AMWin - Computer software for service industry business.

Computer software for service based business

AmWin software overview

14th June 2005

Hi Everyone

In this edition of the newsletter we feature some great information to our users including a must read comprehensive end of financial year document in MSWord format.

We also introduce the new stocktaking module - yup rolling stock-takes so there's no working over the weekend and no overtime to pay at the end of the financial year.

Once again Viki and Maryanne from The National Support Centre provide some useful AM-Win tips and we bring back Windows tips and tricks for XP. This month the XP tips are designed to have you flashing around your XP operating system without a mouse.

Our DOB in a mate competition has been extended until 30th July - If you haven't entered yet, put your thinking caps on and go for it . The prize is a good one so get your entry in fast because you've gotta be in it to win it. [More information below].

Our "whoops" section this month is a classic from an Australian car-yard and we take a look inside the world's largest diesel engine.

End of Financial Year Training Document

With the End of Financial Year very much upon us, Kevin our Software Development Director is keen to make sure that all users know what to do at 30th June. To this end he has written and published an "end of year" training document for version 6 and 7 users. The document is quite lengthy so we haven't put it in the newsletter. However it is available in two ways - click here to download in zip format [recommended] or click here to open and print in MSWord. [Note: You will need to click cancel when you are asked for your user name and password. Document takes some time to open with modem connection].

Visit our libraries.

Did you know that we have a library of searchable documents relating to the use of AM-Win on our website all catagorised by version number and searchable by keyword or phrase. These "how to" documents are there to help you get the best from our software programs. You must have a support entitlement with National Support or a Software Upgrade Agreement to take advantage of our libraries. [Another advantage of having an SUA (Software Upgrade Agreement) ]

Click here to browse

Note: You'll need your user name and password. If you haven't got one why not register on our website to get the most out of the resources available to you.

Click here to register.

New Stock-take Module

Ease the year end stress.

No more overtime to pay or pressure at year end to get the stock-take done. What a relief!

The new stock take module will allow you to process stocktaking by batches. This means that you can process a stock-take using a large criteria of filters such as bin location, supplier, group etc.

You can also do a stock-take for a range of parts by location and between 2 parts numbers alpha-numerically. Once the report is processed you can then print batch stock-take reports and count the actual stock on hand. Once the stock is counted you are then able to enter the discrepancies and process the stock-take.

One of the main features of the stock-take module is that once the stock is counted you can take as long as you like to update the batch on the computer and AM-Win will account for any sales or purchases that have been done since the items were counted.

With this module you can create a batch, still count the stock immediately, but key it in when you are ready. That way you can stock-take a section at a time. By 30th June, your stock count should be spot on, and the pressure is off.

This is a new option for AM-Win and the cost is just $495. Contact your AM-Win Consultant for more information and to purchase.

How do I search by Invoice Number?

To search for an invoice number in AM-Win, go to the History Module separate from Am-Win (you'll find it on your desktop) and type in the invoice number. It will show the Customer, Bill to and the Job Item at the bottom of the list. You can reprint an invoice from there by double clicking on the invoice or click the 'Invoice' button. There are several searchable tabs as well to search by Job, Job Item, by specific customer etc.

Customer/Supplier discounts

In the customer/supplier payments screen you now have the ability to give a customer a discount and receive a discount from a supplier when paying the account.

In the Payments screen, enter the payment details as normal, including the amount, then either choose the up/down arrows or type in a discount percentage or type in a $ value, press tab and the settlement amount will show the amount that is payable. Now choose the "Ledger Account" that you want the discount to go to (e.g. a 9000 number for the customer or an 8000 number for the supplier). When printing out the receipt/remittance it has discount amount shown.

Stock Kits

Version 7 provides a new function in the stock system called stock kits. This function means that you can flag a stock item as a stock kit. When the item is flagged as a kit item then you can attach as many items as you like to that stock item. For example you may have a stock item which is a clutch kit. That item can then be linked to the Clutch plate and Pressure plate and maybe the thrust bearing. Or you may have a sports exhaust kit part which is linked to the engine pipe, tail pile, muffler etc. For those in the computer industry you may have a computer kit part which is linked to the computer, monitor, keyboard, mouse, mouse pad etc.

Kit items do not carry stock on hand as such. The stock on hand is held within each item of that kit. If you wish to see if you have sufficient stock to make up the kit then you can click on the Kit button within the stock master-files and see how many of each item within the kit you have in stock and as such how many kits you could make with your current stock or how manu and what items you need to be able to assemble further kits.

When the item is marked as a kit you can then either flag the kit as a exploded kit or not exploded.

Exploded kit parts means that when the part is selected during on an invoice, all of the items attached to that part are placed on the invoice and not the actual kit part. In this way the part number works almost exactly the same as a norm Kit would. It is simply a method of expanding / exploding a single item into many items on the invoice. If 3 of the kit item is sold then 3 x all of the parts within that kit are sold. The sales of the individual parts are recorded in exactly the same way that they would be if the parts were manually entered one by one on the invoice.

If the kit is not exploded when a part is selected on a job, the actual kit part selected will be placed on the invoice. The non exploded kit will be priced as per the prices in the kit number. This means that the Kit price may be substantially different that the total of the items within the kit. The Clutch and Pressure plate separately may sell for a total of $220 while the kit may be sold for $200 (10% less). Or in fact because of a labour / installation content the kit may in fact be sold for a higher price that the individual components.

When a non exploded kit is sold the kit itself as previously mentioned has no stock control. It is the individual parts within the stock kit that are stock controlled. However, when you look at the sales details for each item, the value of the items that where in the kit is Zero (0) but the sales value of the kit itself is whatever it was sold for. This is because if we include the sales value for both the kit and also the individual items them the sales figures would be doubled for that sale. The sale qty is included for both the kit and the individual items for stock control tracking. The sales details can be viewed from the sales analysis screen (F2 from the stock masterfile screen). You can also restrict the sales to just kit sales or all sales.

Launch the start menu without a mouse.

Sick and tired of using the mouse to click on the start button to display the Windows Start Menu. Try this: Hit the Windows’ Key. Press and release the windows key and once released the start menu is launched.. Get used to the Windows key as many of the other shortcuts you will use rely on this key.

Note:
You may have a ‘very’ old keyboard that may not include the Windows Key on it. You will not be able to use this shortcut unless you get a new keyboard. In this case use Ctrl + Esc

Lock your workstation
Keyboard Shortcut: Windows key + L - a simple keystroke that will lock your system immediately.

Handy for the times when you want to leave your system and quickly secure your PC.

Find files - fast
Keyboard Shortcut: Windows Key + F

If you want to find files (and or computers, and other random things on your system) you will want to use the Search feature built into Windows XP. The Windows Key + F (for find) will invoke the Search function and within a few seconds, you should see your Search Results dialog box come up.

Show Desktop
Keyboard Shortcut: Windows key + D

There will be many times when you will have programs open and need to get to the desktop to open another. Rather than minimising all of your programs to finally reveal the desktop and it's icons use the Windows key + D (for desktop). All programs will be minimised at once. To maximise the program that you were using click it's name on the taskbar.

DOB in a Mate Promotion
Did you know that over 70% of our AM-Win clients have been referred to us by existing users. As all those people who own their own business know, referrals are the best way to obtain the new business that keeps the wheels turning as clients retire, close down or for whatever reason, no longer need your services.

So if you reckon that AMWin is the best thing since sliced bread, are prepared to provide referrals, know another business or associate that would benefit from using a program that does as much as AMWIN and could use a break from the business for a weekend to spend some quality time with your "better half" then our DOB in a mate is for you.

The promotion is simple. We give one point for each referral. The person who has the most points at the close of the promotion will be the winner of a choice of a weekend away on the Gold Coast or in Sydney. Your referral must not be an existing AMWin user.

To help you think of names here's a list of the types of businesses that are a glove fit for AMWin.

Automotive Workshops	Power equipment	Small engine repairers
Marine industry	Fork lift industry	Aviation industry
Farm equipment	Plumbing and hot Water	Power tool industry
White goods repairers	Lawn mower repairs	Truck & bus repairs
Air conditioning industry	General repairers	Hire Companies

Click here to go to our DOB in a mate page. Fill in the referral form as many times as you like and you'll be entered into our competition. Final results will be tallied on July 30th 2005 and the winner will be advised by e-mail. Details will be published in the first newsletter published after the 30th July.

Our whoops shots this month are taken at an actual incident that occurred in a car yard. The story goes that a teenager was allowed to "road test" the red Commodore, came back a little fast and was somewhat slow in finding the brake pedal. We apologise to the person who sent us the shots as we can't remember who it was but our thanks for some excellent work.

The world's largest diesel engine

Our thanks to Mike Rusling for sending us the following article.

The Wartsila-Sulzer RTA96-C turbocharged two-stroke diesel engine is the most powerful and most efficient prime-mover in the world today. It's available in 6 through 14 cylinder versions. All are inline engines.

The cylinder bore is just under 38" and the stroke is just over 98". Each cylinder displaces 111,143 cubic inches (1820 litres) and produces 7780 horsepower. Total displacement comes out to 1,556,002 cubic inches (25,480 litres) for the fourteen cylinder version.

More information and photos at http://www.bath.ac.uk/~ccsshb/12cyl

Jokes

Thanks to Brian Taylor and his contributors for our first two yarns.

Granny & The Biker

A biker stops by the Harley Shop to have his bike fixed. They couldn't do it while he waited, so he said he didn't live far and would just walk home.

On the way home he stopped at the hardware store and bought a bucket and an anvil. He stopped by the feed store/livestock dealer and picked up a couple of chickens and a goose. However, he now had a problem: how to carry all of his purchases home.

The owner said, "Why don't you put the anvil in the bucket, carry the bucket in one hand, put a chicken under each arm and carry the goose in your other hand?"

"Hey, thanks!" the biker said, and out the door he went.

But in the parking lot he was approached by a little old lady who told him she was lost. She asked, "Can you tell me how to get to 1603 Mockingbird Lane?"

The biker said, "Well, as a matter of fact, I live at 1616 Mockingbird Lane. Let's take my short cut and go down this alley. We'll be there in no time."

The little old lady looked him over cautiously then said, "I am a lonely widow without a husband to defend me. How do I know that when we get in the alley you won't hold me up against the wall, pull up my skirt, and ravish me?"

The biker said, "Holy smokes lady! I am carrying a bucket, an anvil, two chickens, and a goose. How in the world could I possibly hold you up against the wall and do that?"

The lady said, "Set the goose down, cover him with the bucket, put the anvil on top of the bucket, and I'll hold the chickens."

The Protestant and the Priest.

There was once a young protestant man who loved to sneak away to the race track. One day he was there betting on the ponies, and losing his shirt, when he noticed a priest step out onto the track and bless the forehead of one of the horses lining up for the 4th race. Lo and behold, this horse -- a very long shot -- won the race.

The young man was most interested to see what the priest did in the next race. Sure enough, he watched the priest step out onto the track as the horses for the third race lined up, and placed a blessing on the forehead of one of the horses.

The young man made a beeline for the window and placed a small bet on the horse. Again, even though another long shot, the horse the priest had blessed won the race. The young man collected his winnings and anxiously waited to see
which horse the priest bestowed his blessing on for the 6th race.

The priest blessed a horse, the young man bet on it, and it won! The young man was elated! As the day went on, the priest continued blessing one of the horses, and it always came in first.

The young man began to pull in some serious money, and by the last race, he knew his wildest dreams were going to come true. He made a quick stop at the ATM, withdrew big money and awaited the priest's blessing that would tell
him which horse to bet on. True to his pattern, the priest stepped out onto the track before the last race and blessed the forehead, eyes, ears and hooves of one of the horses.

The young man bet every cent, and watched the horse come in dead last. He was dumbfounded. He made his way to the track, and when he found the priest, he demanded, "What happened, Father? All day you blessed horses and they won. The last race, you blessed a horse and he lost. Now I've lost all my savings, thanks to you!!"

The priest nodded wisely and said, "That's the problem with you Protestants....... you can't tell the difference between a simple blessing and the Last Rites."

You couldn't get it up if I held a gun to your head

Thanks to AM-Win programmer Ted Steward for our next story.

Harold is 95 and lives in a senior citizen home. Every night after dinner, Harold goes to a secluded garden behind the center to sit and ponder his accomplishments and long life.

One evening, Mildred, age 87, wanders into the garden. They begin to chat, and before they know it, several hours have passed. After a short lull in their conversation, Harold turns to Mildred and asks, "Do you know what I miss most of all?"

She asks, "What?"

He replied "SEX!!"

Mildred exclaims, "Why you old fart, you couldn't get it up if I held a gun to your head"

"I know," Harold says, "but it would be nice if a woman could just hold it for a while"

"Well, I can oblige," says Mildred, who unzips his trousers, removes his manhood and proceeds to hold it.

Afterward, they agree to meet secretly each night in the garden where they would sit and talk and Mildred would hold Harold's manhood.

Then, one night, Harold didn't show up at their usual meeting place. Alarmed, Mildred decided to find Harold and make sure he was O.K. She walked around the senior citizen home where she found him sitting by the pool with another female resident, Ethel, who was holding Harold's manhood!

Furious, Mildred yelled, "You two-timing creep! What does Ethel have that I don't have?"

Old Harold smiled happily and replied, "Parkinson's".

Have a great month

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