The Auto Shop Writer provides a set of pre-programmed reports that may be utilized for understanding the activity, earnings, and performance of the shop. These reports are detailed in the paragraphs that follow, with information regarding their interpretation.
Report Overview
It must be accepted that information exists within the system that is of interest to some shops, but not all. Managers may have their own interests regarding the facts they wish to see displayed on a report. For this reason, The Auto Shop Writer system provides a file system compatible with custom report, and label, generators ( ie. Crystal Reports ) that can be used to develop a wide range of special printouts which deal with the needs of the individual manager.
These reports can be saved, and run whenever desired. The preprogrammed reports provide all of the essential information regarding the overall operation of The Auto Shop Writer system, and the business it manages. Specific information on clients, inventory, and glossaries are reported.
Most of these reports are date oriented. On some, other pertinent data is requested. Once the report is selected, the necessary information is requested in a popup window. When the information is entered, and the OK button is pressed, then the system will prompt for information on how the printing is to be handled.
The Reports
Reports are included in their specific processing areas, ie. Workorders, Inventory, Clients, etc. The printer icon will show on the available options in the main processing window for the designated functionality, and when pressed, there will be a dropdown list of the available reports. Expanded descriptions of each one will show on the message bar at the bottom of the ASW window, appearing when you move the mouse cursor over the title. Simply click on the desired report to start it. Descriptions of the main report categories appear in the following sections.
Printer Selection Options Window
You have numerous options when selecting the type of printout, and how it is to be processed. They are displayed in a popup window, and should be handled as follows:
• Default / Alternate Printer - The Default printer radio button is highlighted, and if you leave that option, your output will go to the printer which has been set up in windows as the default for your machine. If you wish to send a fax, direct the output to a different printer, or change the number of copies, select the Alternate Printer option.
• View - Select this button if you wish to preview the printout on screen first. You can print from the preview display.
• Print - Select this button to immediately send the information to the printer
• Cancel - Select this button to abort the printout process immediately.
Emailing a report
If you have the email system setup, than anything which can be printed can also be saved as a PDF and attached automatically to an email. This is especially useful when clients would like a copy of an older invoice. To email, run the report, but select the option to View. When displayed, select the @ option on the top bar to begin an email. Fill in the address for the receiver, add a subject line, and any notes you wish to convey. When you select Send, the system will create a PDF document of the report and attach it to the outgoing email.
Faxing a Printout
You may send any printout to a FAX rather than a printer. First, you must have FAX software installed in your computer. When given the Printer Selection Options window, select the Alternate Printer option. Then you will be shown the print setup window. You can select the FAX device from the list of installed printers. Your computer will then activate the FAX software and ask for the number, and any other information you wish to provide. Windows will then take over sending the data to the FAX modem rather than the printer.
If your FAX does not go through, it will be saved in the FAX software and can be resent through that programs control panel.
Printing Multiple Copies
You can print multiple copies of any document by selecting the Alternate Printer option. Windows will then provide the Printer selection window. Select the total number of copies you wish to print and the system will handle your task.
The system will then print the report.
Aborting a printout
To abort a report while printing, hold down the ESC key for several seconds. The system will check for the interruption request each time it makes a loop in processing a line of data.
Although this key should cause the report to clear, and to return the operator to the main menu, current computers are so fast that the data has already been passed to the memory in the printer by the time the ESC key is pressed. In such cases it would be necessary to turn off the power to the printer, and then turn it back on, to stop the printing.