 Have you checked out the new TopForm website lately. We have been very busy making improvements in order to service you better. Be sure to stay current with our most recent newsletters on-line. Login with your user name and password and you'll see two options, Documentation and Contact List. To access TopForm Documentation choose the first option. We are adding more and more informative materials to the website with each passing day. Also for your convenience, the Contact List option lists TopForm employee extension numbers and email addresses. Register for this year's TopForm User Conference on-line. Here you can specify your preference for a single or double room, smoking or nonsmoking, and your exact arrival and departure information. If you choose double, please also specify the party with whom you will be rooming. We will talk care of all the arrangements! On our home page, click on the interactive demo. Here you will have two options. The first is also an informative TopForm presentation. You may be surprised to learn of all of TopForm's current's capabilities. The second is a live demo of TopForm Web.ec including the Variable Print Option. Please note the new page design. If you like what you see you can arrange to have these pages downloaded to your development server (TopForm Web.ec users only). . Another new option is our Custom Design Services. You can contract with TopForm directly for new custom pages or just for needed changes to your existing pages. Remember, taking advantage of new features in Web.ec typically requires page changes. We would like to solicit your ideas for future improvement to our TopForm website. Please send your suggestions to webmaster@topform.com. The TopForm Variable Print Option, (VPO) is probably the single most important solution for the TopForm Distributor since the initial release of Web.ec. Now your clients can order customized items like business cards, stationery, imprinted brochures, company store items and more over the internet and those orders are created on-line, real time in your TopForm Accounting System. Would the following improve the way you do business today? 1) No redundant data entry. Orders are entered on-line real-time into your TopForm order entry system. Product information is not duplicated. TopForm reads right from your custom item master file. The only files stored outside of your TopForm files are the images and template layouts. 2) One customer interface. Regardless of whether your customer is ordering items to be released from your warehouse, exact repeats of custom items or variable templated items, there is only one single order entry routine. Picking tickets print out in your warehouse, purchase orders transmit to your vendors and custom PDFs or EPS files are automatically created for your manufacturer to use in their production of the ordered product. 3) Your data is under your control. All your important data resides on your TopForm server. Of course, you still have the option to contract with an ISP to host your website, but even in that instance your data (other than possibly images and template designs) resides in house on your TopForm server. 4) No recurring transaction or ASP charges. You purchase a license to use the software within your business. The only on-going charges would be for software support and your ISP fees should you choose to use an outside ISP. 5) Your Custom Item File contains parameters to control if shells need to be released from the warehouse. Your inventory files are kept up-to-date! We are so excited about this new offering. It is exactly what so many of you have been asking for since the initial release of Web.ec. For more information, please call TopForm Sales and Marketing at 1 800 448-1484, or check out our demo at www.topform.com. Q. I use another Internet Ordering Tool that my vendor supplies. What advantages would the TopForm VPO offer me? A. First of all, there is the obvious. Does that vendor's system integrate into your accounting system, or, do you have to do a lot of re-keying? Also, you may, at some point, wish to switch to another manufacturer. How difficult would that be if your customer became accustomed to their system? What about other products that that vendor does not produce. Wouldn't it be ideal to have one customer interface for all of your ordering needs? Q. Are there any ongoing transactions costs for use TopForm Web.ec? A. No, your pay a one time license to use the software on your TopForm server. The only on-going costs are typical software support fees and any custom programming or design services that you or your customer might want or need. Q. What about product setup charges? A. Since TopForm Web.ec is reading directly from your TopForm Custom Item Master and Inventory files, there really is very little setup required other than images and variable text templates. You can perform this setup function yourself. Q. Can I introduce my own marketing brand name and identity to Web.ec? A. Yes, certainly. TopForm Web.ec is a tool for you to use to market your products and services better. Q. What equipment will I need to take advantage of this feature? A. Actually, if you have an NT web server today, you will have everything you need, if not you will need an NT server (or Server2000) and a permanent connection to the Internet. Q. What is provided to my manufacturer to facilitate their production of the variable text products? A. The PDF is generated and sits on your server. A proof number is automatically assigned to that PDF. When the purchase order is e-mailed or faxed to the manufacturer, it will include this proof number so that the manufacturer can pick up the PDF directly from the website. Q. Where does this software and my data reside. A. Everything resides on your TopForm and web servers. You and only you have full control of your data. If you have any other questions, please call TopForm Sales & Marketing at 800 448-1484. There has been a buzz of excitement ever since we announced that our annual users conference has moved to the Spring! Everyone has been very anxious to learn about this year's topics. Although we may add a few additional sessions nearer the time of the conference, the following should give you a pretty good idea of what's in store. Hands on training on the new TopForm Graphical User Interface (GUI). Get first hand instruction and hands on experience on how to maneuver around in TopForm's new Windows front end. We will be preparing special training classes and training materials to "train your trainers". Your key personnel should be able to return to your office with the knowledge and supplemental materials to bring the rest of your staff up to speed. Particular emphasis will be given to the Graphical User Interface (GUI) of the following modules: Graphic User Web.ec AdministrationTopForm Variable Print Option. In this session, we will provide an introduction and training on how to create custom templates and variable images for on-line ordering and proofing. TopForm Web.ec - New Features. In this session we will cover many of the newer features that can be implemented with Web.ec, including Credit Card Processing, Stock Catalogs, the My Catalog Feature, e-logistics and expanded keyword search as well as the TopForm Variable Print Option. TopForm Web.ec - Workshop. This popular session from the fall conference will be repeated in the spring. During this session, users will be able to bring their issues to the forefront and learn first hand how to resolve them. You will also expand your knowledge by learning about other users issues and resolution. Document Imaging & Workflow. We are very pleased that one of our clients, Gordie Peterson of Document Resources has volunteered to present how they have fully integrated an imaging and workflow system into TopForm. He will also provide insight into how this imaging and workflow system has become a major product line that they sell into their customer base. Through this presentation, you will learn, not only what is possible in the area of imaging to improve your own business, but also perhaps learn of new areas to expand your own business. The session will be followed by a round table discussion so that users can get first hand information on selling this type of product/service and so that they can help shape new TopForm Development in this area. TopForm XML Interoperability - Now that orders can be received into TopForm via XML technology, we need to provide information and training on how to make this work in your organization. This session will also be followed by a round table discussion to allow users to discuss what they want from TopForm in the form of XML interoperability in the future. TopForm Web.ec - New TopForm Pages and Page Design - TopForm has created new sets of standard pages. These pages, now available to you, are in the form of "Style Sheets" so that you can very easily change colors, fonts, background and graphical elements. These pages will not require any HTML programming nor will it require any special tools. Come learn everything you need to know about how to implement and use these new pages. TopForm Web.ec System Administration - Among other things, this session will cover managing Images, email setup, connectivity, testing new pages and features, metatags (tags that provides additional information for administration purposes) and new error logs. ODBC Workshop - Now that ProvideX has provided everyone access to ODBC capability, what better time to learn more about how to use it. Bring your ODBC reporting wish list to this workshop and we'll get you started. To use ODBC successfully, you must be proficient in one or more of the tools you will be using to access your TopForm data, i.e., Microsoft Access or Excel, Crystal Reports, etc. Print Management Setup (alias Forms Management) - This ever-popular session will be repeated until our customers stop telling us they need it. It will cover the proper way to setup a client in Print Management. What is usage and how it is calculated - How to process you clients efficiently at the end of the month. Counted vs. Issue Based Usage and more. System Administration - Learn what you need to properly maintain your system and your data. This session will cover some of the basic fundamentals, including proper back-up procedures, managing disk space and basic trouble shooting techniques. This session is a must for all system administrators from novice to advanced levels. Everything you ever wanted to know about TopForm output. - In this session we will cover configuring printers in TopForm, VSI*Fax administration, and TopForm email capabilities. Since TopForm works hand in hand with JetForm Central for electronic output, relevant information on JetForm will also be provided. We will also provide information on the new freeware Print Key package. Order Processing Special Situations - This standing room only session from the last TopForm conference will also be repeated. Here we cover the many different types of orders and how to best handle them in TopForm. Examples include: (1) Sales Orders with multiple Ship-to's where some inventory will be shipped to the client and some into a distributor warehouse. TopForm Security. As the TopForm system administrator in your office, it is not only important that you coordinate the uses of the various modules of the system but to ensure that your operators only have access to the applications they need. In this way you are not only protecting critical business information but can be making their job easier by streamlining their options. This session will review all of the security controls and your options for customizing the various data entry programs throughout your TopForm system, TopForm File Management - In this session we will cover frequently run utilities and TopForm File Management. We will also spend some time on the TopForm Archive Module which, as you probably already know, allows you to have archived images of certain TopForm output, Invoices, Summary Bills, and your accounting journals (Cash Receipts Journals, Cash Disbursements Journals, etc.). How should you manage these potentially very large files? Taking Advantage of TopForm Features - During the training and implementation phase, we attempt to put into operation all the latest-greatest features available in TopForm. However, new features keep coming along. Are you sure you are getting the most out of your TopForm Software? This session will cover many new and/or advanced features of TopForm and how to implement and manage them. Roundtable Discussions - As a result of your input, we have added even more roundtable discussions to the schedule. We are planning Roundtables on the following topics: Document Imaging and Workflow - Chaired by Gordie Peterson, Document Resources As stated above Gordie will be presenting in the General Session presentation on Saturday morning how they have integrated images and workflow into their TopForm system and how they resell software and services to create the same type of utility to their customers. This roundtable is being provided for further discussion of the concepts. We would also like to get some specific input as to what you would like to see TopForm provide you in terms of future development in this area. Bar Code Data Collection - Chaired by Jim Worrell, Worrell Corporation At last year's conference, Jim and others set the groundwork for TopForm Bar Code Data Collection development and followed up with some preliminary specifications for how he perceives this system should work for the TopForm distributor. Although our plan is to have some of the pieces in place by the time of the users conference, we will certainly need more input and direction. XML Interoperability - Co - Chaired by Marty Peterson, MHC, Nic Greco, CFC and Dan Schroer, Prograde MHC has orders created in TopForm as a result of entries in Four51 using XML technology. Prograde has their P/O Receiving automatically performed by receiving vendor invoice data from CFC. Come hear the success stories directly from the people involved and participate in discussions regarding future XML development. Office Supply Sales and Accounting - Participation by United Stationers TopForm has recently created an interface to DDMS industry specific software for office supply sales. We are also working with United to develop a direct interface. Join United and us in this discussion regarding your needs and expectations. TopForm Accounting Power Users - Chaired by Connie Truan, Webb Mason This session will allow the power users of TopForm to get together to draw on each other's experience in search of better solutions to issues that they might be having. Print-to-Mail - Co-Chaired by Pete Mattson, MHC and Glen Hilbert, GDX To accommodate our sister company, GDX, we have performed programming in TopForm to facilitate the use of a Print -to-Mail Invoice. This Roundtable will talk about your internal use of Print-to-Mail documents as well as sales opportunities in selling this technology. Large TopForm Distributor Meeting - Chaired by (To be announced) Small TopForm Distributor Meeting - Chaired by (To be announced) These meetings are designed to bring together distributors of common size so that they can discuss issues that affect their operations and their use of TopForm Software. Although anyone is welcome to either meeting, we have set the following guidelines: Large TopForm Distributor - 24 user and higher |