Release 1657 makes some improvements to web merit
processing that I'm sure will be welcomed by the campuses.
Although the code won't be used by ASUCLA or Hastings,
we should still install it for them in case some day there is
a need.

The changes relate to selection of rosters, whether for
Review/Input or for auditing of closed cycles.  When users
select either of these from the main menu, they are first
presented with a list of cycles to choose from.  Once that
selection is made, they are presented with a list of individual
departments and/or control point departments for which they
are authorized.  At this point they have three choices for any
entry:

- 'This dept' to display a roster containing distributions
   for only that one department
- 'Get all' to display a single roster that includes distributions
   for every department within the control point hierarchy
- 'Down' to expand a control point department to show all
   of its subordinate departments, thus allowing the user
   to work on merit increases for one department at a time

The problem addressed by r1657 is that sometimes there is
'no there there', that is, even though an entry appears on the
Roster Department Selection List, it (or subordinate departments)
may have no eligible distributions.  It's tedious to have to drill
down only to get a 'No employee data found for Cycle ID'
message, therefore the system has been changed to make
entries on the List not clickable when no employees have been
selected for that roster.  This applies to individual departments
and also control point departments.

Examples:

- If there is no roster data for a standalone department, 'This dept'
   will not be clickable.
- If a control department and all of its subordinate departments
   have no roster data, 'Get all' will not be clickable.

The technical mechanisms that support these changes include
modifications to DB2 stored procedures and the addition of a
new field, MDP_DEPT_MLA_INFO, to the MDP table,

so that the Stored Procedure can convey information to the Web Merit System
about whether each department has Merit Logical Appointment table (PPPMLA)
rows, any dependent (child) exists for this department, and any one of its
dependents has Merit Logical Appointment table (PPPMLA) rows for the input
Cycle ID.

Given the current interest in familiarizing campus users with
web merit processing and preparing for its eventual use in
production, I think it would be a good idea to implement r1657
soon.  Please let us know if we may proceed with installation.

   bvb