★ APPLICATIONS ★ BUREAUTIQUE ★ Stock Accounting System ★ |
Stock Accounting System (Amstrad Computer User) | Applications Bureautique |
The Stock Accounting bystem from SD Microsystems is a new integrated package for the Amstrad CPC 6128 and expanded 464/664. Following the success of its previous programs, SD Microsystems introduced its Stock Accounting System, a four-module program which can accomplish three essential actions occurring in any small business office. The- program modules, Sales Ledger, Invoicer, Stock Control and Statement Printer are all enhanced versions of the Small Trader programs from SD Microsystems. Users familiar with those programs will therefore find it easy to adapt to the Stock Accounting System. It is easy to get the program started once back-ups have been made. The manual advises some experimentation with the sample files provided on disc but this will not take a great deal of time for those who have used this type of software previously. Novices can take as long as they wish to familiarise with the workings of the various modules without the worry of something going wrong and erasing all their data. The real work starts when each of the modules is loaded and brought into operation. The modules are loaded separately and the user then has to enter the necessary data. All users must read and thoroughly digest the correct section of the manual The best way to do this is to decide exactly what information needs to go into the module and then fit it to the modular plan as outlined in the manual. This part of the procedure is necessarily the most time-consuming but patience at this stage will be rewarded later. Each of the modules can be accessed by a Master Menu. All the menus are clear and easy to read, though it is possible to move the cursor round the screen and overwrite the previously-input data. This over-writing is only on the screen and does not affect data but beware that the screen could become very messy. There are also facilities for saving or inputing data, as well as the obvious features. Once the system is set up satisfactorily, the user will not need to make separate entries for each module. By installing a customer file of up to 99 main names and addresses and a product price list, one sale entry will re-adjust automatically the levels of any one of the possible 750 lines of stock. This entry will also update the Sales Ledger as well as facilitate the production of an invoice. Statements, invoices and credit notes can be printed on computer paper or A4 headed letter paper if the user wishes. Producing an invoice automatically adjusts stock levels which are then re-saved into the Stock Control module. Those two modules can be run separately if the user wishes. Re-saving is accomplished by replying to a prompt, so the user just has to say no. That will probably be necessary only when dealing with extremely large orders which the user may prefer to enter manually. When the Invoice module works with the Sales Ledger, it operates on a batch file system. Each invoice file can store up to 50 auto-numbered transactions, which then have to be transferred to the Sales Ledger before the Invoice module can continue to function. Each invoice can hold up to 20 items and can feature headers and footers with separate delivery addresses for each one. The Invoice product/price list and stock files are saved to the extra 64K of memory, which is used as a RAM disc to produce a capacity of 750 items. Users of previous Small Traders programs will find this a great improvement but must remember that this is done using a slightly different system. Those wishing to load existing files will have to do so by accessing the special file converter in the Stock Controller module. All the many operations available with the Stock Accounting System are menu-driven. This makes the program very easy to use, particularly with such a well-produced manual. Data entry is uncomplicated and the system does exactly what it promises for a much smaller financial outlay than many of its competitors. A program such as this is ideal for the small business user who needs a solid, dependable program which can deliver the goods without costing the earth.
|