SOME IMAGES FOR INV MASS UPDATE

If anybody as done forecasting that was not aware of the DNR bug, then I would do this for all lines. It takes about 10 minutes and it may seem that your computer is locking up but just let it run and go grab a coffee. But beware this tool can be very Dangerous and you can never go back SO BE CAREFUL!!!!

A MUST KNOW ABOUT EXPLORIS FORECASTING

If anybody uses Exploris forecasting you need to know that any of these non-sku part numbers highlighted in red are added to your system through forecasting it will NOT take the DNR flag of the part. There is a way to remove all the flags to a line or multiple lines all at once by using INV MASS UPDATE which Ian as mentioned on Dec 15th. Makesure if any AE's are doing your forcasting that they are aware of this because I would bet many are not.

WHY WAREHOUSE SALES DATA IS IMPORTANT

Well about a month ago I might of put these number into my inventory, but as you can see it is bad data because the warehouse hasn't sold any. This raises another question, Why is the part number data wrong? I find any part in exploris that has a PN code .0 is like this. And they say why do we need warehouse sales data?

======= note -- updated by Greg ========
Hi It is 1-8-09 and Bob is on his way to London (yeh - that London ) for 10 days - I do not know if he had a chance to figure out the reply from Mike Deal ... but here is Mike's reply ..... I don't understand it ...it does seem to say that we will TRY to get the caliper but the warehouse won't have it -- so we just make a bit more work for everyone ...

--reply follows ---
I can "sort of" help with this. These 2 caliper numbers were marked for deletion in our Adis system, which means they were discontinued by our
supplier and our Product Manager placed an X in our status field. The X means delete this part number from our system on the next purge. The
problem is a part is NOT supposed to be marked for deletion before the movement code is changed to 0 because the Progress Database stops updating
all numbers marked for deletion. The movement code was 4 when these numbers were marked for deletion, but changed to movement code 0 later. Since
Progress stopped updating these numbers, Exploris still thinks that they are movement code 4.

Mike Deal
Director - Classification
General Parts International / CARQUEST

====== note -- updated by Greg -- after talking with Mike Deal ========

Ok --think I have it now -- there are steps and if a step get done out of order we get the above problem
1) part is identified as 'going to be obsolete'
2) part mvt code must be set to ZERO first
3) then the column can be set to X for delete part (probably after all stock gone)

Here the X was marked before the mvt code was set to zero - and this will cause problems for EXPLORIS users -- as the new data base .. called the Progress Data Base is==will not update ... this is NOT a problem for J-Con users as J-Con is updated from ADIS -- not this new data base ( Progress Data Base).

It does hi-light the complexity of the issues and reinforce the need for GROUP meetings to solve problems

I run into many examples in Canada of the part NOT having a ZERO movement code -- when it is a obsolete part .... For example since we in our 3 stores dump all data into excel --we don't use the product recall sheets --we just sort all parts to see what matches -- this is how we know some parts are NOT moved to mvt code 0. This will; have to be solved ... or annoy BOTH the Exploris users and the WAREHOUSE as these parts will try to order and the warehouse won't have them...

I was just told how to fix a setting problem like the one we had for ecc. I had in several part numbers the display item flagged ( this then produces price stickers for that part number) , many of which should not have been flagged. You can do a mass update to remove that flag. You need to be careful as this tool could create some havoc in your system if used incorrectly. To remove the flag go to invoice, then to part utility, to inventory mass update. This goes to a new screen, enter your line code, click on the first number bean ( then choose the top number, as this is the first number in the file), click on the last number bean ( choose the top number it is the last part number in the file). On the right hand side there is a bean that says update or if you click on it changes to " clear mode". Click on clear mode, check off the do not display box, then click on the update button. The system will ask if you want to update this file, click OK, spacebar and you are done

the BET is on

there is a $10 ( US funds too boot ) bet on with Normand (head of IT in Canada ) and Greg H --that the J-Con f-9 type warehouse sales will NOT be in Exploris by Dec 31,2008

Greg thought this was a pretty safe bet when made at the London Owners Meeting recently --any side bets ?

************* L A T E B R E A K I N G ****************

damm -I lost the bet -- money has been paid ...knew I should bet on the billing schedule "gross profit' program -that was delayed until 1st qtr of 2009 .... so if you see busy Jobbers -it is because they have to do SO MUCH work to adjust pricing plans in Exploris ( and it still is so easy in J-Con )

I have just created a new line item and found that updating prices by the gp, to be very easy, and quick. It is not necessary to workout all your prices. Just make sure that you are consitent in the price that you are going to use as your base. Go to menu, then to invoice/ part utility/ price%. The screen will come up , you choose whether you want to adjust by % or GP. Choose the price levels you wish to adjust, next column put in the price field you wish to create you prices from ( ie: field 6), next column choose your gp % that you want. Check the preview button to see what it looks like. If everything looks ok, check the write to database box, update and your prices are set. You can check preview to make sure you like it. If not, do the process again

error on 47

Bob Miller is telling me that trying to do a X line PO creates an error on 'des not meet criteria'

How many more errors are there ( hint - other guys )

does it hurt when you post ?

You might think it costs money to post - we have a handful of jobbers et to post here - but they find it easier to exchange e-mails with a smaller group,

Some times these issues need to be said for all to see,...

Come on Bob & Ian -- post these issues

missing Warehouse sales =-- is a BIG THING

Just wrote yet another e-mail to Rick Young & Joe Zucchero pointing out their stubborn refusal to show warehouse sales in EXPLORIS hurts jobbers.

Background --in J-Con you can see warehouse sales in F-9 screen from point of sale -it is handy to make single product decisions on to stock or not ( and could be useful in other ways if data was to be included on reports - but save that for another day)

The image here ( click to enlarge ) is a part that Bob Miller brought to my attention -- Bob writes some things for the blog and has been on Exploris for some time. Bob was promised that v46 would have warehouse sales ... there must be someone with a growing nose with all these lies aka Pinocchio

The part is shown as being a mvt code 2 - clearly it is wrong -- but we ONLY KNOW this since as an OLDER J-CON user we have access to the warehouse data that is part of Activant's Parts Source monthly CD. We have spotted similar mistakes and the class guys at Ralieghh get them corrected quickly ... but is we can;t correct-then stores will add the WRONG PARTS --and 6 or 9 or 12 months latter want to return them ... who wins then ...?

Give us the warehouse sales in Exploris ( and on Eagle, too )

Double Post stock order

Who has exact details on the day in Aug where the stock orders DOUBLE POSTED. The resulting chaos in your inventory counts has to be EXTREME

Why was there so poor feedback on what caused this HUGE mistake and how it will never happen again ( one would hope )

How good is your on hand count?

Source - Roger - Timmins ON

Multi-store address book ??

While we wait for the Multi-Store parts of Exploris one question asked today from Mike is 'how do you share contact info for suppliers with all staff in all stores??"

IF you have a good solution - and would like to see it posted here -- drop a line to info 'at' dtauto dot ca (written this way to avoid spammers.

One way we have used with moderate success is to get a FREE account in Plaxo ( www.plaxo.com ). Pick a user name and a password that you will have to SHARE with all stores.

Click on the attached image to see a sample layout

Hints - we try to use WORK and not Home for the address and phone #'s
- we do NOT use a personal name - just the company it seems to sort better - if you need the rep's name -- add it to the address and in the NOTES tag - where we add other info like prepaid levels and any other special details

One downside is that Plaxo keeps changing and adding features - we don't use these features. If you add personal names it will try to have to LINK to a buddy list ( that is too personal - just need the facts )

The J-Con had NOTHING to help multi-stores prepare list of vendors ... in fact you can't even standardize the vendor number in J-Con as they use a 'first in' for vendor numbers. We would expect Exploris to allow multi-store to set VENDOR NUMBERS to make it easier for those re-order PO's to be run and reviewed.

What do you use for multi-store supplier data ??? care to share ... ??

Avoiding the obvious - letting users help users ....

Senior management at GPI have steadfastly ignored the obvious - the POWER of message boards ( sometime called discussion boards or forum ).

A token attempt had 20 users from Exploris user advisory council try ... 20 is not large enough. That was dismal

Take World Pac ... the single lonely ( and almost totally un-noticed board for the next gen e-cat ) is available at the bottom of speedDIAL main page. Then compare that to the message boards at the 'garage' user for Worldpac - truly a dynamic board with TONS of activity ( you need a non-CARQUEST account to see these message boards )

Click on images to see difference

Message boards allow users to ask questions and help one another ...oh ...yeh ...there is some bitching that goes on ...but once you have a healthy environment the bitching simmers down and the work gets underway. If you don't try any message boards --you owe it to yourself to pick a passion or hobby and seek out a message board on the topic -( hint -- try travel or cars ). Just google it.

Once better --if you have computer problems - lots of great message boards. Note --there is an etiquette for new users to follow - first you 'lurk' --or just look and pick up on the tone of the group. One big 'faux pas' is to TYPE WITH ALL CAPITALS ... users will think you are SHOUTING.

Imagine a forum for power users to really get good - or a separate forum for new users to learn faster?

OK Bloggers --how do you do this ?

See the J-CON blog --links on the side to see how you can get the defective ratio for all customers ...so how do you do this in EXPLORIS ??

More data is at CQ Change article on defect ratio's Our regular staff blog

missing Blue Ceramic pads

see cqchange.blogspot.com for post on missing blue ceramic pads -- mntioned by Bob from Walker RD

FORCASTING BUG

For everybody that uses forcasting, if you add any non-sku parts via forcasting it will put a order point to the part and bring it into your store and system. But once you sell the part it will not come back in because the DNR flag is check!!!!!!. You will have to use inventory mass update utility to clear the DNR flag for the parts, but be careful you have to know what your doing to use this utility. Any question call me!!!!!

Next Gen e-cat ?

Any feedback on the recent improvements on Worldpac's Next Gen e-cat would be appreciated.

click here -- and give your user name and password to gain access to the thread on new e-cat

This is part of the sparsely read Jobber Message Board by Worldpac .... why poorly read -- no one promotes it -and it is on an extremely narrow focus

What do you think of the next gen e-cat .. ?

the wrong thing at the right time

this BLOG is the WRONG THING --- but something is needed ---for this is the RIGHT TIME for feedback.

What's wrong with the BLOG -- we have a hard time getting the verbal complaints into words - jobbers on the list are busy ( and in some cases very busy in part to staff shortages) --so a BLOG with limited what's new -- isn't much of a BLOG ... and for that we apologize to our ever growing list of readers. IF you would like to be an author and write articles on your experience with Exploris - drop me a line at info at dtauto dot ca (you know what to change and I avoid 100 more spam e-mails on money won in Nigeria if I avoid showing my e-mail address. Please drop a note on what and why, how & when ....tell us something about yourself

SO -- if a BLOG is the wrong thing - what could be better.

WIKI -- we urged Joe Z and the band of advisors that a WIKI is a great way to have the users make a users guide and a 'tips and tricks' documents. If you have not used a wiki before -- try www.wikipedia.org for a start and google the term WIKI. It allows users to add (or delete ) data on a variety of subjects. Imagine who a Exploris manual would look written by USERS! for USERS! If you are still a disbeliever you must NOT be impressed with wikipedia --an encyclopedia written by USERS for USERS.

Another item strongly pushed as a MESSAGE BOARD ( somethings called a discussion board or forum ). Worldpac has a disabled forum you can access on a lower left link in speedDial. A truly great message board is the worldpac one for their REGULAR repair garages - unfortunately we don;t have access - but anyone with the garage account can see what users say to other users. Message boards are available for any number of topics from bird watching to .....well ...everything .... you can soon tell what message boards have enough users to make them work -- each message boards needs NEW data daily to make it work and to get you back a timely manner.

Both of these suggestions fell upon deaf ears (repeatedly) .... time will be the judge of their actions. It does seem a shame that GPI ignored technology options that so many others use.

So -- we are stuck with BLOGS .... calling additional people who would like to post timely tips and tricks to make Exploris better ... e-mail me at info at dtauto dot ca.

Greg

cash sales on accounts

I too have mentioned that cash sales taxes should not appear on the charge account statements. I was then given a list of suggestions to correct different problem areas. This list included the suggestion that we should not process cash invoices on a charge account and should only bill them on a cash account with similar billing schedules. I am not going to start replicating account to correct this. I think this is an example of carquest not wanting us to bill on cash on a charge account so that we don't hit the pl4 trigger!
Ian

missing Left or Right in e-cat

Wayne says that e-cat setup in Exploris - can have missed setting so the LEFT or RIGHT in things like tie rod ends will be missing -- be sure your setup is right ---ask Wayne Baldwin at Simcoe for details (519-428-0860)

Charge account bug ?

This is from Jim ( who is short staffed and TOO busy -I can understand - but thought this was too good to ignore )

In J-Con you can have a customer come in and buy something on his charge account and for whatever reason he has --he wants to pay cash .... fine -- done easily in J-Con

Not so in Exploris --the GST ( a cdn federal sales tax ) shows up on the statement ... hmmm ... sure sounds like a bug to me