| 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
Standard & Advanced Readme File
Readme File Welcome to AnyOrder Classic Advanced (and Standard): Mail Order Business Kit Version 8.35 Copyright (c) 1996-2004 Ron Watters / Great Rift This file includes helpful information about AnyOrder Professional Advanced. 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 8.0 11. A Comparison of AnyOrder's Three Editions 12. Standard & Advanced Download Package Differences and Advanced Feature Limitations on Evaluation Copies 1. GENERAL INFORMATION ---------------------- Thank you for trying AnyOrder Classic Advanced: The Mail Order Business Kit. This Advanced Edition includes all the features of AnyOrder Basic, an award winning shareware program, plus many new ones, greatly expanding the scope and functionality of the program. Its core features include the ability to prepare invoices and billing statements, generate sales reports, keep track of inventory, handle product returns, produce mailing lists, and monitor activity with consignment wholesalers and distributors. The Professional Edition also includes a Contract Manager, a weight calculator, larger field sizes, invoice coding, enhanced payment and filtering functions, back order processing, deposit reporting, export capabilities, advanced searching, search and replace, and many more. More information on the program and differences between AnyOrder's editions are described in more detail at the end of this document. AnyOrder! is a shareware program. The copy that you have downloaded is an evaluation version. 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). The set-up program with this software package is designed for computers running on Windows 95/98/2000/ME/XP. 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 before installing a new version--or reinstalling your current version--be sure to make a back-up disk of your data files. Both your invoice and royalty data files should be backed up. 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, it's important that you do the following: 1) BACK-UP YOUR DATA FILES in the old program before installing the new program. BOTH the MAIN INVOICE and ROYALTY DATA FILES should be backed up. This is very important. Do not run the install program until you've backed up your files. 2) Files are normally backed-up each time you exit from the program, and we highly recommend that you always back-up your files. For an install, we suggest that you 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\.") 3) If you pay royalties, you must also back-up your royalty files. (Note that the royalty back-up is not necessary if you don't pay royalties, but you still must back-up the main invoice files.) 4) 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). 5) 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 - Contact.dbt - ShipVia.dbf - Category.dbf (Not necessary if you don't use product categories) - ExchRate.dbf (Not necessary if you don't use currency exchange rates) - Profile.dbf (Not necessary if you don't import data into AnyOrder) - ImpList.dbf (Not necessary if you don't import data into AnyOrder) - Profile2.dbf (Not necessary if you don't export data out of AnyOrder) - RepList.dbf (Not necessary if you don't export data out of AnyOrder) - RoyReprt.dbf (Not necessary if you don't pay royalties) - RoyInfo.dbf (Not necessary if you don't pay royalties) - RoyState.dbf (Not necessary if you don't pay royalties) - RoyItems.dbf Not necessary if you don't pay royalties) - 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 copied 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 b) A minimum of 32 MB RAM. More recommended. c) A hard disk with 12MB of available disk space d) VGA/SVGA monitor and graphics adapter e) Mouse OPERATING SYSTEM: Windows 95/98/2000/ME/XP 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. 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. To help you get started, a short tour has been prepared which will guide you through the sample invoices that come with the program. The tour is automatically activated the first two times you start the program. After that, you can reach it by selecting HELP and TOUR ANYORDER. In addition to the tour, new users will also want review the Getting Started section found in the Help information. It is reached by selecting 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. You have downloaded an evaluation copy. 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 payment for its use. 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 registering the Professional Advanced Edition is $89.00. Note that there are two lower cost alternatives: AnyOrder Basic with a registration fee of $29.95, and Professional Standard with a registration fee of $49.00. 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. ANYORDER CLASSIC ADVANCED EDITION: Version 8.0 -------------------------------------------------- Version 8 is the largest and most extensive upgrade ever to AnyOrder. Among many new enhancements, the invoice screen has been redesigned and it now includes buttons to activate a pop-up list of products and prices. The products can be inserted into the item area at the cursor or they can be appended at the end of the list depending on which button is selected. For multi-product choices, the pop-up list will stay visible until the desired number of products have been inserted. An alternative product entry dialog box can now be accessed from the Main Invoice Screen. This new feature provides an alternative way of entering products. All the same pop-up buttons are available for pasting or appending products to the item list. The alternative product entry box also shows other identifiers such as the ISBN or Part Number and it includes a speed button to access S-codes. Another major change associated with products is the ability to assign different discounts to different products. The item area on the Main Invoice Screen can be expanded to show a discount column and expanded further to show the discounted total. Along with this change, the Calculate Discount dialog box includes a new function to work back from a product's total and calculate the necessary discount. Still another major change with products is an increase in the amount of space available for catalog numbers and item descriptions. The catalog number space was more than doubled, from 6 to 13 characters. And the item description was increased from 25 to 36 characters. Two new fields were added to the Product Information Database: case size and an additional identifier. The identifier can be an ISBN number for books, part numbers for general items, or even color or size depending on the needs of the user. Finally, the last major change with products is the ability to place products in different categories by using prefix in the catalog number. For instance, one may categorized all books with a BK/ prefix, or all maps with a MP/ prefix. The prefix is utilized in the product pop-up list, making selections easier. You can, for example, change from a listing of books to a listing of maps. Along with this change, the inventory portion of the program was enhanced so it provides sales information for each of the product categories. To make changes to catalog numbers (or other fields on Main Invoice Screen), the program now includes a search and replace feature. If you decide to change a catalog number (or a billing name or address, etc.), the program will search and make the desired replacements. A series of new searching and locating features are now available in all portions of the program. Search functions are now found in the product information database, customer information database, billing statements, and inventory information. A new look-up list is also available in each of these areas. The look- up function enables you to pick from a list of customers or products and be directed to the appropriate record in the file. A new look-up list function is also available for the Main Invoice Screen. Also new with this version is the ability to print receipts and add graphics to invoices and billing statements. Several different placement options are available for graphics. A feature was added which allows you to prepare a deposit report for making bank deposits. For those who work with international customers, this version allows the printing of your country's ISO currency code on invoices. You can now add new invoices and copy the billing address, item area or notes area from the current invoice to the newly created invoice. The state field was increased to 3 places for Australian states, a by-pass was added to the inventory function for a quick look-up of a recent inventory. If you have to deal with backorders on an occasional or frequent basis, the new back ordering processing feature will help locate past invoices with back orders and automatically change their status when a new invoice is issued. The Advanced Version includes new and versatile import and export functions. The import function allows you to move information from databases, spreadsheets, accounting programs, and word processing programs into AnyOrder. One of the nice features of the function is that you can select which fields from the import file you want to use and where the data should be placed on AnyOrder's main Invoice Screen. The placement information is saved in a "profile." The profile enables you to make future imports without having to re-select where the data should be placed. As an example, let's say you have contracted a third party to sell some of your products over the Internet. They will provide you with reports of their sales activity. If the reports are in a spreadsheet or database format, you can move the numbers and names of the products to AnyOrder's Main Invoice Screen. That allows you to track your inventory and sales. Moreover, you'll have the necessary information for end of year reports. There are a number of helpful features built into this part of the program. For instance, if the third party uses different catalog numbers, you can utilize import tables to convert the catalog numbers so they match those in AnyOrder. The same extensive system is available for exporting from AnyOrder. You can decide which fields should be exported and in what order. You can add currency symbols to the numbers or leave them off. You can send your catalog numbers as is, or you use tables to convert them. You can even make up new fields and send constant data, like the name and address of your business. The Export feature is particularly useful if you use a fulfillment service. You can tailor the export file to their requirements and quickly and efficiently get information to them about which products you want shipped and to whom. Other new advanced features include a currency conversion function. The conversion dialog box allows you to establish exchange rates for those countries with which you do business. Once the rates are established, you can choose a currency from the list, and the invoice will be converted into the appropriate values of the new currency. When printed, the invoice will also include the appropriate ISO country code of the currency. Moreover, AnyOrder will internally remember the original values of the invoice, and when desired you can convert the invoice back to your base currency. Another advanced feature includes the ability to start your email program and insert the billing name or shipping name into the "to" blank. You can also pick from a series of form letters that you've prepared in advance, and via the clipboard, insert the desired letter in your email message. The royalty portion of the program has an important and major new function. In addition to royalty reports, you can now prepare royalty statements. The statement summarizes advances, royalties owed, subsidiary rights, and payments. Information can be entered directly on the statement spreadsheet or it can be inserted by making choices from two pop-up lists. One pop-up list provides access to royalty reports (kept in the Royalty Report portion of the program). The other pop-up list shows a list of transactions such as advances, subsidiary sales or payments. The statement allows you to keep track of royalty information and make payments when appropriate. 11. 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 Standard 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 Professional 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.) 12. STANDARD & ADVANCED DOWNLOAD PACKAGE DIFFERENCES & ADVANCED FEATURE LIMITATIONS ON EVALUATION COPIES ------------------------------------------------------ The Standard and Advanced Programs appear very similar--and they are. The difference between the Standard and Advanced download packages lies in what files are included. The Standard package doesn't include the Royalty program while the Advanced set-up does. The Advanced package includes all the files in the Standard package plus any files associated with Royalty Functions (including the main royalty program, its help system and related royalty database files). Other than the inclusion of the royalty program, there is no functional difference between the two editions. Several of the advanced features are not functional on the evaluation version of the software. They become fully functional only when the Advanced program is registered. Nonetheless, the program allows access to advanced features. You can view dialog boxes, click on some of the functions, and learn more by consulting the Help system which has extensive descriptive material on advanced features. Additionally, a simple modem test has been included. The modem test gives you the opportunity to test your system prior to registering for the Advanced Edition. A successful test means that the phone dialer and card processor will work on your computer system.
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