We had to make another change to the Auto Updater for modifications on the CARFAX server. The new version should have been uploaded to your server. Here is how to install it. DO THIS ONLY ON THE SERVER.

1). On the server, on the lower right corner of your monitor, on the task bar, you will see the little island icon for the Auto Updater. If you don’t see it, click on the ^ symbol and it should be on the pop up box.

 

2). Right click on the icon and then click on the last menu item to Close the Updater.

3). Bring up the Windows Explorer. This is usually shown along the bottom of the screen ( a folder icon ), and clicking on it will open it up. If you don’t see the icon, then point to the lower left corner of the screen, highlighting the Windows icon, and right click, and select the menu item for the Explorer.

4). With this open, look for the ASW10s folder. It is usually on the C: drive, but perhaps you have a virtual network drive. In that folder, you will see an MLS folder. Click on that. On the right side of the Explorer will be a list of files. Look for the MLS10aus.exe which should be dated 3/17/21. Right click on it and select COPY.

5). Now, go back and click on the ASW10s root folder. With it highlighted, right click the mouse and select PASTE. It will ask if you wish to overwrite the existing file. Say YES.

6). Now look in the ASW10s folder to see the new MLS10aus.exe file. Double click on it to re-start the auto updater.

7). That’s all it takes … a basic Windows Copy. & Paste. If you have problems, call in and we can do it in just a couple of minutes. YOU DO NOT NEED TO HAVE EVERYONE OUT OF THEIR COMPUTER OR INTERUPT YOUR WORK.

Meanwhile, did you know that VIN decoding is done on-line with CARFAX to get the latest data ? When you Add a new vehicle, that is how it’s done. In the “old days” we had a database of vehicles and a parser that did it on your computer but it was hard to keep the data current. If you use the little maginfying class in the field next to the VIN number on the Vehicle screen, it stilluses that. We are in the process of updating that file, but CARFAX does not have it readily available since they switched to the online capability.

 

We did add a new option for those who 1) use something other than a valid license plate in the vehicle record, or 2). Those who have the VIN but not the data broken out. On the button bar of the Vehicle screen, there is a license plate. If you click on that, and have a valid license and state, it will get the VIN and all the decoded data. It shows a popup box with the current license, state, and vin fields. However, NOW we added a prompt asking if you wish to use only the VIN. If you say yes because you don’t have a valid plate, it will go online and get you the proper information for all the relevant fields on that vehicle.

 

Once we receive the newest data feed we will also re-construct the other data file and tell you how to load it.

 

Many years back, we were asked to create an interface between Auto Shop Writer and Quickbooks. Most people were very satisfied with the fully integrated accounting already provided within ASW, but their accountants wanted them to put data in QB ( because then they eliminated their own work for entering data to maintain their books. To oblige, we did the work and built the interface.

 

While many shop management systems use Quickbooks, they require the company to run an export utility from their software, and then it must be imported into QB. We used the software guidelines from Intuit ( the makers of Quickbooks ) and actually write directly to their files. This occurs whenever a workorder is closed.

Recently we decided to update that interface to be sure it works with the desktop version of QB 2021 ( and before ). Stage 1 was to update the current software which outputs workorder and client information. That is completed and is in the 3/9/21 update. If you have the interface already functional, it should be working transparently.

 

Stage 2 will be to incorporate the Inventory financial data into Quickbooks. Thus when you use stock input, and process the charge in ASW, it will add that to QB ( and the vendor data if it does not exist ). QB does not have a true inventory program. It has minimal data on “items”. However, for accounting purposes, Vendors can be tracked. There are other areas in ASW that also post to Accounts Payables, and these will be integrated also.

 

Stage 3 will evaluate payroll data posting, and transfer appropriate information to Quickbooks. This is an additional service from Intuit that shops may, or may not, use.

Our final Stage will be to provide complete training. We will be doing this with an upgrade to documentation ( the manual ), and a video tutorial on setup steps.

 

TO BE CLEAR, Quickbooks works IN ADDITION TO our built in accounting. So if you are using ASW accounting, nothing changes for you. It is NOT an either / or situation. QB posting is in addition to our existing, fully integrated, accounting.

 

ZOOM CLASSES ANYONE ?

We constantly receive questions asking if features exist in Auto Shop Writer, and usually they have been part of the program for many years. We have information in the manuals, and the bulletins, and even a group of videos. Unfortunately, most people don’t go through those resources.

 

So …. we’ve thought about offering Zoom sessions to go over the program. They are interactive which means you can ask questions and we can do deep dives into topics.

The main problem with Zoom is that if we simply post links, then we get unwanted visitors who want to share a lot of trash talk, or their favorite obscene pose. So we will send out email invites 24 hours before each session with a link to allow interested people to join.

 

If you are interested in these sessions, please send an email to timstone@masterlinksoftware.com and answer the following questions:

1). Provide your BEST email address for the mailing list. ONLY Zoom sessions will be sent to you.

2). What is the best time for you to attend these sessions ( and be sure to include your time zone )

3). What topics would you like covered.

4). How much time would you like to see devoted to each session ?

 

We’ll use that email address to send you a list of courses, based on the input we receive, and then send you links to access them>

 

These sessions can be repeated, and the cost if full covered under the DPP subscriptions.