GNM_RCS_Rates_TS

• 1. .Introduction

     1. Purpose

The document GNM_RCS_System_Configuration_FS.docx is the functional specification that describes what features RCS has in relation to the configuration of the system.

This document is one of a set of technical specifications that provide details of how those functions are implemented in RCS.

• 1. Scope

This document focusses on the standard rates RCS uses to pay for some stories and some pictures. Separate documents deal with all other aspects of the system’s configuration.

This document is intended as a high-level technical document outlining how the relevant business functions are implemented in terms of software modules.

Importantly, this document does not aim to provide the level of detail that would be required in a programming specification in areas such as program structure, detailed business rules, data integrity, validation, locking considerations, data security, and calls to/from other software modules, performance considerations, and so forth.

For details of program logic and coding, the reader should refer to the program files themselves.

• 1. .Rates

GNM buys some content at a fixed price e.g. fixed fee commissions, some at a subscription rate e.g. under a fixed price annual contract, and some at a pay as you go usage rate. Usage rates can be applied to articles and images. Because these rates are changed over time screens are needed to maintain the data.

• 1. Wordage rates

The fee paid for a given word count is calculated from the relevant entry in a table of rates that are agreed with the NUJ. Each year or so a rate is agreed per 1000 words and fees are subsequently calculated on a pro rata basis.

The Wordage rates screen is accessible from the menu option: Housekeeping → Rates → Wordage rates

This opens the Oracle Form named rcs_nujr_010_pc.fmb as shown below.

This screen is only accessible to RCS Administrators.

The rate per 1000 words is recorded each time it changes, and it is applied from the date entered.

If a commission fee is agreed with a user that is beyond the % tolerance entered then it is held in a queue for approval..

• 1. Stock rates

When stock pictures are published GNM often pays for them in accordance with their published size. Rates are defined for area bands e.g. 0 to 5 sq. inches currently costs £61.89.

The Stock rates screen is accessible from the menu option: Housekeeping → Rates → Stock rates

This opens the Oracle Form named rcs_psra_010_pc.fmb as shown below.

This screen is only accessible to RCS Administrators.

When a new set of rates is agreed it is entered using this screen.

The screen validates that the rate bands are contiguous i.e. there are no gaps and the bands do not overlap. The upper limit of the largest band must be equivalent to a double page image.

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• 1. Illustration rates

When illustrations are published GNM often pays for them in accordance with a set of agreed rates. The rates relate to where the illustration was published and separate rates can be defined for black and white images and for colour images, though these rate are currently equal.

The Illustration rates screen is accessible from the menu option: Housekeeping → Rates → Illustration rates

This opens the Oracle Form named rcs_isra_010_pc.fmb as shown below.

This screen is only accessible to RCS Administrators.

When entering a new set of rates the user can press the “Copy the latest rates…” button to generate a new set of rates which can be updated as necessary.

End of Document