Oracle MSCA/MWA Framework - Introduction

MSCA

• Stands for Mobile Supply Chain Application.
• MSCA is for staff in warehouse, shop floor, most of whom are always on the move.
• MSCA trasactions are carried out from hand-held devices.
• To efficiently operate and infuse visibility in the system - RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) readers are used by warehouse/shop floor staff to read barcodes and use them in transactions.
• Items, Locators, Sub-Inventories etc are barcoded and these barcodes are not entered manually but scanned with the handheld devices while performing transactions thus providing efficiency, speed as well as accuracy.

MWA

• Stands for Mobile Web Application.
• MWA is telnet based application that runs on internet (WIFI and GPRS) based wireless devices.
• Telnet client is configured on the handheld device, for testing it is used on desktop.
• MWA Applications are based on Java.
• MWA is part of WMS (Warehouse Management System).

MWA Architecture:

Fortunate enough to get a chance to closely observe and experience warehouse transactions using handheld devices. Typical work on MWA Applications:

• Development of custom screens for handheld devices.
• Extend the existing MWA screens.
• Personalize existing MWA screens.

Technical Skills Required:

• Java
• PLSQL 
• XML

Softwares Required:

• JDK to be installed in system.
• Mobile Wireless Applications (MWA) J2ME Telnet GUI Client. 

Navigation

Navigation on mobile device uses "Enter" key.
"Enter" key will fire fieldExited event.
Whenever we scan a barcode, barcode will populate the value and there is an associated "Enter" key for navigation to next field.

Key Mappings

• Key mappings are visible on mobile help screen on pressing "F1" (Standard key for Help).

Following are standard key mappings:

Shortcut Key	Purpose
F1	Help
F2	Menu
F3	Back
F4	Forward
Ctrl K	Clear
Ctrl L	LOV
Ctrl M	Responsibility Menu
Ctrl B	Long Description of status message
Ctrl Z	Toggle between options in a list field
Ctrl A	Show Current Field on page
ESC	For Hot Keys
Ctrl Z	Toggle between options in a list field
Ctrl D	Page Up
Ctrl C	Page Down
Ctrl G	Generate (Generate Serial Number etc)
Ctrl S	Skip Task on Task Page
Ctrl X	About Page
Ctrl F	Open Flexfield Window

MWA Configuration

• $INST_TOP/admin/install/mwa.cfg stores the MWA configuration.
• Following are the key configuration variables in this file:
• mwa.DbcFolder
• mwa.DbcFile
• mwa.logdir
• mwa.LogLevel
• mwa.SystemLog
• mwa.EnableLogRotation
• mwa.MaxLogFileSize
• mwa.SubmenuChangeOrgResp
• Refer to MSCA Implementation Guide> MWA Server Setup > MWA Configuration File for more details.
• Key mappings can be modified for a particular device ($INST_TOP/admin/install/Device IP.ini) or all devices ($INST_TOP/admin/install/default_key.ini). (Refer to MSCA Implementation Guide> MWA Server Setup > Key Mappings).  

Steps to Configure MWA Client:

• MWA Client needs to confirmed 
• Search for "Mobile Wireless Applications (MWA) J2ME Telnet GUI Client" or "Latest MWA GUI Client" etc on oracle support. Latest patch that I found and tried was 12780257. Patch "Read me" file contains details on patch installation.
• https://support.oracle.com/epmos/main/downloadattachmentprocessor?parent=DOCUMENT&sourceId=294670.1&attachid=294670.1:1&clickstream=yes

MWA Administrator

• Standard MWA responsibility for MWA for Mirroring and Sending message to another mobile device for communication.

Mirroring Mobile Session

• MWA Administrator > Telnet Session Monitor can be used to mirror an active session of another user.
• Both users must be on the same MWA Server.
• This can greatly help in debugging and supporting MWA Applications.

Send Message

• MWA Administrator > Send Message can be used to send a brief message to another user.
• Both users must be on the same MWA Server.
• User will see the message on any key press.
• After pressing OK, user can continue with their transaction.

Starting/Shutting MWA Server

• Location of Scripts - cd $INST_TOP/admin/scripts
• Start Command - mwactl.sh start [port number]
• Ex. mwactl.sh start 6060
• Shutdown Command - mwactl.sh-login xxx/yyy stop/stop_force [port number]
• mwactl.sh -login cbaker/welcome stop 6060
• mwactl.sh -login cbaker/welcome stop_force 6060

Hardware devices typically used:

• Barcode Printer
• Ribbon for barcode printing
• Rugged/Semi-rugged mobile devices
• lamination labels

Please proceed to MSCA/MWA Framework - Custom Development and Extension - Part 1 to read more on custmization in MSCA/MWA Framework.

Please proceed to MSCA/MWA Framework - Mobile Personalization to read more on Personalizing standard MSCA/MWA Screens.