TopForm® Software, Inc. 330 Research Court Suite 200 Norcross, GA 30092
June 2005     

This month in TopForm® Times...

Internet Security

New Feature: Variable Print & Web.ec

TopForm® Patch Delivery System

TopForm® 2005 Client Conference

TopForm® Personals

 

Do you currently have a firewall in place to protect your company’s computer network?  If you don’t know the answer to this question, now is the time to find out.  Internet firewalls are available in various configurations; some are hardware appliances and others software packages that reside on a computer in your network.  Which one is best?  They both have similar features.

For a quick tutorial in Network Firewalls visit:

http://www.howstuffworks.com/firewall.htm

TopForm has the technical staff to help you select the right product and assist with the installation, configuration and maintenance of your network firewall.  We know that many of our customers do not have full time IT staff to manage their network, so we will assist on a time and material basis.

 
 

How it used to be: when your customers ordered multiples of variable print items separate e-mails with individual .pdf files of each item were sent to the vendor.  Example: when 10 business cards were requested in the same order, 10 different .pdf files were generated and sent in 10 separate e-mails to the vendor.

New functionality: when variable print items are ordered in multiples, a composite .pdf is created of the group order and then sent in a single e-mail to the vendor.  Example: when 10 business cards are requested in the same order, 1 composite .pdf file with 10 distinct images is generated and sent in 1 e-mail to the vendor.

Technical explanation: a new EC System Parameter (E/C,S1 in CHUI) is in place to control this feature:  

 
Note:  After setting this parameter, all Web.ec servers will need to be restarted. Changes are necessary to the shopping cart page (ordent.htm) concerning the "Check Out" button. 

If this new feature is used, then the logic is in place to go back to variable print (in the background) and create the composite .pdf for each VP item on the order.  For example, if the buyer is purchasing 10 business cards, which created 10 lines on the WebEC worksheet, and 10 .pdf's in VP, these 10 .pdf's will be "combined" into one composite .pdf with ten separate sheets, one for each business card.  There is a new tag, composite_pdf, that holds the data for the above new parameter.

This data, either Y or N, is used with an include file to either perform the function of creating the composite .pdf or not.

A new tag, 3p_info_3, will be updated in Web.ec with the name of the composite .pdf file name.  This new tag can be used within the 3pinfostart and 3pinfoend tags on the order entry pages if desired. 

The VP vendor email feature has been modified concerning this new feature.  If the above parameter is set to Y, then when Web.ec is creating the vendor email, only one email per sales order will be sent to the vendor.  The body of the email is controlled by a file, PROOF_body.txt .  This standard will need to be modified with new tags to go along with these program changes.  You also may wish to change the wording of the email subject, PROOF_subject.txt.

The new data for the 3p_info_3 tag, is now available to print on the Purchase order (field 182) and the AR Invoice (field 168). If electronic forms are used, these will need to be updated in order to print these new fields.


Recently a customer asked:

“Why don’t you post all the patches on your website instead of e-mailing them?”

The answer:

You only get a patch if you need it.  First, our system checks to make certain that you have the particular module affected.   Second, it checks your latest release date.  If your release was prior to the “bug” or if you have already installed a release with the fix, then you will not receive the related patch.  

We also describe the problem that the patch is intended to resolve.  If you are using this module or feature, it is very important that you install the patch.


TopForm Software Inc. hosted its annual client conference on April 21-23 in Marietta, GA at the Marietta Conference Center.

The conference marked the 30 Year Anniversary of TopForm success.  Seventy-eight users from 40 different TopForm companies were treated to classes on TopForm features and new software options as well one-on-one interaction with the TopForm support staff, designers and programmers. 

TopForm Software Inc. President Julie Pritchard welcomes attendees 
during her opening session Year-in-Review.

The clear favorite of attendees was the new module “TopForm Image Library”.  With this new module, digital images of every document and source journal created within TopForm are stored and indexed to the associated transaction.  TopForm users in the classes agreed that it would save precious time throughout the business day as well as eliminate the hassle and space issues of filing.

Many of the repeat attendees confirmed that they come each year looking forward to finding new ways to improve their business efficiency and profitability.  The highly positive feedback afterwards attested to this fact. 

A few of the men of TopForm:  From left to right, Chris Yarbrough, Steve Boyett, 
Joshua Rice, Bob Behzadi, Jesse Bryan and Keith McBride.

The 2005 conference signified the end of the TopForm “Top Gun” contests, that had been held over the course of the previous year, testing TopForm users’ overall knowledge of the numerous – and sometimes underutilized – features of the TopForm solution. The random drawing awarded the grand prize of cool cash to Liz Stark of Gemini Forms & Systems Inc. out of Rochester Hills, MI.  Sightings of American Idol contestants at the hotel, active social gatherings after-hours and mostly beautiful weather added to the overall positive experience for all.

Among the attendees were representatives from TopForm’s partners: Broker Forms, United Stationers and Net1 Payment Services.  Suzanne Alber of Broker Forms presented to the TopForm distributors the new developments in the area of XML technology.  Broker Forms had sponsored some of the recent developments with TopForm team.  The new advancements in how data is exchanged between manufacturer and distributor will enable greater efficiency in the order process via virtually complete automation at all stages of data exchange. 

David Pydlek from United Stationers educated distributors on the incremental revenue opportunities with incorporating O.P. (Office Products) into their product and service offerings to their customers.  Pydlek drove home the benefits of partnering with United Stationers and how to “Develop [this] vertical market and profit from the integrated supply chain model.” 

Brian Morabito of Net1 offered insight into the essentials of the online transaction side of E-commerce.  Morabito revealed some of the secrets of the complex and often confusing rates of online credit card processors and how to qualify and take advantage of lower fees and rates via Net1’s industry expertise and established relationships.  According to Morabito “Business who sell online are missing out on opportunities to cut their expenses.”  Net1 interfaces seamlessly with TopForm order entry and accounting and is the preferred partner for online credit card processing.    

“This was probably our best conference yet.” lauded TopForm President Julie Pritchard “I am proud of our team’s accomplishments over the past year and am very optimistic as we continue to support our users’ businesses with innovative solutions for the future.”

Guests mingle at the end of the day, sharing ideas and successes and good times.

 

TopForm users learn about the newest enhancements of Variable Print for their customers, 
from TopForm developer Ned Mesihovic.

Attendees dine in class mixing good business practices with good fun.

TopForm users interact one-on-one with the TopForm team in between class sessions 
to address their specific needs and questions.

 

Anita Long has been with TopForm for 5 years.  She has been a great asset to our Support Department and was voted Employee of the Year by the TopForm staff. 

CONGRATULATIONS ANITA!


Steve Boyett, Manager of Training and Implementation and the TopForm 2003 Employee of the year recently celebrated his 9th anniversary with TopForm.