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News From The Suntower! 'The Electronic Newsletter For
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Volume VI #6 |
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SAFE SQL:
New Features In Version 7
SAFE 7 is on the way. We're going to start describing the new features over the
next few issues as a preparation. The focus in SAFE7 is on turning 'data' into
useful information. So we've focused on getting the data out.
Business Graphing
It will now be possible to generate graphs for a variety of data directly
from SAFE. Previously we had counted on users exporting or dragging/dropping
data from SAFE into their favorite app, but the response was 'too much work!'.
OK. So we have created a Graphing Engine, much like the Report Engine in SAFE.
You'll be able to use our standard Graph Formats, in concert with the Query
Manager to create full-color graphs and charts of critical data. Even better,
since we are using the same concept as with the Reports, you will be able to
create your own Graph Formats (or have us design them for you) to add even more
functionality.
XML Report Output
This is one of those 'we're ahead of the curve again' changes. You can print
any report to an XML file. What this means is easier exchange with other
programs. As an example, you might have a non-Simple Accounting web site which
displays your Product List. From time to time you need to update that list. Now,
if your web developer supports XML, he/she can simply import an XML Report you
create within SAFE (just like any other report) with no data conversion costs
or concerns about compatibility. Another example might be if you want to
import data into an external contact management system. Running a Contact Master
List to an XML file should do the trick nicely. And again, because it's XML,
there won't be any data conversion issues.
Better Export/Mail Merge
On a related topic, since you can
report to an XML file, we will now be offering Report Templates for popular
applications such as MS Word and Excel. In other words, when you run a report to
an XML file, you'll be presented with several XML Templates which will
automatically generate an XML file which matches the format of several templates
already included in Microsoft Office.
This is in addition to the drag and drop and DDE interface with Microsoft Word and Excel
Personalized Browse Box
Formatting
On most browse boxes you will now be
able to change the browse box columns to any order you wish and save the order
for each user.
Browse Box Locator Enhancements
On most browse boxes you will now be
able to select from a saved list of your favorite things to locate -and- the
column you werechange the browse box columns to any order you wish.
Enhanced (And Longer) Query
Statements
For all the grousing about Queries (;))
they certainly do seem to be used to the full. In fact, we are now constantly
being asked to optimize more statements because you've learned how to work more
and more complex things from them.
1. Query statements can now be much longer. You should never again run into the 'Query Expression Too Long' error.
2. There are several new Query Operators to help you simplify your Queries.
Ex: The new "Match" Operator replaces the following:
Order Status = A OR
Order Status = O OR
Order Status = P OR
Order Status = W OR...with the following single Operator:
Order Status <Match> AOPW
XP Manifests
You will now be able to 'skin' SAFE with your own color scheme (If you don't
know about 'skins' ask your kids.) Basically, we have finally gotten around to
making SAFE not only run as a Windows XP app, but to look like one. And the side
effect is that you will be able to make your own <ahem> tasteful fashion
statement.
Ed. Having lived through SAFE DOS and various users combinations of lime green and fuscia I can't wait to see this.
Actually, many users have requested this for visibility. It seems that for some of us, the screen keeps getting smaller every year! So the ability to make various screen objects more visible is most welcome.
Enhanced Selected Control
Along the same lines, you can now change the field which has
focus to a highlighted color of your choosing. This is in answer to those of you
who complain about not being able to easily find which control is active
when you switch windows.
AutoComplete
Just like Microsoft Office apps and
Internet Explorer, you will be able to instruct SAFE to remember your previous
choices for various fields and suggest from a drop down list of matches.
Windows Reporting Service
Support
Like the XML Reporting, this is another 'under the hood'
improvement which is so important we're going to spend a lot of time talking
about it over the next year. For now, know that Microsoft has releases their own
report engine and it is fantastic (you can learn more about it at
http://www.microsoft.com/sql/reporting/productinfo/demo.asp).
We will begin our support by including the ability to run such reports in SAFE 7. By year's end we intend to convert our reports to this format so that you will all be able to create and modify our own reports at will.
Reporting Services has a lot going for it:
1. It is really fast. Since it is intimately tied into SQL Server it can generate output in some cases much faster than our internal engine.
2. It's expected to be free to all registered licensees of SQL Server. That alone will guarantee that it will be everywhere.3. It's Microsoft, so there will be oodles of books and articles in all the magazines on how to use it, unlike our current Reporting Engine (which is still very good). That's really important. The perception does matter to customers. Since -everyone- will have Reporting Services, this should make many of you feel somewhat bolder about learning to do your own reports.
Shared Sales Tax Entities
This is another biggee for y'all down
south. :) Up until now when entering sales tax IDs you had to re-enter the same
entities over and over. And if the percentage changed, you had to go through
each ID and change it.
Now with SAFE 7, you'll create a list of Entities and simply assign those Entities to the Sales Tax IDs that utilize them. If the Entity changes a percentage, you click once and Et Voila! the change is instantly reflected to all Sales Tax IDs which use that Entity.
More Intelligent ID Edit/Update
The need to change IDs has become more
important as your business has grown. So now when you change an ID field you
will be prompted as to how this change should propagate through the system.
Ex: If you change a Sales Tax ID, you will be given a range of options as to whether the change should apply to all customers, sites and orders or only to open orders or only customers with open orders, etc. This should make changing Sales Tax percentages easier to implement without having to scribble notes all over your reports indicating when the percentages changed!
New Reports
As per usual, there will be some new reports. The focus this time will be on
giving you useful information which previously required some hoop jumping to
achieve. Here are a couple:
Order Summary By Detail Report
You've wanted this for a long time, but maybe didn't know it. On the surface, it is about the same as the standard Sales Order Summary Report, but now you can filter or sort it based on the contents of the Line Items.
Ex: 'I need a summary of all orders from Fred's Grocers where we sold them Envelopes'. Previously this was not possible. You had to run a separate Sales Order Detail Report which gave information on the Envelopes but couldn't show you the overall total of the order.Customer Master List By Detail Report
Same idea. On the surface, it is about the same as the standard Customer Master and Totals reports, but now you can filter or sort it based on the contents of Sales History.
Ex: 'I need a list of all customers and their contacts where we sold them Envelopes. No I don't need Sales History, I need their names and addresses!Product Category Sales/Top Ten Report
A kind of a spreadsheet. For each Product Category you can easily see total sales and the top ten Products which contributed to each Category's sales. You can also break down sales within each Category by Customer ID so that you can see which Customers are contributing most to sales of each Category.Ex: I want to see how each Product Category is doing for the current month broken down by the top ten Products contributing to those sales. And I want to see how this compares with the same Categories during the same period of time last year. Are the same Products contributing as much?
Employee ID/Top Ten Report
Sort of the reverse of the above. You can see sales by Employee ID, broken down by their top ten Product Categories over a range of time. Underneath each Employee ID, you can optionally see a break down of these sales by Customer ID. In other words, you'll be able to see how much each Customer's sales contributed to each Employee ID's sales in each of the top ten Product Categories. Now, here's the great part: you can also compare the contribution to sales for each Category for the same range of dates in the previous year!
Ex: I want to see how each Employee ID is doing selling Products in Category Envelopes for the current month. And I want to see how this compares with their performance during the same period of time last year.Customer ID/Top Ten Report
Similar to the above. You can see sales by Customer ID, broken down by their top ten Product Categories. Underneath each Customer ID. In other words, you'll be able to see how much each Customer's sales are generate from which top ten Product Categories.Ex: I want to see total sales for each Customer and an overview of what those sales consist of. And I want to see how this compares with the same Categories during the same period of time last year. Are the same Products contributing as much?
Had Enough?
Hopefully you found at least one tidbit in the above list which came as a
pleasant surprise. Want more? Next time, we'll talk about some of our lesser
known SAFExtensions in our annual 'When are you guys going to <fill in the
blank>?' report. This is always a fun one, as we get to discuss some of our
competitors 'Fantastic New Ideas' which we've already been doing for the past
several years.
See you then!
New Report Contest
(Everyone Is A Winnah!)
To show our support
for Reporting Services, we are having a very simple contest: show us reports you
want to see in SAFE7. Reports are always the last thing done in any new
version of SAFE simply because we have to wait until all the database structure
is in place before they can be created. So this is your chance to make history
and become a part of SAFE!
Just send us your ideas for a
new report (something that can't already be done in SAFE, please!). All eligible
entries will be placed in the final version of SAFE 7.0 and your company
will receive a $110 credit towards another custom report, created just
for you by the lovely Maireād Ni Dhonellaigh. :)
Ciaran's
Corner: Brian's Buzz!
One of the most
respected pundits in the computer business today is Brian Livingston. Brian
has been the author of the Inside Windows series of books which were
considered the bible for power users until XP was released. To show his
concerns about various Windows XP security problems he elected to not
publish an Inside Windows XP book and opened his own web site/e-mail
newsletter Brian's Buzz dedicated to being a truly independent
voice for users of Windows. I cannot recommend this newsletter highly enough
for all Windows administrators. There are two versions of the newsletter: free
and paid. Even the free one is good, though the paid version can be a true
lifesaver with great topics on everything from fighting spam to the best way
to make certain all your machines are properly upgraded with the latest of
myriad MS patches. Go to www.briansbuzz.com.
You won't be sorry.
Til Next Time,
Ciarān Marron
Technical Support Manager
cm@suntowersystems.com
End of E-News From The Suntower, Volume VI #6
