Release a Batch

When a batch is released it is available to be filed in ATPCO's Government Filing System (GFS) or, in the case of certain US/CA batches, it is automatically filed in GFS.

When a batch has been released, it may not be reused. If errors occur, they must be corrected in a new batch.

To release a batch, follow the steps in one of the following methods:

First Steps

From the Batch ID Fields of the Quick Action Bar

Click the Batches tab. By default, the Search/Action Batches screen will display.
In the Batch ID fields of the Quick Action Bar, type the user ID and number of the batch.
In the drop-down list box, select Release.
Click the button.

From the List of Batches

Use the batch search filters on the Search/Action Batches screen to display a list of batches. For more information, see Search/Action Batches Screen and Batch Search Filters.
Select the batch to be released and then right-click the same batch. A batch actions menu will display.
Click the Release command.
You can select multiple batches at one time for release. However, International and Add-on batches may be combined but US/CA batches must stand alone.
After selecting the batch, you can also click the button.

From Within a Batch

If you have a batch open for viewing or editing, click button.

Second Steps

After performing one of the methods listed above, the Action Request: Release Batch dialog box will display. Follow these steps to continue releasing the batch.

International Tariffs

If you have selected multiple batches you can choose the order for release processing by clicking the Proc. Sequence Order field. Type a number to indicate the processing order of each batch. For example, if three batches are present, type the numbers 1, 2, and 3 in the order you desire.

The step above is not necessary. If you leave the Proc. Sequence Order fields blank, the program will select a processing order automatically.

Choose an option for the T/C Lock Requested field (T/C represents tariff/carrier). If this field is selected, release processing on the entire batch will be stopped if any transaction in the batch encounters an application error and the batch will hold a status of suspended.

All subsequent batches for the same tariff and carrier will not process until the T/C lock is released.

If this field is not selected, any transaction that can pass application edits will be applied to the database while any transaction that encounters an application error will be rejected (commonly called a “bounce out”).

A batch can only be released once. If the T/C Lock Requested field is not selected and the system can successfully apply one or more transactions, the batch will be available for filing (International) or awaiting distribution (US/CA). Any transactions that encounter an error will have to be copied or moved to a new batch. After the errors are corrected, the new batch must then be released. For more information, see Copy/Move Transactions.

Select one of the following options from the Low Fare Check drop-down list box (click inside this field to activate the button):

- "Warnings" is the default value for this field and will return a warning on any fare transaction whose amount that is less than the established threshold for the tariff.
- If you select the option of "Errors", any transactions whose fare amount is less than the established threshold will be returned as an error and no further processing will occur until corrected or removed.
- If you select the option of "No Check", the Low Fare Check functionality will not be processed against the batch.
- This is a safety measure you can choose to help avoid typographical errors from becoming public.

You can select the Low Fare Check option on the row containing the batch or in the Change All Rows fields. If Action Request contains both international and add-on batches, the Low Fare Check function is only applicable to international batches.

US/CA Tariffs

If you have selected multiple batches for the same tariff and carrier you can choose the order for release processing by clicking the Proc. Sequence Order field. Type a number to indicate the processing order of each batch. For example, if three batches are present, type the numbers 1, 2, and 3 in the order you desire.

The step above is not necessary. If you leave the Proc. Sequence Order fields blank, the program will select a processing order automatically.

Choose an option for the T/C Lock Requested field (T/C represents tariff/carrier). If this field is selected, release processing on the entire batch will be stopped if any transaction in the batch encounters an application error and the batch will hold a status of suspended.

All subsequent batches for the same tariff and carrier will not process until the T/C lock is released.

A batch can only be released once. If the T/C Lock Requested field is not selected and the system can successfully apply one or more transactions to the database, the batch will attain a status of available for filing. Batches with this status can be modified. Any errors contained in this batch will have to be copied or moved to another batch to address errors. They must be copied or moved to a new batch. After the errors are corrected, the new batch must then be released. For more information, see Copy/Move Transactions.

If the batch is part of a tariff that must be secured, select an option for the Distribution Timing field.
- Next Secure—The transactions will not be visible in GFS until after the next subscriptions release has completed.
- Nightly—The transactions will not be visible in GFS until after the nightly subscriptions release has completed.
- Next Not Secure—This option applies only to fares that do not include a point in the United States, Puerto Rico, or Virgin Islands and to fares that are part of a private tariff. Fares released as "next not secure" will be distributed to authorized subscribers at the next subscriptions release but will be visible by authorized users before the subscriptions release has occurred.
Select one of the following options from the Low Fare Check drop-down list box:

- "Warnings" is the default value for this field and will return a warning on any fare transaction whose amount that is less than the established threshold for the tariff.
- If you select the option of "Errors", any transactions whose fare amount is less than the established threshold will be returned as an error and no further processing will occur until corrected or removed.
- This is a safety measure you can choose to help avoid typographical errors from becoming public.

You can select the low fare check option on the row containing the batch or in the “change all rows” fields.

This step only applies to transmitted files. For information on transmissions, see About File Management.

If the batch was created by a transmission that did not include an auto-release card, select an option for the Include Tax field. This function applies only to fares that are subject to U.S. domestic transportation sales tax and to batches that do not have the tax inclusion indicator set. The options are Yes or No. Your choice on this menu depends on how you sent the fare amounts. If you sent pre-tax amounts then choose No. This means that tax should not be removed from the fare. If you sent post-tax amounts then choose Yes. This means that tax is included in the fare amount and that it should be removed when the transactions are validated.