| AnyOrder Classic: Shareware for Small Mail Order Businesses |
| AnyOrder
Classic Readme Files
AnyOrder is a shareware program for small businesses for processing orders whether received by phone, mail or email. |
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AnyOrder
Classic Basic
Readme File Welcome to AnyOrder!Software: The Mail Order Business Kit Basic Edition Version 6.51 Copyright (c) 1996-2004 Ron Watters / Great Rift This file includes helpful information about AnyOrder! Basic. TABLE OF CONTENTS ----------------- 1. General Information 2. Installing the Program 3. Installation Instructions for Current AnyOrder Users: Protecting Your Existing Data Files. 4. System Requirements 5. Removing the Program 6. On-line Help 7. How to Register the Program 8. Distributing the Program to Others 9. Date Format and Y2K Information 10. Version 6 Information 11. A Comparison of AnyOrder's Three Editions 1. GENERAL INFORMATION ---------------------- AnyOrder! is specifically for small or home-based businesses which take and fulfilled orders over the phone or through regular mail or email. It prepares invoices, does billings, generates sales reports, and keeps track of inventory. The program also handles returns, prepares mailing lists and monitors activity with consignment wholesalers and distributors. AnyOrder! is a shareware program. That means you're welcome to try out the program at no cost and make sure it will work for you. You're also welcome to give the program to others or to make it available on your web site. (For more information on shareware, see "How to Register the Program," below). This version of the program is designed for computers running Windows 95/98/2000/ME/XP. A special version of the program is available for Windows 3.1 which may be downloaded from the author's web site. For more program tidbits, special announcements, and upgrade information, you are cordially invited to visit the author's web site at http://www.ronwatters.com (follow the software link). Additional contact information is included below. 2. INSTALLING THE PROGRAM ------------------------- (Note: If you are an existing user of AnyOrder be sure to make a back-up disk of your data files before installing a new version--or reinstalling your current version. For more information, see "Installation Instructions for Current AnyOrder Users," which follows this section.) Depending on the download site, AnyOrder! comes bundled as either a zip file or as a self-extracting zip file. If you receive a zip file (with a .zip extension), first unzip it. A number of different zip utilities are available for this purpose. Once the file is unzipped, RUN SetUp.exe. This will start the setup program and will install the program files. If you received the self-extracting zip file (with a .exe extension), RUN the file as it is. The program files will be unzipped, and the setup program will start automatically. We suggest that you do not use a program directory name with spaces, i.e. "C:\Program Files." While AnyOrder can handle long directory names, we've come across some software and operating system combinations that will not allow access to AnyOrder's program directory. For the best results, use the default program directory or a directory name of your choosing without spaces. 3. INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS FOR CURRENT ANYORDER USERS: HOW TO PROTECT YOUR EXISTING DATA FILES. ------------------------------------------- If you are re-installing AnyOrder, or if you are installing an updated version of the program, it's important that you do the following: 1) Make sure you have backed-up your files. (Complete details on backing up files is found in the on-line help information included with the program.) This normally is done every time you exit from the program, but for an install, you should give yourself an added measure of security and back-up your files on a second disk. (If you plan to set up a directory on your back-up disk, be aware that some software and operating system combinations have been known to create file access problems when directory names have spaces. To be safe, don't use any spaces. For example, use "A:\BackUp\" rather than "A:\Back Up\.") 2) Once you are certain that your important files have been safely backed up, install the new version of the program (or re-install the old one). 3) If you have installed AnyOrder to a directory which is different from where your old version was installed, you'll see the sample files that come with the program. To replace the sample files with your own files, select FILE and RESTORE BACK-UP FILES. Once the restore process is complete you'll have access to all of your own data files. MANUALLY MAKING A BACK-UP DISK. If, for some reason, the old version of the program is non-operable and you are unable to create a back-up disk using the normal method, you can manually make one. In Windows, use "My Computer" or "Explore" and copy the following files from the AnyOrder program directory to a disk. Any type of disk can be used: floppy, Zip, etc. This will become your back-up disk. Here are the files to copy: - Sales.dbf - Sales.dbt - Orders.dbf - SetUp.dbf - Cust_num.dbf - Cust_num.dbt - Cat_no.dbf - Cat_no.dbt - Contact.dbf (Not necessary for the Basic Edition) - Contact.dbt (Not necessary for the Basic Edition) - Plus ALL of the following: BALxxEND.dbf, BALxxMID.dbf and INVENDxx.dbf (Note that the xx in the file name means a number, i.e. BAL00END.dbf, BAL01MID.dbf, INVEND01.dbf, etc.) Make sure you get all of these files copies to your disk. Once the above files are copied, your back-up disk will be complete. With the freshly created back-up disk, you'll be ready to re-install the program or install the new version. 4. SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS ---------------------- HARDWARE: a) Pentium or Equivalent Processor (The program will run on 486-66 computers, but it is not recommended because of sluggish performance.) b) A minimum of 32 MB RAM (16 or more is recommended) c) A hard disk with 10MB of available disk space d) VGA/SVGA monitor and graphics adapter e) Mouse OPERATING SYSTEM: Windows 95/98/2000/ME/XP A special version of AnyOrder is also available for Windows 3.1 5. REMOVING THE PROGRAM ----------------------- The installer for Windows 95/98/2000/ME/XP creates an uninstall program which will remove all files associated with AnyOrder! The uninstall program is listed with the AnyOrder program group in the Start Menu. You can also uninstall the program by using "Add/Remove Programs" found in the Windows Control Panel. If you installed the program for Windows 3.1 and no longer wish to use it, you'll need to delete the files. All program and data files are kept in one directory which makes removing the program easy. Using the File Manager, go to the AnyOrder directory. Delete all the files and then delete the directory. 6. ON-LINE HELP --------------- A complete on-line help system has been built into the program. It is accessed by selecting HELP from the Menu. The help system has been set up using standard Windows commands and procedures. Information on topics of general interest may be reached from the Contents page (accessed by selecting HELP and CONTENTS from the Menu Bar). Topics of a more specific nature may be located using the Windows Help Search feature. Special information has also been developed to help you get started. For a quick introduction to the program, select HELP and GETTING STARTED from the Menu. Information on how to prepare the program so it is ready to work in your business is found in Help under the topic "Preparing the Program for Your Use." Information on which version of the program you are using is found in the "About" dialog box. It is accessed by selecting HELP and ABOUT from the Menu. Registered users who have specific questions or problems with the program are welcome to contact the program's author, Ron Watters by phone: 208-232-6857 or via email wattron@isu.edu. 7. HOW TO REGISTER AnyOrder! --------------------------- This is a shareware program. We invite you to try out the program and thoroughly test it for your business environment and the type of computer equipment that you use. There is no cost for evaluating the program. You are also welcome to pass it on to others who might be interested in it. If after evaluating AnyOrder!, you find that it isn't what you need, simply erase the files. No registration is necessary. If, however, you find that it works for you, and you begin to use it on a regular basis, we ask that you register AnyOrder and make a nominal payment for its use. This program has been developed mostly out a labor of love, and the proceeds from user registrations are used primarily to clear up bugs and develop new features. Once you're registered, we'll provide you with information on improvements and software updates. You'll also be provided with a registration code which removes the "unregistered" status of the program and officially registers it under your name. There are several ways to register: (1) Click on the registration link found in the Important Information Dialog Box. To access this dialog box, select HELP and IMPORTANT INFORMATION from the Menu Bar on top of AnyOrder's screen. (2) Log on to Ron Watters' website. Ron is the developer of the program. His website is: http://www.ronwatters.com (Follow the software link) (3) Send him an email at wattron@isu.edu (4) Call 1-208-232-6857 (5) Write to Ron at 1135 East Bonneville, Pocatello, ID 83201. For your convenience, this software package includes an order form. It's found in the file "Order.frm" which can be loaded into a word processing program and printed. The cost of registration is $39 8. DISTRIBUTING THE PROGRAM TO OTHERS ------------------------------------- You may make as many copies of the evaluation version of this software and documentation as you wish; give exact copies of the original evaluation version to anyone; and distribute the evaluation version of the software and documentation in its unmodified form via electronic means. There is no charge for any of the above. You are, however, specifically prohibited from charging, or requesting donations, for any such copies, however made; and from distributing the software and/or documentation with other products (commercial or otherwise) without prior written permission. 9. DATE FORMAT AND Y2K INFORMATION ---------------------------------- AnyOrder has been thoroughly tested and is fully Y2K compliant. The program uses the American style of formatting dates, i.e. (mm/dd/yy). As long as you don't mind using the mm/dd system, AnyOrder can be, and is, used in other countries utilizing different date formats. No adjustment in the Regional settings in Windows are necessary. 10. VERSION 6 INFORMATION -------------------------------- In Version 6, a number of new features were added. Some of the more important additions include: 1) Invoice Messages. A 4-line message can now be added to printed invoices. The message can be drafted in a special dialog box accessed from the EDIT menu, or it can be manually created in the Notes area of the Main Invoice Screen. 2) Filter. The filter feature has been enhanced. Filter statements no longer need to be created from scratch. Instead, a series of common filter statements are included in the filter dialog box and the desired condition is selected by clicking with the mouse. 3) Shipping Address. Typing in "NA" in the shipping name blank eliminates the shipping portion of the printed invoice and removes the shipping line item. 4) The Customer Information Database Screen was enhanced and new selection features added. 5) List buttons ("L" buttons) were added to the Main Invoice Screen making it easier to reach pull-down menus. 6) The Part Number field was expanded to 13 digits 7) The zip field was increased to 8 characters for British or other international postal codes. 8) The installation program no longer overwrites existing data files and it is not necessary to restore backed-up files after re-installing the program. 9) Additional dating and term features have been added which can be accessed through a new pop-up dialog box. Version 5 enhancements prior to release of Version 6 (Version 6 includes the following plus the above new features): In Version 5.9, several new procedures were added to program start-up code to provide a more thorough check of the integrity of database files prior to the appearance of the Main Invoice Screen. Additional options were added to the Data File Diagnostics module which is triggered when AnyOrder detects a file problem. Several editorial changes and additions were made to program and help system messages. Version 5.8 added a number of new features to the program, including a Payment Analysis function which provides a report of all payments and where they are recorded. It also flags transactions which could be the source of possible payment problems such as incomplete payments. The feature is helpful when checking payment records of customers with high levels of account activity. A number of enhancements were made to the Mark Paid feature, making it easier to find invoices when a customer pays in a lump sum payment. A sorting function was added to the Customer Information database. The double-click routine which brings up the pop-up list of all past customers now includes an additional option which eliminates duplicate names. The same option was added to Billing File functions and Payment Analysis. A safety mechanism was added to prevent inconsistencies in the interface between the Windows environment and AnyOrder from causing entry problems when dealing with dates. To help speed up the printing of statements, a Quick Print button was added to the Billing Statements screen. The void function was changed slightly so when it prints the word "VOID" on top of an invoice, it proceeds "VOID" with four CHR(250) characters instead of three dashes. This has the effect of placing all voided invoices at the end of a list whenever invoices are arranged alphabetically by billing name. It's a very minor change, but it makes alphabetical lists a bit easy to use. Previous users of AnyOrder can take advantage of the change by searching for voided invoices, temporarily removing the voided status and then voiding them again. Once they are voided a second time, the new formatting will be picked up. There is one other change that previous users should be aware of. In Version 5.8, the function which makes the Invoice Screen moveable--a handy feature for those with large screens--is now accessed from the WINDOW menu. In past versions, it was accessed from the INVOICE TOOLS menu. 11. A COMPARISON OF ANYORDER'S THREE EDITIONS -------------------------------------------- AnyOrder is available in three editions including Basic, Professional Standard, and Professional Advanced. You have downloaded the Basic Edition. The differences between the editions are explained below: ANYORDER BASIC ------------- AnyOrder Basic forms the foundation of the AnyOrder family. Carefully crafted and well tested, it is the winner of a number of shareware awards and it is highly regarded in both the business and software worlds. It is particularly useful for small mail order businesses. It generates invoices and billing statements, keeps track of inventory, handles book returns, produces sales reports, records customer payments, tracks consignment items, and creates customer mailing lists. The program is efficiently designed and uses compact files. (Registration is $39) ANYORDER CLASSIC STANDARD ----------------------------- The Professional Classic Edition of AnyOrder is for mail order businesses that need greater functionality and versatility. It includes all the features of AnyOrder Basic with many additional features. Here's a partial listing: It has larger field sizes for customer names and addresses. It includes a Customer Contact Manager which can be used to write notes and keep track of customer names--or the names of individuals and departments within a corporate business--along with phone numbers, email addresses, etc. It will automatically start your email program or Internet browser should you need to write a customer a note or visit their website. The Professional Standard version includes additional fields on the Main Invoice Screen including the customer's phone number, email address, and an invoice code which can be used to provide a more refined breakdown of sales data. A third screen size setting allows the screen to be expanded lengthwise and widthwise providing a roomier working area. This edition also includes more space for catalog numbers and product names. You can assign different discounts to different products. An identifier can be added to product information printed on invoices. The identifier can be an ISBN number for books, part number for general items, or even color or size depending on your needs. Products can also be placed in different categories by using prefix in the catalog number. This allows you to obtain inventory information for each category and simplifies product entry on invoices. A variety of sort options are available for customer and product lists, inventory reports, and billing statements. Search and look-up functions are available in all portions of the program. This version also includes a feature which calculates the total weight of an order. In addition to the various print routines in the Basic version, the Professional Standard version also gives you the ability to print a copy of the payment analysis report or a summary report of your inventory levels. For billing reports, you have the added option of choosing between "Date of Invoice" or "End of Month" billing cycles. A new counting feature enables you to count invoices. Dozens of counting options are available. For example, you can determine how many invoices have been issued to specified customer, how many invoices are unpaid, or how many invoices have been issued for a particular product. The Professional Standard Version includes an Advanced Search feature which allows you to search certain fields or select various conditions to narrow down the search. A search and replace feature is also available when catalog number other field changes are necessary. The Filter feature has the added ability to display only those invoices with certain products. You can also filter for a sales code, displaying only those invoices with promotional items, or only those invoices with returns, etc. Filtering is also available in the mailing list portion of the program. With this feature you can produce a mailing list for customers from a certain state, or who have purchased a particular product, among many others. This version will keep track of shipping expenses including those which are charged and those which are not charged to the customer. A new pop-up list (which can be customized to your liking) makes it easy to enter shipping methods on invoices. Other features include the ability to processes back orders, produce bank deposit reports, and export basic information such as invoice and sales data to other programs. The cost to register the Standard Edition is $59.00. Registered users can upgrade from the most recent Basic Edition to the Standard Edition for $20.00. (The cost of upgrading to the Standard Edition from older versions of the Basic Edition is $35.00) ANYORDER CLASSIC ADVANCED ----------------------------- AnyOrder Advanced. The Advanced Edition is a full-featured mail order business software program. It includes all the features of AnyOrder Basic and the Professional Standard Edition, plus credit card processing, batch printing, ability to attach invoices and statements to email messages, telephony features including two separate phone dialers (a basic and advanced version), invoice to HTML conversion, extensive export and import functions, currency conversation, extra emailing functions, and one of the easiest-to-use royalty accounting systems in the industry. With the Advanced Edition, you can click on a button on the Main Invoice Screen or within the Customer Contact Manager and your computer will dial the phone number. You can have the phone dialer key-in the individual's extension or menu choice numbers automatically for you. If you need to call FedEx (or another shipper) to pick up a package, the phone dialer will even input your account number. It includes batch printing routines for invoices and statements. Instead of printing each invoice (or billing statement) individually, you can select from a list and the program will print all selected invoices or statements at once, freeing you to do other things. The Advanced Edition also includes an email export feature which allows you to attach a copy of the invoice to an email message. Attachments can be text, Microsoft Word, or an HTML web document. You can also place the entire invoice into the clipboard and move it into an email or word processing program. You can start your email program from AnyOrder and insert the billing name or shipping name into the "to" blank. Additionally, you can pick from a series of form letters that you've prepared in advance, and via the clipboard, insert the desired letter in the text of your email message. The import and export functions allow you to move information from databases, spreadsheets, accounting programs, and word processing programs in and out of AnyOrder. One of the nice features of the two functions is that you can select which fields should be imported or exported. AnyOrder will remember your selections for the next time it's needed. Both functions are accompanied with a full range of tools and options, including the ability to import or export by use of the clipboard. The royalty accounting feature is an entire software program in itself, fully integrated so it works seamlessly with AnyOrder and AnyOrder's data files. This portion of the program provides a wide range of options. Royalties can be based on cash or accrual accounting. They can be calculated on a percentage of the retail price, net sales, or a flat amount. Royalties can also be set up to change depending on the quantity of books sold and/or depending on the discount at which books are sold. Over 235 different royalty combinations are available for nearly any royalty arrangement. A special and innovative royalty statement function is available to record and track advances, royalties owed, subsidiary rights, and payments. The neatly printed reports generated by the program provide you and your royalty holders with all the important accounting details. When you are ready to mail printed royalty reports, they are designed so that they can be folded and inserted in a windowed business envelope. The Advanced version also includes credit card processing features. The credit card processing portion of the program can be used if you have a small volume of cards--two to five cards a day--and you have signed up for voice or touch tone processing with your bank. Note that if you don't use voice or touch tone processing or if you have a higher card volume, you'll want to use third party credit card processing software. To do so, AnyOrder has a credit card export feature which allows you to export card information to third party software such as PCAuthorize and others. For more information, see Credit Card processing in the Professional Advanced Edition. The cost to register the Advanced Edition is $89.00. Registered users can upgrade from the most recent Basic Edition to Advanced for $60, or from the Standard to Advanced for $40. (Add $15 to upgrade to the Advanced Edition from older versions of Basic or Standard.)
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