Version 7 Documentation
This page contains documentation describing features that were introduced in Version 7 DDMS® software. Version 7 is no longer in General Release. The online help and some handouts have been updated to reflect Version 8 and above.
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Software Update and Installation
READ THIS FIRST Important Insert in your Version 7 Software Update package.
Backing Up SQL Data, Version 7.11 and above (PDF) Beginning with Version 7.11 released September 21, 2005, some DDMS applications use a SQL database engine that stores data in a different folder than the standard volumes. It’s important to ensure a complete backup in the event that you need to restore. Follow these instructions to verify that the SQL data is included in your daily and other period-end backups.
Identifying Invalid Records in Your Parameters File (PDF) If you have used third party software programs with DDMS, please note that they may have written records to the PARAMETERS file at some point. This may create invalid records that are incompatible with the new DDMS enterprise-class business system (EBS) architecture. As a result, it may prevent EBS applications from working properly, and an invalid data error message may display. Follow these instructions to verify if invalid records exist in your Parameters file.
Updating DDMS Version 7 on Windows 2000 Systems on systems where DDMS is already installed (file: ensitepro2002update.pdf)
Installing DDMS Version 7 (Windows 2000 systems) for the first time (file: ensitepro2000install.pdf)
New Features in Version 7
ECi Releases New Reports Manual for DDMS Machines & Equipment Announcing a new 158-page manual, Reports for Machine Dealers (PDF). It features detailed instructions on how to run every report that a machine dealer needs. It is illustrated with sample reports using representative machine & equipment data.
What's New in DDMS Version 7.12 Announcing new features and where to find the documentation: a new, intuitive, task-based interface for Customer Price Plans (Limited Pre-Release); perform different pricing scenarios with cost, selling price, and list price in the Modify Furniture Order window, create multiple non-bulk and bulk picking manifests in the (TM)[N] screen, and more!
What's New in DDMS Version 7.11 Announcing new features and where to find the documentation: Campaign Manager, SQL/.NET, Fuel Surcharges, Additional Volume Discounts, SP Richards 2nd Party Logistics, Eastern Distributing PSN, and PSN enhancements for TriMega and Tech Data, A/R History Asterisk (*) Wildcard, Canadian Credit Card Processing, O/E Interface for CAP Specifier, and more!
What's New in DDMS Version 7.8 Announcing new features and where to find the documentation: 2004 W-2 Formats, 2-Decimal Place Pricing, Notes Everywhere, Machine Security, and Flush No-Cost Items.
What's New in Version 7 (pdf) A brief description of each new feature we have added to Version 7. (file: whatsnew_ver7.pdf
Using SP Richards Second Party Logistics (2PL) Network (pdf) Now you can provide local delivery services to customers who have branch offices nationwide via a network of other SP Richards 2PL participating independent dealers. We have enhanced our trading partner parameters, the customer database, drop ship ordering features, and SPR P/O transmission and acknowledgement formats to allow DDMS dealers to join the SP Richards Second Party Logistics Network.
Setting Up and Using Credit Card Processing in Canada (pdf) Recent enhancements make processing credit cards in Canada through your DDMS system easier and more flexible than ever. Learn how to use Approval Link™ 2.0, the interface between your DDMS system and Paradata Systems automated authorization and capture software for Canadian dealers.
Taxing Enhancements Learn to use three new tax enhancements: tiered sales tax districts, nesting combined tax districts, and tax rates that vary by category. We created these enhancements to cover the new Tennessee tax laws, but they can be useful to dealers in other areas as well. (file: TaxTierCombo.pdf)
Campaign Manager (pdf) In tandem with Notes Everywhere and the system's email capabilities, Campaign Manager lets you create automated marketing tasks based on customer’s status, such as new customers or growth customers. You can send emails to both internal and external customers. For example, if a customer hasn’t made any purchases recently, you might email their salesperson internally to notify them. You could also email marketing flyers or perhaps a discount offer. Campaign Manager lets you automatically recognize and react to customers who haven’t purchased recently. You simply set up the campaign and limit to the customers that fit your criteria.
Notes Everywhere (pdf) Once you set up Notes Everywhere, the Notes Everywhere dialog box can be set to automatically launch each time you open DDMS. This dialog box remains on top of other windows, so you can easily view notes for the selected customer, vendor, or invoice. What’s more, the selected customer or vendor is automatically recognized and the notes display for you when you retrieve a record.
Setting Up and Using Credit Cards and Approval Link 3.0 (pdf) Do you know what your processing rates are today? Have they changed in the last year? Now dealers using ECi business systems have new options for processing credit card transactions — as well as other types of payments. Learn how to set up and use Approval Link™ software to process credit card transactions quickly and efficiently. Topics include software setup, the flow of credit card transactions, Level II and Level III credit card processing, and options for authorizing gift/reward cards, check conversion, and processing electronic fund transfers using the Internet.
Setting Up and Using Credit Cards and Approval Link 2.0 (pdf) Reducing credit card fees can add dollars to your bottom line. Now dealers using ECi business systems have new options for handling credit cards, as well as other types of payments. Learn how to set up and use Approval Link™ and POS-partner software to process credit card transactions quickly and efficiently. Topics will include software setup, the flow of credit card transactions, Level II and Level III credit card processing, and options for authorizing gift cards and processing electronic fund transfers using the Internet.
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)
File #253: How to Prepare Journal Parameters for Graphical General Ledger Conversion In Version 7, the new graphical General Ledger (G/L) application requires a conversion of your Accounts Receivable (A/R), Accounts Payable (A/P), and Purchase Order Entry (P/O) journal files and G/L files from previous years. The Version 7 software update automatically runs a journal file conversion program. However, this automatic conversion fails if your journal file names and volume serials are not properly set up in the A/R, A/P, and P/O journal parameter screens. This technical note contains detailed instructions for setting journal parameters and, if necessary, converting journals manually.
Customer Evaluation Module If you have product packages B, C, D, or Platinum, you can access the Customer Evaluation dialog box from the Customer database or Order Entry. The Customer Evaluation dialog box allows you to view the customer's complete buying history quickly and easily. Viewing this screen allows you to evaluate your customer in every aspect of their buying history from sales to delivery. You can view pie charts and graphs by customer sales, categories, service, or credit.
Auto Flush (pdf) Completed purchase orders flush automatically as part of your automated short-buy (ASB) flow. For example, you can auto flush a P/O after transmitting it to a certain vendor. Previously, you could pre-receive a P/O or final-receive a P/O. In addition to these two options, now you can use Final Receive & Available for Auto Flush to make a P/O eligible for auto flushing.
Warehouse to the Max! (pdf) Our Version 5 software marked the beginning of a multi-year project to enhance the DDMS system's warehouse management capabilities. More warehouse enhancements were released in Version 6, 7, and 8. DDMS offers more features than ever to make your warehouse as efficient as possible. Use DDMS to streamline picking, packing, and other warehousing operations. Learn how to use the new Auto Final-receive and Auto Flush and how to set up and use picking manifests to automate the complete fulfillment process. The discussion also covers the various options available for printing pick tickets and the additional capabilities offered by the optional Advanced Manifests. Learn about bin management using various bin types: bulk bins, I-AUX bins, multiple bins, which may be floating bins or staging bins. Also learn about using mixed bin types, Auto Receive, Auto Flush, pulling options, and shipping manifests.
Low-Stock Purchasing To replenish stock, you can use the new Low-Stock action in the graphical Purchase Order Entry window. This document provides an overview of the procedure, including running a low-stock report in the (RR) Inventory Reports screen, understanding low-stock formulas, creating a low-stock purchase order, and using the low-stock items dialog box.
Loading & Purchasing is.group Items Instructions for loading the is.ezTrade® edition of the OPdb catalog update and using low-stock reports to automate purchasing from is.group Distribution Centers.Monday, February 16, 2009 4:32 PMirect items, or you can elect not to add or change any items per designation, or you can add all items. You can also specify an item department and stock class for new items being added. You can exclude or include specific classes and departments of existing items. As of the Version 7 General Release, new fields in the I-MFG file let you create purchase orders limited by vendor stocking information. You can create P/Os using the Low-Stock file, so you can view is.group P/O totals and line item detail on-screen. The documentation also lists selector names for several new reports.
Tech Note #258: Creating a Text-Based Low-Stock Purchase Order It is nearly as easy to create a Low-Stock P/O in text-based software as it is in the graphical Purchasing application. You must first catalog the is.group Low-Stock report selectors in the (LR) Inventory Standard Reports screen. Then you can run one of the custom low-stock reports from the (R) Inventory Selectors report screen, just as you would the original Min/Max and Cycle Count low-stock reports. Once the report selector creates the low-stock file, you can build a low-stock P/O using the short-buy process.
Updated! General Ledger (pdf) The new graphical General Ledger application is not only easier, but also more powerful than the previous text-based version. This handout offers an in-depth look at graphical G/L with the latest information you need to begin using this application in your own business. Topics include basic G/L functions such as managing the chart of accounts and posting, the flow of financial information through the system, and new features that are unique to the graphical software. Graphical G/L also includes history screens that allow you to drill down and view the detailed information in postings, batch reports, and other financial data. Drilling down into responsibility centers, for example, allows you to view all of the postings in each center. The handout also covers the new graphical tools for generating detailed financial reports.
Updated! G/L Categories (pdf) The General Ledger Chart of Accounts window has default assigned Categories and Sub-Categories that are required to use the G/L Drill-Downs feature. Categories include various assets, property, equipment, liablilities, notes payable, shareholder's equity, revenue, cost of goods, expenses, and so on. Sub-categories of Current Assets include, for example: cash, accounts receivable, inventories, prepaid expenses, and deferred taxes.
Tech Note #256: ElfView.exe Helps Troubleshoot Graphical Problems When you use DDMS™ graphical software, the system writes time-stamped information about errors, warnings, and processes taking place to an Ensite Log File called ensite.elf. If you discover a problem while using DDMS, you can optimize the settings so that the information in this file can help your support technician isolate the cause and resolve the issue as quickly as possible. After your problem is resolved, you can set up custom logging options to save disk space. (file: ElfViewLog.pdf)
DDMS Parameter Manual The complete documentation for every DDMS parameter in Adobe Acrobat Reader format (also available under online help)
Updated! Graphical Purchasing Fundamentals (pdf) This handout introduces you to the graphical purchasing application. Learn basic procedures such as creating and receiving P/Os, setting acknowledgments and due dates, and transmitting wholesaler orders. Additional topics include screen navigation, changing or deleting existing P.Os basic short-buy purchasing, and transferring unfilled items to another P/O.
Purchasing for Machine Dealers (pdf) This handout introduces you to the graphical purchasing application. This handout looks at basic procedures for creating and receiving P/Os for machines, parts, and accessories. Additional topics include basic short-buy purchasing, low-stock purchasing for inventory, and using the low-stock report to maintain technician car inventories.
Machine Service Sales (pdf) This handout introduces you to the graphical Service Automation module. The graphical screens not only make it easier to manage machine sales and service, but are also more powerful than the text-based applications. This handout covers the basics of selling machines and associated service contracts. Topics include screen navigation, basic procedures for selling equipment and contracts, and powerful new features such as trade-in management and the Accessory Management window.
Service Work Orders (pdf) Ensite business system software is a complete solution for service desk automation. This handout provides the information you need to implement graphical service automation in your own business. It discusses creating and managing work orders with Version 7's new graphical service automation module. Topics include navigation of the new graphical screens as well as procedures for logging and monitoring basic service calls and dispatching technicians.