News, Mass Emails and Recent Announcements

This page contains copies of the principal mass emails from ECi DDMS Technical Support in the last few months. (Mass emails may be sent to all current DDMS customers, all O/PUS customers, all ECinteractive or Dealer Station customers, or other large populations using products supported by ECi Technical Support.) The most recent communication appears at the top of the list.

8/26/2010: Get Get Monthly Price Files for September Via O/PUS PSN

We are happy to announce that all standard monthly files are available now for download via PSNControl from S.P. Richards and United Stationers.

Some dealer-specific plans may be provided later. When you use PSNControl to download the files, the Transfer List date display will indicate when any vendor pricing file was last updated.

ProductPro™ and FurnitureAdvantage™ programs is usually ready to download on the first Monday of the month — in this case, due to the Labor Day holiday, S.P. Richards plans to release them Tuesday, August 7.

All files can be processed using the U_SPR and U_UNI loading programs via graphical multiloaders (UpdateSPR.exe and UpdateUNI.exe) or text-based (+IFP).

For additional details, see:

 

7/30/2010: Announcing Version 9.2 ECinteractive and is.D-Force 2

ECi will soon load the major release Version 9.2 live on ECinteractive® and is.D-Force® 2 Web servers. This software update is currently slated 9 PM CST Saturday, July 31, to 6 AM CST Sunday, August 1.

Since this falls within ECi's Standard Weekly Data Center Maintenance timeframe, it does not require any changes to Site Maintenance schedule.

In this release, you'll find the following software changes:

  • Admin Enhancements:
    1. Customer Management Revamped with Dashboard, Wizard
    2. Customer Settings Redesigned To Make Exceptions Easy to Manage
    3. Approval Group Pages Revamped Into Wizard
    4. Account Administrator (Formerly Super User) in Domain Management
    5. Admin Favorites Redesigned to Import Lists, Streamline Assignment
    6. Import Rich Content for United Non-Catalog Items in Smart Search
    7. CCI Viewer - Monitor Status of Catalog Combination Index
    8. Itemless Email Marketing Flyers — Share News Without Having to Attach Items
       
  • Shopping Site Enhancements
    1. Let Shoppers Go Social with Shared Favorites
    2. Shopper's Account Administration (Formerly Super User)
    3. Online Chat via ProvideSupport
    4. Print Invoices on the Pay Invoices Page

  • Other Software Changes in This Release

For details, see Sneak Peek at What's New in Version 9.2 ECinteractive and is.D-Force 2

7/29/2010: Get Get Monthly Price Files for August Via O/PUS PSN

We are happy to announce that all standard monthly files are available now for download via PSNControl from S.P. Richards and United Stationers.

Some dealer-specific plans may be provided later. When you use PSNControl to download the files, the Transfer List date display will indicate when any vendor pricing file was last updated.

ProductPro™ and FurnitureAdvantage™ programs should be be ready to download on the first Monday of the month — in this case, August 2.

All files can be processed using the U_SPR and U_UNI loading programs via graphical multiloaders (UpdateSPR.exe and UpdateUNI.exe) or text-based (+IFP).

For additional details, see:

 

7/26/2010: Announcing Top 20+ New Features of DDMS 8.23.0 Major Release

Top 20+ New Features of DDMS 8.23

To help you take advantage of new technology, work more efficiently, and grow your business, ECi announces the DDMS 8.23 major release of 20+ new features and over 70 other software changes.

  1. ECi Remote Server Backup Solution for DDMS
  2. Level III Item Detail for A/R Postings Lowers Credit Card Processing Fees
  3. Display Partial Credit Card Number in Order Entry
  4. Global Return Reason Streamlines Credit Returns & Fee Calculations
  5. Specify Preferred Vendor for any Backordered Item in Order Entry
  6. Flag items to Ship Direct in Order Entry, Manual Short Buy
  7. System Warning Before Deleting Orders With A/R Deposits
  8. Set Vending Delivery Date for Picking Manifest
  9. New SQL Report: Customer Shipto w/Tax District
  10. Canadian Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) in Accounts Payable Invoice
  11. Export Monthly sales data to CCH for ease in sales tax reporting
  12. Gross Profit Refigure Option Helps Manage Margins in Customer Price Plans
    Password Protect Customer Price Plans — and keep confidential data secure
  13. Add Supplies Network PSN Advance Ship Notice, Electronic Invoicing
  14. Deliver to National Accounts for TriMega Point Nationwide
  15. New Imaging Solutions Via PSN with West Point Products
  16. Allsteel and HNI (HON, Gunlocke and Paoli) Dealers:
    Specify Multiple Ship To IDs per Bill To ID
  17. HNI & Allsteel Dealers: Specify Deliver On/By Date with Ship Condition field
  18. View Meter Readings in Call Detail tab of Last Ten Calls
  19. Search for known calls in Machine Monitor Calls or Schedule tabs' Call Number
  20. Improved Machine Work Orders Cursor Flow from Call Code to Text
  21. System Warning Before Deleting Contracts With Machines

For details, see Announcing Top 20+ New Features of DDMS 8.23.

To get your software update, log in to https://support.ecisolutions.com,
Log in to Update Your Software
click Software Downloads, and
follow the on-screen steps.

7/23/2010: Sneak Peek at What's New in Version 9.2 ECinteractive and is.D-Force 2

ECi will soon load the major release Version 9.2 live on ECinteractive® and is.D-Force® 2 Web servers. This software update is currently slated 9 PM CST Saturday, July 31, to 6 AM CST Sunday, August 1.

Since this falls within ECi's Standard Weekly Data Center Maintenance timeframe, it does not require any changes to Site Maintenance schedule.

In this release, you'll find the following software changes:

  • Admin Enhancements:
    1. Customer Management Revamped with Dashboard, Wizard
    2. Customer Settings Redesigned To Make Exceptions Easy to Manage
    3. Approval Group Pages Revamped Into Wizard
    4. Account Administrator (Formerly Super User) in Domain Management
    5. Admin Favorites Redesigned to Import Lists, Streamline Assignment
    6. Import Rich Content for United Non-Catalog Items in Smart Search
    7. CCI Viewer - Monitor Status of Catalog Combination Index
    8. Itemless Email Marketing Flyers — Share News Without Having to Attach Items
       
  • Shopping Site Enhancements
    1. Let Shoppers Go Social with Shared Favorites
    2. Shopper's Account Administration (Formerly Super User)
    3. Online Chat via ProvideSupport
    4. Print Invoices on the Pay Invoices Page

  • Other Software Changes in This Release

For details, see Sneak Peek at What's New in Version 9.2 ECinteractive and is.D-Force 2

7/7/2010: Quarterly Web Storefront Catalog Updates July 9-11

ECi Content Services and Operations will update your Web storefront servers with new quarterly catalog images and content THIS WEEKEND:

  • Starting at 11 pm CDT Friday, July 9
  • Ending by 8 pm CDT Sunday, July 11

This maintenance affects the following sites:

  • ECinteractive®
  • is.D-Force® 2
  • Original is.D-Force®
  • Dealer Station®
  • Dealer Station® Xtended

The content load is in addition to ECi's standard data center maintenance tasks
(www.DDMS.com/support/massfax/dcMtceWindow.htm). As a result, this weekend requires an extended maintenance window.

You may wish to set up or adjust your site's Automatic Scheduled Maintenance and site text, if applicable. For details, see your online help.

While the Web server is offline, you and your customers will be unable to connect to your storefront site. We will notify you via email with any updates on Sunday, when you may test item searches or resume administration of your site.

7/1/2010: O/PUS Update: Superstore Data Update Files Ready to Load

We sent O/PUS Update: Superstore Data Update Files Ready to Load to all O/PUS customers.

6/30/2010: Period End, Independence Day and Technical Support July 3

Period-End Saturday Support July 3

ECi DDMS again offers Saturday support for period-end and O/PUS quarter-end procedures:

Saturday, July 3

9 am – 4 pm Central Daylight Time.

No Phone Calls during Saturday Support.

For assistance at no charge on day-end, month-end and quarter-end O/PUS procedures, please send your question via portal or email

Closed for Independence Day July 5

ECi will be closed Monday, July 5, to observe Independence Day.

However, 24/7 Support will be available during the holiday when calling our standard Technical Support number, 800-366-4778.

As always, calling Technical Support during a holiday or outside of business hours (7 AM to 8:30 PM Central Time, Monday through Friday) is billable unless you subscribe to 24/7 Support services.

Meanwhile, we wish you a safe and happy holiday!

Need Help? (800) 366-4778 • https://support.ecisolutions.com • ddmssupport@ecisolutions.com

6/25/2010: O/PUS Ready to Load

We sent O/PUS Update Notes: 3Q2010 Ready to Load to all O/PUS customers.

6/15/2010 — Free O/PUS Refresher Training Friday, June 25 or Tuesday, June 29

ECi offers free Web-Based refresher training to review parameters and procedures and learn what's new for this quarter. For details and to register, see the announcement, Join Us for Your Free O/PUS Refresher!

6/11/2010: Announcing DDMS 8.22.20 Maintenance Release

Announcing DDMS 8.22.20 The ECi DDMS Version 8.22.20 maintenance release is available now for Software Download via the ECi Support Portal. In this release announcement, you'll find features like Nine New SQL Limit Fields for Sales Tax Reporting By Address, Canadian Harmonized Sales Tax Added to Payables for July 1, and more than 20 other improvements to the usability of DDMS sales tax calculations, EDI communications, machine dealer BEI exports, and software upgrades.

6/9/2010 — DDMS 8.22.20 Adds Canadian Harmonized Sales Tax to Payables for July 1

For compliance with Canadian sales tax changes effective July 1, we have enhanced graphical Accounts Payable Posting to remit the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST). We emailed implementation instructions to our Canadian dealers.

5/28/2010: Memorial Day Closure and Technical Support

ECi will be closed Monday, May 31, 2010, to observe Memorial Day.

However, 24/7 Support will be available during the holiday when calling our standard Technical Support number, 800-366-4778.

As always, calling Technical Support during a holiday or outside of business hours (7 AM to 8:30 PM Central Time, Monday through Friday) is billable unless you subscribe to 24/7 Support services. Read the announcement »

5/28/2010: Ready to Sell S.P. Richards' Special Order Items?

SP Richards has announced that the new ProductPro™ and FurnitureAdvantage™ program price files will be available for download via O/PUS PSNControl again on the first Monday of the month — June 7, 2010. Read the announcement »

5/27/2010: Get Get Monthly Price Files for June Via O/PUS PSN

We are happy to announce that all standard monthly files are available now for download via PSNControl from S.P. Richards and United Stationers.

Some dealer-specific plans may be provided later. When you use PSNControl to download the files, the Transfer List date display will indicate when any vendor pricing file was last updated.

All files can be processed using the U_SPR and U_UNI loading programs via graphical multiloaders (UpdateSPR.exe and UpdateUNI.exe) or text-based (+IFP).

For additional details, see:

 

4/29/2010: Is Your System Ready to Sell S.P. Richards' Special Order Items?

SP Richards has announced that the new productpro™ and furnitureadvantage™ program price files will be available for download via O/PUS PSNControl on the first Monday of the month — May 3, 2010.

Since these special-order items are not stocked, their delivery timeframe may differ from the norm. To accommodate a new Shipping Table with a 2-character shipping code and a 20-character description, such as "ships in 2-3 days," we've enhanced several applications, including:

  • DDMS 8.22
  • ECinteractive and is.D-Force 2 Version 9.1
  • O/PUS PSNControl 1.1.196 and UpdateSPR.exe Multiloader v00407a

Most dealers will need to update O/PUS and DDMS software in order to sell productpro™ and furnitureadvantage™. To get the new OPUSInstall and DDMS software updates, log into the ECI Customer Support Portal.and click Software Downloads.

For detailed instructions on updating your inventory database and contracts and using the special order features in DDMS, see Special Order with S.P. Richards productpro™ and furnitureadvantage™ Programs (pdf).

Note: Special Order Web Content Delayed
You may notice that some of the photos or graphics are missing on some furnitureadvantage™ items. SP Richards assures us they are working as fast as they can to publish the Web images and catalog content so that it will be available in Web storefronts using S.P. Richards Enhanced Content. With over 4,000 items. there is a large amount of time needed to produce all of the e-content and graphics.

S. P. Richards thanks you in advance for your patience and understanding as we roll out these exciting new programs.

4/22/2010: Announcing ECinteractive and is.D-Force 2 Version 9.1.7.2

Announcing ECinteractive and is.D-Force 2 Version 9.1.7.2

4/20/2010: Launch the HP Supplies Finder in ECinteractive

Launch the HP Supplies Finder in ECinteractive

4/20/2010: Announcing DDMS 8.22.0 Major Release

Top 10 New Features of DDMS 8.22

To take advantage of new technology, work more efficiently, and grow your business, get ECi DDMS Version 8.22.0 — a major release of 10 new features:

  1. graphical Delivery Manifest
  2. SQL Sales Tax Per Customer Address
  3. password-protecting A/R (Customer) Deposits in Order Entry
  4. expanding (L4) Federal Withholding Tiers
  5. Order Notes for Furniture Manufacturer Options
  6. Searching Multiple Staging Bins
  7. using 3rd Party Bill's Taxable setting to determine tax
  8. Call Monitor Print Preview
  9. Work Orders Caption Bar and Last 10 Calls
  10. streamlined BEI Export installation

For details, see Announcing DDMS 8.22. Log in to the ECi Customer Support Portal (https://support.ecisolutions.com) to get your software download.

2/24/2010: Announcing DDMS 8.21.60 Maintenance Release

Announcing DDMS 8.21.60

2/17/2010: Announcing DDMS 8.21.40 Maintenance Release

Announcing DDMS 8.21.40 The ECi DDMS Version 8.21.40 maintenance release is available now for Download via the ECi Support Portal. In this release announcement, you'll find enhancements accommodate new requirements for new VISA Level 3 Government/Corporate Purchasing Card Requirements via Approval Link™, and for new HON® furniture ordering system logins via the ECi PSN (Private Supply Network).

2/4/2010: Announcing ECinteractive and is.D-Force 2 Version 9.1.6.2.2976 Maintenance Release

See Announcing ECinteractive and is.D-Force 2 Version 9.1.6.2.2976 Maintenance Release

1/21/2010: Announcing DDMS 8.21.20 Major Release

Announcing DDMS 8.21 The ECi DDMS Version 8.21.20 major release is available now for Download via the ECi Support Portal. In this release, you'll find Windows 7 Pro compliant client workstation installation, enhanced sync between text-based and SQL period-end reports, location-specific sales tax improvements (formerly called CCH Taxing), furniture project management user security templates, machine Work Order Warranty Detail, ServiceTrak for Windows laptops, and over a hundred other high-priority improvements to the usability and flow of your DDMS business system software.

1/12/2010: Upgrade Approval Link Before TSYS Scraps POS-partner Feb. 1

POS-partner's holding company, TSYS Acquiring Solutions, is suspending its support for POS-partner credit card transactions effective Monday, Feb. 1.

ECi Technical Support wanted to inform you of the migration options that DDMS supports:

  • Approval Link™ 4.0 for NET1 (ECi Preferred Vendor)
  • Approval Link™ 3.0 for for VeriSign™ PayFlo Pro® (see clarification note)

See Upgrade Approval Link Before TSYS Scraps POS-partner Feb. 1.

12/31/2009: Last Minute Year-End Hints for a Happy 2010!

Last Minute Year-End Hints for a Happy 2010!

12/29/2009: Year-End Hints: Ready for 2009 Tax Reports & First Payroll of 2010

Year-End Hints: Ready for 2009 Tax Reports & First Payroll of 2010

12/23/2009: Holiday Closures and Period-End Saturday Support

ECi Holiday Closures and Period-End Saturday Support

12/23/2009: Year-End Hints: Yes, You Can Close 2009 General Ledger Now

ECi DDMS Year-End Hints: Yes, You Can Close 2009 General Ledger Now To help you prepare for year-end, this third bulletin in a series of hints is here to answer your frequently asked questions about closing your books.

12/11/2009: Year-End Hints: Archiving Journals for Year-End 2009

Archiving Journals for Year-End 2009 To help you prepare for year-end, this second bulletin in a series of hints is here to answer your frequently asked questions about renaming journals.

12/11/2009: Announcing ECinteractive and is.D-Force 2 Version 9.1.6 Maintenance Release

See Announcing ECinteractive and is.D-Force 2 Version 9.1.6 Maintenance Release

12/1/2009: Your RoadMap-Specific 2009 Year-End KeyOps Is Online Now

Your RoadMap-Specific 2009 Year-End KeyOps Is Online Now Once again we look ahead to a whirlwind holiday season, with year-end procedures in the wintry mix! This is the first in a series of messages to help you prepare for year-end. The focus of this message is what's new this year, proactively start your checklists, mark your calendar and locate training to help you prepare to close this year's business.

12/1/2009: Announcing DDMS 8.20.40 Maintenance Release

Announcing DDMS 8.20.40 The ECi DDMS Version 8.20.40 maintenance release is available now for Download via the ECi Support Portal. In this release announcement, you'll find a short list of software changes.

10/20/2009: Announcing DDMS 8.20.0 Major Release

Announcing DDMS 8.20.0 The ECi DDMS Version 8.20.0 major release is available now for Download via the ECi Support Portal. In this release announcement, you'll find a new Protect Date Limit on Customer Price Plans, an Option to Stop Updating Cost on United Stationers Pre-Receive, Contract Renewal in Graphical Serialized Order Entry, significant usability corrections to Bank Reconciliation. This release also includes dozens of improvements to the usability and flow of the installation program, EBS imports, CCH Taxing, order entry credits, short-buy and low-stock purchase orders, P/O Vendor Listings, P/O Receiving, AutoComm II, third party billing, SQL A/R Trial Balance, graphical order entry, quotes, Knoll PSN, HMI Communications, HNI communications, Job Costing Analysis, delivery tickets, graphical serialized work orders, accessories management, order entry, toner yield analysis, call monitor, machine detail, and more.

6/17/2009: ECinteractive Tips: Coupons, Categories, Demo v. Guest, Gain more Accounts

ECinteractive Tips: Coupons, Categories, Demo v. Guest, Gain more Accounts

6/15/2009: Download DDMS Software Updates From ECi's Support Portal

Download DDMS Software Updates From ECi's Support Portal

6/11/2009: ECi Shipping Notices Link to Delivery Tracker

ECi Shipping Notices Link to Delivery Tracker

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