home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
HomeWare 14
/
HOMEWARE14.bin
/
accounts
/
bom42.arj
/
BOM4.DOC
< prev
next >
Wrap
Text File
|
1993-01-22
|
109KB
|
2,645 lines
USER GUIDE
BOX OFFICE MANAGER
Version 4.2
BOX OFFICE UTILITIES
Version 2.0
BOX OFFICE MANAGER SEATING CONFIGURATION UTILITY
Version 1.0
BOX OFFICE MANAGER BLOCK TICKET PRINTING UTILITY
Version 1.1
Copyright (C) 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993
by
Jerold A. Garber
All Rights Reserved
/\
/ \
/ \
/\ \ /\
/ \ /\/\ / /\
/\ / \/ \ /\/ \
/\/\ / \ / \
/ \ / \/ \
/ \ / / \
/ \ / / \
/ \ / \
/ \ / \
/ \ / \
/ \ / \
=====================================================
FOOTHILLS SOFTWARE
1515 Shenandoah Drive
Boise, Idaho 83712
(208) 336-3539
Table of Contents
1.0 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1.1 Program Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
2.0 Files and Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
2.1 Distribution Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
2.2 Copying Distribution Files . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
2.3 Program Generated Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
2.4 Installation and Starting the Program . . . . . . 5
2.5 Configuring the Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
2.6 Color Monitor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
2.7 Printing Tickets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
2.71 Ticket Styles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
2.72 Enhanced Ticket Printing . . . . . . . . . . 7
2.73 Ticket Envelope Labels . . . . . . . . . . . 7
2.8 Database Entries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
2.9 Creating Account Numbers . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
3.0 Season Identifier Number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
4.0 Season Tickets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
4.1 Season Ticket Pricing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
5.0 Single Event Pricing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
6.0 Top Level Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
7.0 Seating Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
8.0 Performances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
8.1 Creating Performances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
8.2 Deleting Performances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
8.3 Displaying Season Shows . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
9.0 Reservations and Ticketing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
9.1 Displaying Available Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
9.11 Reservation/Ticket Type Symbols . . . . . . 13
9.2 Selecting A Seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
9.21 Selecting a Single Seat . . . . . . . . . . 14
9.22 Selecting a Group of Seats . . . . . . . . . 16
9.23 Multiple Events Seat Selection . . . . . . . 17
9.3 Returning Tickets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
9.4 House Ticket Printing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
10.0 Customer Database . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
10.1 Account Numbering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
10.2 Listing the Customer Records . . . . . . . . . . 20
10.3 Finding a Customer Record . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
10.4 Adding a Customer Record . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
10.5 Updating Customer Records . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
10.6 Deleting a Customer Record . . . . . . . . . . . 21
10.7 Rebuilding the Customer Index . . . . . . . . . . 21
10.8 Customer Lists and Directories . . . . . . . . . 22
10.9 Season Tickets and the Database . . . . . . . . . 22
11.0 Utilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
11.1 Program and Ticket Configuration . . . . . . . . 23
11.2 Displaying Season Shows . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
11.3 Reports by Box Office Manager . . . . . . . . . . 24
11.4 Test Ticket Printing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
12.0 Box Office Utilities Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
12.1 End of Season Cleanup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
12.2 Deleting Database Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
12.3 Annual Statistics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
12.4 Customer Printouts Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
12.5 Season Shows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
12.6 Reset Account Number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
13.0 Box Office Manager Seating Configuration Utility . . . 27
14.0 Box Office Manager Block Ticket Printing Utility . . . 29
14.1 General Admission Tickets . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
14.2 Reserved Seat Tickets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
15.0 Tutorials - A Step By Step Approach . . . . . . . . . 30
15.1 Reserving a Single Seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
15.2 Reserving a Group of Seats . . . . . . . . . . . 32
15.3 Reservations for Multiple Events . . . . . . . . 33
15.4 Making Database Entries when Reserving Seats . . 35
15.5 Making Database Entries with Automatic Account
Numbering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
16.0 Custom Programming Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
APPENDIX A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
APPENDIX B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
APPENDIX C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
^/\ FS /\^ Box Office Manager ^/\ FS /\^
1.0 Introduction
Box Office Manager and Box Office Utilities together comprise a
complete system for managing the ticketing, reporting and many
related functions of any box office.
The original version of the software was developed in 1989-90 and
was installed at Boise Little Theatre in 1990. The program has
been refined over the years, often in response to suggestions
from our clients. The current version represents the latest
generation of a thoroughly tested product that is in use around
the United States and overseas.
The guiding concept behind the development of Box Office Manager
has been to offer a reliable product at a price well within reach
of small community theatres, schools, any group needing an easy
to use system for event reservations/ticketing. One of the means
of keeping the price affordable is the elimination of expensive
items that do not contribute to the operation of the program.
That is why this user guide is a disk file that can be printed as
often as needed rather than a printed and bound guide that is
expensive to produce and difficult to keep up to date.
Foothills Software is owned by the Garber family. Jerry Garber
is the author of the program and in "real life" is the General
Manager of the public television network in Idaho. That is why
we provide telephone support from home most evenings and
weekends. When you call you will not have to deal with someone
who isn't thoroughly familiar with the program; the author is the
service department as well.
The complete collection of programs is priced at $349.95. It
includes a license to install the programs on any single computer
for the purpose of managing ticketing for any single "house."
There is nothing else to buy except ticket stock and that is very
affordable too. (See Appendix A for details about obtaining
ticket stock.) If you need to manage tickets for more than one
location, please write or telephone for pricing information.
Making a backup copy of the distribution diskettes for safety
purposes is also permitted and encouraged. The complete license
agreement appears as Appendix B.
We think it important to also keep your software current at
affordable prices. The price for revised versions of the program
is guaranteed at $5.00 each for the next two release versions.
Revised versions have been released about annually as new
features have been suggested, tested and incorporated.
If you have the demonstration version of the software you have a
fully functioning program that can utilize sample files included
^/\ FS /\^ User Guide Page 1 ^/\ FS /\^
^/\ FS /\^ Box Office Manager ^/\ FS /\^
on your distribution diskette. The utility programs that allow
configuring the seating arrangement for your particular house,
mass ticket printing, season reporting and file maintenance, and
customer list generation are included with the full version only.
1.1 Program Features
The registered client version (complete) program contains all of
the following features. The [*] notation means that the
demonstration version does not include that particular feature.
Handles completely reserved seating for up to 4,800 seats.
[*] Printing of non-reserved serial numbered tickets.
[*] Seating plan is fully user customizable.
Each user defined section is displayed at once on screen.
Up to 6 different ticket prices are permitted per section.
Season ticketing for two different seasons.
Complimentary ticketing is provided.
Multiple events can be ticketed at once.
Group ticketing is provided to speed group sales.
Ticket printing on the spot at the option of the user, or
[*] Advance printing of all tickets for later sale.
All tickets returnable.
Customer database will accommodate over 2 billion records.
[*] Customer directory and listing printouts.
[*] Customer mailing labels.
On screen and printed reports for each event.
[*] Multiple event composite reports.
[*] End of season file maintenance.
User guide on disk provides copies as needed.
Sample files for demonstration and practice.
^/\ FS /\^ User Guide Page 2 ^/\ FS /\^
^/\ FS /\^ Box Office Manager ^/\ FS /\^
No exotic hardware requirements. IBM compatible, DOS 2.1
or later, optional color monitor, hard disk recommended.
Telephone support at no charge except your telephone costs.
Completely menu driven. No special training required.
2.0 Files and Installation
In addition to the files included on your distribution diskette,
Box Office Manager will generate several files that are stored in
the same directory as the main program. The number of files
generated varies with the number of events in your season.
After the files are copied from the distribution diskette, the
program may be configured to suit your preferences. Sections 2.1
through 5.0 cover the files, copying and program configuration
options.
2.1 Distribution Files
Box Office Manager is distributed as several files. Here is a
listing of the files and a description of what each contains:
BOM4.EXE - The main program
BOM4.DOC - This user guide
HALLPLAN.FIL - A sample "house" data file
SECPLAN1.FIL - A sample seating section file
SECPLAN2.FIL - A second seating section file
PERFINDX.FIL - A sample performance index file
REGISTER.FRM - An order form for the full version
BOM_READ.1ST - An information/update file
The registered client version also includes the following files:
BOU.EXE - A collection of useful utilities
BOM4SC.EXE - The program to set up your house seating
BOM4TICK.EXE - House reserved & serial ticket printing
(*) CONVERT1.EXE - Converts earlier version data files
(*) CONVERT2.EXE - Completes updating (*) when needed
2.2 Copying Distribution Files
Copying the Box Office Manager distribution files to your
computer is very simple. The following assumes you are using a
computer with a hard disk. Box Office Manager will run fine from
a floppy disk, but a hard disk is recommended. Check your
computer or operating system guide if you need help copying
files, but here is the general procedure.
^/\ FS /\^ User Guide Page 3 ^/\ FS /\^
^/\ FS /\^ Box Office Manager ^/\ FS /\^
1. From your root directory make a new directory called
BOM. Type the DOS command "md \bom" then press Enter.
2. Change to the new directory. Type "cd \bom" and press
Enter.
3. Insert the distribution diskette in your floppy drive.
If your floppy drive is drive A: then type "copy a:*.*"
and press Enter. Substitute your drive designator for
"A:" if your drive is some other letter. The files
will be displayed on your monitor as they are copied.
4. Be sure to tuck your distribution diskette away for
safe keeping.
2.3 Program Generated Files
Box Office Manager will generate the following files:
BOMCNFIG.FIL - Program configuration choices file
SEASON.FIl - Information about the current season
PRICES.FIL - Ticket pricing data
HALLPLAN.FIL - Configuration of your house seating
PERFINDX.FIL - Index to performance data
SECPLANx.FIL - Section seating data where x = section
BOMACCT#.FIL - Account index file
CUSTACCT.IDX - Customer database index
CUSTNAME.IDX - Customer database index
CUSTOMER.DAT - Customer database data file
MONJAN01.8P - Example of a performance file
MONJAN01.8$$ - Example of a performance report file
The last two file types will exist for each event. The
performance file will be created when you set up a performance
for ticketing. The performance report file is written when you
request a report for a given performance. Subsequent reports for
that performance overwrite the previous file. There will be many
pairs of performance and performance report files if you have an
extensive season.
All program generated files must be accessible to the program,
that is in the same directory as the program files.
Your data files are important to you. For that reason you should
make frequent backups of the data files on your hard disk. There
are many excellent backup programs available as well as those
available in your operating system. During a busy season it is
recommended that the last event of the day be the backup of your
data files. Remember disk drives do, alas, sometimes fail.
^/\ FS /\^ User Guide Page 4 ^/\ FS /\^
^/\ FS /\^ Box Office Manager ^/\ FS /\^
2.4 Installation and Starting the Program
Once the files have been copied to your working disk, normally
your hard disk, you are ready to begin the installation process.
It is a good idea to consider the configuration decisions in
advance so that you will be able to complete the installation to
suit your application and wishes. So, read this section through
before proceeding.
During the installation process several files are created by Box
Office Manager. Some of the files are created based on your
answers to specific questions. If you aren't absolutely sure
about an item, don't worry about it too much. You can always
change your mind later as you will see.
The following sections will take you through the installation
process you will encounter when running Box Office Manager for
the first time.
To start the program type "bom4" and press Enter.
2.5 Configuring the Program
The basic program configuration is completed based on your
answers to nine (9) basic questions you'll see as soon as you
start the program the first time, and, thereafter, each time you
change the program configuration at the Utilities Menu. The
configuration choices as they appear on screen when you are
making them are illustrated in Figure 1.
When you have answered all the configuration questions, you are
asked if you want to save them. If you select "y" the file is
created, otherwise you are taken to the first question and the
configuration choices process is repeated until you accept and
save your entries. When the process is complete the program
notifies you by displaying "Choices filed."
^/\ FS /\^ User Guide Page 5 ^/\ FS /\^
^/\ FS /\^ Box Office Manager ^/\ FS /\^
...............................................................
Box Office Manager - Program Configuration Choices
Color display? y/n
Print tickets?
Label style tickets?
Stock form tickets?
Enhanced ticket print?
Print envelope label?
Full database entries?
Short database entries?
Create account numbers?
Save these choices?
Press Y for Yes or N for No
..............................................................
Figure 1.
2.6 Color Monitor
If you have a color monitor we recommend that you select "y"
(yes) when choosing configuration options. Box Office Manager
makes extensive use of color to aid in quickly picking out
information from screen displays. If you do not utilize a color
display, selecting "n" will provide a better screen display.
2.7 Printing Tickets
Box Office Manager is designed to permit ticketing at the time
the seat is reserved or tickets can be printed in advance and the
reservation entered without printing a ticket "on the spot." If
you wish to print tickets as the seats are reserved, then select
"y" when prompted during program configuration. Ticket printing
can be turned on and off as desired.
2.71 Ticket Styles
Two ticket styles are available. The "Label" style is designed
to print a ticket on a standard mailing label - 3 1/2" x 15/16".
You should buy labels packaged one across. This very common
^/\ FS /\^ User Guide Page 6 ^/\ FS /\^
^/\ FS /\^ Box Office Manager ^/\ FS /\^
label style is an option useful for groups who wish to mail a
ticket(s) to a customer by simply sticking them on the back of a
postcard.
Most groups will opt for using the professional ticket stock
available through Premier Southern Ticket Company. (For more
information see Appendix A). Selecting "Stock form" tickets will
configure Box Office Manager to use this attractive stock.
You may choose to print a sample ticket on regular paper to get a
better idea of the two different styles. You may change your
mind about which style to use whenever you like.
If you tell Box Office Manager you want to print tickets, the
program will insist that you use one style or the other; the
program won't let you confuse it by selecting both.
2.72 Enhanced Ticket Printing
If you'd like your tickets printed using double strike to produce
a darker print on most dot matrix printers, select enhanced
printing. The enhanced option will slow your printer a little
and may not be desirable on a very busy night. You will want to
experiment a little on your own. As is true of all the basic
program configuration choices, you can change your mind later.
2.73 Ticket Envelope Labels
Some groups like to pull and hold tickets for pick up by
customers at the box office. If you have pre-printed your
tickets, or otherwise decided you don't need point of sale
ticketing, then you may elect to print an envelope label for each
ticketing transaction instead. If you do decide to print
reservation/ticket envelope labels, you will be prompted for a
customer name for the label at the time the reservation is
completed.
You may not select envelope label printing if you have already
selected ticket printing.
2.8 Database Entries
You may select from two different types of database entries, a
short entry or a full customer data entry. See Section 10 for
additional information about the Box Office Manager customer
database.
^/\ FS /\^ User Guide Page 7 ^/\ FS /\^
^/\ FS /\^ Box Office Manager ^/\ FS /\^
2.9 Creating Account Numbers
Box Office Manager will automatically create an account number
for each customer at the time a ticketing transaction is
completed. The account number is made up of the season
identifier (more about that later), the number of the event, the
seating section, row and seat. In the case of group or multiple
event transactions the account number is based on the first
assigned seat and event. If you utilize Automatic Account
Numbering, then Box Office Manager will also keep track of all
seats reserved in that transaction as part of the customer record
created for that transaction.
If you don't choose to utilize Automatic Account Numbering, you
may create a numbering system of your own and enter account
numbers when prompted. Suggestions for account numbering are
included in Section 10.1.
3.0 Season Identifier Number
The first time your run Box Office Manager you will be prompted
to enter a season identifier number. The number can be changed
for succeeding seasons by using Box Office Utilities and is part
of the regular end of season maintenance procedures handled by
that program. The season identifier number can be any number
between 0 and 99. You should plan on using a different
identifier number for each season. If you use Box Office
Utilities to clean up at the end of a season, you will be
prompted to enter a season identifier the next time you run Box
Office Manager.
4.0 Season Tickets
Box Office Manager is designed to handle three different season
ticket arrangements. Two season ticket options are for
traditional ticketing and reporting. They are identified as
"Season 1" and "Season 2." The third option is for a "Flex
Pass."
Many theatres elect to utilize two different length seasons. For
example, Boise Little Theatre sometimes offers a seventh show as
an option. In those seasons Season 1 is for all seven
productions, that is including the optional show. Season 2 does
not include the optional event. Obviously the two seasons need
to be priced differently and Box Office Manager does that by
allowing two different season prices.
The Flex Pass is a punch card system that allows a patron to
purchase a number of seats to be used as desired. For example,
if the Flex Pass is good for six (6) seats, a Flex Pass holder
^/\ FS /\^ User Guide Page 8 ^/\ FS /\^
^/\ FS /\^ Box Office Manager ^/\ FS /\^
could utilize the purchased seats for three seats in each of two
different shows, or four seats in one show and two in another,
and so forth. If you don't need Flex Pass type ticketing, then a
third traditional season arrangement could be utilized.
4.1 Season Ticket Pricing
When entering prices for season tickets enter the total price for
all events not the amount for a single ticket. Box Office
Manager will automatically credit each event with a proportionate
share of the revenue generated by season ticket sales. If the
season ticket is something like $49.50, don't forget to enter the
decimal point. Do NOT include the "$" sign when entering prices.
It is possible to change the season ticket pricing whenever that
is necessary, but don't change it until all the reports have been
printed for that event or season or you may distort your revenue
reports.
5.0 Single Event Pricing
Box Office Manager will issue single reservations/tickets for
your events priced at any one of three (3) different prices that
you determine in advance. The prices can be changed as
necessary.
Box Office Manager will also provide reservations and ticketing
for complimentary seats.
It is also possible to remove any seat from the unsold inventory.
For example, if a particular event is staged in a way that
renders some seats unacceptable, those seats can be "blocked" so
they will not inadvertently be sold.
6.0 Top Level Menu
The Top Level Menu is the initial menu displayed when the program
is started (after the first time). It appears as figure 2. It
is recommended that the program be exited from this menu. That
will ensure that all data files have been written and
appropriately closed before the program terminates. Box Office
Manager has been designed to ensure data integrity under all
normal operating circumstances. However, it is always a good idea
to terminate program use by exiting properly.
^/\ FS /\^ User Guide Page 9 ^/\ FS /\^
^/\ FS /\^ Box Office Manager ^/\ FS /\^
..............................................................
Top Level Menu Box Office Manager 4.2
[T]icketing
[P]erformances Setup
[S]eating Configuration
[D]atabase
[U]tilities
E[X]it This Program
Press the [Letter] of your choice.
..............................................................
Figure 2.
When running the program for the first time it is important to
keep in mind that Box Office Manager needs certain information
before it is ready to handle seating reservation and ticketing.
It is important that the program know about the seating
arrangement for your house and about the date and time, etc. of
each performance. Be sure that you have completed all of the
preliminary work in [S]eating Configuration and [P]erformances
Setup before you plan to issue tickets or make reservations.
7.0 Seating Configuration
The Seating Configuration Menu is accessed by pressing "S" at the
Top Level Menu. Your seating data is stored in files that Box
Office Manager reads as needed. To view the standard house
seating file contents, press "V" at the Seating Configuration
Menu and you will be prompted to specify a particular section or
all sections in the house.
If you have the demonstration version of the program, you have a
set of sample files, including house seating files, for
experimenting with the program features. If you are a registered
client then you have the program BOM4SC.EXE. This program will
allow you to replace the sample files we've included with seating
files for your own particular house arrangement. The process of
entering the seating arrangement data is covered in Section 13.0
which deals with the Box Office Manager Seating Configuration
^/\ FS /\^ User Guide Page 10 ^/\ FS /\^
^/\ FS /\^ Box Office Manager ^/\ FS /\^
Utility.
8.0 Performances
Performance ticketing in Box Office Manager is accomplished based
on information you provide as you setup your season. Each
performance has a file associated with it and, optionally, a file
containing report information as well. The process of creating,
deleting if necessary, and viewing performance files is covered
in sections 8.1 through 8.3.
8.1 Creating Performances
It is necessary to create a performance file before ticketing
that performance. After Box Office Manager knows about your
seating arrangement (covered in section 7.0) it is ready to learn
about each performance that you wish to ticket. You may add
performances whenever you wish.
When you are ready to create a performance file select
[P]erformances Setup
at the Top Level Menu. Then select
[C]reate Performance File
at the Performance Setup Menu.
You will be prompted to enter the name of the show. Remember
that this is the name that will be printed on the ticket and in
reports. The name may be up to 30 characters long.
Box Office Manager will respond by telling you that seating data
has been written to the file for the number of sections you have
specified when you configured your house seating arrangement.
Next, you are prompted to enter the date of the performance. You
may use the format mm/dd/yy or mm-dd-yy to enter the date. When
the date has been accepted the program prompts for the time of
the performance. The format is: hh:mmx where x is "a" for a.m.
or "p" for p.m. Thus a performance at 8:15 in the evening would
be entered "8:15p" at the prompt.
Next, Box Office Manager wants to know if you want to use the
filed ticket prices, the single seat prices you specified at the
time you configured the program, or new single seat prices. Here
is a point where you will discover considerable flexibility built
into the program. If you wish to utilize the prices on file,
simply press "F" and those prices will apply to all seats in all
^/\ FS /\^ User Guide Page 11 ^/\ FS /\^
^/\ FS /\^ Box Office Manager ^/\ FS /\^
sections of the house. However, if you have, for example, a
section of seats that is a different price for an event or you
have a totally different set of single seat prices for the house,
select "N" to enter new prices for EACH section. In other words,
if you elect to use the filed prices, Box Office Manager uses
those prices for all single seat sales. But, if you decide to
enter new prices for that performance, Box Office Manager will
allow you specify single seat prices on a section by section
basis.
When you have entered all the necessary information, Box Office
Manager displays the name, date and time for the performance.
That performance is now ready for ticketing.
Box Office Manager will not let you create a performance on a
date and time for which a performance has already been created.
8.2 Deleting Performances
To delete a performance you are prompted to enter the date and
time of the performance. If Box Office Manager can find the
performance file, it will be deleted.
It is advisable to delete a performance only if it must actually
be cancelled. At the end of the season obsolete performance
files are deleted after final reports are prepared using Box
Office Utilities.
8.3 Displaying Season Shows
To display all the shows in the season, select
[D]isplay Season Shows
at either the Ticketing Menu or the Utilities Menu.
The display includes the event number which is created
automatically by the program, the name of the event, date, time
and the event status. The event status will be "Active" if the
event has not yet taken place, "Deleted" if it is no longer
available for ticketing, or "Closed" if it has taken place.
9.0 Reservations and Ticketing
The Ticketing Menu is displayed by pressing "T" at the Top Level
Menu. Several options are available at the Ticketing Menu
(Figure 3) and are described in the following sections.
^/\ FS /\^ User Guide Page 12 ^/\ FS /\^
^/\ FS /\^ Box Office Manager ^/\ FS /\^
..............................................................
Ticketing Menu Box Office Manager 4.2
[S]elect Seats
[R]eturn Tickets
[A]vailable Seats
[D]isplay Season Shows
[H]ouse Ticket Printing
E[X]it to Top Level Menu
Press the [Letter] of your choice.
..............................................................
Figure 3.
9.1 Displaying Available Seats
To view the available seating for any performance, press "A" at
the Ticketing Menu. The program will prompt for the number of
the event. If you don't know the number you may press "0" (zero)
to see a screen displaying all the events Box Office Manager
knows about.
When you have selected an event and entered the number, Box
Office Manager verifies the event by displaying the event number,
name, date and time. Pressing Enter will then display each
section of that event.
9.11 Reservation/Ticket Type Symbols
When displaying a section to reveal available seats, or when
ticketing, Box Office Manager substitutes the type of ticket
issued in place of the seat name for all seats ticketed in the
section. The ticket type appears as a symbol (see Figure 4).
^/\ FS /\^ User Guide Page 13 ^/\ FS /\^
^/\ FS /\^ Box Office Manager ^/\ FS /\^
..............................................................
$1 Single Seat - Price 1
$2 Single Seat - Price 2
$3 Single Seat - Price 3
S1 Season 1 Ticket
S2 Season 2 Ticket
FP Flex Pass Ticket
C Complimentary
B Seat is blocked - not to be ticketed
..............................................................
Figure 4.
9.2 Selecting A Seat
When Select Seats is chosen at the Ticketing Menu, a secondary
menu appears asking for which type of ticket - a single seat, a
group of seats in a row, or a single ticket for multiple events.
Figure 5 illustrates these menus.
..............................................................
[S]elect Seats
[R]eturn Tickets
[S]ingle - One Event
[A]vailable Seats [G]roup - One Event
[D]isplay Season Shows [M]ultiple Events
E[X]it
[H]ouse Ticket Printing
E[X]it to Top Level Menu
..............................................................
Figure 5.
9.21 Selecting a Single Seat
When "S" is pressed at the secondary ticketing menu, you are
prompted to enter the event number (or see a display of all
events). When you have verified the event a listing of the
sections in the house is displayed. Press the bracketed number
identifying the section you wish to ticket. That section is
displayed.
^/\ FS /\^ User Guide Page 14 ^/\ FS /\^
^/\ FS /\^ Box Office Manager ^/\ FS /\^
At the bottom of your screen you'll see a bar containing the
ticket types, a key to access the customer database, and a key to
exit. The numbers correspond to the Function Keys on your
computer keyboard, keys "F1" through "F10." In the case of the
three single seats, F1, F2 and F3, the prices of those tickets
for that section are also displayed. The chart in Figure 6
illustrates the use of each function key.
...............................................................
F1 Reserve a seat at single price 1
F2 Reserve a seat at single price 2
F3 Reserve a seat at single price 3
F4 Reserve a season 1 ticketed seat
F5 Reserve a season 2 ticketed seat
F6 Reserve a Flex Pass ticketed seat
F7 Reserve a Complimentary Ticket seat
F8 Seat will be blocked - do not reserve
F9 Provides access to the customer database
F10 The Exit key
...............................................................
Figure 6.
To select a ticket type, simply press the corresponding function
key.
When the type ticket has been selected Box Office Manager prompts
for the name of the Row. You may also press the Escape key to
change sections or quit. When the Row name is entered Box Office
Manager checks to see if the name is valid, and, if it is,
highlights that row name. The name of the seat is then entered
in the same fashion. The program will verify the seat requested
exists and is not yet ticketed (or blocked) and, if verified, the
ticket type symbol will replace the seat name.
If database entry was selected when the program was configured, a
customer data entry choice window will appear. It is illustrated
in Figure 7.
^/\ FS /\^ User Guide Page 15 ^/\ FS /\^
^/\ FS /\^ Box Office Manager ^/\ FS /\^
..............................................................
Customer Data
[A]dd [S]kip
..............................................................
Figure 7.
To add a database record press "A", or press "S" to skip the
database entry. If you have not selected Automatic Account
Numbering when you made your program configuration choices, then
you will see two more prompts as you conclude reserving/ticketing
seats. The next-to-the-last section ticketing prompt is to
indicate your choice to continue single seat ticketing in the
current section - selected by pressing Enter, or quit the section
- by pressing Escape. The final ticketing prompt is to choose to
continue ticketing the currently selected event/performance - by
pressing Enter. Pressing Escape at this prompt will quit
ticketing the event. If you have chosen Automatic Account
Numbering as a configuration option, these prompts are not
displayed so that the transaction for that account number, and
only that transaction, is stored in the database, filed under the
automatically generated account number.
When reservations/ticketing is completed for the section, the
total amount for the reservations entered is displayed.
If Box Office Manager has been configured to print tickets, each
ticket is printed as the reservation entries are completed.
9.22 Selecting a Group of Seats
Box Office Manager will permit group reservations and ticketing
on a row by row basis. That is, you may make group reservations
in any given row at one time. The procedure is in most respects
identical to a single seat reservation. The difference lies in
the seat selection steps. Instead of being prompted for a seat
name, as is the case in single seat selection, the program asks
"How many" and then "Start with" to prompt for the number of
seats in the group and the seat with which to start.
Box Office Manager checks each seat following the "start with"
selection, and if the seat has not been previously reserved or
blocked, it is then reserved. Previously reserved seats in the
row are automatically skipped and the process continues until the
number of seats requested has been reserved. If the number of
seats requested, or the starting seat, would not yield enough
available seats in the row, the program prompts until all OK.
^/\ FS /\^ User Guide Page 16 ^/\ FS /\^
^/\ FS /\^ Box Office Manager ^/\ FS /\^
If database entries are being utilized the program prompts for
that information just after the seats are identified and
reserved.
9.23 Multiple Events Seat Selection
Box Office Manager will permit selecting seats for multiple
events in one operation. This feature is designed to be used for
season ticketing. It is most effectively used at the start of
the reservations/ticketing process for a season.
The reason for the latter suggestion is that Box Office Manager
displays the seating availability for the first event requested
and then proceeds to make the same reservation in each of the
other requested events. The program does check each seat in
events after the first, as it normally does, and if it finds that
any event has already had the requested seat reserved (or
blocked) it will advise the user that the seat for that
particular event is not available. The program will check each
event and will reserve the requested seat in each event for which
that seat is not yet reserved. It is up to the user to note the
events that could not be handled and reserve seats for those
events using the single seat selection option.
Again, if the first item of business in the season is the
reservation of seats for season ticket holders, then it is
substantially less likely that a seat will not be available in
one or more events due to a prior reservation, barring an
event(s) that has seats blocked from reservations. Generally
seats are blocked from being reserved because of poor sight lines
or some similar reason. It's probably unlikely that your season
ticket holders would have seats in those areas.
The procedure for multiple event reservations/ticketing is
generally the same as for the other types of reservations. The
difference is that the user is first prompted for the numbers of
the events. A maximum of ten (10) events may be ticketed using
the multiple events procedure.
9.3 Returning Tickets
A reservation may be cancelled by selecting "R" at the Ticketing
Menu. The process is quite similar to reserving a single seat.
The user is prompted for the number of the event and that choice
is verified. Then the section, ticket type (using the F keys),
row and seat are requested by the program. The seat name the
program is looking for is the original seat name, don't enter the
ticket type symbol by mistake.
^/\ FS /\^ User Guide Page 17 ^/\ FS /\^
^/\ FS /\^ Box Office Manager ^/\ FS /\^
Box Office Manager checks to see everything matches as it should
and returns the seat to the available inventory.
When returns have been completed the program displays the amount
of credit for the returned seats. The program does not permit
database access at the time of returns. However, if Automatic
Account Numbering is being utilized the program does check the
database for an account number matching that seating information.
If it finds one, the record will be deleted. This is done to
permit the database to be updated when the seat is reserved
again. The database will not permit two identical account
numbers. Of course, an account numbering system you develop for
your use would not be affected by an automatic deletion.
Put another way, if the program is configured to utilize
Automatic Account Numbering at time of reservation, the program
will also delete any records it finds filed under that seat when
a ticket is returned. Other seats originally reserved as part of
a group or multiple event reservation are not affected. Tickets
are returned/reservations cancelled on a single seat basis.
9.4 House Ticket Printing
If you have the full version of Box Office Manager, you have the
program BOM4TICK.EXE. To print the entire reserved seat
inventory for any event, or to print any number of non-reserved,
serial numbered tickets you wish, exit Box Office Manager and run
BOM4TICK.EXE.
The command at the DOS prompt is "bom4tick" and press Enter.
10.0 Customer Database
Box Office Manager includes a full featured customer database
that will hold some 2 billion records. The database is accessed,
to add a customer, at the time of ticketing if that option is
enabled in the program configuration (see Section 2.8).
The Database Menu (Figure 8), selected by pressing "D" at the Top
Level Menu, provides the full range of database features.
^/\ FS /\^ User Guide Page 18 ^/\ FS /\^
^/\ FS /\^ Box Office Manager ^/\ FS /\^
...............................................................
Customer Database Menu Box Office Manager 4.2
[L]ist Customer Records
[F]ind a Record
[N]ext Customer Record
[P]revious Customer Record
[A]dd Customer Record
[U]pdate Customer Record
[D]elete Customer Record
[R]ebuild Customer Index
E[X]it to Top Level Menu
Press the [Letter] of your choice.
...............................................................
Figure 8.
10.1 Account Numbering
Box Office Manager is designed to permit automatic or manual
account numbering. Automatic Account Numbering is enabled ONLY
at database access when entering reservations.
If the database is centered on the assignment of seats, and you
intend to search for a particular seat to find a reservation
record, then the Automatic Account Numbering option may be best
for you. The automatically created account number is based on
the seat assigned for each single reservation, or the first seat
assigned for a group or multiple event transaction. The latter
points are important because you will not be able to search for a
seat assignment if it was not a single assignment or it was other
than the first assigned seat for group or multiple type
reservations. In other words, the account number is based on the
first seat assigned, and only the first seat, in any given
transaction. Please see Figure 9 for a detailed explanation of
the way Box Office Manager builds automatic account numbers.
Many of our clients have chosen to build their own account
numbers based on the way they wish to be able to locate customer
records. For example, some have used a combination of event,
seating and name. Box Office Manager will not permit duplicate
^/\ FS /\^ User Guide Page 19 ^/\ FS /\^
^/\ FS /\^ Box Office Manager ^/\ FS /\^
account numbers. So, if you decide to use your own account
number system, be sure there is no chance that a duplicate number
could be created. To aid in entering account numbers, Box Office
Manager will display the last assigned account number when
prompting for the user to enter an account number. Your account
number may consist of up to 15 characters, alpha and/or numeric.
...............................................................
Automatic Account Numbers Construction
01002L-C22
Characters 1 - 2 (01) = the season identifier number
Characters 3 - 5 (002) = the event number
Character 6 (L) = the section name
Characters 7 - 8 (-C) = the row name
Characters 9 - 10 (22) = the seat name
If a row name and/or a seat name is two characters in
length, then the dash (-) is not included. In the above
example the row name is actually only one character, so it
is preceded by a dash. An example with a two character
row name and a one character seat name appears below.
01012R14-J
...............................................................
Figure 9.
10.2 Listing the Customer Records
To list every customer in the database, in the order in which
they were entered, press "L" at the Database Menu. Pressing
Enter will continue displaying records to the end of the
database, one record at a time. You may press Escape at any time
to exit the listing procedure.
From the Database Menu it is also possible to view the next or
previous customer records (press "N" or "P").
10.3 Finding a Customer Record
Box Office Manager will search for customer records by account
number or by name. In the event there are duplicate names, the
program will always find the first instance of the name.
Duplicate account numbers are not permitted by the program and
for that reason the use of either the Automatic Account Numbering
feature, or entering non-duplicative account numbers of your
creation, is highly recommended. When "F" is pressed at the
Database Menu a second menu appears (Figure 10) to allow you to
choose how the database will be searched, account number or name.
^/\ FS /\^ User Guide Page 20 ^/\ FS /\^
^/\ FS /\^ Box Office Manager ^/\ FS /\^
If Box Office Manager cannot find a particular account number,
the program will show you the record for the next closest
("larger" as computers reason things) number it can find.
...............................................................
[A]ccount
[N]ame
E[X]it
...............................................................
Figure 10.
10.4 Adding a Customer Record
You may choose either a "short" entry or a "full" entry as a
program configuration option. The short entry prompts you to
enter an account number (unless you're using Automatic Account
Number creation - see section 10.1), customer name and a remark.
The full entry consists of the above, plus the customer address,
city, state, zip and telephone. The short option is provided to
speed up adding a customer record to the database at the time of
ticketing. Only adding customers is permitted during ticketing
and the option may be skipped at each transaction or turned off
completely.
See Section 2.8 for a discussion of adding a record to the
database at the time of reserving/ticketing.
10.5 Updating Customer Records
To update a customer record, select "U" at the Database Menu.
The user is prompted for the account number of the customer to be
updated. If Box Office Manager finds a record for the account
number entered, the record is updated in the same manner that a
new record is added to the database.
10.6 Deleting a Customer Record
To delete a customer record, press "D" at the Database Menu.
Enter the account number of the customer record to be deleted.
If Box Office Manager finds the record, it will be deleted.
10.7 Rebuilding the Customer Index
In the event the customer index files should be damaged, by a
power failure or similar occurrence, they may be reconstructed by
^/\ FS /\^ User Guide Page 21 ^/\ FS /\^
^/\ FS /\^ Box Office Manager ^/\ FS /\^
selecting "R" at the Database Menu. Box Office Manager will
notify the user of a successful reconstruction of the index
files.
10.8 Customer Lists and Directories
It is usually very useful to have printed lists of customer
records available. If you have the registered client version of
Box Office Manager, then you also have the Box Office Utilities.
You will find printing lists and directories of your customers is
very simple using features found in Box Office Utilities. See
the sections dealing with the utilities for information on these
features.
10.9 Season Tickets and the Database
The database is especially useful for handling records of season
reservations. Box Office Manager will permit ticketing a season
of up to 10 events in one transaction. If your season consists
of more than 10 events, consider using the second season ticket
for the remainder of a long season, or you may split your season
and enter an additional transaction(s).
The customer record will contain the event, section, seat and row
information for the seats reserved at the time the reservations
were entered, that is for that transaction. The use of the
Automatic Account Numbering feature, and adding the record when
reserving seating, are required to capture the complete seating
information in the database. All you'll need is the first event
seat information to be able to access the information about the
rest of the season reservations associated with that seat.
11.0 Utilities
NOTE: For utility features not discussed here, please see the
sections dealing with Box Office Utilities and related programs.
Box Office Manager includes in the utilities procedures the
features necessary for day to day use of the program. The
Utilities Menu appears as Figure 11.
^/\ FS /\^ User Guide Page 22 ^/\ FS /\^
^/\ FS /\^ Box Office Manager ^/\ FS /\^
...............................................................
Utilities Menu Box Office Manager 4.2
[P]rogram Configuration
[S]eason Ticket Configuration
[F]ixed Ticket Configuration
[D]isplay Season Shows
[R]eports
[T]est Ticket Printing
E[X]it to Top Level Menu
Press the [Letter] of your choice.
...............................................................
Figure 11.
11.1 Program and Ticket Configuration
Selecting any of the configuration options at the Utilities Menu
(program, season ticket or fixed ticket) will bring up a
secondary menu as illustrated in Figure 12.
...............................................................
[V]iew Configuration
[C]hange Configuration
E[X]it
...............................................................
Figure 12.
To view the current configuration of the program press "V" or
press "C" to change the configuration group requested. The
changes are handled in exactly the same manner that the original
configuration choices were entered when the program was started
for the first time. See Section 2.5.
^/\ FS /\^ User Guide Page 23 ^/\ FS /\^
^/\ FS /\^ Box Office Manager ^/\ FS /\^
11.2 Displaying Season Shows
See Section 8.3.
11.3 Reports by Box Office Manager
NOTE: Registered clients will want to see the reports section in
Box Office Utilities for additional reporting options.
Box Office Manager will create a report for any event set up for
ticketing. It is possible, and often useful, to create a report
periodically during the time an event is being ticketed as a
means of spotting trends in customer purchasing, etc. You may
create as many reports as you wish, but remember to print a hard
copy of all reports you wish to keep as Box Office Manager over
writes the previous version of a report with each new one.
The total revenue reported for Season and Flex Pass sales is
calculated, on a per seat basis, by dividing the price of the
multiple seat (season or flex) ticket by the number of events
included on that ticket and then multiplying by the number of
seats sold. For example, a season ticket priced at $30.00 and
covering 6 events would yield revenue per seat of 30/6 = $5.00
revenue per seat x the number of seats.
Single seat revenue is the total number of seats sold in each
price category multiplied by the price of the single ticket.
Therefore, 100 single tickets priced at $7.50 = $750.00.
11.4 Test Ticket Printing
To print a test ticket press "T" at the Utilities Menu. The
ticket style printed depends on which style ticket has been
selected as part of the program configuration. If the printer is
on and the test ticket does not print, check to be sure that you
have configured the program to print tickets. Printing a test
ticket is a good idea when loading ticket stock for the start of
a session of reservations entering and/or ticket printing.
12.0 Box Office Utilities Program
NOTE: Box Office Utilities is not included with the
demonstration version of Box Office Manager.
Box Office Utilities is a program containing a collection of very
useful features that are indispensable for a smoothly functioning
box office, although the features are not generally used on an
every day basis. The Top Level Menu is in Figure 13.
^/\ FS /\^ User Guide Page 24 ^/\ FS /\^
^/\ FS /\^ Box Office Manager ^/\ FS /\^
...............................................................
Top Level Menu Box Office Utilities Version 2.0
[E]nd of Season Cleanup
[D]elete Database Files
[A]nnual Statistics
[C]ustomer Printouts Menu
[S]eason Shows
[R]eset Account Number
E[X]it This Program
Press the [Letter] of your choice.
...............................................................
Figure 13.
12.1 End of Season Cleanup
It is important that obsolete performance and pricing files be
deleted at the end of each season. This is important because Box
Office Manager will not create a performance file if a file
exists for that day and time, which means that a performance file
from a previous season might possibly conflict with a new
performance - unless the obsolete files are eliminated. Box
Office Utilities will handle that chore when you press "E" at the
Top Level Menu.
It is probably a good idea to keep backup copies of previous
season files for your records. We suggest that you make backups
of all files in your \BOM directory regularly and certainly at
the end of the season. Box Office Utilities cautions the user to
be sure that printed records have all been completed, too, before
proceeding with "cleanup" of the obsolete files.
The files that are eliminated at this procedure are the
performance files for all events, the index for those events,
revenue files and the fixed prices file. Entering new fixed
prices is quick and easy (see Section 11.1) and you will, of
course, need to create new performance files for the next season
events (see Section 8.1).
^/\ FS /\^ User Guide Page 25 ^/\ FS /\^
^/\ FS /\^ Box Office Manager ^/\ FS /\^
12.2 Deleting Database Files
Many theatres print mailing labels and lists of customers at the
end of a season for use in promoting, for example, season ticket
sales for the upcoming season. It is, of course, important that
the database records be utilized for those purposes before the
files are deleted. The new database files will contain only the
records for the new season as reservations are entered. If you
are utilizing Automatic Account Numbering then you will most
likely utilize this feature. If you are utilizing a permanent
database built around accounts not related to seating, then you
may not need this feature.
12.3 Annual Statistics
The Annual Statistics feature may actually be used as often as
you wish. For example, you may wish to have a composite report
of all performances of a particular play and would select a
report built around the events from the opening through the
closing date for that show. The Annual Statistics feature will
let you build reports around any two dates that you choose.
You should keep two things in mind when preparing to build an
annual report. First you must first have created, using Box
Office Manager, a report for each individual event to be included
in the annual report. Second, each new annual report overwrites
the previous version. So, if you want to keep an interim
composite report, be sure to print a hard copy of that report
prior to creating a new one.
Pressing "A" at the Top Level Menu prompts for a report displayed
on screen or printed and for the starting and ending dates for
the report you wish to create.
12.4 Customer Printouts Menu
Box Office Utilities will provide you with lists and directories
of all customer records in the database you create with Box
Office Manager. Pressing either "L", to create a customer list,
or "D" to create a customer directory, will bring up a second
menu that lets you select a list or directory sorted by either
the customer name or the account number.
The program will also provide you with a set of mailing labels
for your customers by pressing "M" at the printouts menu. The
program is designed to use the very common 3 1/2 x 15/16 inch
labels, tractor feed, one across.
^/\ FS /\^ User Guide Page 26 ^/\ FS /\^
^/\ FS /\^ Box Office Manager ^/\ FS /\^
12.5 Season Shows
This feature duplicates the season shows display feature in Box
Office Manager. See Section 8.3.
12.6 Reset Account Number
If you are manually entering account numbers as you utilize the
database, you are prompted, at the timne of the entry, for a new
account number. The last assigned number is displayed. Should
you wish to reset the last assigned account number display prompt
to "0", press "R" to do so.
13.0 Box Office Manager Seating Configuration Utility
NOTE: This program is not included with the demonstration
version of Box Office Manager.
To run the seating configuration utility at the DOS prompt type
"bom4sc" and press Enter. If the program finds seating
configuration files you are cautioned that proceeding will create
new files, replacing the existing files. If you have been
utilizing the demonstration version of Box Office Manager you
will likely see this prompt because the program has found the
sample seating files you received. If you are ready to create
your own seating arrangement to use with Box Office Manager,
press "Y" to continue with the program. Pressing "N" will exit
the program and existing files will not have been affected.
It is entirely possible that you'll run the seating configuration
utility (BOM4SC.EXE) only once. However, keep it available just
in case there is a major change in your seating pattern. If the
changes in your seating are relatively minor, for example
different seats held from sale for sight lines reasons, it is
quicker to just block out the seats you don't want to sell.
What follows is the process for configuring your own set of
seating files so Box Office Manager will know exactly what your
house "looks like."
If your hall seating arrangement follows the most common
conventions, that is straight alpha or numeric row and seat
names, then use the automatic naming option when prompted. You
will only need to tell Box Office Manager if the rows and seats
are named alphabetically or numerically, the number of rows, and
the number of seats in each row. This method is quite a bit
faster than the manual entry method. However, if your row or
seat naming scheme is some combination of alpha and numeric, as
in "5A", you'll need to use the following manual entry method.
Also, if your seating arrangement is more irregular, table
^/\ FS /\^ User Guide Page 27 ^/\ FS /\^
^/\ FS /\^ Box Office Manager ^/\ FS /\^
seating for instance, you may find the manual method best.
The process of configuring the seating plan for your house takes
some time - not a lot - but enough to require some advance
planning. To set up your files you'll need the following:
1. Make a diagram of your seating arrangement unless it's
very simple and consistent. (The sample files are for
Boise Little Theatre and a diagram was very handy when
the data was entered.)
2. You'll need each section, row and seat name.
Box Office Manager will accept seating divided into as many as
eight (8) sections. The maximum number of rows per section is
24. And the maximum number of seats per row is 25. If your
seating arrangement exceeds those limits, you can usually
overcome the limitation by dividing your traditional section into
sub sections. For example, if you presently have a section that
is 40 rows with 50 seats per row that you designate as section L,
you could divide that section so Box Office Manager can display
it. Section 1 could contain rows 1-20, seats 1-25. Similarly 2
could contain rows 1-20, seats 26-50; 3 rows 21-40, seats 1-25;
4 rows 21-40, seats 26-50.
Box Office Manager will handle a house with reserved seating up
to 4,800 seats. (8 sections x 24 rows x 25 seats = 4,800)
If you can't use the automatic seat naming procedure, the
following manual method will be necessary. Keep in mind that the
name you provide for your house is the name that will appear on
printed tickets. Box Office Manager will truncate any name that
exceeds the maximum length of 30 characters.
The manual method prompts for the number of seating sections.
When you enter the number (maximum of 8) the program responds
that the file has been created. The next prompt asks for the
name of the first section. It may be any alpha or numeric
character. The program shows you the hall and section being
configured and prompts for the number of rows in the section.
When the number (maximum 24) is entered the program asks for the
number of seats in a given row and then for each seat name
(maximum two characters).
The display indicates the status of your naming entries.
The foregoing steps are repeated, section by section, until each
section, row and seat have been named.
The program advises when the files have been created.
^/\ FS /\^ User Guide Page 28 ^/\ FS /\^
^/\ FS /\^ Box Office Manager ^/\ FS /\^
It will probably take about a half-hour to enter a house of some
350 seats using the manual method.
14.0 Box Office Manager Block Ticket Printing Utility
NOTE: This program is not included with the demonstration
version of Box Office Manager.
The block ticket printing utility will provide you with a
complete set of tickets for any performance you have set up with
Box Office Manager, with General Admission serial numbered
tickets for events not requiring reserved seating, and sets of
standby reserved seat tickets for use as desired.
The Top Level Menu for the program is in Figure 14.
...............................................................
Box Office Manager Block Ticket Printing Utility 1.1
[G]eneral Admission Tickets
[R]eserved Seat Tickets
E[X]it This Program
Press the [Letter] of your choice.
...............................................................
Figure 14.
14.1 General Admission Tickets
The ticket printing utility will print blocks of non-reserved,
serial numbered tickets for your use for events not requiring
reserved seating. Press "G" to print general admission tickets.
You are prompted to enter the name of the "show", the date of the
performance, the time and the price of the ticket. If you wish
the ticket to read "Season" in place of an amount, enter "999" at
the price prompt; entering "0" will cause the program to print
"Comp" in place of an amount. Finally, you are prompted to enter
the number of tickets you wish printed.
^/\ FS /\^ User Guide Page 29 ^/\ FS /\^
^/\ FS /\^ Box Office Manager ^/\ FS /\^
Be sure your printer is loaded with sufficient ticket stock to
handle the number of tickets you want.
14.2 Reserved Seat Tickets
To print a set of reserved seat tickets, press "R" at the menu.
Reserved seat tickets may be block printed for a particular
performance set up in Box Office Manager, or you may print a set
of standby reserved tickets. In the latter case no date will be
printed on the ticket and you may enter any text you wish to have
printed in place of a show name. You must enter a time and a
price for your standby set. If you have more than one
performance time and/or price you wish to have on hand in standby
stock, then print a set for each.
To have "Season" printed instead of a price, enter "999" at the
price entry prompt. Entering "0" at the price entry prompt will
cause "Comp" to be printed.
Be sure your printer is loaded with sufficient ticket stock to
handle your entire house.
15.0 Tutorials - A Step By Step Approach
The following sections take you through the process of completing
reservations/ticketing. If you have the Box Office Manager
demonstration version, you may use the sample seating files
included with that program.
The program is menu driven and is designed to be both fast and
user friendly. All you really need to do is look at the menu or
prompt to discover what you must press or enter. If you change
your mind try pressing Escape to leave a particular entry screen.
In most cases that will return you to the previous menu.
You will discover that it will take you very little time to be
able to master the program features.
First, be sure your program configuration display screen looks
like the partial screen in Figure 15. To view the program
configuration do the following:
At the Top Level Menu press "U"
At the Utilities Menu press "P"
At the secondary menu press "V"
You will see three groups of current configuration choices
^/\ FS /\^ User Guide Page 30 ^/\ FS /\^
^/\ FS /\^ Box Office Manager ^/\ FS /\^
displayed. The title for the top group is highlighted and is
represented in Figure 15. If your program configuration is
different, then change it by repeating the steps above, except in
the third step press "C" to change (instead of "V" to view) the
program configuration by displaying the configuration choices
entry screen. (See Section 2.5 to review making configuration
choices.)
Second, be sure you have created a couple of events for practice
(see Section 8.1). When you have completed the tutorial you can
delete those fictitious events, or you may decide to leave them
for others to use for practice. They will be cleaned up easily,
if you have Box Office Utilities, by using the End of Season
procedure.
...............................................................
Current Program Configuration
Display, Printing and Database Entry Configuration:
Color display enabled: ( Yes or No )
Ticket printing: No
Label style tickets: No
Stock style tickets: No
Enhanced printing: No
Ticket envelope label printing: No
Full database entry: No
Partial database entry: No
Automatic account numbering: No
...............................................................
Figure 15.
15.1 Reserving a Single Seat
When your program configuration matches the one illustrated in
Figure 15, you're ready to make a single seat reservation. Here
are the steps:
At the Top Level Menu press "T"
At the Ticketing Menu press "S" (select seat)
At the secondary menu press "S" (single seat)
At the event choice screen press "1"
or press "0" (zero) to see all events
Press Enter to accept the event
At the section selection screen press "1"
(This screen not displayed if only 1 section.)
^/\ FS /\^ User Guide Page 31 ^/\ FS /\^
^/\ FS /\^ Box Office Manager ^/\ FS /\^
The section is displayed with a menu bar at
the bottom of the display.
Press "F1" (Function Key 1) to select a ticket
at single seat price 1.
Enter (type choice then press Enter key) a row of
your choice (row names are the first column on the
left of the display).
The row you have chosen is highlighted.
Enter a seat of your choice. The seat name is
replaced by the symbol for the type of ticket.
Press Escape to quit the section. (Pressing
Enter will repeat the row and seat selection
steps for another choice.)
Press Escape to quit the performance. (Pressing
Enter would continue in the current performance.)
If the ticket was priced, the ticket amount is
displayed. Press Enter to continue.
You are returned to the Top Level Menu.
The whole process you will notice takes just seconds once you've
done it a few times.
15.2 Reserving a Group of Seats
The following steps for reserving a group of seats in a row
assume your program configuration matches that displayed in
Figure 15.
Here are the steps for reserving a group of tickets:
At the Top Level Menu press "T"
At the Ticketing Menu press "S" (select seat)
At the secondary menu press "G" (group of seats)
At the event choice screen press "1"
or press "0" (zero) to see all events
Press Enter to accept the event
At the section selection screen press "1"
^/\ FS /\^ User Guide Page 32 ^/\ FS /\^
^/\ FS /\^ Box Office Manager ^/\ FS /\^
(This screen not displayed if only 1 section.)
The section is displayed with a menu bar at
the bottom of the display.
Press "F2" (Function Key 2) to select a ticket
at single seat price 2.
Enter (type choice then press Enter key) a row of
your choice (row names are the first column on the
left of the display). The row is highlighted.
Enter the number of seats in the group. You may
select as many seats as are not already reserved
in the row. The program will check to see if
your request can be handled. The program will
also automatically skip already reserved seats to
reserve the number requested.
Enter the name of the seat to start with. The
program will check to see if there are enough
open seats just in case you don't. Enter a seat
of your choice. The requested seat names are
replaced by the symbol for the type of ticket.
Press Escape to quit the section. (Pressing
Enter will repeat the row and seat selection
steps for another choice.)
Press Escape to quit the performance. (Pressing
Enter would continue in the current performance.)
If the ticket was priced, the ticket amount is
displayed for the group of seats. Press Enter to
continue.
You are returned to the Top Level Menu.
If you need a block of seats for a group larger than can be
accommodated in one row, simply choose another block in an
adjacent row to complete the reservation.
15.3 Reservations for Multiple Events
The following steps for reserving a seat for multiple events
assume your program configuration matches that displayed in
Figure 15.
Here are the steps for reserving a seat for multiple events:
^/\ FS /\^ User Guide Page 33 ^/\ FS /\^
^/\ FS /\^ Box Office Manager ^/\ FS /\^
At the Top Level Menu press "T"
At the Ticketing Menu press "S" (select seat)
At the secondary menu press "M" (multiple events)
At the event choice screen enter "1"
to select event number one,
or press "0" (zero) to see all events,
then press "2" for event number two. You may,
of course, select events with numbers to make
up the group of events you need. (This is a
fast method of making season reservations.)
At the section selection screen press "1"
(This screen not displayed if only 1 section.)
The section is displayed with a menu bar at
the bottom of the display.
Press "F3" (Function Key 3) to select a ticket
at single seat price 3.
Enter (type choice then press Enter key) a row of
your choice (row names are the first column on the
left of the display).
The row you have chosen is highlighted.
Enter a seat of your choice. The seat name is
replaced by the symbol for the type of ticket.
Press Escape to quit the section. (Pressing
Enter will repeat the row and seat selection
steps for another choice.)
Press Escape to quit the performance. (Pressing
Enter would continue in the current performance.)
If the ticket was priced, the ticket amount is
displayed for the group of seats. Press Enter to
continue.
You are returned to the Top Level Menu.
If Box Office Manager could not reserve the requested seat for a
particular event, the program checks each event for availability
of the requested seat, you will be advised to note that event and
ticket it with the single seat ticketing procedure.
Obviously, multiple event reservations are most useful when
^/\ FS /\^ User Guide Page 34 ^/\ FS /\^
^/\ FS /\^ Box Office Manager ^/\ FS /\^
handling reservations for a season ticket holder. It is
suggested that you do your season ticket reservations first in
the season, so that conflicts with other reservations will not
occur.
15.4 Making Database Entries when Reserving Seats
In Section 15.0 you were asked to configure Box Office Manager to
not use the optional features. In this section you will "turn
on" one of the features on to discover how database entries are
made at the time a reservation transaction is completed. Be sure
your program configuration screen looks like figure 16. The
difference is that "yes" is selected for partial database entry.
USER NOTES:
^/\ FS /\^ User Guide Page 35 ^/\ FS /\^
^/\ FS /\^ Box Office Manager ^/\ FS /\^
...............................................................
Current Program Configuration
Display, Printing and Database Entry Configuration:
Color display enabled: ( Yes or No )
Ticket printing: No
Label style tickets: No
Stock style tickets: No
Enhanced printing: No
Ticket envelope label printing: No
Full database entry: No
Partial database entry: Yes
Automatic account numbering: No
...............................................................
Figure 16.
The following steps are for creating a database entry at the time
a single seat is reserved. Database entries are handled in the
same way for group and multiple event reservations.
At the Top Level Menu press "T"
At the Ticketing Menu press "S" (select seat)
At the secondary menu press "S" (single seat)
At the event choice screen press "1"
or press "0" (zero) to see all events
Press Enter to accept the event
At the section selection screen press "1"
(This screen not displayed if only 1 section.)
The section is displayed with a menu bar at
the bottom of the display.
Press "F1" (Function Key 1) to select a ticket
at single seat price 1.
Enter (type choice then press Enter key) a row of
your choice (row names are the first column on the
left of the display).
The row you have chosen is highlighted.
Enter a seat of your choice. The seat name is
replaced by the symbol for the type of ticket.
Press Escape to quit the section. (Pressing
Enter will repeat the row and seat selection
steps for another choice.) When you press Escape
^/\ FS /\^ User Guide Page 36 ^/\ FS /\^
^/\ FS /\^ Box Office Manager ^/\ FS /\^
a window appears. Press "A" to add a record to
the database. Pressing "S" skips the entry.
Two windows appear. Enter an account number. A
"1" will do for practice. Press "Y" to accept
your entry. The account number window disappears.
Enter the first and last names of your customer
and, if you wish, a remark. If all looks OK to
you, press "Y" to accept the entries.
Press Escape to quit the performance. (Pressing
Enter would continue in the current performance.)
If the ticket was priced, the ticket amount is
displayed. Press Enter to continue.
You are returned to the Top Level Menu.
Notice that you have been prompted to enter account numbers of
your choosing. In the next section you will see how the
Automatic Account Numbering feature works.
15.5 Making Database Entries with Automatic Account Numbering
Be sure your program configuration screen looks like figure 17.
The difference is that another "yes" is selected, this time for
entering account numbers automatically.
USER NOTES:
^/\ FS /\^ User Guide Page 37 ^/\ FS /\^
^/\ FS /\^ Box Office Manager ^/\ FS /\^
...............................................................
Current Program Configuration
Display, Printing and Database Entry Configuration:
Color display enabled: ( Yes or No )
Ticket printing: No
Label style tickets: No
Stock style tickets: No
Enhanced printing: No
Ticket envelope label printing: No
Full database entry: No
Partial database entry: Yes
Automatic account numbering: Yes
...............................................................
Figure 17.
The following steps are for creating a database entry with
automatic account numbering - single seating. Entries are
handled in the same way for group and multiple event
reservations.
At the Top Level Menu press "T"
At the Ticketing Menu press "S" (select seat)
At the secondary menu press "S" (single seat)
At the event choice screen press "1"
or press "0" (zero) to see all events
Press Enter to accept the event
At the section selection screen press "1"
(This screen not displayed if only 1 section.)
The section is displayed with a menu bar at
the bottom of the display.
Press "F1" (Function Key 1) to select a ticket
at single seat price 1.
Enter (type choice then press Enter key) a row of
your choice (row names are the first column on the
left of the display).
The row you have chosen is highlighted.
Enter a seat of your choice. The seat name is
replaced by the symbol for the type of ticket.
The customer data entry window appears with the
account number for the transaction displayed.
^/\ FS /\^ User Guide Page 38 ^/\ FS /\^
^/\ FS /\^ Box Office Manager ^/\ FS /\^
Enter the first and last names of your customer
and, if you wish, a remark. If all looks OK to
you, press "Y" to accept the entries.
You are not presented with options to continue
ticketing since the Automatic Account Numbering
feature has also stored the seating information in
the database for this single transaction.
If the ticket was priced, the ticket amount is
displayed. Press Enter to continue.
You are returned to the Top Level Menu.
The Automatic Account Numbering feature will let you create a
database for each ticketing transaction for your season quickly
and accurately.
16.0 Custom Programming Services
If you have a special need and would like a special feature or
modification in Box Office Manager, please write with details or
telephone us to discuss custom programming services.
If you have another programming need, we would also be pleased to
hear about that.
^/\ FS /\^ User Guide Page 39 ^/\ FS /\^
^/\ FS /\^ Box Office Manager ^/\ FS /\^
APPENDIX A
We furnish several pieces of sample ticket stock and ordering
information with the registered client version of Box Office
Manager. For additional information about their ticket stock
products and services please contact:
PREMIER SOUTHERN TICKET CO.
Attn: FOOTHILLS SOFTWARE DEPT.
7911 SCHOOL ROAD
CINCINNATI, OHIO 45249
FAX: (513) 489-6867
PHONE: 1-800-331-2283
^/\ FS /\^ User Guide Page 40 ^/\ FS /\^
^/\ FS /\^ Box Office Manager ^/\ FS /\^
APPENDIX B
FOOTHILLS SOFTWARE PRODUCT LICENSE AGREEMENT
YOUR USE OF THIS PRODUCT INDICATES YOUR ACCEPTANCE OF THESE TERMS
AND CONDITIONS. Please read this license agreement carefully.
LICENSE AGREEMENT
1. The product may be used on one personal computer or
workstation. There is no time limit for such use.
2. A separate license agreement and fee is required for each
personal computer or workstation in excess of one. Please
contact us to discuss your requirements.
3. The software may not be duplicated or copied except for the
pupose of making a backup archive copy.
4. This license may be transferred to a third party, provided
the third party agrees to all the terms of this agreement and
provided no copies are maintained by the original customer.
5. Purchase of this product does not transfer any right, title
or interest in the software product to the customer except
as specified in this license agreement.
6. Foothills Software reserves the right to terminate this
license upon breach.
7. This software product may not be resold as part of any other
software product or service, nor may it be rented.
^/\ FS /\^ User Guide Page 41 ^/\ FS /\^
^/\ FS /\^ Box Office Manager ^/\ FS /\^
APPENDIX C
LIMITED WARRANTY
Foothills Software warrants for a period of ninety (90) days from
the date of delivery that the software product will execute its
programming instructions when properly installed. Foothills
Software does not warrant that the operation of the software will
be uninterrupted or error free. In the event this software
product fails to execute its programming instructions during the
warranty period, the customer's remedy shall be to return the
original diskette(s) for replacement. Should Foothills Software
be unable to replace the diskette(s) within a reasonable period
of time, customer's remedy in such case shall be a refund of the
purchase price upon return of the diskette(s) and all copies.
Foothills Software makes no other express warranty either written
or oral with respect to this product. Any implied warranty of
merchantability or fitness for a particular use is limited to the
90-day duration of this limited warranty.
The remedies provided above are the customer's sole and exclusive
remedies. In no event shall Foothills Software be liable for any
loss of profit or any other commercial damage, including but not
limited to special, incidental, consequential or other damages.
^/\ FS /\^ User Guide Page 42 ^/\ FS /\^