SouthWare Excellence Series™ Rev 11 with Personas Upgrade

Transcription

SouthWare Excellence Series™
Rev 11
with Personas
Upgrade Release Notice
Final Version
August 5, 2005
Table of Contents
Highlight Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Persona Overviews for User Roles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
What is a Persona? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
How can I learn from a Persona? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Which Personas are described? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Multi-Windows Workspace! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Creating/Using Multiple Open SouthWare Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
New User Profile Option for Multiple SouthWare Windows . . . . . . . . . 13
Menu Window Is Always Available . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Creating a New Open Window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Open Windows Tabs and Hot-Key Switching . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
How the Multi-Window Workspace Technology Works . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
New Pop-Up Navigation Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Other Window Sizing Changes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Easily Switch Between Standard SouthWare Window Sizes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
New “Auto Full Screen” Option for SouthWare Default Window Size . . . . . . . . 17
Resizable Window Independent of SouthWare Window Resolution . . . . . . . . . 17
Persona Menu Portals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Instant status review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Streamlined navigation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Reduced training . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Quick access to related useful functions in other modules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Easy Customization of Menu Portals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Explanations of Missing Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Available Menu Portals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Security Options for Menu Portals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Related Program-Specific Changes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Integrated and Streamlined Transaction Portals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Integrated Search List Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Transaction Operator Status Info . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Transaction Function Buttons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Integrated Tabs for Related Views . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Available Transaction Portals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
For Your Information (FYI) Technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
FYI and ReportMate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Accessing FYI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Selecting an Existing Format . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Creating a New FYI Format . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Saving an FYI Format . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
The “Design” Tab - Editing a Format . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
The “Parameters” Tab - Runtime Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
One-Click Output . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
The “GridView” Tab - Group/Sort/Analyze Report Records . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
GridView Editing Mode - Edit Your Data in the Grid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
To Activate Edit Mode in a GridView . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
To Change Edit Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
To Edit Data in the Grid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
To Make a Change in Multiple Records . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
The “WebView” Tab - Styling the Report in a Web Browser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Powerful Cascading Style Sheet Styling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
SouthWare Hyperlinks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
2
Rev 11 Release Notice (8/11/05)
Other Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
The “Chart” Tab - Displaying Data in a Graph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
The “Export” Tab - Sending Report Data to Files/Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
LearnFromYou Technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Example Benefits of LearnFromYou Technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Learning of Report parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Learning in Entry/maintenance programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Learning in the FYI data portal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Easier System Setup/Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Note on Intended Use of Learn Technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
How LearnFromYou Works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
LearnFromYou Database . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Capturing Learn Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Playing Back Learned Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Customizing LearnFromYou Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
LearnFromYou Options Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Ability to turn on "InstantLearn" in entry programs to create defaults . 43
Ability to disable learn for selected operators/fields . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Ability to "freeze" learned values by turning off new learning but still use
existing learned values . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Ability to globally disable or hide learn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Ability to Set Number of Consecutive Use Count for Defaults . . . . . . . 44
Maintaining the Learn Database . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Learn Tree View Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Streamlined Report Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Report Parameters Implemented as Dialog Boxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Report Parameter Defaults Are Learned . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Easy Editing of Selected Report Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
One-Click “Smart” Output Selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Use of Check Boxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Use of Drop-Down Lists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Processing Status Display/Interrupt Window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Standard PDF Output Option . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Sending a Report to a PDF File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Standard PDF Printer Device . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
New PDF-Related Printer Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Standard Default PDF Printer Record . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Optional Override PDF Printer per Workstation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
PDF Output Creates “Spool” Records . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Grid-Related Changes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Use of Windows Grid in Inquiry Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Use of Windows Grid in Transaction Review Modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
New Grids for Selected Transaction Portal Displays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Use of Windows Grid in Selected Entry Screens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Option to Create Totals for Grid Groupings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Variable Font Size for Grid Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Alternate Grid Load Method (for Improved Thin Client Grid Performance) . . . . 56
How It Works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Default Setting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Overriding the Default Setting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Other User Interface Improvements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Powerful Right-Mouse Access to Tools from Entry Fields . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Navigation Buttons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Copy and Delete Buttons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
3
Related Maintenance/Inquiry Navigation Buttons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Learn Buttons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Standardized Prompt Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Repositioned Terminate and XD Buttons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Streamlined Cancel and OK Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Plus Fields Display as Hyperlinks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Plus Fields Contain Terminate Button . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Standard Windows Cut/Paste Keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
File Info Button . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
FlowPoint Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Color Display Conforms to Windows Color Scheme . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Operator Info View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Menu View Styles Now Display as Radio Buttons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Improvements to Standard Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Option to Set Automatic Transaction Operator “On-the-fly” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Positive Feedback Sounds Via Sound Themes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Font Display Codes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Font Display Themes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Powerful Standard Variables for Calculated Date Entry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Search Key Prompts for Case-Insensitive and “Find” Searches . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
FileView Selection Button to Choose a Record . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Button Toolbar Moved to Top of Navigation Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Revised/Improved Button Images . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Various Field Alignment and Arrangement Improvements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Enhanced Customization Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
More Intuitive Screen Override Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Screen Overrides Are Now Defined Per Field . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Create Field Override via Right-Mouse Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Field Override Creation Automatically Provides Current Values . . . . . 77
Override Can Utilize Font Theme Display Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Screen Overrides Can Be Used for Report Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . 77
View List of Program Fields Via Screen Field Override Manager . . . . 77
Web Page Manager/Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Built-In Help for Modify ToolWise Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Expanded Web Page Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Improved WebView Browser Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Web Page TreeView Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
File Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Full Page Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Edit Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
SouthWare HTML Editor with Built-In SouthWare Web Functions . . . . . . . . . . 83
Accessing the HTML Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Design Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Source Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Use of Cascading Style Sheets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Javascript Menus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Option to Access ExecuMate II Graph Data in Web Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
ReportMate Table Technology Represents Blank Table Data with Non-Breaking
Space . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Menu Portals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Navigation Pane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
TaskWise WebPage Tabs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Improved View and Preview Templates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Numerous ReportMate HTML Output Changes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
4
Other Windows Technology Changes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Registering Windows Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
New Windows Control Tests in SouthWare CheckUp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
New Windows Control Directory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Changes to the Display of Windows Controls in Operator/Workstation Status
Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Disable Outlook Security Messages within SouthWare Functions . . . . . . . . . . 93
Additional Integrated Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
TaskWise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Optional Use of Web Views for Start and User-Defined Tabs (All Levels) . . . . 94
Integrated Lists for Relationship and Contact Levels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Relationship and Contact Navigation Buttons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Sales Prospect Pipeline Management Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
TaskWise Assigned Salesperson for Prospect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Definition of TaskWise Prospect Sales Cycle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
TaskWise Company News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Inventory/Sales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Related Menu Portals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Warehouse Supervisor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Sales Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Sales Professional . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Order Entry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Warehouse Worker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Purchasing Buyer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Order Processing Transaction Portal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Purchase Order Transaction Portal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Automatic POs Transaction Portal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
New Tentative PO Review Grid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Lookup Option for Purchasing Work File Transactions . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Receivings Transaction Portal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Grid Display and One-Click Selection for Review Mode . . . . . . . . . . 100
Improved Display of PO Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
Receivings Cost Transaction Portal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
Grid Display for Review Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
Improved Features in Billing Inquiry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
New Tree View Inquiry for Open Purchase Orders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Service Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Related Menu Portals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Service Order Entry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Service Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Customer Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Service Technician . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Service Order Transaction Portal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
New Tree View Inquiry for Open Service Orders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Optional Line Item Grid View in Service Order Inquiry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
General ReportMate Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
New Operator/Group Security for RM Format Edit/Access . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Optional Override Base Directory for ReportMate Export File Names . . . . . . 109
Other Improvements to Format Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
New Fields . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
FlowPoint to Skip Output of #Records Read/Processed Line in Spool File . . 110
Parameters Accepted Via Dialog Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
ReportMate HTML Output Enhancements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Export to HTML Now Automatically Handles Table Column Definitions . . . . . 111
5
Use of CSS Style Sheets in Standard ReportMate Template . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Automatic Generation of CSS “Class” Tags for ReportMate Fields . . . . . . . .
Standard HTML Table Records May Reference CSS Tags for Cells . . . . . . .
Automatic Generation of Odd/Even Row CSS Class Tags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Generation of CSS Tags for Top-of-Page Titles/Legends Lines . . . . . . . . . . .
May Now Create HTML Output for Subtotal-Level Reports . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Grand Totals Row for HTML Reports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Automatic Insertion of Non-Breaking Space in Blank Table Columns . . . . . .
New Cascading Style Sheet reference file for ReportMate FYI . . . . . . . . . . .
ReportMate Templates Now Located in Views Directory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Changes to Table Edit/View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Grid Edit Incorporated into FYI Portal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Key Fields Are No Longer Required For Table Editing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Removed Requirement of Fixed-Position Text Interface Type . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other Limitations Removed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Automatic Creation of Grid Edit Definition Record . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Option to Replace Value in Multiple Records During Editing . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Check Boxes for Viewing/Editing Yes/No Flags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
New Optional Editing FlowPoint per Field . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
ExecuMate II™ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Graph Data Can Be Accessed in WebView . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
New Salesperson Statistics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cash Balance Statistic History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Option to Define Statistics Graph for Current Salesperson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Accounts Payable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A/P Transaction Portal Changes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Option to Switch from Detail to Header . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Abandon Prompt When Exiting Out-of-Balance Distributions . . . . . .
A/P Check Processing Portal Changes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
New Tentative Payments Grid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Accounts Receivable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A/R Sales Transaction Processing Portal Changes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Lookup Option for Sales Transactions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Grid Display for Distributions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A/R Cash Receipt Processing Portal Changes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Lookup Option for Payment Transactions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Abandon Prompt When Exiting Out-of-Balance Distributions . . . . . .
Grid Display and One-Click Selection for Review Mode . . . . . . . . . .
New Active Flag for Salesperson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
General Ledger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
G/L Transaction Processing Portal Changes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Financial Statement Runtime Option to Suppress Footnotes . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Job Cost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Job Cost Transaction Processing Portal Changes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
NetLink . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Revised Standard Templates to Match Portal Look . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Default Report Table Format Uses Cascading Style Sheet . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
NetLink Now Allows Use of a Temporary License . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Available Use of CSS Styles in ReportMate-created Tables . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SouthWare Forms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Option to Use Text String Files In Conjunction with Windows Print Columns
......................................................
6
111
111
112
112
113
113
113
113
114
114
114
114
114
114
114
115
115
115
115
117
117
117
118
118
119
119
120
120
120
120
121
121
121
121
121
121
122
122
122
122
122
123
123
123
123
123
124
124
124
124
124
125
125
New Dataname for Picking Tickets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Other Changes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
FileView List Format Wizard Now Allows Change to an Existing Format . . . . 125
Transaction Inquiries Now Assume Standard Inquiry with Option to Use XD keys
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Recap of Features Available on Text Workstations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
File Changes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
Conversion Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Special Notes for SouthWare Developers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Upgrading Your Custom Source to Rev 11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Other Developer Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
7
SouthWare Excellence Series
Revision 11 Upgrade
with Personas
Highlight Summary
This is a revolutionary revision for the Excellence Series! In this upgrade we have
improved the user experience for all our users and added new features designed to make
your job easier. Through the concept of personas (typical user roles) we will help you see
new ways to use SouthWare and have laid a foundation that will focus our future
development efforts on people and their roles.
All aspects of your system have been upgraded - menus, transaction processes, file
maintenance, inquiries, and reporting. We have focused more of our attention on
graphical workstation users, but all users will benefit from the many improvements and
new capabilities.
We can use the acrostic PERSONA to summarize key areas of focus for this revision:
P
People/Role Focus (e.g. personas, menu portals)
E
Efficiency in Processing (e.g. transaction portals)
R
Rapid Reporting (e.g. report parameters and one-click printing)
S
Self-Learning Software (e.g. LearnFromYou technology)
O
On-Demand Data (e.g. FYI portal)
N
Navigation Options (e.g. Windows Workspace, menu portals)
A
Attractive Appearance (e.g. dozens of look/feel changes)
Here are some highlights of what you’ll love about this revision:
!
SouthWare Multi-Window WorkSpace
You may now run your SouthWare applications within a multi-window SouthWare
WorkSpace. Within the SouthWare WorkSpace you may have multiple
SouthWare programs open at the same time and easily switch between them.
The WorkSpace has such features as:
A pop-up Navigation shortcut menu
T
Always available menu program
T
Graphical window tabs for each open program
T
Hot-key switching between windows
T
Multi-windows functionality on both Windows and text-based
T
workstations
!
Persona Overviews for Typical Users
You can now reference a series of fictional personalities who illustrate how you
can use SouthWare features in various roles. These “personas” help you see
how to efficiently get your job done in SouthWare.
!
Persona Menu Portals
With menu portals you get a focused menu environment for a person doing a
particular role (persona) within SouthWare. These portals are web pages that
include both status data and links to the programs and functions you will most
likely need. With a menu portal you can learn to use SouthWare more quickly
and efficiently.
8
!
Integrated and Streamlined Transaction Portals
On graphical workstations the major transaction processes have been revised to
include all related functions in a single environment. Instead of accessing each
program via a checklist menu these portals provide one-click access to most
functions you need within a process. A transaction portal integrates all related
functions for efficient and easily-learned processing of transactions.
!
FYI (For Your Information) Technology
Now your information is easier to access, manage, analyze, and edit. FYI
provides an integrated reporting/editing portal for SouthWare data that utilizes
ReportMate technology in a whole new way! Through multiple tabs you may both
edit and use an FYI ReportMate format to view your data as a report, a grid, a
web page, and a chart as well as export it to a data file or to other software such
as Microsoft Excel.
!
LearnFromYou Technology
The Excellence Series is now more attentive to your needs - it watches you as
you enter data, looks for recurring patterns, and uses this as the basis for
anticipating what you want to do. This greatly speeds up the entry of certain
processes and allows you to customize the defaults in programs.
!
Streamlined Printing via Automated Dialog Boxes
Printing reports and listings is now much simpler and faster. SouthWare print
programs now utilize the following features:
•
Parameters in Dialog boxes
•
Auto-Learn defaults
•
One-click printing
•
Check boxes
•
Drop-down lists
!
Built-In PDF Printing
The ability to print to a PDF-format file is now a standard feature within
SouthWare. These files can be managed similar to spool files.
!
Expanded Grid Technology
SouthWare grid technology now includes new features and is utilized in even
more ways:
•
Totals for Grid Groupings
•
Variable Font Size for Grid Data
•
Alternate Grid Load Method for improved performance on Thin Client
•
Inquiry displays use grids
•
Review Modes use grids
•
Process Status Displays utilize grids
!
Numerous User Interface Improvements
A large number of changes have been made to the user interface, particularly ln
graphical workstations, including:
•
Improvements in Appearance
•
Streamlined navigation
•
Powerful Right-Mouse Access to Tools from Entry Fields
•
Navigation buttons
•
Copy and Delete buttons
•
Transaction status display
•
Related maintenance buttons
9
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Learn buttons
Standardized prompt area
Plus fields display as hyperlinks
Plus fields contain terminate button
File Info button
FlowPoint display
Operator Info View
Improvements to Standard Messages
Streamlined Cancel and OK functions
Positive feedback sounds
Font themes
New Search Key prompts
!
Enhanced Customization Tools
•
Screen Field Overrides
•
Web Page Editor
•
Built-in Help for Modify Functions
•
Customization Menu Portal
!
Expanded Web Page Options
•
Menu Portals
•
Navigation Pane
•
Web Page Manager
•
SouthWare HTML Editor (including insertion of SouthWare variables and
links)
•
TaskWise WebPage Navigation
•
Use of Cascading Style Sheets
•
Javascript menus
!
Improved TaskWise Interface
•
WebView option for display of start pages
•
Integrated Relationship and Contact Navigation
•
Larger Task List Display
!
New Sales Prospect Pipeline Management Features
•
Standard Prospect stages defined in control record
•
Statistics for pipeline status
!
TaskWise News Feature
•
Easy communication of company news
•
Archive news topics
!
New TreeView Managers
•
Service Orders
•
Purchase Orders
•
Web Page Features
•
Learn From You Database
•
Screen Field Overrides
10
Persona Overviews for User Roles
The concept of a Persona is an exciting
innovation for your SouthWare system.
Personas provide a unique framework
to help you better learn and understand
how to use SouthWare programs to
accomplish your goals in the various
roles you perform.
What is a Persona?
A Persona is a fictitious personality
intended to represent a "sample"
SouthWare user performing a particular role. The ultimate goal of business software is to
help people achieve their goals, and personas help explain how this happens. These
example personas help explain features of the software (including portals designed
specifically for each persona) and relate these features to real-life goals and uses.
Each SouthWare persona is described
in a series of web pages. The
information for each persona includes a
brief overview of:
•
Job responsibilities and
Personal goals
•
Challenges
•
The most likely SouthWare
portal used (although many
users will use multiple portals
in their different roles) and a
link to access the live portal
•
Other modules and features
used
Accessing Persona Pages
•
You may access the persona overview page by selecting “Overview” from the
Persona button in SouthWare’s WebView menu.
•
The starting overview web page for personas is installed in
“swhtml\excelassist\personas\personas_overview.htm” under your SouthWare
run directory.
•
There are also links to individual personas from the “Help” option on menu
portals. Each persona contains a menu that provides access to all other
personas.
How can I learn from a Persona?
You can review the persona(s) who overlap your work responsibilities and explore the
challenges/solutions presented in their overviews. By exploring the fictional situation with
a persona you can quickly see how the persona's goals are achieved in SouthWare and
compare your situation with the sample. You'll understand the areas of SouthWare that
are most useful to you and have insight into the best way to meet your goals.
Which Personas are described?
Here are the persona overviews available as of the release of Revision 11. Others may
11
be added in the future:
•
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
•
Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
•
Outside Director (Board member)
•
Outside Auditor/Accountant
•
Sales Department Manager
•
Service Department Manager
•
Warehouse Supervisor
•
Accounts Payable Administrator
•
Accounts Receivable Administrator
•
General Ledger Administrator
•
Order Entry
•
Sales Professional
•
Buyer/Purchaser
•
Service Dispatcher
•
Service Technician
•
Customer Service Representative
•
Shipping/Receivings
•
System Administrator
•
SouthWare Tools Developer
12
Multi-Windows Workspace!
You may now run your SouthWare applications
within a multi-window SouthWare WorkSpace.
Within the SouthWare WorkSpace you may
have multiple SouthWare programs open at the
same time and easily switch between them.
This essentially works as if you had multiple
login sessions going at the same time.
For example, you could have an entry program
open in one window, an inquiry open in another,
a maintenance open in a third window, and still
have instant access to the menu window.
The WorkSpace has such features as:
•
A pop-up Navigation shortcut menu
•
Always available menu program
•
Graphical window tabs for each open program
•
Hot-key switching between windows
•
Multi-windows functionality on both Windows and text-based workstations
Creating/Using Multiple Open SouthWare Windows
!
New User Profile Option for Multiple SouthWare Windows
You may activate the multiple windows feature via an option in your user profile
record (accessible from the “My Profile” button in menu or via XX-03-07).
21. Multiple Windows?:
Enter “Y” to activate the multiple windows workspace for this profile. This
option creates a new open window for each program launched from the
menu or navigation bar. Enter “N” to leave the multi-window workspace
deactivated - this allows only one open window at a time.
Note:
You may not deactivate the multiple window option IF you
currently have multiple windows open. You must first return to
menu, exit the other windows, and then return to this field to
deactivate the feature.
The Multiple Windows Workspace feature replaces the “Independent Windows”
setting from previous revisions. The Windows operating system did not reliably
handle the switching of these windows, so this new implementation replaces that
previous option.
!
Menu Window Is Always Available
In Multiple Menu mode the menu program remains resident as an open window.
This means that you can always switch to the menu from any open modal window
(not modeless such as a dialog box) in order to create another open window.
The menu window contains your currently selected menu view style which can be
one of the following:
•
Standard menu view (with one of several available styles)
•
TreeView menu (graphical mode only) - This presents the menu in an
expandable/collapsible tree structure.
•
WebView menu (graphical mode only) - This presents a special browser
13
to display various web pages and WebView portals to serve as menus.
You may switch between the different menu views in the open menu window.
Whenever you return to the menu window it will show the current menu view.
See the related discussion “Menu View Styles Now Display as Radio Buttons”
later in this release notice.
!
Creating a New Open Window
If you have activated multiple windows the system will automatically manage the
open SouthWare windows for you. Via the numerous SouthWare navigation
options you can choose to navigate to a new open window or to access a different
program in the same window.
To open a program in a New Open Window
To create a new open window you simply use a SouthWare menu program to
launch a new program (but see Limitations below). This could be from:
•
A shortcut or selection from the standard menu
•
A selection from the TreeView menu
•
A shortcut entered and launched from the WebView menu
•
SouthWare links launched from a WebView page
•
The Pop-Up Navigation menu
All of these menu programs utilize the multiple window technology and will create
a new open window for each program launched.
If you are in an open window and want to create a new window you must
return to the menu tab or use the Navigation pane.
Limitations:
•
The workspace allows up to 20 open windows, but most workstations will
not have enough memory to support that many open programs.
•
Modeless Windows - Programs whose only user interface is a special
purpose dialog box (such as all report parameters) are automatically
created in the same window. These types of programs are not intended
to stay active and be switched from/to. In general, if the program you call
does not create its own button bar and full screen entry then it will not
create a new Open Window in the workspace.
•
Processing occurs in only ONE window at a time - if you run a report
or a process such as End of Day update you must complete this process
within the window before you can switch to a different open window.
To open a program in the Same Window
You may also choose to launch a new program and stay in the same open
window. The following navigation options will launch programs in the same open
window:
•
Breakout
•
Linkout
•
A selection launched via the Button Bar
Both of these technologies will create a new program “layer” in the existing
window. When you exit a program launched from Linkout or Breakout you will
return to the preceding program (the one that launched the breakout).
14
!
Open Windows Tabs and Hot-Key Switching
When you have multiple open windows the system provides features for switching
between windows. Please note that you may only switch from a window if you
are in the main program window - if you are in a message, breakout window, or
other sub-window you may not switch to another window until you have returned
to the main program window (but see note under Hot-Key Navigation below).
Tab Navigation
On graphical workstations the system displays tabs at the bottom of the
SouthWare workspace area. Each open window has a tab with the description of
the program in that tab (the description comes from the WorkFlow program
database WF-02-02). You may switch to a window by simply clicking on its tab.
Note: On text-based workstations the system displays limited information about
open windows on the bottom line of the menu screen. This is for
reference only since text-based workstations don’t support tabs.
Hot-Key Navigation
You may also switch between open windows via a hot key. The hot key cycles
between the open windows (i.e. each time you press the hot key the next open
window displays). Here are the hot-keys to use:
•
On graphical workstations the hot key is [Ctrl W]
•
On text-based workstations the hot key is [F12]
Note:
!
Hot key navigation may work in some situations when the tabs are not
available. For example, in plus boxes you may use the hot key to switch
to another window even though the tab is not clickable because the
window is modeless.
How the Multi-Window Workspace Technology Works
Here is a brief overview of how the Multiple Windows workspace feature works:
•
When you launch a program in a new window the system suspends the
current window and creates a new “thread” for the new window. The new
window is given the focus so that it functions normally. On graphical
workstations the navigation tabs are moved to the new window.
•
When you switch to another open window the system suspends the
current window and switches focus to the selected program’s “thread”.
On graphical workstations the navigation tabs are moved to the selected
window (the tabs display only on the current focused window).
•
When you exit an open window the system removes the tab and thread
for the exited window and returns control to the window that launched it
(either menu or a window from which you accessed the navigation pane).
Advanced Topic - For users who utilize SouthWare’s user fields (XX99 Ulink
fields)
Multiple open windows share user linkage, but this sharing is managed by the
system so that multiple windows do not normally interfere with the user field
values within each window.
!
New Pop-Up Navigation Menu (graphical workstations)
15
In the SouthWare navigation area the
navigation button provides a web page
alternative to breakout. Clicking on this button
provides a pop-up navigation pane via a web
browser page. The default web template for
this page (“navpane.htm” in the views directory)
provides the following functions:
•
Link to overview of personas
•
Shortcut field to enter a reference
number or program
•
Please note that you cannot
enter program switches in the
shortcut because a browser
considers this to be invalid
syntax for a web page form
field
•
Most recent headlines from TaskWise
News feature
•
Access to TaskWise Company News
including adding a new topic
•
Shortcut to TaskWise and task status
info
•
Access to the most recent shortcuts
you’ve used
Sample Navigation Pane
•
Access to your favorites as defined in
your breakout menu
•
The technology used in this web page template “remembers” the last
state of the menu - whichever sub-menus were open/closed when you
last exited the page will be restored when you access the page.
If you are using the multiple window workspace then any programs called from
the navigation menu will create a new open window.
Other Window Sizing Changes
!
Easily Switch Between Standard SouthWare Window Sizes
On graphical workstations you have the option to choose one of the following
standard sizes for your SouthWare application window:
•
Small (designed to use 640 x 480 pixels)
•
Medium (designed to use 800 x 600 pixels)
•
Large (designed to use 1024 x 768 pixels)
•
Largest (designed to use 1152 x 864 pixels)
Font Themes (XX-05-16-02) are used to adjust fonts and window settings to
create these different sizes. These standard window sizes are pre-defined for
you via the standard Font Themes.
Setting Your Default Window Size
When you start a SouthWare session the logon screen uses a full-screen
window. After you log on the initial window size used is based on one of the
following settings:
•
If your operator profile has an override resolution (XX-03-07, field 25),
that is your initial window size.
16
•
If there is not a profile, the initial window size is based on your
GUI config record Default Window Size (XX-05-14, field 9)
Switching Window Size During a Session
You may switch default Window Size during a session from a menu program.
From the pulldown menu choose View, Window Size, and select one of the four
sizes. The menu program will switch to that size, and subsequent program
windows will be created with that size.
•
If you are using the Multiple Windows Workspace and have other
windows open, changing the window size will not change other open
windows. They remain at their current size until you exit the window.
Upgrade Note
•
Clicking on the window maximize/restore down button will no longer
change window size as in previous revisions. This button now functions
as a standard maximize/restore down button.
•
The window sizes and defaults are no longer defined in the workstation
record - these are part of the Font Theme information (XX-05-16-02).
!
New “Auto Full Screen” Option for SouthWare Default Window Size
When you specify the initial window size to use in your profile, GUI configuration,
or workstation, you may now choose the option of “Auto Full Size”. This results in
the system automatically choosing the largest standard SouthWare window size
that will fit on your current monitor resolution without requiring scrolling. This
makes it easier to set up SouthWare to ensure that users on different monitor
resolutions will be running SouthWare at the optimal window size.
For example, assume that “Auto Full Size” is specified for a GUI configuration
record that is used by both operator A and operator B.
•
If operator A uses a monitor set to 800 x 600 resolution, the system will
use the SouthWare window size of “Medium” which matches 800 x 600.
•
If operator B uses a monitor set to 1024 x 768 resolution, the system will
use the SouthWare window size of “Large”.
!
Resizable Window Independent of SouthWare Window Resolution
By default all SouthWare windows are created maximized. If you want to
temporarily reduce the window size you may click on the Windows “Restore
Down” button and then drag the Window borders to change the Window size.
Clicking on the Maximize button will restore the full window.
Window Resizing Notes
•
Resizing a window by dragging its borders will affect only that window. If
you create a new window it will use the default window size.
•
When you reduce a window you typically cannot access any functions
that are not visible.
17
Persona Menu Portals
Menu portals provide a focused menu
environment for a person doing a
particular role (persona) within
SouthWare. These portals are web
pages that include both status data and
links to the programs and functions you
will most likely need. Menu portals
provide an efficient role-oriented
alternative to the standard SouthWare
product-oriented menus.
With menu portals you get:
Instant status review
Menu portals can include statistics, graphs, and other status indicators so that you are
continually aware of pending and recent activity. Examples include:
•
Current pending transaction statistics
•
Recent history totals
•
Financial data from ExecuMate II
•
Report card grades from ExcelReport
•
Web page graphs of data from ExecuMate II graphs
•
Pending task totals
•
Open alert counts
Streamlined navigation
Each portal provides quick access to commonly-used features. The multi-layer
SouthWare menu is always available when needed, but the menu portal incorporates the
options most commonly used in that role into a single-click environment. Most displays of
status data include a related link to zoom for editing or more details.
Menu portals may also link to other menu portals. For example, the CEO portal provides
links to the portals available to other managers.
Reduced training
SouthWare menu portals utilize web page browser technology so that most new users will
intuitively know how to use them. The point and click paradigm eliminates the need to
teach other navigation methods to a new user.
With the menu portals a new user needs only to learn how to use the features available
from the portal.
•
For a new user learning to perform a function such as Accounts Payable the
menu portal serves as both a menu and a guide to the functions the user needs
to learn.
•
Instead of learning which options to use within a module, the user automatically
knows which functions apply to a role.
And for experienced users who switch between multiple roles the menu portals provide an
efficient environment for each role.
Quick access to related useful functions in other modules
One unique strength of menu portals is that they are focused on a role, not on a module.
All the functions related to a role can be integrated into the menu portal even if they are
18
part of different modules.
For example, a person performing the function of purchasing may need to access
payables status information, while the payables person may need access to purchasing
information. A/P data can be incorporated into a purchasing menu portal, and purchasing
information can be incorporated into a payables menu portal.
Easy Customization of Menu Portals
Menu portals utilize web page templates and browser technology. This means that you
can easily customize each menu portal by simply changing the web page template.
Web Editor
SouthWare’s Web Page Editor makes it easy to do simple changes such as removing
fields, adding fields, or rearranging fields.
Cascading Style Sheets
The standard templates use Cascading Style Sheets so that you can easily change a font,
color, or other global attribute without editing each portal template.
Menu Logo
All of the standard menu portals utilize a logo image called “menulogo.jpg” to display a
logo in the upper left of the menu. This is designed so that you may easily change the
logo for all portals by changing a single file. The file should be located in the
swhtml/images directory. Changing the logo appearance in this file will update all
standard menu portals.
Explanations of Missing Products
The standard menu portals are designed to provide access to SouthWare products that
have information useful for the intended role. If a user site does not have data for a
SouthWare product/file that has been referenced in the portal page then a link indicates
that the data is not available. This link is supplied from standard Hyperlink Tags defined
in the SouthWare Hyperlink tag file (RM-04-07). The purpose of these “missing” tags is to
make it easy for the user to understand why the data is missing and to inform the user
about additional SouthWare features that are available.
The Hyperlink ID for these missing tags uses the format “*MISSINGxx” where “xx” is the
application ID. For example, standard tags include:
*MISSINGTW
*MISSINGXM
*MISSINGXL
*MISSINGWT
Missing TaskWise Data
Missing ExecuMate II Data
Missing ExcelReport Data
Missing Warehouse Tracking Data
The standard tag links display an icon, provide a popup hint when you hover over the
icon, and link to the related brochure for the missing product.
Note:
The missing tags typically do not appear for XX99 fields even if they reference
data from another product.
Available Menu Portals
Here are the standard menu portals scheduled to be available as of the release of
Revision 11. More menu portals may be added in the future.
•
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
•
Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
19
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Outside Director (Board member)
Outside Auditor/Accountant
Sales Department Manager
Service Department Manager
Accounts Payable Administrator
Accounts Receivable Administrator
General Ledger Administrator
Order Entry
Sales Professional
Buyer/Purchaser
Service Dispatcher
Service Technician
Customer Service Representative
Warehouse Worker
System Administrator
SouthWare Tools Developer
Security Options for Menu Portals
Here are some aspects of security that apply to menu portals:
•
The security level/system requirement for a portal is defined in the related Zoom
View record (XX-09-01, field 5).
•
The access to specific data shown on a portal can be controlled with
SouthWare’s WebPage Security Masking. This allows you to specify which
security operator/group can see selected portions of the page. See the related
discussion “Apply Security Masking” in the discussion of the SouthWare Web
Page Editor later in this release notice.
•
The programs/functions that are linked from a menu portal each perform their
own security checking. If you could not run an option from the menu or select
prompt then you will not be able to run it from a menu portal.
Related Program-Specific Changes
Numerous programs have been modified to support the many links from these portals.
Here are some key changes that might be useful to you in other situations (you could set
up objects to automate the switches and passing area):
Description
Program
Switches
Link passing
View Customer Aging/Balance List
from ExecuMate II
XMSEARCH
VWR
09
- to limit list to single salesperson
XMSEARCH
VWR
09xxx where
xxx is
salesperson
View Vendor Aging/Balance List from
ExecuMate II
XMSEARCH
VWR
10
- to limit list to single buyer
XMSEARCH
VWR
10xxx
Zoom to ExecuMate II Consolidated
Balance Sheet
XMVWBSPL
BC
20
Description
Program
Switches
Zoom to ExecuMate II Consolidated
Income Statement
XMVWBSPL
PC
Zoom to Purchase Order Tree View
Manager for a single buyer
POBUYMGR
BYR
xxx (buyer
code)
Access PO Inquiry for a single buyer
POINQUIR
BYR
xxx (buyer)
Zoom to Cash-related zoom options
for ExecuMate II
XMVWCNTL
CSH
Zoom to News Topic tree view
TWANSTOC
N
Zoom to an AnswerReady topic
TWANSDSP
C
Add a News Topic
TWANSMNT
N
List of Open Tasks for current operator
TWTSKGRD
O
Inquiry for a Specific Statistics Types
XMVWSTAT
1
Display Zoom version of a sales order
(uses current sales order link value)
RSBILINQ
LO
Display Zoom version of an invoice
(uses current invoice link value)
RSBILINQ
LH
Display current sales orders for a
dept/operator in Order tree view
manager
RSBILMGR
OPR
xxx
(dept/oper)
Display current sales orders for a
salesman in Order tree view manager
RSBILMGR
SMN
xxx
(salesman)
Display current sales quotes for a
salesman in Order tree view manager
RSBILMGR
SMQ
xxx
(salesman)
Access Customer Inquiry for a
particular salesperson, which limits the
customers to salespersons assigned
to that salesperson
AROPENIN
SMN
xxx
(salesman)
Call Commissions Due report for a
single salesperson
ARCMDUER
SMN
xxx
(salesman)
Display current service orders for an
operator in Service Order tree view
manager
SVSOMGR
OPR
xxx (operator)
Display current service orders for a
technician in Service Order tree view
manager
SVSOMGR
TEC
(technician
code)
Access Environment Manager and
position at customization options
SWENVMGR
CUS
21
Link passing
(topic ID)
(statistics
type)
Description
Program
Switches
position at security options
SWENVMGR
SEC
position at file management options
SWENVMGR
FM
Access Status Manager and display
system admin functions such as
logoff/disable workstations
SWSTSMGR
OFF
Access Process Manager and show
only implementation status/features
SWPRCMGR
IMP
Access ExcelReport and display option
to search customer grades for a single
salesperson
XLRPTCRD
Z2C
to search all customer grades
XLRPTCRD
Z2C
to search all employee grades
XLRPTCRD
Z2E
to search all stock item grades
XLRPTCRD
Z2P
to search all service grades
XLRPTCRD
Z2S
to search vendor grades for a single
buyer
XLRPTCRD
Z2V
to search all vendor grades
XLRPTCRD
Z2V
to search customer sales growth for a
single salesperson
XLRPTCRD
Z3C
to search customer sales growth for all
customers
XLRPTCRD
Z3C
22
Link passing
xxx
(salesman)
xxx (buyer)
xxx
(salesman)
Integrated and Streamlined Transaction Portals
Transaction processes are now
designed to include all related
functions in a single
environment. Instead of
accessing each program via a
checklist menu these portals
provide one-click access to
most functions you need within
a process. A transaction portal
integrates all related functions
for efficient and easily-learned
processing of transactions.
Note:
Transaction portals
take advantage of
capabilities on
graphical workstations
such as buttons, tabs, and toolbars. Most transaction portal features are not
available on text workstations.
Each transaction portal has features unique to its process, but features that are typically
included are outlined below:
Integrated Search List Tab
A search list of the current open transactions may be incorporated as a tab for easy
selection/review of the open transactions. When you click on the tab it shows a search
list of open transactions. When you highlight a transaction and click on another tab the
current transaction will automatically be selected for editing.
Transaction Operator Status Info
A status areas in the top middle of screen may display available status info such as
current transaction counts/totals. This status information is continually updated as you
add and edit transactions.
Note: This feature requires that you activate the Interactive Transaction Accumulations
option in your company record (XX-03-01, field 15).
From this area you may also access transaction operator features. These include:
•
Transaction operator totals - This option accesses the display available via the
transaction operator view program. This view is also accessible by pressing the
change operator hot key (typically [Ctrl O]) two times.
•
Change transaction operator - This option accesses the change operator
function as available via the change operator hot key (typically [Ctrl O]). You may
then enter another valid transaction operator.
•
Transaction operator options - This option access the Transaction Operator
Option program (XX-08-09-03) so that you may review the available options and
see which are being used. If you have security to maintain these features you
may also zoom to the related maintenance to edit these transaction operator
options.
Transaction Function Buttons
A special button area is reserved at the top right of the screen to provide one-click access
to special functions within the transaction portal. The common uses of this area include:
23
•
•
To access related programs including:
•
Edit listings
•
Post/update processes
•
Inquiries for related data
•
Forms printing
•
A related transaction generation program
•
A related subsystem (such as accessing manual check processing from
the A/P payment portal)
To activate an available function such as:
•
Toggling transaction status
•
Review mode
•
Options that are alternatively accessed via function keys
Integrated Tabs for Related Views
When a transaction process involves multiple related screens/programs these are now
integrated via navigation tabs. These tabs allow you to easily switch between the multiple
related screens to more efficiently get your job done.
Example
For example, A/P Payment processing
now is organized into three main tab
screens:
•
The Payment Criteria Tab lets
you enter the dates and
general info for a check run
•
An available button lets
you enter criteria to
automatically select
invoices for payment
•
A totals area (and the
status display) show
the total amount of
payment needed for
the selected items
•
The Documents Tab displays a
list of invoices for individual selection or change of status such as holding
payment
•
The Tentative Checks Tab shows a list of the checks that will be produced based
on the current selections. This lets you easily review the tentative checks to
confirm that they are correct.
The flow of payment processing may thus be:
•
In the Payment Criteria tab
•
Enter the general selection criteria
•
Automatically select invoices that meet certain criteria
•
Switch to the Documents tab
•
Review the selected documents and select/unselect individual invoices
•
Switch to the Tentative Checks tab
•
Review the checks that will be produced
•
If necessary switch back to the Documents tab to select or unselect a
document and thus change the check
•
When the Tentative Checks are approved, print the checks and update the files
24
Available Transaction Portals
Transaction Portals are described in details in the application sections of this release
notice. As of the release of Rev 11 the available transaction portals include:
•
Accounts Payable Transactions (AP-01-01)
•
Accounts Payable Payments (AP-02-03-01)
•
Accounts Receivable Sales Transactions (AR-01-01)
•
Accounts Receivable Payments Received (AR-02-02)
•
Purchase Orders (IS-03-02)
•
Automatic Purchase Order Generation (IS-03-01-02)
•
Receivings Transactions (IS-03-02-01)
•
Receivings Cost Transactions (IS-03-03-01)
•
Sales Orders (IS-01-02-01)
•
Service Orders (SV-01-01-03)
•
Rental Transactions (RD-01-01-01)
•
Job Cost Transactions (JC-01-01)
•
General Ledger Transactions (GL-01-01)
25
For Your Information (FYI) Technology
Now your information is easier to
access, manage, analyze, and edit.
FYI provides graphical workstations
with an integrated reporting/editing
portal for SouthWare data that utilizes
ReportMate technology in a whole new
way!
As outlined below, the portal includes:
•
Drop-down access to all
available reports
•
Instant creation of new FYI
formats
•
Integrated parameter entry tab
•
GridView tab for the power of
SouthWare grids
•
Grouping/Sorting
•
Export to printer, HTML, or Microsoft Excel
•
Automatic Grouping by subtotal
•
Optional subtotal calculations
•
WebView tab for a web page view of data
•
Powerful CSS styling
•
Automatic field hyperlinks
•
Chart tab to graph selected fields
•
Bar, line, and pie chart
•
Multiple display options
•
Export to Microsoft Excel or to Windows clipboard for pasting into other
applications
•
Export tab to send data to Excel or various file formats
•
Design tab for instant editing of the format
•
One-click selection of fields to include
•
Ranges, record filtering, and sorting
•
Optional advanced access to full ReportMate features
FYI and ReportMate
FYI is based on ReportMate formats and ReportMate technology. The FYI portal
provides an alternative graphical user interface and many new reporting options for a
ReportMate format. Through multiple tabs you may both edit and use an FYI ReportMate
format to view your data as a report, a grid, a web page, and a chart as well as export it to
a data file or to other software such as Microsoft Excel.
Because it utilizes ReportMate formats you can immediately use it with your existing
ReportMate reports as well as easily create new FYI-oriented ReportMate formats.
Accessing FYI
Common ways to access the FYI portal include the following:
•
From the Menu - You may access the FYI portal from the menu reference
number RM-06. There is also a standard cross-reference of “FYI”.
•
From Persona Menu Portals - Most menu portals include a link to FYI. This link
may include a reference to the default starting application (e.g. when you link to
FYI from the Order Entry portal the link automatically passes RS07 as the default
26
•
•
reporting file).
From the File Info button - This button appears at the top of the screen in most
entry/maintenance programs. An option in this menu is “FYI Reports”. When you
select this option the system determines the primary reporting file based on the
program you are running (e.g. if you are in the customer maintenance program
the default reporting file is “AR01" for the customer file).
Direct Call (Special Modes) - You may access the FYI portal by calling the
program “RMFYITAB” from any shortcut option, object, breakout, link, etc. In a
direct call you have the option to utilize switches for special FYI modes:
•
Automatic Category/File Mode - You may call FYI with the switch “P” and
pass a specific Category or Primary File. FYI will then automatically be
positioned at the report ID field. For example, to call FYI for the category
“RS”:
•
From the menu or an object - “RMFYITAB/P [RS]”
•
From a WebView link “http://?@swobj=RMFYITAB&@switches=P&@linkpass=RS”
•
Automatic Primary File Mode - You may call FYI with the switch “F” from
a maintenance/entry program to have FYI automatically choose the
Primary File. This is the option used by the File Info option described
above.
•
Automatic Format Selection Mode - You may call FYI with the switch “A”
and pass a specific Format ID. FYI will then automatically choose that ID
and display the last tab you used for the format (or position at the
Parameters tab if you have not previously run the format). For example,
to call FYI for the format “CUSTLIST”:
•
From the menu or an object - “RMFYITAB/A [CUSTLIST]”
•
From a WebView link “http://?@swobj=RMFYITAB&@switches=A&@linkpass=custlist”
Selecting an Existing Format
When you access the FYI portal there are two selection boxes at the top of the screen.
To choose an existing format you use these boxes:
Category:
Select one of the available categories or primary files via the drop-down list. The
purpose of this selection is to limit the options shown in the second “ID” selection
list. This serves a similar purpose to the application menu described in RM-01,
but the available options also include individual primary files. For example, you
could select “AP” to choose the category of all Accounts Payable reports. You
could also select “AP01" to choose only reports that have AP01 as the primary
file.
In this selection box you may also directly enter the category or primary file and
press [Enter] instead of selecting from the drop-down list. For example, if you
knew you wanted to see reports for the RS application you could simply enter
“RS” and press [Enter] to continue to the ID field.
If you don’t know the application or want to see all formats you may enter “All” as
the category.
ID:
This field is a drop-down list that includes all existing formats for the category or
primary file selected in the Category field. Simply select the format name to run.
You may also enter the format name directly if you know it.
27
Creating a New FYI Format
At the ID field you may choose to create a new format for the selected Category via the
“New” button ([F5]) that appears to the right of the ID field (this button does not appear if
you choose category “All”). When you click on the New button the program helps you
quickly create a new format:
1.
Select a primary file - Choose the primary reporting file for the format. This step
is skipped if the Category field already defines a specific primary file.
2.
Your Format is Created! - The system automatically creates a format that
includes all the key fields for the primary file. You can immediately start using this
format.
3.
Edit the Format as Needed - After the format is created the program displays
the “Design” tab so you can see the default fields and edit as needed.
Saving an FYI Format
When you create a new format it is stored as a temporary format for your workstation
number (format name is “ZTFYInnn” where nnn is your workstation ID). When you exit
the format a question will ask if you want to save this as a permanent format. Enter “N” to
discard the format (such as for a one-time query). If you enter “Y” the system will ask you
to specify a permanent format name and will rename the temporary format to this name:
•
•
•
Enter Format Name - Enter a unique ID for this format (maximum of eight
characters).
Enter Format Description - Enter a description of this format (up to 30
characters). This description appears in format search lists.
Specify Operator/Group Security (optional) - You may optionally specify an
operator or security group for the Edit and Access functions for this report. See
RM-02, Format Header, field 11 Security Access for more information.
Features Enabled for New FYI Formats
Formats created via FYI automatically enable many features in the ReportMate format.
These include:
•
Automatic creation of hyperlink tags for fields with standard hyperlinks (RM-0407)
•
Enabling of all data export and output option types
•
Automatic creation of Grid Edit record (RM-05-01)
The “Design” Tab - Editing a Format
The Design tab provides functions to
easily review and edit the features of
the current ReportMate format selected
in FYI. As needed you can easily
add/remove fields, add ranges or
selection criteria, and choose any
sorting needed.
Note: The design tab is not displayed
if you do not have security
clearance to edit this format.
Here are the main elements of the
Design Tab:
•
(Report Description) - This
element displays the report
description for the report. You may edit this field to automatically update the
28
•
•
description in the format header.
•
(Save button) - If a new format has not been saved as a permanent
format a Save button appears to the right of the report description. You
may click this button to turn the format into a permanent format as
described above in “Saving an FYI Format”.
Record Output Limit - This element displays any current record output limit set
for this format. If this is not zero, the system will only output the number of
records specified (e.g. if this value is “50" the system will output only the first 50
records for the report). You may edit this value by clicking on the field and
changing the value. (Note - this field is stored in Process Limits on the third
screen of the ReportMate format maintenance.)
Fields to Retrieve - This element displays a list of the selected fields for the
format as well as a button to change the list. The list shows the fields in the
sequence they appear in the format.
Click on the button to edit the list of fields. This displays the ReportMate Field
Wizard window.
Note:
If you have used custom layout features (spacing, literals,
drawings/images, calculations, etc.) for this format you must do any
editing via the Custom Layout function. If you select the Fields to
Retrieve function the program will automatically switch to the Custom
Layout grid for editing.
The Field Wizard has two main components:
•
Tree View of Possible Fields - At the left of the window is a tree view of
all files/fields available from the primary file for the report.
•
You may expand/collapse the list of fields for each file I the list.
•
You may highlight and select (via double-click or [F4]) a field to
add to the format - it will move to the list of selected fields.
•
You may remove a field from the report by selecting it from the
tree. If you select a field that is already in the list the program will
confirm that you want to remove it.
•
List of Selected Fields - At the right of the window is a grid list of the
fields selected for the format. Available options in the list include:
•
Move Field Up/Down in Sequence - You may change the
sequence of the fields in the list by highlighting a field and
selecting to move it “up” in the list or “down” in the list.
•
Right-click on field for options - You may right-click on a field
to access other options. In addition to standard grid options such
as export or print preview you have two special options:
•
Edit Field - Choose this option to display a window of
field options for the selected field. This is the same edit
window described in the second screen for ReportMate
format maintenance. Field features you can edit via this
window include:
•
Field print timing
•
Interface options
•
Editing flag
•
Tags such as XML and Hyperlinks
•
CSS class
•
Formatting of numeric fields
•
Remove Field - Choose this option to remove this field
from the list of selected fields. This is an alternative
29
method of removing a field (along with selecting the field
from the tree).
•
•
•
•
•
When you are finished editing the fields to retrieve simply click on the “Finish”
button to return to the Design tab.
Custom Layout (Button) - Click on this button to access the ReportMate “Grid”
layout for editing the headings/fields on the format. This is explained in the RM02 section of the ReportMate documentation. This allows you to change the
visual layout of the format including adding features such as:
•
Additional spacing
•
Text literals
•
Calculations
•
Drawings/Images
Advanced Editing (Button) - Click on this button to display a menu of other
advanced editing options as described in RM-02 of the ReportMate manual.
These include:
•
Output options, Title, Security - This option accesses the format
header screen (first screen of format maintenance).
•
Headings and Fields to Print - This option accesses the grid editing
layout.
•
Ranges, Sorts, Selection Criteria - This option accesses the third
screen of ReportMate format maintenance.
•
Other Field Attributes - This option accesses the special editing
maintenance for efficient editing of features such as Tag Names,
image/drawing, print column justification, and the flag that controls
whether a field may be edited in Grid Edit.
•
Grid Edit Options - This option accesses the related Grid Edit record
that allows this format to be used for editing the data via the Edit option of
the GridView tab. See RM-05-01 for more details.
Copy to Another Format (Button) - With this option you can quickly copy the
current format to a new format. This is very useful when you want to create a
customized version of a format without changing the original format (particularly if
it is used by other persons). When you click on this button you are asked to enter
a new format name and description (similar to the normal creation of a new
format). The system automatically copies all the parameters from the original
format into the new format name and makes the new format be the current format
for FYI editing/review.
Range Parameter(s) - You may define up to five ranges that control which
records are selected for the report. The values for the ranges may be specified
each time you run the report.
•
To add a new range to the report click on the button beside the literal
“....(Add a range)”. You may then specify the field for the range as
described in RM-02. When you finish with the range definition the range
will display on the Design tab.
•
Any existing range that has been defined will appear with a button beside
it so that you may edit or remove the range. Click on the button and then
edit the parameters (or space the file name out to remove the range).
Record Selection Rule(s) - You may define up to five selection rules that control
which records will be included on the report. These rules may be either fixed or
changeable at runtime.
•
To add a new selection rule to the report click on the button beside the
literal “....(Add a selection rule)”. You may then specify the parameters
for the selection rule as described in RM-02. When you finish with the
rule definition the rule will display on the Design tab.
30
Any existing selection rule that has been defined will appear with a button
beside it so that you may edit or remove the rule. Click on the button and
then edit the parameters (or space the file name out to remove the rule).
Sort Sequence(s) - You may define up to five sort sequences that control the
sequence of records included on the report. Numeric sorts may be either
ascending or descending, and for a sort sequence you may specify to output
subtotals per sort value if desired.
•
To add a new sort sequence to the report click on the button beside the
literal “....(Add a sort)”. You may then specify the field for the sort as
described in RM-02 (must be a field on the report). You may also specify
subtotal and page break options. When you finish with the sort definition
the sort will display on the Design tab.
•
Any existing sort that has been defined will appear with a button beside it
so that you may edit or remove the sort. Click on the button and then edit
the parameters (or space the file name out to remove the sort).
•
•
The “Parameters” Tab - Runtime Options
The Parameters tab displays any runtime selection parameters (such as ranges or
variable selection rules) for the report. When you access an existing format the
Parameters tab is automatically selected first. You must complete all parameter fields
before you can access other FYI tabs for the format.
The entry of data in the Parameters window is described in RM-01. Because the
parameters use SouthWare’s LearnFromYou technology they should automatically default
from the last time you ran the report. You may change a value defaulted from the last run
as needed.
One-Click Output
You can print or output the report from FYI as you do when running a report from RM-01.
The One-Click Output button defaults to the method you used the last time you ran the
report. To change to a different output method you may click on the arrow to the right of
the One-Click Output button and choose an option as you would for any report.
Note:
When you complete the parameters screen within the FYI portal the One-Click
Output button is NOT automatically selected as it is when run from RM-01. This
means that pressing [Enter] will not launch the output. You must click on the
button or press [F4] to choose the output option. This prevents you from
inadvertently launching the output function at the end of the parameters when
your intention is to go to another FYI tab after completing the parameters.
The “GridView” Tab Group/Sort/Analyze Report Records
The GridView tab runs the ReportMate
job and places the extracted report data
into a SouthWare grid. This gives you
the power of SouthWare grids to help
you review and analyze the results.
The grid serves as an “interactive”
version of the report data that you can
group and sort. Then you have the
option to output the current grid data to
a report or other final version. The
GridView tab also contains the Grid
31
Editing Mode described later.
With the GridView tab you can utilize SouthWare grid features such as:
•
Grouping of records by data fields (see also “Automatic Grouping by subtotal”
below) - You can turn on the grouping pane (via the right-mouse click menu) and
drag column fields into the pane area to create groupings. The data in the grid
will automatically arrange itself to match the defined groupings.
•
Sorting of data within columns - You may sort the grid records by any of the
data columns by clicking on the column header. Repeated clicks on the column
header will toggle between an ascending and a descending sort sequence.
•
Find Data with text search - You may use the Find function to search the data
shown in the grid.
•
Preview pane - For files that have a preview pane (the left-most button is
enabled in the grid toolbar) you may enable the preview pane to display a web
page of data about the current highlighted record.
•
Export to printer, HTML, or Microsoft Excel - From the right-mouse menu in
the grid you may select to export the grid data to a printer (via Print Preview
function), to a web page HTML file, or to Microsoft Excel. This export from the
grid capability means that you may use the grid as a tool to arrange the data in a
grid format before outputting it.
•
Zoom to Link View - If the primary file you are viewing has a related link value
you may double-click on the record to zoom to the related zoom view.
•
Remove Row - When a grid is editable you have the option to remove a row from
the grid (via the right-mouse click menu). This is designed to let you remove
some records from the grid before exporting it (such as to an OfficeLink merge
job) or performing a global change to multiple records in the grid.
Special features supported by the FYI GridView include:
•
Automatic Grouping by subtotal - A unique feature of the FYI GridView is that it
automatically creates groupings that match the subtotal/sort parameters for the
format. For each sort/subtotal that you have specified, the GridView will create a
grouping for the records.
Note: Any special sorting by subtotal value in the format is not used in the grid.
For example, let’s say you have created a format that lists open sales order and
have defined a sort sequence by salesperson with a subtotal per salesperson.
When you display this report in the GridView tab the system will create a grouping
by salesperson so that orders are grouped within each salesperson.
•
Automatic subtotal calculations
When records are Automatically grouped within the grid (see previous
point), the first three numeric columns will be shown as subtotals in the
grouping record. For example, if your report is grouped by salesperson
then up to three totals will appear beside each salesperson grouping
record.
You may also manually select which amounts to show as subtotals via
the right-mouse menu “Totals” option. See the section “Option to Display
Totals for Grid Groupings” later in this release notice for more details.
GridView Editing Mode - Edit Your Data in the Grid
FYI incorporates an Editing Option in the GridView tab that means you can utilize your
FYI portal as a powerful table editing grid. This utilizes the improved Table Edit
functions available in ReportMate (see RM-05-02 documentation for more information).
32
To Activate Edit Mode in a GridView
The Edit button
is enabled if the format has a related Grid Edit record (RM-05-01)
that allows editing (if the Grid Edit record specifies View Only then the Edit is disabled).
Formats created via FYI automatically create these records. (If a format does not have a
related Grid Edit record or you don’t have security clearance for editing then the Edit
button is not enabled.)
Click on the Edit button to switch to Edit Mode. The grid changes its display:
•
The columns that may not be edited are displayed with a gray background to
indicate they are disabled.
•
The status display under the toolbar indicates that you are in Edit mode and
explains the current edit settings
•
The Edit toolbar buttons are enabled so that you can change the edit settings or
choose edit functions.
To Change Edit Settings
The Edit toolbar contains several options. See the documentation for RM-05-02 for more
information on these options:
•
Update Multiple Records - This option lets you make a change in a single
record and then apply that change to all records or to records that had the same
previous value.
•
Validate Data Interactively - Enabling this option causes the system to validate
the record as you change each field. If you are updating in Batch mode (next
option) and are on a slow workstation you can disable interactive validation to
speed up data entry.
•
Update Data Interactively - Enabling this option causes the system to write each
change to your file as soon as you enter it (requires Interactive Validation to be
enabled). Disabling this option allows you to enter all your changes in the grid
and then update them when you are done.
•
Run Batch Update - If you are not updating data interactively then this button
allows you to update all changed records when you are finished editing. If you
are updating interactively this button is disabled.
•
Send to OfficeLink - If you have defined an OfficeLink ID for output of this edited
data this button will be enabled. Click on it to send the grid data to the designated
OfficeLink target (such as Microsoft Excel, a Microsoft Word merge job, or a
WordPerfect merge job). This option is also available for View-Only grids.
Note:
You may remove a row from the grid (via the right-mouse menu) if you
want to suppress it from the OfficeLink job.
To Edit Data in the Grid
To edit a field in the grid simply move the cursor to that cell and enter a new value.
•
If you are interactively validating data the entry will be validated and any
applicable error message will appear if the entry is not valid.
•
If you are interactively updating data a valid change will be posted to the file. The
background color of the cell will change to green to indicate that the change has
been updated.
•
If you are NOT interactively updating data the background color of a changed cell
will be changed to yellow. This indicates that the change is pending but not yet
updated. When you run the batch update the background color will change to
green as each cell is updated.
Locked Record Note: If a record is locked by another user and cannot be
updated, the cell color will remain yellow when you try to
33
•
•
update it. If a cell will not update (interactive or batch)
this is likely because the record is locked for update by
another user.
Check Boxes - When you are viewing or editing Yes/No fields that have the
potential for editing via a checkbox, the fields will display in the grid as a
checkbox. This is particularly useful in editing mode since you can change the
value of the field by simply clicking on the checkbox. See “Check Boxes for
Viewing/Editing Yes/No Flags” in the Table Edit portion of this release notice for
more details.
Entry Fields - If the column you are editing has a related entry routine with a
lookup, a Lookup prompt appears in the prompt area. You may press [F3] to
access the lookup feature.
To Make a Change in Multiple Records
You have the option to automatically make a change in multiple grid records. Enter a new
value in the cell, and before you leave the cell click on the “Update Multiple” button (the
first button to the right of the Edit button). A pop-up menu will give you the following
options:
•
Replace All - Select this option to insert the new value in all records shown in the
grid.
•
Replace Matching - Select this option to make the same change in all records
that have the same original value as this cell. For example, if you just
changed salesperson “ABC” to salesperson “123", the system will find all records
with salesperson ABC and change them to salesperson 123.
When you choose either of the multiple record options the system will display a
confirmation message that explains the changes about to be made. Please note that, if
you are editing in interactive update mode, as soon as you confirm that you want to make
the changes then the records will be updated. Make sure you use this feature carefully
because if you make an incorrect change your data will be wrong until you correct it.
Note:
You may remove a row from the grid (via the right-mouse menu) if you want to
make sure it is not updated.
Caution:
As a safeguard you should consider disabling the interactive update
mode (toggle off the “Update Data Interactively” button) before you use
the multiple record update feature. This causes the data shown in the
grid to be updated, but your real data file won’t be updated until you
choose to run the batch update.
See also the discussion “New
Optional Editing FlowPoint per
Field” in the Table Edit section of
this release notice.
The “WebView” Tab - Styling the
Report in a Web Browser
The “WebView” Tab runs the
ReportMate format and displays the
results as an HTML web page in a
browser window. This gives you the
intuitive look/feel of a web browser for
your report. The WebView browser
34
also incorporates several unique features that extend the power of the WebView tab.
HTML Template
The basis of the web page created from the report is a template file. By default the
template for a format is named “rmtemp.htm” and is located in the swhtml/views directory.
But you have the option to create additional templates and define the template for each
format.
The template is a standard web page that includes SouthWare variables and can also
include logos or other standard HTML syntax. The standard variables that should exist in
a ReportMate template include:
•
@var_css_link_@
This will be replaced with a link to the file name of the
CSS style file to be used by the report.
•
@var_include_rm_@ This will be replaced with the contents of the ReportMate
format.
Powerful Cascading Style Sheet Styling
FYI webpages utilize the web page technology of Cascading Style Sheets to let you
control the appearance of the web page report. This increases both the attractiveness
and readability/analysis of the information. And FYI allows you to change the CSS
style on a displayed report without re-running the report!
The WebView tab displays a drop down list of defined Style Sheet Files (see “Use of CSS
Style Sheets” below). For a new report the default Style Sheet is “Default - (hide
ref/legend)” which contains styling features such as:
•
Displays Report Title and Company Name, but hides reference lines and legends
•
Bold headings
•
Gray background on odd-numbered rows for easy reading
•
Green background on positive numeric amounts
•
Yellow background and red numbers on negative amounts
Other standard Style Sheets released with Rev 11 include:
•
*01 - Hide All Report Title Info - similar to the default style but doesn’t display the
report title and company name
•
*02 - Show Reference/Legends Info - similar to the default style but shows the
reference lines and legends instead of hiding them
•
*03 - Don’t Highlight Amounts/Neg - similar to the default style but doesn’t
highlight numeric amounts
•
*04 - Print Version - B/W, no links - designed for black and white printing - shows
the gray background on odd-numbered rows but doesn’t show any colors or
hyperlink formatting
•
*05 - Larger Font for Default - same as default style except uses a larger font
See RM-04-08 for more information on Style Sheets.
SouthWare Hyperlinks
The WebView browser window supports the use of SouthWare hyperlink technology such
as used in the Web Menu and TaskWise Auto-Reports. This means that a report that
displays a list of customers can display the customer number as a hyperlink, and clicking
on the hyperlink actually calls a SouthWare program instead of navigating to a new web
page. See RM-04-07 for more details.
Other Options
In the top left of the WebView Tab display there are two buttons that provide additional
35
options for the displayed page:
1.
Open Page in Default Browser [F2] - You may click on this button or press the
[F2] key to open this page in your default browser for your workstation. For
example, this makes it easy to e-mail the web report to someone else.
2.
Print this Page [F3] - You may click on this button or press the [F3] key to print
this page. This displays the browser print dialog box so that you may select a
printer.
The “Chart” Tab - Displaying Data in a Graph
The “Chart” Tab runs the ReportMate
format and displays the results of
numeric fields as a chart or graph.
Charts or graphs provide an intuitive
presentation that make it easy to
evaluate trends and relative
comparisons.
This tab uses the standard Microsoft
Chart Control to display the chart.
There are several options available on
this tab to control the chart:
Choosing the Data to Chart
The following options let you control
which data is used in the chart:
Chart By (options)
This option lets you specify the level of detail you want to chart for numeric
amount(s):
•
Each Record - this option will chart the amount(s) for each detail record
included in the chart.
•
(Subtotal) - you may choose a sub-total name if the format has subtotals. For example, if you have sorted/subtotaled a customer listing by
salesperson you could choose to chart the salesperson sub-total.
Limit to nn (records/subtotals)
Here you may specify the maximum number of records to chart. This refers to
the “Chart By” option above (e.g. if you are charting by salesperson subtotal then
this limit applies to the number of salespersons to chart).
Charts should be limited to a reasonable number of records or they will be too
crowded to be readable. The default limit is 50 records, but you may enter a
number up to 99.
Fields to Include
This option displays a list of the numeric fields on the report. These are the fields
available for charting. You may click on the checkbox beside a field to
add/remove the field from the chart. Each time you add/remove a field the chart
will redisplay to reflect the change.
Note:
A pie chart can include only one data field. If you display the chart as a
pie chart only the first selected field will be used.
36
Options for Chart Display
The following options let you control the appearance of the charted data:
Type
Here you may select to display the data as one of the following types of charts:
•
Bar - this option displays the data as a vertical bar chart. If you select to
include multiple fields then each field is charted as a different color bar.
•
Line - this option displays the data as a line chart. If you select to include
multiple fields then each field is charted as a different color line.
•
Pie - this option displays the data as a pie chart. Only the first selected
field will be charted.
Show Legend
The chart legend explains the color coding for the chart. Click on this checkbox
to toggle the display of the legend on/off. Removing the legend typically
increases the display size of the chart.
Show Values
You have the option to show the data values for each element of the chart. If this
option is checked the chart will display the value for each element as part of the
chart. Click on this checkbox to toggle the display of values on/off.
Swap Series
For bar and line charts you have the option to reverse the data shown in the Xaxis and legend if this makes the chart more useful:
•
If this checkbox is unchecked then the record IDs (the “Chart By” data)
will be shown on the X-axis and the fields to chart (the “Include Fields”)
will be described in the legend.
•
If this checkbox is checked then the fields to chart will be shown on the
X-axis and the record IDs will be described in the legend.
For example, let’s say your format includes customer balances and past due
balances and that you are charting by salesperson sub-total:
•
If the checkbox is unchecked then each salesperson will display on the
X-axis and the legend will show the colors assigned to account balance
and to past due balance.
•
If the checkbox is checked then the X-axis will be divided into account
balance and past due balance and each salesperson will be a different
color bar (explained in the legend) within each section of the X-axis.
The best method of presentation depends on the particular graph. If you’re not
sure simply try both methods.
Options
This button allows you to access other display options for the chart. These
include:
•
Use 3-D? - Click this checkbox to display bar charts as three-dimensional
and rotatable charts. Hold the Ctrl key down and click/drag to rotate the
chart.
•
Show Title? - Click this checkbox to toggle the display of the chart title
on or off. The title comes from the ReportMate format title.
Export the Chart to Other Applications
You have the option to export your chart for use in other software applications. Two icons
37
displayed at the upper left of the chart provide the following options:
•
Copy Chart to Windows Clipboard - this option saves the chart in the Windows
clipboard as an OLE object. This allows you to paste the chart into another
application such as Microsoft Word or WordPerfect (see Tips below).
•
Export Chart to Microsoft Excel - this option exports the chart directly into a
Microsoft Excel worksheet. You may then alter or output the chart from within
Excel.
Tips on Pasting Charts into other Applications
When you paste an OLE chart into an application such as Microsoft Word you
have two options:
1.
Normal Paste - if you use the normal paste function (Ctrl V) to insert the
chart from the clipboard then only the data worksheet for the chart will be
inserted.
2.
Paste Special (Edit, Paste Special) - if you use the Paste Special function
then you have the choice of inserting the chart from the clipboard as a
Picture (Windows Metafile). This inserts the chart as a picture into your
document.
The “Export” Tab - Sending Report Data to Files/Tools
The “Export” Tab provides options so that you can run the ReportMate format to create a
file for use in other software. The options shown depend on which interface types are
selected in the ReportMate format header. These export file options (which are described
in RM-02) can include:
•
Comma-Delimited - This is a common format in which data fields are separated
by commas and text fields are enclosed in quotation marks
•
Other-Delimited - Similar to comma-delimited but with a delimiter other than a
comma - you have an option to specify whether to enclose fields in quotes
•
Microsoft Excel - Output to a file and automatically launch the OfficeLink ID of
“EXCEL” to create an Excel worksheet
•
(OfficeLink) - If you have defined an OfficeLink ID for this format then you may
select to run the OfficeLink process
•
XML Text File - Creates an XML file if you have defined data tags for the fields
•
Fixed-Position Text - Creates a text file in which each field starts at a fixed
position and the length of each record is variable
•
Fixed-Length ASCII - Similar to a Fixed-Position Text file except that each
record is the same fixed length and there are no text line terminators (CR and
New Line)
•
HTML Table - Outputs an HTML web page file (similar to WebView tab)
•
WordPerfect Merge File - Outputs data in a merge format to be used in a
WordPerfect merge document
•
DIF-Format File - Outputs data in a DIF (Data Interchange Format) file
The right portion of this tab shows the options for the currently selected export type. You
can easily change the options as needed.
38
LearnFromYou Technology
The SouthWare Excellence Series™ is now
more attentive and teachable! A powerful new
LearnFromYou™ technology monitors the data you
enter into fields to help streamline your use of the
system. This learning is done per operator so that
program features can be customized for you without
affecting other operators and without complicated
setup options.
Note:
LearnFromYou Technology functions on
both graphical and text workstations. The
user interface is different, but the learn
features work in both environments.
Example Benefits of LearnFromYou Technology
Here are some ways this technology benefits you:
!
Learning of Report parameters
These programs use the "InstantLearn" feature of LearnFromYou to save the last
values you used on a report (including the printer or type of output). The program
then automatically defaults these values the next time you run the program.
!
Learning in Entry/maintenance programs
In these programs you have the option to use “InstantLearn” to customize your
defaults for selected fields. The system also automatically looks for repeated
entry of the same value in a field when you are adding new records. If you use
the same value for a specified number of consecutive times (default is 10) the
program automatically uses this learned value as the default on new records.
For example, when you enter customer records you might want the city/state to
automatically default to your city/state. You can “InstantLearn” these values or
the system will automatically learn them after you have added 10 consecutive
records with the same values.
Note:
!
There is a difference in playback depending on how a value is learned:
When you use InstantLearn the program creates Learn records
with a mode of “Y” for “Learn/AutoPlay”. That means the
program will continue to modify the default if applicable, and on
playback will play both the value and the keystroke to
automatically complete the field.
When the program learns a value based on consecutive uses the
mode is typically “L” for Learn/Default Only. That means the
program will continue to look for consecutive uses and will modify
the default if applicable. The playback will put the default value in
the field but will not play the keystroke to end the field.
Learning in the FYI data portal
The FYI reporting portal uses learn technology to remember the last settings you
used for a particular format. When you access that format again your previous
settings will be used.
39
!
Easier System Setup/Configuration
Because of the examples above the system requires less setup work to tailor it
for individual operators. You don’t have to “program” as many defaults and skips
during setup - instead the system learns what you want to do by watching you do
it!
Note on Intended Use of Learn Technology
Please note that Learn Technology is designed and intended to help operators do their
jobs better. It is NOT intended as a tool used by developers to customize or secure fields
in programs. SouthWare WorkFlow can be used for these purposes.
How LearnFromYou Works
!
LearnFromYou Database
Your SouthWare system now maintains a database of learned values. For each
SouthWare operator there is a database of fields learned for that operator.
Each database record includes information about the last time you entered a field,
how many consecutive times you have used that value, and any learned default
for the field. If you change the learn settings for a field (such as disabling learn or
“freezing” the value) this is stored in the database.
!
Capturing Learn Information
By default the system automatically learns the values you enter in
entry/maintenance programs and report parameter fields. These are stored in
the Learn database. For other types of programs the system will only learn field
values if you turn on InstantLearn.
The system stores two sets of values for each field/operator:
•
Last value - this is the “last” value you entered in the field along with the
terminate key you pressed to finish the field (such as [Enter] or a function
key).
•
Learned default value - this value is populated only when:
•
The field was entered in InstantLearn mode
•
InstantLearn is automatically enabled in parameter
screens such as report parameters
•
On graphical workstations you can enable InstantLearn
via the InstantLearn toggle button or via the rightmouse pop-up menu
•
On text workstations you can enable InstantLearn via the
Learn options menu in the ToolWise Modify screen
•
The system inserted a learned value because you used the same
value at least nn times in a row (where nn defaults to 10 but may
be overridden as described below)
•
You have manually entered a learned default by maintaining the
database
Each time you enter a field the system stores the “last” value:
•
If you are in “InstantLearn” mode the system automatically moves the last
value to the default value to be used the next time you add a record or
run the report. Report parameters automatically use InstantLearn mode,
and you can manually enable InstantLearn in entry/maintenance
programs.
•
In entry programs the system also keeps track of how many consecutive
40
times you use the same value. If you use the same value for a specified
number of consecutive times (default is 10) the system moves the
learned value to the default setting.
Learn Capture Exceptions
Fields that you cannot learn include:
•
Entries you make in global fields such as menu shortcut fields, OK
prompts in print programs, and change prompts in entry programs
•
Entries in programs that disable learn because learn would not be
appropriate (such as logon, menus, and message displays).
•
Entries of stock price, cost, or quantities - these may have different
formats for different stock items.
•
Any entry within a grid, browser, or other non-entry field control.
A field is not learned if its terminate value includes any of the following:
•
Function keys F3 thru F12
•
Note: If you need to learn one of these terminate values you
must manually enter it in the learn record
•
The [Esc] key
•
The Ctrl R key
•
An OK button
•
A Cancel button
•
An Up arrow
•
Any button in the button bar or navigation pane
!
Playing Back Learned Information
After the system has a Learned Default Value for a field it can use it to help
streamline your data entry:
•
Report parameters screen - By default (Learn/AutoPlay mode) the
system automatically plays the learned default (and terminate key) in
each field. This normally auto-completes the parameters so that you
don’t have to access any fields unless you want to change the defaults. If
you are changing a field the system will disable the use of the terminate
keys so that you get the default value but are allowed to change it.
•
Entry/maintenance fields - By default (Learn/Default) the system will
insert any learned defaults (but not the terminate key) whenever you add
a new record. If you are changing a record the learn defaults are not
used. Learned defaults are not used in key fields since these should
not auto-default.
•
Other types of programs - The system will insert any learned defaults for
fields but will not play the terminate key. These other programs don’t
automatically learn so the only learned values will be ones that you set up
via InstantLearn or by manually entering a learn record. Other programs
don’t have a definite add/change mode so the program can’t determine
when to use a terminate key.
Special Notes on Playback
•
When the Terminate Key Value is Used
•
By default (Learn/AutoPlay mode) in report parameters any
learned terminate key value is played until the parameters are
completed. After that you may access a field and the terminate
value will not be used so that you may change the field.
•
By default (Learn/Default Only mode) when you add a new
record in an entry/maintenance any learned field terminate
41
values are not used.
•
•
•
•
You can change the field mode to Learn/AutoPlay - this uses the
terminate value and automatically completes the field.
•
However, if you back up to a previous field (interrupt the
normal flow) the program will discontinue the playback of
terminate values for the remainder of the record. This
allows you to move back to previous fields without the
learn value terminating the field.
RCF Packets - If you run an RCF packet, all learn features are disabled.
RCF Packets are designed to automate the entry of fields and learn is
turned off so that it doesn’t affect the RCF Packet.
Keystroke Macros - If you run a keystroke macro in SouthWare then all
learn features are disabled so that they don’t interfere with the results of
the keystrokes.
WorkFlow - If a WorkFlow FlowMod in a program inserts keystrokes
while adding a new record, the program automatically stops using the
learned terminating value for all subsequent fields. This keeps the Learn
feature from “competing” with keystrokes that you have programmed via
WorkFlow.
Field Filters - If a WorkFlow FlowMod invokes a field filter, the
terminating value for the filter will be the terminating value learned for the
normal field. This should not be noticeable to a user.
Customizing LearnFromYou Features
LearnFromYou has many options for advanced customization including:
!
LearnFromYou Options Menu
When you are in a SouthWare entry field you may access
the Learn options popup menu by:
•
Clicking the right mouse button and choosing
“Learn Features”
•
Clicking on the Learn Options button
•
Choosing the Learn option in the ToolWise Modify
function [Ctrl R, Ctrl R]) - (this is the only available
method on text workstations)
The learn menu includes the following options:
•
Learn mode selection - you may select one of the
following learn modes for this field:
•
Learn/AutoPlay - this is the default mode and indicates that the
system will both learn default values and play them back
•
Learn/Default Only - in this mode the system will learn default
values and place the default in the field, but will not automatically
complete the field by playing the learned terminate value
•
AutoPlay Only - this mode indicate that the system should play
back the existing default for the field and the terminating
keystroke but should not learn a new default - this allows you to
“freeze” the default value
•
Default Only - this mode places the learned default value in the
field, but will not complete the field by playing the learned
terminate value
42
•
•
•
•
Disable Learn - this mode disables both the learning and the
playback features for this field
InstantLearn Mode (toggle mode for program) - click on this option to
toggle InstantLearn mode for this program
Edit Learn Info (this field) - select this option to access the Learn
Maintenance program so you can directly edit the learn values for this
field for your operator.
View Learn Info (this program) - select this option to access the Learn
Tree View manager program to see all learned values for this program
(with the option to access the maintenance and edit them)
!
Ability to turn on "InstantLearn" in entry programs to create defaults
In entry/maintenance programs you may turn on InstantLearn to quickly
“program” the default values you want to have for new records added. In
InstantLearn mode the system will automatically set up the value you enter as the
default for new records. The default mode for learned records is Learn/AutoPlay.
!
Ability to disable learn for selected operators/fields
You have the option to disable learn for a field. This ensures that the system will
not learn a value or play back a learned value in the field.
!
Ability to "freeze" learned values by turning off new learning but still use
existing learned values
You can set the Learn mode for a field to either AutoPlay Only or Default Only to
use the default but freeze the current default value. This is useful when you have
set the default value for a field and don’t want the system to learn a new default
based on subsequent values you enter.
!
Ability to globally disable or hide learn
Disable all learn features
There is a global setting that you can use to disable learn features either
temporarily or permanently. This is an environment variable that you may set in
your cblconfig file or via WorkFlow.
SWENV-LEARN-FROM-YOU-OFF
Y
If this variable is set to “Y” then all learn features are disabled.
Hide learn buttons
You can use a different setting of this environment variable to hide the learn
options from an operator.
SWENV-LEARN-FROM-YOU-OFF
H
If this variable is set to “H” then standard learn features such as capture/playback
are enabled, but the following features are hidden from the operator:
-
The FYI learn info button on the bottom of the screen
The FYI instant learn button on the bottom of the screen
The “Learn Features” option in the right mouse menu is disabled.
Please note that the “Hide” option is not a security feature and is only provided for
situations where the operators are not to be prompted for learn features. Learn is
for the benefit of the operator - if you want to secure the operator from certain
43
fields then you should use WorkFlow. The Modify or ToolWise function will allow
an operator to get to his/her own learn information.
!
Ability to Set Number of Consecutive Use Count for Defaults
Normally, for entry/maintenance programs when you enter the same value for 10
consecutive times the system moves the learned value to the default setting.
There is a global setting that you can use to change the default count of “10" to
some other value. This is an environment variable that you may set in your
cblconfig file or via WorkFlow.
SWENV-LEARN-COUNT-FOR-DEFAULT
nn
where “nn” is the new value.
!
Maintaining the Learn Database
The Learn maintenance program (XX-04-05-01) lets you maintain the records in
the LearnFromYou database. These records are automatically created as
operators enter values in fields.
1. Operator:
This is the operator for this learned value.
2. Parent Program:
The parent program is typically the program that was launched from
menu (the one that created the window). It is the main program running
at the time this field is learned. This ensures that a sub-routine program
run by other programs gets a unique set of learned values for each
parent program that uses it.
Switches
At the time that the parent program is established, any switches on the
program are used to uniquely identify the run situation. This means that
a program run with different sets of switches will learn different field
values. For example, entering a sales order in Point of Sales will learn
different values than entering a sales order via Order Entry.
3. WorkFlow Program:
This is the WorkFlow program for the learned field, the one for which the
FlowPoints for each field are defined. This is the program that will display
if you view the Modify function (Ctrl R, Ctrl R). Any program switches are
ignored for the WorkFlow program.
4. FlowPoint:
This is the FlowPoint for the learned field.
5. Enable Mode:
This indicates the current learn mode status for this field:
Y
Learn is On for this field - system will capture and learn new
default values for this field and play them back along with the
terminate key
L
Learn/Default Only - system will capture and insert default
values for this field, but will not play back the terminate key
A
AutoPlay Only - system will play back learned default value and
terminate key but will not learn a new default
44
D
X
Default Only - system will insert default value but will not play
terminate key and will not learn a new default
Disabled - system will not learn or play back values for this field
(Fields 6 thru 8 normally have values only if a default has been learned via InstantLearn
or repeated use.)
6. Default Entry Method:
This specifies how the field is to be automated:
A
Auto-Default - the field is automated by taking the standard
default value.
I
Insert - the field is automated by inserting a value and
terminating the accept via a keyboard key.
7. Default Value:
This field contains the default value to be inserted into the field.
Note: This is an alphanumeric field. If you need to enter a numeric
value you must enter the “true” value including any leading
zeroes.
8. Default Terminate Value:
This field contains the default value of the keyboard key pressed to exit
the field. For example, “0013" is the Enter key and “0008" is the F8 or
Exit key.
(Fields 9 thru 11 apply only to FlowPoint 8799PR in print programs.)
9. Print Option:
This is the output selection number for SouthWare print options (e.g.
Spool is option “2").
10. Print Option ID:
This is the printer ID of the selected printer record.
11. Print UNC Name:
For a Windows printer this is the UNC name of the printer.
12. Last Entry Method:
The last entry method for this field/operator (see Default Entry Method
above).
13. Last Value:
The last value for this field/operator (see Default Value above).
14. Last Terminate Value:
The last Terminate Value for this field/operator (see Default Terminate
Value above).
15. # of Consecutive Uses:
This field shows how many consecutive times the last value information
has been used. The system uses this to determine when to automatically
create a default in entry/maintenance programs (default is 10 unless
overridden by SWENV-LEARN-COUNT-FOR-DEFAULT) .
!
Learn Tree View Manager
45
This program (XX-04-05-02 but also available from the Modify function or from
the right mouse menu) helps you review and manage learned information by
providing a tree view of learned fields. This makes it easy to see the current
learned settings and modify them if needed.
•
When you choose this program from the menu you may access all
operators and all learned fields. Here are the grouping categories
available in the tree:
•
By operator
•
By program within operator
•
By field within program within operator
•
When you access the program from the Modify or right mouse functions
the tree will show only the current operator/program fields.
Within a program you will see a list of the learned fields. A preview pane displays
to the right of the tree to show more details about the highlighted record.
Reviewing the Learn Manager
You may choose any of the following functions:
Expand an Operator - You may expand the tree for an operator (double
click or right arrow on the packet) to see all programs with learn records
Expand a Program - You may expand the tree for a program (double
click or right arrow on the packet) to see all fields with learn records
Edit a Learn Record - While an existing learn record is highlighted you
may select “Edit O/R” ([F3]) to zoom to the learn maintenance program
(XX-04-05-01).
Clear (Program Values) - When a program tree entry is highlighted you
may select “Clear” ([F2]) to clear (delete) all related learn records. The
clear function will delete all learn records for that operator/program
combination.
Clear (Operator Values) - When an operator tree entry is highlighted you
may select “Clear” ([F2]) to clear (delete) all related learn records. The
clear function will delete all learn records for that operator combination.
Refresh list - you may refresh the records shown in the tree view by
clicking on the Refresh button ([F5]).
Exit - you may click on the Exit button ([F8]) to exit the program. If you
have made changes the program will remind you that these changes will
take effect the next time you use the program.
46
Streamlined Report Parameters
The printing of SouthWare reports and listings is now simpler and faster. Over 400 print
programs have been changed to include the following features:
!
Report Parameters Implemented as Dialog Boxes
When you select to run a report
program the parameters for the
report are displayed in a dialog
box. This dialog box appears
in a window that displays on
top of the current window.
!
Report Parameter Defaults
Are Learned
Report parameters use the
InstantLearn feature of
SouthWare’s LearnFromYou
technology to remember the
parameter values you used the
last time you ran the report. These learned values are automatically defaulted
into the parameters when you run the report so that you don’t have to enter them
again. If you want to use the same parameters, simply choose the output
method. To use different values all you have to do is edit any values that you
want to change.
Upgrade note
Memorized reports (keystroke-based playback) is no longer a supported feature
as of Rev 11 - it has been superceded by the Learn features and by RCF
Packets.
•
If you simply need to default the values for a report this will automatically
work in Rev 11 via the Learned parameters.
•
If you need to have different sets of learned parameters for a report you
may create an RCF Packet for each set of report parameters.
!
Easy Editing of Selected Report Parameters
On graphical workstations you may use the mouse to go to a particular parameter
and change it. This makes it more efficient to edit report parameters, particularly
when a report has a large number of parameters.
Note:
!
If you do not have a mouse (such as on text workstations) you may cycle
through the fields by backing up ([Esc] or up arrow) or moving forward
with the [Tab] or [Enter] keys.
Improved Parameter FlowPoints
In many reports new FlowPoints have been added to the parameters screens to
better support Learn and RCF Packet technology. This is particularly true of
ending ranges for standard entry routines - in previous versions the ending range
FlowPoint was often the same as the beginning range FlowPoint. In most cases
these will now have different FlowPoints.
Upgrade note
In most cases existing parameter FlowPoints were retained from previous
revisions. In some cases this was not possible or desirable (such as the ending
47
range example above). If you have automated reports via RCF packets you
should run the reports to make sure they work properly and edit or re-record the
packet as needed.
!
One-Click “Smart” Output Selection
For maximum efficiency you may choose the output option for a report via a oneclick option button on the parameters dialog screen. This “smart” option uses
LearnFromYou technology to remember the last printer/other output method that
you used for this report. If you want to use the same option all you have to do is
press [Enter] or click on the button.
If you want to select another output option when the “Smart” button is active there
is an arrow to the right of the Smart button that pops up a menu of available
options (on textual workstations press [F5] to access the Output options menu):
Print (keyboard shortcut is “1")
This one click option specifies to print to the default printer defined for
your workstation. This is the same as selecting option 1 from the
standard output options menu.
PDF (keyboard shortcut is 13)
This option specifies to print to your default PDF printer as defined in your
workstation record. If your workstation does not contain an override PDF
printer then the system will use the standard “SWPDF” printer.
Spool (This is the initial Default)(keyboard shortcut is “2")
This option specifies to spool the report output to a file on disk. This is
the same as selecting option 2 from the standard output options menu.
This is the initial default for the first time you run a program so that you
don’t accidentally send a long print job to the wrong printer.
View (keyboard shortcut is “11")
This option specifies to spool the report and open it in the Print Preview
window. This is the same as selecting the Print Preview option in the
standard output options menu.
Note:
You may select option “4" for Text Display. This will become the
default for the next run.
Web Page (keyboard shortcut is “9")
This option specifies to output the report as an HTML web page for
display in a web browser. This is the same as selecting the Web Page
“Send To” option from the standard output options menu.
Send
This option displays a sub-men of send options:
E-Mail
This option will launch your default Send ID (from your
workstation record XX-05-02) if it is an E-Mail type Send record.
Otherwise this will display a list of E-Mail Send records.
Fax
This option will launch your default Send ID if it is a Fax type
Send record. Otherwise this will display a list of Fax Send
48
records.
Output Options
Choose this option to display the standard output options menu. This lets
you select any of the standard options and also access advanced
features such as overriding default printers and formats.
Making this the default for the next time
If you want the standard output options menu to be the default the next
time you run this report you may enter “99" at the Output Selection
prompt in the parameters screen. This tells the program to “Learn” that
the default next time should be the Output Options menu instead of
whichever option you select from the menu.
Re-enter Params
Choose this option to start with the first parameter and enter them all
again in sequence.
!
Use of Check Boxes
Many Yes/No questions now display as check boxes (graphical workstations) for
easier entry with a mouse. Clicking on the check box will toggle the answer.
If you access a check box field via the keyboard instead of the mouse you may
enter a “Y” or “N”. This allows these fields to be learned (i.e. the “Y” or “N” is
learned even though the field displays as a check box).
!
Use of Drop-Down Lists
Many selection lists are now entered via drop-down lists instead of separate
windows (graphical workstations). This improves the consistency of operation
with other programs that offer multiple choices on graphical workstations.
!
Processing Status Display/Interrupt Window
Most reports will now display a standard progress status bar if they take more
than a few seconds to process. This helps you see that the program is still
processing. The status window also contains a Cancel button that you can use to
interrupt the processing if you want to abandon the report (such as to enter a
different set of parameters).
Standard PDF Output Option
On graphical workstations you now have a standard option to output reports to PDF files.
This allows you to create a true WYSIWYG file of the report output that includes any fonts
and images that would print on a printer. This new feature utilizes the flexibility of
SouthWare’s printer and spool features to create a powerful new output option.
Note:
In our testing we observed that the PDF print driver did not properly install or print
on some Windows 98 workstations. If you experience problems using the PDF
feature on Windows 98 we recommend that you upgrade your workstation to a
newer version of Windows.
!
Sending a Report to a PDF File
When you select to print a report or listing on a graphical workstation you now
have a standard PDF output option:
From the One-Click “Smart” Output Selection
T
49
T
One of the options for the One-Click Output button is “PDF File”. When
you select this option the report will be sent to your default PDF printer
(“SWPDF” unless you have an override specified in your workstation
record).
From the Output Options Windows
When you choose the Output Options Window you now have “PDF
Printer: xxxxx” as a Send To option. You may select this option to send
the output to your default PDF printer.
Runtime Options
•
To select a different PDF printer - If you have more than one printer
definition for PDF output you may select a printer other than your default
via the Send To option. Choose the Send Options button, then select the
PDF printer from the “PDF Printer” selection box.
•
Changing the File Name - If you want to edit the default file name for a
job you must have chosen the “Confirm File Name” option for the printer
record. The default name will appear and you may edit it as needed.
•
If the File Already Exists - If the file name for a PDF output job matches
an existing file, the system will ask if you want to overwrite the existing file
(unless your logon operator Special Security option doesn’t allow you to
Overwrite Spool/PDF files):
•
If you say “Yes” to overwrite, the new file will replace the existing
file.
•
If you say “No” to overwrite (or if you don’t have security
clearance to overwrite) the system will display a Save As window
and allow you to edit the filename.
Viewing the PDF Output File
If your PDF printer specifies to “Auto-Open File” then the system will automatically
open the created PDF file via your operating system default application for PDF
files (typically Adobe Reader®). You may then search, print, e-mail, or utilize
other functions available in your PDF viewer.
!
Standard PDF Printer Device
The system automatically provides a device record (XX-05-08) named “SWPDF”
to define the special PDF output option. You may use this reserved device name
in one or more printer records.
!
New PDF-Related Printer Options
The PDF output is done via a SouthWare printer record (XX-05-05-01). You may
define the following options when you create a printer record for the reserved
device name “SWPDF”:
•
File Name - You may enter an override format for the PDF file similar to
a spool file override name. By default the file name is
“DD\REPORT.PDF” where DD\ is the company ID and REPORT is the
report name. You may override the location or name used, but you
should not override the default “PDF” extension.
•
For example, if you want to put the PDF files in directory called “PDF”
under your run directory you could enter the file name “PDF\<NAME>” to
designate that the report file name should be placed in the PDF directory.
Confirm File Name? - Specify whether you want the program to display
a dialog box and allow you to change the file name each time you create
a PDF file. The default is “N” for automatic skip of the confirm dialog, but
50
•
you may enable this option if you may want the ability to review/edit the
file name at runtime.
Auto-Open File? - Specify whether you want the system to automatically
open the file (via the application used by your workstation for PDF files)
each time you create a PDF file. The default is “Y” to open the file, but
you may disable this option if you want to create the file without opening it
for viewing.
!
Standard Default PDF Printer Record
The system automatically creates a printer record of “SWPDF” to serve as the
default printer for PDF output. This standard record is the default record used if
your workstation does not contain an override. The standard record:
•
does not override the default file name
•
does not display a confirmation dialog
•
does auto-open the file after creation
!
Optional Override PDF Printer per Workstation
In the workstation record (XX-05-02) you may specify an override default PDF
printer in the Other Overrides field (field 14):
PDF Printer Override:
Here you may optionally enter a printer ID to use instead of the default
“SWPDF” printer definition for PDF output from this workstation. This is
the PDF printer that is used when you select “PDF” from the one-click
print option button or from the Send To PDF output option. The printer
record you choose must use the special “SWPDF” device.
!
PDF Output Creates “Spool” Records
When you create a PDF file via the PDF print function the system will create an
identifying record for the file similar to a spool file. This record includes the
date/time and operator. You may access these file records in the Spool File
Manager (XX-01) to display or delete the related PDF file.
51
Grid-Related Changes
Numerous changes have been made to improve the grid technology used on graphical
workstations:
!
Use of Windows Grid in Inquiry Programs
On graphical workstations the
SouthWare inquiry programs
now utilize grid technology to
display detail transactions and
lists. This lets you use grid
technology such as scrolling,
grouping, sorting, export to
Excel, etc. with the records you
can access via inquiries. This
functions like FileView lookup
lists.
The following inquiry programs
now use grids for their scrolling
displays:
Sample Customer Inquiry Screen
APCHKINQ - A/P Check History Inquiry
APVNDINQ - Vendor Inquiry
AROPENIN - Customer Open Item Inquiry
DDVIEW - Database Director View
FADEPRIN - Depreciation Schedule Inquiry
GLACTINQ - G/L Account Inquiry
POINQUIR - Purchase Order Inquiry
RSBILINQ - Order/Invoice Inquiry
RSLEDINQ - Stock Ledger Inquiry
RSLOCINQ - Location Quantity Inquiry
RSORDINQ - Order Fulfillment Status Inquiry
RSRECINQ - Receivings Inquiry
RSSTKINQ - Stock Item Inquiry (and related zoom inquiries)
S1COMINQ - Inquire W/O Component Availability
S3CRAINQ - Customer Returns Inquiry
S3VRAINQ - Vendor Returns Inquiry
JCJOBINQ - Inquire Jobs
PRHSTINQ - History Inquiry
RDLININQ - Rental Contract Inquiry
RDRENINQ - Rental Contract Inquiry
RDRIDINQ - Rental Item Inquiry
RDRSCINQ - Resolve Rental Conflicts
SVCONINQ - Contract Inquiry
SVEQUINQ - Customer Equipment Inquiry
SVINVINQ - Billing Inquiry for Service Orders
SVPPYINQ - Prepayment History Inquiry
SVSOEINQ - Service Order Line Item Inquiry
SVSOINQ - Service Order Inquiry
WFFPVIEW - WorkFlow Controller
XLEVTINQ - Excel Event Inquiry
XLRPTCRD - Success Report Card
XMSALINQ - Detail Sales Inquiry
52
XMVWSTAT - View ExecuMate II Info
!
Use of Windows Grid in Transaction Review Modes
On graphical workstations programs that have a “review” type mode now utilize
grid technology for the display/selection of items. This allows users to better
utilize the mouse and scrolling features to quickly perform review-type functions.
Review modes that now use grid technology include:
•
Cash Receipts review mode (AR-02-02)
•
Receivings review mode (IS-03-02-01)
•
Receivings Cost review mode (IS-03-02-01)
See the related discussions of these review modes in the module-specific
portions of this release notice.
!
New Grids for Selected Transaction Portal Displays
Some of the new Transaction Portal processes utilize special grids to provide
easy and efficient ways to review transaction status and totals. These grids serve
as “interactive listings” that reduce the need to print reports and edit listings.
Examples of this include:
•
Grid of Tentative Checks in A/P Payment processing
•
Grid of Tentative POs in Auto-PO Generation processing
•
“List” tabs for transaction listings in numerous Transaction Portals
!
Use of Windows Grid in Selected Entry Screens
The following programs now utilize grid technology for the display/selection of
items. In previous revisions these used textual-only displays. This allows users
to better utilize the mouse and scrolling features on graphical workstations:
A/P Payment Selection of Documents (AP-02-03-02)
Cash Flow Reconciliation (CF-01)
Transfer Sales Order Creation (IS-03-01-08)
Assembly Work Order Completion (IS-01-04-01-02)
Assembly Component Selection (from Order Entry)
Rental Detail Status Maintenance (RD-01-01)
Service Management Create Contracts Process (SV-03)
!
Option to Create Totals for Grid Groupings
When you group records in grids you now have the option to display totals of
numeric columns in the grid. This is a very powerful and useful analysis tool
for SouthWare grids since you may now interactively create totals and subtotals
by simply changing the grouping within a grid.
53
1.
Here’s how to create totals in a grid:
Make sure the grid is in “Load All Records” mode instead of page mode (if
applicable)
Activate the grouping pane (right-click, View, Grouping Pane)
2.
Create one or more groupings by dragging column headers up into the
grouping pane
3.
Choose a column to total (right-click, View, Totals, click on an amount)
4.
The grid will now display the total for the selected column beside each
grouping record
5.
To total additional columns, use View, Totals, and click on an amount
6.
To remove a total use View, Totals, and click on the amount to remove
the checkmark
You may specify up to five totals within a grid. Each selected total will be shown
at all grouping levels (e.g. if you group by document type within salesperson you
will have totals per document type and totals per salesperson).
For example, lets say you are looking at the customer inquiry program for a
customer with numerous open items. You could load all records into the grid,
turn on the group pane, group by salesperson, and choose to Total the Amount
field. The grid list will now show the total amount per salesperson.
Showing Totals by Default
When you save a grid layout the grouping and any totals are saved. This means
that you can arrange the grouping and totals as you desire, save the layout, and
then the grid will automatically group/total this way each time you access the grid.
!
Variable Font Size for Grid Data
The font used to display grid data is now variable. In previous revisions the grid
font was fixed and did not vary at different window resolutions.
54
Standard Default Grid Font Size
By default the grid data will display in the entry field font for your current Font
Theme so that it matches other displayed data (i.e. if your entry field font is MS
Sans Serif 10pt, your grid font will be the same font by default).
Setting an Override Default Grid Font Size
You may optionally choose an override size to use for grid data. You could
choose a larger size to make grids easier to read, or you could use a small size to
increase the number of grid lines that display on the screen. For example:
•
You could maximize the number of lines that you can view in Service
Order Line Entry by choosing a small font for grids and using a larger
window size.
•
You could improve the readability of your task list by choosing a larger
font size for the task grid.
This override is specified in your profile record (XX-03-07, Other Display Options,
Def Grid Text Size).
Def Grid Text Size
Here you may select an override Size to use for grid data by selecting
which Font Theme size to use. This size will always be used to display
grid data regardless of the window size (and related font) that you use.
•
The font used for grid data will be the entry field font from the
Font Theme that you reference here.
•
The font used for other entry fields is determined by the window
size you are currently using.
For example, you might be using Medium window size. “Medium” means
that the system looks at your GUI configuration record, finds the Font
Theme for Medium, and uses the entry field font for that theme to display
normal entry fields. Now if you choose “Small” size for grid text to
increase the number of lines, the system will display grid data only using
the entry field font from the Small Font Theme for your GUI
Configuration.
You may select one of the following sizes:
(space) Base on Window Size (default)
This is the default option. The system will use the entry field font
from the current Window size Font Theme. For example, if you
are using the Medium window size then the Grid will use the
entry font from the Medium theme specified in your GUI
configuration record. If you switch to Small window size the grid
will then use the entry field font from the Small theme.
1 - Small
Choose this option to always use the Small theme entry field font.
2 - Medium
Choose this option to always use the Medium theme entry field
font.
3 - Large
Choose this option to always use the Large theme entry field
font.
4 - Largest
Choose this option to always use the Largest theme entry field
55
font.
Setting the Font Size While Viewing a Grid
You also have the option to change the viewing font size while you are in a grid.
Via the right-mouse menu choose View, Text Size, and choose Small, Medium,
Large, or Largest.
If you save your grid layout the font is saved so that it is automatically applied
the next time you view the grid. Fonts are part of the information stored in a grid
layout so these will retain the font being used when the layout is saved.
Conversion Note - Any saved layouts from previous revisions will use the font
saved with the layout. If you want to use a different font with your saved layout
you must change this and save your layout again.
!
Alternate Grid Load Method (for Improved Thin Client Grid Performance)
You now have the option to use an alternate method of loading grid data via an
XML file. The primary advantage of this method is improved speed of loading
data into grids on Thin Client workstations. In our test results the time to load grid
data is approximately twice as fast with this alternate method.
How It Works
The grid technology runs on the graphical workstation and its data must be
loaded into the grid on the workstation. There are now two methods of populating
the data into the grid:
•
Cell/Record Load Method - Under this method the program populates
the grid a cell/row at a time. This involves repeated ActiveX calls
between the program and the grid.
•
File Load Method - Under this method the program creates an XML file
with all the data for the grid, then calls the grid to load the file. This
involves minimal ActiveX calls but does require that all data be
output/formatted as XML data.
On a Windows network such as Acuserver the Cell/Record method is fast - the
repeated ActiveX calls do not have much impact on performance. On a Thin
Client network each ActiveX call must be communicated over the network from
the program (running on the server) to the grid (running on the client). The
Cell/Record method is slower on Thin Client. Therefore the File Load Method is
now available to reduce the ActiveX communication.
Default Setting
As of Rev 11:
•
The default Method is File Load on Thin Client workstations (for
applicable programs).
•
The default Method is Cell/Record Load on non-Thin Client workstations.
Overriding the Default Setting
You have the option to override the default setting for your workstation. This
means that you can choose which Load Method is used. In the profile record you
now have the following options:
26. O/R ActiveX Grids?:
Leave this blank to use the system default settings. You may also
56
choose one of the following options:
•
Y - Use Grid (Record) - This method loads data into the grid for
each record.
•
F - Use Grid (File) - This method loads data into the grid via an
XML file that is created with the data.
•
N - Do Not Use Grid - This option deactivates the ActiveX version
of the grid technology and reverts to a more basic Acucorp grid
technology. This basic technology will give faster performance
on Thin Client workstations, but does not offer many of the
features of the standard grid technology.
Note: Many grids do not support the Acucorp grid and many
programs (such as Lookup lists) use a textual scrolling
display instead of a grid if you deactivate ActiveX grids.
57
Other User Interface Improvements
Numerous changes have been made to features of the user interface to improve the user
experience and to add new capabilities to your SouthWare system.
!
Powerful Right-Mouse Access to Tools from Entry Fields
On graphical workstations the right-mouse menu from entry fields now provides
quick access to several of SouthWare’s powerful tools.
If you are in an entry field and click on the right-mouse button the following menu
options will appear:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Standard Windows options of Undo, Cut, Copy, Paste, and Select All
Learn Features - clicking on this gives the Learn pop-up menu also
available from the Learn Options button
ToolWise View - clicking on this option displays the Modify ToolWise
view which shows the current customization status for the program and
allows you to access numerous customization tools
WorkFlow - clicking on this option accesses a list of the FlowPoints for
the program and allows you to see any FlowPoints that are defined.
Field Overrides - clicking on this option displays the Screen Field
Override Manager program (described in XX-09-09) if this program
supports field overrides. This lets you see any field overrides defined for
this program and create/edit overrides as needed.
Field Auditing - clicking on this option accesses the SouthWare
Environment Manager program (XX-02-04-02) so that you may
review/edit the Data Maintenance Auditing features of the program (if
Data Auditing is applicable to this program). This lets you quickly inquire
audited changes or define which fields should be audited in this program.
58
Note:
If you click on the right-mouse button when you are not in an entry field
the menu is not applicable. If your profile specifies to use the rightmouse button for an [F8] key then the right-mouse will play [F8].
Otherwise the right-mouse button will not do anything.
Security/Hiding Notes:
•
Some tool features will not appear on the menu if the operator does not
have security for the related program.
•
You may disable the tools portion of the right-mouse menu if you want to
hide these features from your users. This is done via a configuration
variable that you set in your cblconfig file.
SWENV-DISABLE-MOUSE-TOOLS Y
When you set this variable to “Y” the right-mouse menu will show the
Windows standard cut/paste options but will remove the options for:
•
ToolWise View
•
WorkFlow
•
Field Overrides
•
Field Auditing
This will also hide the display of FlowPoint in the lower right of the screen
(and the indicator of whether the FlowPoint has a FlowMod).
PLEASE NOTE that this is a “hiding” option, not a security feature.
Users will still have access to these tools/displays via the Modify function.
•
!
You may also remove the Learn Features option from the menu by
setting the SWENV-LEARN-FROM-YOU-OFF variable to “H” for Hide.
See “Ability to globally disable or hide learn” in the Learn section.
Navigation Buttons
On graphical workstations the upper left portion of the window banner (under the
toolbar) provides navigation buttons. These buttons include:
•
Navigation button - this button accesses the Pop-Up Navigation
Menu. You can access this at any time from any program.
•
Links and Zoom Views button - this button displays a pop-up menu
of link and view options:
•
At the top of the pop-up menu is a list of any zoom views that are
available because of current link values. For example, if you are
in a sales order you might have zoom options for the customer,
the sales order, an invoice (if one has been printed), and possibly
a stock item.
•
Below any available zoom views is a list of the link programs
defined for this program (as defined in XX-04-04).
Upgrade Note - This pop-up menu replaces the view buttons
that appeared on the bottom of the screen in previous revisions.
•
Copy and Delete Buttons - see next item in release notice
•
File Navigation Buttons - in entry/maintenance programs the navigation
area contains a set of file navigation buttons. These include:
•
First record in file
•
Previous record in file
•
Next record in file
59
•
Last record in file
Upgrade Note - These buttons replace the file navigation buttons that
appeared on the bottom of the screen in previous revisions.
!
Copy and Delete Buttons
In entry/maintenance programs the copy and delete functions are now prompted
via graphical workstation buttons. These buttons make the feature more visible
and easier to access.
•
Copy - if the program allows you to copy records you may click on this
button to copy the current record to a new record. The program will then
allow you to enter the new key value. This is a streamlined version of the
rename function.
•
Delete - if the program allows you to delete a record you may click on
this button to delete the record.
!
Related Maintenance/Inquiry Navigation Buttons
In entry/maintenance programs that have related records the upper right toolbar
area contains buttons to navigate to the maintenance programs for those related
records. This helps highlight and integrate these related records for easier
navigation. In selected cases a related inquiry program is also prompted in this
area.
For example, in customer maintenance there are related maintenance navigation
buttons for:
•
Customer inquiry
•
Customer Shipping Address maintenance
•
Customer Billing Address maintenance
•
Customer Excellence Period History maintenance
!
Learn Buttons
On graphical workstations you may quickly access LearnFromYou features via
buttons that display at the bottom of the screen:
•
The Learn Options button gives you one-click access to the Learn
Options menu as described in the LearnFromYou section.
•
The InstantLearn button gives you the ability to toggle InstantLearn
on/off with a single click. See the InstantLearn discussion in the
LearnFromYou section.
!
Standardized Prompt Area
On graphical workstations the prompts for fields now display in a designated
prompt area on the bottom left of the screen. This helps standardize the look and
location of prompts.
Displaying function key prompts as buttons
You have the option to display prompts for function keys as mouse-clickable
buttons. In your profile record (XX-03-07, Other Display Options, Buttons in
Prompts?) you can activate this feature. Prompts that include text referring to a
function key (such as F3) will turn the function key text into a clickable button.
Note: The prompt is clickable only if the prompt is for the current focus window.
For example, if a field in a plus box or other dialog box displays a prompt,
the prompt is not clickable because the prompt area is outside of the
current window.
!
Repositioned Terminate and XD Buttons
60
On graphical workstations the Enter Change number prompt and related
terminate buttons for entry/maintenance programs have been moved to the lower
right of the screen. This is more consistent with other Windows programs.
This change requires that any Extended Data button tabs (if you use this profile
option) now appear on the lower left of the screen instead of the lower right.
!
Streamlined Cancel and OK Functions
Cancel
If you are adding or changing a record and click on the cancel key the program
now doesn’t ask for confirmation. The existence of the special Cancel key
eliminates the need to ask for confirmation.
The program only asks for confirmation if you press [F8] since [F8] can mean exit
as well as cancel.
OK
If you are editing a record and press the OK button the program will now
automatically save any changes you made and clear the record from the screen.
This eliminates the need to exit a field and then exit the record. If you simply
press [Enter] to exit the field you will remain in the record at the Change Number
prompt.
!
Plus Fields Display as Hyperlinks
On graphical workstations the display of Plus Fields in a maintenance/entry
program now use a special font. The intended use of this font is to display these
plus fields as Hyperlinks to make them intuitive for new users. By displaying as
hyperlinks a new user will understand that clicking on the field will display a dialog
box with other information. The default font is blue and underlined to look like a
typical hyperlink.
The hyperlink font used for display is defined in the Font Themes record (XX-0516-02). Your current font theme thus determines how this displays.
!
Plus Fields Contain Terminate Button
On graphical workstations the display of the dialog box for plus fields now
includes an “Exit” button to make it intuitive for users wanting to exit the plus box.
!
Standard Windows Cut/Paste Keys
On Windows workstations SouthWare programs now use the standard Windows
cut/paste keys in a more intuitive manner. Some of the default SouthWare hot
keys (particularly Ctrl X for Extended Data and Ctrl V for Events) overlap with the
standard Windows hot keys. This is now handled in the following manner:
•
If you are in a Windows-type entry field, the standard windows
Cut/Paste/Copy/Undo hot keys will work.
•
If you are not in a Windows-type entry field (such as when a record is
displayed and you are at the Change number prompt) the hot keys are
used for SouthWare functions. For example, when you are maintaining a
record and are in a field you may use the standard Windows cut/paste
keys (e.g. Ctrl X will cut). However, when you finish the field and return
to the change number prompt, Ctrl X will execute Extended Data if Ctrl X
is your Extended Data hot key.
If desired you can define an alternate hot key for any of the standard SouthWare
61
functions. This is defined in your function key definition for your workstation (XX05-03).
Conversion Note - In previous revisions there was a “Use Cut/Paste Keys”
option in the operator profile that determined whether you were using Windows
hot keys or SouthWare hot keys. This option is eliminated as of Rev 11 since the
programs now support both standard Windows keys and SouthWare hot keys.
!
File Info Button
In entry/maintenance programs the status areas in the top middle of the screen
displays a File Info button . This button allows you to access features related
to the primary file you are editing.
Clicking on this button pops up a menu with the following options:
•
File Manager - Click this option to zoom to the SouthWare Environment
Manager for this primary file. This provides access to features such as:
•
FlowPoint review
•
Data Maintenance Auditing features
•
Technical file information including record counts
•
Documentation of all entry fields in the file
•
FYI Reports - Click this button to access the FYI reporting portal of
ReportMate (RM-06) if you have access to ReportMate. The FYI portal
will automatically default to the primary file you are editing. This makes it
easy to access reports/charts are defined for this file, and it also makes it
easy to quickly create a new report for the file.
!
FlowPoint Display
On graphical workstations the system now displays the FlowPoint for the current
field in the lower right corner of the screen. This gives you a constant status
indicator for the current FlowPoint. This is particularly helpful when using
SouthWare tools and in identifying the FlowPoint ID in programs that don’t have
change numbers such as reports and inquiry programs.
To the left of the FlowPoint is an icon that serves two purposes:
1.
The icon indicates whether a FlowMod exists for the FlowPoint
2.
Hovering over the icon will display the current program name
Hiding Note:
If you are using the SWENV-DISABLE-MOUSE-TOOLS configuration
variable to hide tools from the user then the FlowPoint display and icon
will be hidden.
!
Color Display Conforms to Windows Color Scheme
On graphical workstations the display colors of the SouthWare application
window will now conform to the Windows Color Scheme selected for your
Windows Desktop.
If you plan to use a different color scheme than the Windows default (which is
blue) you may want to change other SouthWare display attributes to better match
your chosen look. For example, the default hyperlink font for plus box fields uses
blue as the font color. If this doesn’t look good with your chosen color you could
change to a more appropriate hyperlink font color.
!
Operator Info View
62
On graphical workstations the
status area on the bottom of
the window displays the current
logon operator ID. To the left
of the operator ID is an icon
that lets you display an
operator zoom view (XX-09-01,
view ID of “OPERATOR”).
This zoom view is intended to
provide you with an overview of
operator options and provide
easy access to operator-related
functions.
Components of the Operator
view include:
•
A navigation menu on the left to access selected functions
•
Selected personnel information from the employee record related to this
operator
•
A table list of operator security info for each SouthWare application (with
a heading that zooms to the operator maintenance if the operator has
security for maintenance)
•
Automatic transaction operator (if available)
•
For selected transaction operators you may click on the transaction
operator to zoom to the Transaction Operator TreeView manager
program and review the selected options for that operator.
•
Operator security level for the application
•
Display of selected operator settings from the operator record and current
profile.
!
Menu View Styles Now Display as Radio Buttons
On graphical workstations you may now switch between the three available
SouthWare menu styles (Standard, TreeView, WebView) via radio buttons in the
navigate bar at the top of the menu. In previous revisions these styles were
shown as tabs on the bottom of the screen. This change retains the one-click
switching between menus but allows the bottom tabs to now be used for the
Multiple Window Workspace.
!
Certain standard messages have been improved to be more helpful. Examples
include:
•
When you press the [F8] key while changing a record the message now
clearly explains that the changes have not been saved and confirms that
you want to abandon the changes.
•
When you press the [F8] key while adding a record the message now
clearly explains that the record has not been saved and confirms that you
want to abandon the add of the record.
•
If you try to change the key field on a record the program explains why
the key identifier can’t be changed. It also explains how to copy or
rename the record if applicable.
!
Option to Set Automatic Transaction Operator “On-the-fly”
The Default Transaction Operator record (XX-03-03) allows you to define
automatic transaction operators to use for the various entry and inquiry programs
63
in SouthWare. If you don’t have an automatic operator defined then the system
asks you to enter a transaction operator each time you access a related program.
To simplify the setup of
automatic operators you may
create an automatic default
“on-the-fly” when you enter an
operator code. When you are
in the transaction operator
entry screen a prompt displays the option “Save as Auto-Default”. After you have
entered a valid operator code you may select this option (checkbox on graphical,
[F5] on text workstations). This function will update the operator code you
entered into the corresponding field in your Default Transaction Operator. The
next time you access a program that needs this type of transaction operator the
code will automatically be defaulted.
This feature also works to change your default. If you access the operator
window (via the Change Operator key, [Ctrl O]) you may enter a different
transaction operator and select the “Save as Auto-Default” function to change the
default value.
Note:
This feature is available only if a valid Default Transaction Operator
record exists for your logon operator (XX-03-03).
Security Note
You may disable this feature for an operator by setting the operator security flag
“Allow Edit Default Trx Operators” (XX-03-02, field 8) to “N”.
!
Positive Feedback Sounds Via Sound Themes
Sounds are now provided on graphical workstations to provide positive feedback
for certain user actions. These sounds can be customized and may be disabled.
They are defined in the new Sound Theme file (XX-09-16).
Sound Theme File (XX-09-16)
In this program you may define standard feedback sounds (Windows WAV files)
to be played for certain user and system actions. This helps provide positive
feedback for the user.
1. Sound Theme ID:
To create a new sound theme, enter a unique ID for your theme (up to 10
characters). The standard theme is *DEFAULT which is used by all
users on graphical workstations unless their user profile specifies an
override sound theme (field 27 in profile).
For each of the fields below you may use the lookup feature to search for WAV
files. The file must exist in the SouthWare bitmaps directory.
2. Finish an Entry Field:
Enter the default sound to play each time a user completes an entry field.
The default sound is “entryok.wav”.
3. Add a Record:
Enter the default sound to play each time a user completes the add of a
record (the record is written). The default sound is “recordok.wav”.
64
4. Start Lengthy Process:
Enter the default sound to play each time a user is waiting on a lengthy
process to finish (such as a lengthy report or update process). The
default sound is “waiting.wav”.
5. Finish Lengthy Process:
Enter the default sound to play to notify the user that a lengthy process
has finished. The default sound is “waitdone.wav”.
6. Login or other Intro:
Enter the default sound to play each time a user logs on to the system.
The default sound is “hello.wav”.
7. Alert:
Enter the default sound to play each time a user receives an
informational or warning message. The default sound is “alert.wav”.
8. Halt Message:
Enter the default sound to play each time a user receives an error or
interrupt message. The default sound is “halt.wav”.
In an existing sound theme record this program will play the specified sound
when you access the field. This lets you “preview” the sound you selected.
To Disable Sounds
You may disable all sounds via the “Use Bell/Sounds?” flag in your profile record
(field 20 in XX-03-07 or via the profile record).
You may also disable selected sounds by simply leaving the file name blank for
the sound. For example, to disable the Alert sound enter spaces as the file
name.
!
Font Display Codes
To make the display fonts used in SouthWare easier to maintain there is now a
Display fonts file (XX-05-16-01). In this file you assign a code to identify a
particular font. Then in the Font Themes file (XX-05-16-02) you can reference a
font by its code. If you decide to change a font you can then change the font
record and any font themes that use that code will automatically be changed.
Here are the fields to define for a Display Font code:
1. Display Font Code:
Enter a unique code (up to three characters) for this display font. The
code is how you will refer to this font in the Font Theme records.
2. Description:
Enter a brief description of this font to make it easy to recognize in a
search list.
3. Font:
When you access this field the standard Windows font dialog box
appears. You may select a font and attributes such as size and color via
this dialog box. The program stores the font definition in the display font
65
record.
4. Extract ID:
Here you may enter an extract ID for use in extracting these records with
the Extract Packager.
Standard Display Fonts
SouthWare releases the following Display Font records for use with the default
Font Themes:
M06
M07
M08
M09
M10
M11
M12
M14
FF2
FF3
FF4
MH1
MH2
MH3
MH4
MI1
MI2
MI3
MS Sans Serif 6pt
MS Sans Serif 7pt
MS Sans Serif 8pt
MS Sans Serif 9pt
MS Sans Serif 10pt
MS Sans Serif 11pt
MS Sans Serif 12pt
MS Sans Serif 14pt
Fixed Lucida Console 8pt
MS Sans Serif Hyperlink (Blue/Underlined) 7pt
MS Sans Serif Highlight (Bold) 7pt
Upgrade Note
Any custom fonts you had defined in your GUI configuration records in
Rev 10 are created as Display Font records when you load the Rev 11
upgrade. These fonts are available for you to use in Font Themes if you
want to modify the standard Font Themes.
!
Font Display Themes
Background Information
Because several
different display fonts
are used within
SouthWare it is
important that these be
consistent within a
specific window size. If
you are displaying
SouthWare in a
smaller window then
you must use smaller
fonts. In larger
windows with higher
screen resolutions you
can use larger fonts for
better readability.
66
To address this need for consistency and still provide font flexibility, SouthWare
uses Font Themes to create combinations of fonts and other window size
adjustments. Normally you will not need to edit the standard Font Themes, but
you can change these as you wish. IF YOU CHANGE A THEME you must be
careful to choose font sizes that fit with the theme or else labels and fields may be
truncated.
Here are the fields in the Font Theme records:
1. Font Theme ID:
Enter a unique ID (up to three characters) for this Font Theme record.
Standard IDs are listed at the end of this section. You will be specifying
these IDs in the GUI Configuration record (XX-05-14).
2. Description:
Enter a brief description of the purpose of the theme. This is to help you
identify the theme in a search list.
3. Entry Field Font:
Enter the code of a font (as defined in XX-05-16-01) to use as your base
font for entry fields in this theme.
4. Small Font:
Enter the font code to use as a small font in this theme. Small font is
typically used to display status information in a tightly compressed space.
5. Large Font:
Enter the font code to use as a large font in this theme. Large font is
typically used as a section header or other emphasized title.
6. Fixed Font:
Enter the font code to use for displays that must use a fixed-width display
font in order to maintain text alignment. For example, certain print
display options have various data headers and data that must maintain
their alignment. Using a non-fixed proportional font for these displays
would mis-align the data.
7. Disabled Field Font:
Here you may optionally specify a font to use when displaying fields that
are not editable but display data (such as descriptions and names).
Under Windows these disabled fields are normally displayed in low
intensity to distinguish them from normal entry fields. However, in some
conditions (certain monitors or projectors) the low intensity display (which
is controlled by Windows) makes these fields difficult to read. You may
use this option to specify a font to use for these read-only fields so that
you can control the appearance of this data. For example, you could use
colors, bold, italics, or other font characteristics to distinguish these readonly fields from normal entry fields.
You may leave this field blank to use the standard Windows look for
disabled fields.
8. Hyperlink Font:
Enter the font code to use for displays of plus fields in maintenance/entry
67
fields for this theme. This feature is designed to allow these fields to
display as hyperlinks so that users intuitively know to click on them to
display the related dialog box. Typically this font should be underlined
with a color.
9. Prompt Font:
Specify the font code to use for displaying prompts in this theme. This
needs to be a small font - the prompt area will not be able to display large
prompts if they are not displayed in a small font. Typically you can use
the same font as the small font above.
10. Highlight Font:
Enter a font code to use for special highlighted data. This font is used to
highlight or accent a data field that should receive special attention.
Note: You may use the Highlight font in a field override to highlight a
field that is not normally highlighted. See the “Data Attributes”
field in XX-09-09 for more details.
11. Advanced Adjustments:
These fields control window cell size and other display factors. You
should normally not need to access these fields. They are made
available in this screen to help with special support situations.
12. Extract ID:
Here you may define an Extract ID so that you may extract selected font
theme records via the Extract Packager (XX-08-06-03-01).
Standard Themes
Here are the standard Font Themes used by SouthWare (these are automatically
added by the program if they don’t exist):
WT1
WT2
WT3
WT4
Theme that creates a SouthWare window designed to fit on a 640x480
monitor resolution. You may use this theme on monitors with higher
resolutions if you don’t want the SouthWare window to occupy the entire
screen.
Theme that creates a SouthWare window designed to fit on an 800x600
screen.
Theme that creates a SouthWare window designed to fit on a 1024x768
screen.
Theme that creates a SouthWare window designed to fit on an 1152x864
monitor resolution.
Which Font Theme is Used
By default the system will choose the Font Theme from your GUI configuration
that matches the Default Resolution specified in your GUI Configuration record
(XX-05-14, field 9). This can be overridden in your Profile record (XX-03-07, field
25).
In your GUI configuration record you define the Theme to use for each supported
resolution. If you change Window size during a session (View, Window Size from
68
pulldown menu in Menu programs) the system will switch to the Font Theme from
your GUI config record that matches the selected window size.
Upgrade Note
When you load the Rev 11 upgrade your GUI configuration records are
automatically converted to use the standard themes. You may modify
these themes (including using custom fonts that you used in previous
revisions), but by default your first use of Rev 11 will use the standard
Font Theme designed for your window resolution (which defaults to “Auto
Full Screen” to choose the largest window size that will fit on your current
monitor resolution).
!
Powerful Standard Variables for Calculated Date Entry
A new feature of entry fields for dates allows you to enter special values that
serve as designated variables. SouthWare’s standard date routine will turn these
variables into the designated date. This is particularly designed for use with
LearnFromYou and RCF Packets technology, but it can be used without these
technologies.
At any date field you may press [F3] for calendar and [F4]. You may then select
one of the following date selection options:
Current system Date
Current Month Start Date
Current Month End Date
Prior Month Start Date
Prior Month End Date
Current Year Start Date
Current Year End Date
Current G/L Period Start Date
Current G/L Period End Date
Prior G/L Period Start Date
Prior G/L Period End Date
Current G/L Year Start Date
Current G/L Year End Date
Current A/R Period Start Date
Current A/R Period End Date
Current A/P Period Start Date
Current A/P Period End Date
Current JC Period Start Date
Current JC Period End Date
Manual entry of a standard date variable
At any date field you may enter one of the following values (which are otherwise
invalid dates) to designate a calculated date:
999900 - results in the current system date
999901 - results in the current calendar month start date (based on system date)
999902 - results in the current calendar month end date (based on system date)
999903 - results in the prior calendar month start date (based on system date)
999904 - results in the prior calendar month end date (based on system date)
999908 - results in the current calendar year start date (based on system date)
999909 - results in the current calendar year end date (based on system date)
69
999911 - results in the beginning date for the current G/L period
999912 - results in the ending date for the current G/L period
999913 - results in the beginning date for the prior G/L period
999914 - results in the ending date for the prior G/L period
999918 - results in the beginning date for the current G/L year
999919 - results in the ending date for the current G/L year
999921 - results in the beginning date for the current A/R Period
999922 - results in the ending date for the current A/R Period
999931 - results in the beginning date for the current A/P Period
999932 - results in the ending date for the current A/P Period
999941 - results in the beginning date for the current Job Cost Period
999942- results in the ending date for the current Job Cost Period
!
Note:
The examples above assume that your date entry format (as defined in
your company record XX-03-01) is MMDDYY. If you use a different
format you must rearrange the values you enter. MM is always 99 and
DD is always 99 wherever they are entered in the format. For example, if
you use YYMMDD format you would enter 009999 instead of 999900 for
current date.
Note:
The learning of date variables is not available if you use the
“CALENDAR” method for your default entry method.
Search Key Prompts for Case-Insensitive and “Find” Searches
Background
When you enter a starting search value for a Lookup key field you may enter wild
card characters (* and ?) to expand the search. The asterisk is a multi-character
wild card indicator and has some special functions:
•
If you enter either all upper-case values or all lower-case values followed
by an asterisk (*) the search conducts a case-insensitive search for the
value you entered. If you enter a value that has both Upper and Lower
case characters the search will match only those values where the case
matches.
•
If you enter a value without a trailing wild card, the search will act like a
start and return all of the records in the file after the starting value that
you have entered.
•
When you enter a trailing wild card the search will stop reading records
when the first record is reached that does not match the entered value.
•
If you enter a starting asterisk the search will conduct a “find” search of
all records and “find” any occurrence of the search value in any position
of the field.
•
You may use multiple wild cards in a value as long as an asterisk does
not precede a question mark. For example, you could enter
“*ACME*CO*” where the asterisks can be replaced by any number of
characters.
To make these special
functions more visible
to users on graphical
workstations the
search key starting
value window now
displays the following checkbox fields:
70
Ignore Case
Click on this checkbox to perform a case-insensitive search. This
performs the search as if the value you entered is all lower-case (or
upper case) and is followed by an asterisk.
Example
If you enter “CARL” and click this checkbox, the search will be
performed as if you entered “CARL*” as the starting value.
Find Text
Click on this checkbox to perform a find search. This performs the
search as if you entered a leading asterisk for the search value.
Example
If you enter “CARL” and click this checkbox, the search will be
performed as if you entered “*CARL*” as the starting value.
These new functions are simply highlighting an existing capability. On text
workstations you can perform these searches by entering the appropriate value
and wildcard characters.
When to Use
Both the Ignore Case and Find Text options involve reading many records to find
the ones that match. This is less efficient than the standard search but is very
useful in the following example cases:
•
Use the Ignore Case option if you’re not sure whether a customer name
was entered “Acme” or “ACME” or “acme”.
•
Use the Find Text option if you’re not sure whether a customer name is
“Acme Company” or “The Acme Company”.
!
FileView Selection Button to Choose a Record
In FileView search lists a button now appears in the leftmost column of the grid.
This allows you to select a record with a single mouse click as well as a doubleclick. This also makes it more intuitive for new users to know how to select a
record.
!
Button Toolbar Moved to Top of Navigation Area
On graphical workstations the SouthWare button toolbar is now moved above the
navigation bar. This provides additional room for the navigation/status functions
at the top of the screen and expands the height of the SouthWare window.
!
Revised/Improved Button Images
The buttons and images used by SouthWare have been modified to improve the
overall graphic appearance on graphical workstations. The background of
images used on buttons should now match the button color across the various
versions of Windows. Many other changes have also been made to images.
!
Various Field Alignment and Arrangement Improvements
On selected screens we have improved the alignment of fields and labels and
made other changes to make the screens cleaner and easier to read, particularly
on graphical workstations. This process will continue in the future, but in this
revision we have improved this in frequently-used screens.
71
72
Enhanced Customization Tools
Several new features are available to help you use SouthWare tools to tailor program
features for your needs.
More Intuitive Screen Override Features
SouthWare’s Screen Override feature is now easier to use! Screen overrides allow you to
customize features such as label text and field positioning. This customization is now
integrated so that you can quickly create an override for the program you are using.
!
Screen Overrides Are Now Defined Per Field
Screen overrides (XX-09-09) now utilize a separate record per field. This makes
it easier to edit fields since you don’t need to work with records that contain
multiple fields.
Here are the fields in the Screen Field Override record:
1. Program ID:
Enter the program name (up to fifteen characters) for which you are
defining a Screen Field Override. If you access this program through the
Screen Override Manager then this will automatically be filled in.
2. Field ID:
Enter the field identifier for the field you are overriding. This ID is in the
format "CCSSFF" where:
CC is the change number - make sure you enter a leading zero
for single-digit change numbers (e.g. enter field 1 as "01")
SS is the sub-change number (if needed)
FF is the Format number (when needed for special situations
such as the supplemental display of a field’s description within a
plus box).
This is the same as the WorkFlow FlowPoint ID. You may use the
WorkFlow lookup feature to find the field ID.
3. Override #:
Normally you should simply take the default of “1" for this field. Override
1 is the default override that will automatically be used when you use the
program.
Advanced Users Note
For advanced users, the Override # lets you define different "screen
change records" for a single program and then conditionally apply them
via WorkFlow. Any records numbered 11 thru 99 will not automatically be
used. But with WorkFlow FlowMods you may specify to use a screen
override in this range. At the standard FlowPoint of "0002" you may enter
a FlowMod step type of "SCRN" and then enter the Screen Override
number. For example, you could create a FlowMod step that tests the
operator security level and calls particular overrides based on the security
level.
4. Comment:
Enter a comment for this override to help you remember its purpose.
73
5. Override Label? (and Label Text):
Enter "Y" if you want to override the label that will display for this field.
You may then enter up to 30 characters, but you should not enter more
characters than will fit in the display space allowed for the label in the
program (only complete words are displayed). If you leave the field blank
this will effectively remove the label from the screen, and you will
probably also want to use the "Skip w/Hide" Special Handling option to
remove the data field from the screen.
If the field normally displays a change number on the screen you should
enter the change number as it normally appears - the "Display Field
Numbers" style option will control whether this displays.
Example:
Let’s say you want to override the label for the customer number
in customer maintenance to the terminology "Client." The
standard label is:
*1. Customer #
You may override this with a description that includes the field
number info:
*1. Client #
(Note that changing the label affects only this program. Other
programs and reports will continue to use "Customer" as the
label.)
Enter "N" to O/R Label if you don’t want to override the label.
See also the Attribute override for the Accept to see how you can
override the display attribute for a label.
6. Label Line:
Here you may specify an override line for the display of the label. Leave
this positioning info blank to leave the label in its standard position. If you
enter an override you may enter a Line value up to 25.0. The decimal
value applies on graphical systems to let you position a label using
fractional lines.
7. Label Position:
Here you may specify an override position for the display of the label.
Leave this positioning info blank to leave the label in its standard position.
If you enter an override you may enter a Position value up to 80.0. The
decimal value applies on graphical systems to let you position a label
using fractional positions.
8. Accept Special Handling:
Here you may specify whether the data entry for this field should be
handled differently from the normal standard for data accept/display:
(blank) None - Press <Enter> to default to normal handling of the accept
and display of the data entry field. The data entry field will
display and be accepted with either underlines or an entry box
depending on your Style Options.
74
1
2
3
4
Spaces - This option displays spaces instead of the box or the
underlines for the data entry accept.
Skip w/Display - This option skips the entry of the field by
automatically acting as if the user pressed the <Enter> key. The
result is that the user sees any data in the field, any WorkFlow
FlowMods are processed, but the user may not access or enter
data into the field.
Skip w/Secure - This option is the same as Skip w/Display
except that the field displays asterisks ("*****") instead of showing
any data in the field. The result is that the user can see that
there is a field, any WorkFlow FlowMods are processed, but the
user may not see what the data is or be able to change it.
Skip w/Hide- This option removes the display and accept of the
field from the screen. The result is that no accept is done, no
FlowMods are processed, and no data or asterisks are shown on
the screen. You would normally do this only if you were also:
!
overriding the label with spaces to remove all evidence
of a field from the screen, and
!
using WorkFlow at an earlier FlowPoint to fill in a valid
value for this field (if necessary).
Special Notes on Skip Options
The Skip options will work properly only when the field does not
require a valid entry (when it’s OK to leave the field blank or it
has a default) or when you have already set up a valid value for
the field using a previous WorkFlow FlowMod step. See the
WorkFlow Notes below.
!
The Secure and Hide options do not suppress the display of any
supporting descriptions if the field displays a description of the
data entered. For example, if you Secure or Hide the display of a
Terms Code entry field the description of the Code may still
display.
!
9. Data Line:
Here you may specify an override line for the display of the data accept.
Leave this positioning info blank to leave the data field in its standard
position. If you enter an override you may enter a Line value up to 25.0.
The decimal value applies on graphical systems to let you position a data
field using fractional lines.
10. Data Position:
Here you may specify an override position for the display of the data
accept. Leave this positioning info blank to leave the data field in its
standard position. If you enter an override you may enter a Position
value up to 80.0. The decimal value applies on graphical systems to let
you position a data field using fractional positions.
11. Data Field Size:
Here you may optionally specify a size that is shorter than the normal
accept size. For example, you could shorten a ten-character field to a
five-character field. This does not change the actual size of the field in
the file, but it does change the size that will accept and display. You may
not increase the size of a field.
75
12. Data #Decimals:
For a numeric field you may also decrease the number of decimal
positions accepted and displayed. For example, if the standard field has
three decimal positions and you want to shorten this to two decimals you
may override the decimals with "2". Again, this does not change the
actual size of the field in the file. You may not increase the number of
decimal positions.
13. Data Override Font:
Here you may specify an override font to use for the display of the data
field. You may use one of the font types defined in your font theme (XX05-16-02).
Note: The Override refers to the Theme so that the Override Font will
automatically match each operator’s Font Theme.
Valid choices are:
•
ENTRY for entry font
•
SMALL for small font
•
LARGE for large font
•
FIXED for fixed font
•
DISAB for disabled field font
•
HLINK for hyperlink font
•
PRMPT for prompt font
•
HILIT for highlight font
14. Data Attributes:
Here you may optionally override the display attributes used for the
accept/display of data in this field. A list of available options appears
including color, intensity, and reverse. You may skip this field to use the
standard attributes. If you enter attributes here you should enter all
that apply since they will be used instead of the normal attributes, not in
addition to them.
Valid attributes include:
COL1 Accent Color 1
COL2 Accent Color 2
COL3 Accent Color 3
COLA Alternate Color Scheme
COLH Help Color
COLS Search Color
LOW Low Intensity
REV
Reverse Intensity
To override the attributes you enter the desired attributes separated by
commas.
Example:
To specify Low Reverse you would enter:
LOW,REV
15. Extract ID:
If this record is part of a group of related changes that has an Extract ID
you should specify the Extract ID here. The Extract ID Packager
(XX-08-06-03) will use this ID to extract records. The Extract ID is also
76
stored in the Data Dictionary with the DD field information.
16. Active?:
Default to “Y” to activate this screen override. You may enter “N” to
deactivate this record and prevent it from being applied to the screen.
Editing Note
If you make any changes to the overrides for a program you must exit and reload
the program before the changes take effect.
!
Create Field Override via Right-Mouse Menu
You may create a field override from an entry field via the right-mouse click
menu. From this menu you may choose “Field Overrides” to access the Screen
Field Override manager (discussed in a later section). The current field is
highlighted. See the documentation for the Screen Field Override Manager for
more information.
!
Field Override Creation Automatically Provides Current Values
When you select to create a field override from the Screen Field Override
Manager the program goes to the Field Override maintenance program and
passes the current settings for the field. The current field settings are displayed
in the maintenance to make it easier to create overrides.
!
Override Can Utilize Font Theme Display Options
In a field override you may refer to one of the font types referenced in the Font
Theme records (XX-05-16-01). This allows you to apply that font to the display of
the data for the field. A common use of this might be to use a font highlight a
particular field or make it larger or smaller.
!
Screen Overrides Can Be Used for Report Parameters
Report parameters now have the option to utilize Screen Field overrides. This
means that if you want to customize the parameter labels or field positioning that
you may do this via Screen Field Overrides.
!
View List of Program Fields Via Screen Field Override Manager
This program (available from the Modify function or from the right mouse menu)
helps you review and manage field customization within your entry and
parameter (such as print) programs by providing a tree view of the fields within
the program. This makes it easy to see the current settings and description for
each field within the program along with any overrides.
Note:
You may only use this program from the program you want to modify.
The current program supplies the field values to the Manager, so if you
run this program from a menu you will see the values for the last
modifiable program you ran.
77
When you choose to
edit Field Overrides
the current program
provides its table of
field values to the
Manager. These fields
are shown in the tree
and the current field is
highlighted. A preview
pane displays to the
right of the tree to
show more details
about the highlighted
record.
Reviewing the Screen Field Override Manager
When you access the Screen Field Override Manager you will see an expanded
tree view list of the available fields for the program. You may choose any of the
following functions:
Expand a field - You may expand the tree for a field (double click or
right arrow on the packet) to see any override records and to see the
attributes that may be customized
Add an override - While a field is highlighted you may select “Add O/R”
([F3]) to create a standard override. This will zoom to the override
maintenance and let you enter the override parameters for the field.
Edit an O/R - While an existing override record is highlighted you may
select “Edit O/R” ([F3]) to zoom to the override maintenance.
Edit Value - While a field attribute/element record is highlighted you
may select “Edit Value” ([F3]) to zoom to the override maintenance. The
program will automatically go to the appropriate field to edit that value.
Exit - you may click on the Exit button ([F8]) to exit the program. If you
have made changes the program will remind you that these changes will
take effect the next time you use the program.
!
Web Page Manager/Editor
On graphical workstations a new Web Page Manager/Editor makes it much
easier to manage and customize the web page related features of SouthWare.
See “Web Page TreeView Manager” later in this release notice.
!
Built-In Help for Modify ToolWise Functions
On graphical workstations the tools available from the Modify screen now provide
the option to display help about the tool before you decide whether to use it. This
helps users understand the purpose of each tool, particularly tools that they
haven’t used before.
A help button appears beside the button for each tool. Clicking on the button
accesses a related help topic that explains the use of the tool.
78
Expanded Web Page Options
On graphical workstations you have many new options to incorporate web page
technology into your SouthWare user interface. These options continue SouthWare’s
unique blending of web page display/interface with powerful application programs.
!
Improved WebView Browser Program
The WebView menu
program has been
revised to include
several valuable new
features. You can now
use it as your normal
menu mode without
losing the ability to use
unique SouthWare
features such as
shortcuts and function
keys. When you run
the Menu Portals within
the WebView browser
you get the intuitive
look/feel of a web page
with the unique
features of SouthWare
links and data.
•
•
•
•
•
•
Launch Shortcut Field - A Launch entry field at the top of the screen
lets you navigate to either:
•
A new web URL
•
See also “Option to Secure WebView URL Entry” below
•
A SouthWare Shortcut - this means you can be displaying a
web page and enter “AR0701" to launch the customer
maintenance program
Option to Secure WebView URL Entry - There is a new operator
security option that can disable the navigate URL entry field. Enter “Y” in
the “Secure WebView URL” option in field 8 of the operator record.
Option to Edit View Template - In the Special Options button you now
have the option to Edit the View Template if you are viewing a Zoom View
web page. This option accesses the SouthWare HTML Editor control
which lets you easily create a custom or operator-specific version of the
Zoom View template.
•
This option can be disabled for an operator via the “Allow Edit of
HTML Template?” flag in the logon operator record (XX-03-02,
field 8).
•
If the operator can edit but has a security level in SwiftMate of
less than 7 then the operator may only create a custom version
that applies to that operator, not to other operators.
Taller Browser Window - The browser window is now taller to reduce
the need for scrolling.
Standard Print Button - The Print button now uses the standard
browser print function for both local and remote files.
Revised Buttons - The browser buttons have been revised and
79
•
•
•
•
rearranged to display in the top navigation area.
New Button for Open in Default Browser - The browser buttons now
include a one-click button to open the page in your default browser. This
makes it easy to access other browser functions such as e-mailing a
page.
Revised Refresh Function - If you are displaying a portal menu or other
zoom view, the refresh button will update the data in the page (reprocess
the data update function). For other pages (or if you have used the back
or forward button) the refresh function will simply reload the page as in a
normal browser.
[Enter] key in web page form will now submit form - A change has
been made to the browser accept in order to enable the use of the [Enter]
key within a web page.
Persona portal button
- this button displays a pop-up menu of
Persona portal functions:
•
Last ten portals used - The top of the menu displays the ten most
recent persona menu portals you have used with the most recent
at the top. This makes it easy to switch between your commonly
used portals.
•
List All Portals - Click on this option to display a search list of all
persona menu portals (Zoom View IDs that begin with “P_”).
•
Set Portal as Your Start Page - Click on this option to select a
Persona menu portal to be your start page when you access the
WebView menu. The program will display the list of all persona
menu portals and you may select the one to use. This is inserted
into your profile record as your starting web page.
•
Set Portal Text Size - Click on this option to change the default
text size for text displayed within personal menu portals. Each
SouthWare standard persona menu template uses a variable
that results in a link to a Cascading Style Sheet.
By default the portal uses “Normal” text size. You can use this
feature to insert an override in your profile (field 28 in profile) to
control which of three standard Cascading Style Sheets (RM-0408) will be used by the variable:
•
Small Text - This uses the CSS ID of “P_1" which refers
to the file “menuview1.css”. The base font size for this
style is 9px.
•
Normal Text (default) - This uses the CSS ID of “P_2"
which refers to the file “menuview2.css”. The base font
size for this style is 11px.
•
Large Text - This uses the CSS ID of “P_3" which refers
to the file “menuview3.css”. The base font size for this
style is 14px.
•
!
Personas Overview - Click on this option to display the personas
overview pages in a separate browser window.
Web Page TreeView Manager
80
This program (XX-0809-05) helps you
review and manage
your SouthWare webpage related features.
There are numerous
SouthWare tools and
options related to web
pages, and this
Manager organizes
and highlights the
available features as
well as offering easy
access to editing
options.
The program offers
three tabs, the Files, Full Page, and Edit tabs:
File Tab
When you access the Web Page Manager you will see the major grouping
categories. The preview pane to the right of the screen shows information about
the currently-highlighted record in the tree. You may choose any of the following
functions:
Expand a category - You may expand the tree for a grouping category
(double click or right arrow on the category) to see the details. For
major categories you will see a list of groupings. When you expand a
grouping any sub-groupings will be shown first, then each order within
the grouping will appear in the list.
Toggle Preview Pane - You may toggle the display of the Preview
Pane on and off by clicking on the Preview Off/On button or by pressing
[F1]. Removing the Preview Pane provides more display area for the
information in the tree.
Edit record - If the highlighted record has a related maintenance
program you may edit the highlighted record by clicking on the Edit
button or pressing [F3].
Exit - you may click on the Exit button ([F8]) to exit the program.
Here are the categories available in the Web Page Manager:
•
Navigation Pages - This category includes the web page templates for
the navigation pane and for the BUI menu pane. The preview pane
shows the template.
•
Cascading Style Sheets - This category shows the CSS records defined
in RM-04-08. The preview pane shows information from the CSS record.
•
Persona Portal Views - This category shows the web page templates for
the persona portal menus (Zoom views with an ID that starts with “P_”).
The preview pane shows the template. Note - In the standard templates
there are Javascript variable values that are replaced with numbers at
runtime. On most systems the display of these templates will give a
Javascript error in the preview since the browser doesn’t know that these
81
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
are variables.
Other Views - This category shows the web page templates for Zoom
Views other than portal menus (shows all Zoom views with an ID that
doesn’t start with “P_”).
FileView Previews - This category shows the file preview web page
templates for the preview panes available in FileView. The tree shows
only files that have existing templates.
HTML Hyperlink Field Tags - This category shows all the Hyperlink ID
records that you have defined in RM-04-07. The preview pane shows
information from the tag record.
XML Field Tags - This category shows all the XML styles you have
defined in XX-09-12-01. You may expand a style to see all the related
tags you have defined in XX-09-12-02.
ReportMate CSS Class Tags (info only) - This category documents the
default data “classes” that ReportMate assigns when outputting a
webpage (such as in the FYI portal). If you understand the use of CSS
styling this helps you understand how you can modify the appearance of
the ReportMate web pages.
ReportMate HTML Table Formats - This category shows all the Table
format records you have defined in ReportMate (RM-04-06). The
preview pane shows information from the table format record.
ReportMate HTML Templates - This category shows any HTML
templates referenced in ReportMate formats (field 6 in Format Header,
HTML Table Format). The preview pane shows a preview of the
template. See the HTML discussion in RM-02 of the ReportMate manual
for more information on ReportMate templates.
Grid HTML Templates - This category shows all HTML templates used
to format the print function from grids. By default all grids use
“swhtml\views\gridexpt.htm” but this can be customized per operator.
See “Default Template for Export to HTML” in Appendix C of the
SwiftMate manual for more information.
Template Directories - This category provides directory listings of the
files within the standard HTML template directories used by SouthWare.
This provides a complete listing of the directories even if a file is not
referenced from a related view record.
Custom Template Directory - This shows all files in “swhtml\custom”.
Views Template Directory - This shows all files in “swhtml\views”.
Previews Template Directory - This shows all files in “swhtml\previews”.
NetLink Request Type Manager - This is simply a shortcut to the
NetLink Request Type Manager program which manages the web page
features of SouthWare NetLink™. It is referenced here to remind you of
the many web page features available in NetLink.
Full Page Tab
This tab is available if the record you are viewing in the “Files” tab is a web page
template. Clicking on this tab displays the web page template in a full-width
browser window. This is simply a larger version of the preview window displayed
in the Files tab. It is designed to let you see full-page templates without the need
to scroll right and left.
•
Sample View Option - If the template you are previewing is a Zoom View
the tab will display a button labeled “Sample View”. You may click on this
button to display a sample version of the view (with the variables
replaced) as described in XX-09-01.
82
Edit Tab
This tab is available if the record you are viewing in the “Files” tab is a web page
template. Clicking on this tab displays the web page template in the SouthWare
Web Editor control. This allows you to easily edit standard HTML features as
well as incorporate unique SouthWare web features! See the “SouthWare
HTML Editor with Built-In SouthWare Web Functions” discussion below for a
complete discussion of this powerful editor control.
!
SouthWare HTML Editor with Built-In SouthWare Web Functions
Now you can
customize your web
page templates with
a SouthWare-enabled
WYSIWYG HTML
editor! With this
editor you can quickly
make simple changes
to standard SouthWare
templates and save
them in the custom
directory. You don’t
have to be an HTML
expert to add/remove
fields, change fonts,
etc. But if you are an
HTML expert you can
also directly edit the
HTML source.
Accessing the HTML Editor
The SouthWare HTML Editor is available from:
•
SouthWare’s Web Page Manager (XX-08-09-05) - When you are
viewing a web page template in the manager you may click on the “Edit”
tab to access the HTML Editor for that template.
•
SouthWare’s WebView Menu - When you are displaying a web Zoom
View you may click on the options button and choose “Edit View
Template” to access the HTML Editor for the template used to create the
Zoom View.
•
FileView Preview Pane - If a FileView list supports a preview pane you
may click on the Modify View button and choose to Open the Preview
Template. This opens the preview pane template in the HTML Editor.
Security Notes:
•
You may prevent an operator from using this editor via the “Allow Edit of
HTML Template?” flag in the logon operator record (XX-03-02, field 8).
•
If the operator can edit but has a security level in SwiftMate of less than 7
then the operator may only create a custom version that applies to that
operator, not to other operators.
Design Mode
When you access the SouthWare HTML Editor the default view is the Design
Mode. This shows you the page in a What You See Is What You Get
(WYSIWYG) editing pane. In this mode you can perform simple editing functions
similar to a word processor. For example:
•
To change text, simply click on it and change it
83
•
To bold text, select it with the mouse and click on the Bold button
Here are the functions available from the toolbar in the HTML Editor:
Save Functions
•
Save
- With this function you may save the template or save it as an
operator-specific version. When you exit a template after making
changes the system will automatically ask if you want to save your
changes. The options include:
•
Save for Myself - This will save the template to the custom
directory with a name so that the template will be used only for
my operator.
•
Save for All (requires security level of 7 for SwiftMate) - This will
save the template to the custom directory so that the template
will be used for all operators who don’t have an operator-specific
template.
•
Save for Operator (requires security level of 7 for SwiftMate) This is similar to Save for Myself except that you may specify the
operator - the saved template will be used only for that operator.
•
Save As
- With this function you may specify the filename to use.
This function is primarily intended to allow you to copy a template to a
new filename. This function allows you to select a directory and filename.
Text Attributes
There are several attributes related to editing text appearance.
Please Note that SouthWare’s standard templates use
Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) and don’t embed fonts into the
templates. If you use fonts within the templates then any CSS
formatting will not apply to that text.
•
Select Font - With this function you may select a font similar to a word
processor. This font will be applied to selected text (if you have
highlighted some text) or become the default for new text entered.
•
Bold, Italic, Underline - These apply an attribute to selected or new text.
•
Set Foreground Color, Set Background Color - These functions allow
you to change the text foreground/background by choosing a color from a
palette.
Alignment
•
Left, Center, Right Alignment - You may click on one of these buttons
to choose whether selected or new text/images will be left-aligned,
centered, or right-aligned.
Lists
•
•
•
Numbered List - Click on this function to create or apply a numbered list
to the selected or new text. Each new paragraph within a list is
automatically assigned a new number and indented within a list.
Bulleted List - Click on this function to create or apply a bulleted list to
the selected or new text. Each new paragraph within a list is
automatically preceded with a bullet symbol and indented within a list.
Decrease or Increase Indent - Click on these functions to increase or
decrease the indent level of an item in the list.
Find Functions
•
Find Text - This function allows you to pop up a Find function to search
for a text string within the WYSIWYG document. This also incorporates
84
•
a Find Next feature.
Find/Replace - This function allows you to pop up a Find/Replace
window so that you may enter a string to replace:
•
“Find Text” is the current value to be replaced.
•
“Replace with” is the new value that should replace the current
value.
The available buttons include:
•
Find Next - finds and highlights the next occurrence of
the Text
•
Replace - replaces the currently highlighted occurrence
•
Replace All - replaces all occurrences of the Text
•
Cancel - exits the find/replace function
Table Features
This button displays a list of HTML table-related functions, most of which apply
only if you are currently editing a table.
•
Insert Table - Inserts a new HTML table at the current cursor position. A
dialog box offers several options including the initial number of
rows/columns and the size of the table.
•
Insert/Delete Row - Inserts or removes a row from the table.
•
Insert/Delete Column - Inserts or removes a column from the table.
•
Insert/Delete Cell - Inserts or removes a cell from the table (may change
row/column structure)
•
Merge Cells - If you have highlighted multiple cells you may use this to
merge them into a single cell. This will change the row/column structure
of the table.
•
Split Cell - This allows you to split the current cell into multiple rows or
columns.
Insert Image
•
Insert Image - This function allows you to select an image to insert into
the page. For SouthWare templates this image should be referenced
relative to the “swhtml/temp” directory since this directory will contain the
runtime version of the template.
Links/Variables
•
Insert SouthWare Data Variable(s) - This function allows you to easily
insert the appropriate syntax for a SouthWare data variable so that the
variable will be replaced with data at runtime. This will use XX99 as the
assumed primary file except for templates that have a defined primary file
(such as View and Preview templates).
When you select this function a field selection wizard appears similar to
the selection wizard used in the FYI portal (RM-06). A tree list at the left
allows you to access all available files/fields. Click on a field to select it
for insertion into the template and display it in the grid list on the right
(you can right-click on a field in the list and select to Remove it). You
may select as many fields as you wish, then click on the Finish button to
insert the variables into the template. The syntax used is
“@var_dd_xxxxnnnn_@” where xxxx is the file ID and nnnn is the field
number.
•
Include Desc? - Click on this check box if you want to insert the
field’s description as well as its related data variable into the
85
•
template.
Include In Table? - Click on this option if you want to insert the
data variable(s) in a new HTML table. This causes the insert
function to place appropriate table syntax around the inserted
variable(s) and description(s).
This Data Variable wizard is a very powerful tool! For example, let’s say
you are editing a customer-related View template and want to insert a
couple of Extended Data fields (descriptions of “My Data 1" and “My Data
2"). This can be as simple as:
1.
Position the cursor at the appropriate insert point in the template
and click on the Data Variable button
2.
Find and select the two fields from the tree list
3.
Click on the “Include Desc?” and “Include In Table?” options
4.
Click on the Finish button. Voila!
The result would create a format like this (the variables would reference
the actual data dictionary fields):
•
My Data 1
@var_dd_XDxxnnnn_@
My Data 2
@var_dd_XDxxnnnn_@
Insert SouthWare Link - With this function you can easily create a
SouthWare link that will call from a web view to a SouthWare program.
There are many standard examples of this in SouthWare’s Zoom View
web templates, and this feature allows you to enter your own SouthWare
links without needing to remember the appropriate syntax.
When you click on this button a dialog box appears that lets you enter the
parameters for the link.
•
Type of Call - Select the type of SouthWare resource that you
want to call from the link:
•
Reference # - a SouthWare menu reference number
such as “AR0701"
•
Program ID - a SouthWare program name such as
“ARCUSTMN”
•
SW Object - a defined SouthWare object (XX-09-02) that
launches a SouthWare resource
•
ID - Enter the related ID for the type of call you selected.
•
Switches and Passing Info - If you selected to call a Program
ID you may specify program switches and passing info
parameters for the link.
•
Popup Text - Here you may enter text that should appear when
a user hovers over this link (a hint) but doesn’t click it.
•
Link Text - Here you should specify the text that be the
“clickable” link shown in the template.
•
If you highlight some text or click on an image before you
access this link function then the highlighted text/item will
automatically be shown as the Link Text.
•
If you did not highlight an item before creating this link
you must enter the text to use for the link.
86
Examples:
1.
To create a link to Order Entry:
a.
Type of Call = Ref #
b.
ID = IS010201
c.
Popup Text = To access IS-01-02-01 Order Entry
d.
Link Text = Order Entry
2.
To create an automatic link to the FYI portal for a format named
“ORDLIST”:
a.
Type of Call = Program ID
b.
ID = RMFYITAB
c.
Switches = A
d.
Passing Info = ORDLIST
e.
Popup Text = To call the ORDLIST format in FYI
f.
Link Text = Order Analysis
•
•
Insert Hyperlink - This function allows you to easily create a standard
HTML hyperlink. In the dialog box you may enter the URL for the link as
well as other options.
Apply SouthWare Security Masking - This function allows you to
secure selected portions of this template based on operator or operator
group. This powerful function means that the same template can be
used by multiple operators but that selected portions of the template will
be visible only to operators who have clearance to view the data. For
example, this lets you have an Employee zoom view with general
personnel info that is available to all operators, and also have additional
pay rate/history info in the template that is hidden except to managers.
To utilize this feature you must select (highlight) the portion of the
template that you want to secure. Then click on this button. A dialog box
will allow you to select the operator/group that can view this portion. The
function will insert the appropriate SouthWare security syntax around this
section of the template so that at runtime the system will hide this section
of the template unless the operator passes the security test.
Editing Tip - SouthWare’s security syntax is inserted into HTML
comment tags. You can easily check for comments in a template by
turning on the “Show Tag Details” option described below.
•
•
Undo/Redo Last Change - These buttons perform standard editing undo
and redo functions for your session.
Show Tag Details - This function causes the editing window to show the
existence of standard tags such as scripts, comments, tables, forms,
paragraphs, etc. For advanced users this helps you see the various
hidden tags that are affecting the template format.
Source Mode
For HTML-savvy users you may click on the Source tab at the bottom of the
HTML Editor window. This displays the HTML code for the template. You may
edit the HTML code as needed, then save the results.
Note:
At the time of this release the HTML control did not properly redisplay the
Design mode view from the Source mode view if a page uses Cascading
Style Sheet links, images, or other files that exist in a separate directory.
This has been reported to the author of the control and will hopefully be
87
addressed in a future revision. As a workaround you can clear up the
display issue by going to the Full Page tab and then returning to the Edit
tab.
!
Use of Cascading Style Sheets
Many SouthWare View and Preview templates now use Cascading Style Sheets
(CSS) to control many of the display attributes such as fonts and colors. This
results in cleaner template HTML code and makes it easier to change a style
across multiple pages. SouthWare has also used this technology to add unique
features such as styling on-the-fly in the FYI WebView portal and choosing menu
portal text size in the WebView menu.
Essentially CSS allows a single linked file or reference to control the appearance
attributes of unlimited occurrences of HTML tags or assigned classes or IDs.
This is a standard web technology and explaining it is beyond the scope of this
document. You don’t need to understand it to use SouthWare’s standard
features, and if you want to customize it you need to learn CSS or obtain the help
of someone who understands it.
Location of CSS files
A standard sub-directory of the swhtml directory contains the released
SouthWare CSS files. This directory is “\swhtml\css”.
CSS ID Records
To support standard CSS features there is a program to create easy-to-reference
CSS ID records. This program is found in RM-04-08 in the ReportMate menu:
1. CSS Key:
Enter a unique code up to three characters. This allows you to reference
a CSS file by this code.
2. Style Description:
Enter a brief description of the style so that you can identify it in a search
list and know the purpose of the style.
3. CSS File Name:
Enter the name of the CSS file or select it via the Lookup function. The
file must exist in the standard CSS directory.
Where CSS Styling is used
CSS Style features are used in:
•
Persona Menu Portals (including choosing an override text size)
•
All View and Preview templates
•
FYI Styling of WebView pages
Default CSS Styles
The following standard CSS IDs and related files (installed into the css directory)
are available:
CSS ID
(blank)
*01
*02
*03
FYI - default style
FYI - hide report title
FYI - show ref/legends
FYI - don’t highlight amounts
88
Related File
default.css
hidealltop.css
showrefleg.css
normalamts.css
*04
*05
P_1
P_2
P_3
Note:
FYI - print version B/W
FYI - larger font
Portals - Small Text Size
Portals - Normal Text Size
Portals - Large Text Size
printbw.css
defaultlarge.css
menuview1.css
menuview2.css
menuview3.css
There is also a standard file “@var_dd_XX890051_@” which is also a
css file and is a copy of menuview2.css. It has this unusual name so that
the portal templates will use css formatting when you are viewing/editing
the templates. When you actually run a portal, the variable
@var_dd_XX890051_@ will be replaced with one of the three portal text
size file names depending on any override in your profile record.
!
Javascript Menus
SouthWare has licensed a powerful Javascript menu system to provide efficient
navigation within web pages. This menu technology reduces the space required
for the display of menus and allows more room for data.
Licensing Note:
Our licensing agreement with APYCOM allows us unlimited
distribution/use of these scripts within our products. You may modify the
menus released by SouthWare in our web page templates, but if you
intend to create web pages for use outside of SouthWare you need to
license these Javascript menus from APYCOM (www.apycom.com).
!
Option to Access ExecuMate II Graph Data in Web Page
A special feature allows you to reference graph data gathered in an ExecuMate II
graph so that you can create a web page graph from the data. This lets you
combine the power of ExecuMate II graph data with the visual flexibility of a web
page graph.
•
ExecuMate II can summarize statistics and access trend data from
SouthWare files which is not possible via standard data access.
•
Web page graphs can integrate graphs into web page portals for a very
efficient and attractive status review.
Note:
At this time this feature is only supported by SouthWare’s WebView
variable replacement technology. It is not currently supported by NetLink
technology although this may be added in the future.
Examples
In the standard SouthWare Menu Portals there are sample graphs that utilize
Microsoft Office Web Components to create charts. These are found in:
•
The Executive Portal (P_EXEC)
•
The CEO Portal (P_CEO)
•
The Sales person Portal (P_SALES)
•
The Sales manager Portal (P_SLSMGR)
Note:
If you have not loaded the Web Components then the browser will display
a message instead of the graph. You may click on a link in the graph to
install the Web Components on your system. Web Components do not
require a license for Microsoft Office.
Windows Version Warning
This Microsoft Web Component 2003 version uses technology that
Microsoft does not support on Windows 98, Windows ME, and earlier
89
versions of Windows. If you use one of these versions of Windows you
will not be able to use the graph components.
How to Reference an ExecuMate II graph from a Web Page
In your web page you can insert the syntax @var_xmgraph=xxxxxxxx where
xxxxxxxx is the name of an ExecuMate II graph. This specifies from which graph
the data should come when subsequent XV99 variables are replaced in your
template. You can then reference the data field variables in the graph via the
Data Dictionary file of XV99, XM Graph Data. The fields in the Data Dictionary
file are generic, so the @var_xmgraph=xxxxxxxx variable is needed to specify
which graph to use.
Tip:
You can insert this tag into another HTML tag such as a paragraph “<p>”
tag so that it does not affect any display aspects of the page. You could
also insert the variable into an HTML comment tag so that it is hidden
within the page (e.g.  ).
This syntax also allows you to reference multiple graphs in a single page. The
last @var_xmgraph=xxxxx value determines which graph is used for the data, so
you may set this multiple times in the page for multiple graphs.
Formatting Data Without Commas for a Graph
To create a chart in Microsoft Web Components the data must not have commas
inserted for formatting. In a web page the Chart data is represented as commadelimited fields within an XML data tag, so any commas are interpreted as a field
separator.
The SouthWare web page technology handles this by using unformatted numbers
when replacing variables after a graph tag. When a template contains the tag
“@var_xmgraph=xxxxxxxx” or “@var_xmgraph=on”, any subsequent numeric
variables will be inserted without comma formatting until the template ends or it
references the tag “@var_xmgraph=off”.
How SouthWare Created the Sample Web Page Graphs
SouthWare used Microsoft FrontPage 2003 to create the sample web page
graphs. We inserted a chart component (Insert, Web Component, Spreadsheets
and Charts, Office Chart) and formatted it as needed with sample data and the
Chart user interface. Then we went into the XML-formatted elements in the
HTML code and replaced the sample data with SouthWare data variables.
Editing Tips:
•
Note that the FrontPage Chart component does not consider SouthWare
variables to be valid chart data values (since they are not numeric until
they are replaced at runtime). If you use the FrontPage Chart component
to edit the graph after you have inserted the SouthWare variables, you
will probably need to insert the variables again because FrontPage will
remove any “invalid” values. You can edit the HTML syntax and save the
variables, but if you use the FrontPage Chart Editing features you will
likely need to re-enter the variables.
•
When you are looking at the XML-formatted elements in the HTML code:
•
The data labels are typically within a “Data” tag within the
“Category” tag
•
The data values are typically within a “Data” tag within the “Value”
tag
90
Advanced Discussion - Environment Variable
This technology uses a special environment variable to identify the current graph
name. This variable name is “SWENV-XMGRAPH-NAME” and is set by the
webpage technology when the @var_xmgraph variable is encountered. Each
time the variable replacement technology encounters an XV99 variable it uses
this environment variable to determine which graph to use.
!
ReportMate Table Technology Represents Blank Table Data with NonBreaking Space
When you use ReportMate technology to output a table or to replace variables in
an HTML table the technology now inserts the syntax for a non-breaking space
(&nbsp) if the cell data is blank. This helps ensure that the browser will show any
table line formatting around the cell (which the browser might otherwise suppress
if the cell is blank).
!
Menu Portals
The Persona Menu Portals utilize web page technology. See “Persona Menu
Portals” in this release notice for more details.
!
Navigation Pane
The always-available Navigation menu feature utilizes web page technology. See
“New Pop-Up Navigation Menu” in this release notice for more details.
!
TaskWise WebPage Tabs
You now have the option to display a SouthWare Zoom View web page as the
start page for a TaskWise tab level. See “Optional Use of Web Views for Start
and User-Defined Tabs” in the TaskWise section of this release notice.
!
Improved View and Preview Templates
The standard Zoom View web page templates have been enhanced to
incorporate new features and navigation options. The Preview templates now
utilize the standard style used by other SouthWare templates.
Upgrade Note
Because all standard templates have been modified, if you want to retain
any custom versions of these standard names make sure they are in the
custom directory. The installation will overwrite all standard file names in
the normal view and preview directories.
!
Numerous ReportMate HTML Output Changes
See also the section “ReportMate HTML Output Enhancements” in the
ReportMate section of this release notice.
91
Other Windows Technology Changes
!
Registering Windows Controls
The following improvements have been made in the way that SouthWare updates
the Windows registry for Windows controls used by SouthWare programs:
Special Windows controls released by SouthWare (such as the grid
T
control) will be registered
•
if they are not already registered, or
•
if they are registered in a directory other than the Rev 11
Windows Control directory, or
•
if the registered control doesn’t exist on the system in the path
specified in the Windows registry, or
•
if the released version is newer than the registered version.
When a workstation tries to register special Windows controls (at first
T
logon or when controls have been reset via the Status Manager) it
performs the following for each control:
•
Checks to see if the control is already registered
•
Registers the control if necessary - will skip registry update
unless not registered, registry is invalid, registered version is
older, or registered to a different directory
•
Updates a SouthWare record that indicates whether the control is
registered on this workstation
Standard Microsoft Controls
Microsoft controls such as the popup calendar are handled differently because
they may be used by other applications. If a Microsoft control is registered on
your system but is older than the version distributed with SouthWare, the
SouthWare registry process will save a copy of the original control and replace it
with the new control in the same directory.
Note:
During the SouthWare registry process an install process is run for the
SouthWare PDF print driver and for the RPV report viewer controls.
These install routines do their own updates of Windows settings.
!
New Windows Control Tests in SouthWare CheckUp
When you run the SouthWare CheckUp program there is now a separate test for
each special Windows control used by SouthWare. This test verifies that the
control is registered and that the registry path is valid. An error condition exists
when the control is not registered or if the designated file is not found.
!
New Windows Control Directory
The system now uses a standard ActiveX directory to manage the
installation/registration of Windows controls. By default this directory is “activex”
under the SouthWare run directory. You may override this directory via the
environment variable “SWENV-INSTALL-ACTIVEX-DIR”.
This directory is implemented in the following features:
•
The Environment Manager display of directories now shows (and tests
the permissions of) the ActiveX directory
•
If SouthWare needs to register a special Windows control it will require
that the control exist in the ActiveX directory
•
The CheckUp program will now test the permissions of the ActiveX
Directory
92
!
Changes to the Display of Windows Controls in Operator/Workstation
Status Manager
You may display the Windows controls in the Status manager program ([F6] from
standard menu program or XX-02-01) choose Workstation Records, pick a
workstation, Special Windows Controls. The display of these controls has the
following changes:
•
The display indicates whether the control is considered registered and
whether it is found.
•
The display uses current registry information to show the path to controls
•
The display for your current workstation shows the actual registry
values for the path to the control.
•
The display for other workstations shows whether the control is
considered registered but does not show the registry path (since
the registry for that workstation is not available remotely).
!
Disable Outlook Security Messages within SouthWare Functions
SouthWare has licensed a Windows control that can temporarily disable the
security messages produced by Microsoft Outlook when an application interfaces
to Outlook via ActiveX (such as when SouthWare creates an Outlook e-mail
message). Each time that SouthWare issues an ActiveX call to Outlook it will first
use this control to disable the security message, issue the call to Outlook, and
then re-enable the security message.
The purpose of this feature is to overcome the annoying message that pops up
each time a user interfaces to Outlook from SouthWare. As Microsoft has
increased its security features to combat hackers, it has also become increasingly
complex to do “normal” functions with Outlook. SouthWare is providing this
controlled “bypass” to the security message as an alternative to reconfiguring the
security settings in Outlook to bypass the message when called by SouthWare.
If you don’t want to use this feature you may disable it by setting the configuration
environment variable SWENV-BYPASS-OUTLOOK-MESSAGE to a value of “N”:
SWENV-BYPASS-OUTLOOK-MESSAGE
!
N
Additional Integrated Controls
Here are the additional Windows controls that are being used by SouthWare as of
Rev 11:
•
•
•
Think HTML Editor
Outlook Security Manager
MS Chart control
Here is an addition application that is installed:
•
PDF Print Driver
Here is an optional installable component needed for selected Menu Portal web
pages that contain graphs:
•
Office 2003 Web Components
93
TaskWise
!
Optional Use of Web Views for Start and User-Defined Tabs (All Levels)
On graphical
workstations you now
have the option to
utilize a SouthWare
WebPage Zoom View
(XX-09-01) as a
TaskWise start page
tab or user-defined tab.
This lets you utilize the
power of SouthWare
Zoom Views within
TaskWise tabs:
•
Easy control of
tab “look” via
web page
template
•
Data variables
•
One-click
access to other programs
•
Use of SouthWare javascript menu technology
•
Option to utilize the same Zoom View templates available from
SouthWare’s WebView menu
This feature is implemented via a new field in the TaskWise tab header record
(TW-04-05, field 4 Tab Info, Alternate WebView). We implemented this as an
alternate WebView so that you don’t need to renumber your tabs or add new tabs
in order to utilize WebViews. It also means that the same tabs can have both a
graphical and a text-based look - the Alternate WebView is used on graphical
workstations and the detail tab field definitions are used on text workstations.
Alternate WebView
(Available only for tab types User-Defined and Start Page)
Here you may specify a SouthWare WebPage Zoom View (XX-09-01) to
display on this tab when using a graphical workstation. On a graphical
workstation the tab will display the Zoom View here INSTEAD OF any
detail records you define. The tab will create a browser window and
launch the Zoom View to create the web page to display in the browser
window.
You must choose a Zoom View that has the same Primary File as
this tab (as shown above in this window). For example, on a Main level
tab you must choose a Zoom View with XX99 as the primary file. For a
relationship level tab you must choose a Zoom View with TW01 as the
primary file.
If you use a text workstation or leave this field blank then the tab will
display the detail fields you define on the next screen.
!
Integrated Lists for Relationship and Contact Levels
94
The search lists for
TaskWise
Relationships and
Contacts are now
integrated into the
corresponding tab level
so you can easily
switch between the
list and the
highlighted record!
This greatly improves
efficiency when you
need to create a list of
relationships or
contacts and then
select each one as you
move down the list.
When you use the search or navigate functions to create a list of relationships or
contacts, the list will remain active when you choose a record. You may highlight
a record and click on a tab or double-click on a record. When you click back on
the list tab the list is redisplayed so that you may select another record.
You also have the ability to switch to another type of relationship when you are
displaying a list of relationships. Use the Relationship Navigation button (see
below) to pick a relationship type.
This feature is implemented via a new tab type, a List tab. This tab type must be
the first tab for a set of tabs.
The conversion automatically creates a list type for each relationship type and for
the contact level of tabs.
!
Relationship and Contact Navigation Buttons
When you are in the TaskWise Coordinator you may use two special buttons that
are displayed in the Navigation area at the top of the screen:
•
- Navigate to a Relationship - click on this button to display a pop-up
menu of types of relationships. You may then select a relationship type
to display a list of all records. The list is integrated with the tabs for the
related relationship type.
•
- Navigate to a Contact - click on this button to display a pop-up
menu of types of contacts. You may then select a contact type to display
a list of all records.
Sales Prospect Pipeline Management Features
TaskWise Assigned Salesperson for Prospect
You may now assign the responsible salesperson for a prospect.
!
In the Name/Address field (field 3) you may enter the salesperson for a prospect :
Salesperson:
Enter the responsible A/R salesperson for a prospect (although you may
leave this blank if the prospect is not assigned to a salesperson). For a
customer this field is displayed from the customer record. For an
95
employee this field is displayed from the employee record (if specified).
The assigned salesperson helps you report and analyze the prospects for
each salesperson. The salesperson statistics provided in ExecuMate II
will also summarize the prospect status for each salesperson.
!
Definition of TaskWise Prospect Sales Cycle
In TaskWise you may now define the “normal” selling stages for a prospect. This
allows you to better manage your pipeline by analyzing the stages of your current
prospects. This is done via the “status” of prospects.
In the TaskWise Control Record:
13. Prospect Stages:
Here you may define up to seven prospect statuses (field 4 in the
relationship record TW-04-01) that you consider to be the typical stages
in your selling cycle for prospects. These stages are used to accumulate
ExecuMate II statistics for each salesperson. Each time you run an
ExecuMate II gather the system will analyze the prospect statuses for
each salesperson so that you may review your prospect pipeline.
For each of the seven possible stages you may enter a valid relationship
status. Typically you will use only statuses that are reserved for
prospects (such as “Qualified Lead”), but you have the option to use a
status that applies to other relationship types (e.g. Inactive). You should
enter these statuses as a sequential “path” to closing the prospect - stage
1 should be your initial status with a prospect, stage 2 should be the next
step, etc.
Caution about Changes
The prospect stage statistics are based on the sequence of the
statuses listed here. The statistics are stored in “slots” based on
the control record at the time of the ExecuMate II gather. If you
rearrange these statuses or add new statuses later then any
statistics history will no longer be valid for comparison purposes
since the “slots” of the older statistics records will not match the
current control record.
!
TaskWise Company News
You now have the option to record company news topics for sharing information
within the company. This can serve as a quick way to communicate important
info without creating dozens of e-mails, and can also serve as an archive of
important news topics.
This News feature uses a special version of the TaskWise AnswerReady
technology to record and organize news. News topics are automatically assigned
topic IDs in the range from 888888888800000000 to 888888888899999999 (the
category is automatically assigned as “News”). The default Navigate pane
provides access to recent news topics and lets you add new topics. Here are the
components of the feature:
Add a News Topic
You may call this feature (TW-04-08-05) from the Navigate pane or from
96
anywhere in SouthWare. This is a special mode of the AnswerReady
entry program that automatically assigns a special key and category (a
“News” category is automatically created). The key is assigned in
reverse sequence so the most recent topics have the lowest number (and
will appear first).
All you have to do is enter the Summary (which serves as the headline)
and the text for the topic. If needed you can also use the advanced
features of AnswerReady such as linking to a web page or other
attachment.
Display a News Topic
You may access one of the recent headlines from the Navigate pane or
from anywhere via the call “TWANSDSP/C [8888888888nnnnnnnn]”
where “8888888888nnnnnnnn” is the news topic number.
View All News Topics
You may access all news topics via the “All News Topics” option in the
navigate pane or via TW-04-08-06. This displays a special mode of the
AnswerReady tree that organizes the news topics into categories:
Last 7 Days - all topics added within the last 7 days
Last 30 Days - all topics added within the last 30 days
Over 30 Days - all topics that are at least 31 days old
In “News” mode the topics are sorted from most recent to oldest (the
most recent will display first) and the date the topic was created is shown
in the list.
Special XX99 Data Dictionary Fields for Recent Topics
The following XX99 data dictionary fields enable you to show the most
recent headlines in the Navigate pane or other WebView:
301
Topic ID of most recent topic
302
Topic Summary (headline) of most recent topic
303
Topic ID of second most recent topic
304
Topic Summary (headline) of second most recent topic
305
Topic ID of third most recent topic
306
Topic Summary (headline) of third most recent topic
Inventory/Sales
Related Menu Portals
Several of the menu portals (see “Persona Menu Portals”) cover functions and roles
within Inventory/Sales. Here is an overview of the available persona menus:
!
The Warehouse Supervisor menu portal (Zoom View and object of “P_INVMGR”)
is designed to show the current status of inventory-related functions such as
shipping, receivings, stock status, etc. You may easily modify this menu to
customize it for your needs.
!
Sales Manager
The Sales Manager menu portal (Zoom View and object of “P_SLSMGR”) is
designed to help a sales manager easily review the current sales status for the
97
organization and to quickly zoom for more details where needed. This includes
information about current orders as well as information about the total sales
pipeline (prospects and open quotes).
!
Sales Professional
The Sales Professional menu portal (Zoom View and object of “P_SALES”) is
designed to help a sales professional easily navigate the commonly-used
SouthWare programs used by a salesperson. This includes information about
current orders, customer account status, and an overview of the sales pipeline
(prospects and open quotes) for the salesperson. Most of the zooms from this
menu portal automatically limit the data shown to the records for the salesperson.
!
Order Entry
The Order Entry menu portal (Zoom View and object of “P_ORDERS”) is
designed to serve as an efficient menu for an order entry operator. This menu
simplifies training by consolidating the functions typically needed for order entry
into an intuitive web page.
!
Warehouse Worker
The Shipping/Receivings menu portal (Zoom View and object of “P_WHSE”) is
designed to help a warehouse worker easily navigate the commonly-used
SouthWare programs used in a warehouse or inventory handling department.
This includes information about current orders to be shipped, received items, and
other inventory-related information.
!
Purchasing Buyer
The Purchasing Buyer menu portal (Zoom View and object of “P_BUYER”) is
designed to help a purchasing professional easily navigate the commonly-used
SouthWare programs involved in purchasing. This includes information about
current purchase orders and supplier performance. Most of the zooms from this
menu portal automatically limit the data shown to the suppliers and purchase
order for the buyer.
Order Processing Transaction Portal
The order processing transaction portal incorporates many changes designed to simplify
the entry of sales orders on graphical workstations. The portal includes:
Navigation Tabs
The tabs available in this portal include:
•
A List tab that displays a grid list of open sales orders
•
A Header tab that displays the sales order header screen
•
An Items tab that displays the line item screen for the current sales order (only
when a sales order is selected)
•
A Payment tab that displays the payment/totals screen for the current sales
order
Status Information
The transaction status area includes the following data:
•
Current accounting period
•
Current dept/operator code
•
# Open Sales Orders for Dept/Operator
•
$ Open Sales Orders for Dept/Operator
98
Transaction Buttons
Available one-click transaction buttons (that are enabled or disabled as appropriate)
include:
•
Forms
•
Order Acknowledgment Print
•
Picking Ticket Print
•
Header, Trailing, or Line Item Text entry
•
Options (special overrides)
•
Inquiries
•
Related Processes (End of Day Update, Order Listing)
•
Group Item Matrix Adapter (if applicable)
Purchase Order Transaction Portal
The purchase order transaction portal incorporates many changes designed to simplify
the entry of purchase orders on graphical workstations. The portal includes:
Navigation Tabs
•
A List tab that displays a grid list of open POs
•
A Header tab that displays PO header screen
•
An Items tab that displays the line item screen for the current PO (only when a
PO is selected)
Status Information
•
Current buyer code
•
# Open POs for Buyer
•
$ Open POs for Buyer that are not yet received
Transaction Buttons
include:
•
PO Print
•
Text (Header, Trailing, Line)
•
PO copy
•
Options (Close, Cancel, Release Transfer, Overrides)
•
Inquiry
•
Related Processes
•
Automatic POs Transaction Portal
The automatic POs transaction portal (IS-03-01-01-02) on graphical workstations
provides an integrated environment for generating, editing, and creating POs from orders
and stock quantities. The portal includes:
Navigation Tabs
•
A List tab that displays a grid list of the records in the work file
•
A Work File tab that displays the work file maintenance program
•
A Tentative POs tab that displays an organized grid list of the POs that will be
created from the current work records
99
Status Information
•
Current buyer code
Transaction Buttons
include:
•
The work file generation process (IS-03-01-01)
•
The check alternate vendors for best price process (IS-03-01-03)
•
The work file edit listing
•
The Post to POs process
•
The Group Item Matrix grid (if applicable)
!
New Tentative PO Review Grid
A tentative PO grid (graphical workstations only) allows you to instantly see what
POs would be created from the current workfile. This grid creates a temporary
file that organizes the work file records as they would be posted. You can then
easily spot any changes that you want to make and click back to the Work File
tab to make them.
!
Lookup Option for Purchasing Work File Transactions
In conjunction with the portal changes you may now use the lookup feature for
unposted PO work file records. In previous revisions this was not a feature.
Receivings Transaction Portal
Entering Receivings transactions (IS-03-02-01) is now more efficient. Here are some
highlights:
Navigation Tabs
•
List tab for a list of unposted receivings transactions
•
Header tab for receivings transaction header information
•
Detail tab for access to received line items (only when a header is selected)
Status Information
The transaction status area includes the following data (which is automatically refreshed
as you edit transactions):
•
•
Current transaction operator
•
Total number of unposted receivings transactions for operator
•
Total dollar value of unposted receivings transactions for operator
Transaction Buttons
include:
•
Edit listing
•
Post transactions
•
Smart Scan function
•
Scan Mode
•
Review Mode
•
Inquiry
•
Item Group Matrix (if applicable)
!
Grid Display and One-Click Selection for Review Mode
100
Document Review Mode now uses grid technology on graphical workstations to
improve the capabilities and ease of use. This improves the display of document
information and provides for easier specification of the review code.
Selecting Review Code in Review Mode
The grid now displays a separate column for each review option. A column will
display an icon to indicate that it is the selected column for the item:
•
Full - click on this column to select to fully receive the remaining quantity
on the document (code 1)
•
Partial - click on this column to select to receive the item with changes
•
Cancel - click on this column to cancel the remaining quantity for this item
on the document
•
Pending - click on this column to remove any receiving of this item for this
transaction
For example, if you select to receive the item in full, an icon will appear in the
“Full” column. If you want to delete the receiving for this item, click on the
Pending column for that item and it will delete the receiving line item.
!
Improved Display of PO Information
Several changes have been made to the display of the header information and
the line item information to improve readability.
Receivings Cost Transaction Portal
Entering Receivings Cost information (IS-03-03-01 and from A/P) is now more efficient.
Here are some highlights:
Navigation Tabs
•
List tab for a list of unposted receivings cost transactions
•
Transaction tab for receivings cost transaction information
Status Information
•
•
•
Total number of unposted receivings cost transactions for operator
•
Total dollar value of unposted receivings cost transactions for operator
Transaction Buttons
include:
•
Edit listing
•
Post transactions
•
Item Group Matrix (if applicable)
!
Grid Display for Review Mode
Document Review Mode now uses grid technology on graphical workstations to
information and provides for easier entry of received cost. You can move down
the cost column and enter the cost for each item.
!
Improved Features in Billing Inquiry
101
Two new features are
now available to help
you with your inquiry of
orders and invoices.
These make this
frequently-used
program even more
useful in answering
questions:
•
•
!
Zoom for order/invoice now has optional Grid View of line items
(graphical workstations only)
•
Grid provides easily scrolled list of the items on the order or
invoice
•
Tab allows you to switch between the Form View (which shows
line items, text, and tracking numbers similar to a form) or the
Grid View
•
The program uses LearnFromYou technology to default
to the View mode you last used
•
You may double-click on an item to zoom to the line item details
zoom
•
Grid shows indicator of whether line item is selected for billing
•
Grid shows indicators of whether a line item has text or
tracking/serial numbers
•
Button for text indicator will zoom to the line item zoom
which displays text
•
Button for tracking/serial indicator will zoom to a search
list of tracking/serial numbers for the line item
•
Many powerful new options for the line item inquiry function
using grid technology functions such as:
•
Grouping
•
Sorting by column
•
Save custom layout
•
Search text
Tracking number list is available from the Grid View and from the Line
Item Details Zoom
New Tree View Inquiry for Open Purchase Orders
102
This program (IS-0410) is designed to help
you review and
manage your open
purchase orders. By
expanding portions of
the order Tree View
you can quickly group
and analyze your
purchase orders in a
variety of ways. If you
need more details on
an order you may
expand it to see line
items. And if
necessary you can
zoom to the PO entry
program to make changes.
Here are the grouping categories available:
By location
By buyer within location
By vendor within buyer within location
By PO type within buyer within location
By PO order handling code within buyer within location
By PO status within buyer within location
By vendor within location
By order type within salesperson within location
By order status within salesperson within location
By PO type within location
By PO order handling code within location
By PO status within location
By buyer
By vendor within buyer
By PO type within buyer
By PO order handling code within buyer
By PO status within buyer
By vendor
-
By PO type
By order handling code
By PO status
Statuses include:
Entered only
PO has been Printed/Sent
Late PO
(at least one line item is late)
Partially Received
(at least one line item has been received, but not all)
Fully Received
(all line items are fully received but PO is not complete
because of status or costing)
Completed status
103
-
Cancelled status
The major grouping categories show a PO count and total PO dollars per
grouping. This lets you quickly see which groupings to expand for more details.
Note:
The total PO dollars do not include Quotes. Quotes will display but the
counts and dollars for quotes are shown only when you analyze PO
types.
Using the Purchase Order Tree View Manager
When you access the Purchase Order Tree View Manager you will see the
major grouping categories. On Windows workstations you will also see tabs for
quick selection of major grouping categories. The preview pane to the right of
the screen shows information about the currently-highlighted record in the tree.
You may choose any of the following functions:
Expand a grouping - You may expand the tree for a grouping category
grouping any sub-groupings will be shown first, then each order within
the grouping will appear in the list.
Expand a PO - You may expand a PO (double click or right arrow on
the PO header) to display a list of the line items for the order.
Edit record - you may edit a highlighted PO by clicking on the Edit
button or pressing [F3].
Optional Custom Preview Pane for order information
On Windows workstations you have the option to create a custom web page
preview pane for PO header and PO line item information. This lets you modify
both the data and the “look” of the preview pane for the order information.
To customize the preview pane info you may create a web page (html) template
for the preview(s) you want to customize and place them in the standard
“previews” subdirectory under the “swhtml” directory. When the program is
executed it looks for custom templates for the Purchase Order Tree View
manager. Any templates it finds will be used instead of the standard preview
pane display. Here are the names you must use:
iv05pom.htm To customize the PO header information (primary file is
IV05)
iv06pom.htm To customize the PO line item information (primary file
is IV06)
Within each template enter literals and variable names. A variable uses the
format
@var_dd_xxxx9999_@
104
where xxxx is the Data Dictionary file number and 9999 is the field number. For
example, the variable @var_dd_IV050001_@ refers to field 1 in IV05 (the PO
number). You can create a custom web page template with variables
representing the data you want to see. You may include any information
available via the SouthWare Data Dictionary for the primary file of the preview.
Standard sample templates are provided in the preview directory. You may
rename and edit these as needed. They are named:
iv05pomsav.htm
iv06pomsav.htm
Security Notes
Access to this program requires a valid Buyer (IS-07-15).
If your buyer does not allow access to other buyers orders you may not
access the Tree View Manager unless you are accessing it from your
buyer portal.
If your buyer restricts you to a single location the Tree View Manager
will show only that location and will remove the tab options
Service Management
Related Menu Portals
Several of the menu portals (see “Persona Menu Portals”) cover functions and roles
within Service Management. Here is an overview of the available persona menus:
!
Service Order Entry
The Service Order menu portal (Zoom View and object of “P_SVCORD”) is
designed for the operator who generates, enters, and dispatches service orders.
You may easily modify this menu to customize it for your needs.
!
Service Manager
The Service Manager menu portal (Zoom View and object of “P_SVCMGR”) is
designed to help a service manager easily review the current service status for
the organization and to quickly zoom for more details where needed. This
includes information about current service orders as well as information about
contracts and equipment under contract.
!
Customer Service
The Customer Service menu portal (Zoom View and object of “P_CUSSVC”) is
designed to help a customer service representative quickly find the answers to
questions that customers have about their orders, account, or other status.
!
Service Technician
The Service Technician menu portal (Zoom View and object of “P_SVCTEC”)
utilizes SouthWare NetLink to provide a service tech with the information he/she
needs on the go. The NetLink pages are designed to fit on a handheld browser
screen so that answers are available whenever the technician needs them.
Service Order Transaction Portal
The service order transaction portal incorporates many changes designed to simplify the
entry of service orders on graphical workstations. The portal includes:
105
Navigation Tabs
•
A List tab that displays a grid list of open service orders
•
A Header tab that displays the service order header screen
•
An Items tab that displays the line item screen for the current service order (only
when a service order is selected)
Status Information
•
Current service operator
•
# Open Service Orders for operator
•
$ Unbilled Service Orders for operator
Transaction Buttons
Available one-click transaction buttons (that are enabled or disabled as appropriate) for
the service order header include:
•
Credit/copy a service order
•
Access service scheduler board
•
Service order inquiry
•
Print service order
•
Dispatch technician for service order
•
Bill service order
•
Options such as Header/Trailing Text entry
•
Related processes such as service order generation
Buttons available for line items include:
•
Text Entry
•
Options (such as Change Equipment)
•
Meter Reading entry
•
Inquiries (if applicable to line item - such as purchase for)
•
!
New Tree View Inquiry for Open Service Orders
This program (SV-0406) is designed to help
you review and
manage your open
service orders. By
expanding portions of
the order Tree View
you can quickly group
and analyze your
service orders in a
variety of ways. If you
need more details on
an order you may
expand it to see line
items and tracking
numbers. And if
necessary you can
zoom to the service order entry program to make changes.
106
Here are the grouping categories available:
By location
By service operator within location
By service order type within operator within location
By service order status within operator within location
By technician within location
By service operator within technician within location
By service order type within technician within location
By service order status within technician within location
By service order type within location
By service order status within location
By service operator
By service order type within operator
By service order status within operator
By technician
By service operator within technician
By service order type within technician
By service order status within technician
By service order type
By service order status
Statuses include:
Entered only
Dispatched
Late (scheduled date prior to today)
Waiting (on PO or backorder)
In Process (has been started)
Billed
Closed
(any user-defined statuses from SV control record)
The major grouping categories show a service order count and total dollars per
grouping. This lets you quickly see which groupings to expand for more details.
Using the Service Order Tree View Manager
When you access the Service Order Tree View Manager you will see the major
grouping categories. On Windows workstations you will also see tabs for quick
selection of major grouping categories. The preview pane to the right of the
screen shows information about the currently-highlighted record in the tree. You
may choose any of the following functions:
Expand a grouping - You may expand the tree for a grouping category
grouping any sub-groupings will be shown first, then each service order
within the grouping will appear in the list.
Expand an order - You may expand an order (double click or right
arrow on the order header) to display a list of the line items for the order.
Edit record - you may edit a highlighted service order by clicking on the
Edit button or pressing [F3].
107
-
Optional Custom Preview Pane for order information
On Windows workstations you have the option to create a custom web page
preview pane for service order header and line item information. This lets you
modify both the data and the “look” of the preview pane for the service order
information.
To customize the service order preview pane info you may create a web page
(html) template for the preview(s) you want to customize and place them in the
standard “previews” subdirectory under the “swhtml” directory. When the
program is executed it looks for custom templates for the Service Order Tree
View manager. Any templates it finds will be used instead of the standard
preview pane display. Here are the names you must use:
sv04som.htm To customize the service order header information
(primary file is SV04)
sv06som.htm To customize the service order line item information
(primary file is SV06)
Within each template enter literals and variable names. A variable uses the
format
@var_dd_xxxx9999_@
where xxxx is the Data Dictionary file number and 9999 is the field number. For
example, the variable @var_dd_SV040001_@ refers to field 1 in SV04 (the
service order number). You can create a custom web page template with
variables representing the data you want to see. You may include any
information available via the SouthWare Data Dictionary for the primary file of
the preview.
Standard sample templates are provided in the preview directory. You may
rename and edit these as needed. They are named:
sv04somsav.htm
sv06somsav.htm
Security Notes
Access to this program requires a valid Service Operator (SV-07-17).
If your operator does not allow access to other operators orders you
may not access the Tree View Manager except from your service entry
portal.
If your operator restricts you to a single location the Tree View Manager
will show only that location and will remove the tab options
!
Optional Line Item Grid View in Service Order Inquiry
A Line Item Grid View is now available to help you with your inquiry of service
orders:
•
Zoom for service order now has optional Grid View of line items
(graphical workstations only)
•
Grid provides easily scrolled list of the items
108
•
•
•
Tab allows you to switch between the Form View (which shows
line items and text similar to a form) or the Grid View
•
The program uses LearnFromYou technology to default
to the View mode you last used
Grid shows indicator of whether a line item has text
Many powerful new options for the line item inquiry function
using grid technology functions such as:
•
Grouping
•
Sorting by column
•
Save custom layout
•
Search text
General ReportMate Features
!
New Operator/Group Security for RM Format Edit/Access
You now have additional security flexibility for a ReportMate format. In addition to
the standard security restriction based on application you may now secure a
format based on a logon operator or security group (XX-03-05). This security is
in addition to the application security level restrictions that you may place on a
format.
Access Oper/Group:
Here you may restrict the use of this format (ability to run the report) to a
particular logon operator or operator group by specifying the
operator/group in this field. Leave this field blank to allow access to any
operator who meets the security level/application(s) for this format.
Edit Oper/Group:
Here you may restrict the editing of this format to a particular logon
operator or operator group by specifying the operator/group in this field.
Leave this field blank to allow editing by any operator who meets the
security level/application(s) for this format.
Note:
!
An operator who has a security level 9 in ReportMate may edit
any format.
Optional Override Base Directory for ReportMate Export File Names
You now have the option to specify a different starting directory for the file names
exported via ReportMate. This lets you default to place all export files in a
directory other than the default of your data directory. This is particularly helpful if
you secure all files in your data directory.
The environment variable is SWENV-RM-EXPORT-IF-DIRECTORY. If you
define a value for this variable the ReportMate export technology will default to a
file name made up of the value of this variable followed by the default base file
name (without company ID).
Example
Let’s say you want to put all exported files into a directory
“\\myserver\export\” on your system. You can set the environment
variable to that value:
109
SWENV-RM-EXPORT-IF-DIRECTORY \\myserver\export\
If you then run a format named CUSTLIST and choose to export to a
Comma-Delimited file, the default export file name will be
“\\myserver\export\CUSTLIST.CD”.
If the environment variable is blank, the default name will be
“dddCUSTLIST.CD” where ddd is your company ID. For company ID of
DM\ the default name will be DM\CUSTLIST.CD.
!
Other Improvements to Format Maintenance
Here are some other changes to the format maintenance programs:
•
Fields/labels aligned more cleanly
•
Edit Field function now functions more as a dialog box with buttons
!
New Fields
Numerous fields have been added or changed in the Data Dictionary to support
new features. Here are some examples:
•
Current Transaction Operator - Field 63 in XX99 is replaced with a set
of current fields for each trx operator type. This provides much more
flexibility. (Note that if you had any FlowMods pathed from this field to
another file you will need to change it to point to the specific transaction
operator type)
•
ExcelReport Grades - Fields 500+ in XX99 now allow access to PDT
and YTD grade information
!
FlowPoint to Skip Output of #Records Read/Processed Line in Spool File
When you spool a file from ReportMate you may now utilize a standard FlowPoint
8730 and specify “FAIL” in a FlowMod in order to suppress the line that indicates
how many records read/processed. This is useful if you are using the spool file in
other software and want to eliminate this doc line.
The program for the FlowMod is the format name.
!
Parameters Accepted Via Dialog Box
The ReportMate runtime parameters are now accepted via a dialog box similar to
the changes made to other reports. This incorporates the Learn technology, easy
editing, and smart one-click printing options described in the Streamlined reports
section.
Note:
Runtime selection criteria parameters are incorporated into the flow of the
dialog box. In previous revisions these were shown on a separate
screen. The first time you run a report (learning the values) the system
will accept each selection criterion value. Remember that if you change a
selection criteria then this is updated in the format.
Comments
If there are comments for a format the parameters screen will display
“Comments” in the info area at the lower right. You may click on this area to
display the full comments. (On text workstations you may press [Esc] to back up
to this field.)
110
ReportMate HTML Output Enhancements
!
Export to HTML Now Automatically Handles Table Column Definitions
When you create an HTML web page from a format (via export to HTML or via
FYI WebPage tab) the program will now automatically assume the appropriate
tilde/grave accent characters that designate table columns.
Background
In previous revisions you were required to insert tilde (~ for text field) or
grave (` for numeric field) characters into the format in order to designate
columns. The program replaced these characters with the appropriate
HTML syntax. This meant that the format was only useful for HTML
output since the special characters were not appropriate for printed
output.
Now the system can take a format that does not have special embedded
characters and output it to an HTML table. The program will automatically
assume a column for each field:
•
The “Column Alignment” flag for each field will determine whether the
system outputs it as Left, Right, or Center justified.
•
Each literal “word” will be treated as a separate column.
•
You may insert your own tilde/grave characters to create your
own phrasing as long as you insert characters into the entire line
- the system will not assume any columns if a line in the format
contains any tilde/grave characters. Normally you would only
need to do this if you want to combine multiple literals or a
literal/field combination into a column.
!
Use of CSS Style Sheets in Standard ReportMate Template
The standard ReportMate template (rmtemp.htm located in swhtml\views) now
includes the variable name “@var_css_link_@”. Each time the template is used
to create an HTML file the program replaces this variable name with a link to a
CSS style sheet:
•
For a normal HTML output job the variable is replaced with a link to the
standard default CSS style sheet. The default sheet is identified in the
CSS ID file (RM-04-08) via the record with a blank ID. The default link for
this ID is “..\css\default.css” which references the default.css file in the
css directory.
•
For an FYI portal WebPage job the variable is replaced with
<link rel=”stylesheet” href=”..\temp\fffffffttt.css” type=”text/css”>
where ffffffff=RM format name (less trailing spaces) and ttt=workstation
number. The FYI portal program creates a style sheet file with this name
into the temp directory. The contents of the style sheet file depend on
which CSS style is selected in the drop-down list on the WebPage tab.
!
Automatic Generation of CSS “Class” Tags for ReportMate Fields
When you output a ReportMate format to an HTML table, the program now
automatically includes field “class” tags to enable you to style the look of the data
via a Cascading Style Sheet. A new attribute in the format definition for a field
defines the CSS class:
Class
Enter the CSS class for this field. The defaults are:
111
amt
text
For an amount-type field
For alphanumeric and other types of fields
The HTML template for the ReportMate format may reference a
Cascading Style Sheet that “styles” these tags. For example, in the
default CSS file the “text” class is left-justified while the “amt” class is
right-justified with a different background color.
Negative amounts
If a field with an “amt” class contains a negative amount for a record the
system will instead output the class of “neg”. This allows you to style
negative amounts differently that positive amounts. For example, in the
default CSS file the “neg” class uses a different font color and
background color than the “amt” tag.
Upgrade Note
When you load this update the system will run a ReportMate conversion
program that will automatically insert “text” and “amt” tags into your
existing format detail records.
!
Standard HTML Table Records May Reference CSS Tags for Cells
The standard HTML Table Format Records (RM-04-06) may now utilize
Cascading Style Sheets for styling of cells instead of embedded fonts. You may
enter the variable “@class” in the HTML syntax for the “Text Start” or “Numeric
Start” to specify that the table should tag each cell with the CSS field class
specified in the format. This means that the font size/color/justification etc. can
be controlled in the related CSS file instead of being embedded into the table.
This will typically result in much cleaner and smaller HTML files.
Upgrade Note
When you load this update the existing table format records are not
changed so that existing pages remain unchanged. You may change
table formats to use this feature.
On new installations the default records will specify to use the @class
feature.
!
Automatic Generation of Odd/Even Row CSS Class Tags
When you output a ReportMate format to an HTML table, the program now
automatically includes row “class” tags to identify odd/even rows. This makes it
possible to style the table with a different appearance for every other row to make
the table easier to read.
The class tags are inserted into the <TR> or table row tag. These tags are
automatically output - if your CSS file doesn’t reference these tags then the tags
will have no affect on the appearance of the table:
class=even
class=odd
For even-numbered rows
For odd-numbered rows
For example, in the default CSS file the “odd” rows are styled to have a darker
background so that it is easier to visually identify the columns for each record.
112
!
Generation of CSS Tags for Top-of-Page Titles/Legends Lines
When you output a ReportMate format to an HTML table, if the template file
references a CSS file (“@var_css_link_@” exists in the template) the program
now automatically places “div” tags into the report titles and legends lines so that
you may style them if you wish. Here is the format of the assigned tags:
<div id=”title”> (55-char report-title) </div>
<div id=”company”> (50-char company-name) </div>
<div id=”refinfo”> (date/time/pagenbr literal and data) </div>
<div id=”legend”> (legend-line) <BR>
(legend-line)<BR>
...etc - all legend lines are all encoded as one “div”
</div>
For example, the standard styles available in the FYI portal use these tags to
allow you to hide or display the titles and legends as well as control the fonts and
appearance of the text.
!
May Now Create HTML Output for Subtotal-Level Reports
You now have the option to create an HTML page from a format that outputs
subtotals instead of detail records. In previous revisions you could only export an
HTML page if the export timing for the format was at the “Detail” level (one report
record per input record).
With this feature you can create a format that outputs summary totals and show
these totals as a web page. For example, you may create a format for sales
orders that sorts and subtotals by salesperson. If you choose to export data at
subtotal level 1 (the salesperson subtotal) the HTML page will show a record per
salesperson instead of a list of sales orders.
!
Grand Totals Row for HTML Reports
When you create an HTML table from a format that indicates to subtotal one or
more fields the HTML table will now include a Grand Totals row on the bottom of
the table. The Grand Totals row does not include any literals or descriptions for
the totals (since these would interfere with the columns in the table) but does
place the totals in the appropriate columns.
For example, if you create a sales order report that specifies to total the order
amounts then the web page table will include an additional row with a grand total
for all sales orders on the report.
Note: The Grand Totals row appears for all export timings, Detail or subtotal
level.
Styling the Grand Totals row
The special Grand Totals row is assigned a CSS class of “totals” instead of the
normal “odd” or “even” tag for rows. This allows you to use CSS to highlight,
hide, or otherwise style the totals row.
!
Automatic Insertion of Non-Breaking Space in Blank Table Columns
When ReportMate outputs an HTML table and a cell (<TD> </TD> tags) is blank,
ReportMate will now insert a non-breaking space (“&nbsp” tag) in that cell. This
ensures that any borders around the cell will display. This is necessary since the
default browser behavior is to suppress the borders if a cell is blank.
113
!
New Cascading Style Sheet reference file for ReportMate FYI
In this program (RM-04-08) you may define references to Cascading Style Sheets
that are used in ReportMate and in the FYI portal. See “Use of CSS Style
Sheets” in the Expanded Web Page Options section of this release notice.
!
ReportMate Templates Now Located in Views Directory
The template names for XML and HTML output are now located in the
swhtml\views directory to improve the organization of subfolders. In previous
revisions these were located in the SouthWare run directory. The default names
for these templates are:
•
“rmtemp.htm” for ReportMate HTML template
•
“rmtemp.xml” for ReportMate XML template
Changes to Table Edit/View
Extensive improvements have been made to the Table Edit/View tool (RM-05). It is now
normally referred to as Grid Edit.
!
Grid Edit Incorporated into FYI Portal
The FYI portal (RM-06) is now the optimal way to use the features of Grid Edit.
When you run Grid Edit from the RM-05 menu it will call the same features
available in the FYI portal GridView tab.
!
Key Fields Are No Longer Required For Table Editing
You are no longer required to put the primary file key fields in the format. The
new design of Grid Edit automatically stores key information for each record so
that you don’t need to manually include the key fields.
XD Transaction Keys
For Transaction Extended Data (XTnn), you must specify the XD record type in
the Grid Edit record (RM-05-01). To update Transaction XD you must use either
the XD key file (XKxx) or the related transaction file. In prior revisions you were
required to put the key to the XD record as the first field in the report format. This
is no longer necessary. Instead, you must access the Grid Edit record (RM-0501) and in field 5 specify the XD record to maintain.
!
Removed Requirement of Fixed-Position Text Interface Type
You may now use a format with Table Edit/View even if it is not specified to be
Fixed-Position Text interface type. This allows greater flexibility in using a format
for multiple purposes. The only requirements to enable the Table Edit flag are
that the format has to be active and the interface Timing has to be “Detail” timing.
!
Other Limitations Removed
Here are some other limitations of Table Edit that are no longer applicable to Grid
Edit:
•
There is no longer a limit of 30 fields on one print line - you may include
all the fields in the format
•
The report format may now include special fields of images, drawings,
notes, and text fields - these will be ignored when the format is displayed
in a grid
•
The OfficeLink option is now supported in the grid display
•
Table Edit Definition record is no longer required for viewing if you are
viewing in FYI portal - it is still required when you access Table Edit from
the RM-05-01 menu
114
Upgrade Note
Because of the changes in Table Edit/View technology the following
technology options are no longer available:
•
Use of Acucorp grid - this old-style grid view is no longer
functional
•
Use of Acuconnect for Table Edit/View - this Acucorp technology
is not supported by the grid technology
!
Automatic Creation of Grid Edit Definition Record
When you create a new format and specify “Yes” to Grid Edit (field 6) then the
program now automatically creates the Grid Edit record for you. You may edit the
options later, but you are no longer required to create this record in order to use
Grid Edit with a format.
Note:
You may not specify “Y” to Grid Edit unless the primary file has a related
import program.
!
Option to Replace Value in Multiple Records During Editing
You now have a powerful built-in utility to change multiple records in one step.
See the section “To Make a Change in Multiple Records” in the FYI section of this
release notice.
!
Check Boxes for Viewing/Editing Yes/No Flags
When you are viewing or editing Yes/No fields that have the potential for editing
via a checkbox, the fields will display in the grid as a checkbox. This is
particularly useful in editing mode since you can change the value of the field by
simply clicking on the checkbox.
To avoid a misleading appearance the field appears as a checkbox only if:
•
It is flagged as a binary field (Y/N only) in the Data Dictionary, and
•
It has import capability.
!
New Optional Editing FlowPoint per Field
You may now utilize a FlowPoint that executes when you edit data in a column in
Grid Edit. This FlowPoint allows you to use WorkFlow FlowMods to add logic to
the editing function of the Edit grid for that column. The FlowPoint supports
RETN logic, which means that you can conditionally prevent a change to the field
via WorkFlow.
The FlowPoint for an Editable Field
In the field parameters for a field in the format you have the flag “Grid Edit?” to
specify whether the field may be edited. If a field is editable (value is “Y” or “E”)
the FlowPoint is defined to be
EDnnnn
where nnnn is the Data Dictionary field number from the primary file.
Since Grid Edit can edit only fields from the primary file then the field number will
be a unique FlowPoint for the format name. Each Editing FlowPoint will
correspond to a field (a column) in the grid.
Note:
The Program ID for the FlowPoint is the format name.
115
Defining a FlowMod for an Editing FlowPoint
In FlowMod Maintenance (WF-02-04) you may define a FlowMod for any of the
“Editing FlowPoints” for fields in the format. Here are some options to consider:
•
The “Before” timing for one of these Editing FlowPoints will occur as the
user moves to a cell in this column. The “Before” timing occurs
before the current record is available to WorkFlow. You can use this
FlowPoint for non-data functions such as displaying a message but any
FlowMod cannot read data from the current record or update data.
•
The “After” timing occurs before a changed cell is written to the record:
•
This happens at the update time:
•
In interactive update mode, this occurs when the user
tries to leave a cell after making a change.
•
In batch update mode, this occurs for each cell when the
batch update is run.
•
This timing is independent of the normal validation timing
(interactive or batch).
•
The current record is available to WorkFlow for testing or
updating of the fields.
•
You may use the REPL step type to update a field in the primary
file or in a related file.
Using the After Timing and RETN step for Additional Validations
If you are using WorkFlow for additional validation of the user’s entry, you
may use the “RETN” type step to reject a change. The result of a RETN
step is to “fail” to do the update, and the program interaction depends on
the mode of update:
•
If you are using Interactive Update mode the RETN step will
not write the change to the record, will restore the value to the
previous value, and will position the cursor in the cell to be reentered.
•
If you are using Batch Update mode the RETN step will not
write the change to the record and will leave the cell yellow so
that you can see that the update was not done. In batch mode
the RETN step does not position the cursor to the cell - the batch
process continues and at the end you can see the skipped
updates because the cells are yellow instead of green. In this
mode the previous value is not restored - the cell shows the
value that you entered.
Example
For example, let’s assume you define a format named “CUSTEDIT” that
allows editing of information in the customer file. If the format includes
the salesperson code it will be editable by default (Grid Edit = “Y”) unless
you change the Edit flag. Since the salesperson is field 10 in the
customer file, the Editing FlowPoint for salesperson will be “ED0010".
Let’s say you don’t want the salesperson to be changed by anyone
except operator “BJONES”. You could define a FlowMod with the
following info:
•
Program ID = CUSTEDIT
•
FlowPoint = ED0010
•
Timing = 2 (after)
•
Steps
116
IF XX99 0001 (logon operator) NE “BJONES”
RETN
END
Each time an operator tries to change the salesperson column the Grid
Edit will launch the FlowMod. If the operator is not BJONES the FlowMod
will indicate to RETN, and the Grid Edit program will reject the change.
ExecuMate II™
!
Graph Data Can Be Accessed in WebView
A special feature now allows you to access ExecuMate II graph data for use in a
WebView template. This is designed for use with the Microsoft Chart Web
Component. Several graphs are incorporated into SouthWare’s standard menu
portals as examples of this feature.
See the “Option to Access ExecuMate II Graph Data in Web Page” discussion in
the Expanded Web Page Options section of this release notice.
!
New Salesperson Statistics
The system now creates additional statistics totals for salespersons each time
you run a gather. These statistics provide analysis insight into order-related and
customer/prospect-related status information for each salesperson. These
amounts can be accessed via reports and graphs as well as the statistics inquiry
program. Many of these amounts are included in the standard salesperson and
sales manager menu portals.
These statistics types are created per salesperson, and a record for the totals is
created with a blank salesperson. Here are the new statistics types:
Type 37 - Salesperson Counts
This record accumulates the following order-related and client/prospect-related
data counts for each salesperson:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
# Open Orders
# Orders that need approval
# Orders on Hold status
# Orders with a backorder or purchase for
# Customer Quotes
# Customers assigned to this salesperson
# Prospect Quotes
# Stage 1 Prospects assigned to this salesperson
Type 38 - Salesperson Amounts
This record accumulates the following order-related and client/prospect-related
data amounts for each salesperson:
117
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
$ Open Orders
$ Orders that need approval
$ Orders on Hold status
$ Orders with a backorder or purchase for
$ Customer Quotes
$ Prospect Quotes
$ Total A/R Balance (from customer file as of last Aging Report) customers assigned to this salesperson
$ Total A/R Past Due Balance (from customer file as of last Aging
Report) - customers assigned to this salesperson
$ A/R Aging Category 1 (as of XM gather) - customers assigned to this
salesperson
salesperson
salesperson
salesperson
Notes on Salesperson statistics
•
The order statistics are based on the salesperson specified in the order
header (if there is a line item override of salesperson this is ignored).
•
The statistics are always as of the current system date/time (if this is
different than the gather date).
•
A “header” salesperson (one that refers to multiple salespersons) is
treated like any other salesperson for purposes of statistics. For
example, if an order is assigned to a header code, the header code
receives the statistics accumulation and none of the salespersons within
the header will include the order in their statistics.
•
The statistics accumulation process is limited to 500 salespersons.
Related Data Dictionary Fields
Here are the Data Dictionary fields that have been added to provide access to
these statistics:
•
ExecuMate II statistics - You may access the individual statistics
records via the standard XM statistics type (DD files of XM37 and XM38).
•
Salesperson statistics - The current statistics values for an individual
salesperson have been added to the salesperson file (AR04, fields 101136). These show the values from the most recent statistics record for
the salesperson.
•
Total Salesperson statistics - The company totals for new statistics
amounts not already in XV03 have been added to XV03 as fields 40 - 55.
!
Cash Balance Statistic History
The current cash balance for each profit center is now stored in the Balance
Sheet statistic (type 34). This will allow you to graph or analyze the changes in
cash balance over time.
The standard CFO menu portal includes a graph of monthly cash balances.
!
Option to Define Statistics Graph for Current Salesperson
When you define an ExecuMate II graph for salesperson statistics (type 12 and
new types of 37 and 38) you may now specify that the salesperson should be
determined at update time. In previous revisions you were required to specify the
118
salesperson for the graph. Now if leave the salesperson field blank the system
will use the “current” salesperson for the logon operator. This salesperson is
derived from the salesperson in the employee record (field 36 in PR-07-01) for
the employee who is assigned to the logon operator (XX-03-02, field 13).
For example, you can define a graph that shows recent orders/invoices for a
salesperson from statistics type 12. Each time you update this graph’s data the
data will be for the salesperson of the operator running the update.
Use in Web Pages
One intended purpose for this feature is to allow you to create web page graphs
for a salesperson. An example of this is included in the P_SALES menu portal
designed for salespersons. This utilizes the feature described in the “Option to
Access ExecuMate II Graph Data in Web Page” discussion in the Expanded Web
Page Options
In order to utilize this data in a web page the data in the graph should be updated
to match the current salesperson. The web page ReportMate technology will
automatically gather new data for a salesperson graph:
•
If the salesperson is blank (meaning use current), and
•
The graph update option (screen 1 of graph) specifies to update data
each time the graph is displayed.
The graph data will not be updated by the web page if the graph has a fixed
salesperson or if the update option is each Gather or Manual Update.
Accounts Payable
A/P Transaction Portal Changes
Entering A/P transactions (AP-01-01) is now more efficient. Here are some highlights:
Navigation Tabs
•
List tab for a list of open transactions
•
Header tab for transaction header information
•
Detail tab for access to distributions for a transaction (only when a transaction is
selected)
Status Information
•
•
•
Total number of documents for operator
•
Total dollar value of transactions for operator
Transaction Buttons
include:
•
Edit listing
•
Post transactions
•
Hold payment
119
•
•
Hold transaction
Print prepaid check
!
Option to Switch from Detail to Header
In conjunction with the portal changes you may now switch to the header from the
detail distribution screen. In previous revisions this was not a feature.
!
Abandon Prompt When Exiting Out-of-Balance Distributions
When you try to exit an out-of-balance transaction the resulting error message
now prompts for the option to abandon the transaction. In previous revisions you
could abandon by pressing [Esc] but this was not indicated in the prompt.
A/P Check Processing Portal Changes
The review of open items and creation of A/P checks (AP-02-03-01) is now more
integrated and efficient. Here are some highlights:
Navigation Tabs
•
Payment Criteria - entry of dates/accounts and automatic selection of items to
pay
•
Documents - list of open items for easy review/selection of documents to pay
•
Tentative Checks - grid listing of documents selected for payment that groups
them into tentative checks (see separate item below)
Status Information
as you change selections):
•
•
Total amount of documents selected that are due
•
Total amount of optional documents selected that are not yet due
Transaction Buttons
include:
•
Cash Requirements report
•
Pre-check report
•
Print checks option
•
Access Manual Checks subsystem
•
Access Void Checks subsystem
!
New Tentative Payments Grid
This new grid (graphical workstations only) in the A/P Payment portal provides an
interactive review of the checks that will result from your current selections.
When you access the Tentative Payments tab the program builds the check file
(if needed) and displays it in a grid grouped by check.
This grid is much quicker to review than a printout. And because of the
navigation tabs it is easy to click over to the Documents tab, select and unselect
documents, then click back to the Tentative Payments tab to see the results.
You have the option to expand or collapse the grid to show/hide the detailed
documents being paid.
120
Accounts Receivable
A/R Sales Transaction Processing Portal Changes
Entering A/R transactions (AR-01-01) is now more efficient. Here are some highlights:
Navigation Tabs
•
List tab for a list of open sales transactions
•
Transaction tab for transaction header information
•
selected
Status Information
•
•
•
Total number of unposted documents for operator
•
Total dollar value of unposted transactions for operator
Transaction Buttons
include:
•
Edit listing
•
Post transactions
!
In conjunction with the portal changes you may now switch to the header from
the detail distribution screen. In previous revisions this was not a feature.
!
Lookup Option for Sales Transactions
unposted sales transactions. In previous revisions this was not a feature.
!
Grid Display for Distributions
In conjunction with the portal changes the display of account distributions is now
done with grid technology.
A/R Cash Receipt Processing Portal Changes
Entering A/R transactions (AR-02-02) is now more efficient. Here are some highlights:
Navigation Tabs
•
List tab for a list of unposted payment transactions
•
Header tab for payment header information
•
Detail tab for access to cash applications for a payment (only when a payment is
selected
Status Information
121
•
•
•
•
Total number of unposted payments for operator
Total dollar value of unposted payments for operator
Transaction Buttons
include:
•
Edit listing
•
Post transactions
•
Entry of Non-AR Cash
•
Review Mode Access
•
Auto-Apply Function
!
In conjunction with the portal changes you may now switch to the header from
the detail distribution screen. In previous revisions this was not a feature.
!
Lookup Option for Payment Transactions
unposted payments. In previous revisions this was not a feature.
!
Abandon Prompt When Exiting Out-of-Balance Distributions
When you try to exit an out-of-balance transaction the resulting error message
now prompts for the option to abandon the payment. In previous revisions you
could abandon by pressing [Esc] but this was not indicated in the prompt.
!
Grid Display and One-Click Selection for Review Mode
Payment Review Mode now uses grid technology on graphical workstations to
information and provides for easier specification of the payment code.
Selecting Payment Code in Review Mode
The grid now displays a separate column for each payment option. Each column
has an icon that indicates the selected column for the document:
•
Full payment - click on this column to select to fully pay the document
•
Partial payment - click on this column to select to pay the document with
changes
•
Open - click on this column to remove any application of this payment to
the document
For example, if you select to pay the document in full, an icon will appear in the
“Full” column. If you want to delete the payment for this document, click on the
Open column for that document and it will delete the payment applied.
!
New Active Flag for Salesperson
In the salesperson file (AR-07-03) there is now an active flag that you can use to
specify that a salesperson is no longer an active salesperson. This removes the
salesperson from most lookup lists.
16. Active?:
Enter “N” to remove this salesperson from lookup lists except for the
lookup in Salesperson maintenance. This allows you to keep a
122
salesperson record on file for history but suppress the salesperson from
normal lookup lists.
!
See Also New Salesperson Statistics in the ExecuMate II section
General Ledger
G/L Transaction Processing Portal Changes
Entering G/L transactions (GL-01-01) is now more efficient. Here are some highlights:
Navigation Tabs
•
•
Transaction tab for transaction header information
•
selected
Status Information
•
•
•
Total number of unposted transactions for operator
Transaction Buttons
include:
•
Edit listing
•
Post transactions
•
Copy transaction
!
Financial Statement Runtime Option to Suppress Footnotes
You now have the option to suppress footnotes and legend messages during a
financial statement run. When you select to run statements (GL-03-04) the
Footnote Position parameter now includes the following option:
N - None (Omit)
Choose this option to skip the entry of footnotes and to
suppress any system-generated legends that might be
generated during this run.
Job Cost
Job Cost Transaction Processing Portal Changes
Entering Job Cost transactions (JC-01-01) is now more efficient. Here are some
highlights:
Navigation Tabs
•
•
Transaction tab for transaction entry/information
Note that there is not a Detail tab since many transactions do not allow the entry of detail
information for interfaced transactions.
123
Status Information
•
•
•
Total number of unposted transactions for operator
•
Dollar value of unposted transactions for operator
Transaction Buttons
include:
•
Edit listing
•
Post transactions
NetLink
!
Revised Standard Templates to Match Portal Look
The standard sample NetLink pages have been revised to use the same
color/style as the Web Menu Portals. This gives a very different look to the
standard pages. The functionality of the pages was not changed, but extensive
HTML code was changed to remove most embedded fonts and implement a
standard “nldefault.css” cascading style sheet.
!
Default Report Table Format Uses Cascading Style Sheet
The “*Default” Table Format record (NL-01-05) was changed to left justify the
table headings and to remove the border from the table. The style sheet used by
the standard pages displays the rows of a report with an alternating gray
background on every other line. You can modify this by simply editing the
“*Default” table format record.
!
NetLink Now Allows Use of a Temporary License
You may now run NetLink with a temporary NetLink license. This allows you to
work on the setup of your system while you are processing the license
paperwork.
If NetLink has a temporary registration the program will do additional verifications
at the beginning of each request process. This slows each request down but
should be acceptable for setup testing. When you enter your permanent license
information the additional overhead of the temporary license verification is no
longer needed.
!
Available Use of CSS Styles in ReportMate-created Tables
The new CSS style features related to outputting tables from ReportMate are
available for use in NetLink. New benefits you could get include:
•
Styling for odd/even rows (used in the standard samples)
•
Styling of amounts
•
Styling of headers
!
Expanded Tax Code for Pending NetLink Orders
The tax code for pending NetLink orders has been expanded to match the 10character tax code on normal orders.
124
SouthWare Forms
!
Option to Use Text String Files In Conjunction with Windows Print Columns
Prior to this revision, if you had a string file that contained text to print on a form,
the string could not be used if you were using Windows Print Columns to print
lines/images or choose multiple fonts in the form.
Now, you may include a string file if using windows print columns as long as the
string file contains only text. Optionally, you can associate an attribute with the
string file to print the text in bold or smaller font depending on your needs..
Note:
If you choose to use a smaller font with the string file and want to print
more than the standard # characters used on the form, you must
increase your form width to accommodate the longest line in the text file.
For example, our standard invoice form is 80 characters. If the string file
has a line of text that is 120 characters long, you must change
@CTL_FORMWIDTH=120 in the header portion of the form.
!
New Dataname for Picking Tickets
The dataname TICKET-NODASH is now available for picking tickets. This prints
the picking ticket number without a dash (a 12-character value instead of the
normal 13-character picking ticket number). The intended purpose of this field is
to allow you to print the picking ticket number without a dash in bar-coded format
in a custom form. This lets you scan the picking ticket number as a bar code in
the Pick/Ship entry program (which accepts only the 12-character value).
This feature was released early as a FLASH update to Rev 10.
Other Changes
!
FileView List Format Wizard Now Allows Change to an Existing Format
The FileView Format Wizard program used to quickly create a new list format
can now be used to edit the fields in the current list format! When you select
the “Modify View” button in FileView (and selected inquiries) you may now choose
“Modify Current Format”. This selection accesses the Format wizard for the
current list format. You may use the Format Wizard functions such as:
•
Adding fields
•
Removing fields
•
Moving fields up/down in sequence
•
Editing the attributes for a field (right mouse menu) - this accesses the
same dialog window described in RM-02 for the editing attributes of a
field
Limitations
The List Format Wizard may not be used in change mode if:
•
you have inserted calculations or literals into the format
•
you have used the same field more than once on the format
!
Transaction Inquiries Now Assume Standard Inquiry with Option to Use XD
keys
When you access a transaction inquiry that has XD keys the program will now
assume you want to use the normal inquiry mode. If you have defined Extended
125
Data key fields for the transaction you may choose to search by one of these
keys by pressing [F5] at the first field in the inquiry.
In previous revisions the program asked a question about using the normal
mode or searching by XD keys each time you accessed the program. The
program now assumes normal mode in order to be more efficient.
126
Recap of Features Available on Text Workstations
A primary emphasis in this revision is to improve the user experience for users on
graphical workstations. Users on text workstations will not benefit from all of the changes
since some of the technology used is not available except on graphical workstations.
However, some of the most valuable changes are available on text workstations. Below
is a recap of key changes that apply to text workstation users:
}
}
}
}
}
}
}
}
}
}
}
}
•
•
•
}
•
•
•
}
Multiple Windows - You can have multiple SouthWare windows open at the
same time and toggle between them via the [F12] key. This opens up the
power of multiple windows to users on text workstations!! This is one of the
most exciting new capabilities for character-based workstations in years!
LearnFromYou Technology - The power of SouthWare’s learn technology is not
dependent on graphical technology. The system will learn any repeated patterns
of entry in maintenance programs and customize certain field defaults. And you
can use the InstantLearn feature to streamline the entry of fields or parameters in
nearly any program. Text workstation users get greatly improved efficiency in
using their SouthWare system.
Streamlined Report Printing - The built-in InstantLearn defaults will learn your
last parameters for reports (including the printer/output you used) and
automatically default them the next time. Text workstation users can now
produce reports faster and more accurately.
Improved Screen Overrides - The new capabilities for screen overrides apply to
text workstation users. On text workstations you access these capabilities
through the ToolWise Modify function instead of using buttons or right mouse
clicks.
TaskWise Sales Prospect Pipeline Management - The ability to define
prospect stages, assign salespersons to prospects, and gather prospect statistics
via ExecuMate II are available to all types of workstations.
TaskWise Company News - Creating and accessing news items can be done on
text workstations.
TaskWise Zoom Views - You can create text-based zoom views for TaskWise
relationships and contacts.
TreeView Manager for Open POs - This tree manager functions on text
workstations.
Display of tracking numbers in Billing Inquiry - The zoom from the Line Item
inquiry zoom displays a search list on text workstations.
TreeView Manager for Open Service Orders - This tree manager functions on
text workstations.
New ReportMate Format Capabilities - Many of the new ReportMate
capabilities apply to text workstation users such as:
•
Security by Operator/Group
•
New maintenance fields
Some of the User Interface Improvements such as:
Streamlined Cancel and OK Functions
Option to Set Default Transaction Operator “On-the-fly”
New Transaction Searches Added for Portals
A/R Sales Transactions
A/R Payment Transactions
Auto-Purchasing Work File
New ReportMate Fields - The new fields added to ReportMate are available in
all environments unless they refer to an operating system-specific function.
127
File Changes
Below is an overview of the files changed via conversion programs by this update.
Product
Files
Reason
Accounts
Receivable
Salesperson
New Active flag is set
to “Y”
ExecuMate II
Statistics
Add new standard
types of 37 and 38,
add cash bucket to
type 34
ReportMate
Various
Correct DD and insert
style tags in formats
Format Header
Increase Record Size
Table Format
Renames
“*DEFAULT” record
to “*DEFOLD”, then
creates new
“*DEFAULT” record
to use class tags
GUI Config
Remove fonts and
add new fields
Fonts and Font
Theme Files
Create standard
files/records
Workstation
Move window cell
sizes to Font Themes
Grid Layout
Changed file size
Print file
Create PDF Printer
Tab records
Insert standard List
tabs for relationships
and contacts
Tab records
Option to utilize the
standard alternative
web pages for start
and user-defined tabs
SwiftMate
TaskWise
128
Comments
There is a special
program
“RM1011SQ” that
converts formats
dumped in Rev 10 to
the Rev 11 dump
format (the dump
format is binary)
Run “TWWEBCNV”
to automatically set
up these web view
IDs.
Product
Files
Reason
NetLink
Pending Order
Header
Expanded tax code to
ten characters
129
Comments
Conversion Notes
Below are some notes you should read before loading this update.
System Requirements
Runtime required
Windows - 6.2 SW runtime (available on Rev 11 product CD)
Unix - 6.2 SW runtime
Thin Client - 6.2 SW acuthin (available on Rev 11 product CD)
Aculaunch - 6.2
!
Compiler required (Developers only)
6.2 SW Compiler - you must compile with the SouthWare version of the
compiler
!
Minimum Hardware
Pentium 1 ghz or equivalent
Highly recommend at least 128 mb per Windows workstation
!
Disk Space
Should be similar to Rev 10. Allow for up to a 20% expansion.
!
Browser version - you must be using Internet Explorer version 6 service pack 1
or higher to utilize the HTML editor features
!
Windows version - Recommend Windows 2000, XP, or higher - some features
(such as the graphs used in menu portals or PDF printing) use technology that is
not properly supported on Windows 98, Windows ME, and earlier versions of
Windows. If you use one of these versions of Windows you may not be able to
use some of the features.
!
Steps Before You Load the Upgrade
!
If you have numerous complicated FlowMods and/or RCF Packets you
should consider doing a test conversion so that you can check these out with Rev
11 before doing your real conversion:
Entry field FlowPoints are unchanged, but the flow of the programs via
T
the transaction portals may impact the way you customize a program.
Remember that a keystroke FlowMod in a program will disable
LearnFromYou on subsequent fields.
Some FlowPoints for ranges in reports have changed, particularly ending
T
range FlowPoints.
You should also consider whether LearnFromYou technology will
T
eliminate the need for any of your customization.
Special Note on doing a test conversion
If you copy your data files to another system/directory for a test conversion and
then create a new company ID for that system the conversion will NOT run when
you log into that company. That is because the system considers it a new
company rather than an old company that needs to be converted. Prior to logging
into that company to start the conversion make sure you check the following:
To force the conversion to run:
Go to the company maintenance (XX-03-01)
In field 15 in the “Created at SW Revision#” field enter the current
revision level for your files (such as “11" for Rev 11). Press [F4] at this
field to force a change.
130
Before logging in, make sure the “X11.FIL” file does not exist in your company
data directory
!
!
!
!
!
Post pending transactions. This is not mandatory but is good practice.
Make a good (tested) backup of your data and run directory.
Rebuild all data files using vutil to ensure the integrity of the data files prior to the
conversion. If you have not been doing this regularly you may recover more disk
space than any additional space required for Rev 11.
If you have sufficient disk space you can plan on running parallel.
If you will be using Rev 11 in a new environment/directory make sure you
plan to change any macros, icon paths, config paths, etc. that must be
adjusted for the new file paths.
If you remove or rename the old run directory you may need to re-register
any Windows controls that were registered from the old directory.
If you have used memorized reports (keystroke-based) in the past to speed up
the running of repetitive reports you should determine if there are any that you will
need to replace with RCF Packets. Memorized reports is no longer a supported
feature as of Rev 11 - it has been superceded by the Learn features and by RCF
Packets.
•
If you simply need to default the values for a report this will automatically
work in Rev 11 via the Learned parameters.
•
If you need to have different sets of learned parameters for a report you
may create an RCF Packet for each set of report parameters.
Recommended Approach
NOTE: SouthWare highly recommends that you install Rev 11 in your current
run directory:
back up your current SouthWare system into a separate directory
delete all programs (files that end in “.OBJ”) in the SouthWare
directory
delete sort files (files such as “Z*.FIL” and “RMRN*.FIL”) in the
SouthWare temp directory
install Rev 11 into your current SouthWare programs directory
run the Rev 11 conversion in your current SouthWare directory.
You may change to a new directory for Rev 11, but because of OfficeLink
files, spool files, NetLink files/paths, macrobmp directories, desktop icon
paths, etc., it is much easier to convert in the same directory where
SouthWare is currently running. To run parallel we recommend you copy
your Revision 10 system to another directory.
!
Turn on overwrite protect or save sequential files for records that you don’t want
to be overwritten by standard SouthWare records.
Loading the Upgrade
!
Locking Other Users Out of the System
It is a good idea to log out and lock other workstations before installing Rev 11.
You may use the Workstation Abort process and Workstation Lockout process
described in XX-02-01. This essentially puts you in single-user mode for the
conversion. After the conversion you may use the Status Manager to unlock
other workstations.
!
Install Rev 11 in your existing environment. Use the normal installation steps for
a new system.
131
!
Controls such as the grid control require the latest version - this is released and
installed with the products.
Running the Conversion Process
After you load the update the first logon session in Rev 11 will automatically run the
conversion process.
The First Time You Log On to Rev 11 (Windows workstations only)
!
Interactive Release Notice - The first time each operator logs in to Rev 11 the
menu program automatically executes an object “REV11". This object displays a
help topic that provides an interactive web page with highlights of Rev 11. You
may click on links for more explanation or zoom to selected programs to try out
new features.
Tip:
Read the “Upgrade Questions” section of the Interactive Release Notice
for a quick overview of questions that have been asked by other users
after the upgrade.
!
Register Windows Controls - Selected Windows controls will be re-registered
as needed for updated versions.
Other Steps to Consider After the Upgrade Conversion
!
Fonts - If you were using custom fonts in Rev 10 and want to continue to use
them instead of the new standard font themes you must create or edit theme
records.
!
GUI Configuration Records - You may want to review the post-conversion
records to make sure they contain the options you want to use.
!
RCF Packets - You should run your automated report RCF Packets to make sure
that they are compatible with the new dialog boxes and features of report
programs. Edit or re-record packets as needed.
!
TaskWise Web Pages - If you want to utilize the standard alternative web pages
for start and user-defined tabs you should insert these into the appropriate tabs.
You may run the program “TWWEBCNV” from the menu select prompt to
automatically set up these web view IDs.
!
Set Up Prospect Categories in TaskWise - These are necessary before some
of the features in the Sales and Sales Manager portals will be useful.
132
Special Notes for SouthWare Developers
Upgrading Your Custom Source to Rev 11
Here are the requirements for upgrading your custom source to Rev 11 of SouthWare:
You must upgrade your compiler/runtime to version 6.2. - you must compile
T
with the SouthWare version of the compiler. This contains patches that fix known
compiler issues in SouthWare programs.
If you have developed inquiry programs that use SWFMSCRL, you must change
T
these programs to use SWWINDOW.(PL, WS).
If you have report/listing programs that you want to upgrade to Rev 11 standards
T
you must revise them to incorporate parameters logics. This is NOT required,
but you should consider this change if you intend for your programs to work like
SouthWare’s.
There are no other required source file changes for Rev 11.
As long as you are using SouthWare standards and copy libraries you will simply need to
recompile with the Rev 11 copy libraries and the Acucorp 6.2 compiler.
Numerous changes have been made to the standard SouthWare routines but
none of these require changes to your source programs.
Of course, if you have changed our standard libraries or file definitions you will
need to make the appropriate changes for Rev 11.
Other Developer Information
Here are features that you may choose to implement in your custom code or applications
when you receive Rev 11 source:
!
Implementing New Print Program Standards - The Rev 11 Print Program
Standards require the use of SWPARAMS.PL to implement the dialog box and
one-click printing options. This involves significant restructuring of the parameter
entry portion of each print program. See any SouthWare print program for an
example.
!
Adding Custom Applications to FYI Portal - FYI uses ReportMate technology.
To add custom applications to FYI you must use the special text file to define your
application. This feature was added in Revision 9 so you may already be using it.
Any applications that would be added to the tree menu will be added to the
Categories list in FYI. Here are the notes that were outlined in the Rev 9 release
notice:
(Developer Feature) Option to Add Custom Applications to ReportMate
Menu
Developers who have created their own ReportMate applications using
SouthWare technology may now have their applications appear in the standard
application menu. The ReportMate menu program looks in the company data
directory for a file “RMENU.TXT”. If this file exists the program will look for
application records with the layout described in the file definition
“SWCSTAPP.01". This includes:
Application code
Description
System number
133
-
Alternate system numbers
For each record found in the custom file the program will add a node to the tree
view. This will then function like SouthWare’s standard applications.
134

SouthWare Excellence Series™ Rev 11 with Personas Upgrade

Transcription

Similar documents

July, 1993 - Stumpf Welding Supplies

Customize Your Profile - Division of Student Affairs

File - El Paso High School Dual Language Magnet

Setting an Android Device to AutoFill Password Fields in

PAF 5 Notes - Mesa FamilySearch Library

Mandarin Express - Isle Of Man Portal . com

brightsign xd smart menu board

Published in Western Horseman - July, 2001

Happy Hour Menu - Toulouse Petit

View our Events Brochure