This month I have 2 tips all rolled into one:

Tip 1:  In order to process your communication sessions, you have to run the processing function after you communicate your barcode scanners.  This, however, appears to take up a user license and tie up a workstation, as you have to logon to make this work.  You can get around this issue simply by running two instances of the Operations program on one workstation.  Go to:

         Administration >> Options >> Maintenance >> RSWin.ini Config

and select "Options.Multiple Instances" from the available choices.  Change the default to YES and you can now logon to Operations twice from the same workstation and, in each instance, go to different menu options.  In one instance of operations, you can now select the Process Only option and leave this running all day.

Tip 2:  Now that you have logged on twice, it is difficult to keep a watchful eye on the processing screen as you have two windows open.  Simply purchase or use a second monitor and you can have the window you are working in displayed on your primary monitor, with the processing screen displayed in the second monitor.  You can learn more about how to do this at: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/setup/learnmore/northrup_multimon.mspx

It's funny how sometimes you get asked the same question more than once in a week.  Well last week was no exception as I was asked three times about Destruction Authorization Reports in RS-SQL.

Added as one of the new Reporting Services Management Reports, to support the Retention Scheduling feature, this report is formatted complete with "sign-off" sections for your customers to approve the destruction of records

To access the Destruction Authorization Report you go to:

Administration >> Records Retention >> Reporting >> Destruction Authorization.

You will need Microsoft Reporting Services running in order to utilize this report.  Contact your local technical support representative if you require assistance.

This is an old tip, but one worth mentioning again. 

In RS-SQL the first column on a grid is known as the "active column".  This can be helpful if you have a large results set on the grid and need to jump down to a group of records.  With this trick, you can quickly jump to the start of the group simply by hitting the appropriate key.

So how does it work?  Format the grid to have barcode numbers in the first column and then sort the grid.  You can then quickly jump to, for example, a barcode starting with the number 5 simply by hitting that number on the keyboard.

I have to confess that it has always been a pet niggle of mine that RS-SQL had the buttons at the bottom of a grid.  I have got used to using the right-mouse click available in Outlook and liked that approach.  I also think it makes the screen cleaner and provides more room for query results.  Well, since RS-SQL version 3.02 you have had the choice to show the buttons or remove them. 

From any grid, select the View menu and decide if you want to see toolbars or buttons.  The Options choice allows you to make default choices for all grids.

With the buttons gone, right click on the grid (if it is empty) or a row (if it is populated) and see all the same choices without having to move the mouse to the bottom of the screen.

Following on from last months tip on unified communications sessions, there is a great script available that creates some useful quick queries in the RSMobile Communication Sessions grid.

You have to execute the script in SQL Query Analyzer to add these quick queries to the RSMobile Communication Session grid.  To do this, you need to carry out the following steps

1. Open SQL Query Analyzer and login as SA.
 

2. Click on File \ Open and browse for the file:

 \misc\RSMobileCommSessionQueries.sql on the CD.
 

3. Make sure the database selection in Query Analyzer is set to your RS-SQL database (this is usually “RSSQLDB”).
 

4. Execute the script. You can press the F5 key or click the green arrow on the toolbar.

The following quick queries will be added to your grid and will be immediately available to use:
 

~All RS-Mobile Comm Sessions
~Route Ops Sessions Not Downloaded
~Picklist Sessions Not Downloaded
~Scheduled Date
~Downloaded By User and Download Date
~Uploaded By User And Upload Date
~Contains Workorder Number
~Assigned to User And Scheduled Date
~Upload Date
~Downloaded But Not Uploaded
~Unreconciled
~Uploaded But Not Processed
~Totally Done Sessions
~Refile Lists to be Downloaded
 

There are two different types of processing that can be used with the old PDT3100 or the newer RSMobile scanners. There has always been what is referred to as legacy processing for use with the PDT3100 but when support was added for the RSMobile scanner, a different processing method was designed specifically for that device.

As of version 2.08, unified processing can be used for both the RSMobile scanner and the PDT3100. The unified processing feature allows data uploaded from the PDT3100 scanners to be managed and processed in the same manner as data uploaded from RSMobile.

If you are using both PDT3100 and RSMobile scanners, you may benefit from this feature.
 

The term legacy is used when referring to the original PDT3100 upload and processing method.   There are two system-wide RSWIN.INI settings available in Administration. The default for both settings is Yes, which means that legacy mode is in effect. To switch to unified processing, you must change the RSWIN.INI settings to No.

NOTE: All PDT3100 processing must be completed before these settings are changed.

LegacyPDT3100File
When set to Yes, which is the default setting, the behavior remains as it has previously been; tmp files are created in the common folder. When set to No, the PDT3100 files are stored in a table in the database (no tmp files are generated).

LegacyPDT3100Process
When set to No, processing is done in the RSMobile Comm Session grid along with RSMobile scanner processing.
 

NOTE: When LegacyPDT3100Process is set to No, all Datawand functionality is disabled throughout RS-SQL. Menu options are grayed out.
 

RS-SQL and RSWeb.NET offers a powerful reporting tool with its ability to export or print information from most grids in the system.

Once you have queried and loaded the information you want onto your grid, you can sort it and layout the columns in any order you like. Once you have determined the exact Sort Order and Column Format you need for a special report, you can save the format and retrieve for future use.

Once your grid is sorted and formatted to your preference, and all items that you want printed are marked, select the Print Grid option under the Options menu.  In RS-SQL, you have complete control over the printer you use and can change the font type and size. You can determine the margins on the paper, which can be very helpful if you plan to bind the report in any way. You can set a larger margin on the left side of the paper to accommodate the extra space needed for the binding. A very useful tool is the ability to give the report a heading. This can describe the report, give it a date, or define the report in any other way.

Exporting is very similar.  Once the data has been loaded onto a grid and formatted appropriately, you are ready to export. From the Options menu of any grid, select Export Grid. The Export Grid dialog appears. In RS-SQL, there are three different export format types available: Report, Fixed, and Delimited.  In RSWeb.NET the format is Delimited.

Don't forget, that rows will only be printed if they are marked on the grid.  Unmarked items are not printed or exported.

Many companies contact us when they add another facility and wish to create a replica of their current database (Actions, Objects, barcode lengths, etc...) so that they have standardization across all location. 

Previously the only method was to restore a backup and delete items, workorders and other data not required.  Since version RS-SQL 3.0 there has been an easier way.  Called the RS-SQL Template Program and found on your CD in the \misc\RSSQLTemplates folder, this program is used to save settings or records from one database and apply them to another database

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It's the beginning of the year and many companies have enquired about updating their customers prices before invoicing at the end of January.  This is very easy to do in RS-SQL.

The Adjust Pricing menu option provides a way to change price values for selected transactions. You can apply a percentage increase/decrease or a fixed amount increase/decrease to prices recorded in the Additional Amount column, Discount Base Rate column, and Quantity Break grid for the selected transaction. You can also modify pricing by specifying a conversion relationship, i.e., "exchange rate", between the current monetary unit and a new one.

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