Koala Software:

FIND_AVAIL

OVERVIEW:

Finding equipment is one of the most frequently used functions of LocPlus. This feature is designed to be a powerful, flexible tool for helping you meet equipment requests from customers. This can be a simple tool that can be used quickly but at the same time is a powerful tool which you should review from time to time, so you can learn some of it's advanced functions.

Equipment is most frequently searched by equipment classification. The equipment classification search can be powerful because you can filter (or limit searches) by the size or capacity of the equipment or by who owns the equipment (i.e. is it inventory, another dealers inventory, an end user owned item, etc.)

You can also lookup equipment by Reference code, Manufacturer, and UED code. And there is also a special function to search through all your equipment for a key word anywhere in the description.

Once you find equipment that matches a customers specifications, you can review the detailed information and detailed specifications before sending them a quote.

LOOKUP FIELDS:

By Classification tab (tan section):

Class:
LocPlus lets you setup equipment classifications. All equipment must be assigned to an equipment classification. Each equipment classification may be further divided into sub-classifications. If you do a search on this tab section only equipment assigned to the classification selected will be displayed. You may further restrict the equipment displayed by selecting more requirements. For more information about Equipment classifications, see the help section on MLS Help: MAINT_CLASS - Setup Equipment Classification.

Sub-class:
Selected a sub-classifications if you want to further restrict wanted requests displayed. If you do not select a sub-classification, then all requests for the equipment class will be selected.

Minimum and Maximum (Price: and other size fields):
Each classification can be assigned size parameters. These size parameters will be listed below the 'Price:' field. A size may be entered for one, some, or all of the size parameters. Only wanted equipment that meets selected size specifications will be displayed.

For example, if you wanted to find all wanted requests for a 200 ton stamping presses with a 5 inch stroke, select the class and enter those sizes in the size boxes. A wanted request for a 200 to 250 ton stamping press with a 3 to 5 inch stroke would match the request. If ANY of the specifications doesn't match, the request will not be displayed. (i.e. a request for a 200 to 250 ton press with a 6 to 8 inch stroke would not be included)

Order by:
The resulting list of equipment can be put in many different orders. If you want to change the order, use this pull-down.

Search from:
Customer (company) make wanted equipment requests. Each customer is assigned an 'Owner type'. The owner types are 'End User', 'Inventory', 'Dealer', and 'Personal'. If either none of these checkboxes or all of these checkboxes are selected all requests will be displayed (assuming it meets all other qualifications of course). If only one box is checked, then the wanted request has to be from a qualifying customer.

BUTTON: 'Search Now':
After making all of the selections discussed above, you initiate a search throught the equipment file for matches by pressing this button. Matching equipment will be displayed in a list on the bottom portion of the window. Double-clicking on any of the equipment listed will display that equipment record.

BUTTON: 'Done':
Pressing 'Done' will pull up the equipment record for the piece that is highlighted in the list at the bottom of window. You may double-click on the line or select the equipment by clicking once and then press the 'Done' button.

BUTTON: 'Cancel':
Exits and closes window with no further action.

BUTTON: 'Print Report':
Displays a list of reports available. Reports will include only the customer results from your query. Only the customers in the list at the bottom of this window will be included, even if the query is limited by number of number of records searched.

BUTTON: 'New inventory':
Opens up the equipment window in Add mode. The new item will be assigned to your inventory. If it is another dealers or end users piece, you may change the owner during the add function.

By UED / Mfg tab (tan section):

Under this tab you can select equipment by either or both of these features. For example, if you enter in both a UED code and a Manufacturer, then when you press the 'Search Now' button requests that meet both criteria will be displayed. The company requirements displayed under the 'Search from:' heading are also incorporated into these searches. See the explainations for these fields as they are the same on the 'By Classification' tab.

Manufacturer:
Use this pulldown to select a manufacturer to limit search results.

UED:
Use this pulldown to select a UED code to limit search results.

Search options TAB:

You may set the Maximum number of records. Do not set this too high as it will reduce performance. You may also have LocPlus MLS automatically perform a search when the classification is changed by checking the box labeled 'Search Immediately after changing class'.

Changing these options will only be temporary unless you also press the button labeled 'Update default options for XXXX only'. (Your search from ownership options will be saved also.)

Wanted Request Details TAB:

Tnis tab does not perform a search. This tab shows shows some of the information for the machine requests found. After the wanted requests are displayed on the bottom half of the window and a request is displayed, other info fields are displayed in this tab.

SUMMARY: