Documentation for Miscellaneous Products

This page contains current documentation for DDMS miscellaneous products for credit card approval, email and fax communications, electronic data interchange, period-end procedure automation, report customization, contact management, and so on.

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Approval Link Credit Card Processing

See also Approval Link Credit Card Processing FAQs

New! Setting Up and Using Credit Cards and Approval Link 4.0 (pdf) Approval Link™ 4.0 is the interface between your DDMS system and Verus/Net1 Payment Solutions automated authorization and capture software. Learn how to set up and use Approval Link™ software to process credit card and other transactions with Net1.

Updated! Setting Up and Using Credit Cards and Approval Link 3.0 (pdf) Approval Link™ 3.0 is the interface between your DDMS system and VeriSign™ Payflo Pro® automated authorization and capture software. Learn how to set up and use Approval Link™ software to process credit card and other transactions with VeriSign.

Setting Up and Using Credit Cards and Approval Link 2.0 (pdf) Approval Link™ 2.0 is the interface between your DDMS system and POS-Partner automated authorization and capture software. Learn how to set up and use Approval Link™ software to process credit card and other transactions with POS-partner.

Setting Up and Using Credit Card Processing in Canada (pdf) Learn how to use Approval Link™ 2.0 as the interface between your DDMS system and Paradata Systems automated authorization and capture software to process credit cards in Canada.

Tech Note #257: (TR-K) vs. (TR-P) for Prepays and 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 and (TR-P) Credit Card Service Capture and Invoicing of Prepay Orders. Learn how each selection works and when it is best to use each one.

Creating Prepay Orders Learn how to use the Prepay pay code in Order Entry, which lets you enter the customer's credit card information and saves all the credit card information for the order. Afterwards, you can use the Pay on Prepay action code to manually invoice each pick ticket. Or, you can use the batch capturing and invoicing feature to bill the customer’s credit card and invoice the order. Batch capturing and invoicing improves prepay flow for all DDMS users. (file: prepay.pdf)

AutoComm Fax and Email Integration

See also AutoComm Fax and Email FAQs.

New! Going Paperless: Operational & Billing Efficiencies (pdf) Eliminate the costs of postage, paper, and forms by faxing or e-mailing invoices and statements with Autocomm II. This session also includes information on paperless reporting capabilities such as saving monthly and daily reports to text files, setting up multiple printers to save your text file reports for automated procs, and importing into Excel.

Updated! Installing AutoComm II (pdf) Learn how to set up the revamped fax/email server software for DDMS that eliminates the need for third-party software. AutoComm II introduces a new graphical wizard-like interface that simplifies setup of DDMS server information, backgrounds and attachments, fax settings, and email settings. The Autocomm II service runs in the background while its workstation is on, so there’s no need to launch it manually or even log in for the system to process emails and faxes.

Updated! Using AutoComm II (pdf) Learn how to send faxes and emails from both graphical and text-based applications using the AutoComm™ II fax/email server software for DDMS™. This document includes instructions on sending invoices from Order Entry, purchase orders from P/O Entry, and customer statements from Accounts Receivable. It also includes instructions for monitoring faxes and emails, and sending mass or batch messages.

Installing & Using AutoComm (pdf) how to set up AutoComm and configure your system to work with Symantec WinFax. Updated in April 2004: instructions for faxing and emailing in both graphical and text-based software from the Faxing application, invoices from the Order Entry application, purchase orders from the P/O Entry application, and customer statements from the A/R reports screen. (file: autocomm.pdf)

AutoComm for ASP customers (pdf) A flowchart that shows how ASP customers use AutoComm (an interface program for faxing and e-mailing from your DDMS system)

eGate

Setting Up eGate documentation for eGate, a Windows program that allows DDMS to interact with Internet-based, e-commerce packages that process customer orders remotely and batch transmit to your site. (file:egate.pdf)

Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) and Electronic Invoicing

EDI is the exchange of business information in a standardized format between companies that use different computer systems. Electronic invoicing lets dealers use the DDMS EDI application to accept electronic invoices from vendors.

See also EDI and Electronic Invoicing FAQs Frequently asked questions about Electronic Invoicing and EDI, including fundamentals, how to get started, and how to set up your system to communicate via EDI with various vendors.

Posting Electronic Invoices (pdf) Documentation for posting electronic invoices with any vendor, and for handling exceptions. To learn how to set up and receive electronic invoices from your particular vendor, see one of the documents below.

See also PSN Documentation More and more vendors are using the ECi Private Supply Network as the channel to transmit electronic invoices.

Contract Wizard / FileMapper

File # 246: O/PUS Contract Wizard This a free Windows-based application will allow you to convert/import an Excel spreadsheet into a DDMS contract. This document provides instructions for installation, running Contract Creator for the first time, what columns to create in Excel, and how to import the spreadsheet into your DDMS Contract. (file: opusContractWizard.pdf)

FileMapper documentation Learn to use FileMapper, the program that lets you convert almost any manufacturer's item file to a format you can load on your DDMS system. (file: filemapper_doc.pdf)

Proc Files

Updated! Custom Day-End/Month-End Proc - Terms Agreement & Request Form (pdf) To initiate a request for a custom day-end and/or month end proc, whether new or upgrade, complete this request form and fax the signed copy to ECi Sales. See also the specifications form.

Updated! Custom Day-End/Month-End Proc File Specifications Form (pdf) Once you have agreed to the terms, you will be asked to fill out this form to specify the steps and special requirements for your day-end and month-end proc(s) so that our developer can complete the work.

Updated! Procs Like a Pro (pdf) Proc (procedure) files can automate many of your routine procedures. From simple tasks like day-end procedures and reports to complex functions that can calculate their own date limits and modify databases, proc files can be that extra manpower you need. Learn how to run proc files as completely unattended automated functions, or set them up as an interactive program to prompt for key information and then run procedures based on user input.

New! Going Paperless: Operational & Billing Efficiencies (pdf) Eliminate the costs of postage, paper, and forms by faxing or e-mailing invoices and statements with Autocomm II. This session also includes information on paperless reporting capabilities such as saving monthly and daily reports to text files, setting up multiple printers to save your text file reports for automated procs, and importing into Excel.

The Efficiencies of Using Proc Files This handout from a March 1998 User's Meeting includes the fundamentals that would be most useful for new customers and those who are still doing Day End and Month End procedures manually.

Proc File Basics For advanced users, this handout from a January 1997 User's Meeting describes how to code a proc file from scratch.

Proc file commands that do not work under Windows Lists the proc commands and variables that you cannot use in procs that run on the Windows platform (file:proc-nt.pdf)

Report Writing

Updated! DBF to SQL Importing: Using the EnsiteEBS Utility Program (pdf) Beginning with Version 8.11, several DDMS™ applications work primarily with data in a SQL database. Before you can use Customer Price Plans, Price Modeling, SQL Reporting, and so on, your DDMS data must be initially validated, corrected as needed, and imported into the SQL database. After this initial processing, your data will be automatically synchronized thereafter. Use the EnsiteEBS Utility program to confirm SQL connectivity to the server, ensure your data is valid before attempting to import it, and then import the data required to use the new applications. See also Troubleshooting Ensite EBS Validation Errors (pdf) and 11 Tips on Validating DBF Data With EnsiteEBS Utility (pdf)

New! Setting Up & Using SQL Preview Reports for DDMS (pdf) The new Preview Reports function in the Report Menu combines the current capabilities of the existing sales database report screens in DDMS with the new functionality of the SQL EBS database. It is designed to allow both new and experienced users to easily view and print SQL reports. It also allows users to make minor report changes on the fly that could previously only be made in more complex report designer applications. Information is displayed in an Excel-style grid with columns that can be fully customized using sorts and limits.

New! Advanced SQL Reports (pdf) Recommended for users who are already familiar with SQL databases, table structure, and running query statements. Create custom reports with new SQL technology using the Component 1 Designer (included with DDMS’ new SQL reporting feature). You will learn how to define data sources and create basic reports using this powerful tool. We will also review the rules for viewing custom reports with the Preview Reports function. While ECi does not support C1 Report Designer, this document presents helpful rules and definitions that should be useful in designing reports that are compatible with the Preview Reports function. See also the Authorization Request for C1 Report Designer (pdf).

Setting Up C1 Report Designer for SQL Reporting (pdf) Learn how to set up C1 Report Designer to access the DDMS sales history database data now available in SQL. With authorization, you can launch the C1 Report Designer from the Keyop Menu in DDMS Version 8.11 or higher. Once your connection is successful, you can use C1 to compose SQL statements and design custom reports. You can select from lists of fields and limits, customize each report’s display, and manage saved formats. Other users can view and print your saved custom C1 reports in the Report Preview application, from the DDMS Reports menu. Report Preview can send the output to the printer, or export to Excel, PDF, or other options. You can use the same connection information to use the data on a read-only basis from Microsoft Access, Crystal Reports, or similar database reporting software.

Authorization Request For Third-Party C1 Report Designer (pdf) ECi developers rewrote all of DDMS's sales history databases and tables in Structured Query Language (SQL), a widespread industry standard for relational databases. As a result, all the SQL data for your DDMS sales history are now available for use with SQL reporting. With authorization, you can launch the C1 Report Designer from the Keyop Menu in DDMS Version 8.11 or higher. C1 entails composing SQL statements to design custom reports. You can select from lists of fields and limits, customize each report’s display, and manage saved custom formats. Other users can view and print your saved C1 reports in the Report Preview application, from the DDMS Reports menu. Report Preview can send the output to the printer, or export to Excel, PDF, or other options.

Reports 2006: Reports meet SQL and .NET (pdf) A new interface, a new style. Graphical reporting is available today in applications including G/L History, Financial Reports, Trial Balance, Cash / Bank Reconciliation, and Price Plans. The graphical functionality allows you to drill down to detail information, print a preview to a screen, add or customize header information, print to a printer, or export to Excel, PDF, or other options. In addition, the new Reporting Module is designed to include SQL Database files for sales reports, a reports screen, the ability to view, design, and manage reports, and sales reports designed by ECi personnel and customer beta test sites.

Procs Like a Pro (pdf) Proc (procedure) files can automate many of your routine procedures. From simple tasks like day-end procedures and reports to complex functions that can calculate their own date limits and modify databases, proc files can be that extra manpower you need. Learn how to run proc files as completely unattended automated functions, or set them up as an interactive program to prompt for key information and then run procedures based on user input.

Reports for Efficiency (pdf) An illustrated guide to common reports in DDMS, describing the uses of the data for maximizing efficiency.

Printing a Report Writer Analysis (pdf) Learn to help Support quickly diagnose problems with your custom reports.

Report Writer Manual (pdf) The full documentation for writing and customizing reports in DDMS was part of the Optional Books from the DDMS Version 3&4 manuals.

Beyond Advanced Report Writer: Making Report Writer Jump Through Hoops (pdf) Learn how to utilize the eye candy of laser printing, logos, and watermarks by creating graphic file overlays, PCL macros that you can call from a DDMS ticket or report, send to your laser printer, and embed PCL commands in a DDMS format file for correct graphic positioning. Mike Clare from Hicks Office Plus led this User Perspectives session at the ECi Direction 2003 User Conference.

Quote request for a custom form or report (pdf) Use this form to get a quote on a custom format for a form or report, such as custom invoices, statements, and so forth

RouteTrak™ / RoutePerfect™ / RouteVision™

New! RouteVision™ (pdf) RouteVision ensures that your drivers and vehicles are achieving maximum efficiency by comparing real-time route progress to optimized route paths. Your trucks communicate at regular intervals on a 2.5G wireless network utilizing GPRS/GSM and SIM card technology. RouteVision allows you to improve customer service by decreasing customer wait time and giving customers more accurate arrival estimates. By tracking the progress of your vehicles, you can also identify vehicles being misused or stolen and you can cut maintenance costs by identifying and correcting unnecessary route detours.

New! Setting Up & Using RoutePerfect™ Working with Microsoft® MapPoint software, RoutePerfect™ is a delivery management tool that lets you optimize delivery operations. You can make route changes even after you build a manifest. RoutePerfect works with your business system so customer information is always accurate. Once you build a manifest or delivery list, you can export it to RoutePerfect for optimization. RoutePerfect's optimize tool analyzes every available option and calculates the most efficient route for each day's deliveries. You can optimize routes by shortest distance or by quickest route. You can export the optimized manifest to the RouteTrak proof of delivery system and download the information to the driver's handheld unit.

Updated! Setting Up & Using RouteTrak™ Proof of Delivery for DDMS (pdf) Learn how to automate your delivery process and verify receipt, eliminating missed and misrouted shipments and the resulting billing disputes. RouteTrak Pro’s Digital Signature Handheld Unit synchronizes your shipping manifests. Drivers can identify errors, shortages and overages at the point of delivery. RouteTrak Pro synchronizes with your customer order data, so drivers no longer need to file multipart forms.

The Route to Efficiency and Profit This white paper discusses the best practices for integrating RouteTrak™ Pro with your DDMS® Business Systems. A recommended work flow summarizes procedures for bar coded invoices and shipping labels, building and exporting delivery manifests, docking the handheld unit, capturing electronic signatures, uploading and importing delivery manifests using third-party carrier manifest features, viewing reports in Accounting and Order Entry, and transferring undelivered items to a new manifest. The white paper also discusses optimizing delivery routes.

ScanClik

All ScanClik documentation (a tip sheet, setup guide, user guide, frequently asked questions, troubleshooting, and scanner manual) can be found at www.scanclik.com under Documentation. ScanBuy is an Approved Vendor.