Adding a Handheld Order
With a Palm OS based handheld, you can gather data for the Order module from anywhere in your store. Before you can use your Palm device, you must make sure it meets all of the following requirements: it must have DDH Software’s HanDBase 3 installed, it must have the Substruct Order database installed in HanDBase, and it must have an infrared (IrDA) port in order to beam orders to your computer. For assistance meeting these requirements, contact technical support.
Collecting Data for an Order on a Palm OS Device
HanDBase 3 is a database program designed for use with Palm OS devices. Inside the program you will find the three main Substruct databases: Order, Labels, and Counts. The following steps will walk you through opening HanDBase 3 and using the Order database to gather data.
Opening HanDBase 3
- Click the Home icon on the screen of you handheld.
- From the top right-hand corner of the screen, select All from the categories list.
- Find and click on HanDBase 3 (it looks like a picture of a thumb). This open the program.
Opening the Order Database
Once you are in HanDBase 3, you need to get to the main screen of the Order database. This screen has Order written on a tab in the top left hand corner of the screen. If you are not at this screen, us the steps below to get there. Otherwise, see the Entering Records into the Order Database section below to continue.
- If you see Edit Record or New Record instead of Order, click the OK button in the lower left-hand corner of the screen. You should now be at the main screen of the Order database.
- If you see a different database name, such as Counts or Labels, then you are in a different database altogether. See the Getting to the Home Screen of Handbase 3 section bellow. Once you are at the Home screen of HanDBase, highlight Order and click Open.
Once you have the Order database open, see the Entering Records into the Order Database section below.
Getting to the Home Screen of HanDBase 3
Use the Home screen of HanDBase 3 to open the Order database (if it is not already open).
- If you are already at the home screen of HanDBase, you will see a list of all of the installed databases (Order, Labels, etc.) If you do not see this list then follow the steps below to get there.
1. If the top left-hand corner of the screen says Edit Record or New Record then click OK. You should now be viewing all of the records contained in the current database. See number two.
2. If you are at the main screen of a database you will see the name of that database in the top left-hand corner of the screen. Click the Home button (this button is different that the Home button on the input pad. This button says the word “Home” under it.) You should now be at the HanDBase home screen (it should say “HanDBase” in the top left-hand corner). From here you can open the database you wish to use.
Entering Records into the Order Database
Once you are in the Order database, you can begin adding records.
- Click New to create a new record.
- Enter or scan the stock or UPC number into the Stock field.
- Enter the quantity you wish to order into the Qty field.
Note: If you know you want to order only one order multiple of an item, and you have your Order module settings set to round ship quantities up to the nearest ship pack, you can skip this step and leave the ship pack at “0″. This saves time, enabling you to order a whole section just by scanning items and then hitting New.
- If the item needs a new label, you can flag it using the Label check box. Then, once you have loaded the data into your computer, you can print out all the labels at once.
- Click OK to save the record, or click New to save and create a new record.
Once you are finished collecting data and you want to load it into Substruct Utilities for reviewing, editing, and comparing, see the Beaming a Handheld Order Database section below.
Deleting One Record from a Database
- From main Order screen, select the record you wish to delete.
- Click on the Edit Record tab to bring up the menu bar.
- From the Record menu, select Delete Record.
- When asked, “Are you sure you want to delete this record?” click Yes.
Deleting All Records from a Database
When you are ready to start a new order, you must first delete all of your old records from the database.
- From main Order screen, click on the Order tab to bring up the menu bar.
- From the Actions menu, select Delete Records.
- When asked, “Delete All Records _Within_ Filter ranges or _Outside_ of Filter range?” click Within.
Important Note: Keep in mind that deleting all records is much different than deleting the entire Order database - deleting all the records happens frequently, but deleting the database will require you to restore your handheld from backup!
Beaming a Handheld Order Database
Once you have finished collecting data, you need to transfer the Order database from the handheld to the computer you are compiling your order on. This is done by beaming the database using two infrared “eyes”: one located on the top or side of your handheld device and another plugged into a USB or serial port on your computer. Follow the steps below to beam your Order database.
- On your handheld device, go to the Home screen. “HanDBase” should be in the top left-hand corner.
- Line up the infrared eye of your handheld with the infrared eye plugged into your computer. Keep the two 6 to 8 inches apart.
- Wait for the screen on your handheld to say “Waiting for Sender…” This means that a wireless connection has been established.
- Click Cancel. (You want to send a file, not receive one.)
- Highlight Order from the list of databases.
- Click Beam.
- Click IR.
- Look at your computer screen. There should be a window asking, “[Your handheld name] would like to send the following file to your computer through a wireless link. File: Order.hbp. Do you want to accept this file?” Click Yes.
- The database will now be transferred. For more information on where this file will get transferred to, click here.
Loading a Handheld Database into Substruct Utilities
After you have beamed your Order database to your computer, the database needs to be loaded into the Order module of Substruct Utilities.
- Open the Substruct Utilities Order module.
- From the list of orders, select the order you wish to add the handheld section to.
- Click the Add Handheld button.
- A window asking you to name the order section will appear. Enter a name for the section, such as “Plumbing” or “Joe’s Order”, and click OK.
- After the records finishing loading, a window will appear telling you how many records were added. The order section will then appear in Order Assembly where it can be viewed, edited, compared, and compiled into you final order.