Documentation

Inheritance

Inheritance determines how parameter values and receipt templates are applied across environments, locations, and workstations in InStore. Understanding inheritance helps you configure fallback values and overrides effectively.

Fallback configuration

Administration parameter sets are selected based on the following hierarchy:

  • Automatic inheritance by level (environment, location, workstation)
  • Temporary or permanent overrides assigned in the InStore Center

Inheritance and overrides

Your InStore environment includes a hidden set of default parameter values. If you do not assign any parameter sets, InStore uses the default values.
To customize parameters, create a fallback parameter set and assign it to an environment. This applies the set to all workstations in all locations.
To override environment-level values for a one or multiple locations, assign an override set to that location. Only the parameters included in the override set will differ; all other values continue to inherit from the environment. For example, if you have a location that is prone to fraud, you can create a new parameter set that includes the Max_Unreceipted_Cash_Refund parameter to specify a lower unreceipted returns limit for that location.
You can also assign an override set to a workstation to supersede values at the environment and location levels. For example, to have a workstation in a location that is dedicated to returns or cash management.

The following diagram illustrates parameter inheritance:

Diagram of parameter inheritance

The colored blocks represent parameters that have been defined within three sets called Environment, Location, and Workstation. A full set of fallback parameters was configured at the environment level. Sets containing only two parameters each have been configured for the location and for a workstation at that location.

  • Pattern 1: no overrides for Parameter A at the location or workstation levels; both inherit the environment value.
  • Pattern 2: an override for Parameter B at the location level; the workstation inherits the location value.
  • Pattern 3: an override for Parameter C at the workstation level; other workstations at the location inherit the environment value.
  • Pattern 4: different values for Parameter D at every level.

Receipt templates

Receipt template sets follow the same inheritance and override rules as parameter sets. InStore provides a default set that uses data from the Company and Location records. If you do not create any template sets, InStore uses the default values.
Assigning a fallback template set at the environment level applies it to all locations. You can create new template sets to override environment-level templates at selected locations.

Receipt template sets cannot be assigned at the workstation level.

Timed changes

You can schedule timed changes to parameters or receipt templates. For example, you might need special receipt text or policy changes for a holiday period.

To schedule changes:

  1. Create a series of parameter or template sets with the same name but different start dates.
  2. Assign each set to the appropriate level (environment or location).

InStore evaluates available sets at each location and prioritizes the set with:

  • The same name as the currently active set
  • The latest start date that is not in the future

If a set has a start date of today, it takes precedence, even if the previous set has not reached its end date. The end date is only considered when a series ends and the fallback set resumes.

Assigning temporary sets at the environment level allows all locations to inherit the changes, reducing the need for individual assignments.

You can leave the Start Date and End Date fields empty to create a set that is used indefinitely.

Immutable parameters

You can lock a parameter by setting the Immutable flag at any level:

  • If set at the environment level, the value cannot be overridden at the location or workstation levels.

  • If set at the location level, the value cannot be overridden at the workstation level.

    Although you can include immutable parameters in sets, the InStore colleague app ignores them.