APPX Financials 5 Release Notes

Release 5.0.0

December 8, 2004

 

These notes assume that you have a working knowledge of APPX and know how to install APPX applications.

Major New Features:

  1. All menu, inquiry, and input processes have been redesigned to provide a Graphical User Interface (GUI) using a larger screen display of 28 rows and 110 columns. The screens are designed for 17" or larger monitors running at a resolution of 1024x768 or higher. If a smaller screen or a lower resolution is used, adjustments to the start-up font size or screen aspect ratio for the Appx Client may be advisable or necessary for best appearance.
  2. All reports will now print in PDF format. Dispositions are set to default to the PDF format, although the text versions have been retained. Plain text versions will print simply by removing the PDF format specification from the disposition screen.
  3. Several special forms have been designed to print as PDF documents, replacing the pre-printed forms. The forms include A/R Invoices, A/R Statements, I/C Request For Supplier Quote. O/E Invoices, O/E Sales Orders, O/E Shipping Papers, P/O Purchase Orders, and P/O Requests For Quote. Text and pre-printed NEBS formats remain available.
  4. Frequenly run processes are now added to the toolbar of each screen so they may be selected and run at any time by clicking an icon.

Applications:

The APPX Financial application suite consists of the following 13 applications:

 

ID Description
TSY System Application
TAP Accounts Payable
TAR Accounts Receivable
TBA Budget Analysis
TCA Commission Accounting
TFA Fixed Assets
TGL General Ledger
TGS General Subsidiary
TIC Inventory Control
TOE Order Entry
TPA Payroll
TPO Purchase Order Control
TSA Sales Analysis

 

APPX and GUI Client Requirements:

The APPX Financial applications have been designed as GUI applications and, as such, require the latest release of both APPX and the GUI Client. These applications are GUI only and cannot be run with character mode clients or with the Win32 client. The applications will not function correctly if run with releases prior to APPX 4.2.5 and the corresponding GUI client.

Installation Steps:

The following steps must be performed to install the APPX Financials:

  1. Download the APPX Financial Applications
  2. Unzip and untar the downloaded file into the appropriate directory
  3. Set file ownership and permissions for the design files
  4. Set environment variables in the appx.env file
  5. Run APPX and complete the necessary setup steps in System Administration.

Step 1: Download the APPX Financial Applications

The APPX Financial applications can be downloaded from the download page on the APPX web site or from the APPX ftp site. There are two different download files to choose from depending on the byte ordering of the hardware on which APPX and the APPX Financial applications are to be run on. Download the appropriate install file for your APPX platform from:

ftp://ftp.appx.com/appx/products/financials/graphical/v5

http://www.appx.com/?q=financials-download

AF-R500-Design-04-Intel.tgz:
  • Linux (Intel)
  • Windows® (Windows 98®, Windows NT®, Windows 2000®, Windows XP®)
AF-R500-Design-04-Risc.tgz:
  • IBM RS/6000 (AIX)
  • HP (both PA-Risc and Itanium)
  • SUN Solaris

Step 2: Unzip and untar the APPX Financial Applications

Unzip and untar the design files into your APPX application directory. The commands to do this will vary depending on platform. On Windows, you can use the WinZip utility. On Linux and Unix, you can use commands to do this. This step will create a subdirectory tree named “04”. If you prefer that the applications be installed using a different APPX Version code, you may rename this directory to the desired two-character code or you may copy the contents of the “04” directory into another existing APPX “Version” directory after installing the design files.

Linux Example:

The following example assumes that you have downloaded the distribution file into your $APPXPATH directory and that you are logged on as root user. The example assumes that $APPXPATH is /usr/appx/data and that this directory is owned by user “appx”.

  • Log on as root user
  • Unzip and untar the APPX Finanacial applications
cd /usr/appx/data
tar -zxvf AF-R500-Design-04-Intel.tgz

Step 3: Set File Ownership and Permissions

Important: The subdirectory tree containing the APPX Financial applications design files must be owned by the same user that owns the “appx” executable program and must be readable and writeable.

Linux Example:

The following example assumes that user “appx” is the owner of the APPX executable file.

cd /usr/appx/data
chown -R appx 04
chmod -R 755 04

Step 4: Set Environment Variables

The APPX Financial applications store both the century and the year in all date fields within files. However, most data entry screens only prompt for the 2-digit year in date fields. APPX will automatically store the current century in the century portion of a date field. However, in some cases, the current century may not be the desired century. This could definitely be the case during intial setup of an application if you are entering historical data with dates of 19xx. APPX can use “pivot year” logic to determine the correct century when entering dates. The easiest way to activate the pivot year logic is to set the APPX_PIVOT_YEAR environment variable in the appx.env file. Refer to the APPX System Administration Manual for additional information regarding this feature.

Example of entry in “appx.env” file:

APPX_PIVOT_YEAR=50


Step 5: Setup Steps within APPX System Administration

a) Import/Enter License Key

b) Define Date Display Mask

c) Define Applications

d) Define Database & Related Applications

e) Update System Directory

f) Import/Enter Print Disposition Definitions

g) Import/Enter Forms

h) Set Up Language Entry

Step 5-a: Import/Enter License Key

The APPX Financial applications cannot be run or designed without first installing a license key with the appropriate product lock codes. You must either import or enter the required product lock codes before you will be able to run or design the APPX Financial Applications. The product lock codes for the applications are as follows:

 

Runtime Locks: Description
  System Application
APX GAP Accounts Payable
APX GAR Accounts Receivable
APX GBA Budget Analysis
APX GCA Commission Accounting
APX GFA Fixed Assets
APX GGL General Ledger
APX GGS General Subsidiary
APX GIC Inventory Control
APX GOE Order Entry
APX GPA Payroll
APX GPO

Purchase Order Control

APX GSA Sales Analysis
Special Locks:  
APX GAD Application Design
APX GDB Debug
APX GXI Transfer In

 

Step 5-b: Define Date Display Mask

The input and output processes have been formatted using the following 20-character, date display mask:

06/05/07 04:03 02.01

You may define any date display mask that you desire, but, if it is longer than 20 characters, item overlaps will occur on some input screens and on some reports.

The desired date display mask can be entered in the System Parameter record or in each of the Application records.

Step 5-c: Define Applications

You must define each application that you intend to run in the APPX Application file. A record must be entered for each of the following applications for the version that you intend to run.

 

ID Application Description
TSY System Application
TAP Accounts Payable
TAR Accounts Receivable
TBA Budget Analysis
TCA Commission Accounting
TFA Fixed Assets
TGL General Ledger
TGS General Subsidiary
TIC Inventory Control
TOE Order Entry
TPA Payroll
TPO Purchase Order Control
TSA Sales Analysis

 

Step 5-d: Define Database & Related Applications

You must define the Database ID of the database for which you intend to create data files for the various applications. Alternatively, you may use an existing Database. You must also define each of the APPX Financial applications that you intend to run as a Related Application for this database. (Note: if you're going to use the sample data, be sure to create Database T04 - second character is the number zero, not the letter O - and all related applications for it.)

Step 5-e: Update System Directory

You must run the Update SYSDIR process on the System Administration File Management menu.

Step 5-f: Import/Enter Print Disposition Definitions

The APPX Financial Applications require the definition of a specific set of printer Disposition Definitions for proper operations. A file, suitable for importing, containing these Disposition Definitions is included with the applications. This file must be imported into APPX System Administration Disposition Definition file.

 

The following navigation steps can be used to import the Disposition Definitions:

  • System Administration
    • System Setup
      • System Administration File Management
        • File Selection
          • Select only the DISPDEF file
        • Import Files
          • Specify "1" = Merge

Alternatively, you may enter each of the following required Disposition Definitions:

 

ID Disposition Name
  ONE-UP LABELS
  ONE-UP ROLODEX CARDS
  STANDARD JOURNAL
  STANDARD LIST
  STANDARD POST
  STANDARD PROCESS
  STANDARD REPORT
TAP 1099 FORMS
TAP A/P CHECKS
TAP DUNNING LETTERS
TAR INVOICES
TAR STATEMENTS
TCA 1099 FORMS
TIC REQUEST FOR SUPPLIER QUOTE
TOE BILL OF LADING
TOE INVOICES
TOE PICKING LIST
TOE SALES ORDERS
TOE SHIPPING PAPERS
TPA PAYROLL CHECKS
TPA W-2 FORMS
TPO PURCHASE ORDERS
TPO REQUEST FOR QUOTE

 

Please contact your APPX reseller or APPX technical support if you need assistance setting up a disposition definition.

Step 5-g: Define Forms

The Appx Financials have several forms and reports that create output as PDF forms. These require specific forms that must be set up in the Configuration section of System Administration. A file is included to import these form definitions or the forms may be entered manually.

 

The following navigation steps can be used to import the Form Definitions:

  • System Administration
    • System Setup
      • System Administration File Management
        • File Selection
          • Select only the FORM file
        • Import Files
          • Specify "1" = Merge

Alternatively, you may enter each of the following required Forms:

AP-CHECK12
FORM12
PDF-6L10
PDF-6L12
PDF-6L132
PDF-6L16.5
PDF-6P10
PDF-6P12
PDF-6P16.5
PDF-8L132
PDF-8L16.5
PDF-8P16.5
PDF-PFORM
TDI
TDO

Please contact your APPX reseller or APPX technical support if you need assistance setting up a form definition.

The APPX Financials are also designed to print some special forms such as invoices and checks on preprinted, cut sheets suitable for use in laser printers or ink jet printers. The applications have been designed to print on standard forms that can be ordered with your company logo preprinted from NEBS (www.nebs.com). The special forms for the applications have all been designed to print with a portrait orientation on 8½” x 11” paper at 12 pitch, 6 lines per inch using a fixed space font such as Courier.

To use these pre-printed forms at least one Form record should be defined in the APPX form file as follows:

Form ID   Form Description                     Length     Width
FORM12    8-1/2 x 11 Portrait 12-cpi 6-lpi       66         96
Feed pages before:       0
Feed pages after:        0

The “Form Control” parameters for an APPX Form vary depending on your printer spooling system and your defined printers. For assistance with defining an appropriate printer and corresponding form, please contact APPX tech support.

Samples of the various cut-sheet, preprinted forms can be ordered (for free) from NEBS.

The NEBS form numbers are as follows:

 

TAP 13793T-1 A/P Check
TAR 13054-3 Invoice
  13155 or 13155T-1 Statement
TOE 13432-1 Sales Order, Back Order
  13206-1 Shipping Papers
  13343-3 Invoice
  13650-3 Straight Bill of Lading – 3 part (requires impact printer)
TPA 13795T-1 Payroll Check
TPO 13132-1 Purchase Order

 

The contact person at NEBS for ordering forms is:

Sharon Montoya, phone (800) 233-6327, e-mail smontoya@nebs.com

Step 5-h: Set Up Language Record

The Appx Financial applications are designed to be translatable into any language desired. In order to accomplish this, an entry into the Language file must be added for the application's default language, English.

The following steps can be used to add the language record:
 
  • System Administration
    • Language Translation
      • Languages

At this screen select Add Mode and enter the language ID of ENG and a description of English (US), then press Enter. Enter the letters A-Z in the Upper Case field and a-z in the Lower Case field. Enter the characters .!? in the Sentence Terminators field and ,:; in the Clause Terminators field. Press Enter to save.

 

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