Virus Warnings with Crystal Reports

Problem:
A recent technical support issue has occurred in which users are attempting to run Crystal Reports in Nextgen and an error message displays as follows: "Some files can harm your computer. If the file information below looks suspicious, or you do not fully trust the source, do not open or save this file."

Cause:
This warning message is due to a Microsoft security update that has recently been installed for Windows 2003/Internet Explorer.

Solution:
To disable the Microsoft security warning, you must add your Plex server console (where Crystal Report 8.0 executable files are stored) to your local intranet security zone in Internet Explorer.

Follow this procedure:

• Open Internet Explorer.
• Select Tools> Internet Options.
• Select the Security tab.
• Select Local Intranet Zone.
• Click on the Sites button.
• Enter the server name of your Plex server.
• Select Add.

This must be done for all workstation users that are having this problem.

For more information on this issue, please visit these links on Microsoft's website:

• http://support.microsoft.com/kb/815141
• http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=303650

Tracking Vehicle Maintenance in Nextgen

Question:
"We are thinking about trying to maintain our fleet of vehicles using Nextgen. Do you have any other customers who are doing this? Are you planning on coming out with something in the future to help with this sort of thing? I’m trying to figure out a way to have brakes, timing belt, etc. come up as a future PM. Do you have any ideas that might help with this?"

Answer:
This can certainly be done in Nextgen using the following procedure:

• Create a serialized item called VECH in Work with Items and Work with Serial.
• In Work with Serial> Work with Serial Meters, create serial meters for the following preventive maintenance items:
  • Oil change
  • Brake replacement
  • Transmission fluid
  • Tire rotation
  • Any others
• Enter the number of miles at which maintenance is performed for each preventive maintenance item in the Copies field for each Serial Meter record.
• Use the license plate # or VIN for the serial numbers and enter them through Machine Placement**.
• Place them at your company's customer number site.
• Flag the serial/serial meter records for PM every 3 months or for a certain number of copies.
• Run the PM Due by Copies/Months Report monthly to see what may be coming due. This can be found on Reports> Service.
• After work is performed, enter a service ticket and proper odometer reading for the correct Serial Meter.

**Machine Placement can be done by doing the following:

• Open Work with Serial, and change the Entity id field to valid one as well as the 2 contact id records with it.
• when you tab out of Entity id field, you will be prompted to put the machine on rental contract.
• If you select Yes, the warehouse will remain in the record and it will remain in inventory.
• If you select No, the warehouse and bin location will be blank and it will be removed from inventory.

Top 5 Reasons for Unfinished/Unprocessed Contract Billing Sessions

Sometimes there are various reasons why contracts do not bill properly. Here are the top 5 reasons why you might have unfinished or unprocessed billing sessions, and what you can do to get your contract billing on track again.

1. SAGL (Sales Analysis General Ledger) records have not been set up for the 5th level of contracts (Contract line item charge break sales analysis) in order to distribute dollars to the appropriate financial accounts. Solution: Add the SAGL record in Work with SAGL and run the program 'Process Contract Billing Table for the errored session.
   
   
2. The 5th level of the contract record is missing or was not created during conversion or setup (Contract line item charge break sales analysis). Solution: Run an SQL script to delete the contract from the unfinished session, then manually roll back the due dates on the contract and rebill. If there are any contracts left to be billed in the session, you will need to run the session again with Process Contract Billing Table, which can be found in File Maintenance> Contracts.
   
   Example of scripting a contract out of a billing session using SQL Query Analyzer:
   
   Update NGLLUV set cnbwork_sessionid=1 where cnheader_id='contract#' cnbwork_sessionid='session#'
   
   
3. A user has back dated the invoice date to a prior month that has a closed period. Solution: Run an SQL script to move the invoice date to a current period and run Process Contract Billing Table for that session number.
   
   Example of scripting an invoice date on a contract using SQL Query Analyzer:
   
   Update NGLLUV set cnbwork_invoicedate='1051705' where cnbwork_sessionid='session#'
   
   
4. The 5th level of the contract record (Contract line item charge break sales analysis) has a tax band that has no tax rate record associated with it. Solution: Run an SQL script to remove the contract record from the session, then add the tax rate record or change the tax band record to one with a valid tax rate. Also, manually roll back the due dates on the contract and rebill. If there are any other contracts left to be billed, run the session again using the program Process Contract Billing Table.
   
   Example of scripting a contract out of a session:
   
   Update NGLLUV set cnbwork_sessionid=1 where cnheader_id='contract#' and cnbwork_sessionid='#session#'
   
   
5. User defaults are set to AP personal ledger instead of AR. There will be an error in Event Viewer> Application Log on the application server console stating "Incompatible Transaction Type". Solution: Enter the correct personal ledger in the Change User Defaults panel and run the billing session again with the program Process Contract Billing Table.
   
   

How to Roll Back a Contract Manually

1. Roll back the due dates in the contract header record. If the contract has been renewed, reset the "Start date" and "Renewal date".
2. In the second level of the contract (Contract line item record), roll back the "Billed Thru Base" and "Billed Thru Meter" dates.
3. If the meter was part of the billing, roll back the "Last Meter Read id" in level 3 (Contract Line Item Charge record). This can be done by opening the contract line item charge record in Change mode and clicking on the button next to the "Last Meter Read id" field, which is storing your current meter reading id at the moment. Change this value to the value of the previous last meter. If you need to know this number, you can run Invoice Printing from the Contract header grid and see the last invoice that was created for this contract along with the associated meter reading.

Top

---

Closing Remarks

View from the Top

Often (too often) we take for granted that our customers are completely aware of the products and services we offer when in reality some of you are unaware. In an ongoing effort to bring you up to speed, here are some of our most valuable features:

Are you aware that we have a Contract Billing add-on that will increase your contract revenue by as much as 5%? This is not a new way to squeeze cost or work more efficiently. This is completely brand new revenue!

Are you aware that we have a state-of-the-art sales force automation product, Sales Raptor, that is highly integrated with La Crosse Nextgen? If you are having trouble with your Soaring, SFA, Compass, ACT or whatever sales automation tool you may have, please let us know. We CAN Help!



Are you aware that our Tech Raptor product (remote technician device capability) is supporting nearly 200 technicians in the field today with orders and commitments for 200 more in the next several weeks? This product is mature and works incredibly well! Call us today (608-784-8400) for a 30 day trial for up to 3 of your service technicians.

Just yesterday, a gentleman from a long term customer site (over 20 years) asked if we had a bar coding application yet. Not only do we have an outstanding and mature bar coding application, but his dealership had the license and hardware needed sitting in a desk drawer not being used! If you have any questions about our products or capabilities, please call us at 608-784-8400, or email us at info@lacrossesoftware.com or sales@lacrossesoftware.com.

Until next time,

Contact Information

• CUSTOMER SERVICE AND SUPPORT: For questions or concerns regarding software or technical support issues, please send an email to LMS Support at support@lacrossesoftware.com.
• TRAINING SEMINARS/ON-SITE TRAINING: For questions or concerns regarding seminars, conferences, product orders, or on-site training, please send an email to LMS Sales at sales@lacrossesoftware.com.
• FACILITIES: For questions or concerns regarding a hotel or other facility, please see our Travel Tips page http://www.lacrossesoftware.com/traveltips.html.
• GENERAL INFORMATION: For all other inquiries, please send an email to info@lacrossesoftware.com.
• WEBMASTER: If you are experiencing difficulty viewing this page or accessing the La Crosse Management Systems website, please send an email to nickl@lacrossesoftware.com.