Invoice Close Process

Introduction

The current page describes (technically) the elements which are part of the process of closing running invoices.

Invoice Batch Engine - controls the closing of invoices and makes invoices ready for export to third party, PDF generation etc.
Invoice Export Engine - processes requests for exporting invoices, and also prepares invoices for publishing.
Invoice Close/Invoice Management Tab - handles marking of invoices as being published.

The state of invoice batches is described below, where the number in parenthesis indicates the internal state identifier (statusId for InvoiceBatch).

Process Description

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State	Who	Description
Pending Close	[Invoice Batch Engine ] [Invoice Close GUI]	If a batch is requested to be closed immediately the state change is done immediately, otherwise the process is handled by the Invoice Batch Engine
Closing	[Customers:Invoice Batch Engine]	Invoice schedules are closed as long as they end before 'now' (i.e. the execution time). Invoices are closed but not locked, i.e. it is possible to adjust the balance, if needed (adding minimum invoice usage, fees, etc.). The actual SQL used to close the invoices are stored in resource file "`/com/CDRator/billing/financial/invoiceBatch/closeInvoicesInBatch`"
Closed	[Customers:Invoice Batch Engine]	It is possible per billing cycle to define a hookpoint key that will allow calling a hookpoint. If this hookpoint does not exist or does not return FAILURE, any non-closed invoice within a closed invoice schedule is moved to the next invoice schedule. Invoices may not be closed because they fail to fulfill the minimum usage requirements.
Aggregating	[Customers:Invoice Batch Engine]	The actual aggregation of invoice detail lines is handled by an external process, located in the database. Hence this process only checks that all invoices are aggregated before processing continues. This is done by counting the non-aggregated invoices by an SQL located in the resource file "`/com/CDRator/billing/financial/invoiceBatch/countUnaggregatedInvoices`". When all invoices are aggregated, the invoices are locked so that no invoice detail lines may be created for the invoices.
Ready for sending	[Invoice Batch Engine ]	If there are no invoices in the batch, the batch goes into error. A hookpoint is called, and a pending record for the exporting process is created.
Ordered	[Invoice Export Engine ]	A workflow is invoked which processes the export queue and changes the state of the corresponding invoice batch.
Ready for publish	[Customers:Invoice Management]	The export of invoices does not indicate that they are ready for publishing. This is controlled in the Invoice Close GUI which allows the batch to be marked as 'Published'.

Object Model

Billing cycles, invoice schedules and invoice batch are maintained in the Invoice Close/Invoice Management Tab.