ALERE Logo

User eNotes - October 2019
Presidents Comments
Rod Hatcher
It is Fall in Pennsylvania and the leaves have mostly turned and started to drop. ALERE v15.0 has shipped and Development has turned their attention to v16.0. We are working through the new features for this release, and if you have requests, now would be a good time to make them known to us.

One of the items on our list is a major rewrite of the HTML manual. The scope of ALERE has increased significantly over the last few years with the introduction of new product and hundreds of new features. Adding that much material to an already large manual means there are going to be mistakes and oversights that accumulate. A thorough review is called for along with enhancing the structure and depth of the manual. That job is well under way and is expected to be completed soon.

When it is done the HTML manual will be placed on the Downloads page of the website so that you may easily update your copy.
Creating Credit Memos from Invoices
Would you like to link a credit memo to a serial numbered item being returned from the invoice used to purchase it? Stay calm and follow these instructions.

The first step is finding the invoice containing the serialized item. It can be found by using the “Invoice by Serial No” option that Fetch offers. Of course if the invoice is known, simply navigate to the Sales Module and go to the invoice.

Choose the Add button when the invoice is displayed and on the New Order screen that is displayed, select the “Credit Memo” radio button option and the “Create Return Line From AR Invoice” check box.

The invoice ID is automatically entered along with today’s date. Selecting the Continue button will display the Line Item Selection screen.

Here line items that are being returned can be chosen. Tap the Continue button once the serialized item (s) and quantity have been specified.

Next the Serial/Lot/Trait Selection screen is displayed. The purpose of this screen is to specify the serial numbers (s) that are being returned. When done, select the Continue button once again.

A credit memo is created and the information gathered is passed to it. The line(s) on the order are marked as “Return”. After accepting the credit memo the serialized item(s) are marked to be received in inventory. When they are, the credit memo can be released.

This process ensures that only legitimate serialized items are returned to a company and provides complete traceability.
Browser Statistics
Browsers in ALERE are ubiquitous. The Get button on a screen will display them. Double clicking in a field will often call up a browser. When Fetch has multiple search results a browser is displayed. The purpose of a browser is to search for information and display the results. In a way, every browser can be used as a report writer, by sending those results to an Excel spreadsheet.

Sometimes you might just want to find out how many records are in a file and the number of the search results.
Work Order Revision Screen
Finding that information is easily accomplished by right clicking on the browser graphic. That displays the Browser Information screen which contains the total number of records and the number of records as a result of any filtering that is done. Browser statistics in a snap!
Warning to Reorder Checks
Running out of checks at an unexpected moment can put a real crimp in your day. ALERE helps avoid this with a check reorder reminder when a particular check number is used before reaching the last check in the box.

On the Checking Accounts screen, which can be found by going to Manager > Bank Actions > Checking Accounts , the Reorder Check field provides the trigger.
Managing Prospect Quotes
When the check number in this field is reached a warning will be displayed whenever checks exceeding it are printed from the AP Cash Payments screen or from the Mass Payments screen.

To estimate the check numbers to use as a warning, find out how many days or weeks it takes to reorder and receive new check stock. Then figure out how many checks you use per day or week on average. Use that information to calculate how many checks you will use while you are waiting for the check order. Add a cushion to allow for problems.

Then subtract that number of checks from the last check number in your existing check stock. That will be the number that is entered in the field.

As an example, the order time is two weeks and 50 checks are used per week. So 2 times 50 equals 100, plus 25 for cushion, comes to 125. Since the last check number is 5999 subtract 125 to get 5874. Enter 5874 as the trigger for the low check warning.

Let ALERE make your day a little easier.
Technical Seminars - Your Source of Training
business_people5.jpg
TIW's next Technical Seminars in Easton, PA will be held in January.

The Manufacturing Seminar will be held January 27th and 28th.

The Accounting Seminar will be held January 29th through January 31st.

Invest in yourself and keep your knowledge of ALERE up to date!

Make your reservations now at Technical Seminar Reservations or by calling Chris at 610-258-5161 x105. Current users on SMAs have certificates that entitle them to a free seat in a seminar.

Send employees to recurring training to educate them on how to use the new features in a just released version. Use it as comprehensive training for new additions to your staff to familiarize them with the capabilities of ALERE. Don't let that free seminar seat go to waste!
TIW Technology, Inc. | Phone: 610.258.5161 | Fax: 610.258.6217