It's that time of the year when I can take a look back at some of the new features introduced in our software for 2007.  Each month, I was able to focus on an under utilized feature that may bring new benefits to your business.

2007 was an exciting year for us as we expanded to 67 countries worldwide, had a record attendance at our Strategic Partners Conference and also attendees at our classroom training sessions.

Let me take this opportunity to wish you and your families a happy and safe holiday season, express our most sincere thanks for continuing to be our Strategic Partners and for, once again, making us:

The FIRST Choice of Record Centers WORLDWIDE.

As always, I hope you enjoy this edition.

Ian Thomas
Vice President - Business Development

PS Don't forget to check out the December section for my favorite tracking tools now using Google Earth.

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WE STARTED THE YEAR WITH CUSTOMIZATIONS

This month saw us start off the year by introducing Custom Style Sheets to RSWeb.NET.    Custom Style Sheets allow you to match the fonts, colors and logos in RSWeb.NET to your existing website. 

The question we posed was: "Did you ever stop and consider how important branding is in your records storage management business is?"  When successful branding takes place, your “look” works as a catalyst to trigger instant recognition on the part of the customer. It indicates what you are selling/the services you are providing, the value you are offering and what they can expect from doing business with you. 

Click Here to Read More and See Real Examples of sites...

To learn more about RSWeb.NET and Custom Style Sheets, contact your Account or Support Representative.

How to Create an RS-SQL Template for a New Site

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 locations. 

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

Read More...

O'NEIL STRATEGIC PARTNER CONFERENCE - A HUGE SUCCESS!

Did you miss the fourth Strategic Partner Conference at the Hyatt Regency in Huntington Beach, California on March 14 - 16, 2007?  This year's Conference was undoubtedly the best yet with 130 attendees. 

We ran triple-track sessions with speakers from government as well as commercial record centers.  We heard about successful implementation of new technology, corporate & commercial record management partnerships and even guidelines to being successful.

The support team provided a whole host of tips and ideas from RSWeb.NET customizations, to RSMobile's hidden treasures.  You can view a gallery of conference pictures simply by clicking here and you can read more here.

We are already planning the next conference with high hopes of, once again, creating the best networking event of the year.

The dates and venue are set with the conference to be held at the Hyatt Regency, Newport Beach from September 24-26, 2008.  This next conference will focus on partnerships, as more and more, companies are looking at reaching out to their clients through enhanced web interfaces, wireless mobile computing, detailed reporting, and other creative strategies.  During this event, we will show you how we are moving to meet these challenges and learn from you what else we need to do.

THE FIRST RELEASE OF THE YEAR WAS ANNOUNCED

This month saw news of the latest release of RS-SQL (version 3.03).   The release highlights document explains many of the features in greater detail but a summary includes:

We improved Record Retention Scheduling with:

• Configurable date calculations, using single or multiple dates;

• The ability to mark a retention schedule as Inactive; and

• The ability for level 2 or 3 accounts to inherit record retention schedules from a higher level, significantly reducing your setup time.

Our popular Priority Alert feature added some updates based on your feedback:

• A new submenu has been added to allow viewing and editing of all existing RSWeb.NET alerts;

• The ability for you to create alerts for almost anything, to use as an internal messaging system, has been added;

• You can now display previous alerts received; and

• You can now archive or delete selected Alerts

Our RSWeb.NET is also getting a few updates:

• In the Add/Edit screens, drop down lists have been added for the Account, Category and Record Series Fields;

• You have the ability to configure the maximum number of drop down rows

• In the inventory grid, when you click on a row, the default edit form is now brought up immediately, saving a mouse click ot two; and

• Sorting of results has been added to the Inventory grid, shopping cart and order status grid.

MAY WAS THE MONTH FOR SECURITY

With security becoming more and more of an issue, especially with internet access, a new password feature was added to the next release of RS-SQL.  There are several system-wide options available, all of which are disabled by default, so that none of your current settings are changed. The new password policy set in Administration applies to all users, including RSWeb.NET users.  You will now be able to  set specific policies that apply to the password such as:

• Enforce Password History: Sets how frequently old passwords can be reused.

• Max Password Age: Determines how long users can keep a password before they have to change it.

• Min Password Age: Determines how long users must keep a password before they can change it.

• Min Password Length: Sets the minimum number of characters for a password.

Also, one or more of the following check boxes can be selected to require the user to create a password with at least one of the characters in the corresponding category.

• Require Alpha: Select this check box to require that at least one character in the password is an alphabetic letter (A, B, C, a, b, c, etc.)

• Require Numeric: Select this check box to require that at least one character in the password is numeric (0, 1, 2, etc.)

• Require Non-Alphanumeric: Select this check box to require that at least one character in the password is non-alphanumeric (!, $, #, %)

Lockout policies and appropriate logs were also added, to ensure you always remain in control.  You can download a draft copy of the release notes, which explain this feature in detail at: http://www.oneilsoft.com/partners/pdf/NEW_PasswordPolicies.pdf

RSMOBILE SCRIPTS AVAILABLE!

When things get busy, you want to keep track of all your RSMobile communication sessions.  This month we introduced you to 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 Microsoft 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
 

To learn more you can contact your local support desk..

LOSING MY BUTTONS...

July saw me explaining how to get more query results onto your screen.   I have got used to using the right-mouse click available in Outlook, as well as many other programs, and liked that approach.  Well, since RS-SQL version 3.02 you have had the choice to show the buttons at the bottom of each query grid 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.

SOME BRAGGING WAS REQUIRED

August saw us being able to brag about a new certification, which will significantly enhance RSMobile, and some support desk statistics:

After waiting patiently, we finally progressed through the AT&T testing program and our Award Winning RSMobile successfully completed the AT&T Enterprise Solution Certification testing.  The results of this certification mean that RSMobile has been tested and is fully compliant on GSM/GPRS and 3G/Edge wireless networks. 

Technology is no use without a great team to support you. Each year we closely monitor our support calls, to ensure that we in the best position to address your needs and this year has once again proven to show some incredible numbers.  We know how much you rely on the support services, so let us share some of the numbers with you:

• Between 2001 and 2006 call volume has doubled.

• But, the number of calls going to voicemail has fallen from 11.98% to 3.26%.

• And more of you are preferring to talk with us personally, as emails have fallen to 31% of the 2001 volume

If you want to learn more about O'Neil Software's Technical Support statistics, contact your Business Development Representative, who will delighted to share more information with you.

NEW RSWEB.NET DEMO WAS RELEASED

RSWeb.NET gives your clients fast and flexible real-time access and control of their records…right when they need it, a mouse-click away! In fact, the product look is so user-friendly, it provides them with the incentive to use RSWeb.NET more often.

Click Here to link to a page where you can watch a short demonstration on some of the features found in RSWeb.NET.  You can also share the presentation with your customers, by downloading it or linking to it directly from your website.

RS-SQL WITH MULTIPLE MONITORS

This month I rolled 2 Tips 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

RS-SQL 3.05 IS CLOSE TO RELEASE

In November we got closer to releasing the next version of  RS-SQL (version 3.05)  This is a large release with many new features that we have been working on over the summer months.  RS-SQL, RSWeb.NET and RSMobile all get some new functionality, so every user has the opportunity to learn something new.  So what's included?  This release has the following enhancements, amongst many others:

• Windows Vista compatibility;

• AT&T Wireless Integration into RSMobile;

• RS-SQL adds workorder closing enhancements;

• RSMobile gets new look menus, with greater information;

• We also see new "live & connected" features;

• Enhanced RSweb.NET user administration; and

• RSWeb.NET will support individual documents.

Look for this release in late December or early January 2008.

THE ROAD AHEAD...

2008 will, as always, be an exciting time for O'Neil Software and all of our Strategic Partners. We expect to be in more than 70 countries by the end of the year and also plan to launch a new, optional module to RS-SQL.  As we work towards our next Strategic Partner Conference, our goal is to focus more on partnerships and extending your reach into your customers.  This will require some bold moves together but I believe we are all ready to meet the new challenges. 

... AND FINALLY IT IS THAT TIME WHEN I LOVE TO TRACK SANTA ON HIS JOURNEY

On Christmas Eve, North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and North Pole officials will once again use their technology for more peaceful means to track Santa Claus and his reindeer on their global gift-giving journey. For over 50 years NORAD and its predecessor, the Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD) have tracked Santa. If you wish to join me in tracking Santa on December 24, visit http://www.noradsanta.org/ and may we wish everyone of you a wonderful holiday season.

HOLIDAY SUPPORT DESK HOURS

As we approach the Holiday season, please make a note of the hours our support team will be unavailable or providing limited cover:

 

US Support Hours	UK & AustralAsia Support Hours
Monday, Dec. 24 - CLOSED with Emergency cover from 8 am to 12 noon   Tuesday, Dec. 25 - CLOSED   Wednesday, Dec. 26 - CLOSED with Emergency cover from 8 am to 1 pm   Monday, Dec. 31 - CLOSED with Emergency cover from 8 am to 1 pm   Tuesday, Jan. 01 - CLOSED	Monday, Dec. 24 - 8am to 2pm   Tuesday, Dec. 25 - CLOSED   Wednesday, Dec. 26 - CLOSED   Tuesday, Jan. 01 - CLOSED

Remember, if your local support office is closed, you can contact any of our offices at the the numbers or emails shown in the information section below or at the following web page:  http://www.oneilsoft.com/support/support-holidays2007.shtml