News From the Kore

Winter 2004 Issue

Welcome to the Winter 2004 Edition of News From the Kore.

Summer has come and gone and we are now in the late Fall early Winter season, but you would hardly know it by looking outside the window. Our climate here in San Diego, CA is simply outstanding and hard to beat. Sure, we've had a few rainy and cold days the last few months but the rest of the time you see many people wearing short sleeve shirts and shorts! And it's not likely to change that much either.

Here at Kore we are finishing up another great year and getting ready for the New Year. We would like to send our thanks to all the great clients that we've had the opportunity to work with during the year. We appreciate your business and look forward to working with you again next year.

Kore Team News

Kore Gets Medieval!

The annual Kore Holiday Party this year was held at Medieval Times, a very cool place to have a Medieval Feast while watching beautiful equestrian displays, medieval tournament games, authentic jousting, and exciting swordfights. You also get to eat with your hands from metal plates and bowls! That's right, there's no utensils provided at this dinner, you just have to dig in medieval style. This includes drinking the soup from the bowl and tearing apart your roasted chicken and ribs with your bare hands. The feast can be enjoyed by all as special menus are available for those who do not like chicken and ribs.

During the show, there are six Knights that participate in the different events and everyone attending is supposed to cheer for the Knight in their section during the games. The events included well choreographed fights with swords and other weapons that looked pretty realistic and even caused sparks to fly; jousting complete with break-away lances and Knights getting knocked off of their horse; and some skill based games that involved catching small rings with the lance while riding the horses. We had the Red Knight, and unfortunately he appeared to be new to the Knighthood thing and was eliminated from the competition pretty early. We still had fun "booing" the other Knights and watching the action. In the end, the Green Knight was the winner this time. All in all, everyone had a great time, and I recommend you check out Medieval Times if you are looking for something a little different for your next party or event.

After the event we all gathered at the local tavern for some holiday spirits and cheer. Here's a picture of the Kore Team.

Members above are from left to right Front Row: Keith Lambert, Paul Trebbien, Eric Yarborough, and Ken Dickinson. Back Row: Rishi Persad, Andy Blanchard, Jeremy Segal, Paul Bressler, Mark Dobransky, Frank Kertai, Frank Busalacchi, Michelle Durbin, and Chuck Verran. Other Kore Team members not pictured are: John Bosley, Bob Bottomley, and Rob Morrison.

Kore Holiday  Schedule

The Kore Offices will be closed on December 24 and December 31 so we can enjoy the Holidays with our friends and families.

Kore will be open for business and staffed to support you from December 27 to December 30. Please don't hesitate to call us at 1-866-700-KORE (5673) if we can be of service.

Everyone at Kore Technologies hopes you have a wonderful Holiday Season and wishes you a safe and Happy New Year!

Visit Kore at International Spectrum 2005

The International Spectrum MultiValue Conference and Exposition will be here in San Diego this year at the Hyatt Regency Islandia, February 22 - 25. This is an excellent MultiValue conference with a great exposition floor and very informative conference sessions. This is your best chance to see what's new and exciting in the MultiValue world and meet the people that make it happen. And the good news is that Kore Technologies will be exhibiting at this event for the first time!

Kore will also be presenting a conference session on Wednesday, February 23 2005 at 9:00 AM titled: "How To Integrate MultiValue to SQL". In this session we will review tools such as Microsoft DTS and learn effective techniques to facilitate MultiValue to SQL data integration such as managing net change updates and relational database design. Please highlight this session on your planning sheet so you don't miss it.

If you plan to be at the event or happen to be in San Diego during this time, please stop by and visit Kore in booth 103. We will have a daily drawing for a nice give away and free gifts for everyone. Please contact us if you are interested in attending and would like a complimentary pass to the exposition floor. We hope to see you there!

Product News

Kourier Integrator

There's some big news for Kourier Integrator, Kore's Best-in-Class enterprise integration tool suite for connecting IBM U2 and other enterprise applications. It is now available with a new Thin Client Web interface! Summary of new capabilities:

• Kourier is now compatible with any IBM U2 application.

• Built using the KommerceServer framework, the new Kourier interface is much easier to use and is not dependent on proprietary client software.

• Includes an independent batch scheduling agent that runs on a separate server for additional stability and reliability.

• We have added some other nice new features too: Integration IDs to associate static data values to specific integration projects; simpler output formatting for fixed length fields; automatic purging of event log and message log based on message count; and more...

Example screen of the new Kourier Export Specifications

• New Barcode printing on electronic forms.

  • Your electronic forms can now include barcodes embedded within the form data. No additional label printing software required, just include a simple subroutine call within your print program.

  • Using third party soft fonts installed on your server, you can easily print Code39 format barcodes on your forms (also known as USD-3, and 3 of 9).

  • Use this capability to add part number barcodes to your shippers to expedite processing of your paperwork for example.

• Add Resolve Publication Subscription by Ship To location

  • You now have more control over who will receive publications via e-mail for multiple shipping locations within a company.

  • For example, you can now easily send an Advance Ship Notice only to the contacts identified for a specific SHIP TO location.

  • The Kore Contacts screen now includes a SHIP TO field so you can associate individual contacts with specific ship to locations.

KommerceServer News

New release of webTeam

We recently announced a new release of webTeam, our collaborative software solution. This new version of webTeam provides many new features and strengthens the product's collaboration capabilities. Making its debut in October during the Epicor Perspectives Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, the latest release of webTeam has generated a lot of interest with its new features, ease of use, and affordability. Here's a summary of the new features:

• Request Forms Management

• Document Workflow

• Document Sharing using Microsoft's WebDAV technology

• Discussion forums and Announcements

• Customizable Workgroup Portals

webTeam is designed for team collaboration and uses a Web-based interface to provide easy access to anyone on the team–anywhere, anytime. Teams are able to collaborate more effectively and efficiently because information is organized and stored in a central repository for fast, easy, and secure access by authorized users. For more information please visit the webTeam product pages.

webTeam Special offer.

For a limited time, we are offering webTeam at a promotional price of only $5,000!* This includes unlimited users for one business unit, additional business units are only $2,000. Please contact us for additional information.

For more information on any of the above products or our services, call us at 866-763-KORE (5673) or contact us at sales@koretech.com.

Tech Tip: Using BY-EXP to Explode Multi-values

By Frank Kertai

The IBM UniData and UniVerse (U2) relational database (RDBMS) environments (used by the DataFlo ERP application) are often referred to as “MultiValue” (MV) databases. One reason they are referred to this way is because the database has an inherent capability to store “like” or “related” data in fields (attributes) which are related to each other. In these instances, multiple values of the same “type” of data are stored in one field (attribute). These “related” fields are often referred to as “datasets”.

A good example of storing related sets of data in a record in the DataFlo ERP package is the BOM (Bill of Material) file. The BY-EXP modifier is a very useful tool for “exploding” these multi-value datasets and making them behave as if each sub-value set of data is an individual record. This tech tip describes the use of the BY-EXP modifier using the BOM (Bill of Material) data file as an example.  Read the Tech Tip.

Please contact us at support@koretech.com if you would like to share one of your Tech Tips or need help solving a technical challenge. We would be happy to help you.

Holiday Season Tips from Kore Technologies

Here are a few tips from the Kore Team we hope you will find useful during this holiday season.

From John Bosley - Stocking Tips and More

When the kids were small, we learned a couple of powerful lessons. We put the kids stockings in their rooms where they could get them in the morning and possibly let us sleep until the sun was up. We stopped putting loads of candy in the stockings—unless you've found a way to power your Christmas lights with your kids, predawn candy orgies are a bad thing. We put something very engaging in the stocking that was calculated to occupy the curious, fun-loving young mind for long, quiet periods. These aren't the lessons we learned; they are the failed strategies. We learned that it doesn't matter how late you may have been up Christmas Eve wrapping and assembling, Christmas morning cannot be delayed. We also learned that it's fun to start opening presents on Christmas Adam (my wife's invention). We open one gift on Christmas Adam, one on Christmas Eve, and bury ourselves in paper on Christmas morning.

From Paul Trebbien - Packing the Lights

Packing up the Outside Christmas Lights used to be such a chore as I tried putting them back into the boxes and then just winding them around the boxes. A few years ago I realized I could just roll them up in a ball. I have 2 long lines of lights, one has 4 strings of bulbs and the other has 5 strings. I take them down from the house and then simply start at the end furthest from the electric outlet and roll the string up in a big ball (about 10-12 inches in diameter). Note, when unrolling the ball of lights the next year wait until you have them mostly unrolled before plugging the string into the electric outlet as the ball of lights gets very hot! Also, I use a couple of cheap electrical timers to turn my Christmas lights on and off instead of having to plug and unplug them every day.

From Keith Lambert - Reduce Holiday Stress

The Holidays can be a demanding time of the year and there's often more to do than time available. Tis the Season to be Jolly, right? Well sometimes it's easier said than done. Here are some tips can help keep you jolly.

• Be courteous to others and keep your sense of humor. A little smile and some common courtesy can go a long way.

• Have a realistic plan. This will reduce the strain of juggling tasks, duties, errands and appointments.

• Stick to your lists and your budget. Overspending is a common source of Holiday stress. Remember that the point of the season is to show care.

• Manage choices and learn how to say "no" to less important activities. Don’t over-schedule and run down your batteries.

• Plan parties or shopping trips with family and friends, in order to cut down on the number of events and responsibilities.

• Establish your own standards, and don’t be governed by other’s expectations or demands.

• Ask for help, don't expect others to read your mind. No one can do it all alone so look for people or services that can help you.

• Schedule some "down time" to use for rest and reflection.

• Get plenty of sleep. Trying to get more done by staying up later usually results in more stress. You will need your reserves.

• Don’t skip meals or live on snacks because you are too busy. You will need the energy a good diet provides, not the highs and lows that holiday snacks give you.

• Don’t sacrifice your exercise program as you get busier.

Holiday Tipping

You probably depend on the services of such people as day-care workers, baby-sitters, lawn-service personnel, barbers, pet-groomers, et al. These people would all appreciate a special "thank you" this time of year, but what's the right tip amount? Well, here are some basic guidelines you can use, these are not hard-and-fast rules, but a little hard currency is a universally appreciated gift. How much you give is largely a product of what you can afford and the quality of the service you receive.

• $25 for those individuals who keep you looking your personal best (e.g., the hairdresser, barber or manicurist). The proper holiday tip is equal to the cost of one visit if you go frequently and $20 to $25 if you only go occasionally.
• $10 to $20 or a small gift for your child's primary day-care worker.
• For baby-sitters, one to two evenings' pay plus a small gift from your child, depending on how often they sit. If they come to your home every day, a week's worth of pay, plus a small gift is appropriate.
• $20 - $50 for your lawn and garden care service person, depending on weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly service.
• $10 -$20 for the person who delivers your newspaper or your laundry, depending on whether you get daily or weekend-only service.
• One day's pay for someone who works for you once a week, such as a cleaning person, but, someone who works for you five days a week, such as a nanny, one week's salary is standard, although some people believe in giving two.
• The Postal Service discourages gifts but your mail carrier is allowed to accept non-cash gifts worth less than $20 (e.g., cookies, chocolate, or gift certificates).
• Other people you may want to think about tipping could be your: Pet groomer; Dog Walker, Fitness trainer, Auto Mechanic; Auto Detailer; Pest-control service person. A rule of thumb on all of these is simple: The cost of one visit or treatment is usually suitable.

Of course, gratuities are intended to express thanks for services provided beyond the call of duty. So don't feel pressured to provide a tip or gift if you're unhappy with the service you're getting or if you're just broke.  A thoughtfully worded card also can convey a jolly holiday message. But remember, if during the holidays you treat people who give you good service, they will be very loyal to you from then on. You can find a more information on this if you just search the Web, checkout MSN Money for some additional tips too.

Paul's Corner

Happy Holidays Everyone! I wanted to let you know that the Monster Truck I built for my grandson (see picture in the last issue) has taken a lickin and keeps on tickin! My grandson was visiting us over the weekend and had brought the truck with him. I did note a few dings in the truck and wondered what he crashed it into. Later, I’m out working in the garage and he’s out front riding his scooter and yells, “Grandpa, come watch me”. I rounded the corner to find him atop the front porch with a board placed over the steps. He yells, “Watch Grandpa” and shot off the porch, down the board, and down the sidewalk… Hmmm, 11 more years until he gets his Drivers License!

Right now, in my shop, I’m working on making Christmas presents from wood: a half dozen picture frames, a couple of marking tools (for marking straight lines on wood), a couple of cars, and some Holiday ornaments. When these are finished, my wife mentioned she and our daughter would like jewelry boxes…

Well, we’re sneaking up on Year End for lots of companies. Need help? They used to call me “Mr. General Ledger” in the DataFlo Tech Support center and I’d be very happy to lend a hand, please call or send me an e-mail. What "exactly" does that Year End process do? Most systems work roughly the same just the file names are different to "protect the innocent" I suppose. Anyway, here’s what happens during the DataFlo Year End process:

1. The process verifies that the General Ledger is in Period 12. If not in period 12 the process will allow you to continue (possibly you’re changing the fiscal year to begin in a different month or maybe changing to conform to the mother company's fiscal year).

2. Checks to see if the Year End process has already been run—you can’t run it twice.

3. If the Fixed Assets module is installed, lists the period information for Fixed Assets and asks if you wish to continue.

4. All main GL files are archived (copied to a historical type file).

5. The Fiscal Year Structure (table of period date ranges) is built for the New Year and the Current Period is set to 1.

6. If the Fixed Assets module is installed then the periods on the table are set to 0.

7. The GL file (Account data for periods) is readied for the New Year. Beginning balances are setup, Income & Expense accounts are closed with the net difference posted to the beginning balance of the Current Profit account in the New Year.

8. And lastly the Reversal Journals for the period 12 Accrual Journals are copied into the Journal file, ready to post into period 1 of the New Year.

If you’re in San Diego this February, please stop by our booth at the International Spectrum Conference and Exhibition and say “Hi”. I’m always very happy to meet people, answer questions, and show off our software—so please find me.

Please remember, “Great Service to your Customer is always rewarded”.

Paul’s Questions and Answers

I always enjoy answering your questions!  So everyone, if there’s a question you have on how something works, e-mail it to me – pault@koretech.com.  I hope you find these useful:

Question:  We have loaded the accounts from the old server onto a new server but I am running into a problem during testing where an error message is returned with SUBSTRINGSH not being cataloged or something in it. How can I fix this problem?

Answer: Logon to a user account and enter “LIST AR-INVOICE FREIGHT_AMT”, do you get the error message?  If so, then to fix this logon to the PREVIEW account and use the UV.CATALOG command as shown:

 > UV.CATALOG

Catalog name or LOCAL = -SUBSTRINGSH
File name             = PV-PROGS
Program name          = HW.SUBSTRINGSH

Verify that the LIST statement works and you are done!

Question:  How do we enter a journal to adjust the prior year?

Answer:   For the DataFlo users, in the Journal Entry screen set the Year to the Prior Year and use PY as the Journal Code (Prior Year), enter your accounts and debit/credit dollars, when you file this screen it will realize that you are creating a prior year journal and will offer to create a Beginning Balance Adjusting Journal (from your entry) into the new year. Simply answer Y (unless you wish to manually enter that BB journal) and it’s done (prior year adjusted, Beginning Balances adjusted). Be sure to post both the prior year and new years Journals. Note, for older DataFlo releases you must Change the Accounting Year to that prior year before entering the adjusting journal entry, it sets the year for the Journal, for posting journals, and running month end.

Question:  We have loaded wIntegrate5.1 and the DataWorks Utilities disk (v2.02) on a new PC. When we logon to a DataFlo account the screen is pink and blue, what do we do? We tried to set the colors but got an error message about PV.COLORS.

Answer: The problem can be resolved by doing the following:

1. Logon to any DataFlo account and go to TCL

2. From the wIntegrate <Setup> menu choose “Application”

3. Click the <Folders> tab

4. You should see a “V4.0 Compatible” button, click it

5. Answer “Yes” to question regarding compatible with 4.1.0 version

6. Click the “OK” button.

7. Now, click on the DataFlo ‘PV Colors’ application (next to wIntegrate’s pull down menus) and set the color scheme to Standard, click the “Apply Button”, and the “OK” button.

If you have any questions or comments about our newsletter, please send an email to kore_newsletter@koretech.com. We want your feedback.

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