Mechanic Net

Mechanic Net is an independent processor of follow up communications with a shop's clients.  The utility actually creates special files of service data, when a workorder is closed.  Mechanic Net has its own timers that are installed on your system and which will transmit those files to their servers for processing.

There are two sets of data included in a Mechanic Net transmission.  The first is information about a workorder, used to send service reminders to your clients.  This includes the client and service information on the workorder.

The second set of data is financial.  This is option and not needed for customer followup.  Mechanic Net collects the itemized information on the parts used, and labor performed, on each workorder, including the cost and charge for every item.  How this information is used by the company is a discussion you may wish to have, and is probably a part of the contract agreement you sign with them for their services.

The setup screen allows you to turn on Mechanic Net data file creation.  This means every workorder, when closed, will be added to a special file for Mechanic Net.  Auto Shop Writer only creates the files, but does not send them.  The second box also adds the financial data to the records being sent.  Not checking this box will send only the basic customer follow up data.  The choice is yours, and is set in this utility.

CAUTION:  Previously we discovered that Mechanic Net built their own utility to access Auto Shop Writer data files directly and extract data.  This was done without consultation with MasterLink Software, and against our expressed wishes.  It is important that you, the licensee of Auto Shop Writer, understand that any 3rd party programming accessing, and possibly manipulating, data within our data files will likely corrupt the system and make any data unreliable.  Since 1982 we have made it clear that any 3rd party product should only access copies of our files located in a separate directory.  The data is yours, and you have every right to share it.  However, if the files are corrupted by a 3rd party product, you are in great risk of incurring a large expense to repair the problem.