Chapter Six: Making Changes
What
is the data
Entry Program for?
File Maintenance is the Utility program that helps with the editing and customizing of the Quick Quote program. It allows for viewing and editing whole categories of a vehicle all at once. It is the only place where some functions of Quick Quote can be done, such as Adding a Vehicle Not in Memory, Trimming the Makes List, Editing the Permanent Message Lines,Changing Skill Levels and Approving Time and Parts Prices (Marking them without changing them). It is also the only place to Un-Mark Time and Parts. Basically, it is the best place to do the editing of your Quick Quote program.
Getting
started with File Maintenance
To access the File Maintenance program, go to the DOS C:\ prompt, type FM and press the ENTER key or, from the opening Quick Quote screen, press F10. Working just like the Quick Quote program, enter the Year, Make, Model and Engine size of a vehicle, then select a Repair Category. The entire category is displayed. Move the cursor to the Repair Name to change or approve, by using the Up and Down Arrow keys. Next, use the function keys displayed on the screen to do your editing. After you've completed all you want in this Repair Category, you can select another Repair Category by pressing F1 and repeat the above process. This is a great way to enter information for your Quick Catalog.
MENU 2
To go to the secondary menu in a category, hold down the Alt key and press 2. To go back, hold down the Alt key and press 1.
Marking
and UnMarking Time and Parts
Marking the changes in Quick Quote was mentioned in Chapter 3, in the explanation about making changes either permanent or temporary. The symbol to designate a marked item is the tilde (~). A change is marked in the Quick Quote program to designate that the shop has made a permanent change, and now the item is according to the shop's preferences. However, the shop may review the times and parts prices and not make any changes, just indicate that they agree and approve of those items. File Maintenance is the place to do this to entire categories of the program. Flat rate times can be marked by positioning the cursor on the repair line and selecting the F8 key. Parts prices are marked using the F9 key, and both can be marked at once by pressing F10.
Marking items in error can occur, so you may also UN-Mark items by using the same function keys as above, only by also pressing the "ALT" key to reverse the process. To Un-mark a Flat Rate time, press ALT and the F8 key together, for a Parts Price press ALT + F9 and to Un-Mark Both, press ALT + F10.
trimming
the makes list
The list of Makes in the Quick Quote program comes complete with all of the vehicles in the program, from A to Z. (Well, actually I believe Yugo is the last one...) If you are a general shop, and work on all makes of vehicles, this comprehensive listing is ideal for your needs. However, if you are a specialty shop, and work exclusively on a select group of makes, you may want to take some of the vehicle names out of your Makes menu. This can be done in the File Maintenance or Quick Quote programs. To do this, simple go into File Maintenance, and prior to selecting a vehicle, press F8 to Edit the Makes List. In Quick Quote go to Edit, Edit Makes. Follow the instructions on the screen to select those items you wish to see in your menu. *Note: doing this is completely safe. This function does NOT remove the vehicles from the program, if at a later date you wish to retrieve them. It ONLY takes them out of the menu so there are less vehicles to view for every day use.
editing
the permanent message/description lines
As mentioned before in Chapter 3, another place to edit the
permanent messages is in the File Maintenance program.
To do this, go to the File Maintenance program and, prior to selecting a
vehicle, press the F10 key. This
will display the selected list of repairs that come with a permanent message
line. These are the only repairs that can have a preset message.
Use the arrow keys to move to the repair message you want to edit.
The message appears at the bottom of the screen.
Press F1 to start editing, and type in the message you desire.
Any other items that need a message line will need to be done within
Quick Quote, on a permanent or temporary basis.
SKILL LEVEL RATINGS
Hold down the Alt key and press S. Jobs are rated; "A" Specialized Technician, "B" Journeyman, "C" Light Line. A blank space in the Skill Level column will have a "B" rating. You may also select "N" to make an item non-taxable. Skill ratings may also be changed in Quick Quote by going to Edit, *Skill Ratings.
NON-TAXABLE ITEMS
Select the job as in Skill Level Ratings. Arrow down past "C". Choose "N" for non-taxable. Tax will not be charged for that repair. Labor (if not 0.0) will be calculated at the "B" labor rate.
NON-TAXABLE
ESTIMATES
A whole estimate can be made non-taxable, in Quick Quote, by selecting "Settings" "Non-Taxable" after at least one item is on the estimate. You can select "Taxable" to change it back.