In last month's issue, we walked you through the basic development of a report. Everything we do from here on adds a level of proficiency or presentation of that report. To make the report look more presentable, there are several places that can be configured.

[H]eadings may be added to the report: From the "Report level" screen, press [H] for headings. Here you may add a title, page breaks, and the pitch needed to fit it on one page.

On the "Report Level" screen in the lower right corner, the report lists the total width of the report as you have selected the fields.

"Report width" Press [F1] to view the help screen listing each of the pitches available. Enter the applicable width. If the report is too wide, you have three choices. All three must be done from the [P]rint fields screens. From the "Report level" screen, press [P] for the print fields.

1) Delete some print fields. Highlight the ones to delete and press [Delete] on each one.

2) Shorten the print fields. Highlight any field you think you could reduce part of the information it will print, such as; name, de- scription, address, etc. The fields are much longer than is usually needed in a report.

Arrow to the "Number of characters to print from this field" and change it to the desired length.

3) Issue a new newline making the report a two-line report. Highlight the field that you want the report line to break on. Arrow down to "Do you want to issue a newline after this field" and answer [Y]es.

"Do Pagination" Do you want the report to add page numbers send form feeds after each page?

"Issue newline after each line" Do you want an newline at the end of each line of the report level? Typically, yes.

Single stores:
Main Menu
Configuration and utilities [Enter]
Database management utilities [Enter]
Reorganize/autocreate databases [Enter]
Press [Home] to select all databases
Press [F10] to begin

Multi-stores:
In the primary data area only
Main Menu
Other options [Enter]
System command prompt [Enter]
Type in: dbfreorg all

In the other data areas
Main Menu
Other options [Enter]
System command prompt [Enter]
Type in: dbfreorg local

Heading lines:

On the balance of the blank lines, you may enter the title of the report as you wish to see it. If you wish to leave a blank line before the title, do so here also. If you would like a blank line after the title, enter the line, press the [Spacebar] once and press [Enter].The system will remember the [Space] and save it. Variables may also be placed on these lines to have the system generate the test, such as;

%CurrentDir

This tells the system to type in the path in which the report was run from.

W-2 FORMS: W-2's should already have been ordered. If you still do not have yours, call today. W-2's are run from the "Yearend" area, at your convenience.

BENEFIT DOLLARS: If benefit dollars must be added to the payroll for W-2 purposes, these are simply added to the payroll maintenance screen for each employee. Add to the"Other income" field, as needed. These will then reflect on the W-2, but not in the G/L. Make sure you update the following fields also, as applicable:

MISCELLANEOUS 1099'S Miscellaneous 1099's are supported, as indicative of our industry. Dividend, interest, etc. 1099's if needed, will have to typed manually. 1099 forms are available from the Advantage Forms depart-ment, at extension 246, 204 or 215.

IMIGING IS READY TO INSTALL!

After signficant progress in the last few months, the "Imigit" software is now fully integrated with the Advantage System and ready to install.

Your first exposure to this ground-breaking technology will be in the form of our new statement format. Although we do not have you here to sign your invoices, we have signed them to show you how this would look for you and your customer. The stored images print very quickly on laser printers and in our testing cut down the printing process time.

• Save copies of the actual checks written to your vendors or received from your customers! Within the Advantage software program you simply click on the image number and the image will appear on your screen.

• No more looking, waiting or digging for the document you need. Imagine being able to go to the voucher and view all of the supporting documentation with one click clear down to the check.

• "Let me just pull that materials list up you gave me and let's look at what you asked for".

• It won't be misplaced from now on. Right at your fingertips, while in POS, you can pop that image to the screen.

• Appearing, disappearing and reappearing in Advantage stores everywhere! The internally integrated imiging features are now available! If you are looking for time and labor savings this year, this will be it!

• Right from the voucher screen you can pull up the tax report you sent off with that check.

• You will be able to look it all up through the G/L detail, too. "What was one that invoice, anyway?" Click on the image number and you will be able to see it! "Where did this come from?" Click and see!

• Don't file those originals anymore, let Imigit do it for you. You don't even have to sort them at the end of the month to send out with statements. Imigit will do that too, while it is printing! Want to reprint an invoice or statement- Imigit!

PAYROLL TAX TABLES

Please update them prior to the first payroll of the year.

Database customers: The enclosed disk contains your payroll tax table update. To put in place, load the disk. At the # sign, type in

cd$kdir[Enter]
tar xv6*.* [Enter]

dbcompil prckentr.app prw2form.rpt prw2disk.rpt [Enter]

(Check to make sure the light is on for the floppy drive, after pressing [Enter]. If not, try substituting the 6 for a 7.)

In addition, the fica and medicare rates must be updated.
Payroll menu [Enter]
Maintenance procedures [Enter]
Configure company information for payroll [Enter]
Screen 1

Basic customers: The enclosed insert has your tax tables listed. They must manually entered prior to the first payroll of the new year.

DON'T FORGET TO KEEP THE YEAREND BACKUP TAPE

Backup tapes from the last day of the year should be kept off-site in a dry, safe place. Keep the end-of-day tape and the end-of-month history tape. If you close your A/R earlier in the month, keep that the end-of-day tape from that date also in your permanent archives.

From the President's Desk: The First Year In Review

New developments this last year include:

• Completely integrated Imaging package

• Completely integrated Rental package

• Upgraded versions of industry EDI communication

• Computers with more power and capacity than could even be imagined five years ago.

As we forge ahead to the year 2000, we see the complexion of your industry changing as well as our own. There continues to be consolidation in the building materials industry and companies carving out their individual niches and offering a level of service designed to overshadow the "perceived" low price image that the "big box" stores offer. We have also seen a change in the companies that we compete with and find ourselves with very few national competitors through either mergers or sellouts. These changes and the effect they will have on their customers will undoubtedly bring an increased flow of new business for Advantage, which will result in additional software features and continued growth within our company to better serve your needs in the years to come.

The first year for the new management team is under our belt and we are "chomping at the bit" just thinking about 1998. We believe that we are poised for the biggest year in the history of our company and are counting the days until it get here. Thank you for your support because we realize that without you as our customer we would not be here today.

This year has been one of significant change both for myself and Advantage. Change of course rarely comes without a little pain and I'm happy to say that I think that we are now in a good position to take on the challenges and opportunities of the years ahead. I would like to extend our appreciation to the loyal customers who have been very patient with us during our times of transition.

I have now had the opportunity to meet a few of our customers and as we go into 1998 I hope that I will be able to meet many more of you. The first few months of the year will be hectic with trade shows around the country. Please take the time to stop by our booth at any of the shows just to introduce yourselves and say hello.

Let me take this opportunity to wish you all a very merry Christmas and a bright and prosperous new year.