O/PUS^® OPUSInstall Software Update

(4th Quarter Release September 26, 2008)

As of noon CDT Friday, Sept. 26, 2008, you may download your OPUSInstall software update for 4th Quarter 2008 Update from this page by following the instructions below. It will install and/or update the O/PUS SIMPLE, PSNControl, Super Store Data Update, and Instant Contract Eraser (csICE) software on your DDMS server.

WHILE TBL SERVER IS SHUT DOWN,
YOU MAY RUN OPUSINSTALL.

Download OPUSINSTALL NOW

We will notify you via email when the O/PUS Install is updated for the upcoming quarter. If you are visiting this page looking for the 1st Quarter (Jan 1st) Update, please wait for the official announcement in September.

What Software Versions are Included in This OPUSInstall

Updated quarterly, OPUSInstall installs software updates for:

• PSNControl Version 1.1.175 or higher.
• O/PUS SIMPLE Version 1.1.508 or higher.
• Super Store Data Update Version 1.0.0.122 or higher.
• Instant Contract Eraser 1.0.0.0 or higher.
• See FYI² Notes (pdf) for information about enhancements.
• These software updates are not to be confused with item and pricing data updates that must be loaded using the updated sofware. You must still download the OPdb files via PSNControl, perform your quarterly update using SIMPLE, and (optional post-load procedure) process the superstore data updates.

 

What's New This Quarter

For details, see the FYI² Notes (pdf).

O/PUS Introduces Printer Essentials. For compatible imaging supplies and power products, Printer Essentials (PrinterEssentials.com) is a new addition to your O/PUS supplemental vendors. In business since 2000, Printer Essentials has grown to be one of the most trusted suppliers in the industry. The company mission is to be "The Reseller's Choice." By offering top notch customer service, the widest selection of products, and attractive pricing, Printer Essentials goes the extra mile so that you can succeed in today's competitive business environment. Call Nancy Loye at 800-965-1180 x1026 or by email nloye@printeressentials.com. For detailed instructions on loading this supplemental vendor catalog into your ECi™ DDMS® item catalog, see Printer Essentials Item Catalog Update
(www.ddms.com/resources/support/faq/opus/pfprtess.pdf).

SNCustom Lets You Import Dealer-Specific Supplies Network Pricing File. As part of its netMARKETING member services for real-time catalog downloads, Supplies Network (suppliesnetwork.com), a DMI company, provides a downloadable Price List file. This dealer-specific price list file contains item pricing and product information that is distinctly more timely than the more general eContract SN data you receive in your O/PUS® quarterly multi-vendor database. Now, to import this dealer-specific pricing and item information into your ECi™ DDMS® Item database, ECi Content Services has released SNcustom, a convenient new Windows program. For detailed instructions, see Installing & Using SNcustom Price List
(www.ddms.com/resources/support/faq/opus/pfSNcustom.pdf).

LagaCustom Imports LagasseSweet Pricing Files. LagasseSweet pricing on janitorial, sanitation, paper and foodservice products may not be updated on the same quarterly schedule as other vendors. LagasseSweet provides an I-LAGASSE pricing file update for download via the O/PUS® PSN. You can also download an Excel spreadsheet of your dealer-specific price list from the Tools & Reports section of LagasseSweet's web site, http://prod.lagassesweet.com. For detailed instructions on importing this supplemental vendor's pricing into your system, see Installing & Using LagaCustom
(www.ddms.com/resources/support/faq/opus/pfLagaCustom.pdf).

Enhanced MultiLoaders Do More Pricing Files At Once. MultiLoader software for United Stationers and S.P. Richards act as streamlined alternatives to the text-based O/PUS Toolbox option, (+IFP) Process a File. Process all your wholesaler price plan, catalog, and Matrix files at once. Now it has dozens more rows, enhanced tabbing from field to field, "select all" checkbox, and the ability to mass change contract dates.
See: Load Multiple S.P. Richards Price Files At Once
(www.ddms.com/resources/support/faq/opus/MultiSPRupdate.pdf) and Load Multiple United Stationers Price Files At Once
(www.ddms.com/resources/support/faq/opus/MultiUNIupdate.pdf).

ECi Data Center Move Requires New PSNControl Connection. O/PUS has revised its PSNControl software to connect to the server in ECi's new Tier 1 data center in Texas. The first time you initiate a download in the updated PSNControl software after this data center migration, you may receive a time out or connection error. This condition is expected, as your server is negotiating the new location of the O/PUS PSN server. Try again, as some of our dealer test sites reported to us that they attempted a file download about three times, while others connected on the first attempt. Once you receive a "Download Complete" message in the File Transfer List window, your PSNControl has completed learning the new location, and you can continue downloading your files.

Prepare to Remove Vendors At Quarter End. Since Action Wholesale has been acquired by S.P. Richards, and EMCO has been acquired by United Stationers we recommend removing unique items that the acquired vendors previously carried, but which your current vendors no longer support. If you do NOT remove their unique items from your database, it can affect your short-buy process — and possibly your pricing. To determine which items to remove from your database, you’ll simply adjust your O/PUS SIMPLE parameters to resequence your vendor call priorities, and make sure O/PUS is set to flag the “deleted” status. See Preparing to Remove Vendors at Quarter End (www.ddms.com/Resources/Support/faq/opus/opRemoveVendor.pdf).
To complete the removal during post-load procedures, you will complete Inventory Housekeeping
(www.ddms.com/Resources/Support/faq/inventory/opus-del.pdf).

Free O/PUS Refresher Training via Virtual Classroom. ECi DDMS scheduled free two-hour Web training on O/PUS quarter-end procedures Monday, Sept. 29, 2:00 pm CDT. There's no need to register, and no charge to attend. Each Web session welcomes up to 50 concurrent connections on a first-come, first-served basis. For more details and connection instructions, see www.ddms.com/training/free.

Other reminders in this issue:

• Pre-Load Packing Inventory, CONTRACTS Files Avoids Hang-Ups.
• REMINDER: SIMPLE Wizard Option Automates Make-Buys.
• Reminder: Load Trade Service Standard Descriptions.
  
• O/PUS Continues Changes in Manufacturer Codes (MAC).
  
• Point-Of-Sale UPC Scanning Post-Load Procedure.
• Super Store Data Update Pricing/Cross-Reference Exceptions: Quill and Corporate Express only provide item cross-reference data; they do NOT provide pricing data.
• REMINDER: Re-Import Ensite EBS Data After “Housekeeping”.

 

Before You Begin: Meet Minimum System Requirements

Before you download O/PUS Install, make sure you meet the minimum requirements:

1. Your DDMS server must have the following:
   • A broadband Internet connection.
   • Microsoft® Windows® 2000, with Service Pack 4 or Windows 2003. If you're on Windows 2000, but are not sure whether you have this service pack, follow these steps:
     1. On your Windows desktop, right-click the My Computer icon.
     2. Select Properties.
     3. In the System Properties window, select the General tab. Look under System, and check for a service pack number.
     4. Click Cancel.
     5. If Service Pack 4 is not installed, you can download and install it from the Microsoft Windows Update Web site.
        
        Note: If you do not have Service Pack 4 installed, a run-time error "430: Class does not support Automation or does not support expected interface" will appear when you run PSNControl.
   • Ensite Pro 6.1.102 or greater. Ensite Pro™ must be installed, even if you do not use the graphical interface. (The SIMPLE program uses the Ensite Pro gateway.)
   • Note: Although the minimum requirement for O/PUS SIMPLE is Version 6.1.102 or above, the OPUSInstall program runs best on TBL Server 6.03, which was first available in the General Release of Ensite Pro Version 7.4.0.
2. You must have an O/PUS PSN account. If you do not yet have an O/PUS PSN account, please sign up online. Instructions will be sent to you.

 

1st Step: Check the Latest News on Your Quarterly Update

O/PUS has published the new quarterly newsletter, "For Your Immediate Information - OPdb MultiVendor Update" (also known as FYI² Notes). In it, you will find vendor notes, the names of the vendor price files available on the O/PUS OPdb update, and other news for this quarter.

The O/PUS Update Notes has also been updated with general tips to note before you begin your OPdb Catalog update, as well as news for this quarter.

2nd Step: Complete Pre-Load Steps 24 Hours Ahead

Prior to beginning the update, certain preparatory steps are very important. One week to 24 hours before your catalog load, be sure to obtain vendor unit changes, passwords, plan names, and consumer price and dealer cost levels. Optional pre-load procedures include cleaning up contracts with csICE, determining how to handle Vendor unit of measure (UOM) changes, removing a vendor if necessary, switching primary vendors, and compressing DDMS inventory and CONTRACTS files.

For a checklist of pre-load steps, see your O/PUS Quick Reference (pdf).

Also see the Pre-Load FAQs in O/PUS Quarter-End Procedure FAQs and Docs.

3rd Step: Download and Run OPUSInstall

Each quarter, you need to download and run OPUSInstall. The quarterly release of OPUSInstall includes any enhancements or new vendor parameters (as described in FYI² Notes) or other software changes that may be necessary. The OPUSInstall software update wizard will install the PSNControl, SIMPLE, and related software (csICE, Super Store Data Update) versions required to process data for this quarter.

Also see O/PUS Loading FAQs.

To download the latest OPUSInstall software, follow these steps:

1. Running OPUSInstall is a dedicated procedure. Make sure no one else is using the system.
2. Shut down TBL Server.
3. Click opusinstall.exe.
4. In the dialog box that appears, select Save or Save to Disk (this option may be worded differently, depending on the browser you use).
5. When prompted for a place to save the file, navigate to the folder where your DDMS files are located (for example: C:\DDMS or D:\DDMS.)
   
   Note: If you are not using your DDMS server to perform the download, you can copy the file across the network to the drive where your DDMS files are located.
6. Save the file.
7. When your download is complete, navigate to the folder where you saved opusinstall.exe.
8. Open opusinstall.exe by double-clicking it.
9. Follow the prompts that appear on screen.
   
   Note: If your DDMS server runs under Windows 2003, you may possibly see one of the following warning messages:
   
   "The software you are installing has not passed Windows Logo testing to verify its compatibility with this version of Windows…"
   
   — OR —
   
   "INF Install Failure. Reason: Could not retrieve the system message …"
   
   These messages are no cause for concern. Click OK, and the installation will proceed normally.
10. When it's finished, restart TBL Server.

 

4th Step: Download Your Update using PSNControl

After you have updated your software, you can download the O/PUS MultiVendor Update database and your vendors' price files and catalogs for this quarter. You can even schedule your PSNControl file download.

Also see O/PUS Loading FAQs.

To use PSNControl to download your item file update, see
Setting Up and Using the O/PUS® PSN (pdf), beginning with the section titled "Using PSNControl to Download Quarterly Update Files".

CANADIAN customers: If you are a Canadian customer, load the "OPUSCAN" file as instructed in the FYI² Notes for O/PUS Canadian Customers (pdf).

IS.GROUP MEMBERS: If you are loading the is.ezTrade Edition of the OPdb update, the PSNControl instructions, filename, and password are available at www.isgroup.org under the DDMS tab, by clicking File Load Instructions.

TRIMEGA MEMBERS: If you are loading the TriMega Edition of the OPdb update, please note: the PSNControl instructions, file name, and the O/PUS User Direct-Buy Information Password are available at www.trimega.org, in the member center, in the “catalogs & flyers” section: TriMega Catalogs page.

Optional: Schedule Your PSNControl File Download

The Timer function allows for a scheduled download of files. You can specify the time & date when you would like a download to begin. Simply enter the file(s) that you want to download from PSN, select the time and date, and click Start Timer.

For more detailed instructions, see Setting Up and Using the O/PUS® PSN (pdf), beginning with the section titled "Using PSNControl to Download Quarterly Update Files".

The Timer function has been enhanced to resume upon a reboot. When the timer function is requested (Start Timer), PSNControl retains the start/end time/end date that was requested, the number of files, and the filenames themselves. Upon a reboot, the PSNControl timer function re-enables itself and continues to run in the background. The PSNControl will minimize itself to the system task tray. Once the PSNControl transfer process of the files has completed, the PSNControl will display the results in the File Transfer List. The PSNControl main window will also be maximized upon completion of the transfer process.

You can now schedule all file downloads 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

5th Step: Use SIMPLE to Load the OPdb Update

You'll use SIMPLE, the graphical O/PUS loading program, to load each quarter's catalog updates.

To ensure the quarter-end goes smoothly, we have published a checklist of loading steps in O/PUS Quick Reference (pdf). These steps include dedicating your system, notifying Web storefront customers of system maintenance, deactivating procs, loading your printer with paper, shutting down TBLServer, backing up your DDMS data, rebooting TBLServer, running SIMPLE, and setting your parameters.

Also see O/PUS Loading FAQs.

For detailed instructions on using SIMPLE, see Loading O/PUS Multi-Vendor Quarterly Update (pdf).

Afterward, you will complete your post-load procedures, including loading vendor price files, setting purchasing vendor, inventory housekeeping, and so on. Again, see your O/PUS Quick Reference (pdf) and Post-Load FAQs.

If necessary, refer to Troubleshooting FAQs.

Documentation and Reference Material

Updated! O/PUS Quick Reference (pdf) This two-page checklist includes: Pre-Load Steps (One week to 24 hours before loading O/PUS), Loading Steps (Immediately Before Loading O/PUS), Post-Load Steps (When O/PUS Load is 100% Complete), Optional Steps, and Additional resources & links.

Updated! Loading O/PUS Multi-Vendor Quarterly Update (pdf) This handout covers all of the basic quarterly catalog update concepts and procedures for Ensite Pro™. It includes the O/PUS Quick Reference, as well as detailed instructions for 1) downloading and running OPUSInstall to update all O/PUS software; 2) Using PSNControl to Download Quarterly Update Files and Vendor Pricing Files; 3) Running the SIMPLE Wizard to process the data; 4) viewing report messages; 5) processing price files; 6) keeping your database clean; and more. Along with the Toolbox handout, this document replaces the original Complete O/PUS Multi-Vendor Documentation and O/PUS Made SIMPLE.

O/PUS Toolbox (pdf)The O/PUS Toolbox is a collection of text-based (+I) programs for managing your Ensite Pro™ inventory catalog, costs, pricing, and purchasing preferences. Learn how to adjust costs, prices, dates, and profits; build or create vendor contracts; set and modify your purchasing vendor; move, modify, and classify your data; process vendor unit of measure (UOM) changes to recalculate costs, prices, contracts, inventory quantities, shipping weights, and history totals; view various reports; build SuperIndex; process vendor price files; implement page numbers from special catalogs; and more.

Setting Up and Using the O/PUS® PSN (pdf) Learn how to set up appropriate parameters, install and use O/PUS PSNControl software, and download and process vendor pricing files, flyers, programs, and catalogs. Also learn how to download the quarterly Multi-Vendor Catalog Update database via PSN, and schedule your PSN downloads with PSNControl.

Super Store Data Update (pdf) Load the Super Store Data Update software and quarterly data into DDMS® Ensite Pro™. Important notes: SSD import software is installed and/or updated via your quarterly OPUSInstall software update, which must be downloaded and run from the ddms.com Web site after it is released each quarter. The quarterly SSD database file must be downloaded using PSNControl. The standard edition (filename SSDitems) includes super store name and SKU. The premium edition (filename SSDpricing) includes everything in the standard edition, but also includes pricing, units of measure, and packaging information; the premium pricing edition requires authorization from Trade Services. TIP: To prevent overwriting your SSD Updates, you must run the SSD Update as an optional post-load procedure, after running SIMPLE. TBL Server must be running for the import to work properly, as with all other pricing files and catalog updates. You must rebuild Super Index (+I-I) so that the Order Entry, Purchasing, and integrated Web storefronts such as Dealer Station® and is.D-Force® will accept the input of the superstore item numbers.

Using ECI² Content Services Instant Contract Eraser (csICE) (pdf) Instant Contract Eraser (csICE) is a new application for deleting contracts and price plans. It is designed to dramatically speed up the price file load process. OPUSInstall will install the standalone application on your system.

PSN "File Not Found" (pdf) If you are using the O/PUS PSN, use the instructions on this form to check availability for files with PSNControl software. If two business days have passed since your vendor representative has confirmed they sent the files to O/PUS, and PSNControl still indicates "File Not Found," submit this form. A technician will confirm file availability so you can update. You can even fill it out online and print for optimum readability! See online PDF form instructions. For even easier emailing, use the Word document version (file: PSNFileDownload.doc).