These general functions on the control bar include the
abilityto add, delete, query, scroll through the list of available records,
and to jump to different forms. Note: the ability to edit a record
is a general function but it does not require a special button.
Sample Screen Shot
Add a record:
Pressing the ADD button will present a blank form
to be filled out. The required data fields must be properly
entered for this to be successful. Required data for different
types of records may be different. Other data fields besides
the required ones may be entered at this time. System messages
will appear in accordance to the success or failure of the addition
of the new record. If any data is not properly entered then the
addition will fail.
View / Query a record:
Records appear in form view starting at the beginning of the database. Scrolling through the
database is accomplished by pressing the forward and back buttons located at the bottom of the
form.
The simplest way to locate a record is to query the database by providing specific search criteria's.
Any of the data fields for a record can be used as a search criteria. The search criteria (this can
include more than one criteria i.e., a name and a telephone number may be used together) is
entered into system and then it is told to search. The result will be a list of possible matches.
Edit / Delete a record:
The editing and deleting of a record can be accomplished
once the specific record is found. To then edit a record the
a person can simply change any of the data fields in the record;
no special button need to be pressed. If any data field is improperly
entered the system will not allow the user to continue. The system
will then ask whether the changes are to be saved.
Deleting a record is done by pressing on the DELETE
button. The system will then ask the user to confirm this action.
Printing a record:
Printing of a record is accomplished by pressing
the print button, and is available in all forms.
Main Menu with subsystem selection options
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Household Functions
Functions in this area allow the adding, editing,
viewing and searching of a household customer. For the data to
be properly entered each data field must meet the following requirements,
| Data Field
| Requirements
|
| First Name
| 15 or less text characters
|
| Last Name |
15 or less text characters
|
| Street Address
| 40 or less text characters
|
| City | 20 or less text characters
|
| Postal Code
| L#L #L# format of where # - is number 0-9 and L is between A-Z
|
| Telephone Number
| 3 digit area code followed by a 3 dash 4 digit number
|
| District |
This must be selected from the available choices
|
| Special delivery instructions
| 100 or less text characters
|
Add a household:
The add function follows the general add function explained earlier.
The following required data fields must be entered properly.
- first name
- last name
- street address
- city
- postal code
- telephone number
A warning will be generated if there already exists a person in
the database with the same name and telephone number and then
ask whether is the user still wants to add the new customer.
If the addition is successful then the new customer is assigned
an Account Number.
View / Query a household:
Viewing and querying of a household customer is described by the
general view / query functions. Note: the account number may also
be used as a search criteria.
Edit / Delete a household:
Editing and deleting of a household customer is described by the
general edit / delete functions. Note: a customer may not be deleted
until all amounts owing are paid; delivery may be stopped until
this time though.
Subscribe / Unsubscribe to a Newspaper:
Subscribing to a newspaper is done in the Newspaper section of
the form. The number of copies field specify the number of copies
the customer receives. To unsubscribe to the newspaper, simply
change this number to zero. Note: Changes are reflected in the
next days delivery schedule.
Subscribe / Unsubscribe to Magazines:
Subscribing to a magazines is done in the magazines section of
the form. A table is presented showing the magazines currently
subscribed to. Subscribing to a magazine requires selecting a
magazine from a drop box (this prevents users from mistyping the
magazine name) and choosing the subscription length from another
drop box. By choosing the magazine to be the none selection,
then the magazine is unsubscribed.
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Retail Functions
Functions in this area allow the adding, editing,
viewing and searching of a retail customer. For the data to be
properly entered each data field must meet the following requirements,
| Data Field
| Requirements
|
| Company Name
| 25 or less text characters
|
| Contact Name
| 20 or less text characters
|
| Street Address
| 40 or less text characters
|
| City | 20 or less text characters
|
| Postal Code
| L#L #L# format of where # - is number 0-9 and L is between A-Z
|
| Telephone Number
| 3 digit area code followed by a 3 dash 4 digit number
|
| District |
This must be selected from the available choices
|
| Special delivery instructions
| 100 or less text characters
|
Add a retail customer:
The add function follows the general add function explained earlier.
The following required data fields must be entered properly.
- company name
- street address
- city
- postal code
- telephone number
The system will return an unsuccessful message should any of the
required data fields be missing or not entered properly and prompt
the user to correct the problem. A warning will be generated
if there already exists a retail customer in the database with
the same name and telephone number. It then ask whether is the
user still wants to add the new customer. If the addition is
successful then the new customer is assigned an Account Number.
View / Query a retail customer:
Viewing and querying of a retail customer is described by the
general view / query functions. Note: the account number may also
be used as a search criteria.
Edit / Delete a retail customer:
Editing and deleting of a retail customer is described by the
general edit / delete functions. Note: a customer may not be deleted
until all amounts owing are paid; delivery may be stopped until
this time though.
Newspaper delivery:
Specifying the number of newspapers a retail outlet receives on
a daily basis is done by entering the number in the Newspaper
delivery field. This field is in the Newspaper delivery section
of the retail customer form.
Magazine delivery:
The retail customer form maintains a table of magazines that are
delivered to the retail outlet. Selecting the magazines delivered
to a retail outlet it done by the use of a drop boxes. The number
of magazines to be delivered is done by entering the number in
the accompanying field.
Daily Returns:
Periodic returns of newspapers and magazines are entered in a
column besides the newspaper and magazine delivery table. The
input for the respective product cannot exceed the amount delivered;
if it does then a error message is displayed. For example if
10 "Life on Mars" magazines are delivered then the most
that can be returned is 10.
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News Box Functions
Functions in this area allow the adding, editing,
viewing and searching of a news box . For the data to be properly
entered each data field must meet the following requirements,
| Data Field
| Requirements
|
| Street Address
| 60 or less text characters
|
| District |
This must be selected from the available choices
|
Add a news box:
The add function is described by the general add function explained
earlier. The required data field that must be properly entered
is the,
The addition of a news box will also fail if there already exist
a news box at the same address. If the addition of a news box
is successful then the a news box number is assigned.
View / Query a news box:
Viewing and querying of a news box is described by the general
view / query functions. Note: the news box number may also be
used as a search criteria.
Edit / Delete a news box:
Editing and deleting of a news box is described by the general
edit / delete functions.
Newspaper delivery:
Specifying the number of newspapers a news box receives on a daily
basis is done by entering the number in the Newspaper delivery
field. This field is in the Newspaper delivery section of the
News box form.
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Carrier Functions
Functions in this area allow the adding, editing,
viewing and searching of a carriers. For the data to be properly
entered each data field must meet the following requirements,
| Data Field
| Requirements
|
| First Name
| 15 or less text characters
|
| Last Name |
15 or less text characters
|
| Street Address
| 40 or less text characters
|
| City | 20 or less text characters
|
| Postal Code
| L#L #L# format of where # - is number 0-9 and L is between A-Z
|
| Telephone Number
| 3 digit area code followed by a 3 dash 4 digit number
|
| District |
This must be selected from the available choices
|
Add a carrier:
The add function is described by the general add function explained
earlier. The required data fields that must be properly entered
are,
- first name
- last name
- street address
- city
- postal code
- telephone
The addition of a carrier will fail if there already exist a carrier
at the same address. If the addition is successful then the
carrier is assigned a carrier number.
View / Query a carrier:
Viewing and querying of a carriers is described by the general
view / query functions. Note: the carrier number may also be used
as a search criteria.
Edit / Delete a carrier:
Editing and deleting of a carrier is described by the general
edit / delete functions.
Carrier route selection:
The selection of the carrier's route is performed in the route
selection section of the form. In this section there will be
a table containing the currently selected households on the carriers
route. Addition of a household to a carriers route is accomplished
by selecting the household from a drop box and pressing the nearby
ADD to route button. Removal is done by selecting the household
from the table and pressing the REMOVE button.
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Driver Functions
Functions in this area allow the adding, editing,
viewing and searching of a driver. For the data to be properly
entered each data field must meet the following requirements,
| Data Field
| Requirements
|
| First Name
| 15 or less text characters
|
| Last Name |
15 or less text characters
|
Add a driver:
The add function is described by the general add function explained
earlier. The required data fields that must be properly entered
are,
The addition of a driver will fail if there already exist a driver
with the same name. If the addition is successful then the driver
is assigned a driver number.
View / Query a driver:
Viewing and querying of a driver is described by the general view
/ query functions. Note: the driver number may also be used as
a search criteria.
Edit / Delete a driver:
Editing and deleting of a driver is described by the general edit
/ delete functions.
Driver route selection:
The selection of the driver's route is performed in the route
selection section of the form. This section will have two tables
containing the currently selected carriers and retail outlets
(respectively) on the carriers route. Addition of a carrier/retail
outlet to a drivers route is accomplished by selecting the desired
carrier/retail outlet from a drop box and pressing the nearby
ADD to route button. Removal is done by selecting the carrier/retail
outlet from the table and pressing the REMOVE button.
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Newspaper Functions
Functions in this area allow the editing of information
pertaining to individual newspapers. For the data to be properly
entered each data field must meet the following requirements,
| Data Field
| Requirements
|
| Retailers Price
| Dollar amount (ie. $0.75)
|
| Household Price
| Dollar amount (ie. $1.00)
|
Editing of prices:
Editing of retailer and household prices is simply done by overwriting
the price in the respective fields.
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Magazine Functions
Functions in this area allow the adding, editing,
viewing and searching of magazines. For the data to be properly
entered each data field must meet the following requirements,
| Data Field
| Requirements
|
| Magazine Name
| 15 or less text characters
|
| Publisher Name
| 15 or less text characters
|
| Frequency of Delivery
| A choice of weekly, biweekly and monthly
|
| Individual Retailers Price
| Dollar amount
|
| Subscription Price (1/4 year)
| Dollar amount
|
| Subscription Price (1/2 year)
| Dollar amount
|
| Subscription Price (1 year)
| Dollar amount
|
| Subscription Price (2 year)
| Dollar amount
|
Add a magazine:
The add function is described by the general add function explained
earlier. The required data fields include all the above. The
addition of a magazine will fail if there already exist a magazine
with the same name. If the addition is successful then the driver
is assigned a product number.
View / Query a magazine:
Viewing and querying of a magazine is described by the general
view / query functions. Note: the product number may also be used
as a search criteria.
Edit / Delete a magazine:
Editing and deleting of a driver is described by the general edit
/ delete functions.
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Delivery Scheduling Lists
The generation of delivery related lists
by the PDS are accessed via buttons in the PDS menu. Available lists
are displayed as buttons with accompanying descriptions. By pressing
on the desired button the list is generated. From there a user may
press to print a hard copy by pressing the print button.
Available Reports:
Truck packing lists - generates packing instructions for each truck showing the amounts of each product to be loaded into the truck .
Individual carrier delivery lists - generates a delivery list for each carrier.
Individual driver delivery lists - generates a delivery list for each delivery driver.
Sample Carrier List
Sample Driver List
Sample Packing List
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