E-Advisor - Vet Messaging

Transcription

1 E-Advisor - Vet Messaging Installation Notes Visual EstiTrack includes a feature to allow users to establish conditions that will generate an internal message or an external via the Internet. The internal messaging utilizes the existing network for the server and workstations where VET is located. External s require an Internet connection and a mail client set up with MAPI and Outlook. Components: The following files exist in the designated folders on the server. \VET VETMSG.EXE (Vet Messaging Application) VETMSG.INI (Optional configuration file) \DATA MSG_DEF.DBF MSG_DEF.CDX MSG_DEF.FPT MSG_EVNT.DBF MSG_EVNT.CDX MSG_RCPT.DBF MSG_RCPT.CDX MESSAGE.DBF MESSAGE.CDX MESSAGE.FPT (Definitions of all Messages) (Message Events) (Message Recipients) (Internal Image of Message) Configuring the VETMSG Application: By default, the VETMSG application expects to find its datafiles in the \VET\DATA folder as shown above. Included is a provision to allow you to direct the VETMSG application to look to another path for the data to be examined. You can point to another data folder by creating a simple ASCII file using NOTEPAD (found under the Start/Accessories) called VETMSG.INI. This VETMSG.INI file must exist in the \VET folder along with the VETMSG.EXE application. The contents of the VETMSG.INI file should only be one line with a full path name to the intended data directory. For example, F:\VET\SAMPDATA would tell VETMSG to look to the F: drive in the \VET\SAMPDATA folder for the VET tables to examine for designated conditions. If you use Microsoft Outlook (NOT Outlook Express) as your client, you must go into the Visual EstiTrack Tables, Company screen to modify the Details #5 page by placing a check in the Use Microsoft Outlook for output option. This will instruct VETMSG to use native Outlook commands to generate outgoing messages. Running the VETMSG Application: Only one computer on the network with access to the VET area can run the VETMSG.EXE application at any one time. This computer running the VETMSG application will check for the designated conditions to exist and distribute the appropriate messages to the defined recipients. This computer can be any one of the workstations on the network with access to the VET area or the server itself in the case of an NT network. The messages will only be distributed when the VETMSG application is running and active and there are events occurring so choose the best computer for this task. This computer will be giving up CPU cycles when the event checking occurs and the designated computer may appear to run slower until the checking is done. Page 1

2 Controlling the VETMSG Application: You can control the interval the VETMSG program uses to wait between event checking by changing the spinner value next to the Minutes between searches label. The default is 5 minutes. That means that the VETMSG application will wake up every 5 minutes and checks to see if any of the designated conditions exist that require message generation. Once that check is done, the application will wait 5 minutes until it checks again. You can increase or decrease that interval based on your needs. You can press the Pause button to make the VETMSG application stop looking for the designated events until you press the Continue button. This only stops the internal timer, it does not close out files used by VETMSG. The Exit button will unload the VETMSG application and discontinue the event detection function. New Vet Messages will not be available until that computer or another computer runs VETMSG again. TIP: You can force the VETMSG application to check for the designated events by clicking the Execute button or by double-clicking on the E-Advisor image in the upper right hand corner of the VETMSG screen. Considerations for Backing Up: Many backup software packages only back up files that are closed or not actively being used by any running application. You may be required by this fact to exit out of the VETMSG application before you begin your backup process to allow the files listed above to be properly backed up. Using VETMSG.exe with EstiTrack: Some reports and tasks may be sent to certain recipients. If you see the option to deliver a report in the pull down on the Report Criteria screen, then that means you can deliver it. If you see the E-Advisor icon on the screen, that means that you can click it and select from a list of tasks that you want to assign to someone. Remember, this is a one time only deal. If you want a report to run again or if you want a task to run again, you have to set it up again. These are not reoccurring tasks or reports. Double click the VETMSG.exe located in the main VET Folder. This application cannot be minimized. It must be running in order for the tasks and reports to be delivered. If you would like certain reports delivered to an address, follow the instructions below: Open the report that you would like to run. Select the criteria. In the drop down where you normally see View, look for Deliver. If Deliver is an option, then you are able to run the report and have it delivered to whoever you specify in the Message Recipients Screen. Page 2

3 Here you will see that I have added an EstiTrack user and an address. Once you Exit the screen, a popup message will tell you that the Delivery Process has started. Here is what is happening on the VETMSG.exe screen. Page 3

4 And now I have ! Please note that I am using Microsoft Outlook. Remember if you use Microsoft Outlook, you have to tell EstiTrack that you are using Outlook via the Company Tables, Misc and then check Use Microsoft Outlook for output option. This will instruct VETMSG.EXE to use native Outlook commands to generate outgoing messages. Also, when I log into EstiTrack using my login, I will see that I have messages! Page 4

5 If I right click on the File Folder on the Menu Bar, I will see a list of my messages and tasks. When I click the View Details button, it will pull up the report that I was sent in PDF format. Page 5

6 If you see the E-Advisor icon on the screen, this means you can assign certain tasks. Just follow the same instructions for report delivery. Add an EstiTrack user and/or and address and the task or alert that you selected will be run. This is what the alert looks like on the VETMSG.EXE screen. Now I have been alerted that this quote needs to be followed up on. Page 6