The following list of questions represent some of the most common sales questions we receive about Atrex. For support related issues, please visit the Atrex support page for information on how to obtain support.
Setting Up Atrex
- Q. Can I import existing data into Atrex?
- Q. I have historical data from another program that I would like to have converted over to Atrex. Can this be done?
- Q. Can more than one person access the Atrex data at the same time?
- Q. Do I need to install a copy of Atrex on each PC that I will be using it on, or can I install one copy on a network drive?
- Q. Do I need to install Atrex on the server if it's not going to be used as a workstation?
Registering Atrex
- Q. Will the data I entered in the shareware version work with the registered version?
- Q. Why should I purchase Atrex licenses if the evaluation copy is fully functional?
- Q. How much are updates and upgrades?
Using Atrex
- Q. Do I have to enter ALL of my customers and stock codes before I can start using the program?
- Q. Is there a way around having to enter a customer for every invoice?
- Q. My customer is a business not a person. How do I handle this?
- Q. How can I select my stock codes, customers etc. from a list?
- Q. When I try to receive or invoice a serialized item Atrex asks me for the serial number range. How do I receive or invoice a single serial number?
- Q. When I try to delete an old stock code or customer that I no longer use, Atrex tells me that the item I’m trying to delete is in use and that I can't delete it. Why?
- Q. Is there any regular data maintainance required?
Technical Questions
- Q. What are the limitations for how many stock codes, customers, invoices etc. that I can enter?
- Q. Sometimes Atrex starts up as a window and sometimes it starts up full screen. What causes this?
- Q. Can I customize any of the printouts created by Atrex.
- Q. What language is Atrex written in?
- Q. Is the Atrex source code available.
General
- Q. Is the evaluation copy really fully functional?
- Q. Will Atrex work with a bar code reader?
- Q. Where can I get a barcode reader?
- Q. I keep seeing GST, what is it?
- Q. What is a stock code?
- Q. What is a serial number?
Setting Up Atrex
Q. Can I import existing data into Atrex?
A. Yes. Atrex provides a utility to import stock codes, customers, and vendors from dBASE, comma delimited, and tab delimited formats, as well as most ODBC data sources.
Q. I have historical data from another program that I would like to have converted over to Atrex. Can this be done?
A. Yes. If you can provide us with a small representative sample of the data, we can provide you with a quote for the data conversion.
Q. Can more than one person access the Atrex data at the same time?
A. Yes. Atrex is compatible with any network that is directly supported by Windows, and is designed to allow access by more than one user at a time. Remember that you will need to license a copy of Atrex for each concurrent user.
Q. Do I need to install a copy of Atrex on each PC that I will be using it on, or can I install one copy on a network drive?
A. A copy of Atrex must reside on each system on which it will be running.
Q. Do I need to install Atrex on the server if it's not going to be used as a workstation?
A. While it is not required, having the Atrex application on the server can be handy when running the program maintainance for performance reasons.
Registering Atrex
Q. Will the data I entered in the shareware version work with the registered version?
A. Yes. If the registered version is the same generation as the shareware version (9.00 and 9.01) all you have to do is install the registered version over top of the shareware version. If the registered version is a different generation than the shareware version (8.03 and 9.00) there will either be a conversion routine or a import routine for the data.
Q Why should I purchase Atrex licenses if the evaluation copy is fully functional?
A. Atrex is marketed on a "try before you buy" basis and is not freeware or public domain, and as such registration (licensing) is required for legal use beyond the evaluation period.As Atrex is a rather large program with a large number of features and functions, we allow full use of the program so that you can properly review the product but have limited the evaluation period to 60 days. After the evaluation period has expired, you will receive registration warnings each time you start the package. Registering your copy will prevent or remove the registration warnings. With registration you also receive standard technical support and reduced prices for upgrades.
Q. How much are updates and upgrades?
A. Atrex updates are usually fixes to the program and contain minor new functionality, if any. Updates are free if download from our Web Page or any other Atrex source. Updates are those that only change the last digit of the version number. For example, 9.00 to 9.02 would be update versions. The same registration key will work for all update ranges (e.g. 9.00 through 9.09).Atrex upgrades contain program fixes, (if any), and new program functionality. The price of upgrades varies depending on the extent of the new functionality. Users are informed of upgrades through upgrade notices or by email. Upgrades are those that change the first or second digits of the version number. For example, 8.03 to 8.50 and 8.03 to 9.00 would be upgrade versions. New registration keys are required for upgrades.
Using Atrex
Q. Do I have to enter ALL of my customers and stock codes before I can start using the program?
A. No. Atrex allows you to enter everything that you need to complete a transaction while creating the transaction.
Q. Is there a way around having to enter a customer for every invoice?
A. Yes. Use the 'Rapid Invoice' function. With this function, there is no specific customer associated with the invoice, and all of the invoice information is defaulted.
Q. My customer is a business not a person. How do I handle this?
A. Only use the Last Name/Company Name field. If the First Name field is blank the comma will not print.
Q. How can I select my stock codes, customers etc. from a list?
A. At the Entry screen type a ? and press Enter. See the on-line help (search for ‘Partial Searches’) for more detailed information.
Q. When I try to receive or invoice a serialized item Atrex asks me for the serial number range. How do I receive or invoice a single serial number?
A. Enter the serial number in the Beginning field and press Enter.
Q. When I try to delete an old stock code or customer that I no longer use, Atrex tells me that the item I’m trying to delete is in use and that I can't delete it. Why?
A. Atrex is designed to ensure that the integrity of all historical items is maintained. This ensures that when you attempt to reprint an invoice from 6 months ago, all of the items on the invoice, such as the customer and all of the stock codes, are still in the system. If you were able to delete the stock codes, you would not be able to reprint the invoice.One solution to this is to merge unwanted stock codes into one specific stock code which will act as a garbage collector.
Q. Is there any regular data maintainance required?
A. There is a "Batch Processing" function ( "Options - Batch Processing" from the main Atrex menu ), that should be run periodically with the default options selected. These functions ensure that the data indexes are synchronized with the data tables and that the tables are as small and efficient as possible.
Technical Questions
Q. What are the limitations for how many stock codes that I can enter?
A. The database engine is limited to either 1 billion records, a maximum file size of 4GB, or the amount of storage space available on your hard drive. At this time, the current limit for stock codes is aproximately 3.5 million items at which point the table size reaches the 4GB limit.
Q. Sometimes Atrex starts up as a window and sometimes it starts up full screen. What causes this?
A. Atrex remembers if the program was full screen or not when it is closed. If it was full screen the last time the program was closed, it will start up again full screen. If it was not full screen, it allows Windows to determine where and how big it will be when it starts up.
Q. Can I customize any of the printouts created by Atrex.
A. Yes. Atrex includes a full report designer which will allow you to customize any report, including invoices, that are produced by Atrex. Or if your would prefer, Millennium Software can provide customization services for you on an fee for service basis.
Q. In what format does Atrex store its information?
A. Atrex uses the DBISAM 4 database for all data storage. While this is a proprietary format, a free read-only ODBC driver is available to allow access to the Atrex data for external reporting.
Q. What language is Atrex written in?
A. Atrex was written with Delphi 2006.
Q. Is the Atrex source code available.
A. No, the Atrex source code is not available.
General
Q. Is the evaluation copy really fully functional?
A. Yes. The evaluation copy is a 100% fully functional copy of the program and includes all of the functions available within the Atrex product. The evaluation period is 60 days, after which registration and licensing is required.
Q. Will Atrex work with a bar code reader?
A. Yes. All you need is a bar code reader that reads into the keyboard interface. This type of bar code reader is called a keyboard wedge. Most USB bar code readers will work as well.
Q. Where can I get a barcode reader?
A. Give us a call at (925) 828-5892 and we can set you up with one of several models or call your favorite POS equipment supplier.
Q. I keep seeing GST, what is it?
A. GST is the Canadian Goods & Services Tax. If you are in the United States, you can ignore anything to do with GST.
A. A stock code is a unique item number (e.g. AB101) that you assign to each item in your inventory. It is through the stock code that you can identify each different item that you sell. It is also commonly referred to as a SKU.
A. A serial number is a unique number assigned to a product that allows you to differentiate between each unit of that product.. The simplest way to describe it is vehicle ID number. Each automobile has its own unique serial number. Other items, such as computer parts and machinery, have serial numbers. The serial number feature in Atrex requires the entry of a serial number to receive or invoice a serialized stock code instead of just entering a quantity.
