ECi DDMS Latest Software Update

Details on 5 Formidable Features in DDMS 10.2

The DDMS 10.2 release is ready for download now. It includes the enhancements below, plus dozens of other changes to the architecture, flow and usability to help you work more efficiently, increase the speed of business, and keep pace with advances in technology:

Note: New fields in this release require sales journal compression before you resume business. See Release Notes below. More »

Shortcuts for: All Dealers | Supplies | Furniture | Machines

For All Dealers

Improve Credit Card Rates & Win Strategic Sourcing Contracts with Multiple Merchant ID! (57899)

Implementing a new merchant ID no longer requires multiple General Ledger locations to be set up in DDMS. In DDMS 10.2 and higher, you have two new ways to apply orders to different merchant IDs:

Order Type. Orders can be applied by order type as set for the customer account on the Order Entry 2 tab. The four order types are web (W), commercial (C), retail (R) or blank (default for all other credit card transactions including accounts receivable payments, etc.).* For detailed instructions, see Multiple Merchant ID - Order Type (pdf). With this capability, you can improve your credit card rates!

Customer. You can now set up a four-character merchant ID for an individual customer account on the Order Entry 2 tab. This field is only enabled if you have a Merchant ID in the (+VI) Approval Link Id Setup screen where the new Type field is set to C.* For detailed instructions, see Multiple Merchant ID - Customer Account(pdf). This capability is helpful for members of is.group, AOPD and other trade associations to win accounts that demand strategic sourcing such as government contracts, educational institutions, and large corporations!

Simplify Your Customers' Payables with Item-Level Cost Center Reporting! (57903)

Some prospects and customers demand a report of their orders sorted and totaled by their general ledger cost center codes. This reporting can make it easier for your customers to post your invoices to their accounts payable — increasing your customer retention and competitive edge!

Now with Customer Cost Center in DDMS 10.2, we've made it easier to meet this need:

View a new option in the Customer database if authorized: Cost Center Code. The new table of item level customer cost centers (C-ILCCC or "CustomerCostCenter" in SQL) includes a 10-character master customer account (CCC_C_NUMBER), a 30-character cost center code (CCC_CODE) and 30-character description (CCC_DESCRIPTION) that are not case sensitive.

Import from any spreadsheet that has two columns named Cost Center Code and Description.

Set a password, the Customer Line Item Cost Center Code Modify Password, in Graphical Customer parameters under General Configuration.

Mass Change Codes in Sales Order Detail (for any current and historical orders available in journals listed in the (LGA) sales journal parameter screen.) In the wizard interface, you can specify the account and cost center codes, the orders to change, the old cost center (may be blank) and the new cost center. You can set limits to customer department, order date, order number, item class code, and item department. Then you can verify the list of matching sales order line items that will be changed, and check or uncheck items as needed before processing. After processing, you must re-import your sales journals into the EBS SQL Control Panel so that the new cost centers are synchronized; see Using the EBS SQL Import Control Panel (pdf).

Enable it for the Customer account on Order Entry tab 2 where a new checkbox, Cost Center Code Required, appears if authorized.

Specify a Cost Center Code per line item in Order Entry where authorized. Entering an item now triggers a dialog box that prompts your to select a cost center code from this account's list of codes. You can filter by typing the first characters of the Code or any part of the Description, and then select from the list. Cost Center Code is also added to Quote Release, Change Mode, Credit Order Entry, Order History, and EBS Order Analysis.

Print cost center code and description on tickets and invoices using the P-LINE2 selector. Report Writer (U) has the new cost center and description fields in P-LINE2 and JO-LINE2.

Web shoppers will be able to retrieve, add, edit, and delete their own cost center codes and their descriptions in an upcoming version of ECinteractive.

For details, see your online help on using Cost Center Codes in the Customer database in Version 10.2 or higher.

Note: You must be authorized to use Customer Cost Centers. For details, contact ECi Sales at info@ecisolutions.com or call 800-959-3367.

Edit Remarks to Communicate How You Applied A/R Payments! (54545)

When adjusting invoice payment detail in our graphical interface, DDMS 10.2 gives you the ability to edit item remarks — and communicate to the customer how you applied the payment!

After posting a payment in the Accounts Receivable Posting window, right-click a checkmarked invoice to change and click Adjust Payment Detail Line (or select and type Ctrl + P). The Adjust Line Item dialog box defaults to the type .ENT over the existing remarks.

The Adjust Line Item dialog box lets you enter new remarks.

For details, see your online help for Accounts Receivable Posting in Version 10.2 or higher.

For Supplies Dealers

This release includes several other improvements to the usability and flow of several applications commonly used in office supplies dealerships:

  1. 58502 Corrected an issue with the Sort by Price feature integrated with search results on ECinteractive and is.D-Force 2. Previously items were appearing with zero cost, resulting in item pricing matrix issues.
  2. 58236 Corrected Trodat PSN Acknowledgement so that it properly updates the cost on the purchase order instead of inadvertently using the list price.
  3. 58037 Corrected to modify the Xstamper transmission by including a new field that sends the dealer's rubber stamp manufacturer information.
  4. 58210 Corrected so when performing the (TR-N) function, the system retains the specials included on the order.
  5. 58217 Corrected so when selecting the Customer Using Price Plan option in the Customer Price Plan window, the system displays the customer's department. Previously if a contract was assigned to a customer with departments, after opening the Price Plan window, selecting a contract, and clicking the Customers using Price Plan, the Account as Dept header was not properly displaying the account and department number.
  6. 58272 Corrected so the system only allows the user to enter a maximum of 15 characters when entering an Uncataloged Item in Commercial O/E. Previously, the user could enter up to 23 characters, but only a maximum of 15 characters appeared on the ticket.
  7. 58006 Corrected so when adding a new Automated Short Buy vendor's call in the (LFA1) screen and use the Order Code limit, the system now saves the limit specified. Previously ther user had to save the limit twice before the system was saving it.
  8. 57945 Corrected so if you have an automated Short Buy call set up in the text-based (LFA1) screen with a minimum amount required to transmit on the first screen, this minimum is used when faxing, emailing or transmitting. Previously, if faxing, the system was faxing information, regardless of the minimum amount.

For Furniture Dealers

This release includes additional improvements to the usability and flow of applications for the contract furniture business:

  1. 58188 Corrected so when re-opening an order in Furniture O/E Change mode and right-clicking an item on a P/O, the system dipslays the P/O the item is currently on. Previously after right-clicking the item the system displayed the No Outstanding PO's Found message.
  2. 58112 Corrected speed issues when deleting a large order in the Furniture Order Entry window. Previously, the process was taking a possible 7 to 10 minutes to complete.
  3. 58114 Corrected so after preforming multiple seraches in the Furniture Project Management window, the system does not incorrectly display the previous ticket number.
  4. 58268 Corrected an issue in Furniture Scheduler to properly save the user’s settings in Options.
  5. 58098 Corrected so when canceling a third party billing section of an order using Furniture OE Change mode, the ticket is properly updated. Previously if the user did not wait for the ticket to close, only the first item on the ticket remained.
  6. 57840 Corrected so when closing a third party billing order in the Furniture Order Entry window, you do not have to log out of DDMS before viewing more orders.
  7. 58244 Corrected so when viewing Order Notes for a line item in Order Entry Change mode (F11), the item notes are not deleted when clicking the (X) button to close the window.
  8. 58188 Corrected so when re-opening an order in Furniture O/E Change mode and right-clicking an item on a P/O, the system dipslays the P/O the item is currently on. Previously after right-clicking the item the system displayed the No Outstanding PO's Found message.

For Machine and Equipment Dealers

Update Renewals from Graphical Machine Billing! (57355)

In this third phase of development in Graphical Machine Billing, DDMS 10.2 gives you a new Machine Task: Update Renewals.

The graphical Machine Billing window lets you specify how to update renewals, set limits as needed, and review results before processing, as shown below.

The graphical Machine Billing window lets you specify how to update renewals, and set limits as needed, and review results before processing.

For details, see your online help in DDMS 10.2 or higher, and the handout, Machine Billing (pdf).

Email and Fax Meter Reading Requests from Graphical Machine Billing! (57829)

In this third phase of development in Graphical Machine Billing, DDMS 10.2 now lets you email or fax the customer a meter reading request. This ensures that you have the most up-to-date meter readings before you actually bill.

Four items must be set up:

Contract Type. To set up the default contract type for meter readings, go to the Meter Readings Contract Type box in the Serialized General Configuration parameters.

Formats.To set up formats for meter reading requests, go to the Meters Fax and Meters Email fields in the text-based (L6T) Fax Parameters screen

AutoComm II. To use the email/fax feature, AutoComm II must also be set up.

Contact Email and Fax. You can set the Contact name, preference (email or fax), email address, and fax number for the machine without leaving the Machine Billing window!

Once these are set up, you can select a record from meter readings to send a fax and specify the subject line as needed, as shown below.

Right-click a meter record, select Email/Fax Meter Reading Request, specify a subject line, and DDMS will send the email or fax.

For details, see your online help in DDMS 10.2 or higher, and the handouts, Installing AutoComm II (pdf), Using AutoComm II (pdf) and Machine Billing (pdf).

Other Changes for Machine & Equipment Dealers:

This release includes additional improvements to the usability and flow of Machine sales, service, and more:

  1. 57812 Corrected so when sending information to Katun using PSN, the quantity is no longer set to one. The correct quantity is now specified for all P/O types. The P/Os are not being successfully transmitted and pre-received for the correct quantities.
  2. 58238 Corrected so the setting in the Display Open Calls parameter saves to the LE1 parameter record in the (EZ1) parameter screens. Previously it was incorrectly being saved to the LE2 parameter record and overwriting part of Meter 3's description as a result.
  3. 58245 Corrected so if the user selects to bill either cycle, meter, or lease billings on the Machine Billings window, the system automatically unchecks the All Billings box.
  4. 57546 Corrected so when limiting by the Next PM date, the text-based (EZYP)[P] screen properly generates the preventive maintenance information.
  5. 58237 Corrected so when entering machine meter readings, the system defaults all the meters being specified to the same reading date.
  6. 56065 Corrected so when opening the Machine Monitor Calls tab and then clicking the Tech Schedule tab, the system displays the proper city for all calls when the Calls tab is re-selected. Previously, the same city on all calls was shown before the window refreshed.
  7. 57709 Corrected so when using the Machine Work Orders window, the system defaults to the proper technician's number set up for the customer.
  8. 57524 Corrected so if the PM Frequency and Rate boxes are set for a machine in the Contract Detail window, the call is created using the text-based (EZYP)[P] PM Report and the rate properly appears on the invoice when the call is finalized.
  9. 58434 Corrected so that changes made to the BEI software are included in this software release. This change was made to place the customer account into column 25 of the FIXSERV file instead of the location number.
  10. 58176 Corrected an issue with ServiceTrak. Previously the item number in the Parts window was not aligned to the left.

Other Changes for All Dealers:

This release includes dozens of improvements to the usability and flow of commonly used DDMS applications:

  1. 58260 Corrected so when installing ECi DDMS software version 10.1 over version 8.X, the system properly uninstalls the DDMS EBS Server CSLA 2005 software.
  2. 58339 Corrected so the system does not display error messages when using the CCH Address Taxability feature and viewing county tax data.
  3. 58215 Corrected by adding a locking mechanism so only a single process writes to a specific file at a time. This alleviates potential issues between the TblServer codebase file and DDMS Graphical software.
  4. 58095 Corrected so when printing reports in the graphical Preview Reports window and entering limits, the system propery saves the limits specified when specifying to preview the report.
  5. 58273 Corrected so the system displays the proper information in the text-based (O) Accounts Receivable Reports screen. Previously the reports did not display correctly and pressing Tab did not move the cursor to the proper line.
  6. 57838 Corrected so when accessing the A/R History window from the Accounts Receivable Batch Totals tab, the system displays the proper customer and correct batch information as requested.
  7. 57545 Enhanced by adding the ability to allow the user to edit the remarks in the Remarks box when applying a customer's payments in Accounts Receivable.
  8. 58052 Corrected so the (+J) Special Chart of Accounts screen allows the user to limit by responsibility center general ledger account numbers.
  9. 58353 Corrected some unusual O/E and CCH taxing exceptions that have been displaying.
  10. 58291 Corrected so when attempting to change the parameter location using the Address taxability feature, the system does not display a Run Time error message. This feature is useful when you need to set up multiple locations for this parameter in order to meet the taxing requirements for multiple point of sale locations.
  11. 58043 Enhanced by adding a parameter to allow updating the vendor's P/O. This parameter allows several different options, including Y, N, and X. Depending on the setting, the system updates the original ticket number when a short-buy is released to a transfer ticket. This occurs if the quantity is on-hand in the Transfer From location.
  12. 58376 Corrected so the system does not display a Divide by Zero error message in the Order Analysis window. This error was shown when viewing 0.00 tickets after tax adjustments had been made.
  13. 58287 Corrected so when setting up restricted users and saving the changes, the Order Analaysis window saves the changes as specified.
  14. 58278 Corrected so if you make Grid changes in the Order Analysis window, the system properly saves the changes specified.
  15. 58234 Corrected so the system does not display duplicate items on a ticket in the O/E History window.
  16. 58192 Corrected so when using the Invoice Query dialog box in the O/E History window and limiting by either Order Date or Invoice Date, the system returns the data in a timely manner. Previously the system was requiring as long as 15 minutes to open the data.
  17. 58405 Corrected issues when using items and different route locations. Previously, when using route locations, the inventory location was not being retained in Order Entry.
  18. 58196 Corrected so the Delivery Manifest window does not automatically open in minimized window. It now opens correctly.
  19. 58211 Corrected by allowing a customer's credit card number and expiration date to print on ticket and/or invoice formats prior to being tendered.
  20. 58197 Corrected so the Delivery Manifest now prints the entire invoice number. Previously if the root invoice number had six digits, the number was not printing on the delivery manifest.
  21. 58189 Corrected so when adding a manifest in the text-based (TS) screen, the manifest properly appeara after the data has been refreshed.
  22. 58102 Corrected so the Delivery Manifest feature properly updates the JO-SPECIAL file with MMMM lines.
  23. 58363 Corrected to allow the ability to print the EDI custom field from the P-LNEDI file. This EDI field was added from the P-LNEDI to 850P selector so it now prints.
  24. 58175 Corrected so when limiting the graphical Sales Promotions SQL Report to a promotional item, the system does not display an error message.
  25. 58277 Corrected so the system does not display a Terminal Server SQL error message when trying to access the SQL modules, including Price Plans or Price Modeling, for example.
  26. 58213 Enhanced by changing the NTGStart process to no longer create an NTComm Object. This step is no longer necessary because of changes made to the TBLServer and EnsitePro software to address client connectivity issues associated with 2008 servers.
  27. 58172 Corrected various errors when using graphical utilities.
  28. 58181 Corrected issues when using the Pay on Prepay feature. Previously if the Prepay Due as 0% of Backorders field in the (LG5) screen was set to zero, when attempting to perform the Pay on Prepay function, the Tendered box was blank and an amount could not be entered If the user attempted to bypass the blank Tendered box, a warning message appeared stating that a Tendered amount was required.
  29. 58221 Corrected by adding the Customer Usage Report format and selector to the !URL and !SEL libraries.
  30. 58261 Corrected so when opening the text-based (G)[E] screen, the system does not automatically change the G/L location to 1. This issue was noticed after installing ECi DDMS version 10.1 software.
  31. 58231 Corrected so when building the invoice file using the text-based (SG)[B] screen, the system builds the invoice properly. Previously after loading ECi DDMS version 10.0.5 software, the (SG)[B] procedure was building an invoice file containing only one invoice.
  32. 58347 Corrected so when printing the Low Stock Purchase Order, the system does not display the I-HISTORY and I-HIS-SUP FILES Are Not In The IN Volume error message.
  33. 58379 Corrected so the system does not create shipto specials for EDI orders. Instead, the system uses the shipto information stored in the customer's record, not the shipto data stored in the EDI document for EDI orders.
  34. 58382 Corrected issues with PSN/EDI. This included changing to map the contract/release number to the long P/O.
  35. 58282 Enhanced the PSN/EDI feature by adding the ability to import an 850 from GSA and create an 810 invoice.
  36. 58192 Corrected so when using the Invoice Query dialog box in the O/E History window and limiting by either Order Date or Invoice Date, the system returns the data in a timely manner. Previously the system was requiring as long as 15 minutes to open the data.
  37. 58189 Corrected so when adding a manifest in the text-based (TS) screen, the manifest properly appears after the data has been refreshed.
  38. 58181 Corrected issues when using the Pay on Prepay feature. Previously if the Prepay Due as 0% of Backorders field in the (LG5) screen was set to zero, when attempting to perform the Pay on Prepay function, the Tendered box was blank and an amount could not be entered If the user attempted to bypass the blank Tendered box, a warning message appeared stating that a Tendered amount was required.
  39. 58175 Corrected so when limiting the graphical Sales Promotions SQL Report to a promotional item, the system does not display an error message.
  40. 58172 Corrected various errors when using graphical utilities.
  41. 58102 Corrected so the Delivery Manifest feature properly updates the JO-SPECIAL file with MMMM lines.
  42. 58095 Corrected so when printing reports in the graphical Preview Reports window and entering limits, the system propery saves the limits specified when specifying to preview the report.

More Info On DDMS Releases

How Do I Get This Version?

Log in to https://support.ecisolutions.com,
Log in to Update Your Software
click Software Downloads, and
follow the on-screen steps.

Release Notes

1

Version 10.2 introduced new fields (columns) to the sales database. To ensure your ability to pull up Order Entry history, you must compress your data into the new data definitions (columns).

ACTION REQUIRED: After installing DDMS 10.2.0 or higher, you must run the special program ;SPCCMPJR on all Sales Journals before you resume business.

  1. Shut down and backup your data just as you do for any dedicated procedure that affects files.
  2. Stop TBL Server by clicking TBL Server on the toolbar. In the TBL Server window, click Utilities on the menu bar, and then click Stop.
  3. Go to the (ZB4) text screen:
    1. On the TBL window, click Tools, and then click TBL.
    2. Make sure CAPS LOCK is on.
    3. To access the (ZB4) screen, type ZB4
  4. In the ZB4 screen type the filename ;SPCCMPJR and press Enter. The Compress Journal Files screen appears.
  5. In the prompt for Journal Type, type S
  6. When prompted to Place an "X" to Mark Journals to Compress, mark them all:
    1. To mark a file for compression, type X
    2. Repeat as the cursor drops to the next row.
    3. When you are finished marking journals to compress, press Enter.

    Use the ;SPCCMPJR special program to mark all Sales Journals with an X to compress your order entry history into new data definition columns..

  7. When prompted, Are You Sure?, type Y.
  8. When the program is finished, Continue by typing C.
  9. Press the Escape key to exit.
  10. Return to TBL Server, click on the menu bar for Utilities, and then click Start.You may then resume business.
2

DDMS does not support the 64-bit version of Windows 2003 Standard Server SP2.

However, DDMS supports both 32- and 64-bit editions of Windows 2008 Standard Server. For more information, see our updated System Requirements.
3

As we reported in the 10.0.2 release: If you use a Terminal Server that is running Windows 2000, it will limit client workstations connecting to your DDMS server to older, non-EBS functions.

Please note that the older operating system does not meet the minimum requirements to support the .NET Framework 4.0 required to utilize EBS applications such as Customer Price Plans, Preview Reports, Furniture Project Management, and Graphical Machine Billing. In DDMS 10.0, we made changes so your client workstations can still run DDMS 10.0 or higher and connect. This project was developed and tested to provide smaller dealers — who do not yet take advantage of our more advanced feature set — with more time to plan to upgrade their terminal servers. (57571)

Users may continue to connect to a server running DDMS Version 10 via terminal servers running Windows 2000, but such terminal servers will only support the use of older, non-EBS graphical and text-based applications that DDMS has not yet upgraded to the SQL/.NET Framework Version 4.0. These include the standard DDMS order flow and purchasing flow applications, accounts receivable and payable applications, general ledger, Notes Everywhere, Campaign Manager, and all text-based applications, utilities and reporting. (However, once a DDMS application is converted to the SQL/.NET Framework 4.0 or higher, they will no longer support a Windows 2000 terminal server.)

During the installation process, the system displays a message, notifying you of this issue.

ACTION REQUIRED: If you are using a Microsoft Window 2000 terminal server for client connections, before installing version 10.0 or higher, contact ECi DDMS Support for assistance.  

 

Need Help? (800) 366-4778 • https://support.ecisolutions.com • ddmssupport@ecisolutions.com