Atrex 11 Changes

The following is a list of changes that have been made to the Atrex 11 package since the 10.0x release. For your convenience, the list has been broken down into functional areas:

New Database Engine
New Print Engine
General/Misc. Changes
Stock Codes
Customers
Vendors
Invoices/Orders/Quotes (common features)
Orders
Quotes
Purchase Orders
Receivables/Payables
Service Orders
Options/Customization
Banking
RMAs
Security
Importing
Reports

New Database Engine

• Atrex 11 uses the DBISAM database engine as its primary data storage mechanism. DBISAM is significantly faster and more robust compared to the dBase engine used in earlier versions of Atrex.
• The DBISAM database engine automatically reuses space from deleted records and eliminates the need to "pack" the data tables to maintain the application performance.
• The data tables are now smaller. In general, the tables are 10 to 15% smaller for the same amount of data when compared to the dBase tables used in earlier versions of Atrex.
• The file size limit for a single table increased from 2GB to 4GB. This, combined with the smaller table sizes, effectively increases the maximum number of records per table (i.e., stock codes), that the system is capable of handling, to approximately 4.5 million items.
• Each separate data location can be encrypted with a different password to prevent unauthorized access to the data. The table encryption is a 128-bit Blowfish encryption that is not easily broken.
• Default values in the data tables are enforced at the database engine level, resulting in improved performance and integrity of the application.
• Atrex can now operate as a shared access database or as a full client/server application when used with the Atrex Database Server. (Client/Server access is only available with multi-user Atrex licenses)
• When using the Atrex Database Server, the actual data tables can be completely hidden from the systems on the network. This can help prevent accidental deletion or modification of the data tables via Windows Explorer.
• When using the Atrex Database Server, transaction dates are pulled from the server date rather than the local system date. The time is adjusted automatically if the server and workstation are in different time zones based upon the Windows local settings.
• The level of data compression between the workstations and the server, when using the Atrex Database Server, can be specified. This can be very useful when connecting to the server via a dialup connection.
• When using the Atrex Database Server, backups can be scheduled to occur unattended on a daily or weekly basis.
• A high performance read-only ODBC driver is available to allow for access to the data from other applications. A read/write version of the ODBC driver is available upon request for registered users.
• A built in table repair utility is included with the application. This repair utility can clean up most simple data corruption without the need to restore from a backup.
• Added automatic index compression to reduce the amount of data sent across the network, further reducing the load on the network and improving application performance.
• Tables can be optimized as part of the Batch Processing function. The optimization function physically reorders the data tables to the most
  commonly used record sequences to allow for maximum performance.
• Added full text indexing for inventory descriptions and for inventory and customer notes. Single word searches on these fields are highly optimized and provide for extremely fast searches even in large databases
• Backup and Restore functions are now built directly into the database engine. Backups are faster and the database is locked for the duration of the backup to allow for reliable backups while other users are connected to the database.

New Print Engine

• Atrex 11 uses a new print engine.  The print engine is built into the application eliminating the print job load time.  Additionally, installing other software packages using the same print engine won’t damage the Atrex installation.
• The new print engine accesses the database tables directly without the need of any translation layers or database drivers, eliminating driver translation issues and insecure access to the data.
• Atrex now includes a report designer to allow for end-user modification of the report layouts without the need to purchase additional software.
• The report definitions for Atrex 11 reports are all stored within database tables to allow for centralized maintenance of the report formats even when using the Atrex Database Server.

General/Misc. Changes

• Atrex 11 supports most Windows XP themes resulting in a more consistent interface scheme.
• Many status windows now have a progress bar to display the function progression.
• The Atrex configuration file is now in a shared location on the local hard drive. This prevents errors when closing Atrex while using a Windows user ID that does not have administrator access.
• User defined and custom reports are now included as part of the backup and restore functions to help prevent the loss of custom reports.
• The “selling below cost” warning now works with the increment scan feature.
• Attachments can now be added to emails sent from Atrex.
• Added record locking to transaction edit functions to prevent multiple users from modifying the same transaction at the same time. This does NOT prevent users from creating new transactions at the same time, but rather prevents one user from overwriting the changes made by another user editing the same transaction.
• Added "Check Out" and "Check In" functions for mobile locations. This dramatically reduces the effort needed to transfer data to and from a laptop for use at a trade show.
• Added a "Quick Setup" function to prompt new users for their company and tax information.
• Extended the length of open phone fields from 15 to 20 characters.
• Modified the default backup file naming convention, to include the name of the currently selected data location (when logged into a named location) as well as to include the date and time of the backup, to help prevent the accidental overwriting of older backups.
• To help protect data integrity users are now prevented from starting Atrex when the database maintenance is being performed.
• Bolded the Total and Balance fields on the Payment Information window for invoices, orders, and service orders to make it easier to quickly locate these values.
• Added a cash drawer tracking function. This function tracks all changes to the money in a cash drawer during the session, regardless of the date of the transaction being created or edited.

Stock Codes

• Extended the length of the Stock Code, Alternate Code, and Vendor Stock Code fields from 15 to 20 characters.
• Extended length of serial numbers from 20 to 35 characters.
• The Manufacturer Maintenance function now accesses the data table directly resulting in the elimination of memory table load delays when starting the function.
• Inventory images are now stored in a database table to allow for printing of images on custom report formats.
• Extended the length of the Description field from 90 to 128 characters.
• Extended the URL fields from 60 to 128 characters to handle long paths to shopping cart pages.
• Added the ability to view Vendor Codes from the Stock Code Selection window via the right click pop-up menu.
• Added the ability to designate stock codes as discontinued which prevents them from being included in the reorder functions. This option is separate from the Non-Stock indicator, which is now used to indicate special order items rather than discontinued items.
• Added the Last Received, Last Modified and Last Sold fields as well as the Discontinued indicator to the Stock Code Selection Filter.
• Multiple stock codes can be selected at the same time when using the Batch Rename/Merge/Delete function.
• Mass comma or tab delimited lists can be loaded when using the Batch Rename/Merge/Delete function.
• Stock code receiving history can be viewed from the Stock Code Selection window via the right click pop-up menu and from the Stock Code Information window by clicking the View Details button.
• Increased the height of the Stock Code Selection window to allow more items to be displayed on a single page for easier browsing.
• Added the ability to clone stock codes from inside most transactions via the right click pop-up menu.
• Added the on-hand quantity to Related Codes window for quick availability reference.
• Details about a specific stock code can now be accessed from the Related Codes window by clicking the View button.
• Container and assembly items can be defined directly from the Stock Code Information window.
• The Sale Unit and Order Unit fields are now drop down list boxes with a maintenance function for adding and removing units to and from the list.
• Added separate calculation methods for each of the three discount price levels.
• Prices can now be calculated by adding absolute amounts to cost or by subtracting absolute amounts from list or sale prices.
• Added the customer name to the Allocated Detail Information window.
• Added disposition information to the Stock code Selection window as well as the View Stock Code Information window to indicate if the current selected item is non-stock and/or discontinued.
• Increased stock code notes from 30KB to 64KB per record.
• Reordered the displayed quantity information on the Stock Code Selection window to a more logical order with regards to the available value.
• Added ability to specify sale prices for items. This function allows setting specific start and stop dates for sale items as well as fixed prices
  for the sale period.
• Added a text indicator to the Stock Code Selection window, transaction Item Information window, and View Stock Code Information window to indicate when an item is on sale and the expiration date of the sale price.
• Added the last modified date to the View Stock Code Information window.
• Added the total price to container customization and definition windows. The pricing level defaults to sale price for container definition.
• Modification of a container definition recalculates and updates the weight of the owning container item.
• Increased the height of the Serial Number Selection window to allow more serial numbers to be displayed on a single page for easier browsing.
• Added a Search For field to the Inventory Worksheet Update function allowing for direct incremental location of stock codes on the update list.
• Added a utility to aid in the adjustment of stock code minimum and target quantities based upon sales and service usage history.

Customers

• Added a customer specific option to require a purchase order number before saving an invoice, order, or service order.
• Modified the Customer Sales History and Customer Service History windows to include the transaction Reference field for each transaction as well as the additive description for each item.
• Increased the height of the Customer Selection window to allow more customers to be displayed on a single page for easier browsing.
• Added a customer query function allowing for safe retrieval of customer information without having to edit the customer.
• Multiple credit cards for each customer can now be stored and selected from the associated cards list on the Credit Card Information window while processing transactions or payments
• Added user definable label fields for the Phone 2 and Phone 3 fields.
• Customers can now be associated with a list of owned equipment allowing for the selection of these items a service order as the item being repaired and automatically filling in the corresponding service order fields. The items on this list are not associated with the inventory stock codes and do not have to have been purchased through Atrex.
• Modified the customer Discount % field to allow for negative discounts effectively increasing the price of items the customer.
• Increased customer notes from 30KB to 64KB per record.
• Customers can now be assigned special pricing for items by matching stock code, category, or manufacturer. The calculated price can be a fixed price, percent discount, or absolute amount discount.
• Added a Quick Note field to the Notes tab on the Customer Information window. The contents of this field are displayed when selecting the customer for any sales transaction.
• Added an inactive flag to the customer record allowing these customers to be filtered from appearing on the Customer Select window and the Customer List report.
• Customer labels can now be created for either the mailing or shipping address. If the selected address is invalid, Atrex automatically uses the alternate address.
• Added the ability to start other functions from inside the Customer Label Printing window via the right click pop-up menu.
• Single customer labels, batch customer labels, and sales based customer labels are now generated from a single function.
• Modified the Customer Sales History and Customer Service History windows to automatically move to the last record allowing for quick access to the most recent information.

Vendors

• Increased the height of the Vendor Selection window to allow for more vendors to be displayed on a single page for easier browsing.
• Added a vendor query function allowing for safe retrieval of vendor information without having to edit the vendor.
• Added a Ship Via field to vendor record. This field is used to set the default shipping method when creating purchase orders.
• Vendor purchase and receiving history can be viewed from the Vendor Information window by clicking the View History button.
• Vendor purchase and receiving history can be viewed from the Vendor Selection window via the right click pop-up menu.
• Increased vendor notes from 30KB to 64KB per record.
• Added a Shipping Instructions tab to the Vendor Information window. The contents of this field are printed on the vendor’s purchase orders.
• Added a Quick Note field to the Notes tab on the Vendor Information window. The contents of this field are displayed when selecting the vendor for a new purchase order.
• Added the ability to print vendor labels.

Invoices/Orders/Quotes (common features)

• Max credit checks for transactions are now made against the master account (when applicable).
• Individual line item taxable and GST status on orders and quotes can now be manually overridden via the Item Cost/Properties function on the right click pop-up menu. Additionally, the associated cost field is now disabled when editing the item properties for orders, quotes, recurring invoices, and service order quotes.
• Added global discount percentages to invoices, orders, and quotes. This percentage is pretax and is taken from the transaction subtotal (which includes all stock codes and shipping).
• Added a transaction time field to the invoice, order and quote tables. While this field does not print on any standard reports, it is available for use on custom reports.
• The transaction date and time can now be changed when creating and editing most invoices, orders, and quotes via the right click pop-up menu.
• Modified the Zip field on the Alternate Shipping Address window to be a drop down list box.
• Transactions printed to file or email now include the company information header even if the print company information option is unchecked. This allows for the suppression of the company information when printing transactions on preprinted forms or stationary while including the information when transactions are emailed or saved to file.
• Modified credit card masking to mask all but the last 4 digits of the printed credit card number to comply with new Visa regulations.

Invoices

• The selected customer can now be changed when creating and editing most invoices via the right click pop-up menu.
• Added an option to prompt for printing a shipper after creating an invoice directly.

Orders

• Added total shipping weight for high-level items to the Order Shipping window.
• The selected customer can now be changed when creating and editing most orders via the right click pop-up menu.
• Modified the search function, when editing orders, to only show open orders.
• Modified the Force Order Closed and Void Order functions to skip the shippable status check resulting in increased performance of the functions.
• Added the ability to edit the customer while shipping an order by clicking the Customer button on the Order Shipping window.

Quotes

• The selected customer can now be changed when creating and editing most quotes via the right click pop-up menu.

Purchase Orders (PO)

• Added the stock code purchase order receiving history to the PO and Batch PO Creation Item Information windows. All receiving history for the selected item is displayed in reverse order of the date received allowing for quick access to the most recent information.
• The selected vendor can now be changed when creating and editing most purchase orders via the right click pop-up menu.
• The selected vendor can now be changed when using the Direct Receiving function via the right click pop-up menu.
• Added the ability to unreceive a receiving session if the received items have not been modified since the receiving session was completed.
• The creation date can now be changed when creating and editing most purchase orders via the right click pop-up menu.
• The last received serial number for a stock code can be obtained, while receiving the item, by clicking the Last Received button on the Multiple Serial Number Entry window.
• Vendor purchase and receiving history can be viewed while creating purchase orders (from the PO Creation/Editing window) via the right click pop-up menu.
• Added a Shipping Notes function to the PO Creation/Editing window allowing for unique shipping instructions for each purchase order. This field defaults with the contents of the Shipping Instructions field of the selected vendor.

Receivables/Payables

• Modified the AR Payment function to allow for selecting accounts by invoice, service order, or statement number in addition to customer name or number.
• Added the customer name and number to the Payment Information window when processing payments to allow for visual confirmation that correct customer is selected.
• Modified the AR Purge History function to run through each customer account and purge history to the oldest “safe point” prior to the entered purge date. The safe point is the last point in the AR table for the account where the previous balance is zero and there are no outstanding transactions or unposted credits or payments.
• Multiple AR payment receipts can now be reprinted at the same time.
• Added a warning, to AR Payment function, if there is an amount in the Credit Card field but no credit card information on the transaction.
• Modified the New Payable and Edit Payable functions to allow for the ability to specify breakdown information when the information is readily available rather than having to wait until the payable is processed to break it down.
• Payments made to a customer with a master customer are now redirected to the master customer account.

Service Orders (SO)

• Added a Shipping field for entering shipping charges when a common carrier, such as UPS and FedEx, is used.
• Extended the length of the Serial Number and Alternate ID fields, on the Service Order Information window, from 20 to 25 characters.
• The selected customer can now be changed when creating and editing most service orders via the right click pop-up menu.
• Added an “in” time field and “out” time field to the service order table. While these fields do not print on any standard reports, they are available for use on custom reports.
• The date and time “in” and the date and time “out” can now be changed when creating and editing most service orders via the right click pop-up menu.
• Added the ability to pull the selected customer’s last price from the service history when adding stock codes to service orders.
• Modified the Job Parts List window to show the extended price for each line item.
• Added a full set of service order quote functions. These functions allow for the creation, editing, and voiding of service order quotes, as well as transferring them to service orders.
• Added the service order Cust PO and Reference fields to the Service Order Selection window and the Open SO Selection window.
• Added global discount percentages to service orders. This percentage is pretax and is taken from the service order subtotal (which includes labor, shipping, sublet, etc.).
• Added the ability to print labels for service orders so that incoming items can be tagged.

RMAs

• The selected vendor can now be changed when creating and editing most vendor RMAs via the right click pop-up menu.
• The selected customer can now be changed when creating and editing most customer RMAs via the right click pop-up menu.

Options/Customization

• Added ability to store a company logo in the centralized company information table to allow for inclusion in custom report formats.
• Added ability to display the stored company logo on the background window instead of a local image file. When using multiple databases this option can be used to provide a visible indicator to readily distinguish which data location is currently selected.
• Added the ability to set the default tax category from the Tax Category Setup window.
• Added the ability to set the default price category from the Price Category Setup window.
• Added the ability to specify the default number of copies to print for invoices, orders, and service orders.
• Increased maximum number of decimal places for pricing and costs from 4 to 5.
• Added a data location specific option to prompt for backing up the data, when closing Atrex, if the date of the last backup is older than 7 days.
• Added the option to split the shipping cost during PO receiving by the weight of the items.

Banking

• Extended the length of the banking Memo field from 60 to 128 characters.
• Bank account items can now be edited while using the Balance Account function.  This allows for corrections to be made without having to close the function and start over.
• Added the To/From information from banking transactions to Balance Account function to make account reconciliation easier.
• Added the ability to specify breakdown information for banking deposits.
• Added the ability to double click on the Amount field on the Breakdown Information window when breaking down banking transactions to automatically enter the remaining unassigned amount.
• Added ability to designate a payee on banking withdrawals allowing for electronic funds withdrawals or use of Debit cards.
• Modified the Payee Maintenance function to display the account name, with the transaction description, on the Payee Maintenance window resulting in easier location of payee reference information.

Security

• User login passwords can now be up to 15 characters in length and must be at least 4 characters in length.
• Modified the inventory Serialized Editing function to operate in read-only access mode if a user does NOT have the authority to modify inventory information.
• The ability to edit service order templates is now tied to the ability to edit service orders.
• Added a security option for the Check Out/In Mobile Locations function.
• Removed the security restrictions for inventory labels.
• Added a security option for allowing the ability to change the Salesperson on transactions.
• Separated the AR Payment function and the AR account adjustment functions into separate security options.
• Separated the Create Purchase Orders and Edit Purchase Orders functions into separate security options.
• Added a security option for allowing the ability to delete all related history when voiding transactions.
• User login passwords can now start with a numeric character.

Importing

• Reworked the import utility to eliminate the performance degradation as the number of items in the destination table increases. The import speed is now consistent regardless of the number of items being imported.
• Modified the stock code import function to default items as taxable if a value is not mapped to the taxable fields

Reports

• Increased the size of SQL Query window to allow more data to be displayed on a single page for easier browsing.
• Added a progress bar to the SQL Query function to display the query progress.
• Most sales reports can now be limited by a manufacturer range.
• PO History reports can now be limited by a manufacturer range.
• Most sales reports can now be sorted by the Promotion field.
• Most inventory reports can now be limited by a location range.

If you are upgrading from a version of Atrex earlier than 10, version 11 will also include the changes that went into versions Atrex 7, Atrex 8, Atrex 9 and Atrex 10.