QUOTEWERKS: Aspire re-issue info on free QuoteWerks add-on utilities

Aspire Technologies (authors of QuoteWerks sales quotation software) have released a summary of information on the free QuoteWerks add-on utilities which are available from the QuoteWerks.com website.

Details can be found at the following URLs:
http://quotewerks411.wordpress.com/2009/05/22/quotewerks-dell-import-utility/
http://quotewerks411.wordpress.com/2009/05/21/quotewerks-rounding-utility/
http://quotewerks411.wordpress.com/2009/05/20/quotewerksexcelutility/
http://quotewerks411.wordpress.com/2009/05/19/grouppartnumberbuilderquotewerks/


Each of these utilities is available completely free of charge from the QuoteWerks.com website along with installation instructions.

If these utilities perhaps aren't quite your looking for in terms of enhancing QuoteWerks functionality, then please get in touch with us regarding our QuoteWerks development services. We have a large number of internally developed QuoteWerks add-on utilities, so we can cost-effectively provide solutions which fit your business' requirements. Email us - development@hilltopsit.co.uk - or give us a call on +44(0) 1782 465252. We look forward to hearing from you!

CONNECTIT: ConnectIT-Sage confirmed to work for Sage Instant Accounts 2009

We are able to confirm today that the next release of ConnectIT-Sage will work with Sage Instant Accounts 2009.

"I am really pleased that with the new version of Sage Instant, we can now offer users the ability to transfer documents from QuoteWerks to Sage using ConnectIT" says Hilltops IT CEO Steve Siggs. "I'm even more please than we are now able to achieve this with just a few minor adjustments to the existing code base. Now QuoteWerks and Sage Instant users can get the benefits of the ConnectIT software very cost-effectively, without needing to upgrade their Sage software."

The ConnectIT-Sage software has been developed over the last 3 years, gradually adding more and more features that users and resellers have been requesting in the software. Hilltops IT have produced this product to meet end users' requirements which drive more and more efficiencies into their business. With zero defects reported from production environments in more than 18 months, the need for "just a few minor adjustments", users and resellers can expect the same quality deliverable which "does exactly what it says on the tin".

The revised version is expected to be released within the next couple of weeks.

For more information on ConnectIT-Sage, please contact your QuoteWerks reseller or see the ConnectIT website.

CONNECTIT: ConnectIT-Workflow v1.0.1 released

Following feedback from users, this minor release of ConnectIT-Workflow expands the default example rules which are set up when a user initially installs the software. We have also provided fuller instructions on how to set up and manage your business rules.

ConnectIT-Workflow business process manager for QuoteWerks manages entries on a QuoteWerks document to ensure that the QuoteWerks user has entered all the required information at each step of document creation (Quote, Order and Invoice).

ConnectIT-Workflow validates that the QuoteWerks user has entered required values into particular fields before the user is allowed to print, save, convert or email a document.

When an error is detected, then depending on the level of that error, the user is either prompted and asked to correct the problem before they are allowed to continue, or they are just warned about the problem(s).

ConnectIT-Workflow pricing is very cost-effective and is currently being sold with free installation and configuration - get your copy and start taking advantage of ConnectIT-Workflow's cost and time saving benefits now.

CONNECTIT: ConnectIT-Workflow new resources available

New resources are now available on the ConnectIT-Workflow business process manager for QuoteWerks website in the form of screenshots and extended support documentation.

PLUS: take advantage of free ConnectIT-Workflow installation assistance while the offer lasts.

CONNECTIT: ConnectIT-Workflow v1.0.0 released

Product Overview
ConnectIT-Workflow manages entries on a QuoteWerks document to ensure that the QuoteWerks user has entered all the required information at each step of document creation (Quote, Order and Invoice).

ConnectIT-Workflow validates that the QuoteWerks user has entered required values into particular fields before the user is allowed to print, save, convert or email a document.

When an error is detected, then depending on the level of that error, the user is either prompted and asked to correct the problem before they are allowed to continue, or they are just warned about the problem(s).


Key Benefits

• Quick to install and easy to configure to the fields you use which means your company’s quoting and sales order processing functions become instantly more accurate and more productive.
• Ensures that your customers and suppliers get complete and consistent information on the documents you send them thus improving your business relationships with them by avoiding time wasted checking, correcting and resending documents.
• Maintains integrity of input to maximise the power and accuracy of QuoteWerks reporting which means more informed business decision making.

Key Features

• When an error is detected, then depending on the level of that error, the user is either prompted and asked to correct the problem before they are allowed to continue, or they are just warned about the problem(s).
• Validates fields based on the particular document type and document status.
• Contains many different rule expressions – that a field is not blank, that a fields value is in a particular range, that a fields value is one of a particular list of options, etc.
• Contains many different rule targets – Document Header fields, Document Item fields, first Document Item row, all Optional Document Item rows, etc.

ConnectIT-Workflow pricing is very cost-effective and is currently being sold with free installation and configuration - get your copy and start taking advantage of ConnectIT-Workflow's cost and time saving benefits now!

CONNECTIT: details of ConnectIT-Workflow - workflow manager for QuoteWerks now on QuoteWerks.com

Details of ConnectIT-Workflow - business workflow manager for QuoteWerks are now available on QuoteWerks.com: http://www.quotewerks.com/addons/alertsworkflow.asp

ConnectIT-Workflow is the latest addtion to the ConnectIT suite of products from Hilltops IT; another QuoteWerks development add-on product to enhance the user's experience of using QuoteWerks.

ConnectIT-Workflow manages entries on a QuoteWerks document to ensure that the QuoteWerks user has entered all the required information at each step of document creation (Quote, Order and Invoice).

ConnectIT-Workflow validates that the QuoteWerks user has entered required values into particular fields before the user is allowed to print, save, convert or email a document.

When an error is detected, then depending on the level of that error, the user is either prompted and asked to correct the problem before they are allowed to continue, or they are just warned about the problem(s).

For full details of ConnectIT-Workflow, please see the website here: http://www.connectit-online.com/default_workflow.aspx

For pricing click here: http://www.connectit-online.com/Calculator.aspx?p=CITWF&curr=GBP

QUOTEWERKS: Version 4.0 Build 46 released

Aspire Technologies Inc. QuoteWerks development team have released a new version of QuoteWerks. If you have any questions on the new features and fixes, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Version 4.0 Build 46 Summary: 6 New and 1 Fixes features.



New Features

1. Real-time Pricing and Availability is now available for IT distributor Accutech (www.accutechdata.com).

2. Real-time Pricing and Availability is now available for IT distributor Arbitech (www.arbitech.com).

3. Real-time Pricing and Availability is now available for IT distributor Bell Micro (www.bellmicro.com).

4. Real-time Pricing and Availability is now available for IT distributor Digitek (www.digitek.com).

5. The Price Comparison window is now resizable, and also remembers the last location and size (per user).

6. Added Misc Access right "CannotModifyDocStatusWhenConvertingDocument".Useful for preventing a user from changing the DocStatus to a value other than the default value specified in the setup.



Fixes

1. For GoldMine users, on the send email window, when selecting an email address from the list of all addresses associated with the GoldMine contact being used in the quote, any email addresses in Goldmine longer than 35 chars would be truncated.

CONNECTIT: ConnectIT-Workflow - QuoteWerks workflow manager

Pricing for the new product to the ConnectIT range has been released today. Plus for a limited time only we are offering free installation and training.


Product Overview
ConnectIT-Workflow manages entries on a QuoteWerks document to ensure that the QuoteWerks user has entered all the required information at each step of document creation (Quote, Order and Invoice).

ConnectIT-Workflow validates that the QuoteWerks user has entered required values into particular fields before the user is allowed to print, save, convert or email a document.

When an error is detected, then depending on the level of that error, the user is either prompted and asked to correct the problem before they are allowed to continue, or they are just warned about the problem(s).


Key Benefits

• Quick to install and easy to configure to the fields you use which means your company’s quoting and sales order processing functions become instantly more accurate and more productive.
• Ensures that your customers and suppliers get complete and consistent information on the documents you send them thus improving your business relationships with them by avoiding time wasted checking, correcting and resending documents.
• Maintains integrity of input to maximise the power and accuracy of QuoteWerks reporting which means more informed business decision making.

Key Features

• When an error is detected, then depending on the level of that error, the user is either prompted and asked to correct the problem before they are allowed to continue, or they are just warned about the problem(s).
• Validates fields based on the particular document type and document status.
• Contains many different rule expressions – that a field is not blank, that a fields value is in a particular range, that a fields value is one of a particular list of options, etc.
• Contains many different rule targets – Document Header fields, Document Item fields, first Document Item row, all Optional Document Item rows, etc.

QUOTEWERKS: Sugar CRM integration add-on released

Another QuoteWerks development partner has just released an integration between QuoteWerks and SugarCRM.

The QuoteWerks development partner, Wildcat Development, has developed the new integration link between Sugar CRM and QuoteWerks called WildSugar.

WildSugar increases the functionality of QuoteWerks by integrating directly with SugarCRM, a leading contact management software. By utilizing WildSugar, users can access their SugarCRM contacts from within QuoteWerks, effectively creating a more efficient quoting process.

WildSugar saves users considerable time by eliminating the replication of data entry for contacts.

Features and benefits of WildSugar include:

• Seamless integration between SugarCRM and QuoteWerks
• Easy installation
• Immediate access to all SugarCRM contacts
• Ability to auto populate SugarCRM contact information in quotes generated by QuoteWerks
• Custom searches that allow users to quickly and easily locate a particular SugarCRM contact

The WildSugar link is a third party add on to the QuoteWerks program. It was developed for QuoteWerks users on version 4.0 and using Sugar version 5.0 and higher.

Visit the official WildSugar website for more information on the link.

Contact Hilltops IT for more information on our QuoteWerks services plus other add-on and integration solutions.

QUOTEWERKS: v4.0 build 45 released

The new release of QuoteWerks v4.0 contains the following:

New Features

1. When creating Sales Opportunities in MS CRM, QuoteWerks now supports custom CRM Opportunity Rating Codes in addition to the standard codes of "Hot", "Warm", and "Cold". [Service Release: 45.01]

2. Added support for Outlook 2007 Business Contact Manager (BCM). The integration includes:
a) The currently open Outlook BCM Contact or Account can be pulled into the quote.
b) The Business Contacts and Accounts can be searched to find Contacts or Accounts to pull into the quote.
c) When searching for contacts, subfolders within the specified Outlook BCM Accounts or Contacts folder are included in the search.
d) QuoteWerks will create/update linked documents (as Outlook journal entries) in Outlook BCM.
e) QuoteWerks will create/update a follow up call (as an Outlook appointment) in Outlook BCM.
f) QuoteWerks will create/update Sales Opportunities (as an Outlook BCM opportunity) in Outlook BCM.
g) The QuoteWerks DataLink feature can be used with Outlook BCM enabling you to retrieve information like Terms and shipping method from the Outlook BCM contact into the quote.
h) When printing, QuoteWerks can retrieve data from Outlook BCM and include it in the printed output.

3. Online Ordering module can place online orders with Ingram Micro (USA and Canada) from within QuoteWerks (requires Real-time and Online Ordering modules). Order items from a single order, or combine items from multiple QuoteWerks orders into a single Ingram Micro order. This will save you the time and hassle of calling your Ingram Micro sales rep and reading each part number, quantity, and price to him/her. Another benefit is that the order date and Ingram Micro sales order number will automatically be stored with your QuoteWerks order for reference. When placing Ingram Micro online orders electronically through QuoteWerks, there is an option that will let you place the order on hold. This will afford you an opportunity to review the order with your distributor rep and negotiate pricing without the time consuming process of reading to your sales rep all the part numbers, quantities, ship to location, etc. No more calling your distributor sales rep only to reach voice mail (understandable - sales reps can't be on the phone with more than one customer at a time) and then have to remember try again later in the day to place the order - or wait for a call back! This is truly the best of both worlds - automation with sales rep service! Supports government and educational pricing.

4. Online Ordering module can place online orders with SYNNEX (USA and Canada) from within QuoteWerks (requires Real-time and Online Ordering modules). Order items from a single order, or combine items from multiple QuoteWerks orders into a single SYNNEX order. This will save you the time and hassle of calling your SYNNEX sales rep and reading each part number, quantity, and price to him/her. Another benefit is that the order date and SYNNEX sales order number will automatically be stored with your QuoteWerks order for reference. When placing SYNNEX online orders electronically through QuoteWerks, there is an option that will let you place the order on hold. This will afford you an opportunity to review the order with your distributor rep and negotiate pricing without the time consuming process of reading to your sales rep all the part numbers, quantities, ship to location, etc. No more calling your distributor sales rep only to reach voice mail (understandable - sales reps can't be on the phone with more than one customer at a time) and then have to remember try again later in the day to place the order - or wait for a call back! This is truly the best of both worlds - automation with sales rep service! Supports vendor promotion, government, and educational pricing.

5. When no documents are open, the FileNew and FileOpen menus now have shortcut keys CTRL-N and CTRL-O respectively.

6. The Bundles window (ProductsBundles menu), Configurations window (ProductsConfigurator menu), Required Items window (ProductsRequired Items menu), Optional Items window (ProductsOptional Items menu), and Substitute Items window (ProductsSubstitute Items menu) are now all resizable.

7. Added macro fields &DH_&SoldToFirstName, &DH_&SoldToLastName, &DH_&ShipToFirstName, &DH_&ShipToLastName, &DH_&BillToFirstName, and &DH_&BillToLastName.


Misc Features

1. The fields on the SoldTo/ShipTo tab, SaleInfo, Notes, and Custom tabs now limit the number of characters that can be entered based on the size of the field in the database. [Service Release: 45.01]

2. The Required Items window (ProductsRequired Items menu), Optional Items window (ProductsOptional Items menu), and Substitute Items window (ProductsSubstitute Items menu) have been re-designed.

3. When creating a Bundle, the maximum length of the Bundle name was increased from 40 to 255 characters.

4. Added new Technical support Debug Command for changing seed numbers.


Fixes

1. For MSCRM 1.2 users, when closing an opportunity, the Actual Close Date was not being populated. [Service Release: 45.01]

2. If the FileConvert to Lost Sale menu was selected for a document that did not have a contact linked to it, an error would be displayed. [Service Release: 45.01]

3. When doing a FileSave As and choosing "Assign new Project #", a new project number was not being generated. [Service Release: 45.01]

4. In the Layout Designer when inserting fields, if the CustomNumber03, CustomNumber04, or CustomNumber05 labels (In the DocumentItems or Products tables) were renamed, the label name did not display next to the field like "CustomNumber03 (Size)". [Service Release: 45.01]

5. When editing a Management Report on the Filter tab, DocumentItems macros like &LineAttributesOption were being listed as available fields. [Service Release: 45.01]

6. For SalesLogix users, issue with German / European decimal and date formatting when creating SalesLogix Opportunities.

7. On some machines, Would receive "Run-time error '339': Component 'comctl32.ocx' or one of its dependencies not correctly registered: a file is missing or invalid" when downloading the price file from SYNNEX FTP site.

8. In the Open Export Module wizard, the title bar would repeat the step like "- Step 1: Step1".


Users with valid UMP subscriptions can download and install this latest QuoteWerks build from by clicking the link.

For new users and for users looking for additional help with their QuoteWerks setup or require training, consultancy or development services, then please don't hesitate to contact us on +44(0) 1782 564252.

CONNECIT: new product beta released - ConnectIT-Workflow

Another new product and QuoteWerks add-on utility from Hilltops IT software development team was released in beta today.

ConnectIT-Workflow: linking your business process to quotewerks document creation

ConnectIT-Workflow manages entries on a QuoteWerks document to ensure that the QuoteWerks user has entered all the required information at each step of document creation (Quote, Order and Invoice).

ConnectIT-Workflow validates that the QuoteWerks user has entered required values into particular fields before the user is allowed to print, save, convert or email a document.

When an error is detected, then depending on the level of that error, the user is either prompted and asked to correct the problem before they are allowed to continue, or they are just warned about the problem(s).

Key benefits:

• Quick to install and easy to configure to the fields you use which means your company’s quoting and sales order processing functions become instantly more accurate and more productive.
• Ensures that your customers and suppliers get complete and consistent information on the documents you send them thus improving your business relationships with them by avoiding time wasted checking, correcting and resending documents.
• Maintains integrity of input to maximise the power and accuracy of QuoteWerks reporting which means more informed business decision making.

Key features:

• Functions triggered by events in QuoteWerks – before print, before save, before convert, before email, etc.
• Validates fields based on the particular document type and document status.
• Contains many different rule expressions – that a field is not blank, that a fields value is in a particular range, that a fields value is one of a particular list of options, etc.
• Contains many different rule targets – Document Header fields, Document Item fields, first Document Item row, all Optional Document Item rows, etc.

Pricing will be available soon here; if you would like any further information, then please email us at sales@connectit-online.co.uk

Early bird special offer: we are now taking advance orders for the ConnectIT-Workflow product which includes free installation and training. To take advantage of this offer, please contact sales@connectit-online.co.uk now!

QUOTEWERKS: new Microsoft CRM integration demo available

QuoteWerks has released a new demo video demonstrating the integration between QuoteWerks and MS CRM. The new video highlights all the major functions including:

• Pulling in customer information into the quote
• Adding additional customer information into the quote and layout
• Scheduling follow up calls
• Creating/Updating MS CRM Opportunities
• Closing MS CRM Opportunities as Won

The new video can be viewed by clicking here.

If you have any questions or would like to know more about QuoteWerks contact manager integration, then please give us a call on +44(0)1782 564252 or see our website here: http://www.hilltopsit.co.uk/quotewerks/index.aspx

For even tighter integration, then there is also the ConnectIT-MSCRM product which allows the QuoteWerks user to link their document to an existing Microsoft CRM Opportunity.

CONNECTIT: ConnectIT-MAS90 QuoteWerks to Sage MAS90 and MAS200 v1.1.1 released

ConnectIT-MAS90 QuoteWerks to Sage MAS90 and MAS200 v1.1.1 has been released today - Friday 13th March 2009.

This new release wraps up several enhancements which ConnectIT users and partner resellers have requested as follows:

UPDATE: transfer the Contact name selected for the Address fields from QuoteWerks to the Confirm To field in the Sage MAS document
UPDATE: support for names and descriptions, etc in QuoteWerks that are longer than those in Sage MAS. ConnectIT will now trim the QuoteWerks field to match on just the left 'x' characters, allowing a match to be found.
UPDATE: new ConnectIT icons

Existing users with current UMP: download your copy from here - http://www.connectit-online.co.uk/download.aspx?p=CITMAS90

New customers or users without UMP: please contact your ConnectIT / QuoteWerks reseller or email sales@connectit-online.co.uk for further information.

To request new features that would help your business process run more effectively, please email development@connectit-online.co.uk

For more and up-to-date information on the ConnectIT suite of products, please see the website here: http://www.connectit-online.co.uk/

The ConnectIT Development Team has a proven track record in producing quality products and utilities for QuoteWerks, Sage 50 Accounts, Sage MAS and Microsoft CRM. They will be happy to help you with any enquiries you have relating to developments on these products or stand-alone solutions and websites.

CONNECTIT: ConnectIT-Sage QuoteWerks to Sage 50 Accounts v1.9.0 released

ConnectIT-Sage QuoteWerks to Sage 50 Accounts v1.9.0 has been released today - Monday 2nd March 2009.

This new release wraps up several enhancements which ConnectIT users and partner resellers have requested as follows:

ADDED: the ability to select which Suppliers Purchase Orders are created for.
ADDED: the ability to transfer Comment lines into Sage as Message lines.
ADDED: the ability to transfer Group (Bundle) Header lines as Comments into Sage as Message lines.
ADDED: a check on whether a customer or suppliers credit limit has been exceeded. The prompt can be suppressed by ticking the Configuration Advanced "Suppress prompts that Customers or Suppliers Balance exceeds their Credit Limit" tick box.
ADDED: the ability to transfer a value into the Sage document line item Comment 1 and 2 fields

UPDATE: if the "Override Product Tax" field is ticked in the Sage Supplier record, then use the Default Tax Code and corresponding Tax Rate from Sage on all lines when creating Purchase Order documents (works for all supported versions of Sage 50 Accounts). Note that the user must be using the "Supplier Address information is maintained in Sage not QuoteWerks" Configuration option.
UPDATE: if the "Override Product Nominal" field is ticked in the Sage Supplier record, then use the Default Nominal Code and Department number from Sage on all lines when creating Purchase Order documents (works for version 14 - 2009 - of Sage 50 Accounts only, this option is not available in earlier versions). Note that the user must be using the "Supplier Address information is maintained in Sage not QuoteWerks" Configuration option.
UPDATE: include all Document Header fields in the Configuration Customer Account Reference, Documents Sales Doc Number, Purchase Doc Number and Creation Date field drop down selectors
UPDATE: new ConnectIT icons

Existing users with current UMP: download your copy from here - http://www.connectit-online.co.uk/download.aspx?p=CITSAGE50

New customers or users without UMP: please contact your ConnectIT / QuoteWerks reseller or email sales@connectit-online.co.uk for further information.

To request new features that would help your business process run more effectively, please email development@connectit-online.co.uk

For more and up-to-date information on the ConnectIT suite of products, please see the website here: http://www.connectit-online.co.uk/

The ConnectIT Development Team has a proven track record in producing quality products and utilities for QuoteWerks, Sage 50 Accounts, Sage MAS and Microsoft CRM. They will be happy to help you with any enquiries you have relating to developments on these products or stand-alone solutions and websites.

CONNECTIT: content for ConnectIT-MAS90 v1.1.1 confirmed

The ConnectIT development team have confirmed just a couple of minor updates to the ConnectIT-MAS90 QuoteWerks to Sage MAS 90 and Mas 200 link to provide a couple of new users with features that they would find useful:

• Transfer the Contact name selected for the Address fields from QuoteWerks to the Confirm To field in the Sage MAS document.
• Support for names and descriptions, etc in QuoteWerks that are longer than those in Sage MAS. ConnectIT will now trim the QuoteWerks field to match on just the left 'x' characters, allowing a match to be found.

Expected release to customers is expected week commencing 9th March 2009.

For more information or to get an advanced beta copy, please email development@connectit-online.co.uk

To request new features that would help your business process run more effectively, please email development@connectit-online.co.uk

For more information on the ConnectIT suite of products, please see the website here: http://www.connectit-online.co.uk

DEVELOPMENT: Fortnightly digest - what's happening at Hilltops IT and the world of software development

Development Team Diary


Most of the effort this last couple of weeks has been on some of our own software products in the ConnectIT suite. With last weeks ConnectIT-WebCart prototype release and a new beta release of ConnectIT-Sage QuoteWerks to Sage 50 Account link out today.


Other smaller projects include a bespoke software development utility for a client which validates QuoteWerks fields for values entered in particular fields. Commercially available utilities to do this were unfortunately cost-prohibitive because they contain far more features that the client actually requires. Fortunately we have been able to develop the solution for less than half the price, which the client is over the moon with!!!

For further information on our software development services, please do not hesitate to contact us on +44(0)844 357 7360 or +44(0)1782 564252 or email development@hilltopsit.co.uk

We look forward to hearing from you!

CONNECTIT: ConnectIT-Sage QuoteWerks to Sage 50 Accounts v1.9 beta released

ConnectIT-Sage QuoteWerks to Sage 50 Accounts v1.9 beta was released internally today.

This new release wraps up several enhancements which ConnectIT users and partner resellers have requested as follows:

ADDED: the ability to select which Suppliers Purchase Orders are created for
ADDED: the ability to transfer Comment lines into Sage as Message lines
ADDED: the ability to transfer Group (Bundle) Header lines as Comments into Sage as Message lines
ADDED: a check on whether a customer or suppliers credit limit has been exceeded. The prompt can be suppressed by ticking the Configuration Advanced "Suppress prompts that Customers or Suppliers Balance exceeds their Credit Limit" tick box
ADDED: the ability to transfer a value into the Sage document line item Comment 1 and 2 fields

UPDATE: if the "Override Product Tax" field is ticked in the Sage Supplier record, then use the Default Tax Code and corresponding Tax Rate from Sage on all lines when creating Purchase Order documents (works for all supported versions of Sage 50 Accounts). Note that the user must be using the "Supplier Address information is maintained in Sage not QuoteWerks" Configuration option.
UPDATE: if the "Override Product Nominal" field is ticked in the Sage Supplier record, then use the Default Nominal Code and Department number from Sage on all lines when creating Purchase Order documents (works for version 14 - 2009 - of Sage 50 Accounts only, this option is not available in earlier versions). Note that the user must be using the "Supplier Address information is maintained in Sage not QuoteWerks" Configuration option.
UPDATE: include all Document Header fields in the Configuration Customer Account Reference, Documents Sales Doc Number, Purchase Doc Number and Creation Date field drop down selectors
UPDATE: new ConnectIT icons


Expected release to customers is expected week commencing 2nd March 2009.

For more information or to get an advanced beta copy, please email development@connectit-online.co.uk

To request new features that would help your business process run more effectively, please email development@connectit-online.co.uk

For more information on the ConnectIT suite of products, please see the website here: http://www.connectit-online.co.uk

CONNECTIT: new product added to suite

Internally, we released a new prototype product to fit into the ConnectIT suite today.

This new product transfers information from an online ordering database into QuoteWerks, Sage 50 Accounts, Sage MAS 90 or Sage MAS 200. So, rather than manually re-entering your website orders into your back office system, ConnectIT now takes the hard work out of it for you!

As with the other products in the ConnectIT suite, this new application will save significant time and effort with the manual re-entry. Plus save the cost of mistakes that are inevitably made.

The product is built on the same .net development technology used for other ConnectIT products and leverages some of the techniques utilised in other bespoke software development and website development projects which we have been involved in. The prototype links to a .net web service using XML to transfer the information.

For more information on the features, integration options and release schedules, please contact development@connectit-online.co.uk. On release, full details will be made available on the ConnectIT website.

Finally: we haven't decided on the name yet - possibly ConnectIT-WebTransfer, ConnectIT-WebCart or ConnectIT-Trolley - if you've got a snappy idea for a name, then please email sales@connectit-online.co.uk. If your suggestion gets taken up, then you'll win a free copy of the final released software!

CONNECTIT: ConnectIT-Sage QuoteWerks to Sage 50 Accounts link v1.9.0 content confirmed

ConnectIT-Sage QuoteWerks to Sage 50 Accounts link v1.9.0 content has been confirmed.

The major developments to be included are as follows:

• The ability to select which Suppliers Purchase Orders are created for.
• The ability to transfer QuoteWerks Comment and Group (Bundle) Header lines as Comments into Sage as Message lines.
• A check on whether a customer or suppliers credit limit has been exceeded.
• The ability to transfer a value into the Sage document line item Comment 1 and 2 fields.

ConnectIT-Sage v1.9.0 is due for beta release end-February with the full production release week commencing 2nd March 2009. If you or your end user have a requirement which is not listed here then please do not hesitate to email us at development@connectit-online.co.uk.

QUOTEWERKS: Version 4.0 Build 44 released

Aspire Technologies Inc. QuoteWerks development team have released a new version of QuoteWerks. If you have any questions on the new features and fixes, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Version 4.0 Build 44 Summary: 13 New, 11 Fixes, and 5 Miscellaneous features

New Features

1. Advanced Outlook integration! The new advanced integration includes: a) When searching for contacts, subfolders within the specified Outlook contact folder will now be included in the searching. b) QuoteWerks will create/update linked documents (as Outlook journal entries) in Outlook. c) QuoteWerks will create/update a follow up call (as an Outlook appointment) in Outlook. d) The QuoteWerks DataLink feature can be used with Outlook enabling you to retrieve information like Terms and shipping method from the Outlook contact into the quote. e) When printing, QuoteWerks can retrieve data from Outlook and include it in the printed output.See a screenshot of this feature

2. Product pictures are now displayed in the Configurator.See a screenshot of this feature

3. On the Add Item Assistant, if a picture is available for the product, it will be displayed. You can also double-click on it to open the picture using the default application associated with the picture file type.See a screenshot of this feature

4. On the Picture tab of the Edit Product window, there are now buttons to view the picture as [Auto Size] or [Original Size]. The Auto Size option resizes the image while respecting the aspect ratio.See a screenshot of this feature

5. On the Real-time Product Content window, the pictures are now resized to the size of the display area while maintaining the aspect ratio.

6. On Real-time Product Content window, if available, a "View product on Manufacturer Website" hyperlink is now displayed.

7. On the Add Item Assistant, for products with a pricing method of Volume Pricing or Customer Based Price Levels, you can now view the complete list of all the pricing levels.

8. On the Add Item Assistant, for products with a pricing method of Customer Based Price Levels, the pricing is now displayed instead of "TBD".

9. If Product Data Sources are located under the QuoteWerks installation folder, the QuoteWerks installation path will be replaced with a macro instead of the hard coded path when this path is saved in the database. This will make it easier to move the QuoteWerks installation folder without the links breaking due to invalid paths.

10. When inserting a file path and name into a custom Menu Item command, and the QuoteWerks installation path is contained within the file path, you will be asked if you want to use the &SYS_InstallPath macro. This will make it easier to move the QuoteWerks installation folder without the links breaking due to invalid paths.

11. Added new FileSave & Close menu and toolbar button to report designer.

12. Added shortcut keys of CTRL-S (to select FileSave) and CTRL-W (to select FileClose) on Report Designer window.

13. Added shortcut keys CTRL-W (to select FileClose) on Quote Workbook.


Misc Features

1. To accommodate the addition of more fields to the DocumentHeaders table, the method of saving records to this table was modified to split the update into multiple queries.

2. When using the Add Item Assistant to add a zero quantity of an item that has required items, the quantities of the required items would be their original quantities instead of 0.

3. Added HelpContents and Index and HelpAbout menus to the MDI window that is displayed when all documents are closed.

4. The tab order on the Product Content subtab of the Real-time tab under the ToolsOptions menu was corrected.

5. For CRM users, when attempting to save a quote, that is not linked to a CRM contact, and the Look for synchronized data option is set, the user can now save without having to exit their CRM software.


Fixes

1. ICEcat changed the specifications for their real-time product content which broke the integration.

2. For API Users, the method AddLineItemToDocument() was ignoring the lItemType parameter used to set the type of line item type like a comment, subtotal, etc.

3. For API Users, the methods AddLineItemToDocument() and AddLineItemToDocumentEx() were ignoring the lItemAttributes parameter used to set Line Attributes like Don't Print, Hide Price, etc.

4. On Product Lookup window, the Manufacturer and Vendor Part # field background color appeared black on Windows Vista machines.

5. For MS CRM users, if you preview or print a quote layout that contains an MS CRM field before you have retrieved a contact from MS CRM, would receive "Runtime Error 91" error.

6. When copying selected data from an Excel spreadsheet and using the Paste Special feature, extra leading spaces would appear in the data.

7. When using the Paste Special feature to paste from the clipboard, if the clipboard data was formatted as HTML and the data contained reserved HTML formatting tags, the reserved formatting tags were not replaced with their original counterparts. For example, if the HTML data that was copied into the clipboard contained a reserved character like the ">" symbol, when it was pasted in QuoteWerks it would be represented as "& g t ;" without the spaces.

8. The title of Some error message dialogs would incorrectly say "{Edition not detected yet}"

9. When converting a quote to an order or invoice and choosing to reduce inventory, if any line items had a blank manufacturer part number would receive "error 9 subscript out of range".

10. When clicking in the Purchasing Notes, or Internal Notes fields on the Notes tab of the Quote Workbook, the message "You do not have rights to modify this field. This field is read-only." would incorrectly be displayed in the status bar. In this situation, if the user did have rights to modify these fields, they could still modify the fields even though the message was displayed.

11. Pressing the F1 key (for help) while in QuoteWerks would display the error "Cannot find the qw4.hlp file. Do you want to try find this file yourself?"