DBA OperatingGuide

1
Updated: April 2010

Copyright © 2005-2010 DBA Software Inc.
All rights reserved.
2 Operating Guide
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Introduction___________________________________ 15
Online Help (F1)__________________________________________ 16
1. File ________________________________________ 17
1-1. Change Password _______________________________________ 18
1-2. User Email Settings______________________________________ 19
1-3. Data Import_____________________________________________ 21
Overview _______________________________________________ 21
Phase 1 – Export Data into Excel ____________________________ 22
Phase 2 – Edit Spreadsheet ________________________________ 23
Phase 3 – Import Data _____________________________________ 25
Data Import – Customers ___________________________________ 30
Data Import – Customer Contacts ____________________________ 35
Data Import – Delivery Addresses ____________________________ 37
Data Import – Suppliers ____________________________________ 40
Data Import – Supplier Contacts _____________________________ 44
Data Import – Stock Items __________________________________ 46
Data Import – Item Sources _________________________________ 51
Data Import – Base Prices __________________________________ 54
Data Import – Qty Price Breaks ______________________________ 56
Data Import – BOM Routings ________________________________ 57
Data Import – BOM Components_____________________________ 61
1-4. Data Export ____________________________________________ 65
1-5. Data Dictionary _________________________________________ 71
1-6. Initial Stock Qty Import ___________________________________ 72
1-7. AR Beginning Balances __________________________________ 75
1-8. AP Beginning Balances __________________________________ 77
2. Admin______________________________________ 81
2-1. User Setup _____________________________________________ 82
2-2. Current Online Users ____________________________________ 86
2-3. Database Optimizer ______________________________________ 87
2-4. Upgrade License ________________________________________ 88
2-5. Run Command File ______________________________________ 89
Operating Guide 3
Table of Contents
2-6. Main Setup _____________________________________________ 90

Main Tab________________________________________________ 90
Options Tab _____________________________________________ 92
Quote Letter Tab__________________________________________ 94
Email Tab _______________________________________________ 96
2-7. Accounting Configuration_________________________________ 98
2-8. System Defaults ________________________________________ 102
3. Utilities ____________________________________ 103

3-1. Spreadsheet Generators _________________________________ 104
3-2. Database Queries_______________________________________ 105
3-3. Forms Edit ____________________________________________ 107
Labels _________________________________________________ 113
3-4. Forms Update Utility ____________________________________ 123
3-5. User-Defined Fields _____________________________________ 125
3-6. User-Defined Menus ____________________________________ 126
4. Inventory __________________________________ 127

Overview_______________________________________________ 128
4-1. Inventory Setup ________________________________________ 130
4-1A. Inventory Defaults ___________________________________ 130
4-1B. Stock Items – List Tab _______________________________ 133
4-1C. Item Categories_____________________________________ 134
4-1D. Lot/Serial Control ___________________________________ 136
4-1E. Locations__________________________________________ 143
4-1F. Location Groups ____________________________________ 149
4-1G. Location Repair_____________________________________ 152
4-1H. Warranty Codes ____________________________________ 154
4-2. Stock Items____________________________________________ 155
List Tab ________________________________________________ 155
Detail Tab ______________________________________________ 159
Locations Tab ___________________________________________ 163
Sources Tab ____________________________________________ 167
Lot/Serial Tab ___________________________________________ 170
Additional Tab___________________________________________ 176
4-3. Descriptors ____________________________________________ 179
List Tab ________________________________________________ 180
Detail Tab ______________________________________________ 180
4 Operating Guide
Table of Contents
Additional Tab __________________________________________ 182

4-4. Sales Kits _____________________________________________ 184
4-5. Stock Adjustments _____________________________________ 186
4-6. Stock Transfer _________________________________________ 195
4-7. Stock Counts __________________________________________ 199
4-8. Change Inventory Cost __________________________________ 206
4-9. Reconcile Book Values __________________________________ 208
4-10. Inventory Data Views __________________________________ 210
4-11. Inventory Reports _____________________________________ 216
4-11A. Inventory Value____________________________________ 216
4-11B. Inventory Transactions ______________________________ 219
4-11C. Trxns – Item/Characteristic __________________________ 219
4-11D. Trxns – Characteristic/Item __________________________ 219
4-11E. Trxns – Serial Number ______________________________ 219
4-11F. Stock Item Labels __________________________________ 220
5. BOM (Bills of Material) _______________________ 223

Overview ______________________________________________ 224
5-1. BOM Setup ____________________________________________ 226
5-1A. BOM Defaults ______________________________________ 226
5-1B. Machines _________________________________________ 229
5-1C. Sequence Templates ________________________________ 231
5-1D. Task Templates ____________________________________ 236
5-2. Work Centers __________________________________________ 238
5-3. Bills of Material ________________________________________ 244
List Tab _______________________________________________ 244
Revisions Tab __________________________________________ 247
Routing Tab ____________________________________________ 249
Components Tab ________________________________________ 255
Outputs Tab ____________________________________________ 260
Indented View Tab _______________________________________ 262
Tree View Tab __________________________________________ 263
5-4. Estimated Purchase Costs _______________________________ 264
5-5. Cost Rollup ___________________________________________ 267
5-6. Where Used Inquiry_____________________________________ 274
5-7. BOM Reports __________________________________________ 275
5-7A. Multi-Level BOM ____________________________________ 275
Operating Guide 5
Table of Contents
5-7B. Costed BOM _______________________________________ 276
6. Sales ______________________________________ 279

Overview _________________________________________________ 281
6-1. Sales Setup____________________________________________ 283
6-1A. Sales Defaults ______________________________________ 283
6-1B. Customers – List Tab ________________________________ 284
6-1C. Customer Types ____________________________________ 285
6-1D. Customer Terms ____________________________________ 286
6-1E. Contact Types ______________________________________ 288
6-1F. Sales Regions ______________________________________ 289
6-1G. Lead Sources ______________________________________ 290
6-1H. SO Types _________________________________________ 291
6-1I. Ship Methods _______________________________________ 294
6-1J. Sales Rep Types ____________________________________ 295
6-1K. Sales Reps ________________________________________ 296
6-1L. Commission Codes __________________________________ 298
6-2. Pricing & Discounts_____________________________________ 300
6-2A. Base Prices ________________________________________ 300
6-2B. Price Levels________________________________________ 304
6-2C. Discounts _________________________________________ 306
6-2D. Discount Codes_____________________________________ 308
6-2E. Contract Prices _____________________________________ 310
6-3. Customers ____________________________________________ 312
List Tab ________________________________________________ 312
Detail Tab – Main Side-Tab ________________________________ 313
Detail Tab – Delivery & Billing Side-Tab_______________________ 318
Additional Tab – Main Side-Tab _____________________________ 319
Additional Tab – Documents Side-Tab________________________ 320
6-4. Credit Manager_________________________________________ 321
6-5. Sales Orders___________________________________________ 326
Workflow _______________________________________________ 326
List Tab ________________________________________________ 327
Header Tab_____________________________________________ 332
Details Tab _____________________________________________ 339
Shipping Tab____________________________________________ 351
Invoicing Tab ___________________________________________ 356
6-6. Order Picking __________________________________________ 361
6-7. Quotes________________________________________________ 375
Estimating Tools _________________________________________ 376
6 Operating Guide
Table of Contents
Screen Details __________________________________________ 377

6-8. Sales Order Inquiry _____________________________________ 382
6-9. Sales Data Views _______________________________________ 384
6-10. Sales Reports_________________________________________ 391
6-10A. Sales Order Summary ______________________________ 391
6-10B. Sales Order Detail _________________________________ 391
6-10C. Open Items Listing _________________________________ 392
6-10D. Available to Ship___________________________________ 392
6-10E. Base Prices & Costs________________________________ 392
6-10F. Invoice Listing _____________________________________ 393
6-10G. Sales by Customer_________________________________ 393
6-10H. Sales by Customer Type ____________________________ 393
6-10I. Sales by Commission Code___________________________ 394
6-10J. Sales Ranked by Customer __________________________ 394
6-10K. Profit Margin by Customer ___________________________ 394
6-10L. Sales by Item _____________________________________ 395
6-10M. Sales by Item Category _____________________________ 395
6-10N. Sales Ranked by Item ______________________________ 395
6-10O. Profit Margin by Item _______________________________ 395
6-10P. Warranty Sheet____________________________________ 396
6-10Q. Warranty Listing ___________________________________ 396
6A. RMA Processing___________________________ 397

How does an RMA work?__________________________________ 397
Recommended Workflow __________________________________ 398
6A-1. RMA Setup___________________________________________ 399
RMA SO Type __________________________________________ 399
RMA Form Creation ______________________________________ 400
Alternate Item ID’s _______________________________________ 401
6A-2. RMA Processing ______________________________________ 403
RMA Creation___________________________________________ 403
Returning an undamaged item to stock _______________________ 404
Returning a used item to stock______________________________ 404
Sending a replacement item _______________________________ 404
Scrapping a returned item _________________________________ 405
Issuing a credit memo ____________________________________ 405
Converting the RMA to a sales order _________________________ 406
Zero value invoicing ______________________________________ 406
Sending a customer refund ________________________________ 406
6A-3. Repairing a Product ___________________________________ 408
6A-4. Remanufacturing a Product_____________________________ 412
Operating Guide 7
Table of Contents
6A-5. Disassembling a Product _______________________________ 415
7. MRP_______________________________________ 417
Overview _________________________________________________ 418
7-1. MRP Setup ____________________________________________ 421
7-1A. MRP Defaults ______________________________________ 421
7-1B. Shop Calendar _____________________________________ 424
7-2. MRP Settings __________________________________________ 426
Usage History Inquiry _____________________________________ 430
Production History Inquiry _________________________________ 430
Delivery History Inquiry____________________________________ 430
7-3. MRP __________________________________________________ 432
Step 1 – Generate Jobs for CTO Items _______________________ 433
Step 2 – Generate Jobs for Net Demand ______________________ 435
Step 3 – Generate Planned POs ____________________________ 439
Scheduling & Converting Planned Jobs _______________________ 446
Scheduling Planned Jobs __________________________________ 451
Converting Planned Jobs into Actual Jobs _____________________ 457
7-4. Work Center Scheduling _________________________________ 460
7-5. Job Scheduling ________________________________________ 467
7-6. PO Scheduling _________________________________________ 471
7-7. Delivery Date Estimator__________________________________ 473
7-8. MRP Reports __________________________________________ 475
7-8A. Master Job Schedule ________________________________ 475
7-8B. Job Outputs Schedule________________________________ 475
7-8C. Work Center Schedule _______________________________ 475
7-8D. Machine Schedule __________________________________ 476
7-8E. Subcontract WC Schedule ____________________________ 476
8. Jobs ______________________________________ 477

Overview_______________________________________________ 477
8-1. Jobs Setup ____________________________________________ 481
8-1A. Job Defaults _______________________________________ 481
8-1B. Job Labor Defaults __________________________________ 484
8-1C. Worker Types ______________________________________ 486
8-1D. Job Types _________________________________________ 487
8-2. Workers_______________________________________________ 490
8-3. Job Control Panel ______________________________________ 492
8 Operating Guide
Table of Contents
Release Jobs Screen _____________________________________ 492

Process Jobs Screen _____________________________________ 495
Close Jobs Screen _______________________________________ 500
8-4. Jobs _________________________________________________ 503
Job Workflow ___________________________________________ 503
List Tab _______________________________________________ 504
Header Tab ____________________________________________ 507
Routing Tab ____________________________________________ 512
Details Tab _____________________________________________ 521
8-5. Job Travelers __________________________________________ 531
8-6. Subcontract Services ___________________________________ 533
8-7. Job Issues ____________________________________________ 539
8-8. Job Tracking & Labor ___________________________________ 551
Overview ______________________________________________ 551
Screen Details __________________________________________ 552
8-9. Job Receipts __________________________________________ 563
8-10. Job Inquiry ___________________________________________ 579
8-11. Job Data Views _______________________________________ 581
8-12. Job Reports __________________________________________ 588
8-12A. Job Profit ________________________________________ 588
8-12B. Job Cost _________________________________________ 588
8-12C. Job Transactions __________________________________ 588
8-12D. WIP Value _______________________________________ 589
8A. Using Custom Items _______________________ 591

9. Purch (Purchasing)__________________________ 595
Overview ______________________________________________ 596
9-1. Purchasing Setup ______________________________________ 598
9-1A. Purchasing Defaults _________________________________ 598
9-1B. Suppliers – List Tab _________________________________ 599
9-1C. Supplier Types _____________________________________ 600
9-1D. Supplier Terms _____________________________________ 601
9-1E. Contact Types _____________________________________ 603
9-1F. Supplier Regions ___________________________________ 604
9-1G. Supplier Codes_____________________________________ 605
9-1H. PO Types _________________________________________ 606
9-2. Suppliers _____________________________________________ 608
Operating Guide 9
Table of Contents
List Tab ________________________________________________ 608

Detail Tab – Main Side-Tab ________________________________ 609
Detail Tab – Physical Addresses Side-Tab ____________________ 612
Additional Tab – Main Side-Tab _____________________________ 613
Additional Tab – Documents Side-Tab________________________ 613
9-3. Manufacturers _________________________________________ 615
9-4. Purchase Orders _______________________________________ 617
PO Workflow____________________________________________ 617
List Tab ________________________________________________ 618
Header Tab_____________________________________________ 620
Details Tab _____________________________________________ 623
9-5. PO Receipts ___________________________________________ 630
9-6. PO Invoices ___________________________________________ 643
9-7. Purchase Prices – Items _________________________________ 650
9-8. Purchase Prices – Descriptors ____________________________ 652
9-9. Purchasing Reports_____________________________________ 653
9-9A. PO Print / Reprint ___________________________________ 653
9-9B. PO Listing _________________________________________ 653
9-9C. PO Receipts _______________________________________ 653
9-9D. Received Not Invoiced _______________________________ 653
9-9E. Purchases by Item / Descriptor _________________________ 654
9-9F. Purchases by Supplier _______________________________ 654
10. Notes (Notes & Documents) __________________ 655

10-1. Activity Notes _________________________________________ 656
Activity Notes Setup ______________________________________ 656
Entering a new activity note ________________________________ 657
Accessing and creating notes from other screens _______________ 659
Activity Notes Action Report ________________________________ 659
My Action List ___________________________________________ 660
10-2. Documents Directory___________________________________ 661
Overview_______________________________________________ 661
Document Group Setup ___________________________________ 661
Documents Directory Entry_________________________________ 662
Documents Directory Screen _______________________________ 663
11. AR (Accounts Receivable) ___________________ 665

11-1. Accounts Receivable Setup _____________________________ 666
11-1A. AR Payment Types _________________________________ 666
10 Operating Guide
Table of Contents
11-2. Customer Payments ___________________________________ 667

11-3. Customer Deposits ____________________________________ 671
11-4. Customer Statements __________________________________ 675
11-5. AR Data Views ________________________________________ 676
11-6. AR Reports___________________________________________ 682
11-6A. Payment Report ___________________________________ 682
11-6B. Customer Transactions _____________________________ 682
11-6C. Customer Detail Aging ______________________________ 682
11-6D. Customer Summary Aging ___________________________ 682
11-6E. Customer Past Due Aging ___________________________ 682
12. AP (Accounts Payable) _____________________ 683

12-1. Accounts Payable Setup _______________________________ 684
12-1A. AP Payment Types_________________________________ 684
12-2. Supplier Invoices______________________________________ 685
12-3. Recurring Invoices ____________________________________ 690
12-4. Payment Processing ___________________________________ 693
12-5. Payments Register ____________________________________ 699
12-6. Misc Credit Card Charges ______________________________ 701
12-7. Credit Card Payment ___________________________________ 704
12-8. AP Data Views ________________________________________ 706
12-9. AP Reports ___________________________________________ 712
12-9A. Payments Due ____________________________________ 712
12-9B. Supplier Detail Aging _______________________________ 712
12-9C. Supplier Summary Aging ____________________________ 712
12-9D. Supplier Past Due Aging ____________________________ 712
12-9E. 1099 Tax Form ____________________________________ 712
13. GL (General Ledger) ________________________ 713

13-1. General Ledger Setup __________________________________ 714
13-1A. Accounting Periods_________________________________ 714
13-1B. Account Classes & Groups___________________________ 716
13-1C. Chart of Accounts__________________________________ 719
13-1D. Account Assignments_______________________________ 740
13-1E. Budget Names ____________________________________ 753
13-1F. Currency Table ______________________________________ 754
13-1G. COA Conversion __________________________________ 755
Operating Guide 11
Table of Contents
13-1H. Clear Account Balances _____________________________ 762

13-2. Journal Entry _________________________________________ 763
13-3. Payroll Import_________________________________________ 769
13-4. Financial Cutoff Date ___________________________________ 772
13-5. Batch Posting_________________________________________ 773
13-6. Batch History _________________________________________ 775
13-7. GL Spreadsheet Generator ______________________________ 776
Creating a new spreadsheet________________________________ 777
Generating your spreadsheet _______________________________ 780
Column filtering & grouping ________________________________ 781
Output Options __________________________________________ 781
13-8. GL Reports ___________________________________________ 782
13-8A. Journal Report_____________________________________ 782
13-8B. Transaction Listing _________________________________ 782
13-8C. Absorbed Mfg Costs ________________________________ 783
13-8D. Trial Balance ______________________________________ 784
13-8E. Balance Sheet_____________________________________ 784
13-8F. Income Statement __________________________________ 785
13A. Period End & Year End_____________________ 787

Period End Procedures ___________________________________ 787
Fiscal Year End _________________________________________ 793
13B. Posting Specifications _____________________ 794

13C. Payroll Accounting ________________________ 804
Overview_______________________________________________ 804
Payroll Setup ___________________________________________ 805
Payroll Transfer to DBA ___________________________________ 808
14. Bank (Banking) ____________________________ 809

14-1. Banking Setup ________________________________________ 810
14-1A. Banking Accounts __________________________________ 810
14-2. Bank Deposits ________________________________________ 815
14-3. Bank Account Transfer _________________________________ 818
14-4. Merchant Account Transfer _____________________________ 820
14-5. Account Reconciliation _________________________________ 823
12 Operating Guide
Table of Contents
14-6. Account Balances Inquiry ______________________________ 828
15. Tax (Taxation) _____________________________ 829

Overview ______________________________________________ 829
15-1. Tax Defaults __________________________________________ 831
15-2. Tax Authorities _______________________________________ 834
15-3. Tax Codes ___________________________________________ 835
15-4. Tax Groups___________________________________________ 837
15-5. Tax Group Matrix ______________________________________ 838
15-6. Taxation Data Views ___________________________________ 839
15-7. Tax Reports __________________________________________ 846
15-7A. Tax Code Activity __________________________________ 846
15-7B. Tax Summary _____________________________________ 846
16. Transfer (Financial Transfer) _________________ 847

16-1. Financial Transfer Defaults _____________________________ 848
16-2. AR Invoice Transfer____________________________________ 850
Advance Setup__________________________________________ 851
Screen Details __________________________________________ 852
Data Transfer ___________________________________________ 855
16-3. PO Invoice Transfer____________________________________ 856
Advance Setup__________________________________________ 857
Screen Details __________________________________________ 858
Data Transfer ___________________________________________ 861
16-4. GL Transfer __________________________________________ 862
Advance Setup__________________________________________ 862
Status Tab _____________________________________________ 864
Transfer Tab____________________________________________ 866
History Tab_____________________________________________ 869
17. Help _____________________________________ 871

17-1. DBA Help ____________________________________________ 872
17-2. Online Support Center _________________________________ 874
17-3. User Guides __________________________________________ 876
Product Updates ________________________________________ 876
17-4. Web Links____________________________________________ 880
Operating Guide 13
Table of Contents
17-5. Web Links Setup ______________________________________ 881

17-6. DBA Help Setup _______________________________________ 882
17-7. About DBA Manufacturing ______________________________ 883
17. Backup Manager ___________________________ 885

Appendix A – Converting to DBA Financials _______ 887
Introduction _____________________________________________ 887
Conversion to DBA Financials ______________________________ 888
14 Operating Guide
Introduction
Introduction
Welcome to DBA Manufacturing, a small business ERP system that includes

order entry, planning, production, purchasing, inventory, invoicing, and
accounting. The typical company using DBA is a manufacturing business with 5-
25+ computer users.
Designed for self-implementation
Unlike mid-market ERP systems, which require you to spend tens of thousands
of dollars for onsite services, we’ve designed DBA for self-implementation. Your
primary resource tool for self-implementation is our Implementation Planner
guide and workbook.
Implementation Planner
If you are just getting started with DBA, the place to begin is with our
Implementation Planner guide and workbook. The Implementation Planner
provides you with a step-by-step methodology for getting DBA installed,
implemented, and running smoothly.
If you precisely follow the steps outlined in the Implementation Planner, apply our
recommendations, use our support resources, and invest time and effort, you can
implement DBA on your own.
Use the Implementation Planner for direction
Use the Implementation Planner to manage and direct your activities in terms of
what tasks to perform and in what order as you move through the four phases of
implementation -- Installation, Setup, Rehearsal, and Startup Day.
Use this guide for reference
The Implementation Planner lists all the tasks to be performed, but within any
given task, use the Operating Guide for the specific operational details of the
system’s modules, screens, inquiries, and reports.
Manufacturing Efficiency Guide
No company becomes an efficient manufacturer overnight. It takes time to get
fundamental methods and processes in place and to change the company
culture to adapt to them. We recommend that once a quarter you go through the
16 fundamental issues in the Manufacturing Efficiency Guide and give your
Operating Guide 15
Introduction
company a score on each. This quarterly process will identify your weak spots
and enable you to gauge your progress over time.
Online Help (F1)
All the contents of this Operating Guide can also be found in the system’s online
Help. While you are in any screen, press the F1 key to link to the Help topic for
that screen. You can also go to Help – DBA Help and locate topics using the
table of Contents or you can search for topics using the Index or Search tabs.
16 Operating Guide
1. File
1. File
The File menu is where you will find file-related utilities such as Data Import and
Data Export. Menu options include:
Main Menu
• File
• Data Import
• Data Export
• Data Dictionary
Startup Day
• Initial Stock Qty Import
• AR Beginning Balances
• AP Beginning Balances
Operating Guide 17
1-1. Change Password
1-1. Change Password

(File – Change Password)
Use this screen to change your system password.

Password Length & Case-Sensitivity
The password can be up to 15-characters long and is not case-sensitive.
Changing Your Password:
• Enter your Current Password.
• Next, enter your New Password.
• Enter your new password once again in the Confirm Password field.
• Click OK. If your current password is not recognized or the two entries of
your new password are not the same, you will receive a message advising
you to make your entries once again. When your new password is accepted,
you will receive a confirmation message.
18 Operating Guide
1-2. User Email Settings

(File – User Email Settings)
This screen is for users who manage their own Email setup, such as their user
name and password. These settings are identical to those on the Email tab in
the User Setup screen, where Email setup is managed by the system
administrator. If a user does not personally manage his or her Email setup, we
suggest that you use password security to deny that user access to this screen.
Email Option
This setting defaults to the system Email Option selected in the Main Setup
screen. The default setting can be overridden here at the user level, if needed.
Two Email server options are available:
SMTP Email Client (Recommended)
This option will send outbound Emails directly from DBA via an SMTP
gateway.
NOTE: With this option, all customer/supplier Emails sent from DBA
are stored in the system’s database and can be read by clicking the
History button within the Customers screen and Suppliers screen.
Legacy Exchange Server Support
Only select this option if you have an older version of Microsoft Exchange
Server (version 5.5 or earlier) that does not support an SMTP gateway.
NOTE: With this option, Emails are not stored in the system’s
database.
Other Fields
Reply-To Email Address
This defaults to the Company Email Address setting in the Main Setup
screen. If you want Emails sent by this user to have a personal ‘Reply-To’
Operating Guide 19
address instead of the company ‘Reply-To’ Email address, enter that Email
address in this field.
Outbound Mail Server (SMTP)
This field is only visible when the SMTP Email Client option is selected above.
Specify the address of the outbound SMTP server, which is in a
‘gateway.company.com’ format (such as ‘smtp.msn.com’ or
‘mail.pacbell.com’).
Port
Enter the port that is required by your outbound SMTP server. Most typically
this is a setting of ‘25.’
Authentication Required for Outbound Email
Select this checkbox if this user’s SMTP server requires user authentication.
When selected, two additional fields become visible.
User Name
Enter this user’s authentication user name.
Password
Enter this user’s authentication password.
20 Operating Guide
1-3. Data Import
1-3. Data Import

(File – Data Import)
Training Course
Support Center – Videos–Setup – Data Import
Overview
Import Tables
The Data Import screen is used during the Setup phase of implementation (as
specified in the Implementation Planner guide) and enables you to import the
following master tables:
• Customers
• Customer Contacts
• Delivery Addresses
• Suppliers
• Supplier Contacts
• Stock Items
• Item Sources
• Base Prices
• Qty Break Prices
• BOM Routings
• BOM Components
Import Process
The import process goes like this.
• For each table listed above, you export the data from your old system.
You either export the data directly into an Excel spreadsheet or you take
your export file and convert it into an Excel spreadsheet.
• You then edit your Excel spreadsheet so that the data conform to the
requirements of the DBA system.
• Once your spreadsheet is finalized, you map each of its columns to its
corresponding field in DBA and then you import the data in a single batch
transaction.
The specific steps in the data import process are detailed in the next three
sections.
Operating Guide 21
1-3. Data Import
Phase 1 – Export Data into Excel

Most accounting systems include a data export utility that will enable you to
export some or all of the master tables listed at the beginning of this chapter.
Export directly into Excel, if you can
If your data export utility can create an export file directly in Excel format, do so.
If you cannot export directly into an Excel spreadsheet, we recommend that you
export into a comma delimited text file format that you can then import into an
Excel spreadsheet. Your text file is typically saved as a *.txt file type.
Importing a text file into Excel
If you need to import a comma delimited text file into Excel, do so as follows:
• Open a new Excel spreadsheet.
• Click Data – Import External Data – Import Data.
• Select your comma delimited text file.
• Specify Delimited as the file type and click Next.
• On the next screen, select Comma as the Delimiter and click Next.
• Verify the settings on the next screen and click Finish.
• Click OK on the final screen. Your data should now be visible and
organized into columns on your spreadsheet.
• Click File – Save As and save your spreadsheets as either an *.xls or
*.csv file type, according to what is required by each DBA import table as
listed below.
o Customers *.xls
o Customer Contacts *.xls
o Delivery Addresses *.xls
o Suppliers *.xls
o Supplier Contacts *.xls
o Stock Items *.xls
o Item Sources *.csv
o Base Prices *.xls
o Qty Break Prices *.xls
o BOM Routings *.csv
o BOM Components *.csv
o Initial Stock Qty’s *.csv
22 Operating Guide
1-3. Data Import
Phase 2 – Edit Spreadsheet

In this second phase you will edit your spreadsheet so that it conforms to the
requirements of the DBA system.
Step 1 – Assign Column Headings

Identify each of your spreadsheet columns as to its contents and give it a column
heading in row one that matches or approximates the column names specified
for each DBA import table.
Step 2 – Reorganize Column Order
To facilitate the import process, you can reorganize your columns so that they
are in the same left-to-right sequence as the corresponding fields in DBA.
Step 3 – Delete Non-Matching Columns
Delete any columns in your spreadsheet that do not have a matching field in
DBA.
Step 4 – Edit Columns as Required
Review each column for any editing that may be required and alter your data
accordingly. For example, you may have Y/N (yes/No) values in a column that
need to be converted into T/F (True/False) values in DBA. You can use search
and replace to convert such values to the DBA format.
As another example, if your old system uses codes to represent customers and
suppliers, you will want to convert these codes to full names in your spreadsheet
to take advantage of DBA’s 50-character identification format.
Some columns must contain matching values with supporting tables in DBA that
might not have existed in your old system or might have gone by different code
names. In such cases, you must enter or change such values to match the
supporting table values in DBA.
All such editing considerations are documented later in this chapter for each
import table.
Operating Guide 23
1-3. Data Import
Editing Tools
The following tools are available within Excel that can help you edit your
export data to conform to DBA’s requirements. Click Help within Excel for
detailed instructions.
Find & Replace
You can highlight a column and then use the Find & Replace function to
mass change a value. For example, if you need to convert all the ‘Y’ (yes)
values in a column to ‘T’ (true), this function can find all ‘Y’ values and
replace them with ‘T’ values.
Move Columns
You can use Cut and Paste to move columns to any desired left-to-right
order. This can be useful if you choose to structure your spreadsheet in
the same column order as the import specifications.
Split Columns
You can use the Text to Columns function to split the data within a single
column into multiple columns. For example, your old system may store
the city, state, and postal code for an address within a single field. The
Text to Columns function can split these values out by comma and/or
space separators into separate columns, as required by DBA. After the
split is done, some manual editing is usually required to make sure all the
text was split correctly.
NOTE: When you split a column, always temporarily move it to the
far right position in your spreadsheet so that the new columns that
get created do not overwrite any other columns.
Merge Columns
You can merge data from two columns into one column by creating a third
column and populating that column with a merge formula, such as:
=(A7&” “&B7)
For example, your old system may store a contact name in two fields, one
for the first name and one for the last name. In DBA, the contact name is
a single field. Using a merge formula, you can combine the contents of
two columns into a single column.
24 Operating Guide
1-3. Data Import
Phase 3 – Import Data

The final step is to import the data. For most tables, this is done using a multi-
step Import Wizard. Routings and bills of material are imported using a single
Mapping Screen, and item sources and initial stock quantities are imported
directly. Here is a listing of the means by which each table is imported.
• Customers Import Wizard
• Customer Contacts Import Wizard
• Delivery Addresses Import Wizard
• Suppliers Import Wizard
• Supplier Contacts Import Wizard
• Stock Items Import Wizard
• Item Sources Direct
• Base Prices Import Wizard
• Qty Break Prices Import Wizard
• BOM Routings Mapping Screen
• BOM Components Mapping Screen
• Initial Stock Qty’s Direct
Using the Import Wizard

Close other applications and import on your file server
The Import Wizard consumes lots of memory, so close all your other applications
while using it.
NOTE: If you are on a network, perform your major master table data
imports on your file server rather than on a workstation. Ongoing imports,
which are small in size, such as importing additional customers or BOMs,
can be done on your local workstation.
Opening Screen
(File – Data Import)
On the Data Import opening screen, select the table to be imported and click OK.
Operating Guide 25
1-3. Data Import
Step 1 Screen – Select Excel File Option

On the Step 1 screen, select the Excel File option. Click Next to continue.
Step 2 Screen – Navigate to Excel File

On the Step 2 screen, navigate to your Excel spreadsheet file. Click Next to
continue.
26 Operating Guide
1-3. Data Import
Step 4 Screen – Enter First Row Setting

The program skips the Step 3 screen and takes you to the Step 4 screen.
Because your spreadsheet contains a row of column headings, indicate in the

First Row field that the import begins on row 2.
Step 6 Screen – Map Columns to DBA Fields

The program skips the Step 5 screen and takes you to the Step 6 screen. On
this screen, you will map each column on your spreadsheet to its corresponding
field in DBA.
Your spreadsheet columns are displayed on this screen. Click each column
heading and select the corresponding DBA field from the drop down list.
The drop down list looks like this:
Operating Guide 27
1-3. Data Import
Step 9 Screen – Save Specifications and Perform Import

After all your columns are mapped, click Next. This takes you to the Step 7
screen. Skip this screen by clicking Next. This takes you to the Step 8 screen,
which is for final review. Click Next. This takes you to the Step 9 screen, shown
here.
28 Operating Guide
1-3. Data Import
Save Specifications
Before you actually begin the import, you should save your settings by clicking
the Specifications button in the lower left.
Give your specifications a name so that they can be re-loaded if you need to run
the import again.
Execute Button
The final step is to click the Execute button, which runs the actual import.
Error Log
If the program detects any invalid entries, it will give you a list in an error log
screen. You must make appropriate corrections and run the import again.
When errors occur, usually, you’ve got values in your spreadsheet that do not
match up with the values in their corresponding sub-tables in DBA. In your
spreadsheet, make sure you don’t have any spaces in front of a field value.
Make sure the case agrees with the case of the corresponding names on the
DBA side. You may also be missing a value in a required field, such as a blank
Customer Type.
So make sure you correct each record that is listed in the error log.
Re-Running the Import

When you run the import again, you can reload your previous settings by going to
the Step 1 screen and clicking the Specifications button. Highlight your
specifications in the list and click the Load button. All your original mapping
specs will be reloaded.
You can click through the screens and go right to the Step 9 screen and run the
import again. If along the way, you change any of the screen settings, on the
Step 9 screen, click the Specifications button and save your specifications once
again.
If you click Execute and the import runs without encountering any errors, your
records will be imported and you will be notified that the records were imported
successfully.
Operating Guide 29
Data Import - Customers
Data Import – Customers

(File – Data Import – Customers)
Supporting Tables
Some or all of the following tables must be created in advance before you can
import your customers. Refer to the Implementation Planner guide for details.
Tax Codes
In USA and Canadian tax environments, Tax Codes are assigned at the
customer level, in which case you must set up all your Tax Codes in advance
of importing customers. In VAT/GST environments, a system level default
sales Tax Code is used, in which case no advance setup is required.
Customer Types
Each customer is assigned to a Customer Type.
Customer Terms
Payment terms are assigned to each customer, so you must set up your
Customer Terms table.
Sales Regions
Sales Regions are optional and help you organize your customers
geographically.
Sales Reps & Commission Codes
Sales Rep Types, Sales Reps, and Commission Codes should be set up if
you pay commissions to sales reps.
Lead Sources
Lead Sources are optional and help you gather statistics on where your new
customer leads are coming from.
Ship Methods
The ship methods table determines the preferred shipping method for each
customer.
Price Levels
If you will be differentiating pricing among your customers using Price Levels,
you must set up your Price Levels in advance.
Discount Codes
If you will be differentiating pricing among customers using Discount Codes,
you must set up your Discount Codes in advance.
*.xls File Format

Make sure you save the Customers spreadsheet as an *.xls file type, which is the
format required by the Import Wizard.
30 Operating Guide
Spreadsheet Columns
Your spreadsheet can consist of some or all of the following columns. Be sure
and insert a title in row one of each column heading so that the column can be
identified during the import process.
Customer Name (Required)
What is called the Customer Name in DBA might be called the “customer
code” in your old system. This is the key field that uniquely identifies the
customer record.
NOTE: If your old system uses a short code to identify the customer
instead of the full name as in DBA, you can store the short code in the
X-Ref Code field, which is described further below.
Editing
The Customer Name is a 50-character field that is the primary
identification for the customer on screens and reports. We suggest you
use the customer’s full name so that it is readily identifiable to your users.
If the customer ID in your old system is a code rather than a name, we
suggest you replace it with the customer’s actual name. One way to do
this is to cut and paste the Trading Name column (see next) into this
column.
NOTE: Each Customer Name must be unique. So if you have two or
more customer accounts with the same name, which is common when
you sell to companies that have multiple facilities, make each name
unique, such as by appending the city or some other identifier in
parenthesis following the name.
Trading Name (Required)
This is the name that prints on quotes, acknowledgments, packing slips, and
invoices. Unlike the Customer Name, duplicate values are allowed.
Normally, the Customer Name and the Trading Name are the same except in
cases where the Customer Name has been appended to avoid duplicate
values.
X-Ref Code
If you are using DBA with an outside accounting system, it may be that the
customer is identified in the outside system with a short code instead of the
full customer name as in DBA. For financial transfer purposes, you can store
the short code in this field, which is one of the fields available for transfer in
the AR Invoice Transfer screen. When you import the AR invoice transfer file
into your outside system, this field is mapped to the customer code in your
outside system.
Customer Payment Terms
Any value in this column must correspond to a code in the Customer Terms
table.
Operating Guide 31
Customer Notes
These are freeform notes stored against the customer. There is no specific
limit to the length of this field.
Price Level
All values in this column must correspond to a Price Level code in DBA.
Price Levels are optional.
Discount Code
All values in this column must correspond to a Discount Code in DBA.
Discount Codes are optional.
Currency Code
Multi-currency processing is under development and not currently available.
Customer Type
The Customer Type might be called a customer “class” or “category” in your
old system. If a value is not specified, the program assigns the system’s
default Customer Type. Any value in this column must correspond to a code
in the Customer Types table.
Sales Region
The Sales Region is optional and organizes customers by geography. Any
value in this column must correspond to a code in the Sales Regions table.
Commission Code
In your old system, the equivalent to what is called a Commission Code in
DBA is probably a salesperson name or number assigned to the customer.
Any value in this column must correspond to a code in the Commission
Codes table.
Editing
The Commission Code almost surely is a new table in DBA that can be
used to replace your default sales person setting, if applicable. See the
Sales Reps and Commission Codes videos in the Customer Setup training
course for details on how the Commission Code works. Cut and paste
your Commission Codes into your spreadsheet.
Lead Source
The Lead Source is an optional field that tells you where the customer first
found out about your company. Any value in this column must correspond to
a code in the Lead Sources table.
Address 1
This is usually the street address or PO Box associated with the billing
address.
32 Operating Guide
Delivery Addresses
Each customer’s delivery addresses are stored in a separate Delivery
Addresses sub-table that allows for multiple addresses per customer. In
some systems, delivery addresses are each stored in the customer table
as a customer record. If this is the case, you should copy your
spreadsheet to another name, so that you now have two spreadsheets.
One spreadsheet will be used for customer import and one for delivery
address import.
In your customer spreadsheet, you should delete all rows that represent
delivery addresses. In your delivery address spreadsheet, you should
delete all rows that represent billing addresses. See the next chapter for
details on importing your delivery addresses.
Address 2
Most systems also have a second address line that is often used for the
office, unit, or suite number.
City
The City associated with the billing address.
State
The State or Province associated with the billing address.
Zip Code/Postal Code
The Postal Code associated with the billing address.
Country
The Country associated with the billing address.
Phone Number
This is a company-level setting that is not for a specific contact person.
Fax Number
Mobile Phone Number
Email Address
Web Address
The customer’s URL.
Tax Code
If you are in a VAT/GST tax environment, leave this column blank because
you will not assign tax codes at the customer level. If you are in a USA or
Canadian tax environment, you most likely have some sort of tax code
assigned to the customer in your old system. It may be called a “tax group”,
Operating Guide 33
“tax ID”, or some other such name. You may be able to replicate these tax
codes in the Tax Codes table in DBA, in which case you can import the
values in this column without changes. If you create new Tax Codes in DBA,
you must manually assign the values in this column.
Credit Limit
Open aging plus new sales orders are not permitted to exceed this amount.
Ship Method
The customer’s preferred ship method might be called a “ship via” or some
other name in your old system. Any value in this column must correspond to
a code in the Ship Methods table.
Tax Reference Number
You can export the customer’s Tax Number, which might be called “resale
number” or “registration ID” in your old system.
Bank Name
You can export a Bank Name, if such a field exists in your old system.
Bank Account No
You can export a Bank Account number, if such a field exists in your old
system.
User Defined Field 1-6
User-Defined Date Field 1-6
DBA includes a total of six user defined fields, each of which is identified with
its own number. Within a numbered field, it can have a text value in the User-
Defined Field or a date value in the User-Defined Date Field, but it cannot
have a value in both fields.
Date Field Format
If you enter a date value in a User-Defined Date Field, it must conform to
the Short Date format defined in the Regional and Language Options
found in the Windows Control Panel on your file server.
Spreadsheet Import
The Customers spreadsheet is imported using the Import Wizard. See Phase 3
– Import Data at the beginning of this chapter for instructions.
34 Operating Guide
Data Import – Customer Contacts

(File – Data Import – Customer Contacts)
Customer Contacts are imported separately from Customers because they are
stored in a separate sub-table that allows for multiple contacts per customer.
Supporting Tables
import your Customer Contacts. Refer to the Implementation Planner guide for
details.
Customers
You must import or enter all your Customers before you can import customer
contacts. See the previous chapter for details.
Contact Types
Contact Types are used to classify contacts and are set up in the Sales –
Sales Setup – Contact Types screen.
*.xls File Format

Make sure you save the Customer Contacts spreadsheet as an *.xls file type,
which is the format required by the Import Wizard.
Spreadsheet Columns
This field links the contact to the customer and must be identical to the
Customer Name in the customer record.
NOTE: If when you imported your customers you changed the
Customer Name, you must change the Customer Name column on
your spreadsheet to match the new names.
Contact Name (Required)
The name of the contact person.
Contact Type
Contact Types are used to classify contacts and must correspond to a record
in the Contact Types table.
Phone Number
The contact person’s phone number.
Operating Guide 35
Fax
The contact person’s fax number.
Email Address
The contact person’s Email address.
Mobile Phone
The contact person’s cell phone number.
Description
A reference note that further describes the contact person.
Spreadsheet Import
The Customer Contacts spreadsheet is imported using the Import Wizard. See
Phase 3 – Import Data at the beginning of this chapter for instructions.
36 Operating Guide
Data Import – Delivery Addresses

(File – Data Import – Delivery Addresses)
Each customer’s delivery addresses are stored in a separate Delivery Addresses

sub-table that allows for multiple addresses per customer. In some systems,
delivery addresses are each stored in the customer table as a customer record.
If this is the case, you should copy your Customers spreadsheet to another name
and use the second version for Delivery Addresses. Delete all rows that
represent billing addresses.
Supporting Tables
import your customer Delivery Addresses. Refer to the Implementation Planner
guide for details.
Customers
You must import or enter all your Customers before you can import delivery
addresses.
Customer Contacts
You can optionally assign a contact person from the Customer Contacts table
to the delivery address.
Ship Methods
You can optionally assign a shipping method from the Ship Methods table to
the delivery address.
Tax Codes
In USA and Canadian tax environments, Tax Codes are often assigned at the
delivery address level, in which case you must set up all your Tax Codes in
advance of importing delivery addresses. In VAT/GST environments, a
system level default sales Tax Code is used, in which case no advance setup
is required.
*.xls File Format

Make sure you save the Delivery Addresses spreadsheet as an *.xls file type,
Spreadsheet Columns
Operating Guide 37

The Customer Name is the customer ID that links the delivery address to a
particular customer.
NOTE: If when you imported your customers you changed the
Customer Name, you must change the Customer Name column on
your spreadsheet to match the new names.
Delivery Name (Required)
The Delivery Name is the name of the delivery address location.
Address 1
This is the street address associated with the delivery address.
Address 2
City
The City associated with the delivery address.
State
The State or Province associated with the delivery address.
The Postal Code associated with the delivery address.
Country
The Country associated with the delivery address.
Contact
This is the main contact person at the delivery location.
NOTE: This field does not have to correspond to a record in the
Customer Contacts table.
Phone Number
The phone number associated with the contact person or delivery address
location.
Fax Number
The fax number associated with the contact person or delivery address
location.
Ship Method
The customer’s preferred ship method might be called a “ship via” or some
other name in your old system. Any value in this column must correspond to
a code in the Ship Methods table.
Tax Code
If you are in a VAT/GST tax environment, leave this column blank because
you will not assign tax codes at the delivery address level. If you are in a
38 Operating Guide
USA or Canadian tax environment, you have the option of leaving this blank,
in which case the Tax Code assigned to the customer is used, or you can
assign a Tax Code against the delivery address as an exception. Any values
used in this column must correspond to values in the Tax Codes table.
Spreadsheet Import
The Delivery Addresses spreadsheet is imported using the Import Wizard. See
Operating Guide 39
Data Import – Suppliers

(File – Data Import – Suppliers)
Supporting Tables
import your Suppliers. Refer to the Implementation Planner guide for details.
Supplier Types
Each supplier is assigned to a Supplier Type.
Supplier Terms
Payment terms are assigned to each supplier, so you must set up your
Supplier Terms table.
Supplier Regions
Supplier Regions are optional and help you organize your suppliers
geographically.
Supplier Codes
Supplier Codes are optional and are user-defined codes that can be used for
any classification purpose.
*.xls File Format

Make sure you save the Suppliers spreadsheet as an *.xls file type, which is the
format required by the Import Wizard.
Spreadsheet Columns
Supplier Name (Required)
What is called the Supplier Name in DBA might be called the “supplier code”
in your old system. This is the key field that uniquely identifies the supplier
record.
NOTE: If your old system uses a short code to identify the supplier
instead of the full name as in DBA, you can store the short code in the
X-Ref Code field, which is described further below.
Editing
The Supplier Name is a 50-character field that is the primary identification
for the supplier on screens and reports. We suggest you use the
supplier’s full name so that it is readily identifiable to your users. If the
supplier ID in your old system is a code rather than a name, we suggest
40 Operating Guide
you replace it with the supplier’s actual name. One way to do this is to cut
and paste the Trading Name column (see next) into this column.
NOTE: Each Supplier Name must be unique. So if you have two or
more supplier accounts with the same name, make each name unique,
such as by appending the city or some other identifier in parenthesis
following the name.
This is the name that prints on purchase orders. Unlike the Supplier Name,
duplicate values are allowed. Normally, the Supplier Name and the Trading
Name are the same except in cases where the Supplier Name has been
appended to avoid duplicate values.
X-Ref Code
supplier is identified in the outside system with a short code instead of the full
supplier name as in DBA. For financial transfer purposes, you can store the
short code in this field, which is one of the fields available for transfer in the
PO Invoice Transfer screen. When you import the PO invoice transfer file into
your outside system, this field is mapped to the supplier code in your outside
system.
Payment Terms
Any value in this column must correspond to a code in the Supplier Terms
table.
Notes
These are freeform notes stored against the customer. There is no specific
limit to the length of this field.
Currency Code
Multi-currency processing is under development and not currently available.
Supplier Type
The Supplier Type might be called a supplier “class” or “category” in your old
system. If a value is not specified, the program assigns the system’s default
Supplier Type. Any value in this column must correspond to a code in the
Supplier Types table.
Supplier Region
The Supplier Region is optional and organizes suppliers by geography. Any
value in this column must correspond to a code in the Supplier Regions table.
Supplier Code
The Supplier Code is a user-defined code that can be used for any
classification purpose. Any value in this column must correspond to a code in
the Supplier Codes table.
Operating Guide 41
Address 1
This is usually the street address or PO box associated with the mailing
address.
Address 2
City
The City associated with the mailing address.
State
The State or Province associated with the mailing address.
The Postal Code associated with the mailing address.
Country
The Country associated with the mailing address.
Phone Number
Fax Number
Email Address
Web Address
The supplier’s URL.
Tax Code
We recommend that you leave this field blank because purchase taxation is
almost always handled by a system level default purchase Tax Code rather
than tax codes assigned at the supplier level.
Ship Method
Your preferred Ship Method might be called a “ship via” or some other name
in your old system.
Tax Reference Number
You can export the supplier’s Tax Number, which might be called “resale
number” or “registration ID” in your old system.
Bank Name
You can export a Bank Name, if such a field exists in your old system.
Bank Account No
You can export a Bank Account number, if such a field exists in your old
system.
42 Operating Guide

Date Field Format
Spreadsheet Import
The Suppliers spreadsheet is imported using the Import Wizard. See Phase 3 –
Import Data at the beginning of this chapter for instructions.
Operating Guide 43
Data Import – Supplier Contacts

(File – Data Import – Supplier Contacts)
Supplier Contacts are imported separately from Suppliers because they are
stored in a separate sub-table that allows for multiple contacts per supplier.
Supporting Tables
import your Supplier Contacts. Refer to the Implementation Planner guide for
details.
Suppliers
You must import or enter all your Suppliers before you can import supplier
contacts. See the previous chapter for details.
Contact Types
Contact Types are used to classify contacts and are set up in the Purch –
Purchasing Setup – Contact Types screen.
*.xls File Format

Make sure you save the Supplier Contacts spreadsheet as an *.xls file type,
Spreadsheet Columns
Supplier Name (Required)
This field links the contact to the supplier and must be identical to the Supplier
Name in the supplier record.
NOTE: If when you imported your suppliers you changed the Supplier
Name, you must change the Supplier Name column on your
spreadsheet to match the new names.
Contact Name (Required)
The name of the contact person.
Contact Type
Contact Types are used to classify contacts and must correspond to a record
in the Contact Types table.
Phone Number
The contact person’s phone number.
44 Operating Guide
Fax
The contact person’s fax number.
Email Address
The contact person’s Email address.
Mobile Phone
The contact person’s cell phone number.
Description
A reference note that further describes the contact person.
Spreadsheet Import
The Supplier Contacts spreadsheet is imported using the Import Wizard. See
Operating Guide 45
Data Import – Stock Items

(File – Data Import – Stock Items)
Supporting Tables
import your Stock Items. Refer to the Implementation Planner guide for details.
Item Categories (Required)
Each item is assigned to an Item Category for classification purposes.
Locations
Each item can optionally be assigned to a default Issue Location and Receipt
Location.
*.xls File Format

Make sure you save the Stock Items spreadsheet as an *.xls file type, which is
the format required by the Import Wizard.
Spreadsheet Columns
Item ID (Required)
The first column is what is called the Item ID in DBA. In some systems this is
called a “part number”; in others an “item code”.
CAUTION: Do not edit your Item ID’s in the spreadsheet. Other tables,
such as your bills of material, will be keyed to these same Item ID’s, so
if you change them here you will get mis-matched tables and orphaned
records.
Description (Required)
In DBA the Description is 50 characters long. If yours is longer or is
comprised of two fields, you’ll have to do some editing here to get it to fit the
DBA Description field size.
Stocking UM (Required)
This should be your stocking unit of measure. If you also have a purchasing
unit of measure, it will be dealt with later when you import your Item Sources.
Item Category (Required)
The Item Category might be called an item “type” or “class” in your old
system. The values in this column must correspond to records in the Item
Categories table.
46 Operating Guide
Mfg or Purch (Required)

In DBA, all manufactured items are given a value of ‘M’ and all purchased
items a value of ‘P’. You should insert a column in your spreadsheet and
then assign M’s or P’s to all items.
Item Notes
This field is for freeform notes against the item.
Estimated Cost
If your old system has a “fixed” or “standard” cost for the item, populate this
field with that value. If not, populate this field with the item’s “average” cost or
“inventory” cost.
NOTE1: When this field gets imported, this value also populates the
item’s Inventory Cost and Last Cost fields. The Inventory Cost will get
updated again on system startup day when you import Initial Stock
Qty’s.
NOTE2: Technically, it is not necessary to import an Estimated Cost
for ‘M’ items because for those items it gets calculated by the Cost
Rollup based on your BOM routing and component costs. It is
harmless, however, to import the cost on ‘M’ items and not worth the
effort to delete them because they will be overwritten when you
eventually run the Cost Rollup.
Primary Location
The next two columns represent each item’s default Primary Location and
default Receipt Location. In most cases, the two locations are the same,
unless you receive into a QC inspection location and transfer items to another
location after they’ve been inspected.
NOTE1: You must have your Locations table already set up in DBA
before you create your spreadsheet. See the Locations Setup training
course for more information. It is unlikely that you duplicated the
locations from your old system. But if you did, you can use the
exported values. If the DBA locations are new, you need to go down
this column and assign each item to a Primary Location and Receipt
Location. Use copy and paste to make sure the location names don’t
contain any typing errors.
NOTE2: If you don’t want to deal with locations until later, you can
assign all items to the default Primary Location and default Receipt
Location specified in the Inventory Defaults screen and then reassign
them later at the item level once you’ve decided on your locations
strategy.
Receipt Location
See previous.
Operating Guide 47
Reorder Level
This is the item’s Reorder Level, which might be referred to as a “reorder
point” in your old system.
Min Order
This is the item’s Min Order amount, used in MRP.
Lead Days
This is the item’s Lead Days setting, sometime referred to as “lead time” in
other systems. For ‘P’ (purchased) items, this is the total number of days
normally required to receive the item from its default supplier. For ‘M’
(manufactured) items, this is the number of days normally required before a
job can be started, to account for advance preparation time or time required
to make lower level subassemblies.
Whole No Rounding (T, F)
Enter a ‘T’ if the item is always ordered and stocked in whole number
increments. Enter an ‘F’ if the item can be stocked in a decimal quantity.
Order Multiple
This is an MRP setting that rounds PO and job quantities so that they are
always divisible by a specified increment. For example, a particular item
might always have to be ordered in multiples of one hundred, such as 100,
200, 300, etc.
Custom to Order (M Items Only) T/F
This is an MRP setting that identifies when an item is always made to
customer order and is customized in some manner such that it can’t be
stocked or shipped to other customers. Enter a ‘T’ against such items. If the
item is not customized and can be shipped to any customers, enter an ‘F’. If
you leave the column blank, items are assigned ‘F’ by default.
Job Days (M Items Only)
This is an MRP setting that represents the typical number of production days
required from job release through job finish. This setting applies to ‘M’ items
only.
Run Size (M Items Only)
This is an MRP setting that represents the most typical job quantity for this
item.
Drawing No
This setting applies to ‘M’ items only.
Drawing Title
This setting applies to ‘M’ items only.
Unit Weight
The weight (pounds, kilos, etc.) associated with one unit of the item.
48 Operating Guide
Unit Volume
The volume (cubic feet, meters, etc.) associated with one unit of the item.
Standard Pack Size
The number of units included in one shipping pack (carton, pallet, etc.) for the
item.
Conversion Factor
This is a dimension field for reference only.
Fixed Width
Fixed Length
Proportion
Tax Code
In the vast majority of cases, a tax code does not need to be specified at the
item level and this field can be left blank. This is because line item taxation is
usually governed at the sales order or purchase order header level. Only if
the item requires a tax code exception do you need to make an entry into this
column. Any values in this column must correspond to values in the Tax
Codes table.
Warranty Code
Any value in this column must correspond to a record in the Warranty Codes
table.
UPC Bar Code
This is a cross-reference ID number used in association with UPC bar coding.
Path to Picture File
This specifies the location of a graphical image associated with this item.
Date Field Format
Operating Guide 49
Spreadsheet Import
The Stock Items spreadsheet is imported using the Import Wizard. See Phase 3
50 Operating Guide
Data Import – Item Sources

(File – Data Import – Item Sources)
Item Sources are imported separately from Stock Items so that you can specify
multiple Suppliers per item.
If your old system only includes a single Preferred Supplier that is part of your
item master table, you still must import that information separately from your
stock items. We suggest you take your Stock Items spreadsheet, which contains
the Preferred Supplier field, and do a “save as” to a different name to create an
Item Sources spreadsheet. Once created, you can then delete all the unneeded
columns to get your spreadsheet to conform to the specifications listed below.
Alternates, Complementary, Customer X-Refs Not Included
The Item Sources import deals with Suppliers and Manufacturers only. Alternate,
Complementary, and Customer cross-references are not included and must be
entered manually.
Supporting Tables
import your Item Sources. Refer to the Implementation Planner guide for details.
Stock Items (Required)
All your purchased items must be entered or imported before you can assign
Item Sources.
Suppliers (Required)
All Suppliers specified as Item Sources must be set up first in the Suppliers
table.
Manufacturers
Manufacturers are optional. Any Manufacturers specified must correspond to
records in the Manufacturers table.
*.csv File Format

Make sure you save the Item Sources spreadsheet as a *.csv file type. The Item
Sources spreadsheet is imported directly without use of the Import Wizard.
Spreadsheet Columns
Your spreadsheet must consist of all of the following columns.
NOTE: The columns in this spreadsheet must be in the exact order listed.
We recommend inserting column headings in row one for identification
purposes.
Operating Guide 51
Item ID (Required)
The Item ID to which the item source is linked. Any value in the column must
correspond to a record in the Stock Items table.
Supplier (Required)
The Supplier that is the source for this item. Any value in the column must
correspond to a record in the Suppliers table.
NOTE: When you specify multiple Suppliers against one item, the
Supplier in the first position will be designated by the program as the
Default Supplier.
Supplier Part # (Required)
You must specify the supplier’s part number. If you do not know the
supplier’s part number, use the DBA Item ID.
Description
You can optionally specify the supplier’s Description for the item, if it differs
from the item’s Description.
NOTE: Be sure and create this column, even if it contains no values.
UM
You can optionally specify the supplier’s unit of measure for the item, if it
differs from the item’s stocking unit of measure.
Multiplier
This is used to calculate the supplier’s order quantity if the supplier sells the
item in a different unit of measure than your stocking unit of measure. The
DBA quantity is multiplied by this amount to arrive at the supplier’s quantity.
Here are two examples:
Stock in Buy in Multiplier
FT YARD .333
FT INCH 12
Manufacturer
You can optionally specify a Manufacturer within this Supplier record. Any
value in the column must correspond to a record in the Manufacturers table.
Mfg Part #
You can optionally specify a Manufacturer part number within this Supplier
record.
52 Operating Guide
Spreadsheet Import
Your Item Sources spreadsheet is imported directly without the aid of the Import
Wizard. You simply navigate to your spreadsheet file in the screen shown below.
Select the checkbox underneath if row one of your spreadsheet is used for
column headings. Click the Import button to start the import process.
If any errors are found, they are listed Errors tab. Correct the errors in your
spreadsheet, then run the import again.
Import Item Sources Screen
Operating Guide 53
Data Import – Base Prices

(File – Data Import – Base Prices)
Base Prices are imported separately from Stock Items because they are stored in
a different table.
If your old system includes a Base Price that is part of your item master table, we
suggest you take your Stock Items spreadsheet, which contains the Base Price
field, and do a “save as” to a different name to create a Base Prices spreadsheet.
Once created, you can then delete all the unneeded columns to get your
spreadsheet to conform to the specifications listed below.
Qty Price Breaks are imported separately
If you have additional prices based on quantity, those Qty Break Prices are
imported separately from Base Prices. See the next section for details.
Supporting Tables
The following table must be created in advance before you can import your Base
Prices. Refer to the Implementation Planner guide for details.
All the items you sell must be entered or imported before you can assign
Base Prices.
*.xls File Format

Make sure you save the Base Prices spreadsheet as an *.xls file type, which is
the format required by the Import Wizard.
Spreadsheet Columns
Your spreadsheet must include the following columns. Be sure and insert a title
in row one of each column heading so that the column can be identified during
the import process.
Item ID (Required)
The Item ID to which the item source is linked. Any value in the column must
correspond to a record in the Stock Items table.
Next Price (Required)
The Base Price actually gets imported into the Next Price field.
54 Operating Guide
Spreadsheet Import
The Base Prices spreadsheet is imported using the Import Wizard. See Phase 3
Final Step – Mass Update Base Prices

The Base Price was actually imported into the Next Price field. As a final step,
go to the Sales – Pricing & Discounts – Base Prices screen and click the Mass
Update button. This process copies the Next Price into the Base Price field and
clears the Next Price field for a future entry.
Operating Guide 55
Data Import – Qty Price Breaks
Data Import – Qty Price Breaks

(File – Data Import – Qty Price Breaks)
Qty Price Breaks are imported separately from Base Prices because they are
stored in a different table that allows for multiple break prices against an item.
Supporting Table
The following table must be created in advance before you can import your Base
Prices. Refer to the Implementation Planner guide for details.
Base Prices (Required)
You must first enter or import Base Prices before you can import Qty Break
Prices.
*.xls File Format

Make sure you save the Qty Break Prices spreadsheet as an *.xls file type, which
is the format required by the Import Wizard.
Spreadsheet Columns
Item ID (Required)
The Item ID to which quantity break price is linked. Any value in the column
must correspond to a record in the Stock Items table.
Price
This is the quantity break Price.
NOTE: Leave this field blank if you enter a % of Base value.
Quantity (Required)
This is the Quantity at which the Price takes effect.
% of Base
As an alternative to a specific Price, you can enter a % of Base, which is a
decimal number. For example, if you want the quantity break to be 80.5% of
Base Price, enter ‘80.5’.
NOTE: Leave this field blank if you enter a Price value.
Spreadsheet Import
The Qty Break Prices spreadsheet is imported using the Import Wizard. See
56 Operating Guide
Data Import – BOM Routings

(Data Import – BOM Routings)
Supporting Tables
import your BOM Routings. Refer to the Implementation Planner guide for
details.
All your ‘M’ items should be entered or imported before you can import BOM
Routings.
Work Centers (Required)
Each routing sequence must be assigned to a Work Center.
Machines
You can optionally assign a routing sequence to particular Machine.
Suppliers
All Suppliers that provide subcontract services must be entered or imported
before you can import BOM Routings.
Revision Names
If you use revisions, each routing sequence must be assigned to a Revision
name. All revision names must be set up in the Revision Names table before
you can import BOM Routings.
*.csv File Format

Make sure you save the BOM Routings spreadsheet as a *.csv file type, which is
required by the Import BOM Routings screen.
Spreadsheet Columns
Parent ID (Required)
This is the ‘M’ item associated with the routing sequence. Any value in this
field must correspond to a record in the Stock Items table.
Revision
Each routing sequence must be assigned to a Revision name. If you don’t
use revisions, you can leave this field blank and the program will populate it
with your system Default Revision.
Operating Guide 57
Sequence (Required)
This is the ID number that identifies this routing sequence and determines the
sequence sort order.
Description
This is the sequence Description, which describes the production process or
service to be performed.
Work Center (Required)
Each routing sequence must be assigned to a Work Center. Any value in the
column must correspond for a record in the Work Centers table.
Machine
Each routing sequence can optionally be assigned to a Machine. Any value
in this column must correspond to a record in the Machines table.
Setup Hours
These are the setup hours required to prepare this sequence.
NOTE: Setup Hours must be in decimal format. If your old system
stores this in hours, minutes, and seconds, you must convert all the
values in this column into decimal numbers. 30 minutes, for example,
would be ‘.5’ hours.
Items/Process
If you leave this blank, the import program will give it a value of ‘1’.
Processes/Hr
This is your cycle time or production rate.
No Persons
This determines the number of persons required to perform the sequence. If
you leave this column blank, the import program assigns it a value of ‘1’.
Backflush (T/F)
Enter a ‘T’ if the labor for this sequence is to be backflushed based on items
completed. Enter an ‘F’ if the labor hours are to be collected and entered
from time sheets. If you leave this column blank, the import program assigns
it a value of ‘T’.
Days to Next
This is an optional field that specifies an interval in days between this
sequence and the next sequence.
Traveler Notes
This is the freeform text that documents the process to be performed.
Subcontract: Supplier
If this sequence is associated with a subcontract service stage, this is the
Supplier that performs the service.
58 Operating Guide
Subcontract: Days to Next

This is the lead time for the subcontract service.
Subcontract: Cost
This is the estimated unit Cost of the subcontract service.
Subcontract: UM
This is the unit of measure associated with the subcontract service.
Subcontract: PO Notes
These are the freeform notes that flow from the job to the subcontract service
PO.
Spreadsheet Import
The BOM Routings spreadsheet is imported using the Import BOM Routings
screen shown below.
1. Column headings
This checkbox is selected by default and tells the program to skip row one of the
spreadsheet because it contains column headings.
2. Choose the import file
Click the 3-dot button to navigate to your *.csv file, which is your spreadsheet.
3. Map the import file columns.

Om this step you will map each DBA field, where applicable, to the
corresponding column on your spreadsheet. Field explanations are as follows:
Your Data
Click the down arrow and select the column heading from your spreadsheet
that matches the DBA Field.
Operating Guide 59
Required
This checkbox is selected when the field is required, which means all rows in
your spreadsheet must have a value. Non-required fields do not have to be
mapped to a spreadsheet column.
DBA Field
This is the descriptive name of the field in DBA.
Type, Len
‘C’ in the Type column indicates an alphanumeric field with a limit of so many
characters as specified in the Len column. ‘N’ in the Type column indicates a
numeric field.
Info
You can click the button in this column for additional information regarding
this field.
DBA Field Name
This is the actual name of the field in the database.
4. Import
When you are done with your mapping, click the Import button. The program will
attempt to import your data. If any errors are found, the data will not be imported
and you will be given an error report. You should print out the report and make
corrections to your spreadsheet.
NOTE: After you print out your report, do not close the Import Routings
screen. If you do so, you’ll have to re-do all your mappings once again.
When the program is able run through the data without finding any errors, it will
then ask you if you wish to import the data. Click Yes and all the data on the
spreadsheet will be imported.
Copyright Notice
Portions of this import program Copyright 2005-2006 White Peak Software Inc
60 Operating Guide
Data Import – BOM Components

(File – Data Import – BOM Components)
Supporting Tables
import your BOM Components. Refer to the Implementation Planner guide for
details.
All BOM parent items and components should be entered or imported before
you can import BOM Components.
Revision Names
If you use revisions, each component must be assigned to a Revision name.
All revision names must be set up in the Revision Names table before you
can import BOM Components.
Routings
Routings should be entered or imported before BOM Components so that
components can be assigned to the routing sequences in which they are
consumed.
Descriptors
We do not recommend using Descriptors as BOM Components, but if you
choose to do so, you must first create them manually in the Descriptors
screen.
*.csv File Format

Make sure you save the BOM Components spreadsheet as a *.csv file type,
which is required by the Import BOM Components screen.
Spreadsheet Columns
Parent ID (Required)
This is the ‘M’ item associated with the component. Any value in this field
must correspond to a record in the Stock Items table.
Revision
Each component must be assigned to a Revision name. If you don’t use
revisions, you can leave this field blank and the program will populate it with
your system Default Revision.
Operating Guide 61
Component (Required)
Values in this column must correspond to a record in the Stock Items table.
Line No
The Line No field enables you to bring in your existing line numbers. If you
leave this column blank, the import program will assign line numbers in the
order that it imports your components, and will number then in increments of
10. If the components look to be in the correct order on your spreadsheet,
you can delete the Line No column and the components will come into DBA
uniformly numbered as 10, 20, 30 etc.
Sequence
You can optionally assign each component to the routing Sequence in which
it is consumed.
Type (S/D)
Stock Item components should be identified with an ‘S’ and Descriptors with a
‘D’. If you leave this column blank, the import program defaults this value to
‘S’.
Usage Qty (Required)
This is the quantity required to make one unit of the parent item. Decimal
quantities are permitted.
Scrap %
This is the expected scrap percentage associated with the component.
NOTE: You may need to edit the Scrap % field values. Some systems
use a yield factor instead of a scrap percentage. 90% yield is the
opposite of a 10% scrap factor like we use in DBA. So if your old
system uses yield, you must convert the values in this column to their
opposite values.
From Date
This is the date the component was added to the BOM.
Thru Date
This is the date the component was removed from the BOM.
Notes
These are freeform notes associated with the component.
62 Operating Guide
Spreadsheet Import
The BOM Components spreadsheet is imported using the Import BOM
Components screen shown below.
1. Column headings
This checkbox is selected by default and tells the program to skip row one of the
spreadsheet because it contains column headings.
2. Choose the import file
Click the 3-dot button to navigate to your *.csv file, which is your spreadsheet.
3. Map the import file columns.

Om this step you will map each DBA field, where applicable, to the
corresponding column on your spreadsheet. Field explanations are as follows:
Your Data
Click the down arrow and select the column heading from your spreadsheet
that matches the DBA Field.
Required
This checkbox is selected when the field is required, which means all rows in
your spreadsheet must have a value. Non-required fields do not have to be
mapped to a spreadsheet column.
DBA Field
This is the descriptive name of the field in DBA.
Type, Len
‘C’ in the Type column indicates an alphanumeric field with a limit of so many
characters as specified in the Len column. ‘N’ in the Type column indicates a
numeric field.
Operating Guide 63
Info
You can click the button in this column for additional information regarding
this field.
DBA Field Name
This is the actual name of the field in the database.
4. Import
When you are done with your mapping, click the Import button. The program will
attempt to import your data. If any errors are found, the data will not be imported
and you will be given an error report. You should print out the report and make
corrections to your spreadsheet.
NOTE: After you print out your report, do not close the Import BOM
Components screen. If you do so, you’ll have to re-do all your mappings
once again.
When the program is able run through the data without finding any errors, it will
then ask you if you wish to import the data. Click Yes and all the data on the
spreadsheet will be imported.
Copyright Notice
Portions of this import program Copyright 2005-2006 White Peak Software Inc
64 Operating Guide
1-4. Data Export
1-4. Data Export

(File – Data Export)
You can export data from any table in the system using the Data Export screen.
To start the export process, highlight the table you wish to export from and then
click the Export button.
Data Dictionary
(File – Data Dictionary)
A list of system tables and field definitions can be found in the Data Dictionary,
which is presented in a Help file format.
Operating Guide 65
1-4. Data Export
Step 1 – Select File Format
On this screen you will select the file format of your export file. A variety of
format options are listed on the screen.
Once your selection is made, click the Next button.
Step 2 – Selection Options
Additional options are selected on this screen.

The File Origin will default to ‘ANSI (Windows).’ Do not change this.
If you are not exporting the entire file, insert a check into the Selected records
only checkbox.
If you want to include column titles in your export file, select the Include column
titles checkbox. If you want a blank line between the column headings and the
first export record, select the Add a blank line after field names checkbox.
If your target system stores empty field values as zeroes, clear the Blank if zero?
checkbox. If empty fields are stored with blank values, select this checkbox.
66 Operating Guide
1-4. Data Export
Click Next to continue.
Step 3 – Select Field Delimiters
This screen is displayed if you selected the text (*.txt) file format.
First, indicate whether your export file is to be in Delimited or Fixed Width format.
Delimited means that data fields are separated with a defined character such as
a semicolon, comma, space, etc. Fixed Width means that your export file fields
have fixed lengths such that each field’s first character can be defined position
within the record.
If you selected Delimited, choose one of the following to represent the field
separator used in your export file.
Tab
Tab can be used as a separator in Word documents or when Excel
spreadsheets are saved as *.txt documents.
Semicolon
Can be used as a separator in a Word document.
Comma
This is the most common delimiter used when creating text-based export
files. You can also use comma separators with Word documents or when
Excel spreadsheets are saved as *.csv documents.
Space
You can use a space to separate words within a Word document (if each
word is a separate field) or when Excel spreadsheets are saved as *.pm
documents.
None
Can be used when there is only one field to export and no delimiters are
required.
Operating Guide 67
1-4. Data Export
Other
You can use any symbol you wish to separate fields. Enter the symbol
you wish to use in the field to the right of this option.
In the Record Separator field, chose one of the following to indicate what
separates each record in your export file.
• CRLF Carriage Return / Line Feed
• CR Carriage Return only
• LF Line Feed only
Enter a symbol in the Text Qualifier field if non-numeric text fields (such as
customer and supplier names) are surrounded by a symbol such as a quotation
mark, which is a common format with *.txt files.
Step 4 – Field Formatting
In this step you define the properties of each field to be exported.

You can format the field Title, including the Caption (English description), its
Alignment (left, center, or right justified), and its Background color and Font.
You can also format the data’s Alignment, Background, and Font as well.
68 Operating Guide
1-4. Data Export
Step 5 – Header and Footer
In this screen you can enter header and footer text that will accompany your
export file.
Step 6 – Define Layout

This screen only appears for some export file formats (such as Adobe Acrobat).
You can define the layout of the data, including whether you want it in columnar,
reverse columnar, or tabular format, as well as your color style preference.
Saving specifications for future use
You can save your export settings so that they can be used again without having
to go through all the setup steps. To do so, click the Specifications button at
lower left. A screen will appear containing a list of all your saved export
specifications for this table. Click the Save button and you can enter a name for
this set of specifications as well as a path to the source file. When done, click
OK and the name will be added to the list of available specifications.
Operating Guide 69
1-4. Data Export
Step 7 – Export Data
Give your file a path (using the navigation button, if you’d like) and file name in
the Export to a File field.
If you want to break up your export into more than one file, you can set a size
limit using the Records per File? field. This might be useful if you are exporting
to a spreadsheet that can only hold a certain number of lines. The program will
automatically create multiple export files and number then with a suffix of ‘1’, ‘2’,
‘3’, etc.
You can then select an action to occur after the file is exported. For example,
you can automatically view the contents of the file, or you can e-mail the file with
it as an automatic attachment.
When your entries are completed, click the Execute button to run the export
routine.
Re-exporting using saved specs

To re-export using saved specs, select the Export option on the opening screen,
highlight the table you wish to export from, then click the Export button.
On the next screen, click the Specifications button in the lower left portion of the
opening screen. Highlight the item you want in the list of available specifications
window, then click the Load button. This will load all your saved settings into the
export wizard screens.
You can now cycle through the screens and change any settings you wish.
When done, click the Execute button on the last screen to run the export routine.
70 Operating Guide
1-5. Data Dictionary
1-5. Data Dictionary

(File – Data Dictionary)
The Data Dictionary is a PDF document that provides a listing of relevant system
tables and field names. This can be of a useful reference resource when using
the Data Export or Database Queries utilities.
Operating Guide 71
1-6. Initial Stock Qty Import

(File – Startup Day – Initial Stock Qty Import)
Import only on startup day

On system “startup day” you will cease using your old system for sales orders,
make jobs, and purchasing, and you will begin performing those activities
exclusively in DBA. As of startup day, you must import or enter your current
stock quantities in DBA so that you have an accurate beginning inventory.
Assign items to characteristics after stock quantity import
Stock items should not be assigned to tracking characteristics such as lot and
serial control until after you import initial stock quantities. After initial stock
quantities are imported, you can then assign items to characteristics on the
Characteristics tab of the Stock Items screen. As you do so, the program
requires you to allocate the stock on hand to characteristic values.
If you’ve already assigned items to characteristics:
The Initial Stock Qty Import rejects stock items that are assigned to
characteristics. So if you’ve already assigned items to characteristics, you have
two options:
• You can clear all characteristic assignments using the Item Characteristics
screen so that you can run the initial stock quantity import and then
reassign characteristics afterwards.
• You can delete the items assigned to characteristics from your import
spreadsheet, then run the import on all items without characteristics, then
you can manually enter initial stock quantities for items with characteristics
using the Stock Adjustments screen.
Supporting Tables
The following tables must be created in advance before you can import your
Initial Stock Quantities. Refer to the Implementation Planner guide for details.
All your Stock Items must be entered or imported before you can assign Initial
Stock Quantities.
Locations (Required)
Each stock quantity must be associated with a Location.
*.csv File Format

Make sure you save the Initial Stock Qty’s spreadsheet as a *.csv file type. The
Initial Stock Qty’s spreadsheet is imported directly without use of the Import
Wizard.
72 Operating Guide
Spreadsheet Columns
Your spreadsheet must consist of all of following columns.
NOTE: The columns in this spreadsheet must be in the exact order listed.
We recommend inserting column headings in row one for identification
purposes.
Item ID (Required)
Each item will have one row for each Location with a Stock Qty. So if an item
has stock in three locations, it will be given three rows in the spreadsheet.
NOTE: Do not import items assigned to Tracking Characteristics.
Initial stock quantities for such items must be manually entered in the
Stock Adjustments screen.
Location (Required)
This is the Location associated with the Stock Qty.
Stock Qty
This is the stock on hand at this Location.
Inventory Cost
This is the current “average” cost or “inventory” cost for the item in your old
system.
NOTE1: If an item has multiple rows in the spreadsheet, repeat this
cost value in each row.
NOTE2: Even though the Inventory Cost already received a value
when you imported the Estimated Cost during the Stock Items import,
it is updated during the Initial Stock Qty’s import to reflect the most
recent value prior to system startup day.
Spreadsheet Import
Your Initial Stock Qty’s spreadsheet is imported directly without the aid of the
Import Wizard. You simply navigate to your spreadsheet file in the screen shown
below. Select the checkbox underneath if row one of your spreadsheet is used
for column headings.
You have the option of entering a Reference note that will be inserted into the
transaction history of each item.
Click the Import button to start the import process. If any errors are found, they
are listed Errors tab. Correct the errors in your spreadsheet, then run the import
again.
Operating Guide 73
Import Initial Stock Qty’s Screen
74 Operating Guide
1-7. AR Beginning Balances

(File – Startup Day – AR Beginning Balances)
Use this screen to enter unpaid customer invoices as of system startup day.
NOTE: Any entries made in this screen will not post to the General Ledger.
The sole purpose of this screen is to get these entries into the open aging
so that customer payments associated with these invoices can be
processed within DBA.
List Tab
All customers are listed on this screen, along with beginning balance information
derived from entries made through this screen.
Customer
This customer ID is displayed in this field.
Beg Balance
The grand total of all invoice amounts entered is displayed in this field.
# Invoices
The amount displayed in this field is the number of invoices that comprise the
Beg Balance.
Trading Name
The customer’s Trading Name, which is the name that prints on order
documents, is displayed for reference purposes.
Invoices Tab
To enter one or more invoices for a customer, highlight the applicable Customer
and click the Invoices tab. On the Invoices tab, make entries to the following
fields:
Operating Guide 75
Invoice No
Enter the original invoice number.
Invoice Date
Enter the original invoice date.
Remaining Amt
Enter the unpaid amount.
Payment Terms
This field is optional. If you select from the payment terms table, the program
will automatically establish the Due Date based on the terms selected.
Due Date
You can accept the Due Date established by the Payment Terms or you can
manually select any date you wish.
Posted
After you click the Update button, this read-only checkbox is automatically
selected and informs you that your entry has been posted to the open invoice
table.
Update Button
Enter all the open invoices for the customer. When you are finished, click the
Update button. The Posted checkbox will be updated against each invoice,
indicating that it has been saved to the open invoices table.
76 Operating Guide
1-8. AP Beginning Balances

(File – Startup Day – AP Beginning Balances)
Use this screen to enter unpaid supplier invoices as of system startup day.
NOTE: Any entries made in this screen will not post to the General Ledger.
The sole purpose of this screen is to get these entries into the open aging
so that supplier payments associated with these invoices can be processed
within DBA.
List Tab
Previously created beginning balance supplier invoices are listed on this screen
in descending invoice date order. You can view the detail behind any invoice by
highlighting it and clicking the Detail tab.
New Button
Click this button to create a new beginning balance supplier invoice. You are
taken to the Detail tab, which is cleared for new record entry.
Edit Button
Click this button to change an existing beginning balance invoice without having
to delete it and re-enter it from scratch.
Reverse Button
Click this button to delete the highlighted beginning balance invoice.
Detail Tab
You can enter a new beginning balance supplier invoice on this screen (by
clicking New while on the List tab) or you can view the details of an existing
supplier invoice record.
Operating Guide 77
NOTE: This screen is a special version of the Supplier Invoices screen

that does not post to the General Ledger.
General Information
Supplier
Select the Supplier from the lookup.
Invoice No
Enter the supplier invoice number.
Invoice Date
Enter the supplier invoice date, which is the date used for aging and payment
processing purposes.
GL Post Date
This date defaults to today’s date. No GL posting occurs, so leave this date
as is.
Pay Ref
Leave this blank.
Net Amt
Enter the remaining invoice amount, which is the amount that has not yet
been paid.
Tax Amt
In most cases, tax is not relevant to a beginning balance invoice, in which
case you should clear this field.
NOTE: In some countries the tax portion of invoices is tracked
separately. If this is the case, enter the remaining tax amount.
Invoice Total
This read-only field is the sum of the Net Amt and Tax Amt.
Tax Code
This setting is irrelevant to a beginning balance invoice and can be left as is.
Payment & Selection Amts
This panel has no relevance to a beginning balance invoice.
Payment Terms
Payment Terms
The default Supplier Terms code assigned to this supplier is selected by
default. You can make an alternate selection, if you wish.
Due Date
The Due Date for invoice payment is automatically calculated according to the
Days and From Month End values associated with the Supplier Terms code.
You can manually override this date, if you wish.
78 Operating Guide
Days, From End of Month, Discount %, Discount Days

These read-only fields display the details associated with the selected
Supplier Terms code.
Distribution Grid
Only one line is entered with a beginning balance invoice. To make an entry,
click the New button.
Net Amt
The program inserts the Net Amt from the upper panel into this field. Leave
this as is.
Tax Amt
The program automatically inserts the Tax Amt from the upper panel into this
field. Leave this as is.
Total Amt
This read-only field is the sum of the Net Amt and Tax Amt.
Pay Hold
If you do not wish for all or a portion of this invoice to be paid at this time
(perhaps because of a dispute with the supplier), you can select this
checkbox, which prevents this line’s amount from being selected and paid in
the Payment Processing screen.
Reference
You can enter a short note against this line for reference purposes on this
screen only.
Supplier Invoice Notes
You can enter freeform notes in this panel for reference on this screen only.
Payments Tab
This tab has no relevance to a beginning balance invoice.
Operating Guide 79
80 Operating Guide
2. Admin
2. Admin
The Admin menu is where you find applications used by the system administrator
to set up users and configure the system. Menu options include:
Admin
• User Setup
• Current Online Users
• Upgrade License
• Run Command File
• Main Setup
• Accounting Configuration
• System Defaults
Operating Guide 81
2-1. User Setup
2-1. User Setup

(Admin – User Setup)
Use this screen to create user accounts and to manage user settings.
List Tab
User accounts are created on this tab.
Creating a new user

To create a new user, click the New button. Enter a User Name, which is the
name used to log into the system. Enter a first and last name. If this user is to
have “administrator” status, which allows access to certain screens that are off
limits to other users, select the Administrator checkbox.
Active User Checkbox
Even though you can set up an unlimited number of users, the number of users
that can be designated as active users (via selection of the Active User
checkbox) is limited by the # of Licensed Users displayed in the upper right
corner of the screen. Only active users will be allowed to log on to the system.
Change Password Screen
When each new user is created, the system assigns that user a password of
‘pass’. The user can log into the system and go to the File – Change Password
screen and can then change the password to one of his or her choice.
Password Length & Case-Sensitivity
The password can be up to 15-characters long and is not case-sensitive.
Copy User Button
Many users have identical setup profiles. You can create a new user by
highlighting an existing user and clicking the Copy User button. Enter the new
User Name. This will copy all the highlighted user’s settings to the new user.
82 Operating Guide
2-1. User Setup
Module Security Tab
Use this tab to assign security permissions to the system’s menu options. Note
that the checkboxes in the left column remove entire menus, while those to the
right remove individual menu options.
NOTE: Each user will only see the menu options he or she has permission
to access. Options without access permission will be invisible.
User Defaults Tab

Two settings are located on this tab.
Allow Grids to be Customized
Some entry grids in the system can be customized by changing the order and
width of grid columns. Each time the user exits the screen and returns to it,
the customized settings are lost. If you want this user’s settings to be
retained and not lost, select this checkbox.
Linked Worker No
This user can be set up as a worker in the Jobs – Workers screen. This field
links the user to that worker record. If there are any open Activity Notes tied
to this worker, they are automatically displayed in the Notes – My Action List
screen.
Document Groups Tab

DBA offers a Documents Directory, which provides links to key company
documents such as employee manuals, contracts, warranties, instruction
manuals, etc.
Use this tab to list the Document Groups to which this user is to have access.
See chapter 10 for more information on the Documents Directory.
Operating Guide 83
2-1. User Setup
SO/Job Types Tab

All your Sales Order Types and Job Types are listed on this screen. Select the
checkbox against each type to which this user is to have access.
Screen Locks Tab

If this user occupies a “locked” screen, that screen is listed on this tab. A locked
screen is not accessible to other users. The system administrator can unlock a
locked screen by clearing the checkbox preceding the screen name.
This unlocking capability is only needed in situations where the user is in a
locked screen and experiences a system failure, such as the computer being
turned off. The program still thinks the user is in the locked screen and thus the
screen cannot be used by anyone. In this case, clearing the locked screen frees
it up for access to other users.
At present, the Batch Posting screen on the GL menu is the only screen in the
system that locks out other users in the manner described.
Email Tab
User Email settings are entered on this tab.
Email Option
This setting defaults to the system Email Option selected in the Main Setup
screen. The default setting can be overridden here at the user level, if needed.
gateway.
84 Operating Guide
2-1. User Setup

database.
Other Fields
Reply-To Email Address
This defaults to the Company Email Address setting in the Main Setup
screen. If you want Emails sent by this user to have a personal ‘Reply-To’
address instead of the company ‘Reply-To’ Email address, enter that Email
address in this field.
Outbound Mail Server (SMTP)
Specify the address of the outbound SMTP server, which is in a
Port
this is a setting of ‘25.’
Authentication Required for Outbound Email
Select this checkbox if this user’s SMTP server requires user authentication.
When selected, two additional fields become visible.
User Name
Enter this user’s authentication user name.
Password
Enter this user’s authentication password.
Operating Guide 85
2-1. User Setup
2-2. Current Online Users

(Admin – Current Online Users)
The system administrator can use this screen to view the current users that are
logged into the system and to remove users.
Removing a user
In the case of a power failure or a user shutting off his or her computer without
exiting DBA first, the program still assumes the user is logged on. When this
happens, you might reach your maximum user limit even though the number of
physical users has not.
To remove a user, highlight the user and click the Delete button.
If you reach your maximum user limit
if you reach your maximum user limit and attempt to log in as the administrator,
you will automatically be taken to this screen where you can remove a user(s) to
make room for you to get into the system.
Field Explanations
Computer Name
This is the name assigned by Windows to the user’s computer.
User ID
The User ID assigned in the User Setup screen.
Login Time
The date and time the user logged in.
Unique ID
This is a unique record identifier generated by the program.
86 Operating Guide
2-2. Current Online Users
2-3. Database Optimizer

(Admin – Database Optimizer)
This utility can be run periodically (such as weekly or monthly) to optimize this
company’s database indices for maximum performance.
NOTE: All users must exit DBA and all outside connections to this
company’s database must be released before you will be permitted to run
this program.
Two options are available:

Full Optimization
When you run this program during off-hours, select this option.
Quick Optimization
If you need immediate optimization during working hours and you wish to
minimize system down-time, select this option. It will perform a partial
optimization that can help solve an immediate performance problem. You
can then run the Full Optimization option later during off-hours.
Run Button
Click this button to begin processing. You are then presented with this message:
“Before processing can begin, leave this screen open while you exit out of
DBA. After you’ve existed DBA, click the Continue button.”
Exit out of DBA, then click the Continue button and processing will begin.
Operating Guide 87
2-3. Upgrade License

(Admin – Upgrade License)
The system administrator uses this screen to install a new license key whenever
annual maintenance is renewed or additional users are purchased.
License Key
The license key is sent to you by Email. It consists of two components – a
Company Name and Serial Number – that are cut and pasted from the Email into
this screen.
License Key Installation

Copy the Company Name from the Email and paste it into the first field on the
screen.
Copy the Serial Number from the Email and paste it into the second field on the
screen.
NOTE: Do not attempt to manually change the Company Name or it will
not match the Serial Number and you cannot continue.
Click Continue, which closes the screen.
88 Operating Guide
2-5. Run Command File

(Admin – Run Command File)
There may be occasions where we send you a file to repair a problem, such as a
forgotten password. You will install the file as directed somewhere on your file
server or local computer.
You will then use this screen to navigate to the file. Once you locate the file, click
the Run button to execute the procedure.
Operating Guide 89
2-6. Main Setup
2-6. Main Setup

(Admin – Main Setup)
This screen is where you enter a number of default settings that tailor the system
to your operational preferences.
Main Tab
Your Company Info
In this section you can enter your address and contact details. This information
optionally prints on some documents and is for reference purposes.
Your company name cannot be edited and is determined by the encrypted serial
number that you entered during system installation or via the File – Administrator
– Upgrade License screen. If you need the name changed, let us know and we
will e-mail you a new serial number.
The following are some other settings located on the Main tab.
SO/Job Numbering
Auto SO/Job Numbering
Select this checkbox if you want sales orders and jobs automatically
numbered. In general, automatic numbering is used in most situations.
Next No
Enter a value here if Auto SO/Job Numbering is selected. It establishes the
job number on the next sales order or job created. Because of the way the
computer sorts numbers, do not enter a number such as 1 or else the result
will be that number 10 or number 100 sorts before number 2, 3, etc. on lists
90 Operating Guide
2-6. Main Setup
and reports. We recommend a starting number such as 10000 or 100000,

which will create sequential numbers such as 10001, 10002, 10003, etc.
Multi-Currency (in development)
Activate
A system-wide multi-currency capability is under development, but is not
currently available. Clear the Activate checkbox for the time being.
Invoice & Credit Printing
Setting Sub-Tab
Your Invoice Name
This is a user-defined title that prints at the top of invoices. Typically, this
would be ‘INVOICE’, but can be any name you wish.
Your Credit Name
This is a user-defined title that prints on invoices when the total amount is
negative. Typical names would be ‘CREDIT MEMO’ or ‘CREDIT NOTE’.
Your Shipping Name
Enter a user-defined name that identifies shipping charges on the sales
order Shipping screen and in the footer of the customer invoice. For
example, you might want to use a name such as ‘Freight’ or ‘Shipping &
Handling’.
Invoice No Sub-Tab
Invoice Prefix
This is the invoice prefix that will be used for all invoices, regardless of job
or sales order type.
Next Invoice No.

This number establishes the invoice number on the next invoice created.
Because of the way the computer sorts job numbers, do not enter a
number such as 1 or else the result will be that invoice 10 or invoice 100
sorts before invoice 2, 3, etc. on lists and reports. We recommend a
starting number such as 10000 or 100000, which will create sequential
numbers such as 10001, 10002, 10003, etc.
Payment Rounding
Tolerance Value
It is common for customer payments to vary somewhat from the exact amount
owed. If the variance on a customer’s payment falls within the value entered
in this field, the variance will be accepted and the invoice marked as paid.
Operating Guide 91
2-6. Main Setup
Options Tab
Additional Options
Display link to online demos
Clear this checkbox if you wish to make the Online Demos icon and link on
the main menu invisible.
Display printer dialog screen
Select this checkbox if you want the printer dialog screen presented when
printing forms and reports. This will allow you to change printers or print
selections. Do not select if all your printing is to the same printer and you
never change settings.
Display print preview
Select this checkbox if you want a screen preview of each report or document
before printing.
Maximize print preview
If you always want the screen preview of your reports and documents
maximized to fill the entire screen, select this checkbox. If you do not select
this option, it will occupy a smaller window and can be maximized manually if
so desired.
Check for available updates at program sign-in
Select this checkbox if you want administrator-level users to be presented
with update download files upon program sign-in each time a new product
update becomes available. We recommend that you select this option unless
the update checking causes problems with your anti-virus or firewall software.
92 Operating Guide
2-6. Main Setup
Profitability Options
Margin or Markup
You have a choice of using ‘margin’ or ‘markup’ in conjunction with the job
profit shown on the job header screen as well as job detail lines where you
can calculate a price based on a margin or markup over cost.
• A margin is a profit margin. For example, if an item costs you $80 and
you wish to make a 20% profit margin, you would divide 80 by .8 (the
inverse of .2) to arrive at a selling price of $100.
• A markup is a multiplier. For example, if an item costs you $80 and
you wish to mark it up by 25%, you would multiply 80 x 1.25 to arrive at
a selling price of $100.
Both methods get you to the same result. Choose the method you are most
comfortable using.
% for Warning
You can set a percentage here such that if the job profit shown on the job
header screen falls below this percentage, it will be highlighted in red to bring
it to your attention.
Menu Activations Button
This button is only visible on databases in use prior to April 2008. Click this to
launch the Menu Activations screen, which can be used to de-activate older
screens and reports that are no longer in use.
Printer Page Size
Select Letter (USA) for standard U.S. page size printing or A4 (International) for
international page size printing.
Operating Guide 93
2-6. Main Setup
Quote Letter Tab
Default Style
You can select one of four quote styles, described as follows. This serves as the
default style when creating new service jobs and sales orders, but once the job is
created you can change to any of these styles.
Formal
This is a formal quote document, similar in style to that of an invoice.
Letter
The quote will be in the form of a letter with the quoted price in the body of
the letter.
Letter with Detail
The quote will be in the form of a letter with the quoted price and quote
details in the body of the letter.
Multi-Option
This is the same as the Formal quote style, but there is no quote total.
Use this style with sales order quotes when you want to list several
independently quoted items on one document.
Header
The Header text is the main body of the quote letter that precedes the quote
details.
Summary
The Summary text is a 50-character description that is used to label the quote
total on the printed quote. It could be something like ‘We are pleased to quote a
special price of’ or anything along those lines.
94 Operating Guide
2-6. Main Setup
Footer
The Footer text prints after the Summary text and is used for closing comments
and a complimentary close type signature block.
Selecting quote formats for editing

If you wish to edit a quote layout, you must select a layout first. To do so, open a
Sales Quote or Service Job, click on its Quote Style tab (located on the side of
the sales quote or job header screen), and select the quote style you wish to
modify. You can open an existing quote/job or new quote/job; it doesn’t matter
for this purpose.
Next, go to Utilities – Forms Edit – Quote Layout and the quote format you’ve
selected will be presented for editing.
Operating Guide 95
2-6. Main Setup
Email Tab
Upper Panel
Company Email Address
Enter your company’s default ‘Reply-To’ Email address. If you wish to
establish a different ‘Reply-To’ address at the user level, you can do so in the
Email tab of the User Setup screen.
Email Settings (All Users)
These settings apply to all users.
Default Document Type
When quotes, acknowledgments, invoices, and purchase orders are Emailed
as attachments, this is the document format to which they will be converted.
Your choices are ‘RTF’, ‘TEXT’, ‘EXCEL’, and ‘PDF’. The system is supplied
with ‘PDF’ as the default setting.
Email Docs – Customers & Suppliers
Select this checkbox if you want the Email Documents setting selected by
default when new records are created in the Customers and Suppliers
screens.
Default Email Message
Enter the text used as the default message body text in the Emails to which
you attach quotes, acknowledgments, invoices, and purchase orders.
Default Email Option
96 Operating Guide
2-6. Main Setup

gateway.
database.
Default Email Settings
This panel is only visible when the SMTP Email Client option is selected above.
SMTP Host Name
Specify the address of your outbound SMTP server, which is in a
Port
this is a setting of ‘25.’’
Save Settings for All Users Button
Click this button to copy the following settings from this screen to corresponding
settings in the User Setup screen against all existing users:
• Company Email Address (Reply-To Email Address)
• Outgoing Mail Server (SMTP)
• Port
If you are setting up Email for the first time:
If you have already set up users in the User Setup screen and are setting
up Email for the first time, be sure and click this button to populate these
settings against all your users.
User-Level Settings
If you require individual Email settings at the user level, such as
authentication credentials or exceptions to these default settings (such as
a different Reply-To Address), make those settings on the Email tab of the
User Setup screen.
Operating Guide 97
2-7. Accounting Configuration

(Admin – Accounting Configuration)
This screen is used to configure your accounting system either to use DBA’s
integrated financial modules or to transfer summarized financial data to an
outside system.
When should the Financial Transfer option be used?
Ideally, the DBA financial modules should be used to take full advantage of our
“small business ERP” architecture, where all core business functions are
processed within a single, integrated system that is scaled for small businesses.
There are situations, however, where using the DBA financial modules is not
possible. Most typically, this is when a company or branch office is connected to
a corporate ERP system, but wishes to use DBA as its manufacturing solution.
To address this need, we offer the Financial Transfer option, which enables
financial applications to be handled by an outside system.
How the Financial Transfer Works
The Financial Transfer option deactivates the DBA financial modules (AR, AP,
Banking) and activates the Financial Transfer module. Core functions are
divided between the two systems as follows:
• DBA is used for inventory, bills of material, sales orders, MRP, jobs, and
purchasing, all of which post to the DBA general ledger.
• The outside system is used for receivables, payables, banking, overall
general ledger, and payroll.
Only three items are exported or manually transferred from DBA to the outside
system:
• Customer Invoices (Summarized)
• PO Invoices (Summarized)
• GL Account Totals (Period End)
Only summarized information is transferred to the outside system, which is all
that is needed for payment processing and GL updating. All line item and
transactional detail remains in DBA and provides a complete audit trail.
If you are coming from a low-end accounting system:
If you are coming from a low-end accounting system such as QuickBooks® or
Peachtree®, we recommend using the DBA financial modules to take full
advantage of our “small business ERP” architecture.
Not only is an integrated system more efficient and easier to manage, but a
QuickBooks or Peachtree chart of accounts cannot function effectively in a
manufacturing environment where so much of your activity revolves around work
98 Operating Guide
in process. By contrast, the DBA standard chart of accounts is optimized out of

the box for a manufacturing company and is structured to handle work in process
and absorption costing of direct labor and factory overhead.
QuickBooks Transfer
If you intend to use the Financial Transfer with QuickBooks and wish to import
data instead of using the manual transfer method, a third party utility, the
Transaction Pro Import Wizard, is required. For information on setting up and
using this utility, refer to our QuickBooks Transfer white paper, which can be
found in the Documents – White Papers area of the online support center.
Screen Details
Two options are listed on the screen:

DBA Financial Modules
DBA is supplied with this option selected by default, which activates the
integrated financial modules of Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable, and
Banking.
Financial Transfer
Select this option to activate the Financial Transfer menu and deactivate the
Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable, and Banking modules.
Next Button
Click this button to continue the configuration process.
If you change to the Financial Transfer option:
If you change from using DBA financials to the Financial Transfer utility, all
your supplier invoices will go through a conversion process on this screen
where they are flagged as “transferred.” This prevents those invoices from
Operating Guide 99
being listed for transfer in the PO Invoice Transfer screen, which would
interfere with the accounting startup process in the other system.
• You are presented with the Convert Supplier Invoices screen. In the
grid you see a list of suppliers and the number of invoices associated
with each.
• If you want a listing of these invoices, you can select the printout
option. If you don’t want a listing, select the Continue with Conversion
option.
• Click the Convert button and conversion is completed.
On the next screen, all your customer invoices will go through a conversion
process where they are flagged as “transferred.” This prevents those
invoices from being listed for transfer in the AR Invoice Transfer screen,
which would interfere with the accounting startup process in the other system.
100 Operating Guide

• You are presented with the Convert Customer Invoices screen. In the
grid you see a list of customers and the number of invoices associated
with each.
option.
If you change to DBA Financials:
If you change from the Financial Transfer utility to DBA financials, all your
previously transferred supplier invoices will go through a conversion process
on this screen where they are marked as “paid.” This prevents those invoices
from being listed on your newly activated AP aging inquiries and reports,
which would interfere with the accounting startup process.
• You are presented with the Convert Supplier Invoices screen. In the
grid you see a list of suppliers and the number of invoices associated
with each.
option.
On the next screen, all your previously transferred customer invoices will go
through a conversion process where they are marked as “paid.” This
prevents those invoices from showing up on your newly activated AR aging
inquiries and reports, which would interfere with the accounting startup
process.
• You are presented with the Convert Customer Invoices screen. In the
grid you see a list of customers and the number of invoices associated
with each.
option.
Operating Guide 101

2-8. System Defaults
2-8. System Defaults

(Admin – System Defaults)
Default Values Tab

On this tab you can set up default values for various master table and transaction
entry screens. Using default settings where applicable will enable new records to
be entered more quickly and easily.
Default Screen Sizes Tab
On this tab you can set default screen sizes (‘Maximized’ or ‘Normal’) for many of
the system’s major screens. If you want a screen to expand when launched to
the full width of your monitor, select the ‘Maximized’ setting.
102 Operating Guide

3. Utilities
3. Utilities
The Utilities menu is where you find miscellaneous utility programs related to
data analysis, forms editing, and system customization. Menu options include:
Utilities
• Database Queries
• Forms Edit
• Forms Update Utility
• User-Defined Fields
• User-Defined Menus
Operating Guide 103

3-1. Spreadsheet Generators
3-1. Spreadsheet Generators

(Utilities – Spreadsheet Generators)
The spreadsheet generators are legacy reporting screens that will ultimately be
replaced with Data Views. Until those Data Views become available, these
screens remain in the system for customers that use them.
104 Operating Guide

3-2. Database Queries

(Utilities – Database Queries)
You can use this utility to write and retrieve SQL queries to the database tables
and output the results to an Excel-compatible spreadsheet that is supplied with
the system.
NOTE: If you use this utility to write your own queries, a basic familiarity
with simple programming expressions is required.
A series of sample queries are provided that you can use as actual queries or as
samples to follow when writing your own queries.
Query Screen
To get to the Query screen, click the Queries menu option at the top of the
spreadsheet. From the drop-down menu, click the Query option. The fields and
buttons on this screen are described as follows.
Retrieving a Saved Query
Use this screen to write your query. If you wish to retrieve a saved query, click
the Query List button and select a saved query from the list. Once its contents
display in the SQL panel, you can click OK and the query screen will close. The
query output will now be displayed in the spreadsheet.
Once the contents are displayed in the spreadsheet, you can save the
spreadsheet with a name of your choice. Your spreadsheet file is Excel-
compatible and can therefore be opened within Excel once it is created and
saved.
Tables
In this window are listed all the database tables. You can select a table and click
the Add Table to SQL button to add the table to the SQL panel at right.
Operating Guide 105

Fields
In this window are listed the fields within the table currently highlighted in the
Tables window. You can select each field to be included in your query and click
on the Add Field to SQL button to add the field to the SQL panel at right.
SQL
Your SQL statement (query) is entered in this panel.
Writing a Query
Adding Tables
Add tables to the SQL statement by selecting from the Tables window and
clicking the Add Table to SQL button.
Adding Fields
Add fields to the SQL statement by selecting from the Fields window and clicking
the Add Field to SQL button.
Keywords
Add keywords by clicking SQL in the top left corner and selecting the Add
Keywords option. Values include: *, Sum, Count, From, Where
Operators
Add operators by clicking SQL in the top left corner and selecting the Add
Operators option. Values include: >, <, =. <>, +, -, /
Parameter
Add a parameter by clicking SQL in the top left corner and selecting the Add
Parameter option. This will add your parameter name to the query (preceded with
a colon). When the query is run you will be asked to enter a value, which the
query will take into account. For example you may wish to have a query of ‘select
* from Jobs where Jobno = :para’. When running the query Parameter ‘para’ will
appear for you to enter your job number.
Saving Your Query
If you wish to save your query for future use, click the Save Query button. You
are presented with a list of saved queries. Click the Add button and give your
query a name. When finished, click the OK button.
106 Operating Guide

3-3. Forms Edit
3-3. Forms Edit

(Utilities – Forms Edit Menu)
DBA uses the following forms and labels, which are listed on the Forms Edit
menu as follows:
Main Menu
• Acknowledgment
• Check
• Customer Statement
• Invoice
• Line Item Label
• Packing List
• Purchase Order
• Quote
• Shipping Label
• 1099 Tax Form
Labels
• Item
• Job Receipts
• PO Receipts
• Templates
Training Course
Support Center – Videos–Setup – Forms Customization
Graphical Print Format
All forms, labels, and reports print in graphical format on any Windows-
compatible laser or ink jet printer.
Editable Layouts (RTM’s)
Forms layouts are stored in an *.rtm file format (which we refer to as RTM
layouts) that can be edited. You can add logos, bar codes, fields, or you can
change fonts, layouts, and graphics. See further below for instructions on doing
so.
Letter and A4 Formats
During initial system installation as well as the installation of interim updates, you
are asked if you use the U.S. 8-1/2 x 11 Letter format or the international A4
page size. Based on your answer, a complete set of Letter or A4 RTM layouts
for all the system forms and reports are loaded into your x:\Program Files\DBA
Manufacturing\Reports folder.
Operating Guide 107

3-3. Forms Edit
Also, in the Admin – Main Setup – Options Tab you have a Print Page Size
setting with a choice of ‘Letter’ or ‘A4’. This determines the Windows Print
function’s Page Size setting when printing forms and reports from DBA.
RTM Layout Names

The following are the standard RTM layouts supplied with the system.
Form RTM File Name Description
Acknowledgment ppacknowledgment --
Check ch-Stub-Stub-Check.rtm
ch-Check-Stub-Stub.rtm
ch-Check-Stub.rtm
ch-Stub-Check.rtm
ch-Stub-Check-Stub
Invoice ppInvoice Invoice
ppInvoiceFX Foreign Currency Version
ppInvoiceRemittance Invoice w/Remittance
ppInvoiceRemittanceFX Foreign Currency Version
Item Label ppReportLabels --
Line Item Label lblShiplines --
Packing List ppShip --
Quote ppQuote Formal or Multi-Option Style
ppQuoteLetter Letter Style
ppQuoteLetterDetail Letter with Detail Style
Purchase Order ppOrder Purchase Order or RFQ
Shipping Label lblShipment --
Forms Edit Locations

The above listed RTM layouts can be edited within the following screens.
Form Edit Location
Acknowledgment Utilities – Forms Edit – Acknowledgment
Check Utilities – Forms Edit – Check
Invoice Utilities – Forms Edit – Invoice
NOTE: You must create at least one actual invoice in the
system before you can edit an invoice RTM layout.
Item Label Utilities – Forms Edit – Item Labels
Line Item Label Utilities – Forms Edit – Line Item Labels
Packing List Utilities – Forms Edit – Packing List
108 Operating Guide

3-3. Forms Edit
Quote Utilities – Forms Edit – Quote

Purchase Order Utilities – Forms Edit – Purchase Order
Shipping Label Utilities – Forms Edit – Shipping Labels
Forms Default Designations

The following forms allow for default designations, meaning that the particular
RTM layout used can be designated at the order type, customer, and supplier
level. This enables you to create custom layouts for particular situations, such as
when a customer requires special wording.
Form Default Designation
Acknowledgment Sales Order Type (Sales – Sales Setup – Sales Order
Types)
Customer (Sales – Customers – Detail Tab – Forms Sub-
Tab). This default setting overrides that of the Sales Order
Type.
Check Bank Account (Bank – Banking Setup – Bank Accounts)
Invoice Sales Order Type (Sales – Sales Setup – Sales Order
Types)
Customer (Sales – Customers – Detail Tab – Forms Sib-
Type.
Quote Main Setup (Admin – Main Setup – Quote Letter
Tab)
Sales Quote (Sales – Sales Quotes – Quote Style Tab).
This setting can be changed for any given sales quote and
overrides the default setting in the Main Setup screen.
Packing List Sales Order Type (Sales – Sales Setup – Sales Order
Types)
Customer (Sales – Customers – Detail Tab – Forms Sub-
Type.
Purchase Order Purchase Order Type (Purch – Purchasing Setup –
Purchase Order Types)
Supplier (Purch – Suppliers – Detail Tab – Forms Sub-Tab).
This default setting overrides that of the Purchase Order
Type.
Operating Guide 109

3-3. Forms Edit
Forms Suppliers
The one form that is still commonly supplied by outside printers is AP Checks.
Refer to the online support center (see the Checks and Forms folder) for a list of
suppliers.
DBA Classic Compatible Forms
RTM layouts are available that are compatible with DBA Classic forms. These
can be downloaded from the online support center.
110 Operating Guide

3-3. Forms Edit
Form Editing Instructions
To edit a particular form, navigate to the appropriate Forms Edit Location listed
above and display the RTM layout.
CAUTION: When customizing an invoice, packing list, or purchase order,
be sure and save the standard layout to a different name (using File – Save
as) before making any changes.
Customizing invoices
WARNING: You must create at least one actual invoice in the system before you
can edit an invoice RTM layout.
Navigating to different layouts for the same form
Some forms have multiple RTM layouts, such as invoices, packing lists, and
purchase orders. When you access the form through the Forms Edit menu, the
system will display the first RTM format it finds. To navigate to the particular
format you wish to edit, click File – Open and navigate to the appropriate RTM
file.
Adding fields to forms
• Open the form.
• Pay attention to the warning message. Do not delete any fields already on
the form.
• Create a DBText box in which to add the field (the DBText box can be created
by clicking the button 9th from the right, with the capital A and the white piece
of paper on it at the top of the form).
• Place the DBText box wherever you wish on the form.
• There will be two dropdown boxes that appear at the top toolbar of the
form after you place the DBText box.
Operating Guide 111

3-3. Forms Edit
• Choose the Table or ‘Data Pipeline’ that contains the field from the dropdown
menu in the left box.
• Choose Field from the menu on the right
• A list of table and field definitions is available for reference in the File – Data
Dictionary.
• Click File – Save.
• Then after saving it, click File – Close.
Adding bar code fields to forms

VIDEO CLIP: A video clip in the online support center covers adding bar codes to
forms.
• Open the form.
• On the toolbar at the top of the screen, click the Bar Code icon (10th from the
left) for non-database fields. Use the DB Bar Code icon (17th from the left)
for system database fields. Then, in the desired location within the report,
click the mouse to create the bar code field.
• Once a DB Bar Code field has been created, you can associate database
fields by clicking the field with your mouse, then selecting
VIEW/TOOLBARS/DATA TREES and associate the desired data field with
the bar code.
• If you need to change the format of the bar code field, right click on the field,
click CONFIGURE and edit the TYPE from the drop down listing.
• Use File – Save or File – Save As to save your form changes.
Adding your logo to forms

VIDEO CLIP: A video clip in the online support center covers adding logos to
forms.
• Open the form.
• On the top toolbar, click the Image icon (seventh icon from the left).
• Click your mouse into the body of the document. An Image box should now
appear.
• Drag the Image box to the desired location in the form and resize it as
needed.
• Right click inside the Image box and select Picture from the listing.
• Browse the path to where your image is stored and click OK to load the
image. Please be aware that not all image formats are supported.
• Use File – Save or File – Save As to save your form changes.
112 Operating Guide

3-3. Forms Edit
Labels
(Utilities – Forms Edit – Labels)
Use the screens on the Labels sub-menu to create customized labels.

Training Course
Support Center – Videos–Setup – Item Labels Setup
Label Types
Three types of labels are available:
Stock Item Labels
These are general item labels for item identification or packaging purposes
that are printed from the Stock Item Labels screen as needed. You can also
print thee labels via the Labels button on the Stock Items and Stock
Adjustments screens. Stock item labels are used for these purposes:
• Relabeling existing stock
• Shipping labels
Job Receipt Labels
These are item labels that are printed directly from transactions in the Job
Receipts screen as part of your job processing workflow. Job receipt labels
are used for these purposes:
• Manufactured item product packaging
• Manufactured item warehouse identification, including tracking
characteristics such as lot and serial numbers
• CTO (custom to order) item labeling with linked job and sales order
information
PO Receipt Labels
These are item labels that are printed directly from transactions in the PO
Receipts screen as part of your PO processing workflow. PO receipt labels
are used for these purposes:
• Purchased resale item product packaging
• Purchased item warehouse identification, including tracking
characteristics such as lot and serial numbers, or linked PO
information
Label Templates
“Label templates” are used to provide standard page size specifications for your
labels. When you create a customized label, you can originate it from a template
so that the page size fits the desired label size and destination printer.
Operating Guide 113

3-3. Forms Edit
Label Printing
The standard labels supplied with the system are designed to print on a
continuous roll label printer with 4 inch wide labels. The default label sizes are 4
x 2 and 4 x 4. Our design and testing has been done on the Zebra LP 2844Z,
shown below, but you can use any continuous roll printer.
NOTE: For more information on this printer, see this web page:
http://www.zebra.com/id/zebra/na/en/index/products/printers/desktop
/lp2844.html
Label Customization
(Utilities – Forms Edit – Labels – Stock Item Label)
(Utilities – Forms Edit – Labels – Job Receipt Label)
(Utilities – Forms Edit – Labels – PO Receipt Label)
Each of the three label editing screens – Stock Item Label, Job Receipt Label,
and PO Receipt Label – work the same way as described in this section.
Screen Details
114 Operating Guide

3-3. Forms Edit
Grid Fields
You can create multiple label formats within each label type, all of which are
listed in this grid.
Name
This is the name that identifies each label format for selection at time of label
printing.
Source
• If the label source is ‘System Defined’, it means that this is a standard
label format supplied with the system, which cannot be edited.
• If the label source is ‘User Defined’, it means the label format was created
by you and can be edited for custom requirements.
Default
Using the Set as Default button, you can select one label format in the list to
be the default version at time of printing.
Buttons
New
Click this button to create a new label format. You are presented with this
screen:
Screen Details
New Report Name
Give your label format a name in this field.
Custom, From Template
• Select the Custom option if you wish to establish the page setup
specifications for this label format from scratch.
• Select the From Template option if you wish to select a “label
template” that has already been given page setup specifications.
Select a template from the lookup in the Template Name field.
Operating Guide 115

3-3. Forms Edit
Save Button
Click this button to save your new label format. If you had selected the
Custom option, you are presented with this screen, which enables you
to establish your page size specifications:
Copy
Click this button to copy the selected label format to a new label format. A
New Report Name field becomes visible at the top of the grid. Enter your new
label v format name, then click the Save button. All the layout and page size
specifications from the selected label format are copied over to the new label
format.
Edit
Click this button to launch the forms edit screen, shown below. On this
screen you can perform all the standard editing functions, including adding
fields from the data pipeline, adding barcodes, and customizing field labels
and fonts.
NOTE: We suggest you study the data pipelines, which have been
populated from many related tables so that virtually any relevant data
associated with items, jobs, linked sales orders, and purchase orders
can be brought into your labels.
NOTE2: You cannot edit a label format with a ‘system defined’ source,
which is a standard label format supplied with the system. Use the
116 Operating Guide

3-3. Forms Edit
Copy feature to copy a system defined label format to a new label

format if you wish to edit its layout.
Tracking Characteristics
Be aware that ‘system defined’ item labels are set up to automatically print
tracking characteristic values (such as lot and serial numbers) as a sub-
report to the main layout. Characteristic descriptions and values print in a
vertical “stack” format underneath the main layout.
Edit Name
Click this button to change the name of one of your ‘user defined’ label
formats. A New Report Name field becomes visible at the top of the grid.
Enter the new label format name, then click the Save button.
Additional Info
Click this button to create a customized text field that gets added to the data
pipeline so that it can be included on this label format. At time of printing, the
user will be prompted to enter a text value that then gets printed on the label.
You are presented with this screen:
Screen Details
You can create any number of pipeline fields for use with this label format.
Buttons
Add
Click this button to add a new pipeline field. The fields in the upper
panel become active for data entry.
Edit
Click this button to edit the selected pipeline field. Its fields get
inserted into the upper panel for editing. .
Operating Guide 117

3-3. Forms Edit
Delete
Click this button to delete the selected pipeline field in the grid
below.
Save
Click this button to save your entries in the upper panel to the grid
below.
Upper Panel
Pipeline Field Name
This is the field name that gets listed in the data pipeline when you
add fields to your form layout. The program provides a sequential
default value of ‘ADDINFO1’, ‘ADDINFO2’, etc., but you can type in
your own field name, if you wish.
NOTE: To find this field in the data pipeline, select the
‘Additional Info’ data set. Within that data set, the field name
is the name entered in this field followed by ‘_VAL’ such as
this example:
ADDINFO1_VAL
Allow Blank
If at time of printing you want the text entry into this field to be
optional, select this checkbox. If you want text entry to be
mandatory, clear this checkbox.
Heading
This is an optional field label that can accompany the text that gets
entered by the user. For example, if you want the user to enter the
current room temperature in the text entry field, you could have a
heading of ‘Temp:’ precede the text entered by the user.
NOTE1: To find this field in the data pipeline, select the
‘Additional Info’ data set. Within that data set, select the
data pipeline field name entered above followed by ‘_HDR’
such as this example:
ADDINFO1_HDR
NOTE2: You can leave this field blank and use a standard
field label on your form layout as an alternative. If, however,
you wish to use the Show Heading When Blank feature (see
next), you should enter a Header and use it as the field label.
Show Heading When Blank
If you always want the heading to be printed on the label, even if
the user does not enter a text value, select this checkbox. If you
only want the heading to print when it is accompanied by a text
value entered by the user, clear this checkbox.
118 Operating Guide

3-3. Forms Edit
Default Value
This is an optional field that inserts a default text value into this field
at time of printing. The user can accept the default value of over-
type it with a different text value.
Set as Default
Click this button to make the selected label format the default label format at
time of printing.
Operating Guide 119

3-3. Forms Edit
Label Templates
(Utilities – Forms Edit – Labels – Label Templates)
“Label templates” are used to store sets of standard page setup specifications
that can be used to originate user defined label formats.
The system is supplied with two ‘system defined’ label templates (4 x 2 and 4 x
4), both of which are formatted for 4 inch wide continuous roll label printers.
Screen Details
Grid Fields
Name
This is the name that identifies each label template.
Source
• If the template source is ‘System Defined’, it means that this is a standard
template supplied with the system, which cannot be edited.
• If the template source is ‘User Defined’, it means the template was created
by you and can be edited for custom requirements.
Default
You can select one template in the list to be the default template at time of
template selection when originating new label formats.
Buttons
New
Click this button to create a new template. You are presented with this
screen:
120 Operating Guide

3-3. Forms Edit
Screen Details
New Report Name
Give your template a name in this field.
Save Button
Click this button to save your new template.
Copy
Click this button to copy the selected template to a new template. A New
Report Name field becomes visible at the top of the grid. Enter your new
template name, then click the Save button. The page size specifications from
the selected template are copied over to the new template.
Edit
Click this button to edit the page setup for this template. The forms edit
screen is displayed. Click File – Page Setup to launch this screen, within
which you can specify the printer, paper size, and other page setup settings.
NOTE: You cannot edit a template with a ‘system defined’ source,

which is a standard template supplied with the system. Use the Copy
feature to copy a system defined template to a new template if you
wish to edit its page setup.
Operating Guide 121

3-3. Forms Edit
Edit Name
Click this button to change the name of one of your ‘user defined’ templates.
A New Report Name field becomes visible at the top of the grid. Enter the
new template name, then click the Save button.
Additional Info
This button is not relevant to templates and is grayed out.
Set as Default
Click this button to make the selected label version the default label version at
time of printing.
122 Operating Guide

3-4. Forms Update Utility

(Utilities – Forms Update Utility)
Forms are normally updated to reflect any programming changes during product
updates. If you did not update your forms during a product update, you can use
this screen to do so.
Training Videos
Support Center – Videos–Setup – Forms Customization – Product Updates
Screen Details
You are first asked Do you have any customized forms?
• If you have created one or more custom form layouts, select the top radio
button – Yes, Update Customized Forms. The program will locate your
customized RTM layouts and update them, when feasible, with any
programming changes associated with the update. All your non-
customized forms will be updated with the latest versions.
• If you have not customized any forms, select the second radio button –
No, Restore Default Forms. The program will update your system with a
fresh set of the latest standard form layouts.
Next, once again select your paper size.
• Select Letter for standard USA paper size.
• Select A4 for standard international paper size.
Operating Guide 123

If you had selected Yes, Update Customized Forms, your custom form layouts
are listed in this screen. Click Update to continue.
If you had selected No, Restore Default Forms, this screen is presented, which
informs you that your existing form layouts are being saved in a backup folder
named RestoreRTMBackup as a safety precaution. Click Restore to begin
processing.
124 Operating Guide

3-5. User-Defined Fields
3-5. User-Defined Fields

(Utilities – User-Defined Fields)
You can add up to six user-defined fields to any of the following database tables:
Customers, Suppliers, Items, Jobs, and Purchase Orders.
In the upper window, highlight the table to which you wish to add fields. Below
the window, specify the Number of Additional Fields you wish to add. In the
Additional 1 Field Name, give the field a name. This is the name that will appear
on entry screens.
Select the Date Field checkbox if this field is used to hold a date. If this is not a
date field, you are presented with a Validate checkbox. A validated field is one
where the user must select from a list of pre-determined values. If you select the
Validate checkbox, you are presented with a List button. Click the button and
enter the list of valid selections. When the user is presented with this field on an
entry screen, the field will be accompanied by a drop down list from which the
user can make a selection.
When your entries are complete, click the OK button.
Adding user-defined fields to opening list screens
Using the following screens, you can add user-defined fields created through this
screen to your opening list screens. Once in the opening list, these fields can be
sorted, filtered, printed, and exported to Excel in the same manner as standard
fields.
• Inventory – Inventory Setup – Stock Items List Tab
• Sales – Sales Setup – Customers List Tab
• Purch – Purchasing Setup – Suppliers List Tab
Operating Guide 125

3-6. User-Defined Menus
3-6. User-Defined Menus

(Utilities – User-Defined Menus)
This screen enables you to add your own programs to the standard system
menus and security system. This can be used for selecting custom reports or for
linking to outside applications. When you add a menu item on this screen, it
automatically is added to the Module Security tab in the User Setup screen and
can then be given security access permission for each of your users.
Parameters can be passed with the exe file. This is achieved by including the
opening and closing square brackets around the parameters (e.g.: word.exe
[releasenotes.doc]).
There are four built-in variables for allowing more integration with external reports
and programs; these are: {APPPATH} {DBPATH} {USER} {PASSWORD}. Each
of these is replaced with the actual values when the menu item is executed –
also the symbols {} are needed for these to function.
• The {APPPATH} variable is replaced by the path of the main ‘ejsme’
application program.
• The {DBPATH} variable is replaced by the current database path and can
only be used as a parameter (Useful for external reports).
• The {USER} & {PASSWORD} variables are replaced by the user name and
passwords and is needed for running reports from the menu that have been
developed with the system’s built-in Report Writer. The syntax if a report
called ‘ItemValue’ had been developed and was located under a folder called
‘InventoryReports’ would be: {APPPATH}ejrw.exe [{DBPATH} {USER}
{PASSWORD} InventoryReports ItemValue].
NOTE: The text that represents the variables within the ‘{ }’ brackets is not
meant to be replaced with actual user names, passwords, or paths. The
text must be entered literally as ‘APPPATH’, ‘DBPATH’, ‘USER’, and
‘PASSWORD’.
126 Operating Guide

4. Inventory
4. Inventory
The Inventory menu is where you will find all applications related to the
maintenance of items and their stock quantities. Menu options include:
Inventory
Inventory Setup
• Inventory Defaults
• Stock Items – List Tab
• Item Categories
• Item Characteristics
• Locations
• Location Groups
• Location Repair
• Warranty Codes
Main Menu
• Stock Items
• Descriptors
• Sales Kits
• Stock Adjustments
• Stock Transfer
• Stock Counts
• Change Inventory Costs
• Reconcile Book Value
• Alter Characteristics
Data Views
• Stock On Hand
• Stock Item List
Reports
• Inventory Value
• Inventory Transactions
• Trxns – Item / Characteristic
• Trxns – Characteristic / Item
• Trxns – Serial Number
Operating Guide 127

4. Inventory
Overview
The Inventory module is where you create your items and locations and manage
stock on hand.
Where are items created?
Physical items that you make or purchase are created and maintained in the
Stock Items screen. Intangible (non-physical) items, typically used for billable
services, credit memos, and miscellaneous purchases, are created and
maintained in the Descriptors screen.
How are locations used?
DBA is a location-based inventory system where a location is specified against
all inventory transactions. Locations are user-defined and can represent bins,
shelves, racks, staging areas, service vehicles, or trucks. If you don’t wish to use
locations, you can create a single default location to which all stock on hand is
assigned. Each item is assigned a default receipt location and a primary storage
location.
How does on hand stock get increased?
Manufactured items are received to stock through the Job Receipts screen.
Purchased items are received to stock through the PO Receipts screen.
How does on hand stock get decreased?
Stock is issued to jobs through the Job Issues screen. Stock is picked for sales
orders through the Order Picking screen.
How do on hand stock quantities get corrected?
Stock on hand can be counted and updated via the Stock Counts screen to
account for any discrepancies. Stock Counts can be conducted as needed as
part of a cycle counting strategy or to conduct a formal physical inventory (stock
take). Any changes in inventory value get posted to your Adjustments –
Inventory account.
How is stock transferred from one location to another?
Stock is transferred from one location to another via the Stock Transfer screen.
You can transfer one item at a time or a set of items from a source location.
Can on hand stock go negative?
In a location-based inventory system, the on hand stock quantity within a location
is not allowed to go negative. This prevents inventory transactions from being
processed out of order, such as shipping manufacturing items before they’ve
been received to stock.
128 Operating Guide

4. Inventory
Where do manufactured item costs come from?

Manufactured items are received to stock through the Job Receipts screen.
Partial receipts of job output item(s) made during mid-job are costed at the
estimated unit job cost. Final job receipts are costed at an actual unit cost
whereby all job costs are fully absorbed into the cost of the job output item(s).
The cost of new stock receipts is averaged into the cost of any stock on hand.
Where do purchased item costs come from?
Purchased items are received to stock through the PO Receipts screen at the PO
unit cost. The cost of new stock receipts is averaged into the cost of any stock
on hand.
How can inventory costs be changed?
You can change the unit Inventory Cost of any item through the Change
Inventory Costs screen. The change in value gets posted to your Adjustments –
Inventory account.
How does overall inventory value get calculated?
Overall inventory value is based on each item’s on hand quantity multiplied by its
unit Inventory Cost, summed for all items. Details can be found in the Inventory
Value report.
How does stock get tracked by lot and serial number?
Items can be assigned to Tracking Characteristics, which include lot number,
serial number, expiration date, and revision. Each time stock is received, issued,
picked, or counted, the item’s characteristic values must be specified. Inventory
transactions can be traced by characteristic through the Transactions by
Characteristic reports.
Real-Time Inventory Option
In DBA you have the option of updating inventory in real time. Stock can be
received, picked for orders, or issued to jobs via the screen first. Afterwards, a
Dispatch List is printed and is used as a guide for physically storing or gathering
the stock. The Dispatch List is sorted in location order to provide an efficient
route through the warehouse, and any lot numbers, serial numbers, or other
tracking characteristics are specified.
Real-time inventory updating is superior to after-the-fact updating from pick or
issue lists. It gives your users confidence that when they view any item’s
inventory status, it accurately reflects all recent transactions. Real-time updating
prevents transactions from being entered out of sequence, such as shipping an
item before it has been received to stock from a job.
Operating Guide 129

4-1A. Inventory Defaults
4-1. Inventory Setup

(Inventory – Inventory Setup – Inventory Defaults)
Use this screen to enter default settings that affect inventory costing and
locations.
Training Video
Support Center – Videos–Setup – Stock Items Setup
Segment: Setup – Defaults
130 Operating Guide

4. Inventory
Details
Decimal Places
Unit Cost
This setting establishes the number of decimal places you prefer for inventory
costing (Inventory Cost, Last Cost, Estimated Cost) and purchasing. If you
purchase small parts such as screws, washers, o-rings, etc., you normally
require 4-decimals, and in some cases, 5-decimals to provide appropriate
costing precision in purchase orders and for receiving such items into
inventory and jobs. The allowable range is 2-6 decimal places.
Unit Price
This setting establishes the number of decimal places you prefer for selling
prices in the Sales Orders, Base Prices, Contract Pricing and Descriptors
screens. The allowable range is 2-6 decimal places.
Stock Item Defaults
Each time you create a new record in the Stock Items screen, the following fields
will be given default values that can be accepted or overridden.
UM
Enter your most common stocking unit of measure, such as ‘EA’.
M or P
Select ‘M’ if the majority of your new items are manufactured. Select ‘P’ if the
majority of your new items are purchased.
Receipt Location
Each stock item is assigned to a Receipt Location and a Primary Location.
Often, both locations are the same. Sometimes, however, an item is received
into a temporary Receipt Location, which can be an inspection area or
‘placeholder’ location that is used until an actual location is known. Typically
your default Receipt Location will be one of these three types:
Placeholder Location
A ‘placeholder’ location is not a physical location. It is a temporary
location used until an item is assigned an actual Receipt Location. For
example, you could create a location named ‘ASSIGN’ that is the default
Receipt Location given to items when they are first created. Any item with
an ‘ASSIGN’ Receipt Location ultimately needs to be assigned an actual
Receipt Location before inventory transactions occur.
Receiving Area
If received items commonly go through an inspection and labeling
process, you can create a ‘receiving area’ location to which all items can
be received. After items pass inspection and get labeled, you can then
use the Stock Transfer screen to transfer items to their final destinations in
the warehouse or out on the shop floor.
Operating Guide 131

Universal Location
You may have a smaller facility where stock is easy to find and location
control is not needed. In this case, create a single ‘universal’ location with
a name such as ‘MAIN’ and use it as the default Receipt Location and
Primary Location. All items and transactions will be automatically posted
to this one location.
Primary Location
Select a default Primary Location that gets assigned to stock items when they
first get created. Typically, the default Primary Location will be a ‘placeholder’
location or a ‘universal’ location. See above for explanations.
Descriptor Default
UM
Enter the most common unit of measure used with Descriptors, such as ‘EA’.
Picking & Issues
When Stock is in Multiple Locations:
This setting controls the Pre-Fill option in the Order Picking and Job Issues
screens. Two options are available:
Require Location Selection
Select this option if you don’t have a Pre-Fill preference when stock is in
two or more locations. This setting forces the user to make a location
selection.
Pre-Fill from Primary Location
Select this option if you always want to Pre-Fill from the item’s Primary
Location, even when stock is in two or more locations.
132 Operating Guide

4-1B. Stock Items List
4-1B. Stock Items – List Tab

(Inventory – Inventory Setup – Stock Items – List Tab)
Use these screens to configure the opening List screen in the Stock Items
screen. You can designate which fields you want displayed and you can change
column heading names.
Details
All available fields are displayed in the left hand Field Name column. In the
middle Display Label column you can change the name that displays on the
screen column heading. The right hand Visible column can be set to ‘Yes’ on
any fields you wish to display and ‘No’ on any you want suppressed.
Advanced Tab
When the customer reaches a certain size, the time it takes to load, sort, and
display the information in the List tab can slow down noticeably. If so, you can
optimize the list by limiting the number of records that get loaded at one time.
You will find this setting on the Advanced tab.
If you limit the number of records, this does not restrict your access to any data; it
merely loads a certain number of records at-a-time into the screen.
NOTE: When you limit the records, you lose the ability to click on the grid
column headings for sorting and filtering purposes.
After you change the maximum number of records setting, click the Save & Close
button.
Operating Guide 133

4-1C. Item Categories

(Inventory – Inventory Setup – Item Categories)
Use this screen to create Item Categories to organize your stock items and
descriptors into groups for reporting purposes.
Training Video
Segment: Setup – Item Categories
Details
Each stock item must be assigned to an Item Category. User-defined Item
Categories enable you to organize your stock items and descriptors into groups.
Each Item Category can be assigned an up to 20-character Category ID and an
accompanying 50-character Description.
Item Categories are used for the following purposes:
Sales & COGS Posting
Sales and Cost of Goods Sold can be broken out by Item Category in the
Account Assignments screen.
Discounts
You have the capability of assigning different discount percentages within
Discount Code by Item Category. For example, you may have one discount
percentage for new products and a different discount percentage for spare
parts.
Sales Analysis
Sales can be subtotaled by Item Category in the Sales by Item Category
report.
Inventory Value
You can filter the Inventory Value report by Item Category.
134 Operating Guide

Stock Counts
Stock items can be selected by Item Category for counting in the Stock
Counts screen.
Lists & Lookups
The Item Category is commonly provided as a filter within various lookup and
list screens.
Suggestions
The system is supplied with the following Item Categories. You are welcome to
use them or you can delete them and create your own.
PRODUCT: Products for Sale
Products made or purchased primarily for sale to customers should be
assigned to this category. An item can function as a ‘PRODUCT’ when sold
as a spare part and as a ‘PART’ when used in jobs. Where dual functionality
exists, assign the item to the category that accounts for the most usage.
NOTE: If you wish to break out your sales in the General Ledger by Item
Category, you should create multiple categories instead of a single
‘PRODUCT’ category.
SUBASSY: Subassemblies
Manufactured items used primarily as components in jobs should be assigned
to this category. An item can function as a ‘SUBASSY’ when used in jobs
and as a ‘PRODUCT’ when sold as a spare. Where dual functionality exists,
assign the item to the category that accounts for the most usage.
PART: Purchased Parts
Purchased parts used primarily as components in jobs should be assigned to
this category. An item can function as a ‘PART’ when used in jobs and as a
‘PRODUCT’ when sold as a spare part. Where dual functionality exists,
assign the item to the category that accounts for the most usage.
NOTE: As an alternative to a single PART’ category, you have the
option of creating multiple such categories. Refer to the Sample
Company for examples.
RAWMAT: Raw Materials
Purchased raw materials such as metal, plastic, rubber, wood, wire, paint,
etc. should be assigned to this category.
NOTE: As an alternative to a single RAWMAT’ category, you have the
option of creating multiple such categories. Refer to the Sample
Company for examples.
DESCRIPTOR: Non-Stock Descriptors
All non-stock descriptors should be assigned to this category.
Operating Guide 135

4-1D. Lot/Serial Control

(Inventory – Inventory Setup – Lot/Serial Control)
Use this screen to assign items to lot and serial tracking characteristics.
When an item is assigned to a characteristic, each time it is received, issued,
picked, or counted, its characteristic values must be recorded.
Training Course
Support Center – Videos–Setup – Lot & Serial Control Setup
Use the four standard characteristics
Currently, the system is supplied with these four standard characteristics. If you
are on an older system that lacks these characteristics, you can create them in
this screen.
LOTNO: Lot No
A lot number identifies a particular production or purchase batch of an item. If
you have a product problem, it can be traced back to a particular lot number
so that remedial action can be taken.
SERIALNO: Serial No
A serial number is a unique ID number assigned to each unit produced or
purchased of an item.
EXPIRYDATE: Expiration
This characteristic is used to track the expiration date of perishable products
REVISION: Revision
If you have manufactured products with multiple revisions where you stock
old and new revisions, this characteristic is used to differentiate the revisions
on hand.
NOTE: Do not use this characteristic for purchased items.
136 Operating Guide

Screen Details
Characteristics
Upper Panel
Include Inactive
By default, only active characteristics are displayed in the list. Select this
checkbox to include inactive characteristics as well.
Grid
Characteristic ID
Enter an up to 20-character code that is the primary identifier for the
characteristic record.
Description
This is the text that identifies the characteristic on inventory processing
screens. We recommend that you enter a short name to conserve screen
space, such as ‘Lot No’, ‘Serial No’, ‘Expiration’, and ‘Revision’.
Type
The Type determines the characteristic’s data type. Three types are
available:
Date
This characteristic can only be given a date value.
Number
This characteristic can only be given a numeric value.
Text
This characteristic’s values can be freeform alphanumeric text.
Operating Guide 137

Serialized
When this checkbox is selected, it means that this is a serial type
characteristic where a unique serial number is assigned to each unit when
it is initially received to stock.
Active
This checkbox is only visible when the Include Inactive checkbox is
selected in the upper panel. When this checkbox is selected, it means the
characteristic is active and available for assignment to items. When
cleared, it means that the characteristic cannot be assigned to items and
is not visible when processing job and PO receipts.
NOTE: You must remove all item assignments before you are
permitted to deactivate a characteristic.
Lower Panel
+
Click this button to create a new characteristic. You are presented with
this screen:
Enter the Characteristic ID, Description, Serialized checkbox, and Type. If

the Type is set to ‘Table’, the screen expands and you can enter a table of
allowable values. Click Save and the characteristic will be added to the
grid above.
▬
Click this button to delete the characteristic. You can only delete a
characteristic if it is not currently assigned to any items and there is no
transaction history.
Items Assigned to ‘Xxxxxxxx’
In this lower grid you can assign or un-assign stock items to the characteristic
selected in the upper grid.
Grid
Item ID, Description
These read-only fields identify the stock item assigned to this
characteristic.
138 Operating Guide

Char1, Char2…
All the characteristics to which this item is assigned are listed in these
columns.
Lower Panel
+
Click this button to add a stock item to the list of items assigned to this
characteristic. You are presented with this screen:
The current characteristic is pre-selected, but you can also select any of
the other available characteristics while you are on this screen. Click
Update to continue. You are then presented with this screen:
In this screen you must assign values for the new characteristic to existing
stock on hand.
For each location listed, click the Add button. This opens up the New Qty
and characteristic field to its right, which is ‘Lot No’ in the screen example
Operating Guide 139

above. Enter a quantity and a characteristic value; in this case, the lot
number.
If you wish to allocate the stock in one location to two or more
characteristic values, click the Add button once again and a new line is
opened so that you can enter another quantity and characteristic value.
Use the Delete button to delete a line if you make an incorrect entry.
Click the Update button to save your entries. The button will not be active
until the New Qty amounts within each location equal the Current Qty.
▬
Click this button to delete this item’s assignment to this characteristic.
The characteristic’s checkbox is cleared. While you are on this screen,

you can delete other characteristic assignments, if needed. Click Update
to continue. You are presented with this screen:
140 Operating Guide

This screen shows you what the on hand stock status will be once the
characteristic assignment is removed. Click the Update button to
complete the removal process.
NOTE: When you remove a characteristic assignment, be aware
that you will not have access to any of the characteristic’s values in
the item’s transaction history.
Characteristic Definition
Use this panel to edit the properties associated with the characteristic selected in
the grid at left.
Edit
Click this button and you are presented with this screen for any non-serialized
characteristic.
You can either change the Description, which is the text that is displayed on
inventory processing screens, or if the Type is ‘Table’, you can make changes to
the table of allowable values.
If this is a Serialized characteristic, you are presented with this screen:
This screen enables you to define serialization at the item level and displays the
item selected in the grid at lower left.
Operating Guide 141

You have the option of entering text in the Serialized Label field, which overrides
the standard characteristic Description on inventory processing screens. So if
you wish to give this item’s characteristic a custom field label use this field.
Otherwise, leave it blank.
Select Manual if you wish to assign serial numbers manually. Select Automatic if
you wish the program to assign serial numbers automatically. When you select
Automatic, additional fields are displayed.
First, establish an overall Length for your serial number. You can optionally enter
a fixed value Prefix or Suffix to the core number. In the Counter field, establish
the number that will be assigned to the next receipt transaction. This number
gets incremented automatically with each new receipt transaction.
142 Operating Guide

4-1E. Locations
4-1E. Locations
(Inventory – Inventory Setup – Locations)
“Locations” are used to represent the physical location of on hand stock.

Locations are an important element in your inventory management system and
should be given careful thought.
Training Course
Support Center – Videos–Setup – Locations Setup
If you don’t wish to use locations:
You may have a smaller facility where stock is easy to find and location control is
not needed. In this case, create a single ‘universal’ location with a name such as
‘MAIN’ and use it as the default Receipt Location and Primary Location. All items
and transactions will be automatically posted to this one location.
Types and Uses of Locations
Locations are user-defined and can be organized to fit your inventory needs.
Listed here are various types of locations for you to consider as you set up your
inventory management system.
Bin / Rack / Shelf
Locations are used to represent the specific bin, rack, and shelf locations
within storage areas. These location ID’s typically are structured in three
segments, separated by dashes, as follows:
Warehouse – Area/Aisle – Bin/Shelf/Rack Number
“Assign” Location
An “assign” location can be useful if you are constantly creating new stock
items and you don’t always know at the time of creation where the item will be
physically stored in the warehouse.
An “assign” location is not a physical location. It is a temporary location used
until an item is assigned an actual Receipt Location and Issue Location.
If you want all your item location assignments to start out with the
“assign” location, create the “assign” location first, perhaps with a location ID
of ‘ASSIGN’. Then go to the Inventory Defaults screen and select the
“assign” location as the system default Receipt Location and Primary
Location. Whenever a new stock item is created, it is given the “assign”
location as its default Receipt Location and Primary Location.
Whenever you see an item with an “assign” location or you encounter an
inventory transaction designated to the “assign” location, it is your signal that
you need to give that item its permanent location assignments.
Operating Guide 143

4-1E. Locations
“Find” Location
A “find” location is used with items that do not have permanent locations.
These might be items that are procured or manufactured only on occasion
and can be stored in any allowable location within a general area.
Create a location with a location ID of ‘FIND’. Where applicable, assign this
location as the item’s default Receipt Location and Primary Location.
When you see the “find” location on a receiving screen, it is your signal to find
an actual location.
Inspection Location
Some items must be inspected and labeled before they are put away in the
warehouse or issued to the shop floor. In this case, you can create an
“inspection” location and designate it as the default Receipt Location against
any items that require inspection upon receipt.
After inspection is completed, the Stock Transfer screen is used to transfer
the stock from the “inspection” location to its final location.
Work Center Location
Not all items are stored in the warehouse. Raw materials and components
that are purchased for jobs can be received directly to the work center where
they are consumed. Make to order subassembly items are usually passed on
to the next work center rather than received to warehouse locations.
You can create locations to represent each work center that has a receiving
staging area and you can designate such work centers as the default Receipt
Location against items that are received directly to work centers.
Shipping Location
Products that are made or purchased to order can be received directly to a
shipping location rather than a warehouse location.
You can therefore create a “shipping” location, which represents a general
staging area for pending shipments. Designate it as the default Receipt
Location against any item that is received directly to shipping.
Service Vehicle Location
You may have service vehicles used by field technicians or salespeople that
have a small parts inventory. Each such vehicle can be given its own
location, so that you can track and replenish field inventories.
Service vehicle locations are not assigned as default locations because they
are always secondary locations rather than primary locations.
The Stock Transfer screen will be used periodically to replenish service
vehicle stock from each item’s primary storage location.
144 Operating Guide

4-1E. Locations
Transit Location
If you transfer stock between two warehouses, you can create a “transit”
location to represent the interval between the time stock is picked from one
warehouse and received into the other.
The Stock Transfer screen is used to transfer stock quantities from the source
locations to the “transit” location, which may be your own truck or a
commercial shipper. When the items arrive at the target destination, the
Stock Transfer screen is used to transfer stock quantities from the “transit”
location to final locations.
List Tab
Grid
Location ID
Enter an up to 10-character code that identifies this location.
Enter an up to 50-character description that accompanies the Location ID on
lookups and screens. One possible use for this field is to describe the
location type, such as ‘Rack’, ‘Floor Area’, ‘Bin’, etc. Transitory locations (see
next) can be described as ‘Assign a Location’, ‘Find a Location’, ‘Inspection
Area’, etc.
Transitory
Selecting this checkbox identifies this as a “transitory” location, where stock is
stored on a temporary basis to perform a process or transfer. Stock
quantities in transitory locations are displayed for reference purposes, but are
not available for picking or issuing in the Order Picking and Job Issues
screens. Select his checkbox on these types of Locations:
• “Assign” Location
Operating Guide 145

4-1E. Locations
• “Find” Location
• Inspection Location
• Transit Location
Active
This checkbox is automatically selected when a new location record is
created. Active locations may contain stock quantities and are available for
picking, issuing, and receiving transactions. If a location is no longer in use
(because it no longer exists or has been renamed), clear this checkbox.
NOTE: You are not permitted to clear this checkbox if the location has
a stock quantity. In such cases, use the Stock Transfer screen to
transfer stock to an Active location and then you can clear this
checkbox.
Lower Panel
Notes
You can enter freeform notes against each location for reference purposes on
this screen.
Buttons
Save
This button is visible when one or more new locations have been entered, but
not yet saved. Click this button to save your entries.
Cancel
Click this button to cancel any new entries that have not yet been saved.
Add
Click this button to create a new location record in the entry grid.
Delete
Click this button to delete a selected location.
NOTE: You cannot delete a location if it has a stock quantity,
transaction history, or is assigned to any stock items or location
groups. As an alternative to deletion, you can clear the Active
checkbox.
Inventory
Click this button to view current stock in this Location.
146 Operating Guide

4-1E. Locations
Location Groups Tab

“Location groups”, which are sets of stock items with common location
assignments (see next chapter), can be assigned to the selected location on this
tab.
Upper Panel
Location ID, Description
The location selected on the List tab is displayed for reference.
Grid
Location Group, Description
This is the location group currently assigned to this location.
Buttons
Assign
Click this button to assign a location group to this location. You are presented
with a Location Groups lookup, from which you can make a selection.
Remove
Click this button to remove the selected location group from the list.
Operating Guide 147

4-1E. Locations
Stock Items Tab

On this tab are listed all stock items that are either directly assigned to the
selected location or are indirectly assigned through a location group.
Upper Panel
The location selected on the List tab is displayed for reference.
Display Grid
Item ID, Description
This identifies the stock item that is either directly assigned to this location or
is indirectly assigned to it through a location group.
Primary
This checkbox is selected when this location is designated as the item’s
Primary Location.
Receipt
This checkbox is selected when this location is designated as the item’s
Receipt Location.
Loc Group
This checkbox is selected when this item is assigned to this location through
a location group.
Additional
This checkbox is selected when this item is assigned directly to this location
as an additional location to its Primary Location and Receipt Location.
148 Operating Guide

4-1F. Location Groups

(Inventory – Inventory Setup – Location Groups)
User-defined “location groups” enable you to assign allowable locations to a set

of stock items as an alternative to assigning locations one item at a time.
For example, all your sheet metal items might be allowed storage in a particular
rack area. Instead of assigning the allowable rack locations to each sheet metal
item, you can create a location group to represent your sheet metal items and
assign allowable locations to it. Any item that is assigned to the sheet metal
location group is indirectly assigned to all its allowable locations.
List Tab
Location groups are created on this tab.
Grid
Location Group
Enter an up to 20-character code that identifies this location group.
Description
Enter an up to 50-character description that accompanies the location group
on lookups.
Buttons
New
Click this button to open a new line for location group entry.
Delete
Click this button to delete the selected location group.
Operating Guide 149

Locations Tab
Allowable locations are assigned to the selected location group on this tab.
Upper Panel
These fields identify the location group currently selected on the List tab.
Grid
Location
In this column are listed all the allowable locations that are assigned to this
location group.
Description
This is the description associated with the location.
Buttons
Assign
Click this button to assign a location to this location group. You are presented
with a Locations lookup, from which you can make a selection.
Remove
Click this button to remove the selected location from the list.
150 Operating Guide

Stock Items Tab

The stock items assigned to this location group are displayed on this tab.
Upper Panel
These fields identify the location group currently selected on the List tab.
Grid
Item ID
The stock items assigned to this location group are listed in this column.
Description
This is the description associated with the stock item.
Buttons
Edit
Click this button to access a screen that is identical to the Locations tab in the
Stock Items screen. This enables you to change any of the location settings
against the selected stock item.
Operating Guide 151

4-1G. Location Repair

(Inventory – Inventory Setup – Location Repair)
This screen is a utility is used to repair inventory transaction records that contain
invalid locations. In general, this is only needed on older systems that once
allowed “blank” locations or freeform typing instead of lookup selection.
Presented on System Startup
This screen is automatically presented to users with Administrator level security
when DBA gets launched. It identifies any invalid stock locations – such as a
“blank” location that was once a permitted value – and enables you to designate
a valid location that will replace it across all relevant data tables. Make sure all
your invalid locations are cleaned up before you resume system operation.
Screen Details
Grid
Invalid Location
The program automatically detects any invalid locations and lists them in this
column. You must replace each invalid location with a valid location in the
field at right.
On Hand Qty
This is the total of an on hand stock that is currently in this invalid location.
Valid Location
A valid location must be selected from the lookup in this field. This location
will replace the invalid location. Any on hand stock in the invalid location will
be transferred to this location.
NOTE: If you need to create a new location, you can do so by clicking
the Locations button, which launches the Locations screen.
152 Operating Guide

Reassigning the “Blank” Location

You cannot reassign the blank location to a location that contains any
stock quantities. If you do not have an empty location available, create a
temporary “placeholder” location and reassign the blank location to it.
After you run the Update process, go to the Stock Transfer screen to view
all items that have stock in the placeholder location. After you verify
where these items and quantities are actually located, use the Stock
Transfer screen to transfer stock from the placeholder location to actual
locations.
After all quantities are transferred out of the placeholder location,
deactivate that location in the Locations screen.
Buttons
Update
This button becomes visible once all invalid locations have been assigned to
valid locations. Click this button to initiate the repair process.
Stock
Click this button to view a list of any stock items that have an on hand stock
quantity within the invalid location.
Locations
Click this button to launch the Locations screen, from which you can add or
remove locations.
Operating Guide 153

4-1H. Warranty Codes
4-1H. Warranty Codes

(Inventory – Inventory Setup – Warranty Codes)
Warranty Codes can be set up to identify the various warranties that accompany
your products (such as ‘90 Days Parts Only’ or ‘1-Year Parts & Labor’, etc.).
Warranty Codes can be assigned to Stock Items and Descriptors on the
Additional tab of those screens.
How are Warranty Codes used?
In sales order detail lines, a Warranty Code field can be activated through the
Sales Order Types – Screen Config button.
You can print a Sales – Reports – Warranty Sheet to accompany a packing list or
invoice. It lists any warranties associated with the order and the products that
are covered.
You can also print a Sales – Reports – Warranty Listing that lists warranties by
Customer. You can use this report to determine whether a service event is
covered under warranty or not.
Screen Details
You can enter an up to 15-character Warranty ID and accompanying 50-

character Description.
154 Operating Guide

4-2. Stock Items
4-2. Stock Items

(Inventory – Stock Items … or Item Icon)
Use this screen to enter your Stock Items. Any item that is capable of being
stocked is considered a Stock Item, even if it is never stocked.
Training Courses
Support Center – Videos–Conceptual – Inventory Costs
List Tab
By default, all your items with a Status of ‘Active’ are listed on this screen for
selection.
Customizing the columns

Use the Inventory – Inventory Setup – Stock Items – List Tab screen to
customize the list columns. You can designate which fields you want displayed
and you can change column heading names.
Lower Panel
This panel is located along the bottom of the screen and is used to filter the
contents of the list.
Magnifying Glass Icon (Lookup)
Click this icon to launch a lookup screen that enables you to filter the opening
list a variety of ways.
Operating Guide 155

4-2. Stock Items
Top Row
In the top row are located several checkboxes that can be used to filter the
contents of the opening list. Refer further below for field explanations.
Search Mode
Two radio button options are offered:
General
In this mode you can enter Search Text in the next field and then you
can select checkboxes against whichever fields or sub-tables listed
below that you want included in the search. This mode is called
“General” because it is a general search where each checkbox
selected expands the list of potential matches. Think of this mode as
an “or” type condition, such as “I want to search the Item ID or the
Supp Part # or the Mfg Part #.” You would use this mode when you
are not sure which field or table the text string is stored in.
Search Text
Enter the text string to be searched in this field. A text string can be
any combination of alpha characters, numbers, punctuation marks,
or spaces.
Search Item ID – Starts With
If your Search Text value is the beginning portion of an Item ID,
select this field to make the search significantly faster.
Detailed
In this mode you can enter a text string or select a value from a lookup
in one or more of the fields listed below to narrow your search. Think of
this mode as an “and” type condition, such as “I want to search for an
item with “red” in the description and it is supplied by ACME Paint
supplies.” You would use this mode when you are sure which field or
table your text string or value is stored in.
156 Operating Guide

4-2. Stock Items
Item ID – Starts With

If the text string entered in this field is the beginning portion of an
Item ID, select this field to make the search significantly faster.
Reset Button
Each time you access this screen, the settings are retained from the
previous time you were in this screen. Click this button to clear your
previous settings and restore the default selections.
Search Button
Once your entries and selections are completed, click this button to initiate
the search. When the search is completed, the opening List will be limited
to stock items that match your search criteria.
Mfg
Select this checkbox if you wish to include ‘M’ (manufactured) items in the list.
Purch
Select this checkbox if you wish to include ‘P’ (purchased) items in the list.
Active
Select this checkbox if you wish to include items with a Status of ‘Active’ in
the list.
Inactive
Select this checkbox if you wish to include items with a Status of ‘Inactive’ in
the list.
Normal
Select this checkbox if you wish to include items that are not Custom (see
next) in the list.
Custom
Select this checkbox if you wish to include Custom Outputs in the list.
Custom Outputs are generated during sales order entry by the Custom
Operating Guide 157

4-2. Stock Items
Output Generator and are used for one-off custom manufactured items,
project jobs, and repair jobs.
Search Field
You can enter a text string in this field and click the magnifying glass button to
limit the list to columns containing that text string.
Buttons
New
Click this button to create a new Stock Item. You are taken to the Detail tab,
which is cleared for new data entry.
Notes
Click this button to get a listing of past Activity Notes for this item. From this
screen you can also create new Activity Notes.
Labels
Click this button to launch the Stock Item Labels screen, from which you can
print item labels for this item for product identification or packaging purposes.
History
Clicking this button provides a listing of the highlighted item’s inventory
transactions, including the transaction type, the location, and the cost.
Qty by Char
Click this button to see this item’s current stock quantity for each set of
Tracking Characteristics within each location.
Qty by Loc
Click this button to view current stock quantity by Stock Location.
Stock Status
Click this button to view this item’s complete stock status, including stock
availability, projected stock, current supply and demand details, and MRP
settings.
Where Used
Click this button to get a listing of all BOM parents for which the highlighted
item is a component along with the item’s corresponding Usage Qty.
Sell Prices
Click this button to link to this item’s record in the Base Prices screen.
Buy Prices
Click this button to link to this item’s record in the Purchase Prices – Items
screen.
158 Operating Guide

4-2. Stock Items
Detail Tab
Stock Item
Item ID (Required)
This is an up to 30-character alphanumeric code that is used to identify the
item.
This is an up to 60-character mandatory field that accompanies the item ID on
screens and reports.
UM (Required)
This is an up to 8-character mandatory field that defines the item’s unit of
measure (EA, LB, KILO, FT, MTR, GAL, etc.).
Mfg or Purch (Required)
Select ‘M’ if this item is manufactured and ‘P’ if it is purchased. M items are
allowed to have bills of material and to be job outputs.
Item Category (Required)
Each item must be assigned to an Item Category. Item Categories are used
to organize your stock items and descriptors into groups for reporting
purposes.
Bar Code
This field can store an alternate number for bar coding, such as a UPC code.
This field is for reference only and has no current use.
Creation Date
This is the date the item record was first created. It defaults to today’s date,
but can be overridden.
Operating Guide 159

4-2. Stock Items
Status
A new item defaults to a Status of ‘Active’. If you change the Status to ‘Non-
Active’, the item will be filtered out of the opening List tab.
Unit Costs
Inventory Cost
This is the unit cost used for the calculation of invoice cost of goods sold and
for job costing when items are issued from stock to jobs. Here are a few
things to consider regarding the Inventory Cost.
When a stock item is issued or shipped:
When a stock item is issued to a job or shipped to a customer, the item’s
unit Inventory Cost remains unchanged.
When a stock item is received:
Whenever a stock item is received, either through a PO receipts or a job
receipts, its Inventory Cost is recalculated by averaging the PO or job cost
into the cost of any stock on hand, according to the following formula:
Cost Calculation Variables
Receipt Value = Units Received x PO Unit Cost or Job Unit Cost
Book Value = General Ledger Value of Units on Hand (based on the
sum of all historical debit and credit transactions)
Total Units = Units Received + Units on Hand
Cost Calculation Formula
If Units on Hand are zero or greater after receipt:
New Inventory Cost = (Receipt Value + Book Value) / Total Units
If Units on Hand are negative after receipt:
Inventory Cost remains as it was prior to receipt
Changing the Inventory Cost:
If you wish to change the item’s Inventory Cost, you can do so using the
Inventory – Change Inventory Cost screen.
Last Cost
This is a display-only reference field that shows the cost associated with the
most recent receipt of this item.
Estimated Cost
The Estimated Cost is used as a variable in the bill of material Cost Rollup
and as a variable in the calculation of estimated job costs.
M Items:
The Estimated Cost cannot be changed in this screen. To recalculate a
manufactured item’s Estimated Cost, you must use the BOM – Cost
160 Operating Guide

4-2. Stock Items
Rollup screen. You can view a breakdown of the item’s cost elements by
clicking the 3-dot button to the right of this field.
P Items:
The Estimated Cost can be manually updated by clicking the ‘pointing-
hand’ icon to the right of this field. You can also mass update the
Estimated Cost by making it equal to the Last Cost via the BOM –
Estimated Purchase Costs screen.
Tax Code Source
These settings determine the source of the Tax Code against sales order and
purchase order lines for this stock item.
Order Header
When you select this option, the Tax Code specified in the sales order or
purchase order header determines the source of the sales order or purchase
order line’s Tax Code for this item.
Exception
Select this option if this item is to receive an exception Tax Code that
overrides the sales order or purchase order header Tax Code. A Tax Code
field becomes visible to the right. Select a Tax Code from the lookup. In
general, a tax code exception is designated when the item is non-taxable, in
which case a non-taxable Tax Code should be selected. Another tax code
exception is when the item bears a special tax rate, such as an excise tax.
Tax Group
This checkbox is only visible when the Tax Group Matrix option is selected in
the Tax Defaults screen. Tax groups enable you to designate exception tax
codes at the line item level that only apply to certain destinations or sources.
A Tax Group field becomes visible to the right. Select a Tax Group from the
lookup. When an item assigned to a Tax Group encounters a customer or
supplier that is also assigned to a Tax Group, the two Tax Groups are
matched in the Tax Group Matrix to determine the Tax Code that gets used in
the sales order or purchase order line.
Unit Price
Base Price
The Base Price is the item’s “list” price and serves as a reference price for the
calculation of price levels and contract prices. If you click the ‘pointing hand’
icon, you are taken to the Base Prices screen where you can create a base
price record for the item. When that screen is closed, you are returned to this
screen.
MRP Sub-Tab
On the MRP sub-tab are planning settings used by the MRP screen. These
settings are normally entered and maintained in the MRP – MRP Settings
Operating Guide 161

4-2. Stock Items
screen, which uses a grid format that is more suited for entering settings across
multiple items. See chapter 7 for details.
Mfg Sub-Tab
Default Revision
This field displays your current Default Revision for reference purposes and is
only visible if Revisions are activated in the BOM Setup screen.
Drawing No
The current drawing number for this item. This field value prints in the header
section of the job traveler.
Title
This is the description of the product that appears in the Title block of a
drawing. This field value prints in the header section of the job traveler
Dimensions Sub-Tab
Shipping & Packaging
Unit Weight
This is the weight of one stocking unit (UM) of the item. This value is used
by the sales order Shipping screen to calculate the total weight of the
shipment.
Unit Volume
This is the volume (cubic feet, cubic meters) of one stocking unit (UM) of
the item. This value is used by the sales order Shipping screen to
calculate the total volume of the shipment.
Std Pack
This is the number of pieces of this item per shipping package (box,
carton, container, pallet, etc.). This value is used by the sales order
Shipping screen to calculate the total number of packs that comprise the
shipment.
Dimensional Info
The fields in this panel are for reference only and have no current use outside
this screen.
SO/PO Notes
You can enter unlimited freeform text in this notes field. This text is passed into
the Line Notes associated with quote, sales order, and purchase order detail
lines.
162 Operating Guide

4-2. Stock Items
Locations Tab
Default and allowable inventory locations are assigned to the item on this tab.
Training Course
Support Center – Videos–Setup – Locations Setup
Upper Panel
Receipt Location
This setting is initially populated by the Receipt Location designated in the
Inventory Defaults screen, but can be overridden with a selection from the
lookup. This location is the default location when processing transactions in
the Job Receipts and PO Receipts screens.
New Items
Using an “assign” location as the Receipt Location in the Inventory
Defaults screen can be useful if you are constantly creating new stock
items and you don’t always know at the time of creation where the item
will be physically stored in the warehouse.
When you see an item with an “assign” location, it is your signal that you
need to give that item its permanent location assignments.
Items without Permanent Locations
A “find” location can be used with items that do not have permanent
locations. These might be items that are procured or manufactured only
on occasion and can be stored in any allowable location within a general
area. When you see a “find” location on a receiving screen, it is your
signal to find an actual location among the item’s allowable locations.
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4-2. Stock Items
Inspected Items
If the item requires inspection and/or labeling, it can be received by default
into an “inspection” location. After it passes inspection and/or labeling, the
Stock Transfer screen is used to transfer the stock to its Primary Location
in the warehouse.
Make to Order Subassemblies
Make to order subassemblies are usually received into a “work center”
location rather than a warehouse location.
Buy for Job Items
Purchased items that are procured only when required by jobs are usually
received into a “work center” location rather than a warehouse location.
Make to Order Items
Make to order items are usually received to a “shipping” location for
shipment directly to customers.
Primary Location
This setting is initially populated by the Primary Location designated in the
Inventory Defaults screen, but can be overridden with a selection from the
lookup. The Primary Location is flagged as the item’s primary storage
location when picking or issuing stock in the Order Picking and Job Issues
screens.
NOTE: It is common for the Receipt Location and Primary Location to
be the same location.
Items without Permanent Locations
If the item does not have a permanent location, meaning that it can be
stored in any of its allowable locations, we recommend that you use a
“find” location as the Primary Location. This lets you know that stock can
be found among allowable locations rather than a specific location.
Capacity
This is an optional field. You can enter the maximum quantity of this item that
can be stored within the Receipt Location or any of the allowable locations in
the grid below. Only make an entry to this field when the location is a specific
bin, rack, or shelf. When receiving items to stock, the Capacity setting helps
you know which bins, racks, or shelves are full and which ones have room for
additional storage.
NOTE: General staging areas and “transitory” locations are not
devoted to the storage of one item at a time and are therefore not
suitable for the Capacity setting.
164 Operating Guide

4-2. Stock Items
Additional Locations
Some items can be stored in other locations besides the Receipt Location and
Primary Location. The options in this middle panel enable you to designate
additional allowable locations for the item.
Location Group
Select this option if you wish to assign the item to a Location Group. A
Location group is a set of allowable locations that can be shared by common
types of items. For example, you may have a set of racks that can be used
for all your sheet metal items. That set of racks can be represented by a
location group. Location groups are created in the Inventory – Inventory
Setup – Locations Groups screen.
NOTE: When this option is selected, a new panel is displayed
containing a Location Group field. Select a location group from the
lookup.
Assign by Location
As an alternative to using a location group, where locations are shared by
multiple items, select this option to designate one or more additional locations
that apply just to this item. Typically, these would be specific “overflow”
locations or locations in other warehouses.
None
Select this option when you do not want to allow any locations other than the
Receipt Location and Primary Location.
Grid
Additional locations are listed in this grid. When the Location Group option is
selected, all the locations within the location group are listed and cannot be
changed. When the Assign by Location option is selected, you can add and
remove locations from the list.
These fields identify the location.
Transitory
When selected, this checkbox indicates that this is a “transitory” location,
which is a location where stock is stored on a temporary basis to perform a
process or transfer. Stock quantities in transitory locations are displayed for
reference purposes, but are not available for picking or issuing in the Order
Picking and Job Issues screens. “Assign”, “find”, “inspection”, and “transit”
locations are typically “transitory” locations.
Capacity
You can optionally enter the maximum quantity of this item that can be stored
within this location. Only make an entry to this field when the location is a
specific bin, rack, or shelf. When receiving items to stock, the Capacity
Operating Guide 165

4-2. Stock Items
setting helps you know which bins, racks, or shelves are full and which ones
have room for additional storage.
NOTE: General staging areas and “transitory” locations are not
devoted to the storage of one item at a time and are therefore not
suitable for the Capacity setting.
Buttons
+
This button is only visible when the Assign by Location option is selected.
Click this button to add a location to the list of allowable locations.
▬
This button is only visible when the Assign by Location option is selected.
Click this button to delete a location from the list of allowable locations.
166 Operating Guide

4-2. Stock Items
Sources Tab
Sources of supply and cross-references are entered on this screen.
Upper Panel
M or P
This read-only field indicates whether the item is manufactured (M) or
purchased (P).
Default Supplier
This field is visible on P items only. Select your preferred Supplier for this
item. MRP will specify this Supplier when it generates suggested POs.
NOTE: The lookup is confined to suppliers already assigned to this
item, so you must add a supplier to the list on the Suppliers sub-tab
before it can be designated as the Default Supplier. When only one
supplier is assigned to the item, it is automatically designed as the
Default Supplier once you exit the Sources tab.
Default Manufacturer
This field is visible on P items only. If you want to source the item from a
specific Manufacturer, select your preferred Manufacturer in this field. MRP
will specify this Manufacturer when it generates suggested POs.
NOTE1: The lookup is confined to manufacturers already assigned to
this item, so you must add a manufacturer to the list on the
Manufacturers sub-tab or on the supplier’s Line Card before it can be
designated as the Default Manufacturer.
Suppliers Sub-Tab
The Default Supplier is automatically added to the Suppliers sub-tab. On this tab
you can select additional Suppliers for the item.
Operating Guide 167

4-2. Stock Items
Supplier Part No
Both the DBA Item ID and the Supplier Part No are referenced in he
Purchase Orders screen and on the printed PO. If you leave this field blank,
the DBA Item ID will be used as the Supplier Part No.
Description
This is for reference only. The DBA Description is the only description
referenced in the Purchase Orders screen and on the printed PO.
UM
This is the supplier’s unit of measure. Both the stocking UM and the
supplier’s UM are referenced in he Purchase Orders screen and on the
printed PO.
Multiplier
This is used to calculate the supplier’s order quantity if the supplier sells the
item in a different UM than your stocking UM. The DBA quantity is multiplied
by the Multiplier to arrive at the supplier’s quantity. Here are two examples:
Stock in Buy in Multiplier
FT YARD .333
FT INCH 12
Both quantities are referenced in the Purchase Orders screen and on the
printed PO. The program assigns a default value of ‘1’ to this field.
Line Card
In this grid you can select the Manufacturers and Mfgr Part Nos that are
carried by the Supplier highlighted above. These two fields are referenced in
the Purchase Orders screen and on the printed PO.
NOTE: Each Manufacturer must be created first in the Purch –
Manufacturers screen. Each Mfgr Part No is created in the Manufacturers
sub-tab of this screen.
Manufacturers Sub-Tab
The Default Manufacturer is automatically added to this sub-tab. On this tab you
can specify additional Manufacturers and you can enter each corresponding Mfgr
Part No.
NOTE: Each Manufacturer must be created first in the Purch –
Manufacturers screen.
Alternates Sub-Tab
Alternates represent substitute items that can be swapped into jobs or sales
orders when this item is not available. Alternates are available as a cross-
reference on some item lookups and optionally print on the Multi-Level BOM and
Costed BOM reports.
168 Operating Guide

4-2. Stock Items
Complementary Sub-Tab
Complementary items are similar or compatible with this item, but not a one-for-
one substitute. An example of a Complementary item would be where a ½
horsepower motor is the standard component, but if there are none in stock, a ¾
horsepower motor could be used instead. Complementary items are available as
a cross-reference on some item lookups.
Customers Sub-Tab
If you have customers that want their part number to print on invoices and
packing lists, you can specify those Customers and Customer Part Nos on this
screen. The Customer Part No is available as a field for inclusion on customized
quotes, acknowledgements, packing lists, and invoices.
Operating Guide 169

4-2. Stock Items
Lot/Serial Tab
One or more lot and serial tracking “characteristics” can be assigned to the item
on this tab. Characteristics enable you to track stock on hand by lot number,
serial number, expiration date, or revision.
When the item is assigned to a characteristic, each time it is received, issued,

picked, or counted, its characteristic values must be recorded.
When not to use
When considering whether to use characteristics or not, a good guideline to
follow is this:
Characteristic tracking should only be used in situations that cannot
be handled by unique item ID’s.
Use characteristics when you have no other choice, which would be the case
with lot control, serial control, and expiration date.
Do not use characteristics to avoid setting up item ID’s. Whenever an item has
different versions – such as painted or unpainted – always differentiate the two
versions with unique item ID’s.
Limitations
Be aware of these two limitations with characteristics.
Costing
The system does not track costs by characteristic. Each item’s Inventory
Cost is an average of the receipt costs for the stock on hand. If variations of
an item have different costs that affect job costing or cost of sales, use unique
item ID’s rather than characteristics.
170 Operating Guide

4-2. Stock Items
Pricing
You cannot establish prices by characteristic; only by item ID. If variations of
an item require different pricing, use unique item ID’s rather than
characteristics.
Use the four standard characteristics
Currently, the system is supplied with these four standard characteristics. If you
are on an older system that lacks these characteristics, you can create them in
the Inventory – Inventory Setup – Item Characteristics screen.
LOTNO: Lot No
A lot number identifies a particular production or purchase batch of an item. If
you have a product problem, it can be traced back to a particular lot number
so that remedial action can be taken.
SERIALNO: Serial No
A serial number is a unique ID number assigned to each unit produced or
purchased of an item.
EXPIRYDATE: Expiration
This characteristic is used to track the expiration date of perishable products
REVISION: Revision
If you have manufactured products with multiple revisions where you stock
old and new revisions, this characteristic is used to differentiate the revisions
on hand.
NOTE: Do not use this characteristic for purchased items.
Screen Details
Upper Panel
Add Button
Click this button to launch the Add/Edit Item Characteristics screen, shown
below.
Operating Guide 171

4-2. Stock Items
Select the Assigned checkbox against each characteristic you wish to assign
to the item.
Click Update to continue. If the item is assigned to a Serialized characteristic,
you are presented with the following screen:
Serial Characteristic Definition
This screen enables you to define serialization at the item level and
displays the item selected in the grid at lower left.
You have the option of entering text in the Serialized Label field, which
overrides the standard characteristic Description on inventory processing
screens. So if you wish to give this item’s characteristic a custom field
label use this field. Otherwise, leave it blank.
Select Manual if you wish to assign serial numbers manually. Select
Automatic if you wish the program to assign serial numbers automatically.
When you select Automatic, additional fields are displayed.
172 Operating Guide

4-2. Stock Items
First, establish an overall Length for your serial number. You can
optionally enter a fixed value Prefix or Suffix to the core number. In the
Counter field, establish the number that will be assigned to the next
receipt transaction. This number gets incremented automatically with
each new receipt transaction.
If the characteristic is not serialized or you have finished defining the
serialized characteristic, you are then presented with this screen:
In this screen you must assign values for the new characteristic(s) to existing
stock on hand.
For each location listed, click the Add button. This opens up the New Qty and
characteristic field to its right, which is ‘Lot No’ in the screen example above.
Enter a quantity and a characteristic value; in this case, the lot number.
If you wish to allocate the stock in one location to two or more characteristic
values, click the Add button once again and a new line is opened so that you
can enter another quantity and characteristic value. Use the Delete button to
delete a line if you make an incorrect entry.
Click the Update button to save your entries. The button will not be active
until the New Qty amounts within each location equal the Current Qty.
Remove Button
Click this button to launch the Remove Item Characteristics screen, shown
below.
Operating Guide 173

4-2. Stock Items
Clear the Assigned checkbox against each characteristic that is to be un-

assigned from the item.
Click Update to continue. You are presented with this screen:
This screen shows you what the on hand stock status will be once the
characteristic assignment is removed. Click the Update button to complete
the removal process.
NOTE: When you remove a characteristic assignment, be aware that
you will not have access to any of the characteristic’s values in the
item’s transaction history.
Char History Button
Click this button to launch this screen, which shows you when each
characteristic assignment against this item was added or removed.
174 Operating Guide

4-2. Stock Items
Grid
All the available characteristics are listed in the grid.
Assigned
When this checkbox is selected, it indicates that the item is assigned to this
characteristic.
• If you select this checkbox, you are presented with the same Add/Edit
Item Characteristics screen that gets launched by clicking the Add button.
See the Add Button above for details.
• If you clear this checkbox, you are presented with the same Remove Item
Characteristics screen that gets launched by clicking the Remove button.
See the Remove button above for details.
Characteristic ID
This code is the characteristic’s primary identifier.
Description
This is the text that identifies the characteristic on inventory processing
screens.
Type
The Type determines the characteristic’s data type. Four types are used:
Date
This characteristic can only be given a date value.
Number
This characteristic can only be given a numeric value.
Table
This characteristic’s values must be selected from a table of allowable
values.
Text
This characteristic’s values can be freeform alphanumeric text.
Show on Docs
Select this checkbox if you want this item’s characteristic values listed on the
packing list associated with each customer shipment.
Operating Guide 175

4-2. Stock Items
Additional Tab
Main Side-Tab
Storing an Image
If you wish to store a graphical image of the item for reference on this screen,
right click on the left panel and select the Load Picture option. You will be
presented with a selection screen. Navigate to the desired image and select it
and it will display on the screen. To clear the image, right click on the image and
select the Clear Picture option.
User-Defined Fields
If you created any user-defined fields in the Admin – User-Defined Fields screen,
those fields are entered on this panel.
Warranty Code
If this item is covered by a warranty, select its Warranty Code in this field.
176 Operating Guide

4-2. Stock Items
Documents Side-Tab
On this screen you can attach documents (such as drawings, specifications, etc.)
or files of any kind that relate to this item.
Edit Documents
To link to a document, click the Edit Document panel at the bottom of the screen.
Description
Enter the description that will display on the Document List panel.
File Location
If a document is only to be used by you, you can specify a File Location to
your local computer. If the document is to be shared with others, it should be
stored on the central file server.
Copy to Job
From the drop-down list, select ‘Yes’ if you want this document to be linked to
jobs when the Retrieve Linked Customer / Item / Descriptor Documents
button is clicked on the Additional side-tab off the Header tab in the Jobs
screen.
Print With
In a future version of DBA, this document will automatically be printed when
the job traveler is printed. Select ‘Yes’ from the drop-down list if you want this
feature when it becomes available.
Storing an Image
If you wish to store a graphical image of the item, you can do so on this screen.
Double click on the upper right panel and you will be presented with a selection
screen. Navigate to the desired image and select it and it will display on the
Characteristics screen. The image is for reference purposes on this screen and
Operating Guide 177

4-2. Stock Items
prints on the Multi-Level BOM and Costed BOM reports, pick lists, and the job
traveler.
178 Operating Guide

4-3. Descriptors
4-3. Descriptors
(Inventory – Descriptors … or Desc icon)
Descriptors are non-inventory items used to identify labor charges,

miscellaneous charges, and miscellaneous purchases.
Training Course
Support Center – Videos–Setup – Descriptors Setup
Uses of Descriptors
Descriptors are used for the following purposes:
Credit Memos
Credit memos are required from time to time to make adjustments to
customer account balances for product returns, price adjustments, write-offs
to bad debt, and other such things. A credit memo in DBA is simply an
invoice with a negative total amount. Credit memo line items are descriptors
with negative prices. GL posting is determined by mapping the descriptor’s
Item Category to the appropriate sales account in the Account Assignments
screen.
Labor Charges
If you charge customers for labor on invoices, labor is set up as a Descriptor
and is entered as a sales order line item. You might set up several labor
Descriptors, each with a different Base Price, if you charge different rates for
different services.
Miscellaneous Charges
Any other charges that might be included in your invoices, whether they are
for shipping, engineering fees, permits, etc., can be set with Descriptors and
prices. Any price can be overridden at the time of sales order entry.
Miscellaneous Purchases
If you use purchase orders for non-job, non-inventory purposes – for
miscellaneous items such as office supplies, shop supplies, furniture,
equipment, etc. – you can represent each category of these purchases with a
Descriptor. These Descriptors can be assigned to GL Accounts in the
Purchasing – Exceptions tab in the Account Assignments screen. When
entering a PO line item, you can modify the category Descriptor with a
specific description for the item being purchased.
Sales Kits
A “sales kit” is a set of items that gets copied into a sales order along with the
sales kit parent item, which is represented by a descriptor. Sales kits are
created in the Inventory – Sales Kits screen.
Operating Guide 179

4-3. Descriptors
List Tab
All your Descriptors are listed on this screen.
Detail Tab
Descriptor
Descriptor ID (Required)
This is an up to 20-character alphanumeric code used to identify the
descriptor.
This is an up to 50-character Description that accompanies the Descriptor ID
on screens and reports.
UM (Required)
This is the Descriptor’s unit of measure (EA, HR, etc.), which can be up to 8-
characters.
Type (Required)
Select one of these three descriptor Types:
180 Operating Guide

4-3. Descriptors
Purpose Type
Credit Memo MISC
Labor Charge: LABOR
Misc Charge MISC
Sales Kit MISC
Misc Purchase MISC
You would normally not use any of these Types, which are cost elements
used elsewhere by the program: SETUP, SUBCON, FIXOH, VAROH, SHIP.
Category (Required)
Each Descriptor must be assigned to an Item Category. Item Categories are
used to organize your stock items and descriptors into groups for reporting
and GL posting purposes.
Estimated Cost
With labor and miscellaneous charges, this cost is used as the invoice cost of
sales. With miscellaneous purchases, this is used as the Unit Cost in PO
lines when there is not an entry in the Purchase Prices – Descriptors screen.
Sell Price
The Sell Price is used in sales orders for labor charges or miscellaneous
charges.
Default Supplier
This is the preferred Supplier for miscellaneous purchases.
Tax Code Source
These settings determine the source of the Tax Code against sales order and
purchase order lines for this descriptor.
Order Header
When you select this option, the Tax Code specified in the sales order or
purchase order header determines the source of the sales order or purchase
order line’s Tax Code for this descriptor.
Exception
Select this option if this descriptor is to receive an exception Tax Code that
overrides the sales order or purchase order header Tax Code. A Tax Code
field becomes visible to the right. Select a Tax Code from the lookup. In
general, a tax code exception is designated when the descriptor is non-
taxable, in which case a non-taxable Tax Code should be selected. Another
tax code exception is when the descriptor bears a special tax rate, such as an
excise tax.
Tax Group
codes at the line item level that only apply to certain destinations or sources.
Operating Guide 181

4-3. Descriptors
lookup. When a descriptor assigned to a Tax Group encounters a customer
or supplier that is also assigned to a Tax Group, the two Tax Groups are
the sales order or purchase order line.
SO/PO Notes
You can enter unlimited freeform text in this notes field. This text is passed into
the Line Notes associated with quote, sales order, and purchase order detail
lines.
Additional Tab
Dimensional Info
The information on this panel is for reference only and is not used in any other
Documents List
In this panel you can attach documents (such as drawings, specifications, etc.) or
files of any kind that relate to this descriptor.
Edit Documents
To link to a document, click the Edit Document panel at the bottom of the
screen.
Description
File Location
your local computer. If the document is to be shared with others, it should
be stored on the central file server.
182 Operating Guide

4-3. Descriptors
Copy to Job
screen.
Print With
Other Info
Warranty Code
If there is a Warranty Code associated with this descriptor, select one from
the lookup.
Operating Guide 183

4-4. Sales Kits
4-4. Sales Kits

(Inventory – Sales Kits)
Sales Kits enable you to copy in a set of line items into a sales order (using the
Copy Details button), identified by a Parent Descriptor. When you set up the
Sales Kit, you can specify whether the selling price is at the parent level or
component level.
NOTE: Sales Kits are gathered together at time of shipping and are never
assembled or stocked.
Training Video
Support Center – Videos–Setup – Descriptors Setup
Segment: Sales Kits
List Tab
Descriptors with Sales Kits are listed on this screen.
New Button
To create a new Sales Kit, click this button and select a parent Descriptor from
the lookup list.
Detail Tab
Upper Panel
Descriptor ID
This is the parent Descriptor to which the Kitset components are assigned.
184 Operating Guide

4-4. Sales Kits
Kitset Components Sub-Tab

Use Parent Price
• If you select this checkbox, prices are applied to the parent Descriptor, but
not to kit components.
• If you clear this checkbox, prices are applied to the parent Descriptor and
to kit components.
Type
Select ‘Stock’ if the component is to be a Stock Item. Select ‘Descriptor’ if the
component is to be a Descriptor.
Reference ID
This is the component’s Item ID or Descriptor ID.
Qty
This Qty gets multiplied by the parent Descriptor quantity when the Sales Kit
is copied into a sales order.
Operating Guide 185

4-5. Stock Adjustments

(Inventory – Stock Adjustments)
Use this screen to adjust an item’s on hand stock quantity.

Do not bypass standard processes
Do not use stock adjustments to bypass a standard process. Always use the
inventory processing screens (Stock Transfer, Stock Counts, Order Picking, Job
Issues, Job Receipts, PO Receipts) for inventory transactions. Doing so
maintains the integrity of your cost reporting and GL posting.
For example, never receive stock by making a stock adjustment. Always receive
stock through the Job Receipts or PO Receipts screens.
As another example, do not return unused material from jobs by making a stock
adjustment. Instead, use the Return feature in the Job Issues screen to return
unused material to stock.
Purposes of Adjustments
Stock adjustments should only be used on occasion, for these purposes:
Non-Sale Usage
An example of non-sale usage is when items are taken from stock for use as
sales samples, perhaps for use at a trade show. The expense will be posted
to your Adjustments – Inventory account.
Non-Job Usage
An example of non-job usage is when items are taken from stock for internal
use in a research and development project. The expense will be posted to
your Adjustments – Inventory account.
Count Adjustment
When making an inventory transaction, you may notice that the stock count
within a location is not correct, in which case you can make a stock
adjustment to correct the count.
NOTE: For formal stock count verification, use the Stock Counts
screen instead of this screen because it is optimized for stock
counting.
186 Operating Guide

List Tab
Stock items are listed on this tab where they can be selected for adjustment.
The current stock on hand (all locations) is displayed for reference.
Increase Button
Click this button to increase the quantity of stock on hand for the selected item.
Upper Panel
Item ID, Description, Cost
These fields identify the item being adjusted and its current Inventory
Cost.
Trxn Cost
This is the cost that will be applied to this transaction. It defaults to the
item’s Inventory Cost.
Operating Guide 187

Reference
The text “Stock Adjustment” is displayed by default, but can be overridden.
This provides a reference note in the transaction record that explains the
reason for or purpose of the adjustment.
+ –
By default, one line is presented in the grid below. Click the plus sign
button to add additional lines if you are increasing stock in multiple
locations or to specify multiple characteristic values. Click the minus sign
button to delete lines.
Grid
Enter a line in this grid for each quantity associated with each location and set
of characteristic values.
Increased Qty
Enter the increase in stock quantity associated with the location and
characteristic values in the fields at right.
NOTE: If you enter a quantity that causes the total quantity in this
location to exceed this item/location Capacity setting, you are given
a warning.
Location
This field value defaults to the item’s default Receipt Location. You can
make an alternative selection from this lookup screen.
Only allowable locations for this item are listed. If you wish to use a
non-allowed location, clear the Allowed Only checkbox in the lower
panel and the list will be expanded to all locations.
The Receipt and Primary checkboxes identify the item’s default
Receipt Location and Primary Location. The Capacity field shows you
how many units of the item can be stored in the location.
You can view the stock on hand within a location by clicking the
magnifying glass icon in the lower panel, which presents this screen
188 Operating Guide

This inquiry screen enables you to find an open location that is not
currently occupied.
Receipt
This checkbox is selected when the location at left is the item’s default
Receipt Location. This is for reference purposes only.
Characteristic Fields
If the item is assigned to one or more tracking characteristics (such as lot
or serial control), each characteristic is represented by its own field, which
is identified by the characteristic’s Description. You are required to enter a
value against each characteristic, which, depending on the characteristic,
can be a date, a number, a lookup on a table of allowable values, or
freeform text.
Lower Panel
Update Button
After your entries are completed, click this button to update the
transaction. The total amount is debited to your Inventory account and the
offsetting credit is to your Adjustments – Inventory account.
Cancel Button
Click this button to cancel your entries. No updating will take place.
Decrease Button
Click this button to decrease the quantity of stock on hand for the selected item.
Operating Guide 189

Upper Panel
Item ID, Description, Cost
These fields identify the item being adjusted and its current Inventory
Cost.
Trxn Cost
This is the cost that will be applied to this transaction, which is the item’s
current Inventory Cost. This cost cannot be changed.
Reference
The text “Stock Adjustment” is displayed by default, but can be overridden.
This provides a reference note in the transaction record that explains the
reason for or purpose of the adjustment.
Grid
All available stock is listed in the grid. Each line represents a set of
characteristic values within a location.
Decreased Qty
Enter the decrease in stock quantity associated with the location and
characteristic values in the fields at right.
NOTE: If this is a “transitory” location, the text “<Transitory>” is
displayed in red. You are not permitted to use stock in a transitory
location, but that stock is listed in the grid for reference purposes.
Stock may be in an “inspection” location, for example, waiting to get
inspected before being transferred to a final destination location.
Location
This is the location associated with the stock quantity and set of
characteristic values to the right.
Primary
This checkbox is selected when the location at left is the item’s Primary
Location. This is for reference purposes only.
190 Operating Guide

Stock Qty
This is the current on hand stock quantity associated with this location and
set of characteristic values.
or serial control), each characteristic value is represented by its own field,
which is identified by the characteristic’s Description.
Projected Qty
This is the quantity that will be associated with this location and
characteristic set after the transaction is updated.
NOTE: The projected quantity cannot be less than zero. A negative
stock quantity is not permitted.
Lower Panel
Update Button
After your entries are completed, click this button to update the
transaction. The total amount is debited to your Adjustments – Inventory
account and the offsetting credit is to your Inventory account.
Cancel Button
Click this button to cancel your entries. No updating will take place.
Chg Lot/Ser Button
Click this button to change a lot/serial characteristic value within an item’s stock
on hand. For example, stock may have been received and given an incorrect lot
number. You can use this screen to list the lot numbers currently on hand for the
item so that you can change the erroneous lot number value.
Screen Details
Operating Guide 191

Upper Panel
Characteristic
Select the characteristic you wish to change.
Item ID
Select the item that requires the change in characteristic value. The
lookup is confined to items assigned to the characteristic specified at left.
Load Button
You must click this button to populate the grid below.
Alter Button
When you entries are completed in the grid below, click this button to
apply the changes to the item’s stock on hand.
NOTE: Altering a characteristic value has no effect on the general
ledger.
Grid
All stock on hand for the item and characteristic specified in the upper panel
is listed in the grid. Each line is a unique location/characteristic value
combination.
NOTE: The grid remains empty until you click the Load button in the
upper panel.
Current Inventory
Item ID
The Item ID selected above is repeated here for reference purposes.
Location
This is the location associated with the on hand quantity and
characteristic value at right.
Characteristic Field
The characteristic value associated with this line is displayed in this
field.
Alter Qty
On Hand Qty
The current on hand stock quantity for this characteristic value within
this location is displayed in this field.
Alter Qty
You must click the Add button to the right to make this field available
for entry. Enter the quantity to be changed to a different characteristic
value in the field at right that is now visible where the Add button was
located.
192 Operating Guide

NOTE: The Alter Qty is not allowed to exceed the On Hand Qty.
Alter Inventory Detail
Add Button
Click this button to initiate a characteristic value change for this line.
After clicking this button, it is replaced by a field where you specify the
changed characteristic value. The Alter Qty field at left becomes an
entry field where you enter the quantity subject to the characteristic
value change.
Multiple Value Change
Whenever a line is opened up for a change in characteristic value,
another Add button becomes visible below the line. If you wish to
change a portion of the on hand quantity to a second characteristic
value, click the Add button and another line opens up within which
you can enter another alter quantity and characteristic value.
When the Add button is clicked, this field becomes visible for entry of
the changed characteristic value.
Location
When the Add button is clicked, this field becomes visible, for
reference purposes.
Projected Qty
This is the quantity that will be associated with this
location/characteristic value after the alter quantity is updated.
Delete Button
If you click the Add button and then decide you don’t wish to make the
entry, click this button to delete the line.
Print Labels Button
Click this button to launch the Stock Item Labels screen, from which you can print
item labels for this item for product identification or packaging purposes.
Current Inventory Tab

This tab is an inquiry screen that displays current stock on hand, broken out by
each set of characteristic values within a location.
Operating Guide 193

Transactions Tab
This tab is an inquiry screen that provides a listing of past inventory transactions
associated with all the inventory processing screens (Stock Adjustments, Stock
Transfer, Stock Counts, Order Picking, Job Issues, Job Receipts, PO Receipts).
Upper Panel
Include “X” year’s history
By default, one year’s history is displayed in the grid. You can use this setting
to expand the number of years that comprise the list.
194 Operating Guide

4-6. Stock Transfer
4-6. Stock Transfer

(Inventory – Stock Transfer)
Use this screen to transfer stock from a source location to one or more
destination locations. You can transfer stock from multiple source locations for a
single item or for multiple items from a single source location.
Transitory Locations
This screen is especially useful with “transitory” locations, such as “inspection”
and “transit” locations.
Inspection Location
In the case of an “inspection” location, you can receive a set of items on a PO
to the inspection location. After inspection is completed, you can use this
screen to make a single transaction that transfers stock from the inspection
location to each item’s final destination location.
Transit Location
In the case of a “transit” location, which is a location that represents your
truck or a commercial shipper, you can use this screen to transfer stock for a
set of items into the transit location. Each location/item transfer is a separate
transaction. When the set of items is received at the destination warehouse,
you can make a single transaction in this screen to transfer stock from the
transit location to each item’s final destination location.
Screen Details
Operating Guide 195

4-6. Stock Transfer
Choose Stock to Transfer

Location
Select the source location from which you wish to transfer stock. If you leave
this field blank and you specify an Item ID at right, all locations with current
stock on hand for the item are listed.
NOTE: You can leave this field blank if you specify an item at right or
vice-versa, but both fields cannot be left blank.
Item ID
If you are transferring stock associated with one item, select that item from
the lookup. If you are transferring stock associated with two or more items,
leave this field blank.
NOTE: You can leave this field blank if you specify a location at left or
vice-versa, but both fields cannot be left blank.
Load Button
You must click this button to populate the grid below with all stock on hand
within the location(s) and item(s) specified at left.
Transfer Button
After your entries are made in the grid below, click this button to process the
transaction.
NOTE: A stock transfer does not create a general ledger transaction.
Grid
All stock on hand within the location(s) and item(s) specified in the upper panel
are displayed in the grid.
NOTE: The grid remains empty until you click the Load button in the upper
panel.
Current Inventory
Item ID
Each item is given its own “block” of lines within this panel. Each line
represents a location and set of characteristic values.
Location
This is the source location associated with the On Hand Qty at right.
or serial control), each characteristic value is represented by its own field,
which is identified by the characteristic’s Description.
196 Operating Guide

4-6. Stock Transfer
Transfer Qtys
On Hand Qty
The current on hand stock quantity for this set of characteristic values
within this location is displayed in this field.
Transfer Qty
You must click the Add button to the right to make this field available for
entry. Enter the quantity to be transferred from the source location at left
to the destination Location field at right that is now visible where the Add
button was located.
NOTE: The Transfer Qty is not allowed to exceed the On Hand Qty.
Transfer Inventory Details
Add Button
Click this button to initiate a transfer for this line. After clicking this button,
it is replaced by a Location field where you specify the destination
location. The Transfer Qty field to the left becomes an entry field where
you enter the quantity to be transferred. If the item has characteristics, the
characteristic values are now visible to the right of the Location field.
Multi-Location Transfer
Whenever a line is opened up for transfer to a destination location,
another Add button becomes visible below the line. If you wish to
transfer a quantity to a second destination location, click the Add
button and another line opens up within which you can enter another
transfer quantity and destination location.
Location
When the Add button is clicked, this field becomes visible. Select the
destination location from the following lookup.
Only allowable locations for this item are listed. If you wish to use a
non-allowed location, clear the Allowed Only checkbox in the lower
panel and the list will be expanded to all locations.
Operating Guide 197

4-6. Stock Transfer
The Receipt and Primary checkboxes identify the item’s default

Receipt Location and Primary Location. The Capacity field shows you
how many units of the item can be stored in the location.
You can view the stock on hand within a location by clicking the
magnifying glass icon in the lower panel, which presents this screen
This inquiry screen enables you to find an open location that is not
currently occupied.
Any characteristic values associated with this line become visible to the
right of the destination Location field, for reference purposes.
Projected Qty
This is the quantity that will be associated with this location and
characteristic set after the transfer is updated.
Delete Button
If you click the Add button and then decide you don’t wish to make the
entry, click this button to delete the line.
198 Operating Guide

4-7. Stock Counts
4-7. Stock Counts

(Inventory – Stock Counts)
Use this screen to enter physical inventory counts (stock takes). Stock counts
are usually done for batches of items, but a batch can be of any size, including a
single item.
Training Video
Support Center – Videos–Setup – Lot & Serial Control Setup
Segment: Stock Counts
“Freezing” your inventory
When you generate a stock count set of items to be counted, you must count
those items immediately. During that time, the stock being counted should be
“frozen”, meaning that it is quarantined from use.
If you are required to perform a complete physical inventory, this is normally
done over a weekend or holiday while the factory is idle.
Cycle Counts
We do not recommend complete physical inventories as a means towards
maintaining accurate stock quantities. Complete physicals involve excessive
numbers of items and are prone to errors.
The better method is “cycle counting” whereby you conduct a program of smaller
counts that are performed in rotation on a steady basis. Cycle counts can be
based on location groups, ranges of locations, item categories, or particular
items. High dollar, high volume items, for example, merit more frequent counting
than low dollar, low volume items.
Stock counts are not the total solution
If your inventory is error-prone, these errors disrupt the planning process and
reduce factory throughput.
Stock counts can help reduce errors, but they are not the total solution. Errors
are a symptom of other problems and no cycle counting program can keep up
with errors that are occurring system-wide.
One source of errors is inaccurate bills of material. The planning process is only
as good as the specifications it is provided with, so strive for 100% accuracy in
your bills of material.
The other source of errors is poor procedures. Enter stock issues and receipts in
real-time, if possible. Consider using dispatch lists where you pick or issue stock
on the screen first and then your record your transactions. Install computer
workstations out in the factory and have work center supervisors make their own
entries.
Operating Guide 199

4-7. Stock Counts
List Tab
A stock count consists of a pre-determined list of items to be counted. On the
opening List tab is displayed a list of any stock counts that are in progress.
New Button
To initiate a new stock count, click this button, which launches the Stock
Count Selection screen.
Update Button
After your counts are entered and reviewed, return to the List tab and click
this button. Each item’s stock quantity gets adjusted and you are then
presented with the Updated Stock Count report.
Display Updated Stock Counts
Select this checkbox in the lower panel to display updated stock counts in the
list above.
Stock Count Selection Screen
This screen is launched when you click the New button from the List tab. Use
this screen to generate a set of items to be counted.
200 Operating Guide

4-7. Stock Counts
Stock Count Description

Enter a brief description of your stock count. This description displays in each
counted item’s History inquiry.
Location Group
You can include all or selected location groups in the stock count. Location
groups are sets of allowable locations for similar items.
Location
You can include all or selected locations in the stock count.
Item Category
You can include items within all or selected item categories in the stock count.
Item ID
You can limit your stock count to a range of items. If you want to include all
items, leave these fields blank.
Include Locations with Zero Qty
Locations with zero stock on hand are excluded from the stock count. If for
some reason you want empty locations includes, select this checkbox.
Ok
When you have completed your selections, click this button to generate your
stock count item set. You are returned to the list screen where you see your
stock count listed with a Status of ‘New’.
Stock Count Worksheet

Print Button
Once you have generated the stock count set, from the List tab click the Print
button to print the Stock Count Worksheet. Use this worksheet to record the
actual counts. When the Stock Count Worksheet gets printed, the stock
count’s Status changes from ‘New’ to ‘Printed’.
Operating Guide 201

4-7. Stock Counts
Detail Tab – Standard Side-Tab
Stock count entries are made on the Detail tab with the Standard side-tab
selected.
Grid
Location
A line is opened for each combination of the following:
• Stock Item
• Location
• Lot/Serial Characteristic Set
Item ID
Click on this column heading if you wish to sort the list by item.
Stock
This column displays the stock quantity for this location/item/characteristic
set.
Count
Enter the new count for this location/item/characteristic set in this column.
Lot/Serial Count
If the item requires lot/serial control, you cannot enter a count in this
screen. Instead, you must click the +/- Lot/Serial Stock Adjustment
button in the lower panel to increase or decrease stock quantities in
the Stock Adjustments screen.
Variance
As you make each entry, any difference between the Stock quantity and the
Count quantity is reflected in this column.
202 Operating Guide

4-7. Stock Counts
Is it necessary to enter counts for all items?

Technically, you only have to enter a Count quantity on items that differ
from the Stock quantity. Only items with a Variance amount will be
adjusted, so any items without a Count will be left unchanged when the
stock count gets updated.
If you only enter counts with variances, be sure to mark them as you go on
the Stock Count Worksheet so that you don’t overlook any entries.
Lower Panel
+/- Lot/Serial Stock Adjustment
Stock counts cannot be entered in this screen for items that require lot and
serial control. Click this button to access the Stock Adjustments screen for
this item.
The screen shows current stock by location and characteristic set. You can
click the Increase or Decrease button to adjust stock quantities as needed to
match the count on the worksheet. You also can click the Chg Lot/Ser button
to alter a characteristic value, if needed.
Operating Guide 203

4-7. Stock Counts
Updating Inventory
Update Button
After your counts are entered and reviewed, return to the List tab and click
this button. Each item’s stock quantity gets adjusted and you are then
presented with the Updated Stock Count report.
NOTE: Today’s date is used as the general ledger transaction date,
regardless of the date the stock count list was created.
Updated Stock Count Report
This report prints automatically and lists each item’s Variance, the Unit
Cost (the item’s current Inventory Cost) and the Loss (or gain) that gets
posted as a debit or credit to your Adjustments – Inventory account.
Backdating to a Prior Period
If you are taking a stock count at the end of a period (or your fiscal year)
and you want the change in value to effect the prior period, be sure and
complete the stock count and update it before the new period begins.
If you happen to update the stock count a few days into the new period
and you want the change in inventory value to be reflected in the prior
period, a journal entry is required.
First, create a new asset account called Stock Count Variance and locate
it adjacent to your Inventory account. Determine the total amount of the
stock count variance and whether your total inventory value increased or
decreased.
If your total inventory value increased, make two separate journal entries
for the total variance amount:
First, make this journal entry:
Post Date: Last Day of Prior Period
Debit: Stock Count Variance (Asset)
Credit: Adjustments – Inventory (Cost of Sales)
Then make this journal entry:
Post Date: Stock Count Update Date in Current Period
Debit: Adjustments – Inventory (Cost of Sales)
Credit: Stock Count Variance (Asset)
If your total inventory value decreased, make two separate journal entries
for the total variance amount:
First, make this journal entry:
Post Date: Last Day of Prior Period
204 Operating Guide

4-7. Stock Counts
Debit: Adjustments – Inventory (Cost of Sales)

Credit: Stock Count Variance (Asset)
Then make this journal entry:
Post Date: Stock Count Update Date in Current Period
Debit: Stock Count Variance (Asset)
Credit: Adjustments – Inventory (Cost of Sales)
Operating Guide 205

4-8. Change Inventory Cost

(Inventory – Change Inventory Cost)
Use this screen to change the unit Inventory Cost of one or more stock items.
Training Video
Support Center – Videos–Conceptual – Inventory Costing
Segment: Inventory Cost Change
Screen Details
Selection Filters
Use the settings in the upper panel to generate a list of items in the Item List sub-
tab.
Item ID
Leave this field blank if you want the list to include all your stock items. If you
want to narrow the list down, each character you enter restricts the list to
items beginning with the characters entered in this field. For example, in the
sample company all the red wagon items begin with ‘1080’. So if you type
‘1080’ in this field and click the Create List button, the list will only include
items beginning with ‘1080’.
Description
This field provides an additional filter. You can leave it blank if you want all
Descriptions within the item list, but if you want to narrow the list to items
containing specific Descriptions, each character you enter restricts the list to
Descriptions beginning with the characters entered in this field.
206 Operating Guide

Select All Categories

This checkbox provides an additional filter. If you clear the checkbox, a list of
Item Categories displays below the checkbox. You can select one or more
Item Categories and your list will be restricted just to items within those
categories.
Create List Button
Once your entries are completed in the upper panel, click this button to
generate the list in the Item List sub-tab.
Hide Filter Panel Button
Once your list is generated, you can click this button to hide the upper panel
and make more room on the screen for your list. Your filter selections remain
displayed just above the Item List sub-tab. When the upper panel is hidden, a
Show Filter Panel button becomes visible, which you can click it you wish to
make the upper panel visible again.
Item List Sub-Tab
Your list of items is displayed in the grid on this sub-tab. Each item’s current Est
Cost, Last Cost, and Inv Cost are displayed for reference purposes. .
Mass Replace Button
Clicking this button gives you the option of populating the New Cost column
with each item’s Last Cost or Estimated Cost when it differs from its current
Inventory Cost.
New Cost
Enter the item’s new Inventory Cost in this field. You are not obligated to
make an entry on every item in the list – only on those where a cost change is
needed.
NOTE: You are not allowed to change the cost if the item currently has a
zero or negative stock quantity.
Clear Button
Click this button if you wish to completely clear the New Cost column.
Update Button
When your entries are completed, click this button and the new cost will take
effect.
This cost change is accomplished by a set of inventory transactions made
in the background. All stock is deducted from all locations at the current
Inventory Cost and is then added back in at the new Inventory Cost.
The posting date is the current system date and the default Reference
assigned to the inventory transaction is ‘Change Inventory Cost’.
Operating Guide 207

4-9. Reconcile Book Values

(Inventory – Reconcile Book Values)
Use this screen to reconcile Book Value with “actual value” on all items where
there is a discrepancy between the two values.
What is Book Value?
Book Value is the sum of all General Ledger debit and credit transactions made
against a stock item.
What is “actual value?”
“Actual value” is each item’s stock quantity multiplied by its current Inventory
Cost.
What causes a discrepancy between the two values?
Minor discrepancies can occur when inventory transactions involving multiple
decimal places are rounded up or down when posted to the general ledger,
which stores monetary amounts in two decimal places.
Prior to July 2009, an item’s stock quantity was allowed to go negative when
issues and receipts were entered out of sequence. When stock was received at
a new cost while stock was negative, the stock receipt cost, which is a calculated
average, could differ from the receipt cost that was posted to the general ledger.
As of build 388 the system no longer allows stock to go negative, which
eliminates negative stock as a source of cost discrepancies.
What does this screen do?
This screen compares each item’s Book Value with its actual value. When a
discrepancy between the two values is found, the Book Value is adjusted so that
it is made equal to the actual value.
How often should this be run?
We recommend that you Reconcile Book Values as a routine procedure at each
period end.
208 Operating Guide

Screen Details
When the screen launches, it automatically goes through all your stock items and
lists any item that has a discrepancy between its Units * Cost and Book Value.
The Reconcile checkbox is automatically selected against each item. When you
click the Reconcile button, Book Value is adjusted for all items that have this
checkbox selected.
Ledger Posting
If Book Value is too high against an item, this transaction is made to the General
Ledger.
Debit Adjustments – Inventory
Credit Inventory
If Book Value is too low against an item, this transaction is made to the General
Ledger.
Debit Inventory
Credit Adjustments – Inventory
Operating Guide 209

4-10. Inventory Data Views

(Inventory – Data Views)
The Data View utility is a reporting tool used throughout DBA that enables you to
filter, sort, and group your data to create your own inquiries, spreadsheets, and
reports. It organizes related data from multiple tables without requiring “joins”
and other complicated programming procedures.
Inventory Data Views
Two data views are provided on the Inventory menu:
Stock On Hand
This data view focuses on stock quantities, inventory costs, and locations:
Standard layouts include:
• All Fields
• Qty by Location
• Item by Location
• Qty by Item Category
Stock Item List
This data view focuses on item settings, such as item categories, default
suppliers, and MRP settings. Standard layouts include:
• All Fields
• Basic Item List by Item Category
• Basic Item Listing
• Items by Default Supplier
• Reorder Levels
Selection Screen
210 Operating Guide

When you click on a data view menu option, you are first presented with a
selection screen that is similar to the selection screen used with reports. Use this
screen to filter and limit your data view.
View Button
Once your selections are completed, click the View button to advance to the
Select Layout screen.
Select Layout Screen
Next, you are presented with the Select Layout screen. Each layout is a
configuration of selected fields that are grouped and sorted to present a
particular data view. In a sense, each layout is a custom report.
Layout Type
Layouts with a Type of ‘System’ are standard layouts supplied with the system.
‘System’ layouts cannot be changed, but they can be modified and saved to
another layout name. Any layouts saved to a new name are identified as ‘User’
types.
Default Layout
One layout is designated as the ‘Default’ layout, which is your most commonly
used data view. Assigning the default layout is done on the Layout List screen
(see further below). The default layout is always selected at the top of the list
when the Select Layout screen is presented.
Load Button
Click the Load button to generate the data view. Be aware that some data views
may take several minutes to generate, depending on the size of the data set and
the number of data fields involved. This is because each column in the data view
is individually indexed to enable column sorting.
Operating Guide 211

Quick Load Button

If you click the Quick Load option, the columns are not indexed, which
significantly reduces data view generation time. So if you are generating a large
data set and you don’t need column sorting, use the Quick Load option.
Data View Screen
The data set and layout you selected is displayed in the Data View screen, which
is a grid that displays all the available fields and associated records.
Column Sorting
You can re-sort the data view by clicking on any of the column headings, which
will then sort the entire list by that column. Click the heading a second time and
the sort order will change from ascending to descending order or vice-versa.
Grouping
You can create list groupings by dragging a column heading into the header
panel above the column headings. For example, if you drag the Category
column heading into the header panel, the lines are then grouped by item
category. You can even have a group within a group. For example, you could
drag the M or P column heading into the header panel, which would form ‘M’ and
‘P’ sub-groups within each item category.
+ - Buttons
These two buttons become visible at the top of the screen when you use the
grouping feature. Initially the groups are displayed in “collapsed” mode
without data rows being visible. Click the ‘+’ button to “expand” the view so
that the data rows become visible. Click the ‘-‘ button to collapse the view.
Column Footer Total
You can create a total amount at the footer of any column by right clicking on the
lower panel directly below the column. The following options are available:
212 Operating Guide

Sum
This option is available on numeric columns only. It provides a grand total
of all the column values.
Min
This option is available on numeric columns only. It lists the lowest value
within the column.
Max
This option is available on numeric columns only. It lists the highest value
within the column.
Count
This gives you a count of the number of records within the column.
Average
This option is available on numeric columns only. This gives you a mean
average of the values within the column.
Customize Button
The data view can be limited to just the columns you want by dragging unwanted
column headings off the screen. This is done using the Customize button, which
presents a box in the lower right corner of the screen. To remove a column, drag
its column heading and drop it into the box. Continue removing fields one by one
until you are left with the columns you want.
NOTE: Most data view layouts are supplied with optional column headings
already dragged into the Customize box. If you wish to use any of these
columns, drag the column heading out of the box and drop it onto the
column heading row in the desired position.
Output Button
Once the data on the screen are to your satisfaction, click the Output button to
transfer the data view into one of the following formats.
• Output to Excel
• Output to HTML
• Output to Text
• Output to Printer
Operating Guide 213

Output to Excel, HTML, Text

When you select any of these options, you are prompted to save the file to a
name and location.
Output to Printer
When you select this option, a print preview screen is displayed. You can
click File – Page Setup to select various options that will change the report
appearance. When the format is to your satisfaction, click the Print button.
Layout List Button
Click this button to display the Layout List screen, which provides a listing of
available layouts.
Load Button
Click this button to generate a new data view for the selected layout.
Set as Default Button
Click this button to designate the selected layout as the ‘Default’ layout. The
default layout is always selected at the top of the list whenever the layout list
is presented.
Delete Button
Click this button to delete the selected layout from the list.
NOTE: You cannot delete a ‘System’ type layout.
214 Operating Guide

Save Layout Button
After customizing your data view, you can click this button to update an existing
layout or to save your changes to a new layout. Two options are presented:
Update Existing Layout
Select this option and click the Save button to save your customization
changes to the existing layout.
NOTE: This option is not available for ‘System’ layout types. To
customize a ‘System’ layout, you must save your changes to a new
layout name.
Create New Layout
Select this option to save your customization changes to a new layout name.
Enter the name in the Layout Name field and click the Save button.
Operating Guide 215

4-1. Inventory Reports
4-11A. Inventory Value

(Inventory – Reports – Inventory Value)
Use this report to get any type of listing of inventory value, which can be overall
inventory value or value by item category, location or other breakdowns.
Training Videos
Support Center – Videos–Conceptual – Inventory Costing
Segment: Inventory Value
Support Center – Videos–How Do I? – General Ledger Training Course
Segment: Inventory and WIP Accounts
How is Inventory valued in DBA?
Each item’s inventory value is its on hand stock quantity multiplied by its current
unit Inventory Cost. Total inventory value is the sum of the inventory value of all
stock items.
This is a period end reconciliation report
At the end of each period, this report is run to reconcile your Inventory GL
account with the actual inventory value listed on this report.
Always run Reconcile Book Values first
Before you run this report for period end reconciliation, always run the Inventory
– Reconcile Book Values screen first, which makes adjustments to your
Inventory GL account to account for minor discrepancies that can occur between
actual value and Book Value when an item’s stock quantity goes negative.
Selection Screen
Date Options
Value as of a date
You have the option of back-dating this report if you wish to see Inventory
Value as of a past date. The As of date defaults to today’s date.
NOTE: If you select any date earlier than today’s date, be aware that
the Est Cost and Inv Cost columns are not included in the report. This
is because past values for these fields are not stored anywhere and
cannot reliably be re-created.
216 Operating Guide

Change in value between 2 dates

You also have the option of listing the change in Inventory Value between two
dates. When you select this option, From and Thru date fields are visible
below for your data range selection.
NOTE: When you select this option, be aware that the Est Cost and Inv
Cost columns are not included in the report. This is because past
values for these fields are not stored anywhere and cannot reliably be
re-created.
Sorting Options
You can sort the lines on the report one of three ways:
Sort by item ID
Select this option if you want to sort the port as a contiguous list in Item ID
order.
Sort by description
Select this option if you want to sort the port as a contiguous list in item
Description order.
Sort/subtotal by category
This option organizes the report into separate headings and subtotals by Item
Category.
Print category subtotals only
Select this checkbox if you want a single Inventory Value within each Item
Category with no item detail.
Other Options
Include items with 0 value / 0 UOH
Select this checkbox if you want all item listed on the report, even when there
is no value or stock quantity.
Print transaction detail
Only select this option when you are listing a change in value between two
dates. Following each item is a listing of all the inventory transactions that
occurred within the date range. This can be useful when you are trying to
track down the cause of a suspicious looking value.
Item ID
You can limit the report to one item, a from/thru range of items, or all items.
Item category
You can include items belonging to all Item Categories or you can select the
Some option to limit the report to items belongings to one or more specific Item
Categories.
Operating Guide 217

Item Status
Select All if you want ‘Active’ and ‘Non-Active’ Status items listed on the report.
Select Some if you wish to include or exclude a Status.
Item Source
Select All if you want ‘Manufactured’ and ‘Purchased’ items listed on the report.
Select Some if you wish to include or exclude one of these sources.
Report
Book Value
Book Value represents the sum of the Inventory account debit and credit
entries made to the General Ledger.
Period End Reconciliation
At each period end you should compare total book value with the balance
sheet value of your Inventory account. If there is a discrepancy between
the two values, you should make the following journal entry.
If the report value is greater than the ledger value, post the difference to
these accounts:
Debit Inventory
Credit Adjustments – Inventory
If the report value is less than the ledger value, post the difference to
these accounts:
Debit Adjustments – Inventory
Credit Inventory
218 Operating Guide

4-11B. Inventory Transactions

(Inventory – Reports – Inventory Transactions)
Use this report to get a listing of inventory transactions for an item, including the
Date, Location, transaction Type, Qty, and Cost.
You can limit the report to one or a range of Item ID’s or Item Categories, a date
range, and selected Transaction Types.
Transactions Inquiry
The same information on this report can be viewed by clicking the History button
on the Stock Items screen or the Transactions tab on the Stock Adjustments
screen.
4-11C. Trxns – Item/Characteristic

(Inventory – Reports – Trxns – Item/Characteristic)
Use this report to trace the history of which tracking characteristics were
associated with a particular item.
You can filter the report by a date range, by selected Characteristics, by
Transaction Type, and by Item ID.
4-11D. Trxns – Characteristic/Item

(Inventory – Reports – Trxns – Characteristic/Item)
Use this report to trace the history of which items were associated with a
particular tracking characteristic.
You can filter the report by a date range, by selected Characteristics, by
Transaction Type, and by Item ID.
4-11E. Trxns – Serial Number

(Inventory – Reports – Trxns – Serial Number)
Use this report to trace the history of which serial numbers were associated with
a particular item.
You can filter the report by a date range, by Transaction Type, and by Item ID.
Operating Guide 219

4-11F. Stock Item Labels

(Inventory – Reports – Stock Item Labels)
Use this screen to print item labels as needed for product identification or
packaging purposes.
Selection Screen
Upper Panel
Report Form
Use the lookup in this field to select a label format. The default label format
designated in the Forms Edit – Stock Item Label screen is selected by default.
Select Item
Item ID
Select a stock item from the lookup in this field.;
Select Stock
The item’s stock on hand is displayed, listed by location and characteristic set.
Select the stock that you wish to label.
Select Characteristics to Print
The tracking characteristics assigned to this item are listed in this panel and are
selected by default for printing. If you don’t want a characteristic to be printed,
clear its checkbox.
Additional Information
If this label format requires any ‘Additional Info’ text fields, they are listed in this
panel.
220 Operating Guide

Req
If this checkbox is selected, the user is required to enter a Value.
Header
This is the user-defined field label that identifies the Value at right.
Value
Enter freeform text in this field.
Print Button
Click this button to begin printing. You are first presented with this print preview
screen:
Click the printer icon in the upper left corner to begin printing. You are presented
with the standard Windows Print screen, as follows:
Operating Guide 221

The printer Name defaults to the printer designated in the page setup against this
label format. Select an alternate printer, if applicable. For multiple copies, enter
a value in the Number of copies field.
222 Operating Guide

5. BOM (Bills of Material)

On the BOM menu you will find all applications related to the entry and
maintenance of your bills of material and routings.
BOM
Setup
• BOM Defaults
• Machines
• Sequence Templates
• Task Templates
• Revision Names
Main Menu
• Work Centers
• Bills of Material
• Estimated Purchase Costs
• Cost Rollup
• Where Used Inquiry
Reports
• Multi-Level BOM
• Costed BOM
Operating Guide 223

Overview
What are bills of material?
“Bills of material” (BOMs) are used to define the manufacturing specifications for
your products or those you make on behalf of others. These specifications
include “outputs”, a “routing”, and “components.”
What is an “output?”
An “output” refers to a finished item produced from a BOM. Most BOMs are only
defined with one output, which is the BOM “parent”, but you can also define
“secondary” outputs for bi-products and co-products. Secondary outputs are
used by batch process manufacturers, remanufacturers, and disassemblers.
What is the “routing?”
The BOM’s “routing” can be thought of as a “bill of labor.” In the routing you
define the setup, labor, and subcontract service sequences that comprise the
manufacturing process.
What are the “components?”
The “components” are the subassemblies, parts, and materials that comprise the
physical product.
How are BOMs used?
BOMs are used by the MRP screen to generate jobs for manufactured items in
response to customer orders and your desired stocking levels. MRP uses each
item’s BOM specifications to create the job’s routing and BOM.
So jobs also have BOMs?
Yes, job’s have their own BOM. The parent item’s BOM is copied to the job and
its component usage quantities are multiplied by the job’s make quantity. Once
the job’s BOM has been created, it can be modified for any special requirements.
How are BOMs costed?
The Cost Rollup screen calculates a total estimated cost for the BOM parent.
Each purchased component has an estimated cost from inventory. Each work
center is given hourly rates for setup, labor, and overhead which get applied to
each routing sequence. Estimated costs for subcontract services are maintained
in routing sequences. The Cost Rollup calculates all these costs up through all
the subassemblies in the product structure to arrive at the total estimated cost for
the BOM parent.
If the BOM includes secondary outputs, a portion of the parent item’s cost is
allocated to each output on a percentage basis.
224 Operating Guide

What is the BOM estimated cost used for?

BOM estimated costs are helpful for product pricing decisions. You also benefit
by continuous monitoring of work center hourly rates, which keeps you in touch
with your labor and overhead costs.
Is the BOM estimated cost compared to actual job cost?
Not directly. When the job gets created from the parent item’s BOM, the program
calculates an estimated job cost. If you modify the job’s BOM specifications, the
estimated job cost gets changed accordingly. It is the estimated job cost that
gets compared to actual job cost.
Is a BOM required to create a job?
No it is not. You can create jobs for “custom outputs”, which are one-off items for
which there is no BOM going into the job. Once the job is created for the custom
output, you can define all the routing and component specifications in the job
itself without reference to any outside BOM. Custom outputs are used for
custom manufacturing, project jobs, and repair jobs.
What about products with revisions?
DBA offers multiple “revisions”, which are alternate BOM specifications for the
same parent item. Revisions are used for two purposes:
• The most common purpose is to maintain a progressive history of product
engineering changes. Each time a product’s manufacturing specifications are
changed, the product is given a new revision number.
• Batch process manufacturers (food, chemicals, plastics, etc.) use revisions to
define manufacturing specifications for each batch size of a product.
In either case, one revision is designated as the Default Revision, which is
considered to be the item’s active revision and is the one used by MRP to
generate planned jobs and by the Cost Rollup for estimated cost calculations.
How are subassemblies handled?
A “subassembly” is a standard BOM that happens to be a component in one or
more higher-level BOMs. Each subassembly is defined with its own separate
BOM and is made on its own job and gets issued other jobs that require it. DBA
also offers “phantom assemblies”, which are sets of components that get pulled
into the parent BOM at time of job creation.
NOTE: Phantom assemblies are never stocked, sold, or manufactured on
their own jobs.
Operating Guide 225

5-1A. BOM Defaults
5-1. BOM Setup
5-1A. BOM Defaults

(BOM – BOM Setup – BOM Defaults)
Carefully consider the following options and make the appropriate settings before
actually entering any BOMs.
Training Videos
Support Center – Videos–Setup – BOM Defaults
BOM Options
To activate any of the following BOM options, select the corresponding
checkbox.
Revisions
Selecting this option exposes the Revisions tab in the Bills of Material screen.
Revisions enable you to define multiple sets of manufacturing
specifications against a single BOM parent.
NOTE: Revisions are limited in the sense that you cannot maintain
a Base Price against each revision, nor does the Cost Rollup
maintain estimated costs for any revision other than the item’s
default revision. If you need these capabilities, use unique item
ID’s and separate bills of material instead of revisions.
Only select this checkbox if either of these two purposes applies to
your company:
Engineering History
You use revisions to maintain a progressive history of product
engineering changes. Each time a product’s manufacturing
226 Operating Guide

5-1A. BOM Defaults
specifications are changed, the product is given a new revision

number.
Batch Processing
You are a batch process manufacturer (food, chemicals, plastics,
etc.). You use revisions to define manufacturing specifications for
each batch size of your products.
Default Revision Name
This field is only visible when the Revisions checkbox is selected. This is
the Revision Name that is assigned by default to each new BOM that gets
created.
If you want to use a name other than the ‘DEFAULT’ name supplied
with the system, go to the BOM – BOM Setup – Revision Names
screen, create the desired Revision Name, then return to this screen
and select that name in this field.
Routings
Routings enable you to define your manufacturing processes in sequential
operations assigned to work centers. Activate Routings if you plan on doing
any labor tracking. Routings are covered in detail in the next chapter.
Outputs
Outputs refer to the finished products that result from the manufacturing
process. You have the option of defining multiple Outputs, which enables the
production of bi-products or co-products from a single BOM and job.
If all your products consist of a single Output, do not select the Outputs
checkbox. If some of your products have multiple outputs, select the Outputs
checkbox.
References
Any number of References can be assigned to a BOM component,
accompanied by a Qty. References optionally print on the job traveler and
are used to represent drawing number references or component locations on
products such as circuit boards. If you clear this checkbox, the References
sub-tab in the lower portion of the bill of material Components screen will not
be visible.
Batch Size
Only select this checkbox if you are a batch process manufacturer (food,
chemicals, plastics, etc.) where you define different batch sizes within your
Revisions. This setting exposes the Batch Size field within each Revision.
You then define the materials required to make each particular batch size.
Phantom Option
Display Phantom parents in job details
We recommend that you select this option.
Operating Guide 227

5-1A. BOM Defaults
Component Options
Selection of checkboxes in this section activate corresponding fields in the
Components tab of the Bills of Material screen.
Fixed or Variable
Select this checkbox if you want the ability to designate the Usage Qty of a
component to be a fixed amount, regardless of how many items are being
made or how large the batch size is.
Scrap %
Select this checkbox if you want the ability to define a scrap percentage that
will proportionally increase the quantity required of the component at time of
job creation.
From / Thru Dates
Select this checkbox if you want the ability to define effective date ranges for
BOM components.
Sequence
Select this checkbox if you want the ability to assign components to the
routing sequences within which they are used.
Line Item Brackets
‘Line item brackets’ are freeform line items that are inserted into the job Details
screen to mark the beginning and end of a phantom assembly. Otherwise, the
phantom components would blend in with other components and would not easily
be recognized as being a group of items.
In the Phantom – Start fields, enter the Reference ID and Description that will
comprise the freeform line that is inserted prior to your phantom components.
In the Phantom – End fields, enter the Reference ID and Description that will
comprise the freeform line that is inserted after your phantom components.
228 Operating Guide

5-1B. Machines
5-1B. Machines
(BOM – BOM Setup – Machines)
Machines are set up and assigned to Work Centers and are used to schedule
routing sequences to occur on specific Machines. The use of machines is
optional.
Training Video
Support Center – Videos–Setup – Work Centers & Machines
Segment: Machines
Do not create when the Work Center has one Machine

If the Work Center consists of one Machine, it is not necessary to create a
Machine because the Work Center and Machine are one and the same.
Create Machines when the Work Center has a set of Machines
If the Work Center consists of a set of interchangeable Machines, we
recommend that you create Machines so that routing sequences can be
assigned to the appropriate Machine at time of production.
A Work Center should not have different Machines
Do not create a Work Center that consists of different Machines. Split the Work
Center into separate Work Centers for each type of Machine. A Work Center
should only consist of interchangeable Machines.
Field Explanations
Machine ID
You can assign an up to 20-character code that identifies this Machine.
Description
Enter an up to 50-character Description that accompanies the Machine ID on
lookups.
Operating Guide 229

5-1B. Machines
Work Center
Assign this Machine to the Work Center where it is located.
Notes
You can enter unlimited Notes against this Machine.
230 Operating Guide

5-1C. Sequence Templates

(BOM – BOM Setup – Sequence Templates)
“Sequence templates” are used to create a library of standard routing sequence

specifications that can be used to originate bills of material and job routing
sequences.
Training Course
Support Center – Videos–Setup – Routings Entry
Grid Fields
Template ID
Click the New button to create a new sequence template record, each of
which is identified by a 7-character template ID. We recommend that you
identify each template with a number rather than an alpha code.
Group Numbering
We recommend that you number your templates in related groups so that
similar processes are listed together in lookups for easy selection. For
example, all your shearing processes could be in the ‘1000’ series, all your
forming processes in the ‘2000’ series, all your assembly processes in the
‘3000’ series, and so forth.
Description
Enter an up to 50-character description for this process, which will print on the
job traveler.
NOTE: On subcontract sequences, this description is also carried
forward to the PO that is generated and sent to your service supplier.
Select a work center from the lookup. It can be an inside work center or an
outside work center for subcontract services such as plating, painting, and
heat-treating.
Operating Guide 231

Machine
Only assign a machine when this process must be run on a particular
machine. If the work center contains interchangeable machines, leave this
field blank.
Center Panel – Cycle Times
If the sequence template selected above is assigned to an inside work center,
the following set of fields displays, all related to this template’s “cycle times”
(production rates).
Setup Hours
Enter the total setup time for this sequence template, expressed in decimal
hours. For example, 30 minutes would be entered as ‘.5’.
NOTE: This field is initially populated by the work center’s default
Setup Hours value, which can be overridden.
Time / Process
Cycle time is expressed in terms of “processes.” A process can be an
assembly operation, a hit from a punch press, a mold cycle, etc. A process
can produce a single part or several parts at a time. Enter the time (hours,
minutes, seconds) required for this process.
NOTE1: As an alternative to making a time entry, you can enter the
Processes / Hr (see next), which automatically calculates the Time /
Process.
NOTE2: The maximum number of hours you can enter in this field is
24 hours. If you have a cycle time longer than 24 hours, leave this
field blank and use the Processes / Hr field instead. In that field, enter
time based on this formula: 1 / # Hours. A cycle time of 40 hours,
therefore, would be given a Processes / Hr value of ‘.025’. (When you
do this, the Time / Process field receives a nonsensical value, which
you can safely ignore).
NOTE3: This field is initially populated by the work center’s default
Time / Process value, which can be overridden.
Processes / Hr
As an alternative to entering a Time / Process, you can express the cycle time
in terms of Processes / Hr. The entry of either field automatically updates the
other.
Processes / Hr value, which can be overridden.
Items / Process
If each process yields one unit of this item, leave this field at the default
setting of ‘1’. If each process yields a set of items (such as with a multi-cavity
mold), enter the number of items in this field. The Time / Process is divided
232 Operating Guide

by the Items / Process to determine the time required to make one unit of this
item.
NOTE: This field is initially populated by the work center’s default Items
/ Process value, which can be overridden.
# Persons
For costing purposes only, enter the number of persons required to perform
this process. The program assigns a default value of ‘1’. This setting handles
these two cost scenarios:
Teams
Some processes require a fixed “team” size. An automatic assembly
table, for example, may require a team of three operators, in which case
you would enter a ‘3’ in this field. The work center’s hourly labor cost gets
multiplied by the number of team members.
NOTE: Do not use a fixed “team” with non-machine, assembly type
work centers where you can temporarily assign multiple workers to
a given job. In a packaging department, for example, where jobs
are normally packaged by one person, for an unusually large job
you could assign four workers to do packaging. In this case you
have temporarily expanded the work center’s capacity (Job Hours /
Day setting), but the packaging process itself is still the same and
the # Persons should remain set to ‘1’.
Multiple Jobs
Sometimes one worker runs several jobs simultaneously. A molding
machine operator, for example, may run four presses and four different
jobs at the same time. In this case you would enter ‘.25’ in this field. The
work center’s hourly labor cost gets multiplied by this amount and is
therefore shared among all four jobs.
NOTE: When multiple job sequences are performed by a single
worker, we recommend that the labor Trxn Type (see below) for
each such sequence be set to the ‘Backflush’ option.
Days to Next
This represents the number of workdays between the completion of this
sequence and the start of the next sequence. This setting is used with cycle
times for three purposes:
Move Time
There may be a predictable move time involved in getting these parts from
this work center to the next.
Forced wait time
Sometimes an item must wait before it can move on to the next process.
A painted part might require drying time, for example.
Operating Guide 233

Overlap
This can also be a negative number for situations where items produced
on one routing sequence can be started in the next sequence without
having to wait for the entire run to be completed before doing so. In
scheduling terminology this is referred to as “overlap.”
Trxn Type
This field is only visible when the Transaction Type option is set to ‘Both’ in
the Job Labor Defaults screen. Two options are available from the drop-down
list.
Backflush
If you intend to track completions only and not actual hours against this
work center, select this option.
NOTE: It is not practical or even possible to collect actual labor
hours against some processes. When one operator runs several
machines and jobs at the same time, for example, it is not practical
to collect and allocate the labor to each job. In such cases, select
the ‘Backflush’ option.
Labor
If you intend to collect actual setup and labor hours against this work
center, select this option.
Traveler Notes
You can enter unlimited freeform notes to describe the process to be
performed. These notes print on the job traveler and provide instructions to
your shop personnel.
Center Panel – Subcontract Services
If the sequence template selected above is assigned to an outside work center
designated as a Subcontract type, the following fields are displayed in the center
panel:
Supplier
This is the supplier that performs the subcontract service.
234 Operating Guide


Supplier.
Supp Price
This is the price charged by the supplier for the subcontract service.
NOTE: This field is initially populated by the work center’s default Cost
value.
Supp UM
This is the supplier’s unit of measure, which may differ from your unit of
measure. For example, a heat-treater might charge you by the pound or kilo
for pricing purposes, but that price is translated in the BOM routing sequence
(using the Multiplier) into the Est Cost, which conforms to the BOM Parent’s
unit of measure.
NOTE: This field is initially populated by the work center’s default UM.
Multiplier
If the Supp Price and the BOM routing sequence’s Est Cost have different
units of measure, the Multiplier is used to translate the Supp Price into an Est
Cost, using this formula:
Supp Price * Multiplier = Est Cost
NOTE: This field is given a value of ‘1’ by default.
Calculating the Multiplier
To calculate the Multiplier value, use this formula:
Supplier Qty / Your Qty = Multiplier
For example, let’s say the BOM parent weighs 10 pounds and the supplier
prices the subcontract service by the pound. Using our formula, the
Multiplier would be ‘10’, as follows:
10 lbs / 1 BOM Parent = 10
Days to Next
This is the number of days it takes to get the parts sent out, completed, and
received back from the supplier.
NOTE: This field is initially populated by the work center’s default Days
to Next value, which can be overridden
Traveler Notes
The notes entered here print on the job traveler. These notes are for shop
personnel and are not passed over to the PO that ultimately gets generated
for this subcontract service.
PO Notes
The notes entered here get passed into the PO that ultimately gets generated
for this subcontract service. These notes do not print on the job traveler.
Operating Guide 235

5-1D. Task Templates
5-1D. Task Templates

(BOM – BOM Setup – Task Templates)
“Task templates” are used to create a library of standard routing task

specifications that can be copied as needed into bill of material and job routing
sequences. .
Tasks can be used to break a routing sequence down into specific steps. All this
information prints on the job traveler.
NOTE: Tasks are for documentation purposes only (such as inspection
procedures) and have no effect on costing or scheduling.
Field Explanations
Template ID
Click the New button to create a new task template record, each of which is
identified by an 8-character template ID. We recommend that you identify
each template with a number rather than an alpha code.
Group Numbering
We recommend that you number your templates in related groups so that
similar tasks are listed together in lookups for easy selection. For
example, all your inspection tasks could be in the ‘1000’ series, all your
material handling tasks in the ‘2000’ series, all your documentation tasks
in the ‘3000’ series, and so forth.
Description
Enter an up to 50-character description of this task.
Task Notes
Enter freeform notes to further describe this task.
236 Operating Guide

5-1D. Revision Names
5-1E. Revision Names

(BOM – BOM Setup – Revision Names)
Use this screen to create a table of pre-defined Revision Names that will be used
in the Bills of Material screen to label your Revisions.
Field Explanations
Revision Name
You can enter an up to 20-character Revision Name.
NOTE: The system is supplied with a ‘DEFAULT’ Revision Name, which
is used as the Default Revision Name in the BOM Defaults screen. If
you wish to use a different default name, create it in this screen, then go
to BOM Defaults and select it as the Default Revision Name.
• Typical Revision Names would be ‘Revision 1’, ‘Revision 2’, ‘Revision A’,
Revision B’, etc.
• If you are using Revision Names for batch sizes, use names that best
describe each batch size.
Description
Enter an up to 50-character Description to accompany the Revision Name on
lookups.
Operating Guide 237

5-2. Work Centers
5-2. Work Centers

(BOM – BOM Setup – Work Centers)
Work Centers organize the factory into specific work areas. You can also define
“subcontract” Work Centers to represent outside processing services such as
plating, painting, and heat-treating.
Training Course
Support Center – Videos–Setup – Work Centers & Machines
How are Work Centers used?
Work Centers are used for the following purposes:
Sequence Assignments
Each routing Sequence is assigned to a Work Center and optionally to a
Machine within that Work Center.
Costing
Each Work Center stores hourly costing rates for setup, labor, and overhead.
These rates are used by the Cost Rollup to calculate the Estimated Cost of
manufactured items and are also used to calculate estimated and actual job
costs.
Job Traveler
The Job Traveler is organized by sequential routing Sequences / Work
Centers and provides your workers with manufacturing specifications.
Job Scheduling
In the Work Center Scheduling screen you can enter Work Center capacity
settings that MRP uses to schedule suggested jobs.
Machine Scheduling
You can optionally create Machines (see next section) and assign them to
Work Centers. When the Work Center consists of a set of interchangeable
Machines, using Machines enables routing Sequences to be assigned to the
appropriate Machine at time of production.
Work Center Scheduling
On a daily basis you can schedule jobs and machines and produce a Daily
Dispatch List that gets sent out to the shop floor to advise which jobs are to
be run next.
238 Operating Guide

5-2. Work Centers
Detail Tab
Header Section
Work Center ID
Enter an up to 12-character code that identifies the Work Center on screens,
lookups, and reports.
Description
Enter an up to 50-character description to accompany the Work Center ID.
Subcontract
It this is an outside Work Center used to represent subcontract services such
as painting, plating, and heat-treating, select this checkbox, which changes
some of the entry fields in the screens below.
Hourly Costing Rates
The Hourly Costing Rates panel will not be visible when the Subcontract
checkbox is selected in the header panel. On this panel you enter the costing
rates that are applied to your routing sequences for job costing and the Cost
Rollup calculations.
Labor
This hourly rate will be applied to the (Time / Process x Items / Process)
values within each routing sequence to determine the routing sequence’s
Labor cost.
Setup
This hourly rate will be applied to the Setup Hours value within each routing
sequence to determine the sequence’s Setup cost.
Fixed Overhead
This hourly rate will be applied to your labor and setup hours [(Time / Process
x Items / Process) + Setup Hours] within each routing sequence to determine
the routing sequence’s Fixed Overhead cost.
Operating Guide 239

5-2. Work Centers
How is this rate determined?

We recommend that you use a single Fixed Overhead rate across all your
Work Centers, based on this formula:
Last 3-Mos Factory Overhead Cost / Last 3-Mos Direct Labor Hours
Factory Overhead Cost can be derived from the Income Statement. This
is the Factory Overhead account group total after backing out the
Absorbed Labor account.
Direct Labor Hours can be derived from the Routing Trxns section of the
Job Transactions report. Use total of all setup and labor hours reported.
NOTE: When you are first starting the system, you may not have
this data available, so make your best guess at a rate and adjust it
each month as data accumulate.
Variable Overhead
This hourly rate will be applied to your labor and setup hours [(Time / Process
x Items / Process) + Setup Hours] within each routing sequence to determine
the sequence’s Variable Overhead cost.
NOTE: We suggest you leave this field blank unless you have a
specific cost accounting purpose for using it.
Production Rate Defaults
The Production Rate Defaults panel will not be visible when the Subcontract
checkbox is selected in the header panel. On this sub-tab you define default
production rates for setup and labor that are used when entering new routing
sequences in bills of material and jobs. These default values can then be
accepted or overridden.
NOTE: These fields are optional. If there is no consistency in labor and
setup within the routing sequences assigned to this Work Center, it is not
necessary to enter values in these fields.
Setup
Enter the typical Setup time required to set up a routing sequence within this
Work Center. Enter the time in decimal hours. For example, 45 minutes is
entered as ‘.75’.
Time / Process
Production is expressed in terms of ‘processes’. A process can be an
can produce a single part or many parts at a time. The Time / Process is
expressed in decimal hours. This field automatically calculates the Processes
/ Hour field and vice-versa.
NOTE: The maximum number of hours you can enter in this field is 24
hours. If you have a cycle time longer than 24 hours, leave this field
blank and use the Processes / Hr field instead. In that field, enter time
240 Operating Guide

5-2. Work Centers
based on this formula: 1 / # Hours. A cycle time of 40 hours, therefore,

would be given a Processes / Hr value of ‘.025’. (When you do this,
the Time / Process field receives a nonsensical value, which you can
safely ignore).
Processes / Hour
A ‘process’ is each event or cycle within a production process, such as an
assembly operation, a hit on a punch press, a shot from a mold, etc. If you
express your production rates in this manner, you can enter the number of
processes per hour in this field. As an alternative, you can enter the Time /
Process (see previous), which will automatically calculate the Processes /
Hour for you.
Items / Process
For a most operations, one part is produced per process, which is why the
default for this field is set to ‘1’. With molds and certain tools, however, multiple
parts can be produced per process. If so, enter the number of parts per process
in this field.
Capacity / Scheduling Panel
The Capacity / Scheduling panel will not be visible when the Subcontract
checkbox is selected in the header panel. These settings are used by MRP for
scheduling planned jobs.
NOTE: These fields are not needed until you actually begin scheduling
new jobs, at which time they can be also be updated through the MRP –
Work Center Scheduling screen.
Total Hours / Day
This is the total number of hours available within the Work Center, including
all machines or all workers. For example, if you have three machines, each
operating 10 hours a day, the total hours capacity per day for the work center
is ‘30’.
Job Hours / Day
This is the maximum number of hours that can be allocated to any given job
per day. In the example given directly above, even though the Work Center
has a total capacity of 30 hours, it is unlikely that a single job will be run on all
three machines. In most cases, only one machine can be devoted to one job,
in which case the maximum job hours per day in our example would be ‘10’.
For job scheduling purposes, estimated setup and labor hours for each
routing sequence assigned to this Work Center are divided by the Job Hours /
Day to translate hours into job days as part of the overall Job Days calculation
for the manufactured item.
Queue Days
Leave this setting blank. It has no function at this time.
Operating Guide 241

5-2. Work Centers
Buffer Days
This setting enables you to add in a safety buffer to the job schedule to
account for the unforeseen delays common to manufacturing environments –
such as machinery repairs, worker or material unavailability, unexpected
rework, etc. The Buffer Days specified here will be added to the calculated
Job Days for each routing sequence assigned to this Work Center.
Subcontract Defaults Panel
The Subcontract Defaults panel is only visible when the Subcontract checkbox is
selected in the header panel.
Supplier
This serves as the default Supplier when entering a new routing sequence in
the Bills of Material screen, which can be overridden at the BOM level.
Cost
This serves as the default Est Cost and Supp Price when entering a new
routing sequence in the Bills of Material screen, which can be overridden at
the BOM level.
UM
This serves as the default Supp UM when entering a new routing sequence in
the Bills of Material screen, which can be overridden at the BOM level.
Days to Next
This serves as the default Days to Next value when entering a new routing
sequence in the Bills of Material screen, which can be overridden at the BOM
level. For subcontract services, the Days to Next represents the number of
lead-time days it takes to get the parts sent out, completed, and received from
the supplier.
242 Operating Guide

5-2. Work Centers
Machines Tab
When you click the Machines tab, you will see a listing of machines assigned to
this Work Center, for reference purposes only. See the next section for
information on setting up Machines.
Operating Guide 243

5-3. Bills of Material

(BOM – Bills of Material ... or BOM Icon)
Use this screen to enter manufacturing specifications for your finished items and
subassemblies.
List Tab
On this tab are listed all your active bills of material (BOMs).
Training Course
Support Center – Videos–Setup – New BOM Entry
Field Explanations
Parent Item ID
This is the BOM “parent” item, which is its “primary output.” Click the New
button to add a parent item to the list.
NOTE1: Only ‘M’ (manufactured) items can have a BOM.
NOTE2: An item defined in any BOM as a “secondary output” (see the
Outputs tab) cannot have a BOM of its own.
Description
This field displays the parent item’s Description, which is maintained in the
Stock Items screen.
UM
This field displays the parent item’s UM, which is maintained in the Stock
Items screen.
244 Operating Guide

Default Revision
This column is only visible when the Revisions option is selected in the BOM
Defaults screen. The specifications entered against the default revision are
the ones used by MRP for job generation and by the Cost Rollup for cost
calculations.
Phantom
If you want this BOM to function as a “phantom assembly”, select this
checkbox.
NOTE: If the BOM has one or more routing sequences, you are not
permitted to select this checkbox.
It is important to know the difference between a “subassembly” and a
phantom assembly, explained as follows:
Subassembly
A “subassembly”, which is a term used for any BOM that is a component
in other BOMs, is always made on its own job and is then issued from
stock as a component to the jobs that require it. The parent item and the
subassembly are always made on separate jobs.
NOTE: There is no functional difference between a top-level BOM
and a subassembly BOM. “Subassembly” is merely a term used to
describe a BOM that happens to be located at a lower-level within a
product structure.
Phantom Assembly
A phantom assembly is a set of components that is never assembled on
its own job and is never stocked or sold. Instead, the phantom’s
components are pulled into the job of the BOM parent item at time of job
creation. The parent and the phantom are always assembled in the same
job.
Phantom Assembly Limitations
• A phantom assembly cannot have a routing. Any processes dealing
with the phantom components must be defined in the BOM parent’s
routing.
• A phantom assembly is never stocked. Phantom components are
always assembled to order.
• A phantom assembly is never sold and cannot be given a Base Price
or Contract Price. If you need to sell the assembly occasionally as a
spare part, you should create a separate item ID for that version so
that it can be made on its own (with a routing), included in the MRP
generation, stocked, and sold.
Operating Guide 245

Buttons
New
Click this button to create a new BOM record. It launches the New Bill of
Material screen, which contains these fields.
BOM Item ID
From the lookup, select the BOM parent item. The lookup only lists ‘M’
(manufactured) items that do not yet have a BOM or that are not already
used a secondary output on one or more bills of material.
Default Revision Name
The system Default Revision Name from the BOM Defaults screen is
automatically assigned, but can be overridden with a different selection
from the lookup.
Create Button
Click this button to create the BOM record and close the screen.
Copy
Use this button to create a new BOM by copying an existing BOMs
specifications. Select the BOM you wish to copy from and click this button,
which launches the Copy BOM screen. Screen details are as follows:
Copy BOM from:
The program inserts the currently selected BOM parent into this field for
your reference.
Create BOM for:
From the lookup, select the new BOM parent item. The lookup only lists
‘M’ (manufactured) items that do not yet have a BOM.
Create Button
Click this button to create the BOM record and close the screen.
246 Operating Guide

Revisions Tab
This tab is only visible when the Revisions option is selected in the BOM Defaults
screen.
This tab governs the tabs to the right
Whichever revision is highlighted in this tab determines the contents on all the
tab screens to the right of the Revisions tab.
Screen Details
Revisions
Revision
Select a revision name created in the BOM – BOM Setup – Revision Names
screen.
Batch Size
This field is only visible when the Batch Size option is selected in the BOM
Defaults screen.
The batch size is used by process manufacturers (food, chemicals,
plastics, etc.) who make their products in batches. Each batch size can
require different proportions of certain ingredients.
UM
This field is only visible when the Batch Size option is selected in the BOM
Defaults screen. This is the unit of measure relative to the batch size
(LITERS, GALLONS, VAT, TANK, etc.).
Description
Enter an up to 50-character description that accompanies the revision name
on lookups.
Operating Guide 247

Creation Date
When the revision is created, the system date is recorded in this field.
Buttons
New
Click this button to create a new revision.
Copy
Use this button to create a new revision and associated specifications by
copying an existing revision. Select the revision you wish to copy from and
click this button, which launches the Copy Revision screen. Screen details
are as follows:
Copy BOM from:
The program inserts the selected BOM parent into this panel for your
reference.
Revision
The program inserts the selected revision into this panel for your
reference.
Create New BOM for:
The program inserts the BOM parent in this field.
Revision
Select a name for the new revision from the lookup in this field.
Create Button
Click this button to create the new revision and associated specifications
and close the screen.
248 Operating Guide

Routing Tab
Setup, labor, and subcontract service specifications are entered on the Routing
tab. These specifications are used for cost calculations, job scheduling, and
process documentation for printing on the job traveler.
NOTE: The Routing tab is not visible when the BOM parent is a phantom
assembly.
Training Course
Support Center – Videos–Setup – Routing Entry
Sequences
Sequence
Click the New button to create a new sequence record. The program
automatically assigns a sequence number, which you can override if you
wish.
NOTE: You can freely renumber sequences when needed. For
example, you may need to insert a sequence between two existing
sequences, in which case you would renumber the “downstream”
sequences to make room for the new Sequence.
Sequence Template Copy
You have the option of selecting a “sequence template” from the lookup,
which creates this sequence using the template’s specifications. Once the
sequence is created, it can than be edited as needed.
Description
Enter an up to 50-character description for this process, which will print on the
job traveler.
NOTE: On subcontract sequences, this Description is also carried
forward to the PO that is generated and sent to your service supplier.
Operating Guide 249


Select a work center from the lookup. It can be an inside work center or an
outside work center for subcontract services such as plating, painting, and
heat-treating.
NOTE: As a rule of thumb, no two consecutive sequences should both
be assigned to the same work center. Each sequence should normally
flow from one work center to a different work center. Attempts at
assigning consecutive sequences to the same work center suggest
that you are either breaking down your processes too finely or that
your work centers are too broadly defined. If you need a finer
breakdown of processes within a sequence, consider using Tasks (see
below).
Machine
Only assign a machine when this item must be run on a particular machine. If
the work center contains interchangeable machines, leave this field blank.
Center Panel – Cycle Times
If the sequence selected above is assigned to an inside work center, the
following set of fields displays, all related to this sequence’s “cycle times”
(production rates).
Setup Hours
Enter the total setup time for this sequence, expressed in decimal hours. For
example, 30 minutes would be entered as ‘.5’.
Setup value, which can be overridden manually or copied over by a
sequence template.
Time / Process
Cycle time is expressed in terms of “processes.” A process can be an
can produce a single part or several parts at a time. Enter the time (hours,
minutes, seconds) required for each process.
NOTE1: As an alternative to making a time entry, you can enter the
Processes / Hr (see next), which automatically calculates the Time /
Process.
NOTE2: The maximum number of hours you can enter in this field is
24 hours. If you have a cycle time longer than 24 hours, leave this
field blank and use the Processes / Hr field instead. In that field, enter
time based on this formula: 1 / # Hours. A cycle time of 40 hours,
therefore, would be given a Processes / Hr value of ‘.025’. (When you
do this, the Time / Process field receives a nonsensical, value which
you can safely ignore).
250 Operating Guide

NOTE3: This field is initially populated by the work center’s default

Time / Process value, which can be overridden manually or copied
over by a sequence template.
Processes / Hr
As an alternative to entering Time / Process, you can express the cycle time
in terms of Processes / Hr. The entry of either field automatically updates the
other.
Processes / Hr value, which can be overridden manually or copied
over by a sequence template.
Items / Process
If each process yields one unit of this item, leave this field at the default
setting of ‘1’. If each process yields a set of items (such as with a multi-cavity
mold), enter the number of items in this field. The Time / Process is divided
by the Items / Process to determine the time required to make one unit of this
item.
NOTE: This field is initially populated by the work center’s default Items
/ Process value, which can be overridden manually or copied over by a
sequence template.
# Persons
For costing purposes only, enter the number of persons required to perform
this process. The program assigns a default value of ‘1’. This setting handles
these two cost scenarios:
Teams
Some processes require a fixed “team” size. An automatic assembly
table, for example, may require a team of three operators, in which case
you would enter a ‘3’ in this field. The work center’s hourly labor cost gets
multiplied by the number of team members.
NOTE: Do not use a fixed “team” with non-machine, assembly type
work centers where you can temporarily assign multiple workers to
a given job. In a packaging department, for example, where jobs
are normally packaged by one person, for an unusually large job
you could assign four workers to do packaging. In this case you
have temporarily expanded the work center’s capacity (Job Hours /
Day setting), but the packaging process itself is still the same and
the # Persons should remain set to ‘1’.
Multiple Jobs
Sometimes one worker runs several jobs simultaneously. A molding
machine operator, for example, may run four presses and four different
jobs at the same time. In this case you would enter ‘.25’ in this field. The
work center’s hourly labor cost gets multiplied by this amount and is
therefore shared among all four jobs.
Operating Guide 251

NOTE: When multiple job sequences are performed by a single

worker, we recommend that the labor Trxn Type (see below) for
each such sequence be set to the ‘Backflush’ option.
Days to Next
This represents the number of workdays between the completion of this
sequence and the start of the next sequence. This setting is used with cycle
times for three purposes:
Move Time
There may be a predictable move time involved in getting these parts from
this work center to the next.
Forced wait time
Sometimes an item must wait before it can move on to the next process.
A painted part might require drying time, for example.
Overlap
This can also be a negative number for situations where items produced
on one routing sequence can be started in the next sequence without
having to wait for the entire run to be completed before doing so. In
scheduling terminology this is referred to as “overlap.”
Trxn Type
This field is only visible when the Routing Trxn Type option is set to ‘Both’ in
the Job Labor Defaults screen. Two options are available from the drop-down
list.
Backflush
If you intend to track completions only and not actual hours against this
work center, select this option.
NOTE: It is not practical or even possible to collect actual labor
hours against some processes. When one operator runs several
machines and jobs at the same time, for example, it is not practical
to collect and allocate the labor to each job. In such cases, select
the ‘Backflush’ option.
Labor
If you intend to collect actual setup and labor hours against this work
center, select this option.
Traveler Notes
You can enter unlimited freeform notes to describe the process to be
performed in this sequence. These notes print on the job traveler and provide
instructions to your shop personnel.
Center Panel – Subcontract Services
If the sequence selected above is assigned to an outside work center designated
as a Subcontract type, the following fields are displayed in the center panel:
252 Operating Guide

Supplier
This is the supplier that performs the subcontract service.
Supplier.
Est Cost
This is the estimated cost that is used by the Cost Rollup to help calculate the
total estimated cost for the BOM Parent. It is calculated by the program as
follows:
value.
UM
This is the unit of measure associated with the BOM Parent and its Est Cost.
Supp Price
This is the price charged by the supplier for the subcontract service.
value.
Supp UM
This is the supplier’s unit of measure, which may differ from your unit of
measure. For example, a heat-treater might charge you by the pound or kilo
for pricing purposes, but that price is translated (using the Multiplier) into the
Est Cost, which conforms to the BOM Parent’s unit of measure.
NOTE: This field is initially populated by the work center’s default UM.
Multiplier
If the Supp Price and Est Cost have different units of measure, the Multiplier
is used to translate the Supp Price into an Est Cost, using this formula:
Operating Guide 253

NOTE: This field is given a value of ‘1’ by default.

Calculating the Multiplier
To calculate the Multiplier value, use this formula:
Supplier Qty / Your Qty = Multiplier
For example, let’s say the BOM parent weighs 10 pounds and the supplier
prices the subcontract service by the pound. Using our formula, the
Multiplier would be ‘10’, as follows:
10 lbs / 1 BOM Parent = 10
Days to Next
This is the number of days it takes to get the parts sent out, completed, and
received back from the supplier.
NOTE: This field is initially populated by the work center’s default Days
to Next value, which can be overridden manually or copied over by a
sequence template.
Traveler Notes
The notes entered here print on the job traveler. These notes are for shop
personnel and are not passed over to the PO that ultimately gets generated
for this subcontract service.
PO Notes
The notes entered here get passed into the PO that ultimately gets generated
for this subcontract service. These notes do not print on the job traveler.
Tasks
“Tasks” can be used to break the sequence down into specific steps. All this
information prints on the job traveler.
NOTE: Tasks are for documentation purposes only (such as inspection
procedures) and have no effect on costing or scheduling.
Task
You can enter a task name or you can select a “task template” from the
lookup. Task templates are maintained in the BOM – BOM Setup – Task
Templates screen.
Description
Enter an up to 50-character description of this task.
Notes Sub-Tab
Enter freeform notes to further describe this task.
254 Operating Guide

Components Tab
Subassemblies and materials are entered on the Components tab.
Training Course
Support Center – Videos–Setup – BOM Components Entry
Grid Fields
Sequence
This field is only visible if the Routings and Sequence checkboxes are
selected in the BOM Defaults screen.
This is the routing sequence within which this component gets consumed.
When a job gets created, this component will print within this sequence on the
job traveler. Sequence assignment also enables job materials and
components to be selectively issued by work center in the Job Issues screen.
NOTE: Sequence selection is optional. Unassigned lines print in a No
Sequence Allocated section at the end of the job traveler.
Line No
The line number is automatically assigned by the program in increments of 10
and is for reference and sorting purposes. Because it is common for multiple
instances of a component to occur throughout a BOM, the line number
identifies one instance from the other. You can manually override the line
number.
Type
Enter or select an ‘S’ if this component is a stock item. Enter or select a ‘D’ if
this component is a descriptor.
Component, Description
Select an item or descriptor from the lookup. The description is automatically
displayed.
Operating Guide 255

Usage Qty
If the Revisions checkbox is not selected in BOM Defaults, enter the quantity
of this component required to make one unit of the parent item. If the
Revisions checkbox is selected in BOM Defaults, enter the quantity required
to make one Batch Size defined against this revision.
UM
This is the unit of measure (EA, LB, etc.) for the component.
Fixed or Variable
This field is only visible if the Fixed or Variable checkbox is selected in BOM
Defaults. When not visible, the field value is hidden and is automatically set
to ‘V’.
If the quantity required for this component varies proportionally with the job
quantity of the parent item, set this field to ‘V’ (variable). Most materials,
subassemblies, and subcontract services have variable quantities, which is
why the default is set to ‘V’.
If the quantity required for this component is to be a fixed amount regardless
of the parent item quantity being manufactured, set this field to ‘F’ (Fixed).
Some batch processes, for example, require a fixed amount of an ingredient,
regardless of batch size. Or there could be a situation where a service
charge or fee is levied that does not vary with the quantity being
manufactured.
Scrap %
This field is only visible if the Scrap % checkbox is selected in BOM Setup.
This is the anticipated scrap for this component, expressed as a percentage
of the usage quantity. When a job gets created, this percentage is added to
the total quantity allocated for this component to insure that sufficient material
is planned for to account for anticipated scrap. The cost associated with the
scrap percentage is also incorporated in the Cost Rollup. The job quantity is
adjusted for scrap as follows:
Allocated Qty / (1 – (Scrap % / 100)) = Job Qty
From Date / Thru Date
These fields are only visible if the From / Thru Dates checkbox is selected in
BOM Defaults. This is the date range within which the component becomes
effective. The From Date defaults to the system date at time of initial entry
and the Thru Date is left blank unless you enter a date. When a job gets
created, only components with current effective dates at the time of job
creation are included in the job details.
256 Operating Guide

Notes Sub-Tab
Job Notes
You can enter freeform text in this notes field. This text is passed into the
Line Notes associated with job detail lines created from this BOM. These
notes print on the job traveler underneath the component.
Reference Designators
Reference designators, which are used by circuit board manufacturers to
indicate location coordinates, are often listed n the Job Notes rather than
the References sub-table (see next). This is because the job notes print
directly with the component, whereas the References print as a sub-report
at the end of the job traveler. Either method – Job Notes or References –
conveys the information, so which one to use is a matter of personal
preference.
References Sub-Tab
This sub-tab is only visible when the References option is selected in the BOM
Defaults screen. References enable you to define a sub-table of reference
information against a component and print as a sub-report at the end of the job
traveler.
Reference
This can be a location coordinate, a drawing bubble number, or for any table
that has a one-to-many relationship with the component. You can enter as
many reference records as you wish. To create a new record, click on this
panel first and then click the New button.
Qty
This is an optional field. It represents the quantity against this reference in
relation to one unit of the BOM parent.
Operating Guide 257

Speed Entry Button

“Speed entry” helps you enter components as rapidly as possible and is
especially useful when entering large numbers of components. Click the Speed
Entry button to launch the Speed Entry screen.
NOTE: You can use speed entry as often as you wish. You can enter a
few components, transfer them, enter a few more, transfer them, and so
forth.
Speed Entry Screen
Upper Panel
Stock Items or Descriptors
Choose whether you want to select Stock Items or Descriptors. All
your stock items or descriptors will display in the selection grid.
Sequence
If you want the items selected to all be assigned to a particular routing
sequence, make a selection in this field.
Item Selection
Item ID or Descriptor ID
Start typing the item ID or descriptor ID. As you type each character,
the cursor will progressively move to the item with the closest match.
Once you find the item you are looking for, press Enter and the cursor
will move to the Qty field where you can enter the order quantity.
Lower Grid
After entering the quantity, press Enter and you will see your entry
displayed in the lower grid. The cursor moves to the left-hand
column where you can immediately make another selection.
258 Operating Guide

Using the mouse is not necessary

You don’t have to use the mouse to make your selections. You can
press Enter to move back and forth from the Item ID or Descriptor
ID field to the Qty field and to make your selections. You can use
your arrow keys to navigate up or down the columns. You can, of
course, also use the mouse, if you wish.
Description Search
Use this field to narrow the contents of the main selection grid only to
items that contain the text you enter. Once you enter your text, click
the lookup icon to the left and the main grid displays the items with
matching text. Once you make a selection, the grid repopulates itself
with all your items. If you make a search and don’t select an item, click
the ‘X’ button and the grid will repopulate with all items.
Item Category
You can click on this column heading to sort the list by item category.
You can also click the down arrow in the column heading to filter the
list to a particular item category.
De-Selecting Items
To de-select an item, highlight it in the lower display grid and click the
Delete button.
Transfer Button
Your item selections and quantities are displayed in the lower grid in the
order that they were selected. When your selections are completed, click
the Transfer button and the items and quantities will be transferred to the
Components tab.
Re-Sequence Button
When you click this button, all Line No values are renumbered in increments of
‘10’, beginning with ‘10’. The current sort order is not changed.
Operating Guide 259

Outputs Tab
This tab is only visible when the Outputs option is selected in the BOM Defaults
screen. Use this screen to enter any “secondary outputs” that may exist for bi-
products or co-products.
Upper Panel
Primary Output
The BOM parent is referred to as the “primary output” when jobs are
originated from this BOM.
Description
The BOM parent’s description is displayed for reference only.
Cost Ratio
This is the primary output’s percentage share of the BOM’s estimated cost as
well as its percentage share of estimated and actual job cost for jobs
originated from this BOM. The program calculates this value using this
formula:
100 - Secondary Ratios = Cost Ratio
Secondary Ratios
This is the sum of the Cost Ratio values in the Secondary Outputs grid.
Grid Fields
Secondary Output
Select one or more secondary outputs in this column.
NOTE: A secondary output cannot be a BOM parent in another BOM.
The lookup is confined to ‘M’ (manufactured) items that do not have
BOM records.
Secondary outputs can be used for these purposes:
260 Operating Guide

Bi-Products and Co-Products

Batch process manufacturers (food, chemicals, plastics, etc.) often
have bi-product and co-products that get produced during the course
of a job.
Disassembly
Disassembly jobs are a form of reverse manufacturing in which
multiple outputs are yielded from a single input.
Description
The item’s description (from the Stock Items screen) is displayed for
reference only.
Usage Qty
Enter the output quantity of this item that corresponds with one unit of the
primary output.
If you are using Batch Sizes
If you are using batch sizes in your revisions, enter the output quantity
that corresponds with this revision’s batch size
UM
The item’s UM (from the Stock Items screen) is displayed for reference
only.
Cost Ratio
Enter this output’s relative share of overall cost, using your “best guess”
estimate. The cost ratio is used by the Cost Rollup and Job Receipts
screens to allocate total cost to each output.
NOTE: When you enter a cost ratio, the primary output’s cost ratio is
adjusted so that the sum of all cost ratios equals ‘100’.
From Date / Thru Date
These fields are only visible if the From / Thru Dates checkbox is selected
in BOM Defaults. This is the date range within which the secondary
output becomes effective. The From Date defaults to the system date at
time of initial entry and the Thru Date is left blank unless you enter a date.
When a job gets created, only secondary outputs with current effective
dates at the time of job creation are included in the job details.
Job Notes Panel
You can enter freeform text in this notes field. This text is passed into the Line
Notes associated with job detail lines created from this BOM.
Operating Guide 261

Indented View Tab

Use this tab to get a grid view of this BOM’s entire product structure, including all
lower-level subassemblies, phantom assemblies, and their associated
components.
Screen Details
There is only one new field on this tab:
Level
The components in this BOM are all assigned to Level ‘1’. If a Level ‘1’
component is a subassembly or phantom assembly, its components are
assigned to Level ‘2’. If a Level ‘2’ component is a subassembly or phantom
assembly, its components are assigned to Level ‘3’, and so forth.
262 Operating Guide

Tree View Tab

Use this tab to get a tree view of this BOM’s entire product structure, including all
lower-level subassemblies, phantom assemblies, and their associated
components.
Buttons
Multi-Level
Click this button to change the inquiry from a Single Level view to a Multi-
Level view.
Single Level
Click this button to change the inquiry from a Multi-Level view to a Single
Level view.
Show Grid
Click this button to make the grid cells visible.
Operating Guide 263

5-4. Estimated Purchase Costs

(BOM – Estimated Purchase Costs)
Use this screen to periodically change the unit Estimated Cost for purchased
items.
Purpose
Each item’s unit Estimated Cost is a fixed value that only changes when you
change it. In the case of purchased items, the estimated cost is changed using
this screen. In the case of manufactured items, the estimated cost is changed by
running the Cost Rollup.
Estimated costs for purchased items are incorporated in the cost rollup of
manufactured items, so it is important to periodically update purchased item
estimated costs to achieve accurate cost rollups.
Use the Mass Change option
Many companies have thousands of purchase items. Where this is the case,
maintaining estimated costs manually would be highly time consuming. As an
alternative to manual entry, we recommend that you use the Mass Change
option to update the unit Estimated Cost on all your purchased items with each
item’s Last Cost.
How often?
We suggest you run the Mass Change option at least once per accounting
period. For best results, run the mass change option on your purchased items
and a batch rollup on all your manufactured items once a week.
Screen Details
264 Operating Guide

Selection Filters
Use the settings in the upper panel to generate a list of items in the Item List sub-
tab.
Item ID
Leave this field blank if you want the list to include all your purchased stock
items. If you want to narrow the list down, each character you enter restricts
the list to items beginning with the characters entered in this field. For
example, in the sample company all the red wagon items begin with ‘1080’.
So if you type ‘1080’ in this field and click the Create List button, the list will
only include items beginning with ‘1080’.
Description
This field provides an additional filter. You can leave it blank if you want all
Descriptions within the item list, but if you want to narrow the list to items
containing specific Descriptions, each character you enter restricts the list to
Descriptions beginning with the characters entered in this field.
Select All Categories
This checkbox provides an additional filter. If you clear the checkbox, a list of
Item Categories displays below the checkbox. You can select one or more
Item Categories and your list will be restricted just to purchased items within
those categories.
Create List Button
Once your entries are completed in the upper panel, click this button to
generate the list in the Item List sub-tab.
Hide Filter Panel Button
Once your list is generated, you can click this button to hide the upper panel
and make more room on the screen for your list. Your filter selections remain
displayed just above the Item List sub-tab. When the upper panel is hidden, a
Show Filter Panel button becomes visible, which you can click it you wish to
make the upper panel visible again.
Item List Sub-Tab
Your list of items is displayed in the grid on this sub-tab. Each item’s current Inv
Cost, Last Cost, and Est Cost are displayed for reference purposes.
Mass Replace Button
Clicking this button gives you the option of populating the New Cost column
with each item’s Last Cost or Inventory Cost.
New Cost
Enter the item’s new Estimated Cost in this field. You are not obligated to
make an entry on every item in the list – only on those where a cost change is
needed.
Operating Guide 265

Clear Button
Click this button if you wish to completely clear the New Cost column.
Update Button
When your entries are completed, click this button and the new cost will take
effect.
266 Operating Guide

5-5. Cost Rollup
5-5. Cost Rollup

(BOM – Cost Rollup)
This screen is used to calculate the Estimated Cost of your ‘M’ (manufactured)
items) based on their BOM specifications.
Training Video
Support Center – Videos–How Do I? – Manufacturing Training Course
Segment: Cost Rollup
Overview
What are the benefits of the Estimated Cost calculation?
The Estimated Cost calculation provides three primary benefits:
• An accurate Estimated Cost on the ‘M’ (manufactured) items you sell helps
you assess profit margins and establish product prices.
• An accurate Estimated Cost on subassembly items (BOMs that go into other
BOMs) is an important element in the calculation of estimated job costs for
comparison with actual job costs.
• The cost management process – refining your Routing cycle times based on
estimated versus actual job performance, refining Work Center hourly rates
for setup, labor, and overhead, and updating your ‘P’ item Estimated Costs –
keeps you focused on costs and their implications.
How often should costs be rolled up?
The Cost Rollup should be run after making any set of significant changes to
BOM routing details, work center hourly rates, or updating ‘P’ (purchased) item
costs in the Estimated Purchase Costs screen.
You can run the Cost Rollup as often as you wish because it has no effect on
inventory value or any other accounting impact.
Cost Elements
The Estimated Cost of a manufactured item is broken out into these seven Cost
Elements on screens and reports:
Cost Element Description
Mat. Material
Setup. Setup
Labor. Labor
FixOH. Fixed Overhead
VarOH. Variable Overhead
Subcon. Subcontract Service
Misc. Miscellaneous
Operating Guide 267

5-5. Cost Rollup
Cost Sources
Costs are calculated for each Cost Element as follows:
Material
All ‘P’ (purchased) item BOM components are considered Material. The
Estimated Cost of each ‘P’ item component is multiplied by its Usage Qty.
Material costs are totaled up for each subassembly and phantom assembly in
the product structure and are then multiplied by each assembly’s indented
Usage Quantity. Those lower-level costs are then added to the Material cost
of the BOM parent to arrive at the total Material cost for the product.
Setup
Each routing sequence’s Setup Hours are multiplied by the Work Center
hourly Setup rate and are then divided by the BOM parent’s Run Size setting
(or Batch Size when Batches are activated) to translate the Setup cost into a
“per unit” cost. Setup costs are totaled up for each subassembly and
phantom assembly in the product structure and are then multiplied by each
assembly’s indented Usage Quantity. Those lower-level costs are then added
to the Setup cost of the BOM parent to arrive at the total Setup cost for the
product.
Labor
Each routing sequence’s Labor hours (Time Process / Items/Process) are
multiplied by the Work Center hourly Labor rate, which is then multiplied by
the # Persons setting. Labor costs are totaled up for each subassembly and
phantom assembly in the product structure and are then multiplied by each
assembly’s indented Usage Quantity. Those lower-level costs are then added
to the Labor cost of the BOM parent to arrive at the total Labor cost for the
product.
Overhead
Each routing sequence’s Setup Hours plus Labor hours (Time Process /
Items/Process) are multiplied by the Work Center hourly Overhead rate.
Overhead costs are totaled up for each subassembly and phantom assembly
in the product structure and are then multiplied by each assembly’s indented
Usage Quantity. Those lower-level costs are then added to the Overhead cost
of the BOM parent to arrive at the total Overhead cost for the product.
Subcontract Service
Subcontract routing sequence Cost values are totaled up for each
subassembly and phantom assembly in the product structure and are then
multiplied by each assembly’s indented Usage Quantity. Those lower-level
costs are then added to the Subcontract Service cost of the BOM parent to
arrive at the total Subcontract Service cost for the product.
Miscellaneous
You can use Descriptors with a Descriptor Type of ‘MISC’ as BOM
components to account for Miscellaneous costs. The Estimated Cost of each
268 Operating Guide

5-5. Cost Rollup
such Descriptor component is multiplied by its Usage Qty. Miscellaneous

costs are totaled up for each subassembly and phantom assembly in the
product structure and are then multiplied by each assembly’s indented Usage
Quantity. Those lower-level costs are then added to the Miscellaneous cost of
the BOM parent to arrive at the total Miscellaneous cost for the product.
Multiple Revisions
If your products have multiple revisions, be aware that the Cost Rollup only rolls
up costs for each item’s Default Revision.
If you wish to roll up the cost on a revision other than the default revision, you
must go to the Bills of Material screen and temporarily change the item’s Default
Revision. Run the rollup and then change the Default Revision back to what it
was.
Screen Details
Upper Panel
BOM Element
When the screen is launched, your top level BOM parent items (those that are
not a subassembly in another BOM) are listed in the upper panel. If you clear
the Top Level Items checkbox in the center panel, all your BOM parent items
are listed, regardless of level.
NOTE: you can right-click on the BOM parent item to display a menu of
additional options. You can view the item’s cost details within a grid
and you can print the BOM tree.
Revision
When you double-click on the BOM parent item, the Revision element
becomes visible. When the Default Revision checkbox is selected in the
center panel, the item’s Default Revision name is listed as the only
element. When the Default Revision checkbox is cleared, all the parent
Operating Guide 269

5-5. Cost Rollup
item’s other non-default Revision names are listed as elements following

the Components element.
NOTE: This BOM Element is not visible when the Revisions option
is not selected in the BOM Defaults screen.
Routing
When you double-click on the BOM parent item, the Routing element
becomes visible when the Routings checkbox is selected in the center
panel.
NOTE: you can right-click on the Routing element to display a
menu of additional options. You can view the Routing cost details
within a grid and you can print the BOM tree.
Sequences
Routing Sequence elements become visible when you double-click on
the Routing element. The following columns become visible to the
right:
NOTE: you can right-click on the Sequence element to display a
menu of additional options. You can view the Sequence cost
details within a grid and you can print the BOM tree.
Work Center
This is the Work Center to which this routing Sequence is assigned.
Machine ID
This is the Machine ID to which this routing Sequence is assigned.
Components
When you double-click on the BOM parent item, the Components element
becomes visible.
Reference ID’s
When you double-click on the Components element, the component
Reference ID elements are listed.
NOTE1: If the Reference ID element is a subassembly, you can
double-click on it to open up another level of BOM Elements
pertaining to its BOM.
NOTE2: you can right-click on the Reference ID element to
display a menu of additional options. You can view the item or
descriptor’s cost details within a grid and you can print the BOM
tree.
The following columns become visible to the right:
Usage Qty
This is the component’s Usage Qty multiplied by its parent
item’s Usage Qty.
270 Operating Guide

5-5. Cost Rollup
UM
This is the component’s UM (from the Stock Items screen or
Descriptors screen)
Scrap %
This is the components Scrap % setting from the BOM.
Total Qty
This is the total usage quantity after the Scrap % has been
applied to the Usage Qty.
Est Cost
This is the item or descriptor’s unit Estimated Cost.
Total Cost
This is the Total Qty multiplied by the Est Cost and represents
the Total Cost for this component.
Description
The Description associated with BOM parent item or the item or descriptor
Component element is displayed in this column. If you are using Batch
Sizes, the Batch Size is displayed in this field against Revision elements.
Est Cost
The unit Estimated Cost of the BOM parent item or Component item or
descriptor is displayed in this field.
Center Panel
Top Level Items
When this checkbox is selected, only top-level BOM parent items (those that
are not a subassembly in another BOM) are displayed in the upper panel.
When this checkbox is cleared, all BOM parent items are displayed,
regardless of level.
Default Revision
This checkbox is only visible when the Revisions option is selected in the
BOM Defaults screen. When selected, only the parent item’s Default
Revision displays as a BOM Element in the upper panel. When cleared, the
parent item’s other non-default Revision elements are displayed following the
Component element.
Routings
When this checkbox is selected, the Routing element displays in the upper
panel.
Description Search
In the entry field to the right of the Routings checkbox you can perform a text
search among all BOM parent item Descriptions. Enter your text, then click
Operating Guide 271

5-5. Cost Rollup
the magnifying glass icon and the upper panel will list all BOM parent items
with a Description that contains that text string.
Item ID
No matter what element is highlighted above within a product structure, this
field displays the BOM parent Item ID at the top of the structure.
Est Cost
This is the current unit Estimated Cost of the Item ID to the left.
Last Update
The date and time when the Est Cost was last rolled up for this item is
displayed in this field.
Revision
This field is only visible when the Revisions option is selected in the BOM
Defaults screen. It displays the Default Revision name for the Item ID to the
left.
NOTE: The Cost Rollup only calculates costs for the Default Revision.
If you want to calculate the cost for one of the item’s other Revisions,
you must go to the Bills of Material screen, temporarily make the other
Revision the Default Revision, run the rollup, then go back and restore
the Default Revision to its prior designation.
Batch Size
This field is only visible when the Batch Sizes option is selected in the BOM
Defaults screen. It displays the Batch Size associated with the item’s Default
Revision.
Lower Grid
The lower grid provides a cost summary of the Item ID in the center panel.
NOTE: you can right-click on any Cost Element to see the underlying
cost details.
Cost Class Column
The Cost Elements for this item hat have costs are listed in this column.
Possible values include:
Cost Element Description
Mat. Material
Setup. Setup
Labor. Labor
FixOH. Fixed Overhead
VarOH. Variable Overhead
Subcon. Subcontract Service
Misc. Miscellaneous
272 Operating Guide

5-5. Cost Rollup
Routing Cost Column

In this column are displayed the routing costs directly associating with
fabricating or assembling this item.
Lower Levels Column
This column displays the material costs for the item as well as the routing and
material costs associated with all lower-level subassemblies.
Total Cost Column
This column displays the sum of the Routing Cost and Lower Levels cost for
each Cost Element. The grand total cost at the bottom of the column is the
item’s Estimated Cost.
Primary, Output #1, Output #2 … Columns
If this item has multiple outputs, additional columns display to the right of the
Total Cost column.
In the column headings you see the Primary output, Output #1, Output #2 and
so forth. Also in each heading is the output’s Cost Ratio percentage. Each
Total Cost value is multiplied by each column’s Cost Ratio to determine its
share of the cost. The grand total cost at the bottom of column is each output
item’s Estimated Cost.
Single Rollup Button
Click this button to roll up the cost for the currently highlighted item in the upper
panel. The Single Rollup takes much less time than the Batch Rollup option.
Batch Rollup Button
Click this button to roll up the cost for all your ‘M’ items. This may take several
minutes depending on how many items and components are involved.
NOTE: We recommend that you always mass update your ‘P’ item
estimated costs in the Estimated Purchase Costs screen before you run
the Batch Rollup.
Links Button
Click this button to link directly to the
item’s bill of material, where you can make immediate changes to its routing or
components.
“Key” Icon
The objects in the tree are represented by different icons. To get a listing of what
each icon represents, click the key icon in the lower right portion of the button
panel.
Operating Guide 273

5-6. Where Used Inquiry
5-6. Where Used Inquiry

(BOM – Where Used Inquiry)
Use this screen to specify a particular component and get a listing of all BOMs
containing that component.
Select an item from the opening list, click OK, and you are presented with a list of
BOMs that contain the item, including its Usage Qty.
Full Collapse Button
Click this button to get a single-level listing of the parent items to which this
component is directly assigned.
Full Expand Button
If the parent item to which this component is assigned is a subassembly within a
product structure, click this button to get a view of the higher level parents that
contain the subassembly and therefore indirectly contain this component.
274 Operating Guide

5-7. BOM Reports
5-7. BOM Reports
5-7A. Multi-Level BOM

(BOM – Reports – Multi-Level BOM)
Use this report to get a listing of your BOM specifications.
Selection Options
Print multiple levels
Select this checkbox if you wish to list the entire product structure, including
subassemblies, phantom assemblies, and their associated components.
Print BOM notes
Select this checkbox if you wish to include the Notes entered against the BOM
Parent.
Print BOM detail line notes
Select this checkbox if you wish to include Notes entered against components.
Print substitutes
Select his checkbox if you wish to print any Alternates that are cross-referenced
to component items on the Sources tab of the Stock Items screen.
Print suppliers
Select this checkbox if you with to print Suppliers that are cross-referenced to
component items on the Sources tab of the Stock Items screen.
Print references
Select this checkbox if you wish to print any component Reference designators.
Print effectivity dates
Select this checkbox if you wish to print component Date Added and Date
Removed values.
Print scrap %
Select this checkbox if you wish to include any component Scrap percentages.
Number of decimals for component qty
You can specify how many decimal places you wish displayed for the component
Usage Qty. The default value is ‘6’.
Component effectivity dates
Select the first option if you want to list all components, regardless of their Date
Added and Date Removed values. Select the second option if you wish to list
only components effective as of a specific date. When you select the second
option, a date selection field displays and defaults to today’s date.
Operating Guide 275

5-7. BOM Reports
Parent items
You can select one item, a from/thru range of items, or list all items on the report.
Parent item categories
You can limit the report to items belonging to selected or all Item Categories.
Parent item status
You can limit the report to items that have a Status of ‘Active’ or ‘In-Active’.
5-7B. Costed BOM

(BOM – Reports – Costed BOM)
Use this report to a cost breakdown of your BOMs.

NOTE: If you have multiple Revisions, this report only lists your Default
Revision. If you need a cost breakdown on some other Revision, you
must temporarily make it the Default Revision.
Selection Options
Print multiple levels
Select this checkbox if you wish to list the entire product structure, including
subassemblies, phantom assemblies, and their associated components.
Print BOM notes
Select this checkbox if you wish to include the Notes entered against the BOM
Parent.
Print BOM detail line notes
Select this checkbox if you wish to include Notes entered against components.
Print substitutes
Select his checkbox if you wish to print any Alternates that are cross-referenced
to component items on the Sources tab of the Stock Items screen.
Print suppliers
Select this checkbox if you with to print Suppliers that are cross-referenced to
component items on the Sources tab of the Stock Items screen.
Print references
Select this checkbox if you wish to print any component Reference designators.
Number of decimals for component qty
You can specify how many decimal places you wish displayed for the component
Usage Qty. The default value is ‘6’.
Parent items
You can select one item, a from/thru range of items, or list all items on the report.
276 Operating Guide

5-7. BOM Reports
Revision
The item’s Default Revision is listed for reference only.
Parent item categories
You can limit the report to items belonging to selected or all Item Categories.
Parent item status
You can limit the report to items that have a Status of ‘Active’ or ‘In-Active’.
Operating Guide 277

5-7. BOM Reports
278 Operating Guide

6. Sales
6. Sales
The Sales menu is where you will find all sales-related tables and applications,
including customers, pricing and discounts, sales orders, sales quotes, and sales
reports. Menu options include:
Sales
Sales Setup
• Sales Defaults
• Customers List
• Customer Types
• Customer Terms
• Contact Types
• Sales Regions
• Lead Sources
• SO Types
• Ship Methods
• Sales Rep Types
• Sales Reps
• Commission Codes
Pricing & Discounts
• Base Prices
• Price Levels
• Discounts
• Discount Codes
• Contract Pricing
Main Menu
• Customers
• Credit Manager
• Sales Orders
• Order Picking
• Quotes
• Sales Order Inquiry
Data Views
• Open Sales Orders
• Sales Order Bookings
• Picked/Shipped Not Invoiced
Reports
• Sales Order Summary
• Sales Order Detail
Operating Guide 279

6. Sales
• Open Items Listing

• Available to Ship
• Base Prices & Costs
• Invoice Listing
• Sales by Customer
• Sales by Customer Type
• Sales by Commission Code
• Sales Ranked by Customer
• Profit Margin by Customer
• Sales by Item/Descriptor
• Sales by Item Category
• Sales by Descriptor Type
• Sales Ranked by Item/Descriptor
• Profit Margin by Item
• Warranty Sheet
• Warranty Listing
280 Operating Guide

6. Sales
Overview
Sales orders drive the planning system. For MTO (make to order) items, MRP
generates jobs directly from sales order lines. For all other manufactured items,
MRP compares sales order requirements with projected stock within each item’s
planning period and generates jobs as needed. MRP then generates all the POs
needed to fulfill net demand associated by these job requirements.
What is a sales order?
All customer orders, whether for items or services, are entered as sales orders.
Each line item is given a Required Date for planning purposes.
Is a sales order the same as an invoice?
No, they are two separate things. You can generate multiple invoices from a
single sales order. You may have backorders, for example, that get invoiced
later when stock becomes available, or you may enter an order with scheduled
shipments on different dates.
How are sales orders created?
A sales order can be converted from a quote entered in the Sales Quotes screen
or it can be entered from scratch in the Sales Orders screen. It can also be
copied from a previous order. For make to order items, the Delivery Date
Estimator is used to calculate the item’s Required Date.
How is pricing handled?
If the sales order derived from a sales quote, the quoted price is used. If you
enter the sales order and the item has a Contract Price with your customer, that
price is used. If not, the item’s Price Level price is used. If you don’t use Price
Levels, the item’s Base Price is used. Against the Price Level or Base Price is
applied the customer’s Discount for this item, if the customer is assigned to a
Discount Code. You also have the option of entering a price from scratch.
What happens after the sales order gets created?
Items that are made or purchased to stock can be picked for shipment
immediately. For items made to order, MRP generates jobs and schedules them
to meet sales order Required Dates.
How are orders picked for shipment?
On a daily basis, the Shipment Planner lookup in the Order Picking screen is
used to determine which sales orders are ready to ship. Each sales order is
physically picked and processed on the screen in priority order, using either a
pick list or dispatch list for guidance in the warehouse.
Operating Guide 281

6. Sales
How are shipments made?

Once a sales order is picked, which can be partially or in full, a shipment is
generated on the Shipping tab of the Sales Orders screen. Against the shipment
you can print a packing list, shipping labels, and enter shipping charges.
How does the invoice get created?
Shipments are converted into invoices on the Invoicing tab of the Sales Orders
screen. Invoices can be printed or Emailed to the customer.
How are RMAs handled?
An RMA (returned merchandise authorization) is initiated as a quote to keep it is
ignored by MRP and kept separate from regular sales orders. When returned
items are received and assessed, the quote is converted into a sales order for
final processing, which may involve returning the item to stock, repairing the item,
issuing a credit memo, etc.
282 Operating Guide

6-1A. Sales Defaults
6-1. Sales Setup
6-1A. Sales Defaults

(Sales – Sales Setup – Sales Defaults)
This screen is reserved for future options.
Operating Guide 283

6-1B. Customers List
6-1B. Customers – List Tab

(Sales – Sales Setup – Customers – List Tab)
Use this screen to configure the opening List tab of the Customers screen. You
can designate which fields you want displayed and you can change column
heading names.
Details
All available fields are displayed in the left hand Field Name column. In the
middle Display Label column you can change the name that displays on the
screen column heading. The right hand Visible column can be set to ‘Yes’ on
any fields you wish to display and ‘No’ on any you want suppressed.
Advanced Tab
When the customer list reaches a certain size, the time it takes to load, sort, and
display the information in the List tab can slow down noticeably. If so, you can
optimize the list by limiting the number of records that get loaded at one time.
You will find this setting on the Advanced tab.
If you limit the number of records, this does not restrict your access to any data; it
merely loads a certain number of records at-a-time into the screen.
NOTE: When you limit the records is, you lose the ability to click on the
grid column headings for sorting and filtering purposes.
After you change the maximum number of records setting, click the Save & Close
button.
284 Operating Guide

6-1C. Customer Types
6-1C. Customer Types

(Sales – Sales Setup – Customer Types)
Customer Types are user-defined codes that categorize your customers into
groups for reporting and sorting purposes. Another use is the ability to assign
prices and sales commissions to Customer Types.
Training Video
Support Center – Videos–Setup – Customer Setup
Segment: Customer Types
Field Explanations
Customer Type & Description
Enter an 8-character Customer Type code and accompanying 50-character
description.
NOTE: Leave the ‘MTS’ type as is. This is used by the system for
internal purposes.
Price Level
If all customers within this type are to receive the same Price Level, select the
appropriate price level in this field. If customers of this type receive Base
Prices, leave this field blank.
Discount Code
If all customers within this type are to receive the same Discount Code, select
the appropriate discount code in this field. If customers of this type do not
receive discounts, leave this field blank.
Setting the Default Customer Type
You can establish a default Customer Type by highlighting the desired line item
and clicking the Set as Default button. You will see the Default Customer Type
displayed at the top of the screen. When you create a new customer, the Default
Customer Type will automatically be assigned to the customer, which can then
be overridden, if desired.
Operating Guide 285

6-1D. Customer Terms

(Sales – Sales Setup – Customer Terms)
Use this screen to set up your customer terms table, which are the payment
terms offered to your customers.
Training Video
Segment: Customer Terms
Grid Fields
Description
This identifies the payment term and is the text that will print on invoices.
Credit Card?
This field is only visible when the ‘DBA Financial Modules’ option is selected
in the Accounting Configuration screen. Select this checkbox if the customer
payment associated with this term is to be made by credit card. At time of
invoice posting, you will be prompted to post the payment to the merchant
Banking Account specified in the lower panel of this screen.
NOTE: When this checkbox is selected, the fields to the right are
grayed out and given zero and blank values and the Banking Account
and Default Payment Type fields become visible in the lower panel.
Days Due
This is the number of days within which the payment is due.
From End of Month
If the number of days due is calculated from the end of the month, a common
practice in some countries, select the From End of Month checkbox. If the
number of days due is calculated from the invoice date, leave this checkbox
blank.
Discount %
If a discount is due for prompt payment, enter a Discount %. A two and a half
percent discount would be entered as ‘2.5.’
286 Operating Guide

Discount Days
This is the number of days within which the discount can be taken.
Lower Panel
Banking Account
This field is only visible when the Credit Card? checkbox is selected above.
Select the banking account to which this credit card payment is to be posted.
By default, the lookup is limited to ‘Merchant’ type banking accounts, but you
can select the Bank Accounts checkbox in the lower panel to include ‘Bank
Account’ types in the lookup list.
Default Payment Type
Select the payment type associated with this type of credit card payment.
The lookup is limited to payment types against which the payment method in
the AR – Accounts Receivable Setup – Payment Types screen is set to
‘CCARD’.
Button
Set as Default
You can designate one of your terms as the default by highlighting it and
clicking the Set as Default button. After doing so, you will see the Default
Terms displayed in the upper panel. When you create a new customer
record, the Default Terms is assigned by default.
Operating Guide 287

6-1E. Contact Types
6-1E. Contact Types

(Sales – Sales Setup – Contact Types)
Contact Types are user-defined codes used to categorize customer and supplier
Contacts into categories such as ‘Sales’, ‘Accounts Payable’, etc.
NOTE: This same table is used with the Customers and Suppliers
screens.
Training Video
Segment: Contact Types
Field Explanations
Type
Enter an up to 20-character contact Type code.
Description
Enter an up to 50-character Description to accompany the contact Type in
lookups.
288 Operating Guide

6-1F. Sales Regions
6-1F. Sales Regions

(Sales – Sales Setup – Sales Regions)
Sales Regions are user-defined codes that organize your customers into sales
regions or territories for analysis purposes.
Training Video
Segment: Sales Regions
Field Explanations
Sales Region
Enter an up to 20-character Sales Region code.
Description
Enter an up to 50-character Description to accompany the Sales Region in
lookups.
Operating Guide 289

6-1G. Lead Sources
6-1G. Lead Sources

(Sales – Sales Setup – Lead Sources)
Lead Sources are user-defined codes that help you track the lead source
(advertising, directories, word-of-mouth, etc.) from which the customer first
learned of your products or services.
Training Video
Segment: Lead Sources
Field Explanations
Lead Source ID
Enter an up to 10-character Lead Source ID.
Description
Enter an up to 50-character Description to accompany the Lead Source in
lookups.
290 Operating Guide

6-1H. SO Types
6-1H. SO Types
(Sales – Sales Setup – SO Types)
When you create a sales order, it is assigned to an SO Type. SO Types can be

used to categorize different types of orders and to give each order type its own
form layouts and other settings.
List Tab
Your existing SO Types and their primary settings are listed on this screen.
New Button
Click this button to create a new SO Type. Clicking the button takes you to
the Details tab, which is cleared and ready for new entries.
Set as Default
This button is used to designate the SO Type that gets selected by default
each time a new sales order is created. Highlight the desired SO Type, then
click this button. You will see the Default SO Type displayed in the upper
panel.
Details Tab
General Info
SO Type ID
Enter an up to 8-character code that identifies this SO Type on lists and
lookups.
Description
Enter an up to 50-character Description that accompanies the SO Type ID on
screens and lookups.
Operating Guide 291

6-1H. SO Types
Prefix
Enter an up to 4-character Prefix that precedes the numeric portion of the
sales order number. An alpha prefix makes it easy to recognize the type
when looking at a sales order number.
Non-Active
If you no longer wish to use this SO Type, select this checkbox. It will no
longer be available for selection when creating new sales orders.
Detail Options
Activate Shipping Tab
Clear this checkbox if you don’t intend to create shipments with this SO Type.
If you use this type for walk-in “counter sales”, you don’t need to create
packing lists and enter shipping charges, in which case the sales order
Shipping tab does not need to be activated.
Acknowledgment Layout
Quote Layout
Packing List Layout
Invoice Layout
Leave these field blank if you want to use the default layout for each of these
forms. If you create a custom layout for this SO Type, use the lookup to
select your custom RTM layout. See chapter 3 for more details on forms
editing.
Screen Config Button

This button provides access to the Screen Config window, within which you can
activate and deactivate various fields on sales orders assigned to this SO Type.
NOTE: You must have Administrator level user security to be permitted to
access this screen.
SO Header
The following optional set of fields is not selected by default, but may be selected
if you wish.
Service Only
If you use the Service Assets screen, which is a legacy application that is no
longer furnished with the standard product, select this option to activate the
Service ID field in the sales order header screen.
Costs & Profit
If you select this checkbox, the Est Costs, Margin %, and Profit fields display
in the sales order Header screen. For most companies this information is not
relevant to order entry and we recommend that you leave this checkbox
cleared.
292 Operating Guide

6-1H. SO Types
SO Lines
The following field options are not selected by default, but may be selected if you
wish.
Est Cost
This is the item’s unit Estimated Cost at the time the sales order line was
created. For most companies this information is not relevant to order entry
and we recommend that you leave this checkbox cleared.
Act Cost
This is the actual unit cost of the quantity picked to-date. For most
companies this information is not relevant to order entry and we recommend
that you leave this checkbox cleared.
Margin or Markup
This is the Margin or Markup (depending on your Profitability setting in the
Sales Defaults screen) of the net Price over Est Cost. For most companies
this information is not relevant to order entry and we recommend that you
leave this checkbox cleared.
Total Cost
This field displays the total estimated cost, which is the line’s Qty multiplied by
the Est Cost. For most companies this information is not relevant to order
entry and we recommend that you leave this checkbox cleared.
Ref Date
Do not activate this field. This is a legacy feature that will be removed from
the system in a future product build.
Ref Code
Do not activate this field. This is a legacy feature that will be removed from
the system in a future product build.
Warranty Code
If you provide warranties with your items, select this checkbox to make the
Warranty Code field visible.
NOTE: You only need to make this field visible if you have occasional
need to change the Warranty Code.
Operating Guide 293

6-1I. Ship Methods
6-1I. Ship Methods

(Sales – Sales Setup – Ship Methods)
Use this screen to set up a table of standard Ship Methods. You can assign a
default Ship Method to each customer and you can specify the Ship Method
during sales order entry.
Training Video
Setup: Ship Methods
List Tab
Your existing Ship Methods are listed on this screen.
Detail Tab
Ship Method
Enter the Ship Method code which can be up to 30-characters in length.
Description
Enter an up to 50-character Description that accompanies the Ship Method
on lookups.
Ship Charge (Optional)
You have the option of entering a Ship Charge. If you do so, this amount will
automatically be used for the Shipping Charges that get applied to Shipments
assigned to this Ship Method. Typically, shipping charges are not known in
advance of shipment, in which case you would leave this field blank. The
Ship Charge may have use in situations where fixed “shipping & handling”
fees are published in price lists and catalogs.
294 Operating Guide

6-1J. Sales Rep Types
6-1J. Sales Rep Types

(Sales – Sales Setup – Sales Rep Types)
Sales Rep Types are user-defined codes that enable you to organize your Sales
Reps into categories.
Training Video
Segment: Sales Rep Types
Field Explanations
Rep Type
Enter an up to 20-character alphanumeric Rep Type code.
Description
Enter an up to 50-character Description to accompany the Rep Type on
lookups.
Operating Guide 295

6-1K. Sales Reps
6-1K. Sales Reps

(Sales – Sales Setup – Sales Reps)
Use this screen to set up your Sales Reps. Sales Reps are then assigned to
Commission Codes (see next), which are then assigned to customers.
Training Video
Segment: Sales Reps
List Tab
Your existing Sales Reps are listed on this screen.
New Button
Click New to create a new Sales Rep. Clicking this button takes you to the
Detail tab, which is cleared for new entries.
Detail Tab
Upper Panel
Rep ID
Enter an up to 10-character code to identify this Sales Rep.
Description
Enter an up to 50-character Description to accompany the Sales Rep code on
screens and lookups.
Type
You must assign this Sales Rep to a Sales Rep Type.
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6-1K. Sales Reps
More Information
The fields in this panel are self-explanatory and are for reference on this screen
only. They are not used elsewhere in the system.
Notes
You can enter unlimited Notes against this Sales Rep. Notes are for reference
on this screen only and are not used elsewhere in the system.
Operating Guide 297

6-1L. Commission Codes

(Sales – Sales Setup – Commission Codes)
The Commission Code determines which Sales Rep(s) gets credit for each sales
order. Each customer is optionally assigned a default Commission Code, which
can be overridden at time of sales order entry. Multiple Sales Reps can be
assigned to a Commission Code to accommodate split commissions.
Training Video
Segment: Commission Codes
Screen Details
New Button
To create a new Commission Code, click the New button. A drop-down list
displays below the button. Select the Commission Code option.
If an existing Commission Code is highlighted and you wish to assign a Sales
Rep to it, click the New button and select the Sales Rep option from the drop-
down list below the button.
Upper Grid
Commission Code
Enter an up to 20-character Commission Code.
Description
Enter an up to 50-character Description to accompany the Commission Code
in lookups.
298 Operating Guide

Lower Grid
The lower grid displays the Sales Reps assigned to the Commission Code
highlighted in the upper grid. Multiple Sales Reps can be assigned to a
Commission Code to accommodate split commissions.
Rep ID
This is a read-only field.
Description
Type
Share (%)
This field is for reference only and is the percentage portion of the
commission allocated to each Sales Rep.
NOTE: You are not permitted to exit the grid until the percentages
entered in this column have a total of ‘100’.
Operating Guide 299

6-2A. Base Prices
6-2. Pricing & Discounts

6-2A. Base Prices
(Sales – Pricing & Discounts – Base Prices)
Use this screen to enter Base Prices for your stock items. The Base Price can
be the actual price charged to customers or it can be a reference price for the
calculation of Price Level prices or Contract Prices.
Training Course
Support Center – Videos–Setup – Base Prices
Base Price Tab
Grid Columns
Item ID, Item Description, UM
These fields identify the stock item.
Current Base
This is the item’s current Base Price. It cannot be entered directly. Instead,
you enter or calculate (using the Mass Change button) a Next Base price and
then you use the Update or Mass Update button to copy the Next Base value
to the Current Base field.
Next Base
This is the next base price. This field enables you to prepare your next set of
prices in advance of the date the prices go into effect. The Next Base value
gets copied to the Current Base field using the Update or Mass Update button
when the new price is to go into effect. The Next Base can be entered
manually or it can be automatically calculated as a percentage of the current
Base Price or the item’s Estimated Cost using the Mass Change button.
300 Operating Guide

6-2A. Base Prices
Last Update
This is the date that the Current Base price went into effect.
Last Base
This was the Base Price prior to the Current Base price.
Est Cost
This is the item’s current unit Estimated Cost, for reference purposes.
Item Category
This is the item’s Item Category, for reference purposes.
Lower Panel
Category Filter
Use the lookup in this field to limit the grid to one or more Item Categories.
Search for Item ID
You can enter a text string and click Refresh to limit the screen to just those
item ID’s that contain that text string. For example, if all your wagon item ID’s
begin with ‘1080’, enter ‘1080’ and click Refresh and the screen will be limited
to just your wagon items.
Buttons
New
Use this button to add a new line to the grid. After the new line is created,
use the lookup in the Item ID field to select a stock item.
Mass Change
Use this button to calculate Next Price values for all items currently displayed
in the grid, based on a percentage of Current Base or each item’s Estimated
Cost.
NOTE: You can filter the contents of the grid using the Category Filter
or Search for Item ID function in the panel below the grid.
When this button is clicked, this screen is displayed:
Operating Guide 301

6-2A. Base Prices
Screen Details
Calculate new base prices by:
Select the Increasing option if you wish to raise prices. Select the
Decreasing option if you wish to lower prices.
The value of:
Select the Current Base Price option if you want the new prices to be
calculated from each item’s Current Base price. Select the Current
Estimated Cost option if you want the new prices to be calculated from
each item’s Est Cost.
By this percentage:
Enter the percentage used in the new price calculation. For example,
if you wish to raise current prices 10 percent, enter ’10.00%’.
Apply Button
After your entries are completed, click this button to apply the price
change. When you close the screen, the Next Price column in the grid
will be populated with the new prices. You can then edit any of the
new prices manually, as needed.
Update
Use this button to update the Current Base price with the Next Base price for
the item currently selected in the grid. The following processing takes place:
• The Current Base price is copied to the Last Base price.
• The Last Updated field is updated with today’s date.
• The Next Base price is copied to the Current Base price.
• The Next Base price is cleared.
Mass Update
Use this button to update the Current Base price with the Next Base price for
all items with Next Base values. The same processed listed under the
Update button for one item (see previous) are applied to all items with Next
Base values.
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6-2A. Base Prices
Qty Breaks Tab

This tab is used to enter quantity break prices for the item selected on the Base
Price tab. A quantity break price overrides the item’s Base Price when a certain
quantity is ordered.
Upper Panel
Item ID, Description, UM
These fields identify the item selected on the Base Price tab.
Grid Fields
Break Qty
When a quantity is ordered equal to or greater than this quantity up to the
next highest Break Qty, this quantity break price overrides the item’s Base
Price.
% of Base
If you always want the quantity break price to be a fixed multiplier of the Base
Price, enter the multiplier in this field. For example, if you want the quantity
break price to be 10% lower than Base Price, enter ’90.00’. The advantage to
this method is that whenever you change the Base Price, the quantity break
prices automatically change as well.
NOTE: The % of Base method is recommended if you will be regularly
using the Mass Update function.
Price
As an alternative to the % of Base method, you can enter the quantity break
price directly in this field.
NOTE: If you use the direct entry method, be aware that each time
you change an item’s Base Price, you must remember to change the
quantity break prices as well.
Operating Guide 303

6-2B. Price Levels
6-2B. Price Levels

(Sales – Pricing & Discounts – Price Levels)
Price Levels enable you to establish different price lists for different types of
customers based on a fixed multiplier applied to Base Prices. For example, one
Price Level might be used for retail customers, another for dealers, and another
for OEM’s.
What screens use Price Levels?
Price Levels are used in the following screens:
Customer Types
You can enter a Price Level against each Customer Type (Sales – Sales
Setup – Customer Types). Whenever you assign a new customer to a
Customer Type, this price level is used as the default Price Level against the
customer.
Customers Screen
On the Pricing sub-tab of the main Customers screen, you can specify a
default Price Level that is the default used when entering sales orders.
Sales Orders
A Price Level field is located on the Details side-tab in the Customer section
of the sales order header screen. It defaults to the value stored against the
customer, but can be changed for any given sales order.
Training Course
Support Center – Videos–Setup – Price Levels
Field Explanations
Price Level
Enter a 20-character code to identify this Price Level.
Description
This is a 50-character Description that accompanies the Price Level.
304 Operating Guide

6-2B. Price Levels
% of Base
This is the multiplier that will be applied to the Base Price to calculate the
Price Level price for any item. For example, if you want a Price Level’s prices
to be 25% less than their Base Prices, enter ’75.00’ in this field.
Round To
If you want all prices within a Price Level to be rounded up to a particular
increment, enter than increment in this field. For example, you might want all
prices to be rounded to 95 cents, in which case you would enter ‘.95’ in this
field.
Operating Guide 305

6-2C. Discounts
6-2C. Discounts
(Sales – Pricing & Discounts – Discounts)
Once your Discount Codes are set up, use this screen to assign discount
percentages to item categories or individual items. You can assign a single
discount percentage or you can also enter quantity-based discounts.
Training Course
Support Center – Videos–Setup – Discounts
Discount Codes Tab

All your Discount Codes are listed on this screen. The entries in the Item
Categories tab pertain to whichever Discount Code is highlighted on this screen.
Item Categories Tab
Use this screen to assign discount percentages. Two levels of specificity are
provided:
Different Discounts by Item Category
Discount percentages are assigned to each Item Category to which it applies.
This enables you to apply different discount percentages to different types of
items. If you want a discount to apply to all your items, it must be assigned to
each and every Item Category.
To assign a discount to an Item Category, click the New button and select the
Item Category. Leave the Item ID field blank. Enter the discount percentage in
the Discount % field.
306 Operating Guide

6-2C. Discounts
Different Discounts by Item

You may want to give special discounts for specific items as an exception to the
Item Category discount. To do so, you must create an entry on this screen for
each such item.
To do so, click the New button and select the item’s Item Category. Select the
Item ID, then enter the discount percentage in the Discount % field.
Qty Breaks Tab

The entries in this screen pertain to whichever line is currently highlighted in the
Item Categories tab screen.
Enter the Break Qty, which is either a total price or number of units being
ordered, either of which determines the level at which a quantity discount is
applied. The Discount Basis displayed in the header panel indicates which basis
is being used. Enter the discount percentage in the Discount % field. A 35%
discount is entered as ’35.00’.
Operating Guide 307

6-2D. Discount Codes

(Sales – Pricing & Discounts – Discount Codes)
Discount Codes enable you to establish sets of discounts that can be assigned to
different groups of customers.
Training Course
Support Center – Videos–Setup – Discounts
How are Discount Codes used?
Discount Codes enable you to establish sets of discounts that can be assigned to
different groups of customers. For example, your dealers might receive a
standard 25% discount, distributors might receive 40%, and OEM’s 50%. Within
a Discount Code, discounts can vary by item category or item. A customer could
receive one discount for new products and a different discount for spare parts.
Quantity discounts can also be established based on the total price of the item or
number of units sold.
Discounts are applied to Base Prices and Price Level prices. They do not apply
to Contract Prices.
What screens use Discount Codes?
Discount Codes are used in the following screens:
Customer Types
You can enter a Discount Code against each Customer Type (Sales – Sales
Setup – Customer Types). Whenever you assign a new customer to a
Customer Type, this discount code is used as the default Discount Code
against the customer.
Customers Screen
On the Pricing sub-tab of the main Customers screen, you can specify a
default Discount Code that is the default used when entering sales orders.
Sales Orders
A Discount Code field is located on the Details side-tab in the Customer
section of the sales order header screen. It defaults to the value stored
against the customer, but can be changed for any given sales order.
308 Operating Guide

Field Explanations
Discount Code
Enter a 20-character code to identify this Discount Code.
Description
This is a 50-character Description that accompanies the Discount Code.
Discount Basis
If your discounts vary by quantity, the Discount Basis determines whether the
quantity to be used is the number of Units sold or the total Price of the item.
Operating Guide 309

6-2E. Contract Prices

(Sales – Pricing & Discounts – Contract Pricing sub-menu)
Contract Prices are exceptions to Base Prices, Price Level prices, and Discounts.
These are special prices given to specific customers or groups of customers,
often with an expiration date.
Training Course
Support Center – Videos–Setup – Contract Pricing
Sales Order Pricing Hierarchy
During sales order line item entry, pricing is determined by the following
hierarchy:
1. First, the program looks for a Contract Price. If one is found, it will be
used. A Discount will not be applied.
2. If a Contract Price is not found, the program then looks for a Price Level
price. If one is found, it uses that price and applies a Discount, if
applicable.
3. Finally, if a Price Level price is not found, the program uses the Base
Price and applies a Discount, if applicable.
Contract Pricing Screens
The following screens are available for contract price entry.
Pricing – Customer / Item
Use this screen to establish a contract price for one stock item that applies to
a particular customer.
Pricing – Customer Type / Item
Use this screen to establish a contract price for one stock item that applies to
customer types rather than one customer.
Pricing – Customer / Descriptor
Use this screen to establish a contract price for one non-stock descriptor that
applies to a particular customer.
Pricing – Customer Type / Descriptor
Use this screen to establish a contract price for one non-stock descriptor that
applies to customer types rather than one customer.
310 Operating Guide

Field Explanations
Contract Price
You have the option of enter a contract price in this field or you can enter a
multiplier in the next field.
Multiplier
An entry in this field functions as a multiplier against the item or descriptor’s
Base Price during sales order entry. For example, if your Base Price is
$10.00 and you want the contract price to be 75% of Base Price ($7.50),
enter a ‘.75’ in this field.
From Date
This is a mandatory entry field that defines the date when the contract price
becomes effective. It is pre-filled with the system date but can be overridden
if desired.
Thru Date
This date establishes an expiration date for the contract price. If you do not
want an expiration date, leave this field blank.
Notes
You can enter freeform text for reference purposes on this screen.
Operating Guide 311

6-3. Customers
6-3. Customers
(Sales – Customers … or Cust Icon)
Use this screen to set up and maintain your customers.

Training Courses
Support Center–Videos – Setup – Data Import
Support Center–Videos – Setup – Customer Setup
List Tab
Your existing customers are listed on this screen.
Customizing the list
Use the Sales – Sales Setup – Customers–List Tab screen to customize the list.
You can designate which fields you want displayed and you can change column
heading names.
New Button
Click this button to create a new customer record.
Email Button
If you wish to send an Email to this customer, click this button to launch the
system’s Email client form. The customer’s Email address is inserted into the To:
field.
Notes Button
Clicking this button launches the Activity Notes screen where you can view past
Activity Notes against this customer and create new activity notes.
History Button
Clicking this button displays customer history in the following tabs:
Invoices
This tab provides a listing of this customer’s past invoices.
Emails
This tab lists all the past Emails sent to this customer.
Notes
This tab lists all past Activity Notes for this customer.
Balances Button
Click this button to get a listing of unpaid invoices and open deposits.
312 Operating Guide

6-3. Customers
Detail Tab – Main Side-Tab

This unique ID is a 50-character field that identifies the customer record and
is what displays on screens, lookups, and reports. We suggest you enter the
customer’s full name.
NOTE: Each Customer Name must be unique. So if you have two or
more customer accounts with the same name, which is common when
you sell to companies that have multiple facilities, make each name
unique, such as by appending the city or some other identifier in
parenthesis following the name.
When you click into this field, it is automatically given the same value as the
Customer Name, when can then be changed, if needed. The Trading Name
is the name that prints on quotes, acknowledgments, packing slips, and
invoices. Unlike the Customer Name, duplicate values are allowed.
Normally, the Customer Name and the Trading Name are the same except in
cases where the Customer Name has been appended to avoid duplicate
values.
Address Details
This is the customer’s primary mailing address. Delivery addresses are
entered on the Delivery & Billing side-tab.
Phone, Mobile, Fax, Email, Web
These are the contact settings for this customer’s main office and do not
pertain to a specific Contact. Contacts are entered on the Additional tab.
Each Contact record has its own Phone, Mobile, Fax, and Email settings.
Currency
This field is only visible when Multi-Currency is activated in the Main Setup
screen.
Operating Guide 313

6-3. Customers
NOTE: Multi-currency capability is still under development and is not

recommended for use at this time.
X-Ref Code
customer is identified in the outside system with a short code instead of the
full customer name as in DBA. For financial transfer purposes, you can store
the short code in this field, which is one of the fields available for transfer in
the AR Invoice Transfer screen. When you import the AR invoice transfer file
into your outside system, this field is mapped to the customer code in your
outside system.
Creation Date
This is the date this customer record was created. You can change this date,
if you wish.
Status
When you create a new record, its status is set to ‘Active’. You can change
the status to ‘Non-Active’. At the present time this setting is for reference
only.
Payment Terms
This is a standard payment terms record from the Customer Terms table. These
are the default Payment Terms that get applied to this customer during sales
order entry. When you create a new customer, the default record from the
Customer Terms table is automatically selected and can then be changed, if
applicable.
From End of Month
This read-only checkbox is selected if the number of days due is calculated
from the end of the month, a common practice in some countries.
Days
This read-only field displays the number of days from the invoice date or end
of month that establishes the invoice Due Date.
Printing Options
Receives Statement
When this checkbox is selected, this customer is not excluded when printing
Customer Statements. When you create a new customer record, this
checkbox is selected by default.
Email Documents
When this checkbox is selected, when printing quotes, acknowledgments,
and invoices you are given the option of Emailing the document. .
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6-3. Customers
Tax Code Source

These settings determine the source of the sales order header Tax Code for this
customer’s orders.
Default
When you select this option, the default Sales Tax Code specified in the Tax
Defaults screen is used as the sales order header Tax Code. In VAT/GST
environments, this is the typical setting because the default Sales Tax Code
applies to most orders.
Exception
Select this option if this customer’s sales order header Tax Code is to be
different than the system default tax code. A Tax Code field becomes visible
to the right so that you can select a tax code from its lookup. This setting is
typically used with USA and Canadian taxation where the shipment
destination is what determines the sales order header Tax Code.
Non-Taxable Customer
If the customer is non-taxable, which is common with USA taxation when
the customer is purchasing for resale, make sure that the tax code source
is a non-taxable tax code.
• If your system default tax code is non-taxable, select Default as the tax
code source.
• If your system default tax code is taxable, then assign the customer to
a non-taxable tax code Exception.
Multiple Delivery Addresses
If this customer has multiple delivery addresses, you have the option of
specifying a Tax Code against each delivery address, if it differs from the
Exception tax code specified against the main address. See “Delivery
Addresses” further below for details.
Tax Group
codes at the line item level that only apply to certain destinations and items.
lookup. When an item or descriptor assigned to a Tax Group encounters a
customer that is also assigned to a Tax Group, the two Tax Groups are
the sales order line.
Operating Guide 315

6-3. Customers
Classification
Customer Type (Required)
You must assign the customer to a Customer Type. When you create a new
customer record, the default Customer Type is automatically selected and
can then be changed, if applicable.
Sales Region
You can optionally assign this customer to a Sales Region.
Comm Code
You can optionally assign this customer to a Commission Code. This is the
default Commission Code that gets applied to sales orders for this customer.
Lead Source
You can optionally assign this customer to a Lead Source.
Notes Sub-Tab
You can enter unlimited Notes against this customer. These Notes are for
reference on this screen only.
Ordering & Shipping Sub-Tab
Requires PO on All Orders
When you select this checkbox you will not be allowed to create a new sales
order for this customer if the PO No field is blank in the New Sales Order
screen. You also cannot print an invoice if the PO No field is blank in the
sales order Header tab.
Ship Method
You can optionally assign a Ship Method. This is the default Ship Method
that gets applied to sales orders for this customer.
Pricing Sub-Tab
When you create a new customer record, these two settings are populated with
the default Price Level and Discount Code assigned to this Customer Type.
Price Level
You can optionally assign a Price Level, if applicable. This is the default Price
Level that gets applied to sales orders for this customer.
Discount Code
You can optionally assign a Discount Code, Ship Method, if applicable. This
is the default Ship Method that gets applied to sales orders for this customer.
Financial Sub-Tab
The three fields on this sub-tab – Tax Reference Number, Bank Name, and Bank
Account Number – are for reference only and are not used outside of this screen.
316 Operating Guide

6-3. Customers
Forms Sub-Tab
Use the fields on this sub-tab to specify customized forms layouts (RTM files) for
this customer. When you leave any of these fields blank, the standard form
layout is used. See chapter 3 for details on how to customize forms. You can
specify custom layouts on this sub-tab for the following forms:
• Acknowledgment
• Quote
• Invoice
• Packing List
Operating Guide 317

6-3. Customers
Detail Tab – Delivery & Billing Side-Tab
Delivery Addresses
In this grid you can enter multiple delivery addresses for this customer.
Default
This checkbox can only be selected against one delivery address. It
designates it as the default Ship to address that gets applied to sales orders
for this customer.
Delivery Name
This is the name that accompanies the delivery address in the Ship to sub-tab
in sales orders and the Ship to section on order documents.
Address Fields
Enter the physical delivery address in the Address Line 1, Address Line 2,
City, State, Postal Code, and Country fields.
Tax Source
This field is only visible when the Sales Tax Basis is set to ‘Delivery’ in the
Tax Defaults screen. The field value defaults to ‘Main Address’, but you can
select ‘Delivery Address’ from the drop-down list if you wish to specify a Tax
Code in the field at right that overrides the Tax Code specified against the
main address.
Tax Code
This field is only visible when the Sales Tax Basis is set to ‘Delivery’ in the
Tax Defaults screen. If the Tax Source field at left is set to ‘Delivery Address’,
you can select a Tax Code in this field that will be used as the sales order
header Tax Code instead of the Tax Code specified against the main
address. This setting is typically used in for USA and Canadian taxation
where the shipment destination is what determines the sales order header
Tax Code.
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6-3. Customers
Contact
You can specify a Contact person at this address. This name gets
transferred to the Ship to Contract field during sales order entry.
Phone, Fax
The Phone and Fax number associated with this delivery destination are
stored there for reference, but do not transfer to the sales order.
Ship Method
You can optionally assign a Ship Method. This is the default Ship Method
that gets applied to sales orders shipped to this address. If left blank, the
Ship Method stored against the main address is used.
Billing Customer
Billing Name
You can select a Billing Name (which is a separate customer record) if you
wish this customer’s invoices to be billed to another account for payment
purposes. Typically this is used when sales are made to branch offices, but
payment is made by a central office. During sales order entry, this customer
is the Sold to account and the Billing Name customer is the Bill to account.
This customer is referenced on sales reports and the Billing Name customer
on accounts receivable reports.
Additional Tab – Main Side-Tab

Contacts
Main Contact Name
You can select one of the Contacts from the grid below to be designated as
the Main Contact at this company.
Type
Select a Contact Type, which are user-defined contact categories.
Contact
This is the contact’s full name.
Description
Use this field to describe the contact’s position or function.
Phone, Fax, Email,
If this is the Main Contact, these contact details transfer to the Contact sub-
tab during sales order entry.
Mobile
This field is for reference in this screen and does not transfer to the sales
order.
Operating Guide 319

6-3. Customers
User-Defined Fields
those fields are entered on this panel.
Additional Tab – Documents Side-Tab
On this screen you can attach documents (such as drawings, specifications, etc.)
or files of any kind that relate to this item.
Edit Documents
To link to a document, click the Edit Document panel at the bottom of the screen.
Description
File Location
your local computer. If the document is to be shared with others, it should be
stored on the central file server.
Copy to Job
screen.
Print With
320 Operating Guide

6-4. Credit Manager
6-4. Credit Manager

(Sales – Credit Manager)
This screen is used to manage the customer credit checking process. You can
establish a credit limit against each customer, provide warnings at time of order
entry, and block the ability to enter new orders or pick orders for shipment.
Screen Details
Grid
All your active customers are listed in the grid.
Alerts
When a number is displayed in this column, it means that there are open
“alerts” against this customer. Each “alert” is a notification to the user during
sales order entry or quote conversion that the customer is over its credit limit.
You can click the Alerts button on the right panel to view the date and time
each alert occurred and who the user was that received the alert.
Remedial Actions
The person in charge of credit management should check the Credit
Manager screen once per day to see if any alerts have taken place. If so,
some remedial action should be taken, such as these follow-up steps:
• Contact the customer to make payment arrangements.
• Change the content of the customer’s warning message.
• Block the ability to enter additional sales orders.
• Block the ability to pick any current orders for shipment.
Operating Guide 321

6-4. Credit Manager
Customer
The customer name is displayed for reference.
Limit?
Select this checkbox if you wish to enter a credit limit in the field at right.
Credit Limit
This is the customer’s credit limit. In order to make an entry, you must first
select the CL? checkbox at left.
What does it do?
Whenever you convert a quote, create or access a sales order, exit the
Details tab of the Sales Orders screen after making any entries, or use the
Speed Entry or Copy Details functions, the customer’s credit limit is
checked. If the credit limit is exceeded by any combination of open
invoices, open sales orders, and open deposits, the user is presented with
this screen and an “alert” is registered against the customer (see the
Alerts field above for details).
Warn SO
Select this checkbox if you wish to enter an SO Warning Message in the
bottom panel.
Block SO
Select this checkbox if you wish to prohibit entry of any new sales orders for
this customer. When the user attempts to enter a new sales order, this
screen is presented, which blocks the sales order from being created.
322 Operating Guide

6-4. Credit Manager
Block Pick
Select this checkbox if you wish to block the ability to pick any of this
customer’s sales orders for shipment. When the user attempts to use the
Order Picking screen for any sales order associated with this customer, this
screen is presented, which prevents any entries from being made.
Lower Panel
SO Warning Message
When the Warn SO checkbox is selected in the grid above, you can enter
freeform text in this panel that is used as a warning message against this
customer. Whenever you convert a quote or create or access a sales order,
the user is presented with the following screen. The warning message is also
displayed whenever the credit limit status screen or sales order blocking
screen is presented.
Operating Guide 323

6-4. Credit Manager
Buttons
Close
Click this button to exit the screen. Any entries you’ve made are
automatically saved.
Cancel
Click this button to cancel any entries made against the customer that is
currently selected.
Alerts
An “alert” is a notification to the user during sales order entry or quote
conversion that the customer is over its credit limit. Click this button to launch
the following screen to view the date and time each alert occurred and who
the user was that received the alert.
324 Operating Guide

6-4. Credit Manager
Clearing Alerts
Alerts are classified as “un-cleared” until you formally clear them by
clicking the Clear button. Until you take remedial follow-up action to
respond to the alert(s) (see the Alerts field above for details), do not clear
the alert(s). After you’ve taken appropriate remedial action, you should
then clear the alert(s).
NOTE: Only un-cleared alerts are displayed by default. If you wish
to view all historical alerts for this customer, select the All Alerts
option at the bottom of the screen.
Credit Status
Click this button to launch this inquiry screen, which displays the current
credit status of the selected customer.
Operating Guide 325

6-5. Sales Orders
6-5. Sales Orders

(Sales – Sales Orders)
Use this screen to enter, ship, and invoice customer orders. In DBA all customer
orders are entered as sales orders.
Workflow
A sales order goes through the following phases and steps.
Phase 1 – Quoting (Optional)
• Enter quote (Quotes)
• Print/Email quote (Quotes – Quote button)
• Convert quote to sales order (Quotes – Convert button)
Phase 2 – Order Entry
• Enter sales order (Sales Orders)
• Print/Email acknowledgment (Sales Orders – Acknowledge button)
Phase 3 – Order Picking
• Review Shipment Planner screen and select highest priority order for
picking (Order Picking – SO No lookup)
• Option A – Print pick list (Order Picking – Picking Tab – Print button), pick
stock, then make order picking entries (Order Picking)
• Option B – Make order picking entries (Order Picking), print dispatch list
(Order Picking – Batch History Tab – Print button), then pick stock
• Continue returning to Shipment Planner screen to select next priority order
for picking (Order Picking – SO No lookup) until all orders capable of
being shipped are picked.
Phase 4 – Shipping
• Create shipment from picked stock (Sales Orders – Shipping sub-tab)
• Print packing list (Sales Orders – Shipping sub-tab – Print button)
• Print shipping labels (Sales Orders – Shipping sub-tab – Print button)
• Enter shipping charges (Sales Orders – Shipping tab)
Phase 5 – Invoicing
• Convert shipment to invoice (Sales Orders – Invoicing sub-tab)
• Preview invoice (Sales Orders – Invoicing sub-tab – Preview button)
• Print/Email invoice (Sales Orders – Invoicing sub-tab – Invoice button)
• Optionally batch print invoices (Invoices)
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List Tab
All or selected sales orders are listed on this screen, depending on the Status
filters selected in the lower panel. You can highlight a sales order and then click
any of the tabs to the right to enter order details.
Lower Panel
Template, Ordered, Invoiced, Finished, Closed
Select or clear the checkboxes in this panel to filter the list above by sales
order Status.
Save as Defaults Button
Each user can preserve his or her Status checkbox settings by clicking this
button. Each time the screen launches, these settings will be selected by
default.
Refresh Button
Click this button after selecting or clearing any Status checkboxes or entering
any search text to re-display the list above.
Search for the following text
You can enter text in this field and then click the Refresh button to limit the list
to SO Names containing that text string.
Links Button
You can click this button to link to the following screens. After closing the linked
screen, you are returned to this screen.
• Order Picking
• Generate Planned Jobs
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New Order Button

Click this button to create a new sales order. You are presented with the New
Sales Order screen.
New Sales Order Screen
Sales Order Type

Your default SO Type is displayed, but you can make another selection, if
you wish.
Order Entry Option
This option is selected by default and indicates that you wish to create a
sales order through manual entry.
Customer
You must select a customer from the lookup.
Promise Date
This is the date the customer expects the order to be shipped. It
defaults to today’s date. The date selected here is used as the default
Required Date when each sales order line item is created.
PO Number
You can optionally enter the customer’s PO number, if applicable.
OK Button
After your selections and entries have been made, click this button to
create the sales order. After this screen closes, you are taken to the
Header tab.
Credit Checking
The following credit checking is done, per the settings against this
customer in the Credit Manager screen:
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• If there is an SO Warning Message against this customer, the

warning message is displayed.
• If the customer has exceeded its credit limit, the Credit Status
screen is displayed, which creates an “alert” in the Credit
Manager screen.
• If the Block SO setting is selected against this customer, the
sales order is prohibited from being created.
Copy SO Option
Select this option if you wish to originate the new sales order by copying
one of this customer’s previous sales orders.
NOTE: When the new sales order gets created, prices and
discounts are updated to current prices and customer pricing and
discount settings.
When this option is selected, two additional fields are displayed in a
new panel at the bottom of the screen:
Sales Order
From the lookup, select the pervious sales order you wish to copy.
Qty Factor
If you wish to increase the order quantities, whatever number you enter
here will be multiplied against each order quantity on the sales order
being copied. The default value is ‘1’.
Copy Template Option
Select this option if you wish to originate the new sales order by copying a
sales order “template.” See the Create Template Option section below for
information on how sales order templates are created and used.
When this option is selected, two additional fields are displayed in a
new panel at the bottom of the screen:
Template
Select a template from the lookup.
Qty Factor
If you wish to increase the template quantities, whatever number you
enter here will be multiplied against each order quantity on the
template being copied. The default value is ‘1’.
Create Template Option
Select this option to create a sales order “template” rather than a sales
order. The screen changes to this configuration:
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How templates are used

A sales order template is used to represent a recurring type of order
where the same set of line items is ordered each time. Rather than
enter line items from scratch with each new order, you can originate
the order from a template.
NOTE: You also have the option of copying in one or more
templates into an existing sales order using the Copy Detail
button on the Details tab.
When you create a new template, most of the fields on the Header tab
are invisible. A customer is not specified. On the Details tab, enter the
line items that comprise the template. When entering quantities, be
aware that each line item’s Qty can be multiplied by a Quantity Factor
at time of sales order creation.
NOTE: Do not enter prices because when a sales order gets
generated from the template, each customer’s pricing rules are
applied to the line items and overwrite any prices stored in the
template.
Field Explanations
Type
Select the origination type. Three options are available:
Normal
Select this option if you wish to create the template from
scratch.
Copy SO
Select this option if you wish to create the template by copying
an existing sales order.
Copy Template
Select this option if you wish to create the template by copying
an existing template.
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Template Name
Give the template a name that identifies it on lookups.
Sales Order
This field is visible when the Copy SO option is selected. Select
the sales order from the lookup from which the template is to be
copied.
Template
This field is visible when the Copy Template option is selected.
Select the template from the lookup from which the new template is
to be copied.
Qty Factor
This field is only visible when the Copy SO or Copy Template
option is selected. If you wish to increase the template quantities,
whatever number you enter here will be multiplied against each
order quantity on the sales order or template being copied. The
default value is ‘1’.
Acknowledge Button
Click this button to print an acknowledgment for the highlighted sales order,
which can be sent to the customer to verify the details of the order. The
acknowledgment can also be used as a pro-forma invoice.
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Header Tab
Main Side-Tab
Header Info
SO No
The sales order number consists of an alpha prefix, which is the prefix
associated with this SO Type, and a number, which is incremented from the
Next No setting in the SO/Job Numbering panel on the Main Setup screen.
Description
This is an up to 50-character name or description of the order that prints in
the invoice header.
Type
This field displays the SO Type that was selected when the sales order was
created.
NOTE: This setting cannot be changed. If it must be changed, the only
remedy is to delete the sales order and create it once again against the
desired SO Type.
Status
The sales order has five possible Status values, some of which are
automatically assigned by the program and some manually.
ORDERED
The sales order is given a status of ‘ORDERED’ when it is created.
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INVOICED
When the first invoice gets printed, the program automatically changes the
status to ‘INVOICED’.
FINISHED
When all lines are fully invoiced, the program automatically changes the
status to ‘FINISHED’.
CLOSED
If after printing an invoice the program detects that all lines have been
invoiced, you are asked if you wish to change the status to ‘CLOSED’. If
you don’t close the order at that time, you can manually change the status
to ‘CLOSED’ at a later time.
Reopening a CLOSED Sales Order
You can reopen a sales order at any time by manually changing its
status from ‘CLOSED’ back to ‘ORDERED’.
Notes Sub-Tab
Default Promise Date
This is the date the customer expects the order to be shipped. It defaults to
today’s date. The date selected here is used as the default Required Date
when each sales order line item is created.
Notes
Unlimited freeform notes can be entered in this panel. The Notes entered
here print on the acknowledgment.
Creation Sub-Tab
Creation Date
The program automatically assigns today’s date as the Creation Date when
the sales order is created.
Created by
The program inserts the first name and last name associated with the current
logged on user into this field.
Terms Sub-Tab
Payment Terms
This field automatically displays the default Payment Terms code stored
against this customer, but it can be overridden with another selection.
Days
This field is for reference only and is the number of days when the invoice
becomes due for payment.
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From End of Month

This checkbox is for reference only. When selected, the Days due are
calculated from the end of the month rather than the invoice date – a common
practice in some countries.
Credit Status Button
Click this button to view the Credit Status inquiry, which calculates the
customer’s available credit by comparing its credit limit with open invoices,
open sales orders, and open deposits.
Middle Panel
Tax Code
This is the Tax Code that will be applied by default to all line items unless a
tax code exception has been defined against the line’s stock item or
descriptor. The source of this tax code is reference in the Tax Code Source
field at right.
NOTE: If you change the Tax Code after line items already exist, that
tax code will replace the Tax Code at line item level for all lines with a
Tax Code Source of ‘Header’.
Tax Code Source
This field identifies the source of the Tax Code at left. There are four possible
sources:
Sales Tax Default
The Tax Code at left is the system level default Sales Tax Code
designated in the Tax Defaults screen.
Customer
The Tax Code at left is the tax code Exception designated against this
customer in the Customers screen.
Delivery Address
The Tax Code at left is the Tax Code designated against the delivery
address record in the Customers screen.
Manual
The Tax Code at left has been manually changed though selection of a tax
code from the lookup.
Service ID
This field is only visible when the Service Only option is selected in the
Screen Config settings for this SO Type in the SO Types screen. This field is
only used with the old Service Assets screen, which is a legacy application
that is no longer furnished with the standard product. You can select a
service asset from the lookup, which ties this sales order to the asset’s
service history report.
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Sold to Sub-Tab
Name
This is the customer that was selected on the New Sales Order screen when
the sales order was initially created.
NOTE: You cannot change the customer selection after the sales order
is created. If you selected the wrong customer by mistake, you must
delete this sales order and create a new sales order with the correct
customer designation.
Address, City, State, Code, Country
This is the primary address for this customer and will be the billing address
unless there is a Bill to customer (see next). You can modify the address for
this particular sales order, if you wish.
Bill to Sub-Tab
NOTE: This sub-tab is only visible when the Sold to customer is linked to a
Billing Customer in the Customers screen.
Invoices generated from this sales order are billed to the customer and address
on this sub-tab. The actual sale for order tracking and sales analysis remains
associated with the customer on the Sold to sub-tab.
Ship to Sub-Tab
The delivery name and address for this sales order are located on this sub-tab.
When the sales order is created, this tab is populated by the default delivery
address for this customer. If the customer does not have any delivery address
records, this tab is populated by the customer’s name and main address. You
can select an alternate delivery address from the lookup in the
NOTE: At time of shipment, in the Shipping screen you have the option of
selecting an alternate delivery address from this customer’s delivery
address table or you can manually enter an alternate delivery address.
Whatever changes you make on the Shipping screen are automatically
applied to the fields on this sub-tab.
Name
This is the Name stored against the delivery address record. You can select
an alternate delivery address from the lookup, if you wish.
Address, City, State, Code, Country
These are the delivery address details.
Ship Method
The default Ship Method stored against the delivery address record is
automatically selected. If there is not a Ship Method stored against the
delivery address, the Ship Method stored against the customer is used. You
can make an alternate selection from the lookup.
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Pricing Sub-Tab
Commission Code
The default Commission Code (if applicable) stored against the Sold to
customer record is automatically selected, but you can make an alternate
selection, if you wish.
Price Level
The default Price Level (if applicable) stored against the Sold to customer
record is automatically selected, but you can make an alternate selection, if
you wish.
Discount Code
The default Discount Code (if applicable) stored against the Sold to customer
record is automatically selected, but you can make an alternate selection, if
you wish.
Currency, Exchange Rate, Exchange Style
These fields are only visible when the Multi-Currency option is activated in the
Main Setup screen.
NOTE: Multi-currency capability is under development and is not
recommended for use at this time.
Contact Sub-Tab
Sold to Contact
This is the Main Contact Name stored against the Sold to customer. You can
use the lookup button to select an alternate contact, if you wish, or you can
manually enter a contact name.
Phone, Fax, Email
The program first checks if the Sold to Contact’s record contains values for
these fields and, if found, uses those values. Otherwise, the values stored
against the main customer record are used. You also have the option of
manual entry.
Email Documents
This checkbox defaults to the setting maintained against the Sold To
customer master record. When selected you are given the option of sending
invoices via Email at time of printing.
Ship to Contact
This defaults to the Contact stored against the delivery address record in the
Customers screen. You also have the option of manual entry.
Contract ID
This field pertains to the old Service Contracts screen, which is a legacy
application no longer furnished with the standard product. You can select a
service contract from the lookup, which adds this sales order to the service
contract’s sales order history inquiry.
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PO No
This is the customer’s purchase order number, which prints on
acknowledgments, packing lists and invoices.
Values Panel
This panel is only visible when the Cost & Profit, Price & Tax, and Both Prices &
Costs options are selected via the Screen Config button on the SO Types screen
for this SO Type.
Total Price
This is the sum of all the line item price totals.
Sales Tax
This is the sum of all the line item sales tax totals.
Total
This is the sum of the Total Price and Sales Tax amounts.
Est Costs
This is the sum of all the line item Total Cost values.
Margin % or Markup %
This is the “margin” or “markup” percentage of Total Price over Est Costs.
Whether margin or markup is used depends on the Profitability Options
setting in the Main Setup screen.
Profit
This is the difference between Total Price and Est Costs.
Additional Side-Tab
Documents Panel
In this panel you can attach documents (such as drawings, specifications, etc.) or
files of any kind that relate to this sales order.
Retrieve Linked Customer / Item / Descriptor Documents Button
Click this button to add any documents to the upper panel that are currently
linked to this order’s customer or any of its item or descriptor line items.
Link/Edit Document Button
To link to a document, click the Edit Document panel at the bottom of the
screen.
Description
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File Location
your local computer. If the document is to be shared with others, it should
be stored on the central file server.
User-Defined Fields
those field values are entered on this panel.
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Details Tab
Lines Side-Tab
Sales order line items are entered on this tab.
Availability Button
This button is only visible when the highlighted line has a Line Type of ‘Stock’.
Click this button to view the Stock Status inquiry, which shows available and
projected stock, as well as demand supply details.
Delivery Button
This button is only visible when an ‘M’ item is currently selected in the grid below.
It launches the Delivery Date Estimator screen, which can be used to help
calculate the line item’s Required Date.
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Delivery Date Estimator Screen
Field Explanations
BOM Item ID
The line item Reference ID is displayed in this read-only field.
Description
This is the item’s Description from the item master record.
Make Qty
The line item Qty is automatically inserted into this field.
Lead Days
This is the item’s Lead Days setting from the MRP Settings screen. It
can be overridden in this screen, if you wish.
Job Start Date
The Job Start Date is determined by the adding the number of Lead
Days to today’s date. If that date falls on a non-valid workday on the
shop calendar, the date will be rounded forward to the first available
date. You can manually change this date, if you wish.
Job Days
This is the value maintained in the MRP Settings screen. If you do not
create a value in the Calc Job Days field, this value is used as the one
displayed in the Est Job Days field (see below).
Calc Job Days
If you click the button in this field, the Job Days Calculator screen will
display and calculates the job days required based on the quantity
being made and current work center and routing settings. When you
close the screen, the calculated total displays in the Calc Job Days
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field. When the Calc Job Days field is given a value, it becomes the
one used in the Est Job Days field (see below).
Est Job Days
If there is a value in the Calc Job Days field, it is used as the Est Job
Days value. If the Calc Job Days field is blank, the Job Days field
value is used as the Est Job Days value. The Est Job Days is used to
forward schedule the job from the Job Start Date. The program counts
forward from the Job Start Date to establish the Est Delivery Date,
skipping over any non-valid days on the shop calendar.
Est Delivery Date
Click the button in this field to calculate the estimated delivery date,
based on the entries and calculations described above. When the
screen is closed, this date will be inserted into the line’s Required Date
field.
Lines Sub-Tab
Line No
This field is used by the program for sorting purposes. The line items
normally sort in Line No. order unless you click on any of the column
headings to change the sort order.
Line Type
You must select one of the following Line Types:
Stock
Select this Line Type if you wish to enter a stock item.
Descriptor
Select this Line Type if you wish to enter a descriptor.
Custom
Select this Line Type if you wish to use the Custom Item Generator to
create a custom item for “one-off” jobs.
Reference ID
The value in this field varies according to Line Type.
Stock
You must select the stock item from the lookup.
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Lookup Details
Progressive Matching
You can immediately start typing the Item ID (or Description) and
each character progressively moves the cursor closer to the
desired record.
Search Description
Click this checkbox and you can enter all or a portion of the item’s
Description. Click the magnifying glass icon and the list will be
limited only to Descriptions that contain that text string.
Mfg or Purch
You can select or clear these checkboxes to limit the list to just
manufactured or purchased items.
Advanced
Click this checkbox and you are presented with a window
containing these advanced filtering options.
Active or InActive
Select or clear these checkboxes to limit the search to just
items with a Status of ‘Active’ or ‘In-Active’.
Custom
Select this checkbox if you wish to limit the search to
Custom items that were previously created by the Custom
Item Generator.
Item ID
You can enter a portion of the Item ID to limit the search to
items containing that text string.
Description
You can enter a portion of the Item ID to limit the search to
items containing that character string.
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Category
You can limit the search to items belong to a particular Item
Category.
Supplier
You can limit the search to items that are cross-referenced
to a particular supplier.
Supplier Part #
You can enter all or a portion of the Supplier Part No and
the list will be limited to items with Supplier Part No’s that
contain this character string.
Manufacturer
to a particular Manufacturer.
Manufacturer Part #
You can enter all or a portion of the Manufacturer Part No
and the list will be limited to items with Manufacturer Part
No’s that contain this character string.
Customer
to a particular customer.
Search Button
After you’ve made your selections, click this button. The
screen will close and the results of your search will be listed
in the main lookup grid.
Base Price > 0
This checkbox is selected by default and limits the list to items with
a Base Price. Clear this checkbox if you wish to list all items,
including those without selling prices.
Descriptor
You must select the descriptor from the lookup.
Custom
After you select the ‘Custom’ Line Type, you are presented with the
Custom Item Generator screen. That screen creates a custom item that
will be used by MRP to generate a custom job, using that item as the job’s
primary output.
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Custom Item Generator
Field Explanations
Custom Item ID
The Custom Item ID is used as the line’s Reference ID and is
generated by the program. It cannot be modified.
Enter the Description of the Custom Item ID. This is a required
field.
UM
The UM default value derives from the Custom Item Generator
setting in the Job Defaults screen, but can be overridden, if you
wish.
Customer Part No
This is an optional field. If you are making a custom item on
behalf of a customer who identifies the item with a part number,
enter the Customer Part No in this field. This is for reference
only on the Customers sub-tab within the Sources tab in the
Stock Items screen when viewing the custom item record.
Lead Days
The Lead Days amount derives from the Custom Item
Generator setting in the Job Defaults screen, but can be
overridden, if you wish.
Job Days
The Job Days amount derives from the Custom Item Generator
wish.
Est Delivery
This is an estimated delivery date, calculated forward from
today’s date by adding the Lead Days to the Job Days, skipping
over any non-valid workdays defined on the shop calendar.
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Use as Req Date

This checkbox is selected by default. When selected, the Est
Delivery date will be used as the line’s Required Date.
Description
The source for this field value varies according to Line Type. Regardless of
its source, this value can be modified.
Stock
This is the Description from the stock item’s master record.
Descriptor
This is the Description from the descriptor’s master record.
Custom
This is the Description that was entered in the Custom Item Generator
screen when this line was created.
Qty
This amount is manually entered and is the line item’s order quantity.
Act Qty
This amount is for reference only and is the quantity picked to date.
UM
This value denotes the line item’s unit of measure, such as ‘EA’, ‘LB’, etc.
The source for this field value varies according to Line Type. Regardless of
its source, this value can be modified.
Stock
This is the UM from the stock item’s master record.
Descriptor
This is the UM from the descriptor’s master record.
Custom
This is the UM that was entered in the Custom Item Generator screen
when this line was created.
Reference Price
The source of the Reference Price varies according the Line Type.
Regardless of its source, this price can be modified.
Stock & Descriptor
• If a Contract Price exists for this line item and customer combination, it
takes precedence over other prices.
• If there is no Contract Price and this line item is a stock item or
descriptor, its Base Price is used. If this customer is assigned to a
Price Level, a multiplier is applied to the Base Price according to the %
of Base setting against the Price Level.
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Custom
The Reference Price is manually entered.
Discount
If this customer is assigned to a Discount Code, the discount percentage is
inserted into this field. This field may be left blank if you don’t offer discounts.
The percentage can vary within Discount Code depending on the settings
made in the Discounts screen. Regardless of its source, you can modify the
percentage, If you wish, or enter it from scratch for a ‘Custom’ Line Type.
Price
This is the unit selling price, which is calculated by applying the Discount to
the Reference Price.
NOTE: When the Discount field is blank, the Reference Price and the
Price are the same value.
Total Price
This amount is calculated by multiplying the Qty by the Price.
Est Cost
This field is only visible when the Est Cost option is selected via the Screen
Config button on the SO Types screen. This is the stock item or descriptor’s
unit Estimated Cost at the time the line was created.
Act Cost
This read-only field is only visible when the Act Cost option is selected via the
Screen Config button on the SO Types screen. This is the actual unit cost of
the quantity picked to date.
Total Cost
This field is only visible when the Total Cost option is selected via the Screen
Config button on the SO Types screen. This field displays the total estimated
cost, which is the line’s Qty multiplied by the Est Cost.
Margin or Markup
This field is only visible when the Margin or Markup option is selected via the
Screen Config button on the SO Types screen. This is the Margin or Markup
(depending on your Profitability setting in the Sales Defaults screen) of the
net Price over Est Cost.
Changing the Margin or Markup
You can change the Margin or Markup percentage by clicking the 3-dot
button in this field. You are presented with a screen within which you can
enter the new percentage. When you click OK, the Price will be adjusted
to reflect the new Margin or Markup.
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Total Tax
This field displays the sales tax total for this line item. It is calculated by
applying the Tax Rate percentage associated with the Tax Code at right to
the total price. You can manually override this amount, if you wish.
Non-Taxable Lines
If an item or descriptor is always non-taxable, regardless of customer, a
non-taxable tax code Exception should be assigned against the stock item
or descriptor. A non-taxable Tax Code has a zero percentage tax rate.
Tax Source
This field value indicates the source of the Tax Code at right. There are five
possible values:
Header
The Tax Code at right is the Tax Code from the sales order Header tab.
Item
The Tax Code at right is a tax code Exception designated in the stock item
master record.
Descriptor
The Tax Code at right is a tax code Exception designated in the descriptor
master record.
Tax Matrix
The Tax Code at right derives from the Tax Group Matrix and is
determined by the Tax Group associated with the Sold To customer
master record combined with the Tax Group associated with the item or
descriptor master record.
Manual
The Tax Code at right was selected manually from the lookup.
Tax Code
Each line item is assigned to a Tax Code, which gets its default value from
the Tax Source indicated at left. You can manually select a tax code
exception from the lookup.
NOTE: A Tax Code can be taxable or non-taxable. A non-taxable Tax
Code has a zero percentage tax rate.
Required Date
This date is used by MRP as the “demand” date for planning suggested jobs
and POs. If this is a make to order item, you can click the Delivery button in
the upper panel to launch the Delivery Date Estimator screen, which can help
you calculate an estimated delivery date that can be used as the Required
Date.
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CTO Job
This read-only field pertains to ‘CTO’ (custom to order) items only. When
MRP generates a job directly from this sales order line, the linked job number
is displayed in this field.
Warranty Code
This field is only visible when the Warranty Code option is selected via the
Screen Config button on the SO Types screen. When this stock item or
descriptor is assigned to a Warranty Code, it displays in this field. When this
field is visible, you have the option of making an alternate selection.
Notes Side-Tab
Line Notes
The Line Notes from the stock item or descriptor master record get passed
into this notes field. This text is printed underneath this line item on these
documents:
• Quote
• Acknowledgment
Invoice Notes
The text entered in this notes field is printed underneath this line item on the
invoice.
Buttons
New Line
Click this button to create a new line item. The program creates a new row in
the grid and increments the previous Line No by ‘10’. The Line Type defaults
to ‘Stock’ and the cursor is positioned in the Reference ID field.
Speed Entry
The Speed Entry function helps you enter order detail lines as rapidly as
possible and is especially useful when entering large numbers of line items.
Click the Speed Entry button to launch the Speed Entry screen.
NOTE: You can use Speed Entry as often as you wish within an order.
You can enter a few lines, transfer them, enter a few more, transfer
them, and so forth.
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Speed Entry Screen
Upper Panel
Stock Items or Descriptors
Choose whether you want to select Stock Items or Descriptors. All
your stock items or descriptors will display in the selection grid.
Item Selection
Item ID or Descriptor ID
Start typing the Item ID or Descriptor ID. As you type each
character, the cursor will progressively move to the item with the
closest match. Once you find the item you are looking for, press
Enter and the cursor will move to the Qty field where you can enter
the order quantity.
Lower Grid
After entering the quantity, press Enter and you will see your
entry displayed in the lower grid. The cursor moves to the left-
hand column where you can immediately make another
selection.
Using the mouse is not necessary
You don’t have to use the mouse to make your selections. You
can press Enter to move back and forth from the Item ID or
Descriptor ID field to the Qty field and to make your selections.
You can use your arrow keys to navigate up or down the
columns. You can, of course, also use the mouse, if you wish.
Description Search
Use this field to narrow the contents of the main selection grid only
to items that contain the text you enter. Once you enter your text,
click the lookup icon to the left and the main grid displays the items
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6-5. Sales Orders
with matching text. Once you make a selection, the grid

repopulates itself with all your items. If you make a search and
don’t select an item, click the ‘X’ button and the grid will repopulate
with all items.
Item Category
You can click on this column heading to sort the list by Item
Category. You can also click the down arrow in the column
heading to filter the list to a particular Item Category.
De-Selecting Items
To de-select an item, highlight it in the lower display grid and click the
Delete button.
Transfer Button
Your item selections and quantities are displayed in the lower grid in
the order that they were selected. When your selections are
completed, click the Transfer button and the items and quantities will
be transferred to the Details tab.
Copy Detail
When you click this button, two options are presented in the Copy Details
screen.
Template
You have the option of copying in a set of line items from a sales order
template. After you select the Template option and click OK, you are
presented with a list of available templates. Highlight the desired
template, then enter a Qty Factor, if applicable, which is a multiplier that
gets applied to each template line item’s quantity to determine each sales
order line item Qty. Click the Transfer button to transfer the template line
items into the sales order.
Sales Kit
You have the option of copying in a sales kit, which consists of a parent
descriptor and a set of kit components. After you select the Sales Kit
option and click OK, you are presented with a selection screen. Select a
sales kit descriptor from the lookup, then enter a Qty Factor, if applicable,
which is a multiplier that gets applied to the parent descriptor and each
component’s kit quantity to determine each sales order line item Qty.
Click OK to transfer the sales kit into the sales order.
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6-5. Sales Orders
Shipping Tab
NOTE: The Shipping tab is only visible when the Activate Shipping Tab
checkbox is selected in the SO Types screen for this order’s SO Type.
Training Videos
Support Center – Videos–How Do I? – Sales Order Training Course
Segments: Shipment Creation, Shipment Documents, UPS and Fedex,
Shipment Reversal
What is a shipment?
A shipment is a set of line items from this sales order that were shipped on a
particular date to a particular delivery address. A packing list and shipping labels
can be printed for each shipment. Shipping charges can be entered against the
shipment and will flow through to the invoice.
How do shipments interact with invoices?
Invoices are generated from shipments. Each invoice consists of all line items
that have shipped quantities that have not yet been invoiced. Each line item’s
invoice quantity is the “shipped not invoiced” quantity.
How do items get included on a shipment?
Each shipment automatically includes all line items that were picked (via the
Order Picking screen) since the previous shipment.
Shipments also include non-stock descriptors
Shipments are also comprised of descriptor line items that were picked for
invoicing purposes. Descriptors are used for credit memos, service labor
charges, and miscellaneous charges. Descriptor line items are not included on
the packing list, but are included in the invoice that gets generated from the
shipment.
When would an SO Type not include shipments?
If you create an SO Type in the SO Types screen for handling walk-in “counter”
sales, there is no need for an intervening shipment because the customer picks
up the order items in person. In this case, picked items can be invoiced without a
shipment being generated first.
Operating Guide 351

6-5. Sales Orders
Main Side-Tab
Upper Grid
All shipments for this sales order are listed in this grid. The fields in the lower
panel display the details for the shipment highlighted in the grid.
Buttons
New Shipment
Click this button to create a new shipment. If items have not yet been picked
for shipment, you are asked:
‘No Items have been picked for shipment.
Do you wish to pick Items now?’
If you click Yes, you are presented with the Order Picking screen. You can
then pick the order. When the Order Picking screen finishes its processing,
you are returned to this screen. The shipment is automatically generated and
includes the items you just picked.
Delete
If you notice errors on your packing list, you can click this button to delete the
shipment, correct the source of the errors, and then generate a new
shipment.
NOTE: You cannot delete a shipment when its Invoiced checkbox is
selected. You must reverse the Invoice and then you can delete the
shipment.
Print
When you click this button, two options are presented in a drop-down list.
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6-5. Sales Orders
Packing List
Select this option to prints a packing list that gets included with the
physical shipment. If there is a custom layout stored against this
customer, it is used. If there is no layout at the customer level, the
program checks for a custom layout stored against this SO Type and uses
it. If one is not found against the SO Type, the standard layout is used.
NOTE: If you do not want no charge line items to print on the
packing list, select the Exclude zero value Items from Packing List
checkbox. The other option is to click the Details side tab and clear
the Print checkbox from any items that are not to be printed.
Shipping Labels
Select this option to print shipping address labels that get applied to
packages. On the Print Labels screen you specify the Number of Labels,
which defaults to the Packs amount on the Shipping screen.
Lower Panel
Shipment No
Each shipment is identified by a unique number that is sequentially assigned
by the program, beginning with ‘1’. The Shipment No cannot be modified.
Shipment Date
This defaults to today’s date, but can be overridden with another selection.
Invoiced
This read-only checkbox is automatically selected when this shipment gets
invoiced.
NOTE: Once the shipment is invoiced, no further changes to shipment
details are permitted.
Ship Method
This defaults to the Ship Method specified on the Ship-to sub-tab of the
Header screen. If you select a different delivery address, the Ship Method
stored against that address will be used. If there is not one stored against the
delivery address record, the Ship Method stored against the Sold To
customer’s master record is used. You can also manually select a Ship
Method from the lookup.
Shipment Description
You can optionally enter a shipment description for reference purposes, which
prints in the header of the packing list.
Delivery Name, Address, City, State, Code, Country, Contact
These fields are the Name, address, and Contact specified on the Ship To
sub-tab on the Header tab. You can use the lookup to select an alternate
delivery address from among this customer’s delivery addresses.
Operating Guide 353

6-5. Sales Orders
NOTE: Any changes you make to the fields on this screen

automatically update the corresponding fields on the Ship To sub-tab
on the Header tab.
Packs
The program divides each item’s shipment Qty by its Std Pack setting in the
Stock Items screen and sums the amounts for all line items to arrive at the
total number of packs that comprise this shipment. You can manually
override this amount.
Total Weight
The program multiplies each item’s shipment Qty by its Unit Weight setting in
the Stock Items screen and sums the amounts for all line items to arrive at the
Total Weight for this shipment. You can manually override this amount.
Total Volume
The program multiplies each item’s shipment Qty by its Unit Volume setting in
the Stock Items screen and sums the amounts for all line items to arrive at the
Total Volume for this shipment. You can manually override this amount.
Trace ID
If your shipping provider gives you a tracking number, you can enter it in this
field, for reference purposes only.
Shipping Charges
If there is a Ship Charge stored against the Ship Method, that amount is
inserted into this field. Otherwise, shipping charges are entered manually.
How it works
When Shipping Charges and Ship Tax (if applicable, see next) are given
values, a line item is automatically added at the end of the sales order. It
is a ‘Freeform’ Line Type with a Reference ID of ‘Shipping’. The line’s
Description is whatever you enter in the Shipment Description field, which
defaults to “Shipping” but can be changed to whatever description you
wish.
NOTE: Freeform ‘Shipping’ lines do not print as line items on the
invoice. Instead, total shipping charges print in the subtotal footer
area and are labeled with the Your Ship Name setting from the
Sales Setup screen.
Tax
This field is only visible when the Tax Shipping checkbox is selected against
the Tax Code specified in the Header tab. Sales tax is automatically applied
to the Shipping Charges based on the tax code’s tax rate percentage.
Total
This field is only visible when the Tax field is visible. It is the sum of the
Shipping Charges and Tax amounts.
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6-5. Sales Orders
Shipment Notes
You can enter unlimited notes for reference purposes in the Shipment Notes
area of the screen. These notes print on the packing list.
Exclude zero-value items from Packing List
Select this checkbox if you wish to exclude no charge line items from the
packing list.
Details Side-Tab
Upper Panel
The fields on the upper panel – Shipment No, Shipment Description, Shipment
Date, Ship Method -- are for reference only and identify the currently selected
shipment.
Line Items Grid
All the items that comprise the shipment are listed in this grid. All the fields are
for reference only and are self-explanatory, except for the Print checkbox.
Print
Select this checkbox if you wish to exclude a line item from printing on the
packing list. You might, for example, have items for labor charges that are
not relevant to a packing list, which normally is confined to a listing of physical
items.
Operating Guide 355

6-5. Sales Orders
Invoicing Tab
Training Videos
Segments: Invoice Creation, Invoice Customization, Invoice Reversal
How are Invoices created?
Invoices are automatically generated from shipments or from picked items.
• When the Shipping tab is active, all line items and quantities associated with
shipments that have not yet been invoiced are included in the invoice.
• When the Shipping tab is not active, all line items with quantities picked since
the previous invoice are included in the invoice.
When you click the Invoicing tab and items are ready to be invoiced, you are
asked:
Do you wish to create an Invoice?
Click Yes and the invoice is created and listed in the grid.
How does an invoice get posted to the general ledger?
When an invoice is first created, it is in preview form only and technically does
not exist until it gets posted. An invoice gets posted to the general ledger when it
is formally printed or Emailed and its Status changes to ‘Printed.’
Can a separate invoice be generated for each shipment?
Be aware that each invoice is a blend of the shipments that have accumulated
since the previous invoice. So if you create multiple shipments from a single
sales order and you wish to generate a separate invoice that corresponds to
each shipment, you must generate an invoice immediately after each shipment
before you create the next shipment.
How are credit memos created?
When you print an invoice with a negative Total Amt, the printed title on the
invoice changes from the Your Invoice Name specified in the Sales Setup screen
to the Your Credit Name specified in that same screen.
Sometimes you need to create a credit memo to adjust a customer’s account
balance. For example, you may need to write off a customer’s balance to “Bad
Debt.” To do this, create a descriptor that describes the adjustment and assign it
to an Item Category that can be mapped in the Sales tab of the Account
Assignments screen to the appropriate GL account. Enter the descriptor in a
sales order and give it a negative price for the amount of the adjustment. Pick
the order, generate a shipment (if applicable), then create the credit memo.
356 Operating Guide

6-5. Sales Orders
Invoice and Credit Memo Forms Titles

You can specify your own forms titles for invoices and credit memos via the Your
Invoice Name and Your Credit Name settings in the Sales Defaults screen.
Screen Details
Click for Preview of selected Invoice

Click this icon if you wish to preview the invoice on the screen and to adjust
printing options. You are first presented with the Print Options screen.
Print Options Screen
This screen lists the invoice line items, prices, and quantities and is used to
exclude selected line items from printing.
Don’t Print
If you wish to exclude a particular line item from printing on the invoice,
select this checkbox. This is usually done with zero-value line items.
NOTE: The total price on the invoice is unaffected by this setting
and will still reflect the price of any non-printed line items.
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6-5. Sales Orders
Invoices Grid
All invoices that have been created against this sales order are listed in this grid.
Invoice No
This field is left blank until the Status changes to ‘Printed’. The program
assigns the Invoice No based on the Invoice Prefix and Next Invoice No
settings in the Sales Defaults screen.
Invoice Date
This field defaults to today’s date, but can be overridden with another
selection prior to printing the invoice.
Status
The system assigns three possible values to this field:
Blank
When the invoice is initially created, the Status is blank.
Printed
The Status changes to ‘Printed’ once the invoice is printed or Emailed.
GL Posting
NOTE: It is when the invoice status changes to ‘Printed’ that the
invoice is posted to the general ledger and to the sales history
table.
Credited
When you click the Reverse button to reverse a ‘Printed’ invoice, the
Status changes to ‘Credited’.
Net Amt
This field displays the total price exclusive of Shipping and Tax.
Shipping
This field displays the total shipping charges on this Invoice.
Tax
This field displays the total tax on this invoice.
Total Amt
This is the sum of the Net Amt, Shipping, and Tax amounts.
Deposit
If an advance deposit has been applied against this Invoice, the amount is
Deposit Processing
If a deposit has been entered in the AR – Customer Deposits screen
against this sales order, when you create the invoice you are presented
with this prompt:
358 Operating Guide

6-5. Sales Orders
An open Deposit exists against this Sales Order. Do you wish to

apply the Deposit towards this Invoice?
If you click OK, you are presented with this prompt:
Up to $__ can be applied. Apply how much?
You can then apply all or a portion of the open deposit amount against the
invoice.
Due Date
This is the invoice payment due date, which is based on the Payment Terms
specified in the Terms sub-tab on the Header tab.
Print on Statement
When you reverse an invoice to correct for errors, the original invoice is
retained and a “reversing” invoice with offsetting negative quantities and
prices is created. If you wish to exclude both of these invoices from printing
on the customer statement, select ‘No’ in this field.
New Invoice Button
If you don’t create the invoice at the time you click the Invoicing tab, once you are
on the Invoicing screen you can click this button to create a new invoice.
Delete Button
When a selected invoice’s Status is blank, you can delete it by clicking this
button.
NOTE: You cannot delete a ‘Printed’ Status invoice. You must reverse it
instead (see next).
Reverse Button
When a selected invoice’s Status is ‘Printed’, you can create a “reversing”
Invoice (with offsetting negative quantities and prices) by clicking this button.
The original invoice is retained and both invoices are given a Status of ‘Credited’.
NOTE: If you wish to exclude both of these invoices from printing on the
customer statement, select ‘No’ in the Print on Statement field against
each of these invoices.
Print Buttons Panel
Invoice Button
Click this button to print the selected invoice. You are first presented with the
Print Options screen.
NOTE: When the invoice is printed, its Status changes to ‘Printed’ and
it is posted to sales history and to the general ledger.
Operating Guide 359

6-5. Sales Orders
Print Options Screen

This screen lists the invoice line items, prices, and quantities and is used
to exclude selected line items from printing.
NOTE: If you had already made Don’t Print selections on this

screen when you previewed the invoice, those settings are retained
when the screen gets presented again here.
Don’t Print
If you wish to exclude a particular line item from printing on the invoice,
select this checkbox. This is usually done with zero-value line items.
NOTE: The total price on the invoice is unaffected by this setting
and will still reflect the price of any non-printed line items.
Yes for Email, No for Preview
If the Email Documents checkbox is selected in the Contact sub-tab of the
Header tab, you are presented with this prompt after closing the Print
Options screen. If the checkbox is not selected, the invoice is previewed
on the screen and can be printed by clicking the Printer icon.
• If you click Yes, you are presented with the standard Email client form,
pre-filled with the Message Body Default Text for this user from the
User Setup screen.
• If you click No, the invoice is previewed on the screen and can be
printed by clicking the Printer icon.
Credit Card Payment Prompt
If this sales order’s Payment Terms is specified as a ‘Credit Card’ type
in the Customer Terms screen, you are prompted to record the
customer’s payment.
If you click Yes to the prompt, the Customer Payments screen is
presented. The Banking Account, Payment Type, and Amount to Pay
fields are pre-filled. Click the Update button and the credit card
payment will be processed.
360 Operating Guide

6-6. Order Picking
6-6. Order Picking

(Sales – Order Picking)
This screen is used to plan and pick stock for sales order shipments.
Training Videos
Segments: Shipment Planning, Pick List, Order Picking
Shipment Planner
This screen includes a Shipment Planner lookup tool that lists which orders are
ready to ship, prioritized by earliest required date. Starting with the first ready to
ship order, you pick stock from available locations. After picking each order, you
return to the Shipment Planner, which is now updated to reflect the sales order
you just picked and the effect the transactions have on your remaining sales
orders.
Picking Methods
Two picking methods are available.
Pick List Method
With this option, you print a “pick list” from this screen and use it as a guide to
physically pick the stock listed required to fill the order. The pick list can
optionally list all available stock by location and by tracking characteristics
(such as lot and serial numbers). After stock is picked, you return
immediately to this screen to record your transactions.
Dispatch List Method
With this option, you pick stock on this screen first, including quantities by
location and any tracking characteristics that are required (such as lot and
serial numbers). You then print a “dispatch list” and use it to as a guide to
physically pick the stock. The dispatch list sorts the picked items in location
order to provide an efficient route through the warehouse.
If stock is not found in the location listed on the dispatch list, you can return to
this screen, find the original transaction, and click the Return button to
partially or fully reverse the original transaction. You can then make a new
entry with the correct information.
Which picking method is best?
For an inventory management system to be efficient, it is essential that inventory
be updated in real time, as transactions actually occur. Real-time inventory
updating gives your users confidence that when they view any item’s inventory
status, it accurately reflects all recent transactions. Real-time updating prevents
Operating Guide 361

6-6. Order Picking
transactions from being entered out of sequence, such as shipping an item

before it has been received to stock from a job.
Either picking method can work well. If you use the “pick list” method, it is
essential that picking transactions be recorded on this screen immediately after
each order is picked. To facilitate this, we recommend that warehouse personnel
be given access to computer workstations so they can make their own entries.
If you want to guarantee real-time inventory updating, use the “dispatch list”
picking method because items are “pre-picked” on the screen before they are
physically picked. If you use this method, be sure to always physically pick stock
immediately after printing the dispatch list.
There is no transaction “back-dating” in DBA
All inventory transactions throughout the DBA system are dated as of their entry
date. There is no ability to “back-date” transactions after the fact. For example,
if you pick stock on Friday, but you don’t get around to entering the transactions
on the Order Picking screen until Tuesday, as far as the system is concerned,
that stock was picked on Tuesday, not Friday.
Screen Details
Upper Panel
SO No
When you click the button in this field, you are presented with the Shipment
Planner screen, which is used to determine the next sales order to pick based
on priority and available stock.
Shipment Planner Screen
All sales orders with un-picked quantities remaining are listed in this
screen in priority order, based on earliest required date.
362 Operating Guide

6-6. Order Picking
Process one order at a time

The Shipment Planner only works if you pick and update one sales
order at a time, in the sort order listed. This is because stock that gets
picked for the highest priority sales on one order is not available for
subsequent priority sales orders that also call for the same items. Only
by updating inventory after each sales order is picked can available
stock be progressively consumed in priority order.
Field Explanations
Earliest Required
This is the earliest Required Date among this sales order’s line
items. Sales orders are listed by earliest required date first, which
is considered to be highest priority. When two or more sales orders
have the same earliest required date, they are listed by oldest sales
order within that date.
NOTE: If you wish to give one sales order priority over
another, it is done by moving line item Required Dates up on
the higher priority order or back on the lower priority order.
SO No
This is the sales order number.
Description
This is the Description from the sales order header tab, which
defaults to the customer name but can be used to provide a brief
description of the order.
Ready
When this checkbox is selected, it means that if this were the next
sales order picked, all of its line items with remaining quantities
have available stock and therefore the remainder of the order can
be shipped in full.
Green Color & Bold Text
To provide a visual cue as to which sales orders are ready to
ship in full (if it is the next sales order picked), any line with the
Ready checkbox selected is displayed with green and bold text.
Operating Guide 363

6-6. Order Picking
Lines Ready
If this were the next sales order to be picked, this is the number of
line items that have available stock.
Lines Not Ready
If this were the next sales order to be picked, this is the number of
line items that do not have sufficient stock to be shipped in full.
Lines Complete
This is the number of line items that have already been shipped in
full. This helps give you a feel for whether the sales order has not
been shipped yet or if it is a “backorder”, meaning that it has been
shipped, but one or more items were not in stock at time of
shipment and must be shipped later.
Last Picked
This is the date of the last picking transaction for this ales order. If
you determine from the Lines Complete amount that this is a
backorder, this date gives you a feel for how “old” the backorder is.
Customer
This is the Sold To customer associated with this sales order.
Trading Name
This is the Trading Name associated with this customer’s master
record, which is the name that prints on documents.
Description, Customer, Trading Name
These fields help identify the sales order currently displayed on the screen.
Picking Tab
Buttons
Pick List
Click this button to print a “pick list.” The pick list provides a listing of the
stock items to be picked (descriptor line items are not included). After printing
the pick list, you physically pick the order and indicate on the pick list the
locations and characteristics associated with your transactions. You then
return to this screen to record your transactions and update inventory. Before
printing, you are presented with this selection screen:
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6-6. Order Picking
Report Options
Use the Print checkbox to select or de-select the fields you want included
on the pick list. You can change the order by clicking into the Sort Order
field on those cells in the grid that are not grayed out.
Stock Qtys (Recommended)
We recommend that you select this option, which lists available stock
on hand by location and characteristic sets. This makes it much easier
to find stock and to indicate from which location stock was picked and
what characteristics were used.
Orientation
You can select the Portrait or Landscape option to achieve a vertical or
horizontal style printing layout.
Select SO Lines
Select this option if you wish to limit the pick list to selected line items.
When you select this checkbox, a panel displays below within which you
can select or de-select the Include checkbox to determine which lines get
printed.
Print Button
After your selections are completed, click this button to print the pick list.
Here is a sample:
Operating Guide 365

6-6. Order Picking
Pre-Fill
Click this button to “pre-fill” the Picked Qty column in the grid against line
items where a selection process is not required, which occurs under the
following conditions:
• Stock is only on hand in one location.
• Stock on hand is equal to or greater than the line item’s remaining
quantity.
• Stock on hand consists of only one set of characteristics (such as a
single lot number).
• The line item is a descriptor.
Pre-filling from the primary location
You have the option of limiting pre-filling to each item’s Primary Location
and ignoring stock on hand in secondary locations. To achieve this, go to
the Inventory Defaults screen and in the When Stock Is in Multiple
Locations panel, select the Pre-Fill from Primary Location option.
Update
After your entries are completed, click this button to perform the following
processes:
• Each item’s stock on hand is reduced at the designated locations and
for the selected characteristics.
• Transactions are posted to the item history and sales order batch
history tables.
• The Act Qty is increased against each sales order line item.
• The total inventory cost associated with each line item transaction is
debited to your Picked Not Invoiced account and an offsetting credit is
posted to your Inventory account.
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6-6. Order Picking
SO Lines
All of this sales order’s line items are displayed in the grid and are sorted Line No
order.
Picked Qty
When this field is not grayed out, you can enter the picked quantity. When
the field is grayed out, direct entry is prohibited and you must make entries in
the Pick Detail tab below.
NOTE1: When the Picked Qty is equal to the Remaining quantity, this
amount is displayed in bold blue text, which gives you a visual cue that
this line item has been picked in full.
NOTE2: Negative stock on hand is not permitted. Therefore, you
cannot enter a Picked Qty greater than the On Hand quantity.
NOTE3: Over-picking is not permitted. The Picked Qty cannot exceed
the line item’s Remaining quantity. If you wish to pick and ship a
greater quantity than the order Qty, you must go into the sales order
and either increase the line item’s order Qty or add a new line for the
excess quantity. You can then return to this screen and pick the
additional quantity.
Direct Entry
The Picked Qty field is available for direct entry under these conditions:
• Stock on hand in the primary location is equal or greater than the
line item’s required quantity and the When Stock Is in Multiple
Locations setting in the Inventory Defaults screen is set to the Pre-
Fill from Primary Location option.
• All stock on hand must have the same characteristics set.
• The line item is a descriptor.
Pick Detail Required
The field is grayed out under these conditions and entries must be made
in the Pick Detail sub-tab:
• Stock is on hand in two or more locations and the When Stock Is in
Multiple Locations setting in the Inventory Defaults screen is set to
the Require Location Selection option.
• Stock on hand consists of multiple characteristic sets.
Remaining
This is the line item’s remaining quantity, which is its quantity picked to date
subtracted from its Order Qty.
On Hand
This is the total stock on hand among all locations.
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6-6. Order Picking
NOTE1: This amount is displayed in bold red text when it is less than
the Remaining quantity. This gives you a visual cue that this line item
cannot be picked in full.
NOTE2: This field is left blank on descriptor line items.
Line No, Reference ID, Description
These fields identify the line item.
Order Qty, UM
This is the line item’s order quantity and unit of measure.
Unit Cost
This is the unit cost that will get applied to this picking transaction. In the
case of a stock item, this is the item’s current Inventory Cost. In the case of a
descriptor, this is its current Estimated Cost.
Line Type
‘Stock’ indicates that this line item is a stock item. ‘Descriptor’ indicates that
this line item is a descriptor.
Required
This is the line item’s Required Date.
Pick Detail Sub-Tab
Upper Panel
Line No, Ref ID
These fields identify the line item highlighted in the SO Lines grid above.
Magnifying Glass Icon
Click this icon to launch the Stock Status inquiry screen for this stock item.
Qty to Pick
This is the quantity to be picked, which is equal to the line item’s
Remaining quantity in the grid above.
Tot Pick Qty
This is the total Picked Qty in the grid below.
Balance
This is the Tot Pick Qty subtracted from the Qty to Pick, which is the
balance remaining to be picked in order to pick this line item in full.
Grid Fields
Each line in the grid represents the stock on hand for each location and
unique set of characteristic values.
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6-6. Order Picking
Picked Qty
Enter the quantity to be picked against this location and set of
characteristic values.
NOTE1: Negative stock on hand is not permitted. Therefore, you
cannot enter a Picked Qty greater than the Stock Qty.
NOTE2: When the word ‘Transitory’ is displayed in red text, it
indicates that this is a ‘Transitory’ location from which stock cannot
be picked. Transitory locations are used for a temporary process
such as inspection. Using the Stock Transfer screen, stock must
be transferred from the transitory location to a non-transitory
location and then the stock can be picked for shipment.
Location
This is the location associated with this stock quantity.
Primary
This read-only checkbox identifies the stock item’s Primary Location (as
designated in the Stock Items screen).
Transitory
This read-only checkbox is only visible when a “transitory” location is
displayed. A location flagged as Transitory is used for a temporary
process such as inspection or transfer between warehouses. Stock
cannot be picked from a transitory location, but transitory stock is
displayed here for reference purposes so that you are aware of its
existence.
Stock Qty
This is the quantity on hand associated with this location and set of
characteristic values.
The remaining columns are only visible when the item is assigned to
tracking characteristics such as lot and serial control.
Transactions Sub-Tab
All previously updated picking transactions for this line item are displayed on this
sub-tab.
Return Button
Click this button to return all or a portion of the transaction quantity to stock or
to reverse a picking transaction that was made in error. You are presented
with this screen:
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6-6. Order Picking
Field Explanations
Received Qty
This is the quantity to be returned to stock. It defaults to the full
transaction quantity, but you can decrease the quantity if you wish to
return a partial quantity to stock.
Location
This is the location to which the stock will be returned. It defaults to
the transaction location, but you can use the lookup to select an
alternate location, if applicable.
Receipt
This read-only checkbox is selected for reference when this location is
the item’s default Receipt Location, as designated in the Stock Items
screen.
Capacity
This reference field is this item’s storage capacity for this location.
NOTE: If you want to view existing stock in any location, use the
lookup in the Location field and on the location lookup screen,
click the magnifying glass icon in the lower panel to view any
location’s stock on hand.
Batch History Tab

Each time the Update process occurs, all the transactions associated with the
update are assigned to a “batch” number. This sales order’s batches are listed
on this tab.
370 Operating Guide

6-6. Order Picking
Upper Panel
Display Batch History
This checkbox is selected by default. When selected, the screen is occupied
by two grids: a listing of batches in the upper grid and a listing of Batch
Transactions in the lower grid, limited to the batches selected in the upper
grid. If you clear this checkbox, the Batch Transactions grid occupies the
entire screen and lists all transactions for all batches.
Dispatch Button
This button is only visible when the Display Batch History checkbox is
selected at left. You have the option of picking stock on the Picking tab
before you physically pick the stock from the warehouse. After Update
processing is completed, you can immediately access this tab and click this
button to print a “dispatch list” to use as a guide for physically picking the
stock.
NOTE: Click the selection checkbox to the left of each batch you want
included in the dispatch list. You can combine multiple batches into
one dispatch list, if you wish.
After clicking the Dispatch button, you are presented with this screen:
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6-6. Order Picking
Dispatch Options
Use the Print checkbox to select or de-select the fields you want included
on the dispatch list. You can change the order by clicking into the Sort
Order field on those cells in the grid that are not grayed out.
Orientation
You can select the Portrait or Landscape option to achieve a vertical or
horizontal style printing layout.
Print Button
After your selections are completed, click this button to print the dispatch
list. Here is a sample:
Upper Grid
All update batches for this sales order are displayed in this grid.
NOTE: This grid is only visible when the Display Batch History checkbox is
selected at left.
Selection (Checkbox)
This checkbox is selected by default against all batches that have a blank
value in the Last Printed column. Selecting this checkbox serves two
purposes:
372 Operating Guide

6-6. Order Picking
• This batch will be included in the dispatch list when you print it via the
Dispatch button.
• This batch’s transactions are displayed in the Batch Transactions grid
below.
Batch No
This number identifies the batch and is automatically assigned by the
program.
NOTE: Each Batch No is unique such that no two sales orders ever
have batches with the same batch numbers.
Batch Date
This field shows the date and time the batch was created.
Last Printed
When you print a hard copy of the dispatch list, the date and time is captured
in this field.
NOTE1: This field does not get updated when you preview the
dispatch list. It only gets updated when you print a hard copy on your
printer.
NOTE2: This field only gets updated the first time you print the
dispatch list. It does not get updated when you reprint the dispatch list.
Batch Transactions Grid
When the Display Batch History checkbox in the upper panel is cleared, this grid
occupies the entire screen and provides a listing of all picking transactions for
this sales order.
When the Display Batch History checkbox in the upper panel is selected, this grid
occupies the lower half of the screen and only lists transactions associated with
batches that are selected (via the checkbox) in the Batch History grid above.
NOTE: Transactions displayed in bold blue text are associated with the
batch that is currently highlighted in the upper grid.
Button
Output
Click this button to output the contents of the grid to an Excel spreadsheet,
text file, HTML file, or to the printer.
Transactions Grid
• If the Display Batch History checkbox at the top of the screen is selected,
picking transactions associated with the batches selected in the upper grid
are listed in this grid.
NOTE: Transactions displayed in bold blue text are associated with the
batch selected in the upper grid.
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6-6. Order Picking
• If the Display Batch History checkbox at the top of the screen is cleared,
all picking transactions associated with all batches are listed in this grid.
374 Operating Guide

6-7. Quotes
6-7. Quotes
(Sales – Quotes)
“Quotes” are used to send customers or prospects formal price quotations. If the
quote gets accepted, it can be converted into a sales order.
Use quotes for RMAs
Quotes are also used to originate RMAs (Returned Merchandise Authorization).
Initiating an RMA using a quote prevents MRP from including RMA items when it
calculates net demand, because quotes are ignored by MRP. When the RMA
items are received and inspected, the quote is converted to a sales order for final
disposition of the RMA.
For more information on RMAs, see chapter 6A, RMA Processing.
Training Courses
Support Center – Videos–How Do I? – Quoting Training Course
Support Center – Videos–How Do I? – RMA Training Course
How are quote line items created?
If you have a product line and furnish a quote on standard products, quote line
items are already created and you would enter the quote exactly in the same
manner as entering a sales order.
If you are job shop or custom manufacturer quoting a new item from scratch,
during line item entry you would select a Line Type of ‘Custom’ and use the
Custom Item Generator to create a custom output ID.
How are quote prices determined?
If you have a product line, the quote has identical functionality to a sales order,
including pricing and discount rules. You can therefore set up the customer or
prospect with an optional Price Level and/or Discount Code and enter quote
details the same way you would enter a sales order.
If you are a job shop or custom manufacturer, you can create a record for your
custom item in the Bills of Material screen and enter routing and component
details. You can use the Cost Rollup screen to calculate an Estimated Cost for
the custom item, which you can then add a margin or markup to establish the
quote price.
How are multiple quantities and prices handled?
You can quote multiple quantities and prices for the same item on separate lines
within the quote. Within each line the Cost Rollup can be used to recalculate the
Estimated Cost to reflect the lower Setup costs associated with greater
quantities.
Operating Guide 375

6-7. Quotes
Estimating Tools
The BOM is an ideal estimating tool
The Bills of Material screen is ideally suited as an estimating tool because you
can enter routing and component details against your custom item and then use
the Cost Rollup to calculate an Estimated Cost. An extra benefit is that when the
quote becomes a firm order, most of the manufacturing setup is already
completed.
Multi-Level Cost Estimates
Another benefit to using Bills of Material for estimating is that the Cost Rollup
rolls up the cost of lower-level subassemblies into the BOM parent’s Estimated
Cost. You can therefore calculate estimate costs on complex, multi-level
products, if needed.
Estimating Tips & Tools

Non-Active Status
Over time you will accumulate many custom ID’s associated with quotes that
were never converted into orders. In the Stock Items screen you can change an
item’s Status to ‘Inactive’, which removes the item from active lookups.
Sequence Templates
You can save time by creating a library of Sequence Templates to represent all
your standard labor operations. When you enter Routing details in the Bills of
Material screen for your custom item, you can copy in Sequence Templates
(complete with cycle times and traveler notes) instead of entering routing
Sequences from scratch.
BOM Copy
You can create a new BOM by copying an existing BOM, so when you quote an
item that is similar to another item, copy the other BOM and then edit the new
BOM for any differences.
Phantom Assemblies
If the items you quote are combinations of modular sets of components, you can
represent a set of components with a Phantom Assembly. Instead of entering
each component in a set from scratch, simply specify the phantom parent item in
the BOM and the Cost Rollup will roll up the cost of all its components. When
you create a job from the BOM, the phantom assembly components get pulled
into the job.
Material Costs
The Estimated Cost of each ‘P’ (Purchased) item is used by the Cost Rollup to
estimate material costs. You can periodically use the Estimated Purchase Costs
screen to batch update Estimated Costs with each item’s Last Costs or Inventory
Cost. You can also manually update Estimates Costs on new items or critical
cost items.
376 Operating Guide

6-7. Quotes
Screen Details
Quote entry is virtually identical to sales order entry. In this chapter we focus on
specific features that are relevant to quoting.
List Tab
All or selected quotes are listed on this screen, depending on the Status filters
selected in the lower panel.
New Quote Button
Click this button to create a new quote. You are presented with the New Quote
screen. Just as with sales orders, you have the option of originating the quote by
copying a previous quote or copying in a sales order Template.
NOTE: Quotes use the same SO Types as sales orders.
Quote Button
Click this button to print the highlighted quote.
NOTE: Before printing a quote, you can go to the Quote Style side-tab off
the Header tab and review your settings. You can, for example, change
the header, summary, or footer text within your Letter Contents. You also
can change the Report Style to any of the four options (Formal, Letter,
Letter with Detail, Multi-Option).
Yes for Email, No for Preview
If the Email Documents checkbox is selected in the Contact sub-tab of the
Header tab, you are presented with this prompt. If the checkbox is not
selected, the quote is previewed on the screen and can be printed by clicking
the Printer icon.
• If you click Yes, you are presented with the standard Email client form,
pre-filled with the Message Body Default Text for this user from the Main
Setup screen.
• If you click No, the quote is previewed on the screen and can be printed
by clicking the Printer icon.
Convert Button
Click this button to convert the quote into a sales order. When you do so, the
quote is previewed on the screen. When you close the preview screen, you are
asked if you wish to go directly to the Sales Orders screen. Click Yes and you
will see the quote included on the List tab of the Sales Orders screen with a
Status of ‘ORDERED’.
Before you convert:
Before you convert the quote, you should review it and edit it to reflect the
final order details. You may have quoted multiple quantities and prices for an
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6-7. Quotes
item on multiple lines, for example, in which case you would delete the lines
that were not ordered.
After conversion, review the Sales Order
Once the sales order exists, you should review the Promise Date and line
item Required Dates. You can click the button in the line item Required Date
field to access the Delivery Date Estimator, which can help you calculate the
Required Date and re-set the Promise Date.
Header Tab
Header Info
Quote No
Quotes and sales orders share the same numbering.
Status
When a quote is created, it is given a Status of ‘QUOTED’. When a quote
expires without being converted into an order, you can change its Status to
‘CLOSED’,
Pricing Sub-Tab
If you are quoting products with Base Price records, the settings on this tab affect
pricing and discount rules.
Quote Style Side-Tab
Before you print the quote, you can adjust your Quote Style settings on this side-
tab.
NOTE: Default values for these settings are made in the Quote Defaults
screen.
Default Style
You can select one of four quote styles, described as follows.
Formal
This is a formal quote document, similar in style to that of an invoice.
Letter
The quote will be in the form of a letter with the quoted price in the
body of the letter.
Letter with Detail
The quote will be in the form of a letter with the quoted price and quote
details in the body of the letter.
Multi-Option
This is the same as the Formal quote style, but there is no quote total.
Use this style with sales order quotes when you want to list several
independently quoted items on one document.
378 Operating Guide

6-7. Quotes
Header
The Header text is the main body of the quote letter that precedes the quote
details.
Summary
The Summary text is a 50-character description that is used to label the quote
total on the printed quote. It could be something like ‘We are pleased to
quote a special price of’ or anything along those lines.
Footer
The Footer text prints after the Summary text and is used for closing
comments and a complimentary close type signature block.
Details Tab
Quote line items are entered on this tab. The following are the key fields
involved in quoting.
Line Type
Select the ‘Custom” Line Type if you wish to use the Custom Item Generator
to create a custom output item for “one-off” jobs.
Reference ID
Select the item you are quoting from the lookup. The item must be set up in
advance in the Stock Items screen.
NOTE: If you wish to quote multiple quantities and prices for the same
item, enter the same item on multiple lines, each with its won quantity and
price.
If you had selected the ‘Custom’ Line Type in the previous field, you are
presented with the Custom Item Generator screen. That screen creates an
Output ID that will be used by MRP to generate a custom job.
Operating Guide 379

6-7. Quotes
Field Explanations
Custom Item ID
The Custom Item ID is used as the line’s Reference ID and is
generated by the program. It cannot be modified.
Enter the Description of the Custom Item ID. This is a required
field.
UM
The UM default value derives from the Custom Item Generator
wish.
Customer Part No
This is an optional field. If you are making a custom item on
behalf of a customer who identifies the item with a part number,
enter the Customer Part No in this field. This is for reference
only on the Customers sub-tab within the Sources tab in the
Stock Items screen when viewing the custom item record.
Lead Days
The Lead Days amount derives from the Custom Item
Generator setting in the Job Defaults screen, but can be
overridden, if you wish.
Job Days
The Job Days amount derives from the Custom Item Generator
wish.
Est Delivery
This is an estimated delivery date, calculated forward from
today’s date by adding the Lead Days to the Job Days, skipping
over any non-valid workdays defined on the shop calendar.
Use as Req Date
This checkbox is selected by default. When selected, the Est
Delivery date will be used as the line’s Required Date.
Reference Price
If the item you are quoting has a Contract Price or Base Price, standard sales
order pricing rules apply to this field.
Discount
If this customer is assigned to a Discount Code that affects this item, the
discount percentage is inserted into this field.
380 Operating Guide

6-7. Quotes
Net Price
This is the quote price, which is calculated by applying the Discount to the
Reference Price when values exist in those fields.
Est Cost
This is the item’s Estimated Cost at the time the line was created.
Margin or Markup
This is the Margin or Markup (depending on your Profitability setting in the
Sales Defaults screen) of the net Price over Est Cost.
Changing the Margin or Markup
You can change the Margin or Markup percentage by clicking the button in
this field. You are presented with a screen within which you can enter the
new percentage. When you click OK, the Net Price will be adjusted to
reflect the new Margin or Markup. Any Discount percentage will be
zeroed out and the Reference Price will be made equal to the Net Price.
Operating Guide 381

6-8. Sales Order Inquiry

(Sales – Sales Order Inquiry)
This screen enables users to inquire on the status of a sales order and to review
associated shipments and invoices.
Screen Details
Selection
SO No, QUOTED, ORDERED, INVOICED, FINISHED, CLOSED
Select a sales order from the lookup. You can filter the lookup list by
selecting or clearing the Status checkboxes to the right of the SO No field.
SO Description, Status, Customer
These fields are for reference only.
Status Tab
Upper Grid
All line items are listed in this grid. You can view each item’s order Qty, the
quantity picked to date, and the Required Date.
Characteristics
This checkbox is selected when the item has tracking characteristics.
History Sub-Tab
The actual pick transactions for the highlighted item in the upper grid are
displayed in this lower grid. You view the Picked Date and the picked Qty.
Shipments Tab
Upper Grid
All shipments associated with this sales order are listed in the upper grid.
382 Operating Guide

Line Items Grid

The line items associated with the shipment highlighted in the upper grid are
listed in the lower grid.
Invoices Tab
Upper Grid
All invoices associated with this sales order are listed in the upper grid,
including totals for line items, shipping, and tax.
Line Items Grid
The line items associated with the invoice highlighted in the upper grid are
listed in the lower grid, including price and tax detail.
Operating Guide 383

6-9. Sales Data Views

(Sales – Data Views)
The Data View utility is a reporting tool used throughout DBA that enables you to
filter, sort, and group your data to create your own inquiries, spreadsheets, and
reports. It organizes related data from multiple tables without requiring “joins”
and other complicated programming procedures.
Sales Data Views
Three data views are provided on the Sales menu:
Open Sales Orders
Use this data view to list open sales order detail or summary information.
• Summary Totals + Invoiced TD
• SO Line Remaining
Sales Order Bookings
Use this data view to list detailed or summarized booked orders within a
range of creation dates. This data view enables you to track orders received
(booked) as an alternative to sales reports, which track invoiced orders.
• Summary Totals Excluding Sales Tax
• Summary Totals Including Sales Tax
Pick Ship Invoice Status
Use this data view to get a listing of sales orders that have line items with
these conditions: Picked Not Invoiced, Picked Not Shipped, Shipped Not
Invoiced. Standard layouts include:
• Picked Not Invoiced
• PNI by Sales Order
384 Operating Guide

Selection Screen
When you click on a data view menu option, you are first presented with a
selection screen that is similar to the selection screen used with reports. Use this
screen to filter and limit your data view.
View Button
Once your selections are completed, click the View button to advance to the
Select Layout screen.
Select Layout Screen
Operating Guide 385

Next, you are presented with the Select Layout screen. Each layout is a
configuration of selected fields that are grouped and sorted to present a
particular data view. In a sense, each layout is a custom report.
Layout Type
Layouts with a Type of ‘System’ are standard layouts supplied with the system.
‘System’ layouts cannot be changed, but they can be modified and saved to
another layout name. Any layouts saved to a new name are identified as ‘User’
types.
Default Layout
One layout is designated as the ‘Default’ layout, which is your most commonly
used data view. Assigning the default layout is done on the Layout List screen
(see further below). The default layout is always selected at the top of the list
when the Select Layout screen is presented.
Load Button
Click the Load button to generate the data view. Be aware that some data views
may take several minutes to generate, depending on the size of the data set and
the number of data fields involved. This is because each column in the data view
is individually indexed to enable column sorting.
Quick Load Button
If you click the Quick Load option, the columns are not indexed, which
significantly reduces data view generation time. So if you are generating a large
data set and you don’t need column sorting, use the Quick Load option.
Data View Screen
The data set and layout you selected is displayed in the Data View screen, which
is a grid that displays all the available fields and associated records.
386 Operating Guide

Column Sorting
You can re-sort the data view by clicking on any of the column headings, which
will then sort the entire list by that column. Click the heading a second time and
the sort order will change from ascending to descending order or vice-versa.
Grouping
You can create list groupings by dragging a column heading into the header
panel above the column headings. For example, if you drag an Invoice Number
column heading into the header panel, the lines are then grouped by invoice
number. You can even have a group within a group. For example, you could
drag a Customer Name column heading into the header panel, which would form
a sub-group within invoice numbers.
+ - Buttons
These two buttons become visible at the top of the screen when you use the
grouping feature. Initially the groups are displayed in “collapsed” mode
without data rows being visible. Click the ‘+’ button to “expand” the view so
that the data rows become visible. Click the ‘-‘ button to collapse the view.
Column Footer Total
You can create a total amount at the footer of any column by right clicking on the
lower panel directly below the column. The following options are available:
Sum
This option is available on numeric columns only. It provides a grand total
of all the column values.
Min
This option is available on numeric columns only. It lists the lowest value
within the column.
Max
This option is available on numeric columns only. It lists the highest value
within the column.
Count
This gives you a count of the number of records within the column.
Average
This option is available on numeric columns only. This gives you a mean
average of the values within the column.
Operating Guide 387

Customize Button
The data view can be limited to just the columns you want by dragging unwanted
column headings off the screen. This is done using the Customize button, which
presents a box in the lower right corner of the screen. To remove a column, drag
its column heading and drop it into the box. Continue removing fields one by one
until you are left with the columns you want.
NOTE: Most data view layouts are supplied with optional column headings
already dragged into the Customize box. If you wish to use any of these
columns, drag the column heading out of the box and drop it onto the
column heading row in the desired position.
Output Button
Once the data on the screen are to your satisfaction, click the Output button to
transfer the data view into one of the following formats.
• Output to Excel
• Output to HTML
• Output to Text
• Output to Printer
Output to Excel, HTML, Text
When you select any of these options, you are prompted to save the file to a
name and location.
Output to Printer
When you select this option, a print preview screen is displayed. You can
click File – Page Setup to select various options that will change the report
appearance. When the format is to your satisfaction, click the Print button.
388 Operating Guide

Layout List Button
Click this button to display the Layout List screen, which provides a listing of
available layouts.
Load Button
Click this button to generate a new data view for the selected layout.
Set as Default Button
Click this button to designate the selected layout as the ‘Default’ layout. The
default layout is always selected at the top of the list whenever the layout list
is presented.
Delete Button
Click this button to delete the selected layout from the list.
NOTE: You cannot delete a ‘System’ type layout.
Save Layout Button
After customizing your data view, you can click this button to update an existing
layout or to save your changes to a new layout. Two options are presented:
Update Existing Layout
Select this option and click the Save button to save your customization
changes to the existing layout.
Operating Guide 389

NOTE: This option is not available for ‘System’ layout types. To

customize a ‘System’ layout, you must save your changes to a new
layout name.
Create New Layout
Select this option to save your customization changes to a new layout name.
Enter the name in the Layout Name field and click the Save button.
390 Operating Guide

6-10. Sales Reports
6-10. Sales Reports
6-10A. Sales Order Summary

(Sales – Reports – Sales Order Summary)
The report enables you to assess your order bookings and order backlog.
Order Bookings
You can sort the report by a range of Creation Dates, which are the dates orders
were “booked.” This enables you to track the total value of booked orders by
week or month or any other period.
Order Backlog
The report breaks out sales order value into Invoiced TD and Non-Invoiced
amounts. The Non-Invoiced value represents your total order backlog.
6-10B. Sales Order Detail

(Sales – Reports – Sales Order Detail)
This report enables you to assess the status of individual sales orders and to
estimate future shipment volume by date ranges.
Order Status
The report lists the original order quantity, the quantity picked to date, and the
remaining quantity.
Order Value
The report also lists unit prices, total price, and the value remaining to be
shipped.
Linked Jobs
The report shows you whether MRP has created a Linked Job or it will display
the word “Planned” when the line item is to be picked from stock.
Operating Guide 391

6-10. Sales Reports
6-10C. Open Items Listing

(Sales – Reports – Open Items Listing)
This report enables you to view all the open orders for any given stock item or
descriptor. You can use this report in conjunction with the Available to Ship
report to plan which orders are ready for picking.
Within each item or descriptor, you get a listing of the sales orders with remaining
quantities for that line item. Within each sales order line item you see the original
order quantity, the actual quantity picked to date, the remaining quantity to be
shipped, and the required date.
6-10D. Available to Ship

(Sales – Reports – Available to Ship)
This report displays the on hand stock for items with open sales order quantities.
You can see the stock on hand and how much can be allocated to each order.
You can use this report in conjunction with the Open Items Listing to plan which
orders are ready for picking.
6-10E. Base Prices & Costs

(Sales – Reports – Base Prices & Costs)
Use this report to get a listing of your Base Prices and associated margins over
Estimated Cost.
Base Price Listing
The report lists current Base Prices for all or selected Stock Items or Item
Categories.
Next Price Listing
You can optionally include Next Prices on the report to compare current prices
with future prices.
Margin / Markup Analysis
The repot calculates the margin or markup (depending on your Profitability
setting in the Sales Defaults screen) over each item’s Estimated Cost. Each
item’s Last Cost and Inventory Cost are also displayed for reference.
You also have the option of limiting the report to items below a specified markup
or margin so that you can isolate your least profitable items.
392 Operating Guide

6-10. Sales Reports
6-10F. Invoice Listing

(Sales – Reports – Invoice Listing)
Use this report to get a listing of invoices within a range of invoice dates or
payment due dates.
6-10G. Sales by Customer

(Sales – Reports – Sales by Customer)
This report provides a breakdown of each customer’s sales within a specified

date range.
You can run the report in summary mode, which gives you invoice totals, or in
detail mode, which itemizes sales by line item detail.
You have the option of including tax and shipping or excluding them from the
report.
6-10H. Sales by Customer Type

(Sales – Reports – Sales by Customer Type)
This report provides a breakdown of sales by Customer Type within a specified

date range.
report.
Operating Guide 393

6-10. Sales Reports
6-10I. Sales by Commission Code

(Sales – Reports – Sales by Commission Code)
This report provides a breakdown of sales by Commission Code within a

specified date range.
NOTE: DBA does not calculate sales commissions. Using the data on this
report, you can manually calculate commissions due and attach the report
as backup to the commission check.
You have the option of limiting the report to a single Sales Rep. This isolates the
Sales Rep’s sales and is especially useful when the Sales Rep is assigned to
multiple Commission Codes.
report.
6-10J. Sales Ranked by Customer

(Sales – Reports – Sales Ranked by Customer)
This report lists total sales for each customer within a specified date range,
sorted in highest-to-lowest total order.
report.
6-10K. Profit Margin by Customer

(Sales – Reports – Profit Margin by Customer)
This report provides a breakdown of each customer’s sales and profit margins
within a specified date range.
detail mode, which itemizes sales and profit margins line item detail.
report.
394 Operating Guide

6-10. Sales Reports
6-10L. Sales by Item

(Sales – Reports – Sales by Item)
This report provides you a breakdown of each item and descriptor’s sales within
a specified date range.
You can limit the report to one or a range of stock items and descriptors.
6-10M. Sales by Item Category

(Sales – Reports – Sales by Item Category)
This report provides a breakdown of sales by Item Category within a specified

date range.
6-10N. Sales Ranked by Item

(Sales – Reports – Sales Ranked by Item)
This report lists total sales for each stock item and descriptor within a specified
date range, sorted in highest-to-lowest total order.
You can limit the report to one or a range of stock items and descriptors.
6-10O. Profit Margin by Item

(Sales – Reports – Profit Margin by Item)
This report provides a breakdown of each stock item’s sales and profit margins
within a specified date range.
detail mode, which itemizes sales and profit margins line item detail.
Operating Guide 395

6-10. Sales Reports
6-10P. Warranty Sheet

(Sales – Reports – Warranty Sheet)
You can print a Warranty Sheet to accompany a packing list or invoice. It lists
any warranties associated with the order and the products that are covered.
6-10Q. Warranty Listing

(Sales – Reports – Warranty Listing)
This report lists warranties by customer. You can use this report to determine
whether a service event is covered under warranty or not.
396 Operating Guide

6A. RMA Processing
6A. RMA Processing

RMA (Returned Merchandise Authorization) processing is a common
requirement among manufacturing companies. An RMA system should be able
to do the following:
• RMA entry of items expected to be returned by customer
• RMA number for customer product labeling
• RMA printout for customer notification and receiving purposes
• Open RMA tracking
• Ability to return undamaged items to stock
• Ability to remanufacture used items for resale
• Ability to repair items for return to customer
• Zero value invoicing for warranty repair
• Credit memos for returned item credit
• Customer refunds through Accounts Payable
All of this can be done in DBA if you follow the recommended procedures
outlined in this chapter.
Training Course
Support Center – Videos–How Do I? – RMA Training Course
How does an RMA work?

It starts with an RMA request
RMA processing is a common requirement among manufacturing companies.
Typically, the customer requests an RMA in order to return an item.
Why returns happen
A return can be for a variety of reasons. You may have a return policy within so
many days of shipment, which is a requirement with web orders. The product
may be defective and is being returned for replacement under warranty or to be
repaired. You may remanufacture used versions of your products for resale and
you pay customers to return used “cores.”
RMA Creation
Whatever the reason for the return is, you create an RMA by means of a sales
quote and you give the customer the RMA number. The customer references
this number with the item that gets shipped back to you.
Item Assessment
When the returned item is received, the RMA is used to identify the customer and
the item being received, along with any notes stating the reason for the RMA.
Operating Guide 397

6A. RMA Processing
The item is then assessed to determine what needs to be done to process and
resolve the RMA.
Possible Resolutions
You may need to return the item to stock as a new or used version of the item.
You may have to repair the item and return it to the customer. You may have to
issue the customer a credit memo for compensation or issue a customer refund
check.
Recommended Workflow
An RMA is entered as a sales order, but it is not an actual order. You therefore
don’t want to mix RMAs with actual sales orders and you don’t want MRP to
consider RMA line items when calculating net demand.
Use an RMA SO Type
To prevent RMAs from being mixed with actual sales orders, we recommend that
you create an SO Type that is used exclusively for RMAs. This way your RMAs
can be isolated from regular sales orders on screens and reports.
Initiate each RMA as a quote
To keep RMA sales orders out of MRP net demand calculations, we recommend
that each RMA be created as a quote, using the Quotes screen. A sales quote is
an actual sales order with a Status of ‘QUOTED’. Any such sales order is
ignored by MRP.
Assess the item, then convert the RMA to a sales order
Once the RMA item is received, you assess the item, decide what further
processing is required, and adjust the RMA accordingly. You then convert the
quote to a sales order and then proceed with final processing. This can involve
issuing the customer a credit memo, returning the item to stock, repairing the
item and returning it to the customer, scrapping the item, or refurbishing it for
resale as a used item.
398 Operating Guide

6A-1. RMA Setup
6A-1. RMA Setup
RMA SO Type
(Sales – Sales Setup – SO Types)
We recommend that you use an RMA SO Type exclusively for RMA sales orders.
This enables you to keep your RMAs separate from your actual sales orders on
Newer DBA systems are supplied with an ‘RMA’ SO Type. If this is the case with
your system, you can skip the rest of this section. If your system does not have
an ‘RMA’ SO Type, you can easily create one.
Go to the SO Types screen and click the New button. Make the following entries:
Detail Tab
SO Type ID
We suggest you enter ‘RMA’.
Description
Enter a description such as ‘Returned Merchandize Authorization’.
Prefix
We suggest you enter a prefix such as ‘R’, ‘RM’, or ‘RMA’.
Activate Shipping Tab
We recommend that you select this checkbox so that you have the capability
of shipping RMA items back to the customer.
Screen Config Button
We suggest you select the following checkboxes:
TaxandService UM
Customer Reference Price
Tax Only Discount
Line No Price
Line Type Total Price
Reference ID Sales Tax
Description Tax Code
Qty Required Date
Act Qty Linked Job
Operating Guide 399

6A-1. RMA Setup
RMA Form Creation

If you need a printout of your RMA, either to send to the customer or for use by
your receiving department, you can modify the standard Quote layout to convert
it into an RMA printout.
Training Course
Support Center – Videos–Setup – Forms Customization
Save layout to a new name
Go to Utilities – Forms Edit – Quote. After the Quote layout displays
(ppQuote.rtm), click File, then Save As. Save the layout to a new name, such as
‘RMA.rtm’.
Edit the Layout
Now edit the layout. You will want to change the main title to “RMA’. To do this,
you must hide the existing title and add a new field on top of it with the new title.
This process is covered in detail in the Forms Customization training course,
which is located in the Videos – Setup area of the online support center.
Most likely you will want to hide the Price and Amount fields; perhaps others.
When you are done, save your changes and close the screen.
Add layout to your Sales Order Type
Go to Sales – Sales Setup – SO Types and select your RMA SO Type. Click the
Detail tab. In the Quote Layout field, select your new RMA layout from the
lookup. Click OK.
Printing or Emailing an RMA
After you enter an RMA in the Quotes screen, click the Quote button to print the
RMA form or Email it to your customer.
400 Operating Guide

6A-1. RMA Setup
Alternate Item ID’s

When processing an RMA, you cannot always use the returned item’s standard
Item ID (part number). In some cases, you must use an alternate ID to represent
the “used” version of the item.
Use the standard ID when the product is undamaged
If the returned item is completely undamaged and can be returned to stock for
resale as is, you can use the item’s standard Item ID to process the RMA.
Used Version
If the returned item is functional, but has been used by the customer, and you
wish to resell it, you cannot use the item’s standard Item ID because the used
version is technically a different item. It has a different inventory cost and selling
price. In this case, you must create an alternate Item ID that represents the
“used” version.
Apply a prefix or suffix to the standard Item ID
One way to create a “used” Item ID is to add a prefix or suffix to the standard
Item ID. The letter ‘U’ for example, for used, could be appended on the end of
the regular item ID, perhaps preceded by a dash.
The used version is a ‘P’ item
The used version should be designated as a ‘P’ (purchased) item rather than a
manufactured item because it has no bill of material and is technically purchased
from customers.
Estimated Cost
If you pay customers for used products for remanufacturing purposes, against
the used version Item ID, enter an Estimated Cost that represents the typical
price you pay for the used item. If you don’t pay customers for used items, leave
the estimated cost at zero.
Remanufactured Products
Some returned items are cleaned up, repaired, given new components.
Repainted, and sold as a “remanufactured” version. In this case, the
remanufactured version must be given its own Item ID. A remanufactured item is
an ‘M’ (manufactured) item and is given its own bill of material that contains the
replacement components and secondary outputs that might be yielded during the
refurbishment process.
Item Categories
When you create different versions of the same item, give some thought to your
Item Categories. You may want used or remanufactured versions to be in
separate categories so that their sales and cost of goods sold can be listed
separately on the income statement from your regular item sales.
Operating Guide 401

6A-1. RMA Setup
To summarize, only use the standard Item ID when the return item is undamaged
and has never been used. If the returned item has been used by the customer,
give the used version its own Item ID, perhaps with a prefix or suffix appended to
the standard Item ID, and make it a purchased item. If the returned item gets
refurbished for resale as a remanufactured version, give it a unique Item ID and
make it a manufactured item with its own bill of material.
402 Operating Guide

6A-2. RMA Processing
RMA Creation
(Sales – Quotes)
An RMA is always started as a quote in the Quotes screen and is converted later
to a sales order after the returned item is received and assessed for further
processing.
Giving the customer an RMA number

A common practice is for the customer to request permission to return an item for
credit or repair. Often the customer is given an RMA number and is instructed to
label the returned items with that number. This way the receiving department
knows what to do with the items when they are physically received.
To give the customer an RMA number, simply create a quote. On the New
Quote screen, select your RMA SO Type. When you get to the Header screen
you immediately see the RMA number in the Quote No field, which is the number
you can give to your customer.
You may also want to enter header Notes to describe the purpose of the return
for the benefit of your receiving department.
Line item entry is optional at this point
You may want to stop at this point and enter line item details later once the
returned items have been received and assessed for follow up processing. Or
you may want to go ahead and enter the specific line items that have been
authorized for return.
You have the option of establishing a price now or you can leave the price at
zero and wait until the item is received before you decide on what price will be
credited back to the customer.
RMA Printing (Optional)
You can print the RMA or Email it to the customer by clicking the Quote button.
A customized version of the quote is used as the RMA form. See the RMA Form
section earlier in this chapter for more information.
What’s next?
After the return item is received and assessed, you then decide on appropriate
follow up processing, which may include any of the following events:
• You send out an immediate replacement.
• You return an undamaged item to stock.
• You return a used item to stock.
Operating Guide 403

• You scrap the product

• You repair the product and return it to the customer
In the next several sections we will outline how each of these events is
performed.
Returning an undamaged item to stock

In this scenario, the returned item is fully undamaged and has never been used
and can therefore be returned to stock for resale as a new item.
Line Item Entry
Go into your RMA quote. If a line item already exists for the returned item,
change the quantity to a negative Qty. If you don’t have a line item, create one
using the item’s standard Item ID and enter a negative Qty. After the RMA is
converted to a sales order and gets picked, the negative quantity causes the item
to be received back to stock.
Enter the Price that will be credited to the customer when the RMA gets invoiced.
This price may be the original amount paid or it may be less if you charge a
restocking fee.
Returning a used item to stock

In this scenario, the returned item is in good condition but has been used by the
customer. It cannot be returned to stock as a new item, but it can be received to
stock as a “used” item for resale.
Line Item Entry
Go into your RMA quote. If a line item exists for the item’s standard Item ID,
delete the line. Enter a new line for the “used” version of the item, which has an
alternate Item ID. Enter a negative Qty. After the RMA is converted to a sales
order and gets picked, the negative quantity causes the used item to be received
to stock.
Enter the appropriate Price that is credited to the customer for used products.
Sending a replacement item

In this scenario you have assessed that the returned item is defective and the
customer is to receive a replacement item at no charge.
Line Item Entry
Go into your RMA quote. The first thing to do is to make sure you have a line
item for the replacement shipment. If the returned item already has a line item,
make sure it has a positive Qty. If the line item does not exist, create one and
enter a positive Qty. When the RMA quote gets converted to a sales order and
404 Operating Guide

the line item gets picked, the positive quantity is what creates a shipment to the
customer for the replacement item.
The second thing to do is to resolve what to do with the actual returned item. If it
is unusable and is to be scrapped, do nothing further. If it can be received to a
stock as a used version, create a second line item for the “used” version, which
has an alternate Item ID of its own. Make sure this second line item has a
negative Qty so that it gets received to stock.
Scrapping a returned item

In this scenario you assess the returned item and determine it is damaged
beyond any use as a used version or remanufactured version. Therefore, it
should be scrapped.
Line Item Entry
Go into the quote RMA. If the line item already exists, delete it. This means that
no further processing will be done against the item.
Physically scrap the returned item.
If the customer is to receive credit for the returned item, enter a line item for a
descriptor that has been set up for this type of credit memo. When using a
descriptor, do not enter a negative quantity. Enter a negative price instead.
Issuing a credit memo

Issuing credit memos against the customer account for returned items is
common with RMA processing. It is important that you understand how a credit
memo is created.
Any invoice with a negative total amount is automatically
converted into a credit memo at time of invoice creation. The
form title changes from ‘INVOICE’ to ‘CREDIT MEMO’ based on
the name settings entered in Main Setup.
How does any given line’s Total Price become a negative amount?
Stock items are given a negative quantity
If the line item is a standard or used version of an item to be returned to stock, it
is given a negative Qty. The negative Qty is multiplied by the Price and the result
is a negative Total Price.
Descriptors are given a negative quantity
Descriptors are used for giving credit when there is nothing physically to be
returned to stock. In this case, the Qty is a positive amount and the Price is
negative (simply enter a minus sign in front of the price). The Qty is multiplied by
the negative Price and the result is a negative Total Price.
Operating Guide 405

Converting the RMA to a sales order

Once the returned item has been assessed and the quote RMA has been
modified for final processing, your next step is to convert the RMA from a quote
to a sales order.
Once the RMA has been converted into a sales order, it can be picked, shipped,
and invoiced in the normal fashion.
Quote Conversion
To convert the RMA, perform the following steps on the Quotes screen.
• Select the RMA on the opening List tab and click the Convert button.
• At the prompt, click No to preview the RMA on the screen.
• Click the Close button to close the preview screen.
• You are prompted to go directly to the sales order screen. Click Yes.
You now see the RMA on the List tab of the Sales Orders screen. The RMA is
now a live sales order and you can proceed with picking, shipping, and invoicing
it in the normal fashion.
Zero value invoicing

Zero-value invoices are common with RMA processing. There are occasions
where you need to replace returned items at no charge. Even though there is no
charge, you still want to create an invoice for two reasons:
• The invoice generates a cost of goods sold for the replacement item that
needs to be reflected in your General Ledger.
• The invoice gives you and your customer a record of the no charge
shipment.
Prices are not required to generate an invoice. Any items that have been
shipped but not yet invoiced will be included in the invoice, whether they have a
price or not.
Sending a customer refund

The standard method for compensating the customer for a return is to issue a
credit memo. A credit memo is fine when you have an ongoing relationship with
the customer because the credit memo can be applied against other invoices.
If your relationship with the customer is on a one-time basis, however, you may
be required to refund the customer his money. This can only be done through
Accounts Payable.
406 Operating Guide

The Customer must be set up as a Supplier

In order to send a payment through Accounts Payable, a supplier is required.
Therefore, you must set up the customer as a supplier. Once that is done, you
will make a transaction on the AR side that zeroes out the customer’s balance
and then you will create a supplier invoice on the AP side, against which you can
make a payment. Follow this sequence of events:
• Let’s say the customer has a credit memo in the amount of $1000. Go to the
Customer Payments screen and select the customer.
• Against the credit memo in the lower grid, enter $1000 in the Discount field,
then click Update to process the transaction. This zeroes out the customer’s
account in the Accounts Receivable side of the system.
• Go to the Suppliers screen and set up this customer as a supplier.
• Go to the Supplier Invoices screen and enter a supplier invoice in the amount
of $1000. In the lower grid, select your AR Discounts Taken account in the
GL Account field.
• Finally, go to the Payment Processing screen and select and pay the supplier
invoice in the normal fashion.
Operating Guide 407

6A-3. Repairing a Product

Training Video
Segment: Repair Jobs
“Custom” items are used for repair work
If you repair products on behalf of customers, you can use jobs to organize and
track the costs of your repair jobs.
Repair jobs are quite different than manufacturing jobs, so it is important not to
mix the two. Repair jobs should be given their own Job Type and repair work
should not be conducted under the item’s standard Item ID. Instead, repair work
is performed using DBA’s “custom” item capability, described further below.
“Repair” Job Type Setup

(Jobs – Jobs Setup – Job Types)
Go to the Job Types screen and click the New button. Make the following
entries:
Detail Tab
Job Type ID
We suggest you enter an identifier code of ‘REPAIR’.
Description
Enter a description such as ‘Repair Job’.
Prefix
Enter a prefix such as ‘R’ for “repair” or ‘RJ’ for “repair job.”
Default Status
Unlike manufacturing jobs which are released in coordination with a start
date, repair jobs are typically released as soon as they are created, in which
case you would set the Default Status to ‘RELEASED’.
Custom Item Setup

(Jobs – Jobs Setup – Job Defaults)
Repair jobs do not use the item’s standard Item ID as the job’s primary output. A
“custom” Item ID is used instead.
A custom ID is generated on-the-fly during sales order entry and is used on a
one-time basis for one particular repair job. Job costs are accumulated against
the custom item and eventually flow back to the sales order as the cost of goods
sold for the repair work performed.
408 Operating Guide

Job Cost Basis

Job Receipts
Make sure your Job Receipts Costing Basis is set to Actual Job Cost.
Item ID Prefix
All custom items will be identified by this prefix, followed by a sequential
number. The combination of the prefix and number constitutes the Reference
ID number that is used in sales orders, MRP, and jobs to identify the custom
item (repair job output). We recommend that you use the letter ‘Z’, which will
keep all your custom items listed at the very end of lookups and reports. This
keeps custom items from being intermingled with your permanent Item ID’s.
Next ID No
This displays the number that will be assigned to the next custom item that
gets generated. We recommend a beginning number of 100000.
NOTE: Do not start with a number such as ‘1’. If you do so, on reports
and screen listings, ‘10’ will sort before ‘1’, ‘20’ before ‘2’, etc.
Item Category
All custom items, when created, will be automatically assigned to this Item
Category. We suggest you create a special Item Category for repair
purposes. You can then go to the Account Assignments screen and on the
Sales tab, Exceptions sub-tab, you can give this Item Category its own Sales
and COGS accounts.
UM
All custom items, when created, will be automatically assigned this UM. At
time of custom item generation, you can override this default. For repair
purposes, this is normally set to ‘EA’.
Lead Days
All custom items, when created, will be automatically assigned this Lead Days
setting for MRP planning purposes. At time of custom item generation, you
can override this default. For repair purposes this is normally left blank.
Job Days
All custom items, when created, will be automatically assigned this Job Days
setting for MRP planning purposes. At time of custom item generation, you
can override this default.
Custom Item Generation

(Sales – Quotes or Sales Orders)
Custom items for repair jobs are generated during quote entry (if originated
during an RMA) or sales order entry.
Operating Guide 409

When you enter a new line, select the ‘Custom’ option from the drop-down list in
the Line Type field. You are then presented with the Custom Item Generator
screen, which presents the following fields:
Custom Item ID
This identification number is automatically generated by the program and will
be used as the Reference ID in the sales order line. It cannot be modified.
Description
Enter the Description of the repair job. This is a required field.
UM
The default UM from the Job Defaults screen is automatically inserted into
this field, but can be overridden.
Customer Part No
This is an optional field. If you are making the custom item on behalf of a
customer who identifies the item with a part number, enter the Customer Part
No in this field. This number will be stored against the custom item and can
print on the customer invoice as a cross-reference.
Lead Days
The default Lead Days setting from the Job Defaults screen is automatically
inserted into this field, but can be overridden.
Job Days
The default Job Days setting from the Job Defaults screen is automatically
inserted into this field, but can be overridden. Enter the estimated number of
days you think will be required to complete the repair work. You can enter a
decimal quantity.
Est Delivery
This is an estimated delivery date, calculated forward from today’s date by
adding the Lead Days to the Job Days, while skipping over any non-valid
workdays within the Job Days time frame.
Use as Req Date
When this checkbox is selected, the Est Delivery date will be used as the
sales order line’s Required Date.
Once you close the Custom Item Generator screen, the Custom Item ID is
displayed in the line item Reference ID field, and following it you will see your
custom Description and UM.
Take note that the Line Type setting changes from ‘Custom’ to ‘Stock’. This is
because the custom item has now been given a record in the Stock Items table
so that the item is treated by jobs as if it were a stock item. This way the repair
job costs can follow the item into stock and then back to the sales order in as the
cost of goods sold when the custom item gets picked.
410 Operating Guide

Generating the Repair Job

(MRP – MRP)
The repair job is created by MRP when you select the Generate Jobs from SO
Lines option.
NOTE: Be sure and change the Job Type setting to your repair Job Type.
RMA Sequence of Events

In this scenario the customer sends a product to you for repair. The repair might
be done under warranty or for a fee. Follow this sequence of events.
• Create an RMA in the Quotes screen.
• Enter a new line. Select a Line Type of ‘Custom’. In the Custom Item
Generator screen, enter a brief Description of the repair work to be
performed. Enter the Lead Days that elapse before the job can be started as
well as the Job Days setting, which is the estimated days it will take to do the
repair work. Click OK. The custom item that gets created will be used as the
output on the repair job.
• The product is received and inspected to assess what repair might be
required.
• Enter line Notes as required to describe the repair work to be performed.
• If you need to give your customer an estimated price, enter the Price and click
the Quote button to print or Email the form, which is a customized version of
the quote assigned to the RMA SO Type.
• Convert the RMA quote to a sales order.
• Use the MRP screen to generate a job for the custom item.
• Perform the job by entering labor and material as required. When the job is
completed, enter a receipt in the Job Issues & Receipts screen. The job cost
is the custom item’s Inventory Cost.
• Go to the RMA and enter a final price. If the repair was done under warranty
free of charge, enter a price of zero which will result in a zero value invoice.
• Pick the RMA in the normal fashion. The Inventory Cost for the custom item
will eventually become its Cost of Goods Sold.
• Create a shipment and print a packing list.
• Generate the invoice.
Operating Guide 411

6A-4. Remanufacturing a Product

RMAs are used to track and process the return of used “core” items from
customers that are used to create remanufactured versions of products.
What is a remanufactured product?
A remanufactured product is a used version that has been refurbished for resale
as a remanufactured item. Rebuilt engines, for example, are remanufactured
products. A remanufactured bill of material consists of the used version (“core”)
as well as the parts needed for refurbishment. The routing is confined to the
steps needed in the refurbishment process. The remanufactured version has its
own unique cost and selling price.
A remanufactured version should have its own Item ID
A remanufactured version of a product is distinctly different than the standard
version or used version and should have its own Item ID. This way it can have
its own bill of material, routing, cost, and selling price.
Remanufactured Item Setup

Stock Items Screen
Item ID
We suggest you add a prefix or suffix to the standard Item ID to differentiate
the remanufactured version from the standard version.
Description
You should add reference to “remanufactured” within the item’s standard
description.
UM
Same as standard version.
Mfg / Purch
Select ‘M’ for “Manufactured.”
Item Category
You may to assign the remanufactured version to its own Item Category. This
way you can go to the Account Assignments screen and on the Sales tab,
Exceptions sub-tab, give this Item Category its own Sales and COGS
accounts.
Bills of Material Screen

The remanufactured Item ID is the parent item
The BOM is created using the remanufactured Item ID as the parent item.
412 Operating Guide

The “used” version is the core component

The key difference between the standard BOM and remanufactured BOM is that
the latter’s main component is the “used” version of the product, commonly
referred to as the “core” component.
Therefore, a remanufactured product involves three Item ID’s – one for the
“standard” version, one for the “used” version and one for the “remanufactured”
version.
In the remanufactured BOM, the Components should consist of the used version
core component, as well as all the parts that are needed for refurbishment.
Used parts can be defined as outputs
If during the refurbishment process you replace some used parts with new parts
and the used parts have use elsewhere, the used parts can be entered on the
Outputs tab. This way the used parts will be received to stock when you report
your job receipts. Be sure to select “used” Item ID’s for these type of outputs.
Use the Cost Ratio to give each output its share of total job cost. If you consider
these used parts to be “free”, leave the Cost Ratio at ‘0%’.
Remanufactured Routing
The remanufactured Routing should be confined to just the labor steps required
in the refurbishment process.
Planning
Availability of used cores is the limiting factor
The planning process tends to be more manual in nature with remanufactured
products compared to standard products. The decision to create a job is based
as much or more on the availability of used “cores” as it is on actual demand
from customers. Without a supply of cores, there is nothing to remanufacture.
The MRP process is the same
Using MRP is essentially the same with remanufactured products as it is with
standard products. MRP will suggest jobs in response to net demand within the
remanufactured item’s planning period. MRP also gives you the option of
generating jobs directly from sales order lines.
Jobs
Remanufacturing jobs are less standardized
Technically, the process for making a remanufactured item is exactly the same
as making a regular manufactured item. The difference is more in the style of
manufacturing rather than in the way the job is created and processed.
Operating Guide 413

The job itself tends to be less standardized. You can start out the job with a pre-
determined bill of material and routing, but during the course of the job you may
have to use different components or perform different labor steps, all depending
on what is required by the condition of the used products you are refurbishing.
Job processing steps are exactly the same
Apart from the differences in the style of manufacturing, the actual job processing
steps – creating the job, modifying job details, issuing components from stock,
reporting labor, entering job receipts – is exactly the same with remanufactured
items as it is with regular manufactured items.
414 Operating Guide

6A-5. Disassembling a Product

RMAs are used to track and process returned items from customers that are
disassembled so that used components can be stocked for resale or use in
remanufacturing.
What is disassembly?
“Disassembly” is the opposite of “assembly.” This requires a reverse bill of
material. A conventional BOM’s components are “inputs” that are consumed
during the course of the job. With a disassembly BOM, the components are
“outputs” that are received to stock during the course of the job.
Bill of Material Setup

A disassembly BOM, like any BOM, requires a parent item, which is considered
the “primary” output. All other outputs are considered “secondary” outputs.
The most significant output should be the BOM parent
Te output item you consider to be the most significant should be designated as
the primary output and is used as the BOM parent item. Therefore, the primary
output item must be set up as an ‘M’ (manufactured) item.
The routing is confined to disassembly labor
The routing should be confined to the steps that are involved in the disassembly
process.
The “used” version is the core component
The main and often only BOM component (input) in a disassembly BOM is the
“used” version of the product, commonly referred to as the “core” component,
which originated through an RMA.
Disassembled parts are “outputs”, not “components”
The used parts that are disassembled from the core component are set up on the
Outputs tab. Each output is given a percentage of the total job cost in the Cost
Ratio field. The total job cost is a combination of the disassembly labor involved
as well as the cost of the core component.
Planning
Disassembly jobs are planned manually
Unlike standard manufacturing jobs, which are generated by MRP in response to
net demand or sales order lines, disassembly jobs are created manually, which
can be done by selecting the New Job option on the MRP screen to create a
suggested job. Once you’ve created the suggested job, you can convert it to an
actual job in the normal fashion.
Operating Guide 415

Jobs
Disassembly jobs are less standardized
Technically, a disassembly job is the same as a standard manufacturing job in
the sense that you will apply labor to the job and you will issue the core
component (the product being disassembled) to the job from stock.
The job itself tends to be less standardized. You can start out the job with a set
of pre-determined outputs and a routing, but during the course of the job you may
find that some of the outputs are unusable, or unexpected outputs are
discovered, or unanticipated labor steps are required.
Job processing steps are the same
The actual job processing steps – creating the job, modifying job details, issuing
the core component from stock, reporting labor – is the same with disassembly
jobs as it is with regular manufacturing jobs.
Job receipts involve multiple outputs
The key difference between a disassembly job and a regular manufacturing job is
that the disassembly job involves multiple outputs instead of a single output.
When you process job receipts in the Job Issues & Receipts screen, you are
presented with numerous output lines. As you process each line, its cost is
determined by its Cost Ratio, which is its percentage share of the overall job
cost.
416 Operating Guide

7. MRP
7. MRP
On the MRP menu you will find all screens and reports related to the creation
and scheduling of jobs and POs.
MRP
MRP Setup
• MRP Defaults
• Shop Calendar
Main Menu
• MRP Settings
• MRP
• Work Center Scheduling
• Job Scheduling
• PO Scheduling
• Delivery Date Estimator
Reports
• Master Job Schedule
• Job Outputs Schedule
• Work Center Schedule
• Machine Schedule
• Subcontract WC Schedule
Operating Guide 417

7. MRP
Overview
Push and Pull Planning
Push and pull planning styles are both accommodated.
For “push” style planning where orders are fulfilled from stock, MRP will generate
jobs and POs to replenish stock against desired reorder levels.
For “pull” style planning where you only manufacture or purchase in response to
actual demand, MRP generates jobs and POs only when orders are received.
You can freely mix the two styles and use push planning for some items and pull
planning for others.
Unique “Single Bucket” MRP
MRP generates suggested jobs and POs using a unique “single bucket”
architecture that is fast, easy to follow, and ideal for make-to-order, make-to-
stock, and mixed-mode environments.
A single time bucket (planning period) automatically varies in length with each
item, based on the item’s lead time. Items that can be replenished in just a few
days are given short planning periods and items that take several weeks to
manufacture or procure are given longer planning periods.
MRP only reacts to the net demand within each item’s planning period. When
net demand exceeds the item’s reorder level, which can be set to zero for make-
to-order items, MRP generates one job or PO per item. All demand outside of
the planning period is ignored because it can be dealt with later when that
demand eventually falls into the planning period.
By ignoring all the detail outside of each item’s planning period, MRP runs
quickly and is easy to follow.
Dynamic Job Scheduling
The multi-level MRP generation of planned jobs pauses at each level so that jobs
can be dynamically scheduled backward from required dates, when possible.
This combines MRP and scheduling into one process and produces accurate job
schedules down through all levels of your product structures.
Transparency of Information
Within each item’s Drill-Down and Job Days Calculator screens, all the numbers
that were used to generate the planned job and PO details are fully transparent
and traceable.
Job & PO Rescheduling
Actual jobs and POs can be rescheduled to reflect changing shop conditions.
You can see on screen when jobs or POs are early or late relative to required
dates.
418 Operating Guide

7. MRP

Daily work center dispatch lists are created and sent to the shop floor for work
assignments. Jobs are prioritized using an On Time Ratio, which assures that
jobs running behind schedule are given priority over jobs that are running ahead
of schedule.
Machine Scheduling
With a work center that has interchangeable machines, you can designate jobs
for specific machines and print a daily dispatch list of machine assignments.
Delivery Date Estimating
If you are a make-to-order manufacturer, quoting your customer realistic delivery
dates helps the planning system meet its targets. The Delivery Date Estimator
can be used to quote delivery dates based on a combination of preparation time,
the quantity to be made, and current shop conditions.
Operating Guide 419

7. MRP
MRP Setup
Your planning settings are the key to success with the MRP module. If you
establish accurate reorder levels and lead times, you can significantly reduce
inventory and shortages and improve delivery performance and factory
throughput.
Before you use the MRP module, settings are to be made within the following
screens:
MRP Defaults
On this screen you can activate or deactivate selected fields to tailor MRP and
scheduling to suit your company’s preferences.
Shop Calendar
The shop calendar is used to define weekends and holidays when the factory is
not available for production. Non-working days are skipped over when job start
and finish dates and PO due dates are scheduled.
Work center capacity settings are made on this screen, including hours per day
as well as buffer days to add “slack” to the schedule.
MRP Settings
These settings on this screen apply to your items and are used by MRP to
generate planned jobs and POs. Settings include reorder level, minimum order
quantity, lead days, job days, order multiple, and run size.
420 Operating Guide

7-1A. MRP Defaults
7-1. MRP Setup
7-1A. MRP Defaults

(MRP – MRP Setup – MRP Defaults)
On this screen you can activate or deactivate selected fields to tailor MRP and
scheduling to your company’s preferences. Field explanations are as follows:
Whole No Rounding
This is an MRP setting that enables you to establish whether MRP suggested
order quantities are to allow decimalized amounts or only whole number amounts
(integers). You setting can be made at the stock item level.
Two options are available:
• If all your items are subject to whole number rounding, choose the Auto-
Select radio button. Whenever you create a new stock item, its Whole No
Rounding checkbox will automatically be selected.
• If some of your items are subject to whole number rounding and some are to
be decimalized, choose the Do Not Select radio button.
Finally, if all your items are to be treated with the same setting, you can select
the Hide Field checkbox, which makes the following fields invisible:
• Stock Items - Whole No Rounding field
• MRP Settings - Whole No field
Operating Guide 421

7-1A. MRP Defaults
Use Order Multiple

The Order Multiple setting is used if you have some items that are always
ordered or made in a multiple of a particular quantity. MRP will round suggested
order quantities up to the nearest amount divisible by the Order Multiple.
If the Order Multiple has no role to play in your planning process, clear this
checkbox. Doing so makes the following fields invisible:
• Stock Items – Order Multiple field
• MRP Settings – Multiple field
• MRP – Drill-Down Inquiry – Projected tab – Order Multiple field
Use Overlap
This setting enables you to schedule subassembly jobs to run partially in parallel
with higher level jobs. When a job is scheduled for an item, the Overlap Days
represent the number of days after the job’s start date when its subassemblies
will be required.
If Overlap Days has no role to play in your planning process, which would be the
case if all your products have single-level BOMs, then clear this checkbox.
Doing so makes the following fields invisible:
• Stock Items – Overlap Days field
• MRP Settings – Overlap field
• MRP – Planned Jobs screen – Overlap field
• Make Jobs – Scheduling tab – Overlap field
• Job Scheduling – Jobs tab – Overlap field
• Job Scheduling – Linked Jobs tab – Overlap field
Use Buffer Days
This work center setting enables you to add a safety buffer to the job schedule to
account for the unforeseen delays common to manufacturing environments –
such as machinery repairs, worker or material unavailability, unexpected rework,
etc.
Buffer Days are commonly used to add “slack” to the schedule. If the Buffer
Days setting has no role to play in your planning process, clear this checkbox.
Doing so makes the following fields invisible:
• Work Centers – Buffer Days field
• Job Days Calculator – Buffer Days field
• Work Center Scheduling – Buffer Days field
• Remaining Days Calculator – Buffer Days field
Use Queue Days
Leave this setting blank. It has no function at this time.
422 Operating Guide

7-1A. MRP Defaults
MRP Interval
Enter the normal number of days that elapse between MRP runs. This sets a
default for the MRP Interval Days setting that is specified when MRP generates
jobs and POs.
Operating Guide 423

7-1B. Shop Calendar
7-1B. Shop Calendar

(Planning – Planning Setup – Shop Calendar)
The Shop Calendar is used to establish the days of the week the factory is in
operation and which days of the year it is closed due to holidays. When jobs and
POs are scheduled, the program skips over all non-operating days defined on the
calendar.
Calendar Date Range
• Each time any user logs into DBA that has security access to the Shop
Calendar, if the Thru Date is less than one year from today, the user is
prompted to extend the calendar to the end of the second calendar year from
today.
• Each time MRP is generated, if the Thru Date is less than two years from
today, the user is prompted to extend the calendar to the end of the third
calendar year from today.
You can extend the calendar well beyond the minimums described above. When
you do so, leave the From Date as is. You can extend the Thru Date as far into
the future as you wish. After changing the Thru Date, click the Update button to
generate the additional days in the calendar table.
424 Operating Guide

7-1B. Shop Calendar
Weekly Pattern
In the Weekly Pattern panel, select the checkbox under each day of the week
that is available for production.
Holidays
If the factory is to be closed for one or a range of holiday or vacation days, enter
the date range in the Holidays grid, along with a Description.
Printing or Previewing the Calendar
Click the printer icon in the lower left to get a printout of the Shop Calendar.
Click the icon to preview the printout on the screen.
Operating Guide 425

7-2. MRP Settings
7-2. MRP Settings

(MRP – MRP Settings)
Use this screen to maintain various MRP settings stored against each of your
stock items. These settings determine reorder levels, minimum order quantities,
lead-times, and other variables used by MRP to generate planned jobs and POs.
Training Videos
Segments: MTO Settings, Job Days, MRP Settings
Support Center – Videos–How Do I? – Purchasing Training Course
Segments: MRP Settings
Screen Details
Upper Panel
Manufactured Items or Purchase Items
These checkboxes determine which stock items will display in the grid list.
You can confine the list to just manufactured items, just purchased items, or
both.
Display Description
Because the Description column takes up so much space on the grid, you
have the option of clearing this checkbox to make the Description and UM
fields invisible so that more of the entry fields will be visible.
Item Category
With this setting you can further limit the list to one or selected Item
Categories.
426 Operating Guide

7-2. MRP Settings
Grid Fields
Item ID, Description, UM
These are read-only reference fields that help you identify each stock item.
M or P
This is a read-only field that tells you if the item is normally manufactured (M)
or purchased (P).
Reorder Level
MRP will suggest jobs or POs whenever current and projected supply and
demand cause on-hand stock to fall below this level within the item’s planning
period.
Reorder Level
MRP will suggest jobs or POs whenever current and projected supply and
demand cause on-hand stock to fall below this level within the item’s planning
period.
How to Calculate
At a minimum, your reorder level should cover the item’s daily usage
multiplied by its total Lead Days plus Job Days. For example, if you sell
and use 120 units a month, or four per day on average, and the item has a
total of 20 Lead Days plus Job Days, four units per day multiplied by 20
days suggests a reorder level of 80. To play it safe, you could bump the
quantity from 80 to 90 or 100. If the item’s demand is relatively steady,
less of a safety factor is needed. On the other hand, if demand for the
item is highly volatile, add a safety factor high enough to cover expected
variations in demand.
If you don’t stock the item and make it only when sales orders call for it,
set the reorder level to zero. MRP will suggest a job quantity that covers
just the amounts needed to fulfill customer orders. If the item is
designated as a ‘CTO’ item (see below), set the reorder level to zero.
Min Order
Whenever MRP suggests a job or purchase order for this item, this is the
minimum quantity that will be suggested.
CTO
This field is only visible when the Manufactured Items checkbox is selected
and is an abbreviation for ‘custom to order’. MRP generates jobs directly
from sales order lines for CTO items only. A manufactured item should only
be designated as ‘CTO’ if it meets these criteria:
• The item is a finished item sold directly to the customer. Subassemblies
should not be designated as CTO items.
• The item is always made to order such that the job quantity is always
exactly equal to the quantity ordered by the customer.
Operating Guide 427

7-2. MRP Settings
• The item is customized in some manner such that it is unique for a

particular customer order and can’t be shipped to other customers.
• The item is never stocked, which means that excess quantities cannot be
made and shipped at a later date.
Lead Days
This field is used differently, depending on whether the item is purchased or
manufactured.
NOTE: The Lead Days includes all calendar days and does not
exclude non-workdays defined on the shop calendar. Therefore, if you
want to the Lead Days to represent one week, enter 7-days.
Purchased Items
For planning purposes, this is the number of days allocated to account for
the time it takes receive this item after sending a PO to the supplier.
Manufactured Items
For planning purposes, this is the number of days allocated to account for
the preparation time required before you can begin a job for this item.
It is rare that a job can be started the day you receive an order for the
item. You may need some time to order material or to complete
subassemblies that are required, and there may be a typical waiting period
at the job’s first work center. MRP uses the Lead Days plus the item’s Job
Days plus the interval between MRP runs to determine the planning period
for each manufactured item.
Job Days
This field is only relevant to manufactured items and is invisible when the
Manufactured Items checkbox is cleared. It represents the number of actual
production days it takes to make this item, based on making the Run Size.
When creating new jobs, this value is used to backward schedule the job from
its finish date or to forward schedule the job from its start date. Two methods
of entry are available:
Manual Entry – No Routing
If this item does not have a routing, the Job Days amount must be entered
manually. Do not include weekends or other off-days in this amount.
Job Days Calculator
If this item is defined with a routing, you can click the button in this field to
display the Job Days Calculator. This screen calculates and assigns each
routing sequence a Job Days amount, based on current work center and
routing settings. These Job Days amounts are totaled to arrive at the
Calculated Job Days for the item. You can accept the calculated amount
or manually override it if you wish.
428 Operating Guide

7-2. MRP Settings
Job Days Calculator
Overlap
This field is optional and is only visible when the Use Overlap checkbox is
selected in the MRP Defaults screen. It is only relevant to manufactured
items and is invisible when the Manufactured Items checkbox is cleared.
When a job is scheduled for this item, the Overlap Days represent the number
of days after the job’s start date when its subassemblies will be required.
This setting is used by MRP for scheduling Make-to-Order subassembly jobs
linked to higher level jobs.
Whole No
This field is not visible when the Whole No Rounding – Hide Field checkbox is
selected in the MRP Defaults screen. This field name is an abbreviation for
Whole No Rounding. If you select this checkbox, MRP will suggest job or PO
quantities rounded up to the nearest whole number. Select this checkbox for
any items that are not purchased or manufactured in fractional decimal
quantities.
Multiple
This is an abbreviation of the Order Multiple setting. If you always order or
make this item in a multiple of a particular quantity, you can enter that
quantity in this field and MRP will round suggested order quantities up to the
nearest amount divisible by the Order Multiple. For example, if you always
order this item in multiples of 500, MRP will round up suggested order
quantities to amounts such as ‘500’, ‘1000’, ‘1500’, ‘2000’, etc.
Run Size
This field is only relevant to manufactured items and is invisible when the
Manufactured Items checkbox is cleared. It represents the most typical job
quantity for this item. This value is used by the Cost Rollup to amortize the
item’s setup cost to a per-unit cost. (Each routing sequence Setup cost is
divided by the Run Size). It is also used by the Job Days Calculator to
calculate the typical Job Days required to manufacture this item.
Operating Guide 429

7-2. MRP Settings
Usage History Inquiry

The Usage sub-tab is visible on M and P items and presents an inquiry screen
that shows you the past 12-months usage of the item, broken out by month and
averaged by quarter. “Usage” refers to total sales and job issues.
This primary purpose of this inquiry is to help establish the item’s Reorder Level.
Production History Inquiry

The Production sub-tab is visible on M items only. It displays job history
beginning with your most recent finished job. Only jobs with an Actual Finish
date are included in this list.
This inquiry is used to help establish each item’s Lead Days and Job Days
settings.
A Lead Days value is calculated for each job in the list, which is the number of
calendar days between the job’s Creation Date and its Released Date.
A Job Days value is calculated for each job in the list, which is the number of
valid workdays (as defined in the shop calendar) between its Released Date and
its Actual Finish date.
Delivery History Inquiry

The Delivery sub-tab is visible on P items only. It displays purchase receipts
history beginning with your most recent receipt.
430 Operating Guide

7-2. MRP Settings
The primary purpose of this inquiry is to help establish each item’s Lead Days. A
Delivery Days amount is calculated for each receipt, which is the number of
calendar days between the PO Creation Date and the actual Receipt Date for the
item.
Operating Guide 431

7-3. MRP
7-3. MRP
(MRP – MRP)
Running MRP is a 3-step process

Each time you run MRP, you will go through the following three steps.
Step 1 – Generate Planned Jobs for CTO Items

You always start by generating jobs directly from sales order lines for ‘CTO’
(custom to order) items.
Step 2 – Generate Planned Jobs for Net Demand
The next step is to generate jobs for your non-CTO manufactured items and
subassemblies by replenishing stock according to projected supply and
demand and desired stocking levels.
Step 3 – Generate Planned POs
After all your jobs are generated, the final step is to generate POs for the
purchased items needed by the new jobs and to replenish stock in accordance
with desired stocking levels.
How often should MRP be run?

The answer to this question depends on your volume of orders, but MRP is
typically run on a daily basis or in some cases, every 2-3 days.
Planning is a continuous process that never stops. The more frequently you run
MRP, the more quickly you will be able to respond to new orders and associated
requirements.
432 Operating Guide

7-3. MRP
Step 1 – Generate Jobs for CTO Items

The first step in the MRP process is to generate, schedule, and convert planned
jobs for your ‘CTO’ (custom to order) manufactured items.
CTO Items
If you have items that are always customized in some manner and made to each
customer’s order, select the item’s CTO checkbox setting in the MRP Settings
screen
Generating Planned Jobs for CTO Items

(MRP – MRP – Generate Button)
To generate planned jobs from sales order lines for CTO items, click the
Generate button on the MRP screen, which displays the MRP Generation
Options window. Select the Generate Planned Jobs for CTO Items option and
click OK.
You will now see the Generate Planned Jobs for CTO Items selection screen
displayed.
On this screen, you can limit the generation to one, a range, or all sales orders.
You can also limit the generation to one or a range of stock items.
Generate Button
Once your selections are completed, click the Generate button. You will receive
a message informing you when the generation is completed. After you click the
Close button, you will see your planned jobs listed on the Planned Jobs sub-tab
of the MRP screen.
Operating Guide 433

7-3. MRP
Planned Jobs Screen
Scheduling and converting planned jobs

After your planned jobs are generated, they must be scheduled and converted to
actual jobs before you move on to step 3 in the MRP process. See Scheduling &
Converting Planned Jobs, later in this chapter for complete details.
Multi-level generation of CTO subassemblies
After you convert planned jobs into actual jobs, MRP will check the newly created
jobs for any subassemblies that are designated as CTO items. If any are found,
MRP will automatically generate another round of planned jobs for the
subassemblies, with dates offset from the first round of jobs.
This second round of jobs can then be scheduled and converted to planned jobs.
If after doing so, MRP detects CTO subassemblies within this second round of
jobs, it will again generate another round of planned jobs with dates offset from
the previous round. This cycle is repeated down through all levels of the product
structures.
434 Operating Guide

7-3. MRP
Step 2 – Generate Jobs for Net Demand

The second step in the MRP process is to generate, schedule, and convert
planned jobs for your manufactured items that are not designated as CTO items.
This second round of planned job generation responds to overall net demand for
each item rather than to individual customer orders, and does so relative to stock
on hand, planned stocking levels, and minimum order quantities.
Generating Planned Jobs for Net Demand

To generate planned jobs for items that are not CTO items, click the Generate
button on the MRP screen, which displays the MRP Generation Options window.
Select the Generate Planned Jobs for Net Demand option and click OK.
You will now see the Generate Planned Jobs for Net Demand selection screen
displayed, which contains the following selection options.
Planning Period
The MRP generation assesses total current and projected demand and supply
within a “planning period.” This planning period varies for each item and consists
of the item’s Lead Days plus Job Days plus the amount you specify in the MRP
Interval Days field.
NOTE: The program expands the Job Days amount by a percentage
equal to a ratio of the number of workdays vs. non-workdays defined on
the shop calendar to ensure that weekends are accounted for in the
planning period calculation.
The purpose of the planning period is to limit the MRP generation so that it only
focuses on items that need attention now. Any demand for an item that falls
outside of its planning period can safely be ignored and dealt with later.
Operating Guide 435

7-3. MRP
Items that can be manufactured or replenished quickly are automatically

assigned short planning periods and don’t get included in the MRP generation
until close to their required dates. This keeps inventory to a minimum and
reduces the number of MRP items to be analyzed.
On the other hand, items with longer lead-times, such as those with lengthy
production cycles or that have to be imported from overseas, are automatically
assigned longer planning periods.
MRP Interval Days
This field value defaults to the MRP Interval Days setting in the MRP Defaults
screen, but can be overridden, if you wish. This amount should be equal to or
greater than the interval days between MRP runs. For example, if you run
MRP once every three days, the MRP Interval Days entry should be ‘3’ or
greater so that this interval is included in the planning period.
If you are a conservative planner and wish to have a safety factor, you could
add a few more days to the planning period. So, in our example above,
rather than set the MRP Interval Days to ‘3’ to cover the interval between
MRP runs, you could set it to ‘5 days to cover the interval and add a little
extra safety margin.
Item ID
You can limit the generation one or a range of stock items, if you wish.
Item Category
You can limit the generation to selected item categories, if you wish.
Generate Button
Once your selections are completed, click the Generate button. After you are
informed that the generation was successfully completed, click the Close button
and you will see your planned jobs listed on the Planned Jobs sub-tab of the
MRP screen.
436 Operating Guide

7-3. MRP
How the MRP generation works

Each manufactured item within the selection range is processed one at a time
and goes through the following four steps.
1. Establish the item’s planning period

First, the program establishes the planning period for the item, which is the
sum of the item’s Lead Days and Job Days settings (from the MRP Settings
screen) plus the amount specified in the MRP Interval Days field on the
Generate Planned Jobs selection screen.
2. Calculate net demand within the planning period
The total supply within the item’s planning period is comprised of:
• Stock on Hand
• Job Outputs
• Planned Jobs
The total demand within the item’s planning period is comprised of:
• Sales Orders
• Job Inputs
The difference between total supply and total demand is the Net Demand for
the item.
3. Generate a planned job, if required
• If Net Demand is zero or less, a planned job will not be generated.
• If Net Demand is greater than zero, it is then compared with the item’s
Reorder Level (from the MRP Settings screen).
• If Net Demand is equal to or greater than the Reorder Level, a planned job
will be generated with a Plan Qty equal to the Net Demand. If that amount
is less than the item’s Min Order amount (from the MRP Settings screen),
the Min Order amount will be used as the Plan Qty.
• If Net Demand is less than the Reorder Level, a planned job will be
generated with a Plan Qty equal to the Net Demand plus the difference
between Net Demand and the Reorder Level. If that amount is less than
the item’s Min Order amount, the Min Order amount will be used as the
Plan Qty.
4. Establish the Required Date and Pegged To settings
• The planned job’s Required date will be set equal to the earliest demand
date within the item’s planning period when projected stock goes negative.
• The planned job’s Pegged To field will be populated with the job or sales
order number associated with the Required date.
Operating Guide 437

7-3. MRP
Scheduling and converting planned jobs

After your planned jobs are generated, they must be scheduled and converted to
actual jobs before you move on to step 3 in the MRP process.
See Scheduling & Converting Planned Jobs later in this chapter for complete
details.
Multi-Level Generation
After you convert planned jobs into actual jobs, MRP will check the newly created
jobs for any subassemblies. If any subassembly items are found that need
ordering, MRP will automatically generate another round of planned jobs for
those items, with dates offset from the first round of jobs.
This second round of jobs can then be scheduled and converted to planned jobs.
If after doing so, MRP detects subassemblies within this second round of jobs, it
will again generate another round of planned jobs, when needed, with dates
offset from the previous round (when possible). This cycle is repeated down
through all levels of the product structures.
438 Operating Guide

7-3. MRP
Step 3 – Generate Planned POs

After all your jobs are generated, the final step is to generate POs for the
purchased items needed by the new jobs and to replenish stock in accordance
with desired stocking levels.
The MRP planned PO generation responds to overall net demand for each item
relative to jobs and sales orders, stock on hand, planned stocking levels, and
minimum order quantities.
Generating planned POs

To generate planned POs for items that are not Make-to-Order items, click the
Generate button on the MRP screen, which displays the MRP Generation
Options window. Select the Generate Planned POs radio button and click OK.
You will now see the Generate Planned POs selection screen displayed, which
contains the following selection options.
Planning Period
The MRP generation assesses total current and projected demand and supply
within a planning period. This planning period varies for each item and consists
of the item’s Lead Days plus the amount specified in the MRP Interval Days field.
The purpose of the planning period is to limit the MRP generation so that it only
focuses on items that need attention now. Any demand for an item that falls
outside of its planning period can safely be ignored and dealt with later.
Items that can be manufactured or replenished quickly are automatically
assigned short planning periods and don’t get included in the MRP generation
until close to their required dates. This keeps inventory to a minimum and
reduces the number of MRP items to be analyzed.
Operating Guide 439

7-3. MRP
On the other hand, items with longer lead-times, such as those that have to be
imported from overseas, are automatically assigned longer planning periods.
MRP Interval Days
This field value defaults to the MRP Interval Days setting in the MRP Defaults
screen, but can be overridden, if you wish. This amount should be equal to or
greater than the interval days between MRP runs. For example, if you run
MRP once every three days, the MRP Interval Days should be ‘3’ or greater
so that this interval is included in the planning period.
If you are a conservative planner and wish to have a safety factor, you could
add a few more days to the planning period. So, in our example above,
rather than set the MRP Interval Days to ‘3’ to cover the interval between
MRP runs, you could set it to ‘6’ days to cover the interval and add a little
extra safety margin.
Item ID
You can limit the generation one or a range of stock items, if you wish.
Item Category
You can limit the generation to selected item categories, if you wish.
Generate Button
Once your selections are completed, click the Generate button. After you are
informed that the generation was successfully completed, click the Close button
and you will see your planned POs listed on the Planned POs sub-tab of the
MRP screen.
How the MRP generation works

Each manufactured item within the selection range is processed one at a time
and goes through the following four steps.
1. Establish the item’s planning period

First, the program establishes the planning period for the item, which is the
sum of the item’s Lead Days setting (from the MRP Settings screen) plus the
amount specified in the MRP Interval Days field on the Generate Planned POs
selection screen.
2. Calculate net demand within the planning period
The total supply within the item’s planning period is comprised of:
• Stock on Hand
• Purchase Orders
• Planned POs
The total demand within the item’s planning period is comprised of:
• Sales Orders
• Job Inputs
440 Operating Guide

7-3. MRP
The difference between total supply and total demand is the Net Demand for
the item.
3. Generate the planned PO, if required
• If Net Demand is zero or less, a planned PO will not be generated.
If Net Demand is greater than zero, it is then compared with the item’s
Reorder Level (from the MRP Settings screen).
• If Net Demand is equal to or greater than the Reorder Level, a planned PO
will be generated with a Plan Qty equal to the Net Demand. If that amount
is less than the item’s Min Order amount (from the MRP Settings screen),
the Min Order amount will be used as the Plan Qty.
• If Net Demand is less than the Reorder Level, a planned PO will be
generated with a Plan Qty equal to the Net Demand plus the difference
between Net Demand and the Reorder Level. If that amount is less than
the item’s Min Order amount, the Min Order amount will be used as the
Plan Qty.
4. Establish the Required Date
• The planned POs Required date will be set equal to the earliest demand
date within the item’s planning period.
Planned POs Screen

(MRP – MRP – Planned POs Tab)
Field Explanations
Item ID
This is the Item to be purchased. Only stock items are given planned POs in
the MRP screen. Use the Subcontract Services screen to generate POs from
jobs for non-stock descriptors and freeform lines.
Operating Guide 441

7-3. MRP
Convert
This checkbox is selected after you have reviewed the planned PO. It
indicates that the planned PO been accepted, edited (if needed), and is ready
for conversion into an actual PO.
Description
The item’s Description is displayed in this field, for reference purposes. The
Description occupies a good deal of width on the screen that obscures some
of the fields to the right. You can clear the Display Description checkbox in
the upper panel to suppress the Description and make more fields visible.
UM
The item’s unit of measure is displayed in this field, for reference purposes. If
you clear the Display Description checkbox in the upper panel, this field
becomes invisible.
Plan Qty
The Plan Qty is equal to the amount required to satisfy net demand within the
item’s planning period or the item’s Reorder Level, whichever is greater. If
that quantity is less than the item’s Min Order quantity, the Plan Qty will be
made equal to the Min Order quantity. This field is for reference only and
cannot be modified.
Required
This date is equal to the earliest demand date within the items’ planning
period when projected stock goes negative. If projected stock does not go
negative, this date is forward scheduled from today’s date by the number of
Lead Days specified, rounding up to the nearest valid workday on the shop
calendar. Normally, this date is left as is, but can be changed, if you wish.
PO Qty
This is the quantity you wish to purchase for this item. The MRP generation
automatically sets this amount equal to the Plan Qty, but you can change it, if
you wish. You may, for example, wish to purchase an extra amount for stock.
Lead Days
This is the number of days typically required to get this item from the supplier.
This field automatically displays the item’s Lead Days setting maintained in
the MRP – MRP Settings screen. It can be changed, if you wish.
Order Date
The Order date is scheduled backward from the PO Due Date by the number
of Lead Days specified. If this date falls on a non-workday defined on the
shop calendar, the program will count continue scheduling backwards until it
finds the first available workday.
NOTE: If backward scheduling causes this date to be earlier than
today’s date, today’s date is used as the Order Date because it is not
physically possible to place an order earlier than today.
442 Operating Guide

7-3. MRP
PO Due Date
When possible, the MRP generation automatically sets the PO Due Date
equal to the Required Date, but it can be changed, if you wish. You may, for
example, wish to receive the items a couple of days earlier than its Required
Date, as a safety factor.
NOTE: If this date causes the Order Date to be earlier than today’s
date, the planned PO will be forward scheduled from today’s date by
the number of Lead Days specified, rounding up to the nearest valid
workday on the shop calendar. This may cause the PO Due Date to
be later than its Required date (see Days Late field).
Days Late
If the Due Date is later than the Required date, the interval number of
calendar days between the two dates is displayed in this field. This alerts you
to the fact that you must move out the Required date of the Pegged to job or
sales order or arrange to expedite this item fro your supplier.
Pegged to
This field, which cannot be modified, displays the job or sales order number
that has the earliest required date within the planning period when projected
stock goes negative. If the planned PO is generated to replenish the item’s
Reorder Level and there are no demand items within the planning period, “To-
Stock’ will display in this field.
Supplier
The Default Supplier from the Stock Items screen is automatically selected by
the MRP generation, but you can select a different supplier, if you wish.
Drill-Down Tab
To the right of the Planned POs sub-tab is the Drill-Down sub-tab. On the Drill-
Down screen, you can view all the supply and demand detail that resulted in the
planned PO generation.
To view the drill-down detail on any item, highlight its planned PO line and click
the Drill-Down sub-tab. Alternatively, double-click on any planned PO line and it
will launch the Drill-Down screen for the item.
Operating Guide 443

7-3. MRP
Projected Tab
On the Projected sub-tab within the Drill-Down screen, you see item’s Current
Stock on-hand in the upper panel, and in the rid you see all supply and demand
for the item within the planning period, in date order.
If you have not yet made any changes to the generated Plan Qty and/pr Order
Date and PO Due Date settings, you will notice two aspects in the supply and
demand listing.
• Because it is tied to the earliest demand date within the planning period when
projected stock goes negative (when possible – see next), you will see your
planned PO adjacent to the job or sales order associated with that demand
date.
• If the planned PO could not be backward scheduled from that demand date
because it would have to be ordered earlier than today’s date, which is not
possible, the planned PO is forward scheduled from today’s date. When this
happens, you will notice that projected stock goes negative prior to the
planned POs due date.
• The Available Qty column shows you a projected stock on-hand quantity by
date. On the last item in the list, the Available Qty is normally equal to or
greater than the item’s Reorder Level. This is because MRP replenishes
stock within the planning period at least up your desired stocking level. When
this amount is greater than the item’s Reorder Level, it is because the item
has a Min Order setting that pushed replenishment beyond your minimum
stocking level.
Summary Tab
On the Summary sub-tab within the Drill-Down screen, you see the item’s MRP
settings and a summary of the amounts by transaction type that comprise the
Available Qty as of the end of the item’s planning period.
444 Operating Guide

7-3. MRP
Adjusting item MRP settings

While you are planning your POs, you may wish to adjust various item MRP
settings such as Reorder Level and Min Order.
You can do so without leaving the screen by clicking the MRP Setting button
while you have a planned job highlighted. This automatically launches the MRP
Settings screen and highlights the current item. Once you close the MRP
Settings screen, you are returned to the Planned POs screen.
Creating new planned POs from scratch

There may be times when you want to create a planned PO from scratch.
To create a new planned PO, while in the Planned POs screen, click the New
Line button. You can then select an Item ID, enter the Order Qty, Lead Days,
and PO Due Date.
Converting planned POs into actual POs

Convert Checkbox
Once you have reviewed and finalized the Order Qty, Order Date, and PO Due
Date settings for each planned PO, select its Convert checkbox. This lets you
know that you have completed your planning for that PO.
Convert Button
After you have completed your planning and all your planned POs have their
Convert checkbox selected, click the Convert button, which launches the Convert
Planned POs screen.
Accept the default PO Type or make another selection.

If you wish to group all items designated for a supplier on a single PO, select the
One PO per Supplier radio button.
If you want each item on its own separate PO, select the One PO for each item
radio button.
After your settings are completed, click OK and the actual POs will be created.
Operating Guide 445

7-3. MRP
Scheduling & Converting Planned Jobs

Job scheduling occurs within steps 2 and 3 of the MRP process.
Because job scheduling is so fundamentally important to the manufacturing
process, we’ve given it its own chapter. In this chapter we cover the following
topics:
• Using the Planned Jobs screen
• How job scheduling works
• Manual Job Days entry
• Using the Job Days Calculator
• Using the Drill-Down screen
• Changing item MRP settings
• Converting planned jobs into actual jobs
• Multi-level generation of lower-level subassemblies
• Job scheduling tips
Planned Jobs Screen

(MRP – MRP – Planned Jobs Tab)
The records listed on this screen were generated either in step 2 of the MRP
process (generating planned jobs for Make-to-Order items) or in step 3
(generating planned jobs for manufactured items).
Field Explanations – Main Grid

Item ID
This is the Item to be manufactured. Only stock items with a setting of ‘M’ for
Manufactured receive planned jobs. The item is not required to have a bill of
446 Operating Guide

7-3. MRP
material; however, when you convert a planned job for an item that does not a
BOM, you will receive a warning that a BOM does not exist.
Convert
This checkbox is selected after you have scheduled the job (see next
section). It indicates that the planned job has been accepted, scheduled, and
is ready for conversion into a live job.
Description
The item’s Description is displayed in this field, for reference purposes. The
Description occupies a good deal of width on the screen that obscures some
of the fields to the right. You can clear the Display Description checkbox in
the upper panel to suppress the Description and make more fields visible.
UM
The item’s unit of measure is displayed in this field, for reference purposes. If
you clear the Display Description checkbox in the upper panel, this field
becomes invisible.
Plan Qty
If the planned job is generated from a sales order line, this quantity is the
sales order line item order Qty. If the item is a Make-to-Order item needed as
a subassembly for another job, the Plan Qty is the amount needed just for
that job.
Otherwise, the Plan Qty is equal to the amount required to satisfy net demand
within the item’s planning period or the item’s Reorder Level, whichever is
greater. If that quantity is less than the item’s Min Order quantity, the Plan
Qty will be made equal to the Min Order quantity. This field is for reference
only and cannot be modified.
Required
This is the planned job’s Required date, which flows through to the job header
when the planned job is converted into a live job. The following are the
possible sources for this date:
• If the planned job is generated from a sales order line, this date is equal to
the Required Date maintained within the sales order line.
• If the planned job is generated for a Make-to-Order item that is a
subassembly in a higher-level job, the higher-level job’s Start Date is used
as its Required date. If the higher-level job has an Overlap setting, this
job’s Required date is equal to the higher-level job’s Start Date plus the
number of Overlap days forward, skipping over non-workdays defined on
the shop calendar.
• If the planned job is generated against net demand, the Required date is
the earliest demand date within the item’s planning period when projected
stock goes negative. If projected stock does not go negative, which can
happen when replenishing stock levels, the planned job is forward
Operating Guide 447

7-3. MRP
scheduled from today’s date and this date is set equal to the planned job’s
Finish Date.
Date Type
Once a planned job is converted to a live job, its Required may or may not be
subject to change, depending on its Date Type. Three settings are used.
Linked
If this job is formally linked to a sales order line item or a higher-level
job, its Date Type is set to ‘Linked’. If the sales order or higher-level
job’s required date changes, the Job Scheduling screen will change
this job’s Required Date as well in order to keep dates aligned with one
another.
Floating
If this job was created in response to net demand, its Date Type is set
to ‘Floating’. Each time the Job Scheduling screen is accessed, the
program will recalculate this job’s Required Date based on the earliest
date within the output item’s planning period when projected stock
goes negative.
Fixed
If you want the job’s Required Date to stay fixed, regardless of
changing requirements elsewhere, you can manually set the Date
Type to ‘Fixed’. When you do so, the Job Scheduling screen will not
attempt to reschedule the job’s Required Date.
Job Qty
This is the quantity you wish to manufacture for this item. The MRP
generation automatically sets this amount equal to the Plan Qty, but you can
change it, if you wish. You may, for example, wish to make an extra amount
for stock.
Job Start
The Job Start date is scheduled backward from the Job Finish date by the
number of Job Days (located in the lower panel) plus any non-workdays such
as weekends and holidays (as defined on the shop calendar).
If backward scheduling causes the Job Start date less the items’ Lead Days
to be earlier than today’s date, which is not physically possible, the planned
job will be forward scheduled from today’s date. The Lead Days will be
added to today’s date to establish the Job Start date, rounded up to the
nearest valid workday on the shop calendar. The Job Days specified will be
added to the Job Start date to establish the Job Finish date, rounded up to
the nearest valid workday on the shop calendar.
Job Finish
The MRP generation automatically sets the Job Finish date equal to the
Required date (when possible), but it can be changed, if you wish. You may,
448 Operating Guide

7-3. MRP
for example, wish to complete the job a couple of days earlier than its
Required date, as a safety factor.
If setting the Job Finish date equal to the Required date causes the Job Start
date less the items’ Lead Days to be earlier than today’s date, which is not
physically possible, the planned job will be forward scheduled from today’s
date. The Lead Days will be added to today’s date to establish the Job Start
date, rounded up to the nearest valid workday on the shop calendar. The Job
Days specified will be added to the Job Start date to establish the Job Finish
date, rounded up to the nearest valid workday on the shop calendar.
Days Late
If the Job Finish date is later than its Required date, the interval number of
calendar days between the two dates is displayed in this field. This alerts you
to the fact that you must either move the Required date out or expedite the
job schedule (perhaps by working overtime) to meet the Required date.
Pegged to
This field, which cannot be modified, displays the following information:
• If the planned job is generated directly from a sales order line, the
sales order number is displayed in this field.
• If the planned job is generated for a Make-to-Order item that is a
subassembly within a higher-level job, that higher-level job number is
• If the planned job is generated from net demand, this is the number of
the job or sales order with the earliest required date within the planning
period when projected stock goes negative.
• If the planned job is generated to replenish the item’s Reorder Level
and there are no demand items within the planning period where
projected stock goes negative, “To-Stock’ will display in this field.
MTO
MTO is an abbreviation for Make-to-Order. If the planned job is generated
from a sales order line or is a Make-to-Order item generated as a
subassembly from a higher-level job, this checkbox is selected, for reference
purposes only. It cannot be modified.
Field Explanations – Lower Panel

Job Days
This is the number of production days anticipated to complete the job from
start to finish. It includes setup hours, labor hours, turnaround time for
subcontract services, move time between work centers, waiting time at the
work center, and safety buffers. The Job Days does not include non-working
days such as weekends and holidays (as defined on the shop calendar).
Operating Guide 449

7-3. MRP
This field automatically displays the item’s Job Days setting maintained in the
MRP – MRP Settings screen. It can be manually overridden or you can click
the button in the field to bring up the Job Days Calculator, which will generate
the Job Days for you (if your BOM has a routing). See chapter 5-13,
Scheduling Planned Jobs, for more information.
Lead Days
This setting is maintained in the MRP – MRP Settings screen and is the
number of days it normally takes before you can begin a job for this item.
Overlap Days
This field is only visible if the Use Overlap checkbox is selected in the MRP &
Scheduling Defaults screen. If this is a Make-to-Order job linked to a higher
level job and that job has an Overlap setting, its value is displayed in the field,
which cannot be edited.
This job’s Required Date is equal to the higher level job’s Start Date, plus
Overlap Days forward, skipping over any non-valid workdays defined on the
shop calendar.
Revision
The item’s default bill of material Revision is automatically displayed in this
field. If for some reason you wish to use a Revision other than the default
Revision, you can select an alternate Revision from the lookup.
450 Operating Guide

7-3. MRP
Scheduling Planned Jobs

How job scheduling works

Planned jobs are dynamically scheduled before they are converted to actual jobs.
In doing so, MRP and job scheduling are blended into a single function.
Job scheduling is based around the Job Days setting, which can be manually
entered or automatically calculated based on current work center settings.
The Job Days is the number of production days anticipated to complete the job
from start to finish. It includes setup hours, labor hours, turnaround time for
subcontract services, move time between work centers, waiting time at the work
center, and safety buffers. The Job Days does not include non-working days
such as weekends and holidays (as defined on the shop calendar).
Planned jobs are normally backward scheduled
The program will then take the Job Finish date, which is normally equal to the
Required Date (the promise date given to the customer or the start date of a
higher-level job – less Overlap) and will count days backwards by the number of
Job Days plus any non-workdays such as weekends and holidays (as defined on
the shop calendar) to establish the Job Start date.
Planned jobs are forward scheduled when necessary
If setting the Job Finish date equal to the Required date causes the Job Start
date less the items’ Lead Days to be earlier than today’s date, which is not
physically possible, the planned job will be forward scheduled from today’s date.
The Lead Days will be added to today’s date to establish the Job Start date,
rounded up to the nearest valid workday on the shop calendar. The Job Days
specified will be added to the Job Start date to establish the Job Finish date,
rounded up to the nearest valid workday on the shop calendar.
When this is the case, the job will not be completed in time to meet its Required
date. You must therefore either move the Required date out or arrange to
expedite the job schedule, perhaps by working overtime.
Once the job is scheduled, select the Convert checkbox
Once the Job Start and Job Finish dates are to your satisfaction, you select the
planned job’s Convert checkbox and move on to schedule the next planned job.
Job scheduling is a process that aligns your required dates with realistic
production schedules. The key factor is achieving realistic production schedules
is the Job Days amount, which can be manually entered or automatically
generated by the Job Days Calculator.
Operating Guide 451

7-3. MRP
Job Days – Manual Entry

If you do not use routings in your bills of material or if your routings do not
contain reasonably accurate setup hours and production rates, you must
manually enter the Job Days amount.
Enter the Job Days field based on your best guess as to how many days the job
will require to get through the factory from start through completion. Do not
include weekends or holidays in the Job Days amount.
If your products have consistently predictable production times, you can assign
each item a default Job Days amount in the MRP – MRP Settings screen, which
will automatically flow into your planned jobs. You can then accept the default
Job Days amount or override it for any exceptions.
Job Days Calculator

If you use routings and they contain reasonably accurate setup hours and labor
rates, you can use the Job Days Calculator to generate the planned job’s Job
Days amount for you.
To activate the Job Days Calculator, click the button in the Job Days field, which
brings up the Job Days Calculator screen.
In the upper panel you will see the Calculated Job Days field, which is the grand
total of the individual Job Days amounts calculated for each routing sequence.
This amount is repeated in the Job Days entry field, which you can accept or
override if you wish to round or change the calculated amount.
When you click the Close button, the Job Days amount is inserted into the
planned job’s Job Days field.
Field Explanations – Main Grid

Sequence
This field identifies the routing sequence, also referred to as a “stage.”
452 Operating Guide

7-3. MRP
Work Center
This is the Work Center within which this Sequence will be performed.
Job Days
This represents the total estimated Job Days that will be required to complete
this Sequence. It is the sum of the following fields: Setup Days, Labor Days,
Days Next, Queue, and Buffer.
Setup Days
This is the estimated setup time for this Sequence, translated from hours into
job days, based on this work center’s daily capacity. The formula used is:
Setup Hours / Job Hours/Day
Labor Days
This is the estimated labor time for this Sequence, translated from hours into
job days, based on this work center’s daily capacity. The formula used is:
(Make Qty x Time/Proc x Items/Proc) / Job Hrs/Day
Days Next
This is the Days to Next setting from the item’s routing. It is the number of
workdays that occurs between the completion of this routing sequence and
the start of the next sequence, apart from and not including the setup and
labor time involved in this routing sequence. For example, a painted part
might require 3-days of drying time or a part might need a day or two to get
from work center to the next.
This can also be a negative number for situations where parts produced on
one routing sequence can be started in the next sequence without having to
wait for the entire run to be completed before doing so. In scheduling terms
this is referred to as “overlap.”
For subcontract services, Days to Next refers to the number of days it takes
to get the parts sent out, completed, and received back from the supplier.
Queue
This is the Queue Days setting maintained in this Work Center. It represents
the estimated number of days an item must wait in this work center before
production can begin. Typically, this field is only used with “bottleneck” work
centers where there is a finite capacity associated with a machine or some
other physical constraint that limits production to a set amount each day.
Buffer
This is the Buffer Days setting maintained in this Work Center. It enables you
to add in a safety buffer to the job schedule to account for the unforeseen
delays common to manufacturing environments – such as machinery repairs,
worker or material unavailability, unexpected rework, etc.
Operating Guide 453

7-3. MRP
Field Explanations – Lower Panel

Job Hrs/Day
This is the Job Hours/Day setting maintained in this Work Center. It
represents the maximum number of hours that can be allocated to any given
job per day. Estimated setup and labor hours are divided by the Job Hours /
Day to translate hours into job days as part of the overall Job Days calculation
for the item.
Setup Hrs
This is the Setup Hours value maintained in the item’s routing. It represents
the total estimated setup time for this Sequence, expressed in decimal hours.
Time/Proc
This is the Time / Process value maintained in the item’s routing, translated
into decimal hours. Production is expressed in terms of ‘processes’. A
process can be an assembly operation, a hit from a punch press, a mold
cycle, etc. A process can produce a single part or many parts at a time.
Items/Proc
This is the Items/Process value maintained in the item’s routing. It represents
the number of parts produced per process. The Time/Process is multiplied by
the Items/Proc to determine how much time is required to make a single part.
Labor Hours
This is the total estimated labor hours for this Sequence, which is calculated
using this formula:
Make Qty x Time/Proc x Items/Proc
Drill-Down Tab
To the right of the Planned Jobs sub-tab is the Drill-Down sub-tab. On the Drill-
Down screen, you can view all the supply and demand detail that resulted in the
planned job generation.
454 Operating Guide

7-3. MRP
To view the drill-down detail on any item, highlight its planned job line and click
the Drill-Down sub-tab. Alternatively, double-click on any planned job line and it
will launch the Drill-Down screen for the item.
Projected Tab
On the Projected sub-tab within the Drill-Down screen, you see item’s Current
Stock on-hand in the upper panel, and in the grid you see all supply and demand
for the item within the planning period, in date order.
If you have not yet made any changes to the generated Plan Qty and/pr Job Start
and Job Finish settings, you will notice two aspects in the supply and demand
listing.
• Because it is tied to the earliest demand date within the planning period, you
will see your planned job at or near the top of the list.
• The Available Qty column shows you a projected stock on-hand quantity by
date. On the last item in the list, the Available Qty is normally equal to or
greater than the item’s Reorder Level. This is because MRP replenishes
stock within the planning period at least up to your desired stocking level.
When this amount is greater than the item’s Reorder Level, it is because the
item has a Min Order setting that pushed replenishment beyond your
minimum stocking level.
Summary Tab
On the Summary sub-tab within the Drill-Down screen, you see the item’s MRP
settings and a summary of the amounts by transaction type that comprise the
Available Qty as of the end of the item’s planning period.
Reset Planning Period
At the bottom of the Drill-Down screen is the Reset Planning Period button. If you
wish to see additional supply and demand detail beyond the planning period that
was used in the MRP generation, you can click this button and change the
planning period that governs the contents of the Drill-Down screen.
On a critical item, for example, you may wish to look out a week or two beyond
the MRP planning period to see if there are any unusual requirements on the
horizon.
NOTE: Changing the Planning Period will display additional detail for
reference purposes, but it has no effect on the planned jobs that have
already been generated.
Adjusting item MRP settings

While you are planning your jobs, you may wish to adjust various item MRP
settings such as Reorder Level and Min Order.
You can do so without leaving the screen by clicking the MRP Setting button
while you have a planned job highlighted. This automatically launches the MRP
Operating Guide 455

7-3. MRP
Settings screen and highlights the current item. Once you close the MRP
Settings screen, you are returned to the Planned Jobs screen.
Creating new planned jobs from scratch

There may be times when you wish to create a planned job from scratch. You
may, for example, wish to split one planned job into two jobs. You could reduce
the quantity on the original planned job, and then create a new planned job for
the remaining quantity.
To create a new planned job, while in the Planned Jobs screen, click the New
Line button. You can then select an Item ID, enter the Job Qty and Required
Date, then schedule the job back from its Job Finish date using the Job Days
setting.
456 Operating Guide

7-3. MRP
Converting Planned Jobs into Actual Jobs

Convert Checkbox
Once you finalize the Job Qty, Job Start, and Job Finish settings for each
planned job, select its Convert checkbox. This lets you know that you have
completed your planning and scheduling for that job.
Convert Button
After you have completed your planning and all your planned jobs have their
Convert checkbox selected, click the Convert button, which launches the Convert
Planned Jobs screen.
IMPORTANT: Always complete the planning and scheduling process for
all your planned jobs and then convert them in a single batch. If you
convert jobs one at a time, planned jobs for lower-level subassemblies
could end up fragmented rather than consolidate into single jobs.
In the Convert Planned Jobs screen are listed all the planned jobs marked for
conversion. It gives you one last opportunity to review the list. If for any reason
you do not wish to proceed with converting any particular job, you can clear its
Convert checkbox.
Once the list of jobs is to your satisfaction, click the Convert button and the jobs
will be converted into actual Make Jobs.
NOTE: If any item does not have a bill of material, you will receive a
warning and are asked if you wish to create the job anyway. If you
proceed, a job will be created without any details.
When the conversion is completed, you will receive one of two messages.
• If the newly created jobs contain subassemblies for which there is already
sufficient supply within each item’s planning period, you will be notified that
the planned jobs were successfully converted.
Operating Guide 457

7-3. MRP
• If the newly created jobs contain subassemblies that require planned jobs of
their own, you will be notified that the program has automatically created
additional planned jobs for lower-level subassemblies. In this case, you must
schedule and convert another round of planned jobs. See the next section for
details.
Multi-Level Generation
When the program finishes converting planned jobs into actual jobs, it

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Verwandte Titel

1

Updated: April 2010

2-6. Main Setup _____________________________________________ 90

3. Utilities ____________________________________ 103

4. Inventory __________________________________ 127

Additional Tab __________________________________________ 182

5. BOM (Bills of Material) _______________________ 223

5-7B. Costed BOM _______________________________________ 276

6. Sales ______________________________________ 279

Screen Details __________________________________________ 377

6A. RMA Processing___________________________ 397

6A-5. Disassembling a Product _______________________________ 415

8. Jobs ______________________________________ 477

Release Jobs Screen _____________________________________ 492

8A. Using Custom Items _______________________ 591

List Tab ________________________________________________ 608

10. Notes (Notes & Documents) __________________ 655

11. AR (Accounts Receivable) ___________________ 665

11-2. Customer Payments ___________________________________ 667

12. AP (Accounts Payable) _____________________ 683

13. GL (General Ledger) ________________________ 713

13-1H. Clear Account Balances _____________________________ 762

13A. Period End & Year End_____________________ 787

13B. Posting Specifications _____________________ 794

14. Bank (Banking) ____________________________ 809

14-6. Account Balances Inquiry ______________________________ 828

15. Tax (Taxation) _____________________________ 829

16. Transfer (Financial Transfer) _________________ 847

17. Help _____________________________________ 871

17-5. Web Links Setup ______________________________________ 881

17. Backup Manager ___________________________ 885

Welcome to DBA Manufacturing, a small business ERP system that includes

Online Help (F1)

1-1. Change Password

Use this screen to change your system password.

1-2. User Email Settings

1-3. Data Import

Phase 1 – Export Data into Excel

Phase 2 – Edit Spreadsheet

Step 1 – Assign Column Headings

Phase 3 – Import Data

Using the Import Wizard

Step 1 Screen – Select Excel File Option

Step 2 Screen – Navigate to Excel File

Step 4 Screen – Enter First Row Setting

Because your spreadsheet contains a row of column headings, indicate in the

Step 6 Screen – Map Columns to DBA Fields

Step 9 Screen – Save Specifications and Perform Import

Re-Running the Import

Data Import – Customers

*.xls File Format

Data Import – Customer Contacts

*.xls File Format

Data Import – Delivery Addresses

Each customer’s delivery addresses are stored in a separate Delivery Addresses

*.xls File Format

Customer Name (Required)

Data Import – Suppliers

*.xls File Format