Addendum to Update 6.30

Addendum to Version 6.30
(The following changes were implemented since version 6.20)

We are proud to announce many new dynamic features in The Ultimate with this release. Please take the time to carefully read through this addendum to learn how to implement many of them.

Invoice Printing Logic has been Changed (IMPORTANT!)
Based on feedback, we have changed the logic of how receipts print. This feature involves the WORKSTATION PRINTING screen to be reviewed and, perhaps, modified, or the receipts will not print when you wish.

Setup Question 1: “Print ANY Receipts?” Answer “N” only if you do not wish to print any receipts, unless the F3 (Reprint) key is pressed.
Setup Question 2: “Print ANY Rentals?” Answer “Y” if you wish to print receipts if there are ANY Rentals on the invoice, regardless of any other type of transactions which also appear.
Setup Question 3: “Print ONLY Returns?” Answer “Y” if you wish to print receipts that have ONLY Returns on them.
Setup Question 4: “Print ANY Sell-Thru?” Answer “Y” if you wish to print receipts if there are ANY Sell-Thru on the invoice, regardless of any other type of transactions which also appear.
The logic has been changed so that more scenarios are covered than in previous versions. It may be a bit confusing at first, but upon further review, it is a definite improvement.

Re-Rental feature Added!
This most requested feature allows you to charge late fees in multiples of Rental Days instead of just a specific late charge for EACH day late.

To activate this feature, enter the pricing screens, and input 99.99 in the column that represents the late fee in every pricing table for which you want this to apply. (Regular and Special Pricing) On pricing tables which it does not apply, do not make this change. On one day rentals, there is no need to use this feature.
Example: If the customer takes a three day rental, late days 1-3 will be charged the original rental price as the late fee. Late days 4-6 will charge double the original rental fee, etc.

Price Group Editing Utility for quick Changes
This is a valuable utility! It is entered through the ULTIMATE MODULES menu system. The way movies are tagged are similar to the “Rental Sale System” and the “Rental Physical Inventory System”. Step one is to enter the pricing group you wish to change the rentals TO. Tag the movies you wish to change by either pressing the ENTER key on the alphabetical listing, or pressing F5 and entering each code. The tagged movies will show up on the alphabetical listing with a star “*” before the title. When you are finished tagging the movies you want changed, press F2 to Cancel the tagging. At that time, you can print a listing, if desired, by pressing F3 (Print). Pressing F7 (Update) actually changes the pricing group of the Rentals in the file, after which all tagged rentals are cleared.
The second time this utility is entered, you will be prompted if you want to “Clear the Tagged Rentals”. This happens when you begin the tagging process, and exit without actually updating the file. This way you can run this utility between waiting on customers without starting over each time.

Customer Membership Type can be automatically changed to another upon Expiration.

System Tables Setup / Customer Lookup Tables / Customer Memberships

You can now designate for each membership type, the membership you wish to revert back to after expiration. If the first question, “Membership Length in Months” is other than lifetime (“0”), then a new question will appear at the bottom of the screen which asks the question, “New Membership When Expired”.

Choice to Enter Rental Code Twice for Batch Returns
This specialty feature can be activated through the security level area. Select a salesperson security level to which you will force the entry of the code for batched returned rentals to be entered twice. The object, of course is to make sure that both entries are the same for the software to accept it as a return. This is handy when the bar code is BOTH on the Rental AND the box. This way it verifies that the Rentals have been returned in the proper box. If you do not find the need to use this feature, simply assign a “0” to the security level so no one has to do this.

SETDATA Utility for Networked Workstations can now be run from within the ULTIMATE MODULE menu system
This is a utility which previously needed to be run from a DOS prompt. We have simply placed it in the “ULTIMATE MODULES” menu system. This utility is used to set up workstations OTHER than the server to be able to locate the data on the mapped drive which points to the main’s computer data. If you are already running a network, there is no need to access this at this time. However, if you start receiving DEMONSTRATION STORE on your workstations, you can view it to see what the drive letter needs to be assigned to the workstation to find the data, so you can remap the drive. As before, this utility is NOT to be run on the server.

Credit Card Expiration Warning for “Soon to be” expiring Credit Cards
This feature allows a message to pop up during invoicing, reminding the salesperson that the customer’s credit card is about to be expired. The number of advance warning days can be set from the “CUSTOMER MEMBERSHIP” setup screen by entering the amount of warning days on the last question. This way, the software will not have to wait until AFTER the credit card has expired to give a warning.

Print Batch Return Listing right from the Batch Return Screen
Within the Batch Return screen, the <F3> key can be pressed to print the entire day’s batch returns. You will be prompted for a date, so you can actually print this report for any previous day. Before this update, this feature was rather “hidden” within the VIEW SALES ACTIVITY screen.

Security added to Block Editing of Rental Status Field, & Receiving Negative Inventory Amounts
Some important specific security questions have been added to the SECURITY LEVELS screen, such as the blocking of editing the “Rental Status” of a rental, and the blocking of receiving a “negative amount” in the INVENTORY MAINTENANCE screen. For example, the second one would forbid a clerk from simply lowering the amount of a certain item in stock.

Customer Code and Invoice Number Now Displayed in “Previous Invoice” Box
Just prior to starting each invoice, the previous invoice box now displays the Customer Code and previous Invoice Number for the previous invoice.

Salesperson Override during the Invoicing Process
This has been a much requested feature. Now the salesperson can be temporarily changed to another while in the middle of the invoicing process. This is great for manager’s security overrides. Simply press <F1> (Options) and select the CHANGE SALESPERSON choice. This can also be used to change the Salesperson back to the original one after the necessary edit is completed. Notice how the current Salesperson name is now displayed on the lower left of the screen at all times.

Salesperson Name now Displayed during the Invoicing Process
During the entire invoicing process, the current Salesperson’s name is now displayed in the bottom left area of the screen. When the Salesperson Override feature is used, the salesperson’s name will change to reflect the new name.

PIN Number now added as a Customer Field display
A previously ignored field, the Customer PIN number can now be used for customer verification. To accomplish this, you can add this field to the list of displayed fields in the CUSTOMER FIELD DISPLAY screen of the INVOICING OPTIONS MENU.
Note: Due to the lack of screen space, we have had to trim down the maximum number of customer fields that can be displayed from 8 to 6. This was needed in order to display the Salesperson name and Activated Special on the invoice screen.
You may wish to edit the CUSTOMER FIELD DISPLAY setup screen to select the “Top 6” fields to be displayed.

Current Activated Special is now Displayed During the Invoice Process
The active Pricing Special will now be displayed in the lower right area of the invoice screen, strictly for reference. This solves a lot of pricing questions that the clerks may have during the invoice process.

Customer Credit Balance now added to Custom Reports as a RANGE Selection
The Customer Credit Balance field has been added to the Range selections of the Report Generator. This way you can print a listing of only customers who have a Credit Balance on their account.

Important!
It is now time to discard any diskettes PRIOR to 6.30. This includes the Rentrak interface for all Rentrak Customers, as the existing interface is now part of Diskette three. (Note: The Rentrak interface does NOT have to be updated at this time, since it is the exact version as the one you are currently running.)

We would love your feedback on the new features in this version. We feel it is one of our best ever individual updates. Please send those comments by either Fax (716-434-8656) or Email (premiere@theultimatevideo.com) Sorry, but we cannot accept comments or suggestions by telephone.

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