Well the term of Customer Relationship Management (CRM) can cover a lot of ground and is definitely open to interpretation. InBizness SOHO is a framework application for business owners. InBizness SOHO is a very comprehensive package and open for customization using FileMaker Pro, an Award-winning, easy-to-use database software for Windows, Mac and the Web
Chances are, your business is an elaborate balancing act between fulfilling customer requests, managing projects, interacting with inventory and much more. InBizness SOHO was designed to an enabling resource that records and unifies the dizzying amount of data that comes in and goes out each business day.
This means you can combine information such as client management, invoicing, inventory, task management, finances, customer support and even media materials such as manuals, spreadsheets and reports. View client information, linked incoming and outgoing emails, view linked activities ( calls, meetings, to do ), view related purchases and even view related files such as pdf documents, excel spreadsheets, word documents and more!
Although InBizness has almost 50 tables, it is broken down into the six main sections of People, Sales, Projects, Purchases, Finances and Support. So you can see, it really isn’t that complicated. Here is a breakdown of each of the main sections ...
People - Clients, Contacts, Vendors, Staff and Leads
Sales - Proposals, Quotes, Sales Orders, Invoices, Payments and Inventory
Projects - Campaigns, Events, Emails, Timecards and Media Files
Purchases - Purchase Orders and Vendor Bills
Finances - Finance and Bank Deposits
Support - Credit Memos, Return Merchandise Authorizations and Support Calls
Each section and each module within a section can be cross linked. So you really can get that 30,000 foot in the air view of your business as well as what is happening at ground zero.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Introducing The Support Module
The support module is used for documenting the customer support experience for a company. It can be used by multiple staff members to record the possible multiple steps in a problem resolution.
Key Features Of The Support Module
- Ability to record support issues from clients
- Can link to a contact and staff record
- Can link to a campaign record
- Can link to a vendor record
- Ability to link to media files
Introduction To The Returns Module
The RMA module is design to record instances where a customer was issued a confirmation to return a product for repair or return. You can record what we returned via line items (just like the line items on an invoice). You can even link a return to an invoice and you can quickly view all the returns given to a client from their client record. This is available via a customer satisfaction tab found within each client record.
Key Features Of The Returns Module
- Ability to record returns from clients
- Ability to record technician comments
- Ability to record receiving comments
- Ability to link returns to media files
Introduction To The Credit Memo Module
The credit memo module is design to record instances where a customer was issued a refund. You can record what we returned via line items (just like the line items on an invoice). You can even link a credit memo to an invoice and you can quickly view all the credit memos given to a client from their client record. This is available via a customer satisfaction tab found within each client record.
Key Features Of The Credit Memo Module
- Ability to record credits to clients
- Ability to link credits to media files
Key Features Of The Clients Module
Key Features Of The Clients Module
- Ability to link to multiple modules
- Ability to set default payment methods
- Ability to see multiple linked aspects of Sales / Marketing
- Ability to see multiple linked aspects of Customer Satisfaction
- Ability to see multiple linked aspects of Events and Emails
- Ability to see multiple linked staff time cards
- Ability to see multiple linked media file records
- Ability to see linked web site information
- Limited data auditing on record changes
- Multiple client related report activities
- Ability to link to multiple modules
- Ability to set default payment methods
- Ability to see multiple linked aspects of Sales / Marketing
- Ability to see multiple linked aspects of Customer Satisfaction
- Ability to see multiple linked aspects of Events and Emails
- Ability to see multiple linked staff time cards
- Ability to see multiple linked media file records
- Ability to see linked web site information
- Limited data auditing on record changes
- Multiple client related report activities
Version 2.5
Version 2.5
I'm adding this post when InBizness SOHO is on version 2.6 but wanted to have this information available for reference.
NEW BANK DEPOSIT MODULE
Added a new module for quickly creating deposit slips for customer check payments.
NEW SUPPORT CALL MODULE
Added a new module for documenting the customer support experience for a company.
MAIN MODULE CHANGES
Added a sub tab to the Version History tab to document the changes in version 2.5
Removed The Emails And Events buttons to make room for new modules.
These two buttons are still in the Take Me To screen and the navigation custom menu.
Added a sub tab panel to the Preferences tab in the Main module including General, Invoice and Purchase Orders
Added a global field (in preferences) to help tailor the message on email invoices about how to make balance due payment
CAMPAIGN MODULE CHANGES
Added a relationship from Campaigns To Timecards, a tab to see this in a portal and you can create a timecard from this module.
CLIENT MODULE CHANGES
Added a button called "List These" that does a GTRR to related records and show them in a list view. This button can be used to show related invoices, sales orders, quotes, proposals, campaigns, credit memos, returns, emails and events.
Tightened up the bottom tab order to show more data and be organized into logical group tabs.
Combined Emails And Events into the same tab and added this data as a subtab.
Added a relationship from Clients To Timecards, a tab to see this in a portal and you can create a timecard from this module.
Added A Support Call portal in the Customer Satisfaction Primary Tab
Added button and custom menu to create a new linked support call record from the clients module.
Added a pull down list of countries for the billing country and shipping country fields
Added a country code field for shipping and billing that uses a custom function to auto entry the code to correspond to the country
Added another subtab within the Emails/Events/Time tab called Timecard billing, which can be used to calculate and communicate consulting billing timecard entry.
Tweaked the Web Viewer tab panel to become Media Files / Web and added a sub tab with a portal to see linked media files
CONTACT MODULE CHANGES
Added a relationship from Contacts To Timecards, a tab to see this in a portal and you can create a timecard from this module.
Added a tab for viewing linked media files, added portals to view the files, added GTRR for access and button to create new linked media records.
EVENTS MODULE CHANGES
In many modules, you can see a related event in the Events Dialog box (a smaller layout linked to the Events module). I added a button on that dialog layout to go to full screen view of the event record.
FILES / MEDIA MODULE CHANGES
Added a relationship from Files To Contacts and a magnifying glass icon to GTRR the related contact
INVOICE MODULE CHANGES
Added a button in the payments tab to automatically add a payment that is equal to the balance due for the invoice.
Turned off the validate always selection for the invoice number field because it was interfering with importing legacy data
Added a customization options area in the text invoice tab to allow for customization options for each invoice that might be emailed.
The first text invoice customization allows for including balance due information on outgoing invoices.
Tweaked the text invoice information to include a message about how payments can be made for invoices with a balance due.
LEADS MODULE CHANGES
Added a relationship from Leads To Timecards, a tab to see this in a portal and you can create a timecard from this module.
To be consistent, the lead contact field has been broken up into a first and last name fields.
Added the ability to create a proposal from a lead and added a tab with portal to see related proposals for a lead
PROPOSAL MODULE CHANGES
Added a button and custom menu option within the Proposal module that will convert the proposal record to a new campaign record. The proposal milestones become campaign events and everything is attached to the related client.
Shortened the tab name Terms Agreement to Terms and added a Products tab
Added a tab for products and now you can add products from inventory to a proposal
Made Background a master tab with the sub tabs of Background, Research and Objectives
Removed the main tabs of Research and Objectives and made them sub tabs within the Background tab
Added a Questions tab / field in the Statements tab, this allows you to include proposal questions about areas within a proposal draft
STAFF MODULE CHANGES
Added a new sub tab in the Events tab titled "Range / Working / Date Sort". It allows a staff member to set a start and end date range to see all their events in "Working" status. Added a large number of buttons to help set the range including Today, This Week, Last Week, Next Week, This Month, Last Month, Next Month and YTD. I also added a button to set all the events that have working status before the current date for a staff member to the current date. Also added the Set Previous Working feature as a custom menu for the Staff menu.
Added summary fields to the Timecard tab for overall timecard time (by range), overall billable time and billable amount.
Added New Timecard light gray button in the top button row, not sure how I missed that until now.
Added a tab for viewing linked media files, added portals to view the files, added GTRR for access and button to create new linked media records.
TIMECARD MODULE CHANGES
Updated the client id field to auto enter via a lookup to an associated campaign record
Added a button next to the timecard email field to send timecard information to the linked client
UNDER THE HOOD - BaseElements Error Free
I acquired a copy of BaseElements 2.0 and used it to evaluate InBizness SOHO 2.5. There wasn't any major problems but there were reports of a lot of smaller issues and warnings. At this release date, InBizness SOHO 2.5 has no reported errors or warnings.
UNDER THE HOOD - CUSTOM FUNCTION ADDITION (insert_commas)
Added the custom function of insert_commas, which inserts commas before every third digit before a decimal point. Uses recursion to handle any number, including negative values and decimals. This allows me to have a calculated number in a text calculation field and still show the commas. So a calculated value of 2,000 will look that way instead of 2000. The name of the function is insert_commas and I got it from the briandunning.com web site. The credits for uploading this function to that site are noted as Matthew Stetson, Antidote Solutions (http://www.antidotesolutions.com)
UNDER THE HOOD - CUSTOM FUNCTION ADDITION (_cf_Country_Letter_Code)
This is a list of countries (sorted partially by their first letter) and their equivalent letter code. The name of the function is _cf_Country_Letter_Code and I got it from the briandunning.com web site. The credits for uploading this function to that site are noted as Edward Souza, Duana A. S. Designs.
UNDER THE HOOD - CUSTOM MENU CHANGES
In the Staff module, added the custom menu of Set Previously Working Events To Today.
In the Proposal module, add a custom menu to covert a Proposal (with milestones) to a Campaign (with events).
Removed all aspects that allowed general FileMaker users to install standard FileMaker menus vs custom menus
UNDER THE HOOD - LAYOUT CHANGES
Went through and renamed all layouts to a new centralized naming convention
Went through and reorganized all layouts by module name and purpose
UNDER THE HOOD - SCRIPTING
Added a new naming convention for all scripts so they can uniquely identify what module they focus upon
UNDER THE HOOD - RELATIONSHIP GRAPH CHANGES
I had my Relationship Graph in very good shape for my InBizness SOHO product. However, I have never made sure that it printed perfectly. This is a large task because InBizness SOHO 2.5 has over 200 table occurrences for the 45 tables it currently has. So now, all those table occurrences are in synch with the Page Guide grid. I know that many of my competitors in the FileMaker framework business market could never print all the relationships for their solution from one place and it all fits into the printable grid. All TOGs are sorted alphabetically, fully anchor / buoy, full consistent naming convention and now totally printer friendly.
UNDER THE HOOD - VALUE LISTS
Went through and renamed all value lists to a new centralized naming convention
Added a value list for countries called OVERALL_country and have started assigning it to related country fields in the solution
I'm adding this post when InBizness SOHO is on version 2.6 but wanted to have this information available for reference.
NEW BANK DEPOSIT MODULE
Added a new module for quickly creating deposit slips for customer check payments.
NEW SUPPORT CALL MODULE
Added a new module for documenting the customer support experience for a company.
MAIN MODULE CHANGES
Added a sub tab to the Version History tab to document the changes in version 2.5
Removed The Emails And Events buttons to make room for new modules.
These two buttons are still in the Take Me To screen and the navigation custom menu.
Added a sub tab panel to the Preferences tab in the Main module including General, Invoice and Purchase Orders
Added a global field (in preferences) to help tailor the message on email invoices about how to make balance due payment
CAMPAIGN MODULE CHANGES
Added a relationship from Campaigns To Timecards, a tab to see this in a portal and you can create a timecard from this module.
CLIENT MODULE CHANGES
Added a button called "List These" that does a GTRR to related records and show them in a list view. This button can be used to show related invoices, sales orders, quotes, proposals, campaigns, credit memos, returns, emails and events.
Tightened up the bottom tab order to show more data and be organized into logical group tabs.
Combined Emails And Events into the same tab and added this data as a subtab.
Added a relationship from Clients To Timecards, a tab to see this in a portal and you can create a timecard from this module.
Added A Support Call portal in the Customer Satisfaction Primary Tab
Added button and custom menu to create a new linked support call record from the clients module.
Added a pull down list of countries for the billing country and shipping country fields
Added a country code field for shipping and billing that uses a custom function to auto entry the code to correspond to the country
Added another subtab within the Emails/Events/Time tab called Timecard billing, which can be used to calculate and communicate consulting billing timecard entry.
Tweaked the Web Viewer tab panel to become Media Files / Web and added a sub tab with a portal to see linked media files
CONTACT MODULE CHANGES
Added a relationship from Contacts To Timecards, a tab to see this in a portal and you can create a timecard from this module.
Added a tab for viewing linked media files, added portals to view the files, added GTRR for access and button to create new linked media records.
EVENTS MODULE CHANGES
In many modules, you can see a related event in the Events Dialog box (a smaller layout linked to the Events module). I added a button on that dialog layout to go to full screen view of the event record.
FILES / MEDIA MODULE CHANGES
Added a relationship from Files To Contacts and a magnifying glass icon to GTRR the related contact
INVOICE MODULE CHANGES
Added a button in the payments tab to automatically add a payment that is equal to the balance due for the invoice.
Turned off the validate always selection for the invoice number field because it was interfering with importing legacy data
Added a customization options area in the text invoice tab to allow for customization options for each invoice that might be emailed.
The first text invoice customization allows for including balance due information on outgoing invoices.
Tweaked the text invoice information to include a message about how payments can be made for invoices with a balance due.
LEADS MODULE CHANGES
Added a relationship from Leads To Timecards, a tab to see this in a portal and you can create a timecard from this module.
To be consistent, the lead contact field has been broken up into a first and last name fields.
Added the ability to create a proposal from a lead and added a tab with portal to see related proposals for a lead
PROPOSAL MODULE CHANGES
Added a button and custom menu option within the Proposal module that will convert the proposal record to a new campaign record. The proposal milestones become campaign events and everything is attached to the related client.
Shortened the tab name Terms Agreement to Terms and added a Products tab
Added a tab for products and now you can add products from inventory to a proposal
Made Background a master tab with the sub tabs of Background, Research and Objectives
Removed the main tabs of Research and Objectives and made them sub tabs within the Background tab
Added a Questions tab / field in the Statements tab, this allows you to include proposal questions about areas within a proposal draft
STAFF MODULE CHANGES
Added a new sub tab in the Events tab titled "Range / Working / Date Sort". It allows a staff member to set a start and end date range to see all their events in "Working" status. Added a large number of buttons to help set the range including Today, This Week, Last Week, Next Week, This Month, Last Month, Next Month and YTD. I also added a button to set all the events that have working status before the current date for a staff member to the current date. Also added the Set Previous Working feature as a custom menu for the Staff menu.
Added summary fields to the Timecard tab for overall timecard time (by range), overall billable time and billable amount.
Added New Timecard light gray button in the top button row, not sure how I missed that until now.
Added a tab for viewing linked media files, added portals to view the files, added GTRR for access and button to create new linked media records.
TIMECARD MODULE CHANGES
Updated the client id field to auto enter via a lookup to an associated campaign record
Added a button next to the timecard email field to send timecard information to the linked client
UNDER THE HOOD - BaseElements Error Free
I acquired a copy of BaseElements 2.0 and used it to evaluate InBizness SOHO 2.5. There wasn't any major problems but there were reports of a lot of smaller issues and warnings. At this release date, InBizness SOHO 2.5 has no reported errors or warnings.
UNDER THE HOOD - CUSTOM FUNCTION ADDITION (insert_commas)
Added the custom function of insert_commas, which inserts commas before every third digit before a decimal point. Uses recursion to handle any number, including negative values and decimals. This allows me to have a calculated number in a text calculation field and still show the commas. So a calculated value of 2,000 will look that way instead of 2000. The name of the function is insert_commas and I got it from the briandunning.com web site. The credits for uploading this function to that site are noted as Matthew Stetson, Antidote Solutions (http://www.antidotesolutions.com)
UNDER THE HOOD - CUSTOM FUNCTION ADDITION (_cf_Country_Letter_Code)
This is a list of countries (sorted partially by their first letter) and their equivalent letter code. The name of the function is _cf_Country_Letter_Code and I got it from the briandunning.com web site. The credits for uploading this function to that site are noted as Edward Souza, Duana A. S. Designs.
UNDER THE HOOD - CUSTOM MENU CHANGES
In the Staff module, added the custom menu of Set Previously Working Events To Today.
In the Proposal module, add a custom menu to covert a Proposal (with milestones) to a Campaign (with events).
Removed all aspects that allowed general FileMaker users to install standard FileMaker menus vs custom menus
UNDER THE HOOD - LAYOUT CHANGES
Went through and renamed all layouts to a new centralized naming convention
Went through and reorganized all layouts by module name and purpose
UNDER THE HOOD - SCRIPTING
Added a new naming convention for all scripts so they can uniquely identify what module they focus upon
UNDER THE HOOD - RELATIONSHIP GRAPH CHANGES
I had my Relationship Graph in very good shape for my InBizness SOHO product. However, I have never made sure that it printed perfectly. This is a large task because InBizness SOHO 2.5 has over 200 table occurrences for the 45 tables it currently has. So now, all those table occurrences are in synch with the Page Guide grid. I know that many of my competitors in the FileMaker framework business market could never print all the relationships for their solution from one place and it all fits into the printable grid. All TOGs are sorted alphabetically, fully anchor / buoy, full consistent naming convention and now totally printer friendly.
UNDER THE HOOD - VALUE LISTS
Went through and renamed all value lists to a new centralized naming convention
Added a value list for countries called OVERALL_country and have started assigning it to related country fields in the solution
Version 2.4
Version 2.4
I'm adding this post when InBizness SOHO is on version 2.6 but wanted to have this information available for reference.
NEW CONTACTS MODULE
Added new contacts module so now you can document multiple contacts within a client or vendor record.
NEW LEADS MODULE
Added new leads module for cultivating new clients. This paves the way for a more robust lead to client process.
NEW SALES ORDER MODULE
Added new sales order module and allows you to convert a sales order to an invoice.
NEW TIME CARD MODULE
Added new timecard module so now you can have a staff member log their time and have it associated with a record in another module such as a campaign, a customer, a lead or just about anything!
NEW CREDIT MEMO MODULE
Added new credit memo module to record instances where a customer was issued a refund.
NEW RMA (return merchandise authorization) MODULE
Added new credit memo module to record instances where a customer was issued an authorization to return a product.
MAIN MODULE CHANGES
Edited and reorganized the buttons for module navigation, also updated the Take Me To dialog box
Added a tab to see the dwaynewright.com web site in a tab
CLIENT MODULE CHANGES
Added a portal to add contacts to Client record
Added a portal to add multiple addresses for a Client record
Added the ability to create a new RMA for a client from the Create Related custom menu
Consolidated the Sales and Marketing tabs into one tab
Added new Sales Order sub-tab with related portal within the Sales / Marketing tab
Added new tab called Customer Sat, included sub-tabs to for related credit memos and returns records
Added the related portals for the related credit memos and returns records
INVOICE MODULE CHANGES
Reorganized the top tab panels. It used to be a pair of thinner tab panels. Now it is one long tab and the address information is not seen side by side.
PAYMENTS MODULE CHANGES
Previous to version 2.4, the payment module was accessed via a portal in the invoice module. Now it has its own form, list and print layouts.
STAFF MODULE CHANGES
Added a link to the new timecard module (naturally) with a new tab panel for Timecard with a ranged portal display
VENDOR MODULE CHANGES
Added the tab panel for viewing related contacts via a portal and added the script to create related contacts
CUSTOM MENU CHANGES
Reorganized the Navigation Menu with new module options
USER INTERFACE CHANGES
Tweaked the main screen leveraging even more from the ISO Theme Library
Continued tweaking of form and list view interfaces using the ISO Theme Library materials.
Added a value list for time related data entry, mostly for timecard entry requirements
In most layouts, there is a tab that allows a user to submit customization requests
REPORT CHANGES
Added a new client report that reports on sales by state and ranks them by total sales
I'm adding this post when InBizness SOHO is on version 2.6 but wanted to have this information available for reference.
NEW CONTACTS MODULE
Added new contacts module so now you can document multiple contacts within a client or vendor record.
NEW LEADS MODULE
Added new leads module for cultivating new clients. This paves the way for a more robust lead to client process.
NEW SALES ORDER MODULE
Added new sales order module and allows you to convert a sales order to an invoice.
NEW TIME CARD MODULE
Added new timecard module so now you can have a staff member log their time and have it associated with a record in another module such as a campaign, a customer, a lead or just about anything!
NEW CREDIT MEMO MODULE
Added new credit memo module to record instances where a customer was issued a refund.
NEW RMA (return merchandise authorization) MODULE
Added new credit memo module to record instances where a customer was issued an authorization to return a product.
MAIN MODULE CHANGES
Edited and reorganized the buttons for module navigation, also updated the Take Me To dialog box
Added a tab to see the dwaynewright.com web site in a tab
CLIENT MODULE CHANGES
Added a portal to add contacts to Client record
Added a portal to add multiple addresses for a Client record
Added the ability to create a new RMA for a client from the Create Related custom menu
Consolidated the Sales and Marketing tabs into one tab
Added new Sales Order sub-tab with related portal within the Sales / Marketing tab
Added new tab called Customer Sat, included sub-tabs to for related credit memos and returns records
Added the related portals for the related credit memos and returns records
INVOICE MODULE CHANGES
Reorganized the top tab panels. It used to be a pair of thinner tab panels. Now it is one long tab and the address information is not seen side by side.
PAYMENTS MODULE CHANGES
Previous to version 2.4, the payment module was accessed via a portal in the invoice module. Now it has its own form, list and print layouts.
STAFF MODULE CHANGES
Added a link to the new timecard module (naturally) with a new tab panel for Timecard with a ranged portal display
VENDOR MODULE CHANGES
Added the tab panel for viewing related contacts via a portal and added the script to create related contacts
CUSTOM MENU CHANGES
Reorganized the Navigation Menu with new module options
USER INTERFACE CHANGES
Tweaked the main screen leveraging even more from the ISO Theme Library
Continued tweaking of form and list view interfaces using the ISO Theme Library materials.
Added a value list for time related data entry, mostly for timecard entry requirements
In most layouts, there is a tab that allows a user to submit customization requests
REPORT CHANGES
Added a new client report that reports on sales by state and ranks them by total sales
Version 2.3
Version 2.3
I'm adding this post when InBizness SOHO is on version 2.6 but wanted to have this information available for reference.
NEW PURCHASE MODULE
Added new purchase order module for recording commitments to Vendors for the purchase of goods and services
NEW INVENTORY RECEIVED MODULE
Added new table that records when inventory has been received from an associate purchase order
NEW VENDOR BILL MODULE
Added new vendor bill module for recording bills from Vendors for the purchase of goods and services
CAMPAIGN MODULE CHANGES
Added a tab to see related invoices and added the relationship to link an invoice to a campaign
CLIENT MODULE CHANGES
Added layouts, script and custom menus to print Avery 5160 Shipping and Billing address labels
HELP MODULE CHANGES
Rewrote most of the help topic records in this module
Launched the InBizness SOHO blog ( http://inbiznesssoho.blogspot.com/ ) for updates to help information
INVENTORY MODULE CHANGES
Added the two new fields Vendor Product SKU and Vendor Product Title
Added a field to determine if a product will appear (or not) in the value list when adding an item to a purchase order
Added new inventory calculation fields of qty ordered, qty received and qty balance to update inventory levels on recvd inventory
Added a master tab of Inventory Transactions that has sub tabs for sales, purchases, receiving and adjustment transactions
Added a marketing tab with a client sub-tab to see all the clients that have purchased a particular product
INVOICE MODULE CHANGES
Added a tab in the background tab panel to see the key id links.
Added the key fields for campaigns, so an invoice can be linked to a campaign (currently a manual process)
MAIN MODULE CHANGES
Added a new tab to the main screen called acknowledgments
Added information about the custom functions used in InBizness SOHO
Added The SOHO Blog tab and linked web viewer
QUOTE MODULE CHANGES
Added the two tier pricing level system that was introduced into the invoice module in the last update
STAFF MODULE CHANGES
Added the print layout for staff and updated the Top Buttons script to include staff form view printing
VENDOR MODULE CHANGES
Added the ability to create a new purchase orders from a vendor record
Added a tab panel and portal to see purchase orders related to this vendor
Added button and menu command to create a new related equipment record from a vendor record
USER INTERFACE CHANGES
I have been experimenting for some time to update the interface to InBizness SOHO, this update has one of those experiments. It is inspired from one of the layout templates from the ISO Theme Library.
RELATIONSHIP GRAPH CHANGES
With the increased number of source tables, I decided to divide the table occurrences into two vertical rows. The first row will have all the source tables from A to L and the second row will have the source tables of M-Z.
CUSTOM MENU CHANGES
The Window sub-menu in the Navigation menu has been moved towards the top of the navigation menu
Added New Window as an individual option in the Windows menu
Tweaked the Report menu item descriptions to show what module they are focused upon
I'm adding this post when InBizness SOHO is on version 2.6 but wanted to have this information available for reference.
NEW PURCHASE MODULE
Added new purchase order module for recording commitments to Vendors for the purchase of goods and services
NEW INVENTORY RECEIVED MODULE
Added new table that records when inventory has been received from an associate purchase order
NEW VENDOR BILL MODULE
Added new vendor bill module for recording bills from Vendors for the purchase of goods and services
CAMPAIGN MODULE CHANGES
Added a tab to see related invoices and added the relationship to link an invoice to a campaign
CLIENT MODULE CHANGES
Added layouts, script and custom menus to print Avery 5160 Shipping and Billing address labels
HELP MODULE CHANGES
Rewrote most of the help topic records in this module
Launched the InBizness SOHO blog ( http://inbiznesssoho.blogspot.com/ ) for updates to help information
INVENTORY MODULE CHANGES
Added the two new fields Vendor Product SKU and Vendor Product Title
Added a field to determine if a product will appear (or not) in the value list when adding an item to a purchase order
Added new inventory calculation fields of qty ordered, qty received and qty balance to update inventory levels on recvd inventory
Added a master tab of Inventory Transactions that has sub tabs for sales, purchases, receiving and adjustment transactions
Added a marketing tab with a client sub-tab to see all the clients that have purchased a particular product
INVOICE MODULE CHANGES
Added a tab in the background tab panel to see the key id links.
Added the key fields for campaigns, so an invoice can be linked to a campaign (currently a manual process)
MAIN MODULE CHANGES
Added a new tab to the main screen called acknowledgments
Added information about the custom functions used in InBizness SOHO
Added The SOHO Blog tab and linked web viewer
QUOTE MODULE CHANGES
Added the two tier pricing level system that was introduced into the invoice module in the last update
STAFF MODULE CHANGES
Added the print layout for staff and updated the Top Buttons script to include staff form view printing
VENDOR MODULE CHANGES
Added the ability to create a new purchase orders from a vendor record
Added a tab panel and portal to see purchase orders related to this vendor
Added button and menu command to create a new related equipment record from a vendor record
USER INTERFACE CHANGES
I have been experimenting for some time to update the interface to InBizness SOHO, this update has one of those experiments. It is inspired from one of the layout templates from the ISO Theme Library.
RELATIONSHIP GRAPH CHANGES
With the increased number of source tables, I decided to divide the table occurrences into two vertical rows. The first row will have all the source tables from A to L and the second row will have the source tables of M-Z.
CUSTOM MENU CHANGES
The Window sub-menu in the Navigation menu has been moved towards the top of the navigation menu
Added New Window as an individual option in the Windows menu
Tweaked the Report menu item descriptions to show what module they are focused upon
Version 2.2
Version 2.2
This update has a number of minor tweaks in order to better support FileMaker 9 features. I'm adding this post when InBizness SOHO is on version 2.6 but wanted to have this information available for reference.
FILEMAKER 9 SUPPORT CHANGES
LAYOUTS - All main form view layouts have been updated to take advantage of screen resize features
LAYOUTS - All form view layout tab panels have been changed to full justification and squared appearance
SCRIPTS - Added the new grouping feature to allow developers to better organize scripts
NEW STAFF MODULE
Added new staff module as a gateway for additional user feature sets
Added routine to place the staff members id as a global variable on startup
Added a child match field to all tables for the possibility to link to a staff record
Setup all staff match fields in all tables to auto enter global variable information
Setup method for adding and editing security accounts from a security record
Security updates send emails to email address in the preferences area
Added tab panels for equipment and software along with associated interactions
MISC OTHER CHANGES
MAIN - added global fields for setting default company information to be used on invoices and correspondence
MAIN - added a preferences tab panel in the main screen
MAIN - added a tab panel for viewing version update history
CLIENTS - added a billing address email field
CLIENTS - added the price level field for two level pricing for invoices
INVOICE - updated the calc field for email invoices to use the LIST function
INVOICE - added a tab panel to see the text version of the email invoice
INVOICE - added the ability to do two level pricing for invoices
BUDGET - deleted this table and associated logic, it wasn't a clean fit or needed by the other modules
EMAIL - dialog box for creating emails now has a tab panel
EVENT - dialog box for creating events now has a tab panel
TAXES - had the ability to export records that are tax specific to a different table, this never really worked the way I imagined it, so I deleted the table and associated logic
RELATIONSHIP GRAPH - InBizness SOHO has been using anchor / buoy for quite some time. In this update, I made tweaks to the naming convention for objects on the relationship graph. In short, all buoy objects will have the naming convention of anchor_BUOY__comment. So the name of the anchor will appear first in lowercase, underscore character, BUOY NAME IN UPPERCASE, (optional dual underscore characters), (optional text that better describes the relationship).
PRIVILEGE SETS - Added the privilege sets of Owner, Manager, Admin, Sales, Data Entry, Customer Service and Information Tech. These are common business roles in a workplace and this allows us to integrate these roles with staff based security settings.
This update has a number of minor tweaks in order to better support FileMaker 9 features. I'm adding this post when InBizness SOHO is on version 2.6 but wanted to have this information available for reference.
FILEMAKER 9 SUPPORT CHANGES
LAYOUTS - All main form view layouts have been updated to take advantage of screen resize features
LAYOUTS - All form view layout tab panels have been changed to full justification and squared appearance
SCRIPTS - Added the new grouping feature to allow developers to better organize scripts
NEW STAFF MODULE
Added new staff module as a gateway for additional user feature sets
Added routine to place the staff members id as a global variable on startup
Added a child match field to all tables for the possibility to link to a staff record
Setup all staff match fields in all tables to auto enter global variable information
Setup method for adding and editing security accounts from a security record
Security updates send emails to email address in the preferences area
Added tab panels for equipment and software along with associated interactions
MISC OTHER CHANGES
MAIN - added global fields for setting default company information to be used on invoices and correspondence
MAIN - added a preferences tab panel in the main screen
MAIN - added a tab panel for viewing version update history
CLIENTS - added a billing address email field
CLIENTS - added the price level field for two level pricing for invoices
INVOICE - updated the calc field for email invoices to use the LIST function
INVOICE - added a tab panel to see the text version of the email invoice
INVOICE - added the ability to do two level pricing for invoices
BUDGET - deleted this table and associated logic, it wasn't a clean fit or needed by the other modules
EMAIL - dialog box for creating emails now has a tab panel
EVENT - dialog box for creating events now has a tab panel
TAXES - had the ability to export records that are tax specific to a different table, this never really worked the way I imagined it, so I deleted the table and associated logic
RELATIONSHIP GRAPH - InBizness SOHO has been using anchor / buoy for quite some time. In this update, I made tweaks to the naming convention for objects on the relationship graph. In short, all buoy objects will have the naming convention of anchor_BUOY__comment. So the name of the anchor will appear first in lowercase, underscore character, BUOY NAME IN UPPERCASE, (optional dual underscore characters), (optional text that better describes the relationship).
PRIVILEGE SETS - Added the privilege sets of Owner, Manager, Admin, Sales, Data Entry, Customer Service and Information Tech. These are common business roles in a workplace and this allows us to integrate these roles with staff based security settings.
Monday, September 22, 2008
InBizness 2.6 Update
INBIZNESS BLOG CHANGES
The InBizness blog can be accessed via the main screen under the InBizness Blog tab and directly from your web browser. New information is added all the time to this web site include sneak peeks at future updates, new FAQ content, comments and much more. It has been recently updated to include a RSS reader function, so you can get immediate updates when new content is available!
NEW REPORTS UNDER THE REPORTS MENU
Clients Module: Marketing Record Crosstab Report
Timecard Module: Find Billable Timecards That Have Not Been Billed
Timecard Module: Week / Year / Staff Timecard Totals For Found Set Of Records
Invoice Module: Added Aging Reports By Customer (both general and detailed view)
Invoice Module: Added Overdue By Status report for aging reports
Invoice Module: Added Fiscal Year Quarterly Sales report to the invoice subcategory
Purchase Module: Added Show Open Purchase Orders report
MAIN MODULE CHANGES
Added a field that allows you to specify the start month of a fiscal quarter in the General Preferences area
Added a field to allow you to enter in the default address to appear on printed invoices in the Invoice Preferences area
CAMPAIGN MODULE CHANGES
Added a field that allows a campaign record to show up in Timecard pick lists or not
Updated the list view so that the Campaign, Status, Priority and Type can be sorted by clicking list label (Ascending and Descending)
CLIENT MODULE CHANGES
Tweaked the light gray top button bar, removed "New" from each button and added a Create New label to the right of the button row
Added Create Timecard to the Clients Create Related custom menu and added a button to create a related timecard
Added a current record specific report for time card entries and added this as a custom menu option under the Clients custom menu.
Added a Client Marketing Crosstab Report to summarize totals of actions shown in the Sales / Marketing tab
Added a stored search feature with scripts, value lists and custom menus
Added first stored search to find only clients that are flagged to show up in timecards records
Updated the list view so that the Company, State and Zip can be sorted by clicking list label (Ascending and Descending)
Added a small plus sign button next to the shipping and billing contact names. This button will create new related contact records using this entered data.
CONTACT MODULE CHANGES
Added vCard capabilities via a tab, calculation field and export field contents script (good for the iPhone)
Updated the list view so that the Contact Last Name and Type can be sorted by clicking list label (Ascending and Descending)
EVENT MODULE CHANGES
Updated the layout that is used for the event dialog box to resize vertically for FileMaker 9 auto resize features.
Updated the list view so that the Date, Title and Status can be sorted by clicking list label (Ascending and Descending)
Added a Duplicate This Event (full) button that will duplicate an event and duplicate the day and comment data
Added the Clone, Duplicate (basic) and Duplicate (full) custom menu option under the Events menu
INVENTORY MODULE CHANGES
Updated the list view so that the Description, Price, Class and Status can be sorted by clicking list label (Ascending and Descending)
INVOICE MODULE CHANGES
Added A New Tab called Timecard that includes a new portal for linking timecards to invoices.
Added Date Payment Due Field and Aging Status Field for upcoming Accounts Receivable features.
LEADS MODULE CHANGES
Updated the list view so that the Company, State, Zip and Status can be sorted by clicking list label (Ascending and Descending)
PROPOSAL MODULE CHANGES
Added a number of buttons that will remove formatting pasted in areas such as background and statements.
Added a sub-tab structure to the milestones tab and included About Milestones and List Of Milestones as those sub-tabs
In the milestone dialog box, added a button next to the title called Plain Title to remove formatting from pasted title data.
In the milestone dialog box, added a button next to the description called Plain to remove formatting from pasted description data.
Added the product comments data to be added to built proposals (previously was excluded)
Updated the list view so that the Company and Proposal Title can be sorted by clicking list label (Ascending and Descending)
QUOTE MODULE CHANGES
Updated the email quote operation to resemble the updates that was done with the Invoice email out. This includes the Text Quote tab, dollar format custom function, use of the LIST function for line items and more.
STAFF MODULE CHANGES
Added a sub tab to the Background tab, moved auditing to one sub tab and created a new sub tab called Users Last Session Info
Added a startup routine to capture data about a users session into a global variable and set that data into that users staff record when they exit InBizness. Now I can capture information about the user that might come in handy for later troubleshooting.
Took the Equipment, Software and Mileage tabs and consolidated them as sub-tabs within a new tab called Admin
Added A HR tab with portals for Education Degrees, Training and Evaluations
Updated the list view so that the Last Name and Title can be sorted by clicking list label (Ascending and Descending)
TIMECARD MODULE CHANGES
The Timecard screens didn't have their own custom menu, added that custom menu and applied to all Timecard layouts.
Added a script, magnifying glass icon button and custom menu option to jump to a related client record in a new window.
Added the ability to link a timecard record to an invoice.
Updated the area used to email timecard updates, added a field that shows a timestamp when the timecard was emailed out.
After much internal debate, decided to have the start time auto enter via the record creation time.
Tweaked the value list for selecting a campaign record to link to a timecard record using a field added to the campaign module.
Added the tab and portal for related media file records and the ability to add related media files from a timecard record.
Updated the list view so that the Date, Duration, Staff Name and Type can be sorted by clicking list label (Ascending and Descending)
Added a button called Clone Incremental, this will create a new timecard record and populate it with data from the timecard you were previously viewing and it will set the start time equal to the end time of the record you were viewing. This allows you to quickly add in a timecard for a business day.
VENDOR MODULE CHANGES
Added a country code field and assigned a value list to the country address field.
Updated the list view so that the Company, Type and Tax Type can be sorted by clicking list label (Ascending and Descending)
VENDOR BILL MODULE CHANGES
Added a tab and enclosed text field to view a text version of the vendor bill.
Added a custom menu and associated script to send an email version of the vendor bill
UNDER THE HOOD - CUSTOM FUNCTION CHANGES
Added the FYQ custom function to return the month and year of a fiscal year from a start fiscal year month
UNDER THE HOOD - CUSTOM MENU CHANGES
Reports menu, added Client Marketing Crosstab Report to summarize totals of actions shown in the Sales / Marketing tab
The Timecard screens didn't have their own custom menu, added that custom menu and applied to all Timecard layouts
UNDER THE HOOD - VALUE LIST CHANGES
Added a new value list called OVERALL_month that has values from 1 to 12 to make selecting a month value easier
The InBizness blog can be accessed via the main screen under the InBizness Blog tab and directly from your web browser. New information is added all the time to this web site include sneak peeks at future updates, new FAQ content, comments and much more. It has been recently updated to include a RSS reader function, so you can get immediate updates when new content is available!
NEW REPORTS UNDER THE REPORTS MENU
Clients Module: Marketing Record Crosstab Report
Timecard Module: Find Billable Timecards That Have Not Been Billed
Timecard Module: Week / Year / Staff Timecard Totals For Found Set Of Records
Invoice Module: Added Aging Reports By Customer (both general and detailed view)
Invoice Module: Added Overdue By Status report for aging reports
Invoice Module: Added Fiscal Year Quarterly Sales report to the invoice subcategory
Purchase Module: Added Show Open Purchase Orders report
MAIN MODULE CHANGES
Added a field that allows you to specify the start month of a fiscal quarter in the General Preferences area
Added a field to allow you to enter in the default address to appear on printed invoices in the Invoice Preferences area
CAMPAIGN MODULE CHANGES
Added a field that allows a campaign record to show up in Timecard pick lists or not
Updated the list view so that the Campaign, Status, Priority and Type can be sorted by clicking list label (Ascending and Descending)
CLIENT MODULE CHANGES
Tweaked the light gray top button bar, removed "New" from each button and added a Create New label to the right of the button row
Added Create Timecard to the Clients Create Related custom menu and added a button to create a related timecard
Added a current record specific report for time card entries and added this as a custom menu option under the Clients custom menu.
Added a Client Marketing Crosstab Report to summarize totals of actions shown in the Sales / Marketing tab
Added a stored search feature with scripts, value lists and custom menus
Added first stored search to find only clients that are flagged to show up in timecards records
Updated the list view so that the Company, State and Zip can be sorted by clicking list label (Ascending and Descending)
Added a small plus sign button next to the shipping and billing contact names. This button will create new related contact records using this entered data.
CONTACT MODULE CHANGES
Added vCard capabilities via a tab, calculation field and export field contents script (good for the iPhone)
Updated the list view so that the Contact Last Name and Type can be sorted by clicking list label (Ascending and Descending)
EVENT MODULE CHANGES
Updated the layout that is used for the event dialog box to resize vertically for FileMaker 9 auto resize features.
Updated the list view so that the Date, Title and Status can be sorted by clicking list label (Ascending and Descending)
Added a Duplicate This Event (full) button that will duplicate an event and duplicate the day and comment data
Added the Clone, Duplicate (basic) and Duplicate (full) custom menu option under the Events menu
INVENTORY MODULE CHANGES
Updated the list view so that the Description, Price, Class and Status can be sorted by clicking list label (Ascending and Descending)
INVOICE MODULE CHANGES
Added A New Tab called Timecard that includes a new portal for linking timecards to invoices.
Added Date Payment Due Field and Aging Status Field for upcoming Accounts Receivable features.
LEADS MODULE CHANGES
Updated the list view so that the Company, State, Zip and Status can be sorted by clicking list label (Ascending and Descending)
PROPOSAL MODULE CHANGES
Added a number of buttons that will remove formatting pasted in areas such as background and statements.
Added a sub-tab structure to the milestones tab and included About Milestones and List Of Milestones as those sub-tabs
In the milestone dialog box, added a button next to the title called Plain Title to remove formatting from pasted title data.
In the milestone dialog box, added a button next to the description called Plain to remove formatting from pasted description data.
Added the product comments data to be added to built proposals (previously was excluded)
Updated the list view so that the Company and Proposal Title can be sorted by clicking list label (Ascending and Descending)
QUOTE MODULE CHANGES
Updated the email quote operation to resemble the updates that was done with the Invoice email out. This includes the Text Quote tab, dollar format custom function, use of the LIST function for line items and more.
STAFF MODULE CHANGES
Added a sub tab to the Background tab, moved auditing to one sub tab and created a new sub tab called Users Last Session Info
Added a startup routine to capture data about a users session into a global variable and set that data into that users staff record when they exit InBizness. Now I can capture information about the user that might come in handy for later troubleshooting.
Took the Equipment, Software and Mileage tabs and consolidated them as sub-tabs within a new tab called Admin
Added A HR tab with portals for Education Degrees, Training and Evaluations
Updated the list view so that the Last Name and Title can be sorted by clicking list label (Ascending and Descending)
TIMECARD MODULE CHANGES
The Timecard screens didn't have their own custom menu, added that custom menu and applied to all Timecard layouts.
Added a script, magnifying glass icon button and custom menu option to jump to a related client record in a new window.
Added the ability to link a timecard record to an invoice.
Updated the area used to email timecard updates, added a field that shows a timestamp when the timecard was emailed out.
After much internal debate, decided to have the start time auto enter via the record creation time.
Tweaked the value list for selecting a campaign record to link to a timecard record using a field added to the campaign module.
Added the tab and portal for related media file records and the ability to add related media files from a timecard record.
Updated the list view so that the Date, Duration, Staff Name and Type can be sorted by clicking list label (Ascending and Descending)
Added a button called Clone Incremental, this will create a new timecard record and populate it with data from the timecard you were previously viewing and it will set the start time equal to the end time of the record you were viewing. This allows you to quickly add in a timecard for a business day.
VENDOR MODULE CHANGES
Added a country code field and assigned a value list to the country address field.
Updated the list view so that the Company, Type and Tax Type can be sorted by clicking list label (Ascending and Descending)
VENDOR BILL MODULE CHANGES
Added a tab and enclosed text field to view a text version of the vendor bill.
Added a custom menu and associated script to send an email version of the vendor bill
UNDER THE HOOD - CUSTOM FUNCTION CHANGES
Added the FYQ custom function to return the month and year of a fiscal year from a start fiscal year month
UNDER THE HOOD - CUSTOM MENU CHANGES
Reports menu, added Client Marketing Crosstab Report to summarize totals of actions shown in the Sales / Marketing tab
The Timecard screens didn't have their own custom menu, added that custom menu and applied to all Timecard layouts
UNDER THE HOOD - VALUE LIST CHANGES
Added a new value list called OVERALL_month that has values from 1 to 12 to make selecting a month value easier
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Added Five New “Under The Hood” Movies
From Dwayne Wright - Certified FileMaker 9 Developer
WEB: www.dwaynewright.com
EMAIL: info@dwaynewright.com
TWITTER: dwaynewright
Thought I’d pass along an update about 5 new movies I added that cover the scripting, relationship, layout, custom menu and custom function philosophy used in my InBizness product.
Here are the the links, you might want to right click the links to open them in a new window or browser tab.
Relationship Philosophy
06:35 minutes
Scripting Philosophy
09:40 minutes
Layout Philosophy
06:40 minutes
Custom Menu Philosophy
07:18 minutes
Custom Function Philosophy
03:20 minutes
=
More info about the author and FileMaker in general, contact me at info@dwaynewright.com.
© 2008 - Dwayne Wright - dwaynewright.com
The material on this document is offered AS IS. There is NO REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY, expressed or implied, nor does any other contributor to this document. WARRANTIES OF MERCHANT ABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMED. Consequential and incidental damages are expressly excluded. FileMaker Pro is the registered trademark of FileMaker Inc.
====================== ADVERTISEMENT ==============================
For more information on the InBizness SOHO and other quality FileMaker framework solutions, please visit http://www.dwaynewright.com/solutions.html
WEB: www.dwaynewright.com
EMAIL: info@dwaynewright.com
TWITTER: dwaynewright
Thought I’d pass along an update about 5 new movies I added that cover the scripting, relationship, layout, custom menu and custom function philosophy used in my InBizness product.
Here are the the links, you might want to right click the links to open them in a new window or browser tab.
Relationship Philosophy
06:35 minutes
Scripting Philosophy
09:40 minutes
Layout Philosophy
06:40 minutes
Custom Menu Philosophy
07:18 minutes
Custom Function Philosophy
03:20 minutes
=
More info about the author and FileMaker in general, contact me at info@dwaynewright.com.
© 2008 - Dwayne Wright - dwaynewright.com
The material on this document is offered AS IS. There is NO REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY, expressed or implied, nor does any other contributor to this document. WARRANTIES OF MERCHANT ABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMED. Consequential and incidental damages are expressly excluded. FileMaker Pro is the registered trademark of FileMaker Inc.
====================== ADVERTISEMENT ==============================
For more information on the InBizness SOHO and other quality FileMaker framework solutions, please visit http://www.dwaynewright.com/solutions.html
Showing Open Purchase Orders
From Dwayne Wright - Certified FileMaker 9 Developer
WEB: www.dwaynewright.com
EMAIL: info@dwaynewright.com
TWITTER: dwaynewright
I just added a simple report script for the latest release of InBizness and thought I’d quickly share it. The report is a very simple ... find these records and go to list view. It is activated from the Reports custom menu, so it can be activated from just about anywhere in the system.
There are a few different things about this script that some fledgling developers might or might not be aware off. I do have an error capture routine, to branch the script if there isn’t any matching records to report upon. If the find does fail, it activates a subscript, so I can reuse the same code in multiple reports. The sorting feature is a little different as well. It didn’t make any sense to sort the returned records alphabetically by status, so it sorts by the matching value list attached to the status field.
Here you can see the report that is activated by a script parameter passed to it by the Reports custom menu. It does show the report in a new window, which is pretty standard for most of the reports I create.
Here you can see my search is actually a couple omits, assuming that everything that is not delivered or canceled is still open.
Here you can see the contents of the “no records found” subscript.
Here you can see the message shown to users when the “no records found” subscript if fired. Notice how vanilla and multiple purpose it is.
Here you can see that the sort routine is using the associated value list settings.
=
More info about the author and FileMaker in general, contact me at info@dwaynewright.com.
© 2008 - Dwayne Wright - dwaynewright.com
The material on this document is offered AS IS. There is NO REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY, expressed or implied, nor does any other contributor to this document. WARRANTIES OF MERCHANT ABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMED. Consequential and incidental damages are expressly excluded. FileMaker Pro is the registered trademark of FileMaker Inc.
====================== ADVERTISEMENT ==============================
For more information on the InBizness SOHO and other quality FileMaker framework solutions, please visit http://www.dwaynewright.com/solutions.html
WEB: www.dwaynewright.com
EMAIL: info@dwaynewright.com
TWITTER: dwaynewright
I just added a simple report script for the latest release of InBizness and thought I’d quickly share it. The report is a very simple ... find these records and go to list view. It is activated from the Reports custom menu, so it can be activated from just about anywhere in the system.
There are a few different things about this script that some fledgling developers might or might not be aware off. I do have an error capture routine, to branch the script if there isn’t any matching records to report upon. If the find does fail, it activates a subscript, so I can reuse the same code in multiple reports. The sorting feature is a little different as well. It didn’t make any sense to sort the returned records alphabetically by status, so it sorts by the matching value list attached to the status field. 
Here you can see the report that is activated by a script parameter passed to it by the Reports custom menu. It does show the report in a new window, which is pretty standard for most of the reports I create. 
Here you can see my search is actually a couple omits, assuming that everything that is not delivered or canceled is still open. 
Here you can see the contents of the “no records found” subscript.
Here you can see the message shown to users when the “no records found” subscript if fired. Notice how vanilla and multiple purpose it is. 
Here you can see that the sort routine is using the associated value list settings. =
More info about the author and FileMaker in general, contact me at info@dwaynewright.com.
© 2008 - Dwayne Wright - dwaynewright.com
The material on this document is offered AS IS. There is NO REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY, expressed or implied, nor does any other contributor to this document. WARRANTIES OF MERCHANT ABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMED. Consequential and incidental damages are expressly excluded. FileMaker Pro is the registered trademark of FileMaker Inc.
====================== ADVERTISEMENT ==============================
For more information on the InBizness SOHO and other quality FileMaker framework solutions, please visit http://www.dwaynewright.com/solutions.html
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
FAQ: Translating To Other Languages
From Dwayne Wright - Certified FileMaker 9 Developer
WEB: www.dwaynewright.com
EMAIL: info@dwaynewright.com
TWITTER: dwaynewright
QUESTION: If I would buy your solution, is it easy to translate everything into dutch..? Well the first translation would be easy, but if you change the framework (add new features or create bugfixes or just improve it), will we have to start all over again..?
-------
ANSWER: I have to admit that I have never done a FileMaker language translation project. I don’t think it would be hard to translate InBizness to another language but it may be time consuming. I don’t radically change the framework from version to version. So I don’t think that would present a big problem.
When I release a new version of InBizness, chances are you cannot directly upgrade to it. This is because you have done customizations to your copy of InBizness. If you purchase the update (or are on a maintenance agreement) you would pick and choose which of the new features in that version you want to implement into your customized copy. In most cases, you would copy and paste the code using FileMaker Advanced.
In your case, you would copy / paste the code, translate it and be done. I detail out the changes in each version via the version history tab in the Main window.
=
More info about the author and FileMaker in general, contact me at info@dwaynewright.com.
© 2008 - Dwayne Wright - dwaynewright.com
The material on this document is offered AS IS. There is NO REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY, expressed or implied, nor does any other contributor to this document. WARRANTIES OF MERCHANT ABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMED. Consequential and incidental damages are expressly excluded. FileMaker Pro is the registered trademark of FileMaker Inc.
WEB: www.dwaynewright.com
EMAIL: info@dwaynewright.com
TWITTER: dwaynewright
QUESTION: If I would buy your solution, is it easy to translate everything into dutch..? Well the first translation would be easy, but if you change the framework (add new features or create bugfixes or just improve it), will we have to start all over again..?
-------
ANSWER: I have to admit that I have never done a FileMaker language translation project. I don’t think it would be hard to translate InBizness to another language but it may be time consuming. I don’t radically change the framework from version to version. So I don’t think that would present a big problem.
When I release a new version of InBizness, chances are you cannot directly upgrade to it. This is because you have done customizations to your copy of InBizness. If you purchase the update (or are on a maintenance agreement) you would pick and choose which of the new features in that version you want to implement into your customized copy. In most cases, you would copy and paste the code using FileMaker Advanced.
In your case, you would copy / paste the code, translate it and be done. I detail out the changes in each version via the version history tab in the Main window.
=
More info about the author and FileMaker in general, contact me at info@dwaynewright.com.
© 2008 - Dwayne Wright - dwaynewright.com
The material on this document is offered AS IS. There is NO REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY, expressed or implied, nor does any other contributor to this document. WARRANTIES OF MERCHANT ABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMED. Consequential and incidental damages are expressly excluded. FileMaker Pro is the registered trademark of FileMaker Inc.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
FAQ: Database Not Modifiable
From Dwayne Wright - Certified FileMaker 9 Developer
WEB: www.dwaynewright.com
EMAIL: info@dwaynewright.com
TWITTER: dwaynewright
QUESTION: A popup keeps getting me saying it is not modifiable, even when I try to scroll through the tutorial. How do I fix that? Same thing if I go to clients and try to email you, I get a series of those pop ups.
-------
ANSWER: It sounds like your computer locked the file when it downloaded it. To unlock the file ...
ON A MACINTOSH: Quit FileMaker if is is running, navigate to the InBizness file and single click it. Then hit cmnd-I to launch the inspector and un-check the "locked" checkbox for the offending file. I know this is slow but that's the purpose of locking a file...to prevent it from being casually deleted.
ON A WINDOWS MACHINE: Quit FileMaker if is is running, navigate to the InBizness file and right click it. In the general area, you should be able to see if the attributes are selected as “Read Only”. If it is, uncheck that option.
=
More info about the author and FileMaker in general, contact me at info@dwaynewright.com.
© 2008 - Dwayne Wright - dwaynewright.com
The material on this document is offered AS IS. There is NO REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY, expressed or implied, nor does any other contributor to this document. WARRANTIES OF MERCHANT ABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMED. Consequential and incidental damages are expressly excluded. FileMaker Pro is the registered trademark of FileMaker Inc.
WEB: www.dwaynewright.com
EMAIL: info@dwaynewright.com
TWITTER: dwaynewright
QUESTION: A popup keeps getting me saying it is not modifiable, even when I try to scroll through the tutorial. How do I fix that? Same thing if I go to clients and try to email you, I get a series of those pop ups.
-------
ANSWER: It sounds like your computer locked the file when it downloaded it. To unlock the file ...
ON A MACINTOSH: Quit FileMaker if is is running, navigate to the InBizness file and single click it. Then hit cmnd-I to launch the inspector and un-check the "locked" checkbox for the offending file. I know this is slow but that's the purpose of locking a file...to prevent it from being casually deleted.
ON A WINDOWS MACHINE: Quit FileMaker if is is running, navigate to the InBizness file and right click it. In the general area, you should be able to see if the attributes are selected as “Read Only”. If it is, uncheck that option.
=
More info about the author and FileMaker in general, contact me at info@dwaynewright.com.
© 2008 - Dwayne Wright - dwaynewright.com
The material on this document is offered AS IS. There is NO REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY, expressed or implied, nor does any other contributor to this document. WARRANTIES OF MERCHANT ABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMED. Consequential and incidental damages are expressly excluded. FileMaker Pro is the registered trademark of FileMaker Inc.
Friday, September 5, 2008
FILEMAKER: Invoice Sales By Fiscal Year Quarter
From Dwayne Wright - Certified FileMaker 9 Developer
WEB: www.dwaynewright.com
EMAIL: info@dwaynewright.com
TWITTER: dwaynewright
So I decided I want to add some quarterly level report options for InBizness SOHO 2.6. Thought it might be interesting to comment the steps I took to create the report and post it to my FileMaker Reports Explored blog.
ABOUT THE CALCULATIONS
I decided to cruise by the custom function library area at briandunning.com to see what I could find. I quickly found the following ...
FYQ
from briandunning.com (http://www.briandunning.com/cf/759) uploaded by Matt Wills, Virtual Vermont (http://www.VirtualVermont.com/FMP) Returns the fiscal year and quarter of a given date, considering the starting month of the fiscal year and observing the convention that the year is named for the year in which it ends.
This looked very promising, so I added it to the solution. I hadn’t even thought about a fiscal year option for the report! I made a global field in the main table to store the start month value, added this to the general preferences area and attached a value list check box option for values from 1 to 12.
The next step was to add a calculation field into the invoice table to calculate the fiscal year quarter and I named mine FiscalYearQuarterSold. It has the very simple calculation of FYQ ( invoice_m::g_startmonthFiscalYear ; INVOICE::date_ordered ).
ABOUT THE LAYOUT
So I have knocked down the calculation for my general report, the next step was to create a layout. I decided to quickly duplicate an existing report that breaks sales down by year and month. This report has a subsummary by year and then by month. I simply rewired the year subsummary part to use the fiscal year subsummary part and deleted the month part. After reordering my layouts slightly, I was done with the layout portion. Now on to the scripting area.
ABOUT THE SCRIPTING
So you might already know that I organize all my report related scripts in one script folder and then I break them down by module. So I only need to tweak the standard script I use for all my invoice related scripts and break it up by using a Script Parameter. Here again, I duplicated the script steps for my Monthly Sales Report. I changed the script parameter, the referenced layout and the sort order. Now my scripting area is done.
Here you can see my scripting group organization for reports.
Here you can see the specifics of this script.
ABOUT THE CUSTOM MENU
Again, I do almost all the activation of reports from a custom menu. So I copied the new Script Parameter I used for my new script steps and proceeded to find my Reports custom menu. I find my Monthly Sales custom menu report, duplicate it, change the used Script Parameter and I’m good to go.
QUALITY TESTING
I went ahead and ran the report from the custom menu and it worked great. I decided to go back into the preferences area and change my starting fiscal year starting month and run the report again. Once again, everything looked great.
So it really was a quick tweak for an existing report!
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More info about the author and FileMaker in general, contact me at info@dwaynewright.com.
© 2008 - Dwayne Wright - dwaynewright.com
The material on this document is offered AS IS. There is NO REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY, expressed or implied, nor does any other contributor to this document. WARRANTIES OF MERCHANT ABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMED. Consequential and incidental damages are expressly excluded. FileMaker Pro is the registered trademark of FileMaker Inc.
====================== ADVERTISEMENT ==============================
For more information on the InBizness SOHO and other quality FileMaker framework solutions, please visit http://www.dwaynewright.com/solutions.html
WEB: www.dwaynewright.com
EMAIL: info@dwaynewright.com
TWITTER: dwaynewright
So I decided I want to add some quarterly level report options for InBizness SOHO 2.6. Thought it might be interesting to comment the steps I took to create the report and post it to my FileMaker Reports Explored blog.
ABOUT THE CALCULATIONS
I decided to cruise by the custom function library area at briandunning.com to see what I could find. I quickly found the following ...
FYQ
from briandunning.com (http://www.briandunning.com/cf/759) uploaded by Matt Wills, Virtual Vermont (http://www.VirtualVermont.com/FMP) Returns the fiscal year and quarter of a given date, considering the starting month of the fiscal year and observing the convention that the year is named for the year in which it ends.
This looked very promising, so I added it to the solution. I hadn’t even thought about a fiscal year option for the report! I made a global field in the main table to store the start month value, added this to the general preferences area and attached a value list check box option for values from 1 to 12.
The next step was to add a calculation field into the invoice table to calculate the fiscal year quarter and I named mine FiscalYearQuarterSold. It has the very simple calculation of FYQ ( invoice_m::g_startmonthFiscalYear ; INVOICE::date_ordered ).
ABOUT THE LAYOUT
So I have knocked down the calculation for my general report, the next step was to create a layout. I decided to quickly duplicate an existing report that breaks sales down by year and month. This report has a subsummary by year and then by month. I simply rewired the year subsummary part to use the fiscal year subsummary part and deleted the month part. After reordering my layouts slightly, I was done with the layout portion. Now on to the scripting area.
ABOUT THE SCRIPTING
So you might already know that I organize all my report related scripts in one script folder and then I break them down by module. So I only need to tweak the standard script I use for all my invoice related scripts and break it up by using a Script Parameter. Here again, I duplicated the script steps for my Monthly Sales Report. I changed the script parameter, the referenced layout and the sort order. Now my scripting area is done.
Here you can see my scripting group organization for reports.
Here you can see the specifics of this script.ABOUT THE CUSTOM MENU
Again, I do almost all the activation of reports from a custom menu. So I copied the new Script Parameter I used for my new script steps and proceeded to find my Reports custom menu. I find my Monthly Sales custom menu report, duplicate it, change the used Script Parameter and I’m good to go.
QUALITY TESTING
I went ahead and ran the report from the custom menu and it worked great. I decided to go back into the preferences area and change my starting fiscal year starting month and run the report again. Once again, everything looked great.
So it really was a quick tweak for an existing report!
=
More info about the author and FileMaker in general, contact me at info@dwaynewright.com.
© 2008 - Dwayne Wright - dwaynewright.com
The material on this document is offered AS IS. There is NO REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY, expressed or implied, nor does any other contributor to this document. WARRANTIES OF MERCHANT ABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMED. Consequential and incidental damages are expressly excluded. FileMaker Pro is the registered trademark of FileMaker Inc.
====================== ADVERTISEMENT ==============================
For more information on the InBizness SOHO and other quality FileMaker framework solutions, please visit http://www.dwaynewright.com/solutions.html
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