Design Module

Include all features released in version 4.3.034, plus a fix for the Specification List screen's calculation display.

General

[Enhanced] The main screen's Utilities> Optimize Image Files command now includes a default option that converts PNG files to JPEG format, which has been shown to minimize the memory limitations on very long reports (hundreds of pages) containing images (especially, the "Illustration Sheet" formats). As before, the utility backs up the original images and then reduces and/or converts them to the best size for use in FF&EZ.

[Enhanced] The [Ctrl-PgDn] editing short cut ("save changes then edit next item") has been supplemented with a [Ctrl-PgUp] version that saves and  then edits the previous item in a sorted list. Note that editing a field that changes the item's sort position in any list will still change the definition of the "next" or "previous" item.

[Enhanced] When using the Edit command on the main forms, you now have "arrow" command buttons to save your changes and automatically edit either the next item or the previous item in the list. This works like the [Ctrl-PgDn] and [Ctrl-PgUp] shortcuts, but gives you visual controls:

These options can be used to quickly make a similar change to a group of items. Note: If the changes affect either the sort order or whether an item meets a query being applied, saving a record may also redefine what is "next" or "previous."

[Enhanced] We have added optional alternate receivables and payables addresses for your company. If your company has a separate address that is used  for payments to you or invoices for amounts you owe, you can enter them on the main Setup screen. 

The first field is required and will enable you to access the other fields. Erasing the first field will disable this feature, defaulting to your main address. These addresses will appear in the appropriate place on processing documents, but do not change the address shown on the standard report title blocks.

[Enhanced] The report previewer uses a more precise location for its temporary files.

[Fixed] Some of the newer field additions were not included in the "non-financial user" limits.

[Fixed] When saving reports to PDF files, the default file name offered by the system now uses the "Title" field instead of the report name. These normally match, but the "Title" can be changed by the user before printing and gives you more control over the default file names.

[Fixed] A test field was removed from the Users screen under Setup.

Project List

[Fixed] A programming change created a bug that prevented the system from closing project orders when a project was closed.

[Fixed] The PO prefix and currency setup fields weren't being enabled when they should, especially when creating a new project.

Object List

[Enhanced] The "next ID" function now recognizes Tag patterns with more than one separator in the prefix (e.g., "GR-UPH-"). However, it does not currently deal with "ragged" patterns that do not use the same number of digits or which use suffixes.

Specifications List

[Enhanced] For users dealing with a Value-Added Tax (VAT) and where this option is enabled on the Project List screen, you can now enter a quoted cost that includes the VAT and have the tax subtracted as the base cost for downstream calculations:

In the example above, the "Includes VAT" option was selected prior to entering the quoted cost and the system calculated a "Total Cost" minus the project's 20% VAT. The VAT will be added back as a tax amount on orders to the vendor.

If you forget to set the option on a new specification before entering a cost that matches your setting, the system will give you the option of having the cost changed to the desired setting without changing the value. Otherwise, it will add or subtract the VAT and display the adjusted amount.

To make repetitive entries easier, new specifications will be set to the "includes" choice you used previously. It will revert to the default option the next time you start FF&EZ.

[Enhanced] The "next ID" function now recognizes Spec ID patterns with more than one separator in the prefix (e.g., "GR-UPH-"). However, it does not currently deal with "ragged" patterns that do not use the same number of digits or which use suffixes.

[Enhanced] The "Code" field now automatically trims leading spaces to ensure that all codes start at the left side of the field. This prevents mis-sorted reports caused by unintended leading spaces. Numeric codes that are more than a single digit should always include leading zeroes (that is, "003" not "   3" or just "3".

[Enhanced] A new "Ordered Specifications List by Vendor" report can be used for status and cost analysis of Worksheet items that have been marked with an order number or export ID. This appears on the Specifications List (not the Worksheet) since it defaults to displaying the net cost instead of the sell price. This also has an option to suppress subtotals so its preview can be saved to an Excel format for further use.

Objects List

[Enhanced] The "Code" field now automatically trims excess spaces to ensure that all codes start at the left side of the field. This prevents mis-sorted reports caused by extra leading spaces.

FF&E Worksheet

[Enhanced] If you edit a worksheet entry that has already been ordered, the "yes/no" warning about editing an ordered item has been replaced with a warning that you can suppress for the rest of the session. The editing screen now displays the status of an already ordered occurrence in red as a reminder.

FF&E Worksheet

[Enhanced] The Utilities> Export command now has an option to include the purchase order number or export ID (Orders Export plug-in) in the resulting object data. This is available for the first three export content options. Note that if you select the "summary" option for objects, object data will be split as expected where more than one order was used for an object. The order number option does not currently include secondary specifications (however, see the "Ordered Specifications List by Vendor" report on the Specification screen).

Orders List

[Enhanced] The vendor section has been modified to simplify it for most orders. The "Billing Type" is now a simple drop-down control instead of an option list, and is "display only" for project orders, since the billing type is controlled by the Project List screen setting.

[Fixed] Non-project orders did not allow the same VAT and freight tax options available for project orders. These have been added and are enabled for orders where the "Project" is set to "None." The base reports affected by this have also been modified to respond to the new options.

If you have a custom purchase order format or custom report and plan to work with non-project orders, please contact us. There is a small charge for updating custom report formats.

[Fixed] After moving to an order, the order shipping address continued to display the address from the previous order until a screen refresh was triggered by another action. This was a display bug that did not affect any printed orders or reports.

[Fixed] Under certain conditions, an error could occur if you changed the tax rate on a new order before items were added.

Order Item

[Enhanced] When editing an existing order item, you can now save your changes and move to the next item in the order, using a set of arrow keys on each side of the Save button.

If you are using the read-only View Item command on the Expediting screen, these buttons display the next or previous item in the order.

[Enhanced] The "Code" field now automatically trims excess spaces to ensure that all codes start at the left side of the field. This prevents mis-sorted reports caused by extra leading spaces.

[Fixed] If the Refresh option was used to update an order item from a revised spec and either the cost or price changed, the system did not visually update the markup (if applicable) until the item was saved.

Processing

[Fixed] When applying payments to a large number of check requests, the list of eligible requests was not positioned at the top of the list, which could be confusing.

[Fixed] The Enter/Reconcile Vendor Invoices function did not prefill the expected tax amount on non-project orders.

Invoices

[Enhanced] On for-profit (billing type 1) purchase orders, the "Vendor Balance Invoice" format now displays "Included" instead of "No Charge" for items that appear on the invoice but whose sell price is included in another invoiced item. This was to clarify the meaning of items for which no charge appears.