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Chapter 1: Service Charge Dashboard

Welcome to the Service Charge Dashboard - your gateway to managing rental property service charges! Think of this as the main reception desk of our system, where property managers come to access all the different services they need.

What Problem Does This Solve?

Imagine you're a property manager handling multiple rental properties. Every month, you need to:

  • Calculate service charges for utilities, maintenance, and amenities
  • Create invoices for tenants
  • Manage contract conditions
  • Track payment statuses

Instead of juggling multiple separate tools, the Service Charge Dashboard gives you a single, organized interface with clearly labeled buttons that take you exactly where you need to go.

A Simple Use Case

Let's say it's the beginning of March, and you need to process service charges for all your February rentals. Here's what you'll do:

  1. Open the Dashboard - You'll see a clean interface with several buttons
  2. Click "Service Charge Calculation" - This takes you to calculate February charges
  3. Click "Invoice Creation" - This generates invoices for tenants
  4. Click "Contract Management" - This handles any contract updates needed

It's like walking up to a hotel reception desk and saying "I need to check in" - the receptionist immediately knows exactly which process to start for you.

Key Components of the Dashboard

The dashboard consists of three main parts:

1. Navigation Buttons

These are your main menu options - each button launches a specific business function:

SELECTION-SCREEN PUSHBUTTON 05(30) TEXT-002 USER-COMMAND but1.
SELECTION-SCREEN PUSHBUTTON 05(30) TEXT-003 USER-COMMAND but2.

Each button has a unique command (like but1, but2) that tells the system which function you want to access.

2. Input Parameters

These are basic settings you might need across different functions:

PARAMETERS: rb_inv RADIOBUTTON GROUP rb1 DEFAULT 'X',
rb_cn RADIOBUTTON GROUP rb1.
SELECT-OPTIONS: s_bukrs FOR vibdro-bukrs OBLIGATORY.

Think of these as your "preferences" - like choosing between creating invoices or credit notes.

3. Navigation Logic

This is the brain that decides where to send you based on which button you clicked:

METHOD service_charge_calc.
SUBMIT zre_rental_service_charge VIA SELECTION-SCREEN AND RETURN.
ENDMETHOD.

When you click a button, this code launches the appropriate program and brings you back when you're done.

How to Use the Dashboard

Let's walk through using the dashboard step by step:

Step 1: Access the Dashboard

When you run the program, you'll see a screen with multiple buttons representing different functions.

Step 2: Choose Your Function

Click the button for what you want to do:

  • Button 1: Calculate service charges
  • Button 2: Create invoices
  • Button 3: Approve payments
  • Button 4: Manage contracts

Step 3: Get Routed Automatically

The dashboard will automatically:

  1. Capture your button click
  2. Launch the appropriate program
  3. Bring you back when you're finished

What Happens Under the Hood?

Let's see what happens when you click the "Service Charge Calculation" button:

Here's the actual code that makes this happen:

Button Click Detection

AT SELECTION-SCREEN.
IF sscrfields-ucomm EQ 'BUT1'.
gv_ucomm = 'BUT1'.
ENDIF.

This code listens for button clicks and stores which button was pressed in the variable gv_ucomm.

Function Routing

IF gv_ucomm = 'BUT1'.
CALL METHOD go_report->service_charge_calc( ).
ENDIF.

This code checks which button was clicked and calls the appropriate method to launch the right functionality.

Program Launch

METHOD service_charge_calc.
SUBMIT zre_rental_service_charge VIA SELECTION-SCREEN AND RETURN.
ENDMETHOD.

This method launches the Service Charge Calculation program and waits for it to complete before returning control back to the dashboard.

The SUBMIT command is like handing the user over to another department - the calculation department does its work, then sends the user back to reception when they're done.

The Dashboard's Smart Design

The dashboard uses a clever design pattern:

  1. Single Entry Point - Users always start here, just like a hotel lobby
  2. Context Preservation - Your settings are remembered between functions
  3. Automatic Return - You always come back to the main dashboard
  4. Clear Navigation - Each button has a clear, specific purpose

This creates a consistent, predictable experience where users never get lost in the system.

Conclusion

The Service Charge Dashboard acts as your command center for all rental property service charge operations. It provides a clean, organized way to access different business functions without getting lost in complex navigation.

Think of it as your digital receptionist - always ready to direct you to exactly the right place based on what you need to accomplish. Whether you're calculating charges, creating invoices, or managing contracts, the dashboard ensures you can find and access the right tools quickly and efficiently.

In our next chapter, we'll dive into the Service Charge Calculation Engine to see how the system actually calculates those monthly service charges for your rental properties.