Software of the Month Club (Business) 1998 January/Software of the Month Club - Business Shareware (Volume 245) (January 1998).iso/dos/biz/bclink/readme.1st

Text File | 1997-09-24 | 12KB | 305 lines

                    BUSINESS CLOCK LINK

              "The Clock That Means Business"

    BizMark Development         Phone: [phone]
    P.O. Box 182                FAX:   [phone]
    Princeton, LA 71067-0182

    Internet WWW...  http://www.bizmark.com/
    Internet E-Mail  [e-mail]
    America Online.. BizMarkDev
    CompuServe.....  70262,114


INTRODUCTION:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    This product is for business and their managers who employ a
group of people who work on a variety of jobs.  Business Clock Link
is a PC-based time clock that monitors where workers are, what they
are working on and when they started and stopped.

    Unlike other PC based time clock programs, Business Clock Link
is oriented toward the needs of managers.  So we say that Business
Clock Link is "The Clock That Means Business."  Here's why:

   1. "In and Out" Board Functionality that allows staff persons
      to check-in and out and retrieve messages.  Secretaries
      know instantly who's in the office and when others will
      return.

   2. Real-time job and task reporting system that allows the
      manager to scan or print exactly how many hours are invested
      in a job and task components, who did the work and when the
      work was done.

   3. Network and Sneakernet ready file system so multiple PC's
      can be used at the same time and you can monitor it all from
      the office.

   4. Worker messaging system that gets messages to workers
      immediately and confidentially. No more running around to
      deliver a telephone message to a worker.

   5. Written in the C language for speed and flexibility and
      dBASE IV file formats with exporting to allow easy
      development of add-ons and connection with Payroll.

   6. On-Line worker discipline that allows the manager to give
      demerits and reprimands and to prevent clocking-in.

   7. Worker scheduling that prevents early clock-in, forces
      end-of-day clock-out, and automatically enters work breaks,
      lunches and planned activities.

   8. "Ticker Tape" continuous printing of transactions that guards
      data from power outages, provides proof of system integrity
      and allows a quick scan of the latest transactions.

   9. Synchronization of PC time with any attached Novell Netware
      fileserver, providing assurance that employees do not tamper
      with the time or date.

WHAT'S NEW:
~~~~~~~~~~~
    This version 3.0 was released August 1997.

    We will provide you with the latest evaluation copy without
    charge if you call, write, FAX or E-Mail us your request.  If
    you believe that you have an older version, let us know and
    we'll either send you an update or let you know how it can be
    got electronically.

   Rel. Date    Enhancement
   ---  ------  ---------------------------------------------------
   3.0  Aug 97  ■  Backtracking of missed scheduled punches.
                   Scheduling no longer requires a running clock.

                ■  Menu bar added.
                   Easy navigation of all parts of the program.

                ■  Time-in/Time-out override option added.
                   Permit workers to change the time they enter.

                ■  Allow entry of invalid Jobs and Tasks.
                   Permit workers to enter any six-character number.

                ■  Swipe and Go option added for Tasks.
                   Enter tasks with a barcode device.

   2.9  May 97  ■  Version Française/French version
                   Quelque chose pour nos amis francophones.

                ■  Nederlands/Dutch version
                   For our Dutch and Flemish friends.

                ■  dBASE export file format added.
                   Lotus 1-2-3, Crystal Reports, Access for analysis.

   2.8  Jan 97  ■  SoundBlaster audio card interface.
                   "Blow the Whistle" with .WAV sound files.

                ■  Add/Change Job Orders updates all stations.
                   Add a job on station A, it appears ASAP on others.

                ■  Faster report printing.
                   Approximately 10 times faster.

                ■  Print to Screen added.
                   Preview printed reports on the screen.

                ■  keep_files(Safe/Open)=S option added.
                   Gain processing speed by keeping files open.

   2.7  Dec 96  ■  Screen saver added.

                ■  BackPunching added.
                   Clock-in to "?     " and provide job number later.

                ■  "Display?" option added for jobs.
                   Suppress some jobs from appearing in pop-ups.

   2.6  Oct 96  ■  Quick Configuration module added.
                   Select from three most popular ready-to-run set-ups.

                ■  Job/Task listboxes added to various screens.
                   The ZD reviewer ought to be happy now.

                ■  "Keep Time?" option added to job set-up.
                   Retain job hours until the job is completed.

   2.5  Sep 96  ■  New features to reduce worker tardiness.
                   Tardiness automatically issues demerits.

                ■  Major additions to Manager's Monitor.
                   Manage the worker with one click.

   2.4  Jun 96  ■  Team Leader Access Rights added.
                   Allow some workers access to manager's options.

                ■  Printing of barcoded Job Orders.
                   Swipe the job order to clock-in to any job.

   2.3  Apr 96  ■  Mouse support added.

                ■  Special display of who's not clocked-in.
                   Roll call your workforce with one keystroke.

   2.2  Feb 96  ■  Enhancements to the Electronic Mail system.
                   Broadcast Electronic Mail to some or all workers.
                   Workers may keep E-Mail messages after reading it.

   2.1  Dec 95  ■  Business Clock TSR Utility added.
                   Hot-key clock-in/out without exiting your job.

                ■  Rounding for clock-in or clock-out.
                   Entries can round forward or back up to 59 minutes.

                ■  Option to show elapsed time in total minutes.
                ■  Scan shows weekly, cummulative hours.
                ■  Preprint and postprint printer commands.

   2.0  Sep 95  ■  Windows Program Manager setup program (PMSETUP).
                   Adds icons and group to desktop for easy use.
                ■  Internet Homepage established:
                   http://www.prysm.net/~mhicks/bizmark.htm

   1.9  Aug 95  ■  Time synchronization with Novell Netware (tm).
                   How do you know they didn't reset the time?

                ■  Job commenting for each transaction.
                   Workers can leave notes on what they accomplished.

   1.8  Jul 95  ■  Reports job qty, expected hours and efficiency.
                   Know which workers and jobs are profitable.

                ■  Barcode printer scrips in configuration file.
                   Badges print on special-use barcode printers.

   1.7  Jun 95  ■  Added Barcoded Worker Badge printing.
                   'Swipe and Go' clock in/out.

                ■  Manager's option to directly add and edit hours.
                   Add dozens of records in minutes.

   1.6  May 95  ■  "In and Out" Board Functionality.
                   Secretaries know who's in, who's out, back when.

                ■  Added complete command line clock-in/clock-out.
                   Clock in/out by clicking a Windows icon.

                ■  Added file 'Merge' feature for Sneakernets.
                   Use on multiple PC's without networking.

                ■  Permitted display by Name, Clocknumber or Job.
                   Scan the clocked-in screen easily.

                ■  More robust file access  for slow networks.

   1.5  Apr 95  ■  Added Data File Backup.  Thanks Yoshi!
                   One button backup to floppy disk.

                ■  Added display of hours at clock-out time.
                   Workers confirm their own time.

                ■  Added Tasks feature.
                   Track 'tasks' as well as jobs.

                ■  Added set system time feature.
                   Adjust PC time from Manager's Menu.

   1.4  Mar 95  ■  Added Worker Scheduling.
                   Automatic entry for lunch and breaks.

   1.3  Feb 95  ■  Added Manager's Monitor.
                   Watch it all from your networked office PC.

                ■  Added default worker job numbers.
                   In case you have no use for job tracking.

                ■  Added Worker passwords.
                   More security than a mechanical timeclock.

   1.2  Jan 95  ■  Added Manager notification of intruder detection.
                ■  Added Manager Messaging.
                ■  Added Edit Hours feature.
                ■  Provided job array selection for remote clock-in.

   1.1  Dec 94  ■  Added Remote Clock-in/Clock-out feature.
                   Workers can clock-in/out from their own desk.

                ■  Enhanced report printing options.
                   Sorts and subtotals in a variety of ways.

   1.0  Nov 94  ■  Initial commercial release.



INSTALLATION:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    The INSTALL.EXE program will move the files from the diskette
to a hard drive directory, will check for a minimum of 640K of
memory, and will display this README.1ST file for you.  You do not
have to run INSTALL if you have already accomplished these things.

    Installation is accomplished by inserting the diskette and
typing "A:INSTALL" if the diskette was placed in drive A or
"B:INSTALL" if the diskette was placed in drive B.

    No changes are made to your computer's config.sys or
autoexec.bat files.

    If you are reinstalling Business Clock Link and you have
existing data that you wish to keep, be sure to install to another
directory or first move your old data to another directory
temporarily.  Installation will destroy existing Business Clock Link
data files in the directory.

    If you are upgrading from a prior version and you wish to retain
your existing data, you must run the File Upgrade Utility to convert
your data files.  This is provided without charge to licensed
users.

    Attention WINDOWS USERS:  You may add an icon and program group
to your WINDOWS desktop by running PMSETUP.EXE from Windows.

STARTING BUSINESS CLOCK LINK:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

   1. Go to the directory where you installed Business Clock Link.
      If you installed to the default directory, you can do this
      by entering "cd c:\bclink" and pressing "Enter".

   2. then enter "bclink" and press "Enter".

   3. Print the tutorial document by selecting "Print the Tutorial".

   4. Restart the program and return 'Enter' to all prompts until
      you get to the main screen that shows the date and time at the
      upper right, a scrolling 'marquee' message line at the bottom,
      and a list of workers in the middle.

   5. The steps in the Tutorial will take about 20 minutes and
      will provide you a overview of the capabilities of Business
      Clock Link.

   6. The Manager's Password is 'BOSS'.


GETTING HELP:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

   1. You may contact us directly by mail, phone, fax, E-mail.
      We appreciate your calls and questions.

   2. Business Clock Link provides the entire Manager's Guide (the
      manual) "on-line".  To obtain context-sensitive help from
      anywhere in the program: press F1 or F2 from any place in the
      program.

   3. The Manager's Guide (the manual) may be printed by selecting
      "Print the Manager's Guide" after starting the program.