FrontAccounting forum — Long List of Customers

Re: Long List of Customers

2012-09-30T07:56:47Z

@ed10
Regarding main issue (focus on the only found item) - yes, list selector behaviour is defined in common function, so fixing the issue for customers will fix it for suppliers, items etc.

We would like to avoid complicating user interface here, so I believe including more fields in search (instead of adding another screen for search criteria selection) is better solution.

Janusz

Re: Long List of Customers

2012-09-29T22:11:32Z

The search in Items and Inventory uses another approach. It will serch in the categories, items id's and item names.

/Joe

Re: Long List of Customers

2012-09-29T14:21:22Z

The search in Items and inventory has the same situtation. Probably others as well. I have not looked but can they all be fixed in the same manner? It would also be nice if the search results for customer included the debtor_no. Wondering if instead of the query populating a dropdown, maybe it could open a new small window similiar to F2 key, then select from that window. Give the advantage to show more fields and even being able to sort on a column. I do this on some searches on my website. Idea is make it very easy to find the info you need when an unhappy customer is on the phone waiting for you to come up with info about his account and anything to speed up the entry of data into database.

On Mantis, I can guess what is happening on Mantis, too long to discuss in forum.
I appreciate you looking into it.

Again thanks for the quick answers and concern to improve FA

Re: Long List of Customers

2012-09-29T07:31:30Z

Yes, the issue with unselected item after unambiguous search is annoying. Will be fixed.

I guess the best place for posts related to future release is Wish List (no irony intended), but if you feel any new section in FA forum would be handy, we can start it on demand.

Regarding Mantis registration, I have tested it a couple of times and all seems to be right. I would advice to check your spam filter, probably this is source of problem. I have looked into mantis users list, and I can see multiply accounts open on your mailbix indeed. I will send you new password to 'ed10' account by PM and will remove the duplicate accounts. Sorry for inconvenience.

Janusz

Re: Long List of Customers

2012-09-29T02:55:55Z

Maybe Mantis is not underrated, but unavailable. I have tried 3 different time to register and have yet to receive any confirming email from Mantis. That as have over several months time.

On the search, an F-key available from any page that has text boxes for various fields for several table would be nice. Search for customers, vendors, branches, items and perhaps other things would easily go on one page.

While on searches, when I search for a customer,(for example to write a sales order) and the result set is only one customer, the text box displays New customer". It should show the results of the search ordered by what ever, not "ew customer". That just adds to the keystrokes necessary to enter the SO. It is all actually a bit disconcerting to do a search and not see a result. That is not the way most search work.

I have some questions about version 2.4, but can't figure out what forum to start the thread.

Thanks for you help on this.

Re: Long List of Customers

2012-09-28T21:15:25Z

I think you are right, the search should be expanded somehow. I guess the best you can do now is just to set wishlist report on FA mantis. This way such small but very useful ideas has a chance to find their place in developers timetable . NB Mantis unfortunately seems to be underrated in FA users community.

Regarding function keys - those are displayed at the footer of any page where they can be used. For now those are F2-F4 for suppliers/customers, customer branches and stock items respectively.

Janusz

Re: Long List of Customers

2012-09-27T16:30:58Z

Joe:

The short name field was there when we orginally started this thread.
The problems are the same now as a year ago.
I think the search needs to be expanded to include at the least phone number, email address(isn't it unique), and zipcode.

What would really be great would be a function key that can be hit that pops up the search fields.

BTW, what function keys are used in FA? I could find no listing of them.

Thanks for continuing to improve FA. Better than it was a year ago.

ed10

Re: Long List of Customers

2012-09-27T09:45:35Z

ed10 wrote:

from last year, ed10: Is it possible to have include a search on another field? For example, name and postal code?

I have a similar problem. I supply hat shops, and they all had the brilliant idea to call their shop 'Hat box'. So I add the beginning of the Postal code in the shortname 'Hat box Ca' for hat box cambrige etc .. (I guess you can write a SQL query to update the shortname in the database).

Re: Long List of Customers

2012-09-26T19:32:06Z

No, I guess not. But a new field, short name, was added, to use as a special search name.

I am not at the code just now, but I guess it should work that way.

Joe

Re: Long List of Customers

2012-09-26T18:53:11Z

from last year, ed10: Is it possible to have include a search on another field? For example, name and postal code?

Joe's reply: We will try to implement this in 2.3.2. As you suggest we will try to also search in address info and phone number.

Was this implemented? If so, where can I find it?

Thanks, Ed10

Re: Long List of Customers

2011-02-14T05:05:36Z

ed10 wrote:

Thanks, RodW:
You can do the short naming automatically from a shopping cart?
Ed

Sorry, not been here for a few days. I can't see why you could not come up with an automated process to construct the short name from the full name once you establish the rules for your system. I think you'd have to check if the name already exists and increment the number if it does.

Re: Long List of Customers

2011-02-08T15:28:22Z

Thanks, RodW:

You can do the short naming automatically from a shopping cart?

Re: Long List of Customers

2011-02-08T12:56:03Z

Having experience some with Identifying people in large systems, I think the key to solving this problem is to enforce strong customer short name coding standards. Staff easily pick this up.

This may imply one more tick in Company setup that says search on short name.

I have used a couple of variants over the years depending on the short name field length. For example, lets use a 5,4 standard which would work as follows.
Rodney Smith - SMITHRODN
Roderick Smith - SMITHRODE
Roderrick Smith - SMITHRODE1

Where you get a duplicate short name, you just add a number to the end in order the conflicts occur.

In Company Names you end up with
Vehicle Modifications Network = VEHICMODI
Vehicle Modifications Nursery = VEHICMODI1

Some companies like to end all Companies with PL

Currently, I am using this standard for business shortnames and
for customers Smith, Rodney

You'll be surprised how few duplicates arise from your Smiths with this standard and it could be extended to a 6,4 or larger within the field length but remember to retain at last the last 2 characters of the field for the number codes at the end.

Re: Long List of Customers

2011-02-01T12:54:02Z

Thanks Joe, searching on those fields will be a big help to narrow down the search results.

As to duplicate name situation, we have tried to solve that problem for a couple of years, both on our end and on the shopping cart end. It seems no matter how we try to solve the problem, customers can come up with a new inventive way to thwart our best efforts. We are sure open to any suggestion.

Thanks you guy are so helpful.

Re: Long List of Customers

2011-02-01T01:02:35Z

To your first question, yes, why not.
We will try to implement this in 2.3.2. As you suggest we will try to also search in address info and phone number.
The second issue is rather difficult, due we have no relevant key on name.

/Joe