There are some new options and 1 change.

 

F1 – Press this function key to see the manual popup to the page which desribes the screen you are working on, and gives you specific information on how to do the tasks presented.

F2 – This is where you can write your own Help notes for your business.  It is also specific to the screen on which you are working.  Your notes will be saved, and displayed, system wide to computers using ASW on your local network.

F3 – Windows 11 has a new AI help feature called CoPilot.  If it is installed in your computer ( requires Windows 11 version 23H2 or above ), then you will see a popup where you can write a question ( ie. What is the weather, what is the partnumber for a 2020 Honda Pilot oil filter, etc ).  Windows will then open up the copilot screen on the right and show you the answer ( if Windows is able to do so ).

F4 – CHANGE – For calculating prices on parts, you used to use the F2 key.  We now ask that you use the F4 key instead.

F10 – This is for a general popup calculator.

 

REMEMBER – Your function keys also serve as “media keys”.  If you press the F1 – F10 keys and don’t get the ASW popups described above, look for a key that says Fn.  Press it once to switch to function keys.  Then try again.

The current version of Auto Shop Writer is 12.34.21.

During this year we’ve done so much … significantly enhanced the printouts, modernizing them, added word processing features for some sections of the program ( like disclaimer text on the invoices ), added direct texting capabilities, and modernized our fully integrated credit card processing integration.  Plus we’ve enhanced our automated emails, and added new reports.  We’ve even added new Excel spreadsheet output.  

And here are a few things you may not know about, or remember:

For around 40 years, we use “context sensitive help”.  That means, whenever you press the F1 key, you will see the manual open in a pop up to the exact page that references the screen you are looking at.  Since the manual has been fully maintained, and updated, right up to the current version, that means the displayed help  field is accurately discussing the data with which you are working.  If this doesn’t work for you, look for the Fn key, press it, then try again.  Your hotkeys may be in “media mode”, and you need to toggle back to “function key” mode.

And now, here is something we just added:

If you press the F2 key, a different box pops up.  This is for your personal business help.  It has full word processing, so you can emphasize words, underline, etc.  This is your place to add specific instructions on various pages relating to how you use, or want to use, the program.  It’s great for keeping notes, codes, or even your own step by step instructions for new users.  No longer will you search through a notebook, or look for notes you “filed in a safe place” that somehow disappeared.  Each popup is tagged to the screen you are focused on, so it will be very simple to use.  The help is system wide, so what you enter will be available on all shop computers.

A word about the “dictionary”:

Some people ( but not all ) have reported a problem with the dictionary not modifying the content in the field it is checking, although it seems to be working.  It’s not “saving” the result.  In some cases, it works when the program starts, and then fails later in the day.  We understand this is annoying, but we have been unable to reproduce it here, so all of our efforts are “trials”.  What is happening is that something in the affected computers is just not writing the memory back to disk fast enough.  Perhaps people are using some type of non-microsoft security software that is blocking it, or memory is just not refreshing fast enough.  We keep trying tricks.  Version 12.34.21 has the latest methods in place.  As you know, when you can’t make something fail, it’s very hard to address the client’s concerns.  

If you are encountering this problem, it would be helpful if you can provide some information on the computer where it is happening, and the server.  We would like to know the Windows versions on the machines, and the memory on them.  If you have anything other than the built in Windows Security installed, please add what it is.  Are you using ethernet or wifi to connect your computer to the server ?  What are you using for a server ?  We know this may be a lot, but we need to isolate on what type of system this is occurring.  Thanks for your contribution.

Carfax not working ?

Due to security enhancements, Carfax updated their server, and we made changes to our “auto updater” for MLS 12.  Prior versions ( ASW 10 and 11 ) will no longer work with Carfax, but of course subscribers get 12 for FREE … in case you still haven’t upgraded.  The problem is that many have still not called us to install the current auto updater, nor have they done it themselves.  Thus they no longer have Carfax services.  If this has happened to you, 1) you need to have us put on the new auto updater, and 2) you will need to reach out to your Carfax rep to be sure they re-activate your FREE account.  You DO NOT have to exit the program on any machines, and the whole process to call us and have us do the update will take less than 10 minutes.  We just need access to your server.

 

There are so many other features in MLS 12 ( Auto Shop Writer 12 ) that will save you time, and money.  If you have a specific concern, please reach out to us and we would love to help you get the most out of using the program.  We are so often asked “can you do this in ASW?” and the answer almost always is “Yes, that has been available for a very long time.  Let me show you how to do it.”  If it’s not available, we’ll make notes on it, and you may well see it implemented in a very short period of time as you receive updates.

Thanks for using our software.  We do appreciate your business.