/Low Value Purchasing process.

2. HEADER INFORMATION
PO Number: The purchase order (PO) number identifying field for the recorded . The web-based department order is designed so that initial use is directed towards creating a new order. The word "NEXT" will display in the PO Number field. If the source of the LVPO number is from the pre-printed form, delete the word "NEXT" and enter the LVPO number from the pre-printed form. As a reminder, Purchasing policy and procedure only encourages the use of system-generated "next-up" LVPO numbers.

Order Date: Today's date will be automatically entered in this field. If the order was placed with the vendor prior to today's date, enter the appropriate date (this case should be rare, and is discouraged as payment to the vendor will be delayed if the order is not promptly entered in the system). Note: even if the order was placed in a prior month, the order date entered here must be in the current month, so that the order can be posted to the current encumbrance ledger.

PO Class: "L - Low Value Purchase Order" is the default PO Class. If this PO is for radioactive isotopes, click on the down arrow and select "R - Radioactive Isotopes". Note: PO Class "R" can only be utilized by pre-approved and authorized radioactive buyers. For more information on becoming an authorized radioactive isotope buyer, and placing your orders online, contact Sara Stoddard x44438.

Vendor Number: Enter the vendor's 'Federal Employer ID Number' (FEIN) here. If you do not know the number, the magnifying glass icon will allow you to use the Vendor Search page.

VENDOR SEARCH:
  • Click on the magnifying glass icon. The Address Search page will be displayed.
  • If you are searching for a person, click on the Person radio button, otherwise leave the Business/Entity button selected.
  • Enter the first few characters of the vendor's name (partial searches are permitted). If the vendor's name includes commonly used words (such as 'San Diego ....' or 'Computer...', be sure to enter enough characters to uniquely identify that vendor.
  • Click on the Submit button.
  • The page will refresh, and the vendors matching your entry will be displayed. If your vendor and correct address are displayed, click on the vendor number. You will return to the Header Information page, and the vendor number and address type will be brought onto the page for you.
  • If the vendor name contains initials, such as IBM, be sure to try various combinations, for example: 'I.B.M.' or 'I B M' or 'International Business Machines'.
If a vendor is not included in the vendor database, it will need to be added by staff in the Purchasing office. If you are not successful in finding the desired vendor, then please use the yellow "Request a New Vendor to be set up" button on the blue sidebar (see above in the General Information section for instructions).

Address Type: The Address Type should be the business address where the LVPO is being placed. If you used the Vendor Search page, your address type will already be entered.If you don't enter an address type, the system will use the default address.

ADDRESS SEARCH
  • If the default address is not the one you wish to use, click on the magnifying glass icon next to the address type field for a list of addresses for the vendor.
  • Also, if you entered the vendor ID number yourself, you can use the magnifying glass icon to view all the addresses for that particular vendor.
  • Click on the Address Type that you want to use and it will be brought back to the input screen.
If you did not find the address that you need, then please use the yellow "Request New Address Type for a Vendor" button on the blue sidebar (see above in the General Information section for instructions).

Invoice Mail Code:The invoice mail code field is used by the Disbursements staff to send copies of invoices and other correspondence. This field must contain the mail code of your department's financial manager, fund manager or bookkeeper. If you are located in the same facility as this person, then this will be your own mail code. After Disbursements pays the invoice, they will forward a copy confirming payment to this mail code.

Index: Enter the Index that is to be used for this purchase. There is a magnifying glass icon for your use, but it lists the indices in alphabetical order by index, and may not be helpful. Contact your bookkeeper or fund manager if you are in doubt about which index to use.

Buyer Code: Enter your 4-digit IFIS buyer code assigned at the time purchasing authority was granted. On subsequent orders, your buyer code may already be present in this field. If you do not have a buyer code, contact your department, or call Purchasing at X43084. YOU CANNOT PROCEED WITH THIS ORDER WITHOUT A BUYER CODE. Information about becoming a buyer is available by referring to the Department Order Policy On Low Value Purchases.

Ship Goods To: Enter the 6-digit code that identifies your shipping location. On subsequent orders, your Ship To code may already be present in this field. When placing your order with the vendor, be sure to give your full delivery address, not just the Ship To code. This will ensure that the proper delivery information is printed directly on your package, and will assist in the speedy delivery of your materials. There is a magnifying glass icon for your use, but it lists the Ship To codes in numerical order, and may not be useful. Contact your department manager if you are unsure of your Ship To code. If you do not have a Ship To code, or need to change or delete a Ship To code, please forward your request to Purchasing, mail code 0914, or email shipto@ucsd.edu. For information, call x43091 .

On some occasions, you may not need to have goods shipped to you. This would be for services, or if you have already picked up the materials. In addition, you may need to have materials shipped to an off-campus location. There are three general purpose Ship To codes that may be useful to you:
  • 002792 - WILL CALL BY UCSD STAFF. This Ship To code indicates that you will pick up the goods in person, and that they need not be shipped.
  • 003289 - SHIP TO CODE NOT APPLICABLE. Use this Ship To code if you have already picked up the materials, if they have already been delivered to you, or if this PO is for a service where no goods will be delivered.
  • 003290 - SEE SHIPPING INSTRUCTIONS IN BODY OF PO. If you are shipping to an off-campus location, be sure to include the shipping instructions with your Item Description.
Freight: Ask the vendor for the cost of freight or shipping and enter that amount here. If entering cents, you must enter the decimal point. This field should only be used for non-taxable freight amounts, such as UPS, FedEx, trucking charges, postage, etc. If the vendor lumps shipping and handling charges together, enter the amount in the line item text of the item and include the value in the line item price. Do not enter that amount here. Include any shipping and handling charges with your line items, and indicate that they are taxable.

Approval Template: Your approval template describes the level of purchasing authority granted to you by your department. Each template contains the dollar amount of authority (which cannot exceed $2500), and the User IDs of others in your department who can approve your Purchase Orders. Most users have only the 'AAA' template. If you have more than one approval template, you can use the down-arrow to display them in a drop-down box. Choose the correct template for this order.

Submit The Header Information: If all of the information is correct, click on the "Submit" button. The page will refresh, and messages will be displayed at the top of the page. Be sure to read these messages, and always check to make sure that the "Submission was successful" message appears. Then scroll down the page to verify that your vendor and ship-to addresses are correct. If all fields appear to be correct, you can use the blue CONTINUE button to proceed to the Item Information page.

If error messages are displayed at the top of the page, or if any other changes are needed and entered, be sure to click on the "Submit" button before proceeding to the Item Information page.


3. ITEM INFORMATION
Item Number: Item numbers are automatically assigned by the system. Also, if you delete an item, the remaining items will NOT be resequenced, but will retain their original line item number. For example: if you have four items and you delete one and then add another it will be assigned item number five.

Commodity: A Commodity Code is assigned to all purchases as a method to globally describe the type of goods or services that are being purchased. This field is used to record the commodity code. If you are unsure of the code, you may use the Commodity Search by clicking on the magnifying glass icon next to the entry box. The full list of authorized low-value commodity codes will be displayed, in alphabetical order by description. You may use the alphabet links at the top of the page to jump to a later location on the page. Then click on the commodity code you want to use and it will be brought back to the input screen. If you do not wish to select a commodity code, then click on the 'CANCEL' button at the very bottom of the page.

If you are familiar with commodity codes, you will notice that some are missing from this list, particularly those for restricted commodities and equipment. Only those codes that are allowable on Departmental Orders are listed on this page. Equipment may not be purchased on a Departmental Order. For more information, please see the Purchasing page that describes the definition of equipment. In addition, some commodities are restricted and cannot be purchased on a Departmental Order. Please see thePurchasing web site for more information on restricted commodities.

About Account Codes: When you select a commodity code, a corresponding account code will be assigned that describes the types of expenditure. You will not be able to view the account code until AFTER you submit the line item. At that time, the default account code will be displayed, and you will be able to make a change, if the default is not appropriate.

Quantity: Enter how many of this item that you want, e.g., 1, 2, 3, etc. If the quantity is less than a whole number, for example one and one-half liters, then you must enter the decimal point: 1.5.

Unit of Measure: The default unit is each. If you would like to change the default you can look up the units by using the magnifying glass icon next to the entry box. Click on the unit of measue that you want to use and it will be brought back to the input screen, click the cancel button at the bottom of the screen.

Unit Price: Enter the unit price of the item (the system will calculate the extended price based on the quantity that you enter). If you are adding cents, you must enter the decimal point. You do not need to enter a dollar sign.The total for all Items including tax and freight must not exeed $2,500.

Taxable/Non-taxable:The tax flag is a radio button where only one selection can be made. The default is taxable. If this is a non-taxable item, such as a service or labor, you must click on the non-taxable radio button. Please review detailed information about the application of sales taxes on low value purchases - "Applicability of taxes on Purchase Orders on Purchase Orders for Goods and Services"

Item Description: This field is for the description of the item(s) that you are buying. This is a required field. This field should contain the full description, including part numbers, catalog numbers, etc, so that the vendor can easily fulfill your order. If you are using the Unit of Measure "LOT", then the description should also contain the quantities, extended prices of each item, and the total price of all items.

Select a Clause: If you wish to have a clause (frequently used purchase order language) included in the text field, you may click on the down-arrow to view the available clauses. Move your mouse until you have highlighted the desired clause, then click on the gray "ADD CLAUSE" button. Your page will refresh, and the clause will be displayed in your Item Description box. Do not add clauses to subsequent line items.

The most commonly used clause is "Confirming Order Only" for orders that you have already placed with a vendor, and where the vendor has requested a copy of the PO for their records.

Clauses are typically added after the item description has been entered. Text placed within delimiters (//\\) will not print on the purchase order.

Submit the Item Information: After you have reviewed your Item Information, click on the "Submit" button to transmit the data to the system. Your page will refresh, and a number of changes will be present. First, always check to make sure that the "Submission was successful" message appears at the top of the screen. You should also verify that the account code and extended price are correct. If you wish to add another item, you may click on the "Add Another Item" button.


4. SUMMARY 4. SUMMARY When header and item information is complete, you may proceed to the Summary Page. You will be able to view all of the information about your PO on one page. Take time to review each field for accuracy. If all fields are correct, you may proceed to Completing and Approving the Order. If changes are necessary, use the yellow navigational buttons at the top of your page to return to the data entry pages.

5. CHANGING THE ORDER If the order is not yet complete, you may proceed directly to the Header or Item Information pages to make any necessary changes. If the PO has already been completed by another person in the approval hierarchy, then you may "uncomplete" the order by clicking on the 'Uncomplete Order' button at the bottom of the page.

If the order has final approval, it can not be changed. You must cancel the PO and create a replacement order.


6. COMPLETING AND APPROVING THE ORDER If there is only one level of approval defined by the assigned template, the order will be approved when the order is completed. If you are the second level of approval authority, you may retrieve all of the orders that are awaiting your approval by clicking on the "Unapproved Documents" side bar button. You may retrieve a particular order by entering the PO number in the "View Existing Department Order" side bar button. You will be routed to the Summary Page, where you can review the order. If all information is correct, click on the "Complete/Approve" button at the bottom of the page. If changes are necessary, click on the "Uncomplete" button, then proceed to either the Header Information or Item Information page by using one of the yellow navigational buttons at the top of the page.


 7. PRINTING AND FONTS Before an order can be printed, it must first be completed and approved. Then, use your yellow "Print Options" navigation button or the "CONTINUE" button on your Summary Page. You have two main options for printing:
  1. request a copy immediately printed to your local printer for
    • your department file copy or
    • for the vendor;
  2. request a formal hard copy to be printed by ACT Services overnight for
    • the financial manger and buyer or
    • the vendor
Once the PO page is displayed on the screen, you will need to use the browser "print" button for printing and the "back" button to return to WebIFIS.
If you find that your PO print does not fit on one page you will need to change the font size. "Arial" or "Helvetica" size 9 usually creates a PO that fits on one page. If this does not work keep adjusting the font size until your page printing works properly.


8. CANCELING THE ORDER You may cancel an order at any time before it has been paid. Use your "View Existing Department Order" button to look up the PO and view the Summary Page. If this is the correct PO, click on the "Cancel this PO" button at the bottom of the screen.


9. INVOICE INFORMATION Before an invoice can be viewed, the PO must first be completed and approved. Click on the side bar button "View Invoices". You may lookup the invoice for another PO while in the View Invoices screen by entering the PO number.


10. ALPHABETICAL INDEX TO TOPICS ON THIS PAGE