How I Think It Should Work

[Jimmy@DGB]

Hello, newbie here. We have been on Manager + 6.5.20 for only a few weeks now, and overall are very pleased with the software. I do have a few things on my list of minor annoyances thus far. Please excuse me if these issues have been addressed previously.

CRTL+A, CTRL+Z. Being a keyboard shortcuts advocate, I find it frustrating that there is no support for CRTL+A. There is also no undo function, thus CTRL+Z is non-existent.

No resizable windows or text box fields.

In the promos modules, we cannot resize the column widths. Some of our very important part number characters are being cut off in our tire inventory list within tire packages. It seems like this column would be at least wide enough to display the entire part number field.

I think perhaps Shop Data Setup should move all user-specific preferences to a separate menu. There's no intuitive way of knowing which settings will affect all or just one user. It took me 3 weeks to figure out that setting a default service writer will only affect the current user...

How about a simple login prompt for user name and password, so it doesn't prompt you for a password every time you click into something that is a protected area?

When changing quantities, labor hours, techs, etc. directly on the order screen, pressing enter does not commit the change, it opens the details window. Example: right click Qty, change the number, hit enter, details window pops open instead of committing the change like you'd think.. I learned that CTRL+Enter will commit the changes, but that's not very intuitive and often pops up an error message. And what's up with all this right clicking? Seems like left clicking on any editable field should automatically enable editing. I think it should operate like: Click on the number under Qty, type the number to change it to, Enter, done. Another example: Click tech name, drop down displays, click new tech name, done.. It does this on the WIP screen, why not the order screen?

That's all for now!

[timbre4]

Welcome to the forum and thanks for your post.

CTRL-A is MIA (always has been, would like to see that, dragging mouse or using SHIFT + End or down arrow for now), however CTRL-Z to Undo text editing is available despite not being listed in the Edit menu. It can be used in fields such as Notes, Status, Location, labor descriptions. This is for text, not the full function programmatic undo for a deleted line item, customer or vehicle.

Most windows haven been historically sized to purpose to prevent users from hiding screens from themselves. Allowing less tech savvy users to maximize screens will generate additional support calls. This is changing in some regards such as the Estimator, Maintenance and TSB viewers that open in Manager SE; these will be larger to make more information visible by request. I've seen the samples and this will appear on an AutoUpdater release before long.

The part number column in Tire Package looks to support 17 characters; how much longer are the tire part numbers? We are in the midst of finalizing a tires catalog interface and I believe it will include a quick lookup tool that might replace your lookup activity on the current Tire Package screen. Stay tuned.

As far as Shop Setup goes, I would agree that until you are familiar with it, it can be confusing. Your experience differs from a Manager SE single user in that they have either setup one User (profile) on none; if they set a Default service writer they'd never experience your issue. Given that we have users with a 15+ year history and these decisions are usually processed once and rarely revisited, perhaps we can do a better job with labelling and the Help file RTF content on LH side.

This software is peer-to-peer; program security would have to be reworked entirely to support actually logging into it. We don't disagree with that idea, ultimately that would better serve the needs of controlling who can do what / see which data. There is no projected date for a change on this.

As far as the direct Order grid, you must understand that there are historical behaviors we need to preserve. The Enter key has always been used to pop open the line Item Edit window (ESC to close). The left mouse click has always determined focus, making the right-click a logical choice to make changes. Were we to make the left click open the field for edit we would get an avalanche of calls because people don't want to edit the majority of the time. Right-click, make change, press tab, done. As for technician on Order screen labor line - right-click, drop list tool, select, done.

ordertech.jpg (17.81 KiB) Viewed 5035 times

[Jimmy@DGB]

The part # fields in inventory support up to 20 characters, and we use all 20 on quite a few parts and need to see every number.

As for the rest, I understand the way they are and accept it. Thanks for your explanations.

Also, any way to get the VIN to display in the customer vehicle list?

[timbre4]

I will check on the 20 character part number question.

As for the VIN for each vehicle listed under customer, I've not heard that one before. Since the VIN is a click away (or visible above tabs if selected), what does this buy us?

[Jimmy@DGB]

100 clicks sorting through fleet vehicles under one customer account Every second counts in our shop.

[Johnny5]

In an updated version we are working on right now, the part number field in the Tire Promo widow supports 20 characters, this version is still being tested. Currently there is no method to add VIN to the customer vehicle list.

[timbre4]

That makes total sense. Question do you already have the VIN in hand or is it the other way around?

Using F3 (Find Customer) with a partial VIN entered (% wildcard + last few #s) would zero in on the EXACT vehicle. It would have selection focus and you could take it straight to the Order screen.

[Jimmy@DGB]

We usually get the VIN prior to service. This is the main identifier for most of our fleet companies. F3 will work, but it would be extremely convenient to see the VIN info at a glance.

I'm liking that ATD button! The tire catalogs would help us out a great deal.

Any plans for integration with any auto glass distributors? Pittsburg or American?

And, also, any way to do a code search within Manager without having to redirect to the ProDemand/ShopKey website?

[timbre4]

The newer SE vehicle grid could support a VIN column, nothing firm on this idea at the moment.

Glass is more of a collision item and falls outside our scope.

The Manager SE interface to ProDemand will improve and there will be fewer steps to get to the repair & diagnostic codes/testing information platform. That data is not part of the Manager program.

[Jimmy@DGB]

The Manager SE interface to ProDemand will improve and there will be fewer steps to get to the repair & diagnostic codes/testing information platform. That data is not part of the Manager program.

That's what I was getting at, my question was worded poorly. Just looking for access to the different modules you'd see using the ShopKey/ProDemand website directly versus accessing it through Manager via the Estimator function.

[timbre4]

The viewers invoked by using the Estimator Maintenance Fluids or TSB buttons are limited by design to the information type requested. When you click on the Repair Information button in Manager SE today, it essentially launches a full ProDemand session with all modules accessible. Given that, I'm unclear as to what appears missing.

[atobias]

Having the vin in the vehicle list allows to click on the correct vehicle instead of clicking on all of them looking for that vin. Example: fleets have multiple vehicles that are all the same year, make, model etc. only way to differentiate is vin. I know the license plate is there but that's an additional step.

[timbre4]

We are discussing this one.

[ARS]

I know that I jumping in on a thread... But I am very excited about the tire catalog... a couple things.. Are you able to list the UTQG number.. We sell a lot of tires based on that info. & 2nd.. is there a way on the customer invoice to list the DOT #'s for each tire for road hazard.
Exciting news.

[Johnny5]

I know that I jumping in on a thread... But I am very excited about the tire catalog... a couple things.. Are you able to list the UTQG number.. We sell a lot of tires based on that info. & 2nd.. is there a way on the customer invoice to list the DOT #'s for each tire for road hazard.
Exciting news.

Good day,

This phase 1 release of tire functionality and the ATD catalog (two projects but somewhat joined at the hip) . A column in the catalog is labeled Serv Desc, this field contains the ISOIndex/UTQGL when available. Today DOT numbers have to be written in a note. Below is a picture of the catalog interface.

tirecat.jpg (295.91 KiB) Viewed 4898 times

JD