Key Ops Dispatch
November 2004
Vol. 4, No. 6
Included in this issue:
1 O/PUS To Release Downloadable OPdb(R) for First Quarter
Via PSN
2 Get Ready for Year-End 2004 with KeyOps Newsletter
3 What’s New in DDMS Version 7.8
4 Shut Down TBL Server Before Backing Up DDMS Files
5 FAQ: Should you use (TR-K) or (TR-P) for Prepays & Credit
Cards?
6 Getting Started with Express Computer Supply PSN Services
7 What’s New in Dealer Station(R) 4.11
8 Tell Us What You Think: Online Forms For Your Feedback
1 O/PUS To Release Downloadable OPdb(R) for First Quarter Via PSN
O/PUS plans to distribute the OPdb(R) file for the 1st quarter via PSNControl download. O/PUS will soon release the PSNControl software update necessary for the OPdb file download. However, O/PUS will not ship OPdb CD-ROMs for the 1st Quarter 2005 unless requested. If you do not meet PSN requirements and need an OPdb CD-ROM, we must receive your shipment request by December 15, 2004.
For more details on the OPdb download, its requirements, CD-ROM shipping requests, and other bulletins, see O/PUS Update Notes for the first quarter of 2005.
2 Get Ready for Year-End 2004 with KeyOps Newsletter
We are certainly looking forward to a busy holiday season, especially with year-end procedures in the mix! To help you prepare for year-end procedures, we offer updated reference material.
The Year-End 2004 Key Ops newsletter has been printed, and should have been in your mailbox right around Thanksgiving. We encourage you to become familiar with the updated procedures that apply to your business and make any necessary preparations as soon as possible. But you don’t have to wait on the post office: we’ve already published the newsletter on our KeyOps Newsletter page.
This year we have expanded the 2004 Year-End Key Ops to incorporate FAQs and hints accumulated from last year-end and important updates due to the General Release Version 7:
- Full pages of frequently asked questions (FAQs) have been added from last year’s Hints messages. Some of these FAQs feature important preparations such as planning your naming conventions and ordering appropriate paper stock.
- The Year-End Road Map section has clarifying introductions added from last year's Hints messages, re-sequenced steps for optimal efficiency, and an emphasis on saving backups and audit trail tapes (to ensure you have backup in case you need to restore from immediately before year-end procedures).
- If you are not closing G/L the same day you perform year-end procedures, there are important instructions to change your G/L release password temporarily, to help you avoid releasing batches into the wrong files.
- Since the graphical G/L was released in Version 7, we've also included all alternative graphical G/L steps and the new step for renaming GLD-MASTER, from an earlier mass email this fall.
- The steps for printing W-2s and 1099s are completely updated.
- The color code/interface conventions now include information from last year's Hints messages about navigating in our text and graphical software.
3 What’s New in DDMS Version 7.8
ECi announces the release of DDMS Version 7.8, which is available now upon request to all DDMS customers.
Version 7.8 includes the following enhancements:
- The W-2 Tax Withholding formats are updated to meet new IRS requirements (the form is a half-inch narrower than last year).
- The graphical Customer Order Entry tab lets you enable Two Digit Pricing to meet requirements for certain credit card companies.
- All passwords you set in the (EZX) Serialized Program Security screen now also apply to the graphical Machines & Equipment applications.
- A new (LF1) P/O Flushing parameter lets you specify a stock class range to flush zero price/cost items to a Final Verified status 8 or B during a (TR-G) Order Entry Backorder Flush.
- Notes Everywhere lets you create an unlimited number of free-form text notes that can be displayed in real time as you work. If you are on DDMS product package C or D, you will automatically be authorized to use Notes Everywhere when you install Version 7.8. If you have DDMS product package A or B and would like to take advantage of Notes Everywhere, contact ECi Sales at 866-374-3221 or info@ecisolutions.com.
For details on where to find documentation on these features, see “What’s New in DDMS Version 7.8” on our Version 7 Documentation page.
For a complete list of enhancements and resolved issues in this release, see our Program Updates page, where you can search by Version for All DDMSducts 7.8.0.
For more information, see “What’s New in Version 7” or refer to your online help.
If you want to take advantage of the new features in Version 7.8, we will be happy to ship the software update and instructions to you via United Parcel Service (UPS) Ground. Please send a request for Version 7.8 to ddmssupport@ecisolutions.com, and include your DDMS account number, contact name, company name, shipping address, and phone number.
We hope that you find the new features in DDMS Version 7.8 beneficial in growing your business.
4 Shut Down TBL Server Before Backing Up DDMS Files
Occasionally, ECi Technical Support receives calls from customers trying to restore DDMS files from a backup tape. In some cases, we have found that the customer’s backup is incomplete, and the files cannot be restored.
As you may know, the system will not back up any file that is currently being used. The cause of the incomplete backup is usually failure to complete a simple step: shutting down TBL Server before performing a backup.
For detailed instructions on backing up your DDMS files, see “File #243: Backing Up Your DDMS Files in Microsoft® Windows 2000.”
To learn how to verify that your backups are good, see the updated “File #86: Making Sure Your Backups Are Good.” Note: If your backup log shows errors or skipped files, contact Support.
To learn how to restore files from a backup tape, see “File #92: Restoring From Backups under Windows 2000” or “File #38: Restoring Files on UNIX Systems.”
5 FAQ: Should you use (TR-K) or (TR-P) for Prepays & Credit Cards?
In the (TR) Order Entry Standard Reports screen, there are two credit card selections that are closely related and often confused:
• (TR-K) Gateway Credit Cards Report.
• (TR-P) Credit Card Service Capture and Invoicing of Prepay Orders
To learn how each selection works and when it is best to use each one, see “Tech Note #257: (TR-K) vs. (TR-P) for Prepays and Credit Cards.”
6 Getting Started with Express Computer Supply PSN Services
ECi has released a new Private Supply Network (PSN) service for Express Computer Supply. The Express Computer Supply PSN service will enable dealers to transmit purchase orders, check stock availability and pricing, and request acknowledgements via the Internet.
There are three steps to get started with the Express Computer Supply PSN:
1. You will need to have loaded their item and pricing data from the OPdb® Multi-Vendor Catalog Update CD-ROM for the fourth quarter of 2004. (You can also download the fourth quarter OPdb file via O/PUS PSNControl. For more information, see “PSNControl Enhanced to Download Opdb® MultiVendor Catalog.”
The Express Computer item file is available to ALL O/PUS customers. However, this file can only be loaded via the SIMPLE program. The vendor ID name in I-WHL will be EXPRESS.
Note: Express Computer Supply requires passwords for all cost columns except the fifth cost column, which is general wholesale catalog prices and is not password protected. Cost column passwords are NOT available through ECi Technical Support or O/PUS. To acquire your cost column password, contact the Express Computer Supply Customer Service Department at 1-800-342-4542, ext. 170.
2. Your PSN account must be set up to use these vendor PSN services. If you are not currently using the ECi PSN, you can you can set up an account and request Express Computer Supply to be included as one of your PSN vendors by using the online form on the “Starting a New PSN Account” Web page.
If you are already using the PSN, you can easily add Express Computer Supply to your existing PSN account. Simply contact your vendor for the appropriate login ID and password and follow the setup instructions according to the vendor's PSN documentation.
The Express Computer Supply PSN requires DDMS Version 7.7.0-A or later. If a software update is necessary, please email your request to ddmssupport@ecisolutions.com.
3. Obtain an ECi PSN log-in ID and password from Express Computer Supply. Contact the the Express Computer Supply Customer Service Team at 800-342-4542 x135.
You will use this account ID and password when you set up your PSN parameters. For detailed instructions, see “Setting Up and Using the Express Computer Supply PSN.”
For more information about Express Computer Supply, its item file, its O/PUS parameters and its cost columns, see pages 2 & 3 of the October 1, 2004 FYI² Notes.
7 What’s New in Dealer Station(R) 4.11
ECi released Dealer Station(R) 4.11 in mid-November 2004, with the following enhancements:
- Send confirmation emails to additional addresses on order approval.
- Customize the email text that is sent to approvers when an order requires approval.
- Change and delete Item Management images.
- More information added to User/Usage Reports, including user contact information and usage order history.
- You can specify a web site or page to redirect the browser to when users log off or click Home, instead of returning to the Dealer Station home page.
- Approvers can use the new Approval Forwarding page to specify when they will be unavailable, and temporarily assign their order approval responsibilities to another user.
For details on where to find documentation on these features, see “What’s New in Dealer Station 4.11” on our Dealer Station Documentation page.
8 Tell Us What You Think
Can you think of anything we can do to make ECi Technical Support even better? Please send any comments or suggestions to keyops@eci2.com.
If you have feedback or corrections to report for documentation, you can send a simple email to docfeedback@eci2.com, but to help us find exactly what needs to be fixed, please use the online documentation feedback form.
To submit Support requests, please enter detailed information about your problem on the Contact Support form. The online form provides your Support tech with information regarding your issue, which is helpful before returning your call. You can also call us at 800-366-4778 or email us at ddmssupport@ecisolutions.com.
For other ECi contact information, please see the Contact Us Web page.
Key Ops Dispatch, an e-mail newsletter, comes free of charge to all DDMS customers.
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