Holiday Season 2010

Management Software will be closed on Friday, December 24, 2010, and on Friday, December 31, 2010, to observe the Christmas and New Year’s holidays.

We wish you the happiest of holidays and a prosperous 2011.

JOBORDER 2010 SOFTWARE IS NOW AVAILABLE

December 13, 2010, Homer, NY

An updated release of JobOrder 2010 is now available. JobOrder 2010 is strongly recommended if you are upgrading to Windows 7 or to Macintosh OS X 10.6.5. JobOrder 2010 is the only version of JobOrder certified for those operating systems.

JobOrder 2010 includes 4D v11 SQL Release 8, our programming language, certified on Windows for Windows XP SP3 / Vista SP2 / Server 2003 SP2 R2 / Server 2008 SP2 R2 / 7. For Windows Client computers we recommend Windows 7 instead of XP or Vista.

On Macintosh, 4D v11 SQL Release 8 is certified for Macintosh OS X 10.5.8 (PPC only) and 10.6.5 (Mac Intel only).  For Macintosh Client computers we recommend OS X 10.6.5 instead of OS X 10.5.8.

4D v11 SQL Release 8 is a dramatic upgrade from 4D 2004.7, the programming language used for JobOrder 2009. For more information about 4D v11 SQL, please visit http://www.4d.com/us/products/11reasons.html

Because JobOrder 2010 is so different from JobOrder 2009, we will guide you through a simple process to convert your existing data file to JobOrder 2010. Please schedule some time for this conversion process with your JobOrder representative. THIS STEP IS REQUIRED FOR UPGRADING TO JOBORDER 2010.

You will need to update your JobOrder Clients using new JobOrder 2010 installers. If you have already installed the JobOrder Client for JobOrder 2010, the new JobOrder 2010 Client will be automatically installed on each Client computer.

JobOrder 2010 has many internal changes, including improvements to both speed and stability. If you have not recently performed any preventative maintenance on your JobOrder data file, please call Customer Support for guidance.

JobOrder 2010 Server will be distributed both for Windows Server 2003 SP2 R2 / Server 2008 SP2 R2 / 7 and Macintosh OS X 10.5.8 (PPC) and 10.6.5 (Mac Intel).

JobOrder 2010 Client will be distributed both for Macintosh OS X 10.5.8 (PPC) / 10.6.5 (Mac Intel) and for Windows XP SP3 / Vista SP2 / 7.

If you are running a version of Mac OS X earlier than OS X 10.6.5 on Macintosh Intel-based computers, please upgrade to OS X 10.6.5 for improved stability.

All known bugs affecting customers have been fixed.

Enhancements are briefly described below, categorized by area or function.

JobOrder 2010 Internet and JobOrder 2010 iPhone

JobOrder 2010 will greatly facilitate the development of JobOrder 2010 Internet, JobOrder 2010 iPhone, and access to JobOrder via SQL report writers. JobOrder 2010 has many internal changes, including improvements to both speed and stability.

Available Capacity

The Available Capacity Power Tools does not have printing enabled in the JobOrder 2010 beta. This Power Tool will be available soon.

CRM Manager

The area formerly called 'CRM Calendar' has been renamed to 'CRM Manager' to reflect its expanded functionality.

Custom Forms

JobOrder is going through a transition in which the plug-in software used to create Custom Forms is changing from SuperReport Pro to hmReports. In System Preferences: System Defaults: Custom Forms, you can now select either hmReports or SuperReport Pro as the default plug-in for this purpose. In the print dialogs for Custom Forms, you can change dynamically which software will be used. In the Custom Forms area itself, you can create Custom Forms with either software.

DataCheck and 4D Tools

The DataCheck and 4D Tools utilities have been replaced by a new utility called Maintenance and Security Center or MSC.

Date Picker

JobOrder now has a Date Picker, shown with a small calendar icon. The Date Picker has been added to most date fields in JobOrder and will be added to all remaining date fields soon.

Clicking on the Date Picker up a dialog containing a calendar with two months and with pop-ups and arrows to switch to future years and months. The current date shortcuts can still be used in the date field in the dialog.

When entering dates in date fields and in date variables, you can use the following keystrokes as shortcuts:

'+' - Add a day

'-'  - Subtract a day

'T' - Today

'M' - first of current Month

'H' - end of current month

'Y'- first of current Year

'R’ - end of current yeaR

Partial dates:

'0813', '08/13', '08.13' and '08,13' will all expand to the current year;

'13' will expand to the 13th of the current month and year;

081309 and 08132009 will expand to 08/13/09

'/', '.' and ',' are acceptable delimiters.

Digital Assets

The Digital Assets area and Digital Assets Manager have been rewritten and many bugs have been fixed.

Forms

Many forms have been redesigned for simplicity and clarity of data entry.

Examples include 'Receive Client Payments' and 'Pay Vendors'.

Google Maps

Google Map links have been added near the address fields in Organizations, Site Information, Jobs, Vendors, Contacts, Resources, Client Shipping Addresses, Contacts Alternate Addresses, and Purchase Orders.

Google Translate

Google Translate links have been added near some fields in Sales Orders.

Job Overview, Estimate Overview, and Template Overview

The Overview forms have been redesigned.

In-Out Time

In-Out Time is a new Power Tools, allowing users to log in at a centralized computer and to enter their production Time slips directly.

Master Discount Percentage

Master Discount Percentage is a new Area, used to enter Billing Level discount percentages based upon Item Types of Inventory Items.

Milestones

Milestones have been extended to Estimate and to Templates and their functionality has been greatly expanded.

A new Milestone Manager has been added.

Milestones can be sent as emails to Staff Resources and Contacts.

Milestones can now be linked with dependencies.

Notifications Rules

Many Notification Rules have been added to JobOrder 2010.

Record view in all Areas

Page Tabs now collapse when the form page is not wide enough to display them all. They automatically expand when you widen the form page.

Sales Orders

The Sales Order area has been rewritten and many bugs have been fixed. The link to Production Jobs has been greatly enhanced.

Update Purchase Order ID Length

A Utility has been added to update the length of existing Purchase Order IDs. This length can be set in System Preferences: Purchase Orders: Minimum PO ID Length.

Vendor Bid Requests  

Vendor Bid Requests has been rewritten. Users can now create Vendor Bid Requests and email the Bid Requests to Vendor Contacts. The Vendor Contacts will be able to log into JobOrder 2010 Internet to enter their bids. When the Vendor Contact clicks 'Submit' an email is sent to the JobOrder resource who created the Vendor Bid Request.  

Web Site Launch

A new web site icon, looking like linked arrows, has been added next to fields containing the URL of web sites for Organizations, Vendors, and Digital Asset Rights.

Windows forms and fonts

JobOrder 2010 for Windows has been updated with more forms and fonts.

About JobOrder

JobOrder facilitates planning, estimating, scheduling, rescheduling, billing, accounting, analyzing and reporting. Multi-processing notifications automation capabilities give users full control over job planning and tracking, project management, workflow, and deadlines.

JobOrder offers its users a full array of powerful concepts and tools to streamline and refine entire business processes on an ongoing basis. JobOrder software enables project-based organizations to gain immediate access to organization-wide information, eliminate clerical inefficiencies, cut administrative overhead, deliver work more reliably and cost-effectively, and realize improved profitability and sustainable growth. For more information about JobOrder 2010, please contact Management Software at 800-734-9143, send email to info@joborder.com, or visit www.JobOrder.com.

About Management Software Inc.

Management Software is a leading developer of business process management software for service businesses on Windows and Macintosh. Management Software is based in Homer, New York. We have provided vertical software applications, custom programming services, consulting, and training since 1989. Using the technology of 4th Dimension, a relational database programming language, Management Software develops affordable software applications for automating business operations and procedures. For more information, visit www.JobOrder.com.

Contact: 


Victor Siegle 

President

Phone: 800.734.9143, x. 10

E-mail: Victor_Siegle@JobOrder.com

Management Software Incorporated

75 South Main Street

Homer, NY 13077 USA

Phone: 800.734.9143

Internet: www.JobOrder.com

Email: sales@JobOrder.com

© 2010 Management Software Inc. JobOrder is a registered trademark of Management Software Inc. All trademarked products are the property of their respective owners, including Management Software, Inc.

###

JobOrder 2010 beta now available

JobOrder 2010 is now available as a beta release. JobOrder 2010 is strongly recommended if you are upgrading to Windows 7 or to Macintosh OS X 10.6.3. JobOrder 2010 is the only version of JobOrder certified for those operating systems.

JobOrder 2010 includes 4D v11 SQL Release 6 Hotfix 2, our programming language, certified for Windows XP SP3 / Vista SP2 / Server 2003 SP2 R2 / Server 2008 SP2 R2 / 7 and Macintosh OS X 10.5.8 (PPC only) and 10.6.3 (Mac Intel only).

4D v11 SQL Release 6 is a dramatic upgrade from 4D 2004.7, the programming language used for JobOrder 2009. For more information about 4D v11 SQL, please visit http://www.4d.com/us/products/11reasons.html

JobOrder 2010 beta demo installers and server installers are available at ftp://ftp.joborder.com/Public/ . Please connect as 'Guest'.

Because JobOrder 2010 is so different from JobOrder 2009, we will guide you through a simple process to convert your existing data file to JobOrder 2010. Please schedule some time for this conversion process with your JobOrder representative.

You will need to update your JobOrder Clients using new JobOrder 2010 installers. If you have already installed the JobOrder Client for JobOrder 2010, the new JobOrder 2010 Client will be automatically installed on each Client computer.

JobOrder 2010 has many internal changes, including improvements to both speed and stability. If you have not recently performed any preventative maintenance on your JobOrder data file, please call Customer Support for guidance.

JobOrder 2010 Server will be distributed both for Windows Server 2003 SP2 R2 / Server 2008 SP2 R2 / 7 and Macintosh OS X 10.5.8 (PPC) and 10.6.3 (Mac Intel).

JobOrder 2010 Client will be distributed both for Macintosh OS X 10.5.8 (PPC) / 10.6.3 (Mac Intel) and for Windows XP SP3 / Vista SP2 / 7.

If you are running a version of Mac OS X earlier than OS X 10.6.3 on Macintosh Intel-based computers, please upgrade to OS X 10.6.3 for improved stability.

All known bugs affecting customers have been fixed.

Enhancements are briefly described below, categorized by area or function.

JobOrder 2010 Internet and JobOrder 2010 iPhone
====================================
JobOrder 2010 will greatly facilitate the development of JobOrder 2010 Internet, JobOrder 2010 iPhone, and access to JobOrder via SQL report writers. JobOrder 2010 has many internal changes, including improvements to both speed and stability.


Available Capacity
====================================
The Available Capacity Power Tools does not have printing enabled in the JobOrder 2010 beta. This Power Tool will be available soon.


CRM Manager
====================================
The area formerly called 'CRM Calendar' has been renamed to 'CRM Manager' to reflect its expanded functionality.


Date Picker
====================================
JobOrder now has a Date Picker, shown with a small calendar icon. The Date Picker has been added to most date fields in JobOrder and will be added to all remaining date fields soon.

Clicking on the Date Picker up a dialog containing a calendar with two months and with pop-ups and arrows to switch to future years and months. The current date shortcuts can still be used in the date field in the dialog.
When entering dates in date fields and in date variables, you can use the following keystrokes as shortcuts:
'+' - Add a day
'-'  - Subtract a day
'T' - Today
'M' - first of current Month
'H' - end of current month
'Y'- first of current Year
'R’ - end of current yeaR

Partial dates:
'0813', '08/13', '08.13' and '08,13' will all expand to the current year;
'13' will expand to the 13th of the current month and year;
081309 and 08132009 will expand to 08/13/09
'/', '.' and ',' are acceptable delimiters.


Digital Assets
====================================
The Digital Assets area and Digital Assets Manager have been rewritten and many bugs have been fixed.



Forms
====================================
Many forms have been redesigned for simplicity and clarity of data entry.
Examples include 'Receive Client Payments' and 'Pay Vendors'.


Google Maps
====================================
Google Map links have been added near the address fields in Organizations, Site Information, Jobs, Vendors, Contacts, Resources, Client Shipping Addresses, Contacts Alternate Addresses, and Purchase Orders.


Milestones
====================================
Milestones have been extended to Estimate and to Templates and their functionality has been greatly expanded.
A new Milestone Manager has been added.
Milestones can be sent as emails to Staff Resources and Contacts.
Milestones can now be linked with dependencies.


Record view in all Areas
====================================
Page Tabs now collapse when the form page is not wide enough to display them all. They automatically expand when you widen the form page.


Sales Orders
====================================
The Sales Order area has been rewritten and many bugs have been fixed.


Web Site Launch
====================================
A new web site icon, looking like linked arrows, has been added next to fields containing the URL of web sites for Organizations, Vendors, and Digital Asset Rights.

California Sales Tax Report

JobOrder now includes a specialized Sales Tax Report for California (following BOE-401-A2 revision (103 (4-09)).

The dialog allows the user to make the following entries:

The report then queries the JobOrder data file for the appropriate information and prints:

Please contact Management Software for more information about this report.

Sales Orders

JobOrder 2010 contains major enhancements to Sales Orders. Sales Orders are specialized Jobs used to select and sell Inventory Items as simply as possible.

We have increased the width of all Item Description fields in all related areas (for example, Expenses) from 80 to 200 characters.

We have completely re-written the way Sales Orders are created and Shipped to enable users to Bin Locations to select where the items should be shipped from at the time Shipment actually occurs.

We now allow different locations to be specified for the Sales Order, each individual Item, AND each individual Shipment, allowing for more than one location to be selected for a single item/shipment.

We have built in logic that will automatically try to Ship materials from locations based on their Priority Order (Bin 1 being highest, and Bin 7 lowest), and actual Quantities Available in each location. These automatic decisions can easily be over-ridden to ship from any location that contains that item.

We have allowed Items to be manually selected to be Back Ordered, and separated it from the concept of Items simply being "Un-Shipped".

In the Sales Order, Items can be added in by many different means. In the screenshot below, you can either click the Add Items by Type, or the green '+' button to the right of the Items listing.

Clicking on the '+' button will bring up a screen where users can select the Item and Quantity. You will not need to select the location here, because that will occur at the Shipping stage.

Once you have added the Items required to the Sales Order, users can click the "Ship Sales Order" button on the Sales Order dialog. That will bring up the Shipment dialog. Here you can select the Items you wish to Ship, click in the Location cell to modify the Location to ship from, double-click in the Shipment Qty and Back Order Qty cells to determine what amount you wish to ship or back order. You can also select the reports you wish to generate, and whether you wish to generate the Invoice, all from this one place.

Other enhancements include:

 - Displaying Quantities per location in the Inventory Item record

 - Allowing a default Item to be assigned to each location.

Management Software Holiday Schedule 2009

One of the season's greatest pleasures is thinking about those who have made this year memorable. We're delighted to take a moment to thank you for being a valued client of JobOrder. We would like to wish you a wonderful holiday season and a bright new year.

Management Software will be closed on December 24, 2009, and December 25, 2009 for the Christmas Holiday. We will be open from December 28, 2009, through December 30, 2009.

We will be closed on December 31, 2009, and January 1, 2010, for the New Year's Day Holiday. We will be back at work on Monday, January 4, 2010.

All of us at Management Software wish you a safe and enjoyable holiday.

Selecting the Right Business Productivity Suite for Project-Based Organizations Involves a Team Effort

      In an ideal world, all project-based organizations, such as advertising agencies, architectural firms, and engineering companies, work in an atmosphere of maximized business productivity. In this state of business euphoria, creative types become more creative, programmers become more innovative, and team leaders have more control of managing money, time and people.

      Unfortunately, often times in the real world, business processes have a tendency of getting in the way, limiting the ability for members of project-based organizations to optimally use their talents to deliver the best possible end products for their customers. Therefore, in order to be successful, it is essential for project-based organizations to find a way to get business processes out of the way.

      Business Process Management (BPM) software can solve many business process problems throughout the organization. But before giving the IT department the task of implementing a BPM solution, it is important to initiate an organization-wide team investigation.

      This white paper provides the reader with information on what project-based organizations need in a business productivity tool and how to go about selecting the right tool for their organization’s unique needs.


Paths To the Right Solution: Team-based Search Initiative

      The road to maximized business productivity involves some work. In the case of selecting the right tool, it is important that representatives from different teams and departments are involved in the search process. A critical step in choosing the right solution involves the creation of an internal team whose goal is to decipher which solution is best for their organization.
    
      In order to be successful in this initiative, project-based organizations must form a complete core team that not only knows about the current business processes which run their organization, but also intimate with it. Core team members should consist of those individuals who will live with the deployment of the project and who will most likely be using the tool every day.
    
      This core team brings in the IT architects for tool evaluation into the selection process, but should not base their choice solely on what the IT people say. Above all, it is not recommended to simply hand the tool selection process over to the IT department and wait for a response and final implementation.
    
      Before the search begins, project-based organizations should make a list of what’s needed by all departments. Their evaluation should consider the opinions and motivations of all parties involved, which in all likelihood, is everyone that is part of the organization.


The Right Tool Maximizes Business Productivity
    
      In order to be successful, project-based organizations must maximize business productivity. This means that business processes, the underlying tasks necessary to run a business, must get out of the way of those whose focus is to produce and deliver quality work to their customers. Simply put, maximizing business productivity in a project-based organization releases the grasp that repetitive work has on creative and innovative energies crucial to the success of a project-based and customer driven organization.
    
      Project-based organizations need an extensive and increasingly adaptive set of business processes to run cost-effectively and at the most optimal level possible. Technology can certainly help in this endeavor. The challenge, however, lies in the challenge of finding the right technology that not only meets the needs of your organization, but that can be adapted to personal preferences of individuals using the system.

      High on the list of selection criteria among project-based organizations are Business Process Management (BPM) tools. There are many solutions on the market today that emphasize a few disparate capabilities often tied to BPM tools. However, ideal BPM tools have evolved beyond the technology basics of business process management and have converged multiple capabilities into a single software suite of tools.
    
      The right solution should enable project-based organizations to streamline the execution of business processes by automating workflow tasks, eliminating redundant steps, and supporting congruent execution of tasks. Additionally, managers should feel empowered to take full responsibility for designing and optimizing their end-to-end processes. When a cost-effective tool enables process managers with direct control and management of executing processes, there is minimal reliance on the IT organization.
    
      To make the IT organization’s life easier, it is also important that the chosen system enable organizations to initially set up the tool once – with core functionality to automate the whole business process for the entire organization for a long period of time. If the system needs some alterations in the future, data should be secure and the process of change should be easy and not require a rewrite of the entire business process.


The Ideal Solution

      Since the goal is to get business processes out of the way, the right BPM software tool should offer an easy-to-learn, multi-platform, multi-user management tool which offers project-based organizations a full array of powerful tools to streamline and refine the entire business process – from the moment a prospective client calls to the moment the final invoice is sent.
    
      Ideally, because everyone in the organization will use the tool, it should make everyone happy. It should offer a cross-platform, client-server solution for estimating, time and expense tracking, prioritizing, resource scheduling, invoicing, accounting, and reporting. Additionally, the tool should include accounting functionality with A/R, A/P and G/L, Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Professional Services Automation (PSA), and more. Therefore, everyone, whether they use Macs or PCs for their design, drafting, programming, or accounting, should be able to learn and use this tool for maximum business productivity throughout the organization.

      The ideal BPM Software tool yields numerous benefits. With the right business process management automation tool, project-based organizations can:
* Unify and streamline all your business processes for greater productivity and profitability
* Provide immediate access to all information
* Eliminate clerical inefficiencies
* Cut administrative overhead
* Deliver work more reliably and cost-effectively
* Realize improved profitability and sustainable growth

      While all the above benefits can be realized with an ideal BPM Solution, the top three benefits for project-based organizations, especially small to mid-sized companies, are increased reliability, cost savings, and improved efficiency.


About Management Software

      Management Software is a leading developer of business process management software for service businesses on Macintosh and Windows. Management Software is based in Homer, New York, where it has provided vertical software applications, custom programming services, consulting, and training since 1989.

      Using the technology of 4th Dimension, a relational database programming environment, Management Software develops affordable software applications for automating business operations and procedures.


About JobOrder

      JobOrder is comprehensive and robust software that automates the flow of information throughout your entire business – from the moment a prospective client calls for a proposal until the final invoice is sent.
 
      JobOrder provides state-of-the-art functionality and automation capabilities for project-based organizations, including advertising agencies, architectural firms, construction companies, consulting firms, design firms, engineering companies and job shops. JobOrder is an easy-to-learn, multi-user management tool that is designed to maximize business productivity. With JobOrder, your organization will:
 
    * Create accurate estimates every time
    * Systemize jobs with detailed specifications
    * Prioritize traffic and reschedule staff in seconds
    * Manage change orders
    * Monitor resources effortlessly
    * Send invoices out promptly
    * Streamline accounting
    * Generate reports instantly
    * Identify problems before they get out of control
    * Plan for the future with confidence

      Unlike other products on the market that emphasize one or another of these functions, JobOrder offers its users a full array of powerful tools to streamline and refine your entire business process.
    
      Everyone, whether they use Macs or PCs for their design, drafting, programming, or accounting, can use JobOrder. JobOrder offers a cross-platform, client-server solution for estimating, time and expense tracking, prioritizing, resource scheduling, invoicing, accounting, and reporting.

      JobOrder includes Accounting with A/R, A/P and G/L, Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Professional Services Automation (PSA), and more.

For More Information
    * Call us toll-free at 800-734-9143.
    * Send us email at sales@joborder.com.
    * Visit our website at www.joborder.com.

Victor Siegle
Management Software, Inc.

© 2009 Management Software, Inc. JobOrder is a registered trademark of Management Software, Inc. All other trademarks are registered trademarks of their respective owners.