We all think about the problems that “Could be coming” due to a new OS or system update. But what about all of the problems you could be self-inflicting by waiting to apply that all to import update?

3 major reasons to apply software update are bug fixes, product enhancements and also compatible with new OS versions.  For example:

Bug Fixes – We at Quadrant make sure all of our software goes thru a rigorous QA test schedule before it is released to any customer.  And as much as we would love to have a 100 percent perfection rate, we do get the occasion bugs reported to us by customers. This could be caused by many reasons including specific computer or OS related issue, misuse of the product or other third-party application issues.

Without periodic software upgrades, customers are missing out on those all too important bug fixes that could make running your operations a much more seamless experience.

Product Enhancements – With each new release we first start with our customers. When a customer requests a new feature or enhancement it is reviewed by our Product Planning Committee who determines if the feature will make it into the next (or future) release.

From this process we add great enhancements to each and every release, such as the ability for customers to do field installs.  We also create entirely new products – such as QuadraDocV, the industry’s only FoIP solution for IBM i (AS400/System i).

By taking part in upgrades and offering your opinions – customers are given the opportunity to truly have their voices heard and to help shape the future of Quadrant’s product line.

Compatible with new OS – “I just got a new PC running Windows 7 does your product support it?” I can’t tell you how many times a day I hear this question. When we go and check, we will see they haven’t applied an update to our software in years.

As much as we would love to, we can’t always back test older versions of our products with the newest Operating Systems.   Therefore, it is extremely important to stay current, in order to ensure that software integrations do not become a headache for you as you upgrade other IT assets.

So hopefully I have provided you with a few good reasons to call Quadrant Software and request the most recent update or you can always email us at Support@QuadrantSoftware.Com for more information on downloading and applying the latest update via an ISO file.

And for all those naysayers who say they simply don’t have the time to apply an update remember QS offers on-site Professional Services help too.

No matter what business you’re in, using traditional document creation and distribution archives slows down your daily business, costing you money and customer satisfaction!

Solution

By automating your document management system with Formtastic, your company will save a lot of money and time! Formtastic allows you to integrate and automate the creation, delivery, and management of mission-critical business documents into a highly flexible cross-platform infrastructure that’s easy to use and access.

Key  Benefits of Formtastic:

Reduce document creation costs by up to 75%

• Eliminate expensive impact printers and preprinted forms
• It costs up to 15 times more to print to preprinted forms vs. laser forms
• Significantly reduce the number of pages printed by eliminating redundant data
• Remove the manual process of bursting, collating and distributing your documents

Electronically file documents you create as PDF’s     

• Significantly reduce labor costs associated with printing and manually filing documents
• Cut document retrieval costs by 95% by enabling your users to retrieve documents electronically
• On average it takes 5 minutes PER DOCUMENT to print, burst and file documents manually

Significantly improve your payment process with laser checks and electronic payments

• Prevent fraud by eliminating preprinted checks and using positive pay
• Simplify the check signing process by digitally signing checks
• Eliminate the voiding and reprint of checks due to improper alignment or paper jams
• Stop wasting time doing manual wire transfers and automate the electronic payment process

Capture signatures electronically   

• Simplify your shipping process by capturing signatures electronically at the dock
• Enable your drivers to capture signatures electronically as part of the delivery process
• Improve your point of sale operation by capturing signatures electronically at the counter
• Ensure you can easily reproduce a signed document in the event of a dispute

Simplify your document processes and consolidate vendors

• Rely on Quadrant Software’s 24x7x365 outstanding support team for all your document creation and distribution needs
• Easily migrate from other laser forms solutions to the Formtastic solution
• Eliminate the need to manage overlays in FastFax – One solution for printing, faxing and emailing documents

 Eliminate custom programming and ERP modifications

• Simplify your ERP implementation and upgrade process by removing custom modifications

To learn more about Formtastic, and interact with a document creation expert, join our Live Formtastic Webinar on Wednesday, March 21st at 2:00pm EST, Register Now: call (508) 594-2700 or click sales@quadrantsoftware.com

One of the most time-consuming tasks in faxing is loading the job onto the fax card, dialing the fax number, waiting for an answer, and then the negotiation between the sending and receiving fax equipment. When you send more than one fax job in a single phone call, all those steps are eliminated for the additional jobs being transmitted with the first fax. This means that a far greater number of faxes can be sent in less time. This provides much higher job through-put, and since the most expensive part of every long-distance phone is the first minute, you’ll save $$$ as well!

In this tech tip I’ll show you what’s involved. First, your FastFax Profile must allow you to have install/configuration authority. With that in place, you can access the batch faxing feature through either IBM i (iSeries) or PC/WindowFax screens.

Using the IBM i Interface (See Figure 1)
1. From an IBM i command line, type FFXMAIN and [Enter].
2. Chose Option #5 for the FastFax Configuration Menu.
3. Choose Option #1 for System/Environment Defaults.
4. Place a 2 (change) on General System Defaults.

At the bottom of the first page of General System Defaults, you’ll see four lines devoted to batch faxing.

Using the PC Client/WindowFax (See Figure 2)
1. Just open the FaxBar
2. Select FastFax Administration.
3. Select System Defaults
4. Navigate to the Retries/Batch tab.

When a fax job is in ‘position one’ in the send queue, FastFax automatically scans the entire queue for the same telephone number. If any other fax jobs are found going to the same number, and if it’s appropriate to do so, FastFax will automatically batch-fax. “Appropriate” means that [1] the jobs are in ready (RDY) status, [2] that they’re ready to go out at that time, and [3] they are types of jobs that you have indicated are appropriate to be batched.

Using “Batch send type of faxes to include” value, you can choose to batch all faxes going to the same number, or you can check off ‘Select’ to customize your batch faxing process (e.g., only batch fax types of jobs coming from an automated procedure like invoices, purchase orders, etc).

The “Batch send maximum number of pages” value specifies the maximum of pages that will be batched together. Twenty-five pages is the standard and I would not recommend setting this value much higher than that.

Since FastFax batches faxes by phone number (and not by sender or recipient) you could have faxes going from multiple senders to multiple recipients at the same fax number. This sounds like one, long continuous fax coming through to the person sitting next to the receiving fax machine. If there’s more than one sender and/or more than one recipient, FastFax is also capable of including a batch cover sheet. This is accomplished through the “Use summary cover sheet on batch” setting. You can use one of your own custom cover sheet designs for this.

Once you start using the batch faxing feature you’ll find significantly improved fax throughput, better utilization of your send fax lines, and cost savings.

Best Regards,

Deb & Deb

Figure 1:

 
Figure 2:

From your friends at Quadrant Software, best wishes for a Happy Thanksgiving!   

I setup a box for donations in the office a few weeks prior and my co-workers stepped up with their donation. They donated bags of dog and cat food, canned food and treats, and a ton of cleaning supplies. It’s obvious that people here care. The team at Quadrant Software works together in so many ways. If they see you care about something, they will back you up at work or play. It is great to see so many come together to help give to the animals.

The staff at the Animal Shelter is small but amazing. In my eyes this was not a job or a career for them, I saw it was their life. They had made a choice to give their lives to help the animals and it is inspiring. Everyday these men clean, wash and feed the animals. It’s clear they have a special bond.

I spent the day washing bowls, blankets and kennels. I was able to see how much work is needed on a daily basis to keep up the shelter. I know that being there for the short time made an impact on my life. This was my first time there but, definitely not the last. These dogs will see me again!

Monday mornings can be tough for anyone but for IT and help desk staff it can really be blue. Typically our call volume is highest on Monday where systems have gone offline over the weekend or perhaps error messages were sent that need to be investigated. 

Maybe some of these tips will help you…..

Common reasons why your system is not active or sent an error notification:

1. Verify your FastFax subsystem is running  – WRKACTJOB SBS (FASTFAX)
2. Verify iSeries NetServer is started (See below).
3. Verify iSeries ODBC & Additional TCPIP jobs are running (See below) 

Viewing iSeries NetServer status –  

The iSeries™ NetServer™ Status dialog box contains important statistical information that can help you to effectively administer iSeries NetServer.

You can refresh the current statistics for the system, reset all values to 0, or set the time between refresh requests from the iSeries NetServer Status dialog box.

When you set the time, in minutes, between refresh requests to the host for iSeries NetServer status, the timed refresh values are saved so that you do not have to refresh each time the iSeries NetServer Statusdialog box is opened. Timed refresh values are saved for each system, not for each user.

To display iSeries NetServer status, follow these steps:

1. Open iSeries Navigator and connect to the system you want to work with.
2. Expand Network > Servers.
3. Click TCP/IP to display a list of TCP/IP servers available.
4. Right-click iSeries NetServer and select Status.

The iSeries Navigator online help provides more details about each field on the iSeries NetServer Status dialog.

http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infocenter/iseries/v5r4/index.jsp?topic=%2Frzaii%2Frzaiiodbc25.htm

Additional TCP/IP considerations

Use NETSTAT, STRTCP, and STRHOSTSVR to verify and start TCP/IP functions when troubleshooting an iSeries connection.

Verify that TCP/IP is started with the following command:

   NETSTAT *CNN

Use the command STRTCP to start the desired protocol if it is not running.

Verify the necessary daemons are running by browsing the information returned from the NETSTAT *CNN command:
  
Remote           Remote     Local

Address        Port              Port                 Idle Time                    State

  *                       *               as-cent >           000:09:31                Listen

  *                       *               as-signon          000:09:41                Listen

  *                       *               as-svrmap         002:57:45               Listen

  *                       *               as-data >            002:57:45               Listen

Use the command STRHOSTSVR SERVER(*ALL) to start them if necessary.

• Verify QZDASRVSD, the ODBC socket daemon, is running in the QSERVER subsystem.
  • as-database should be in theListenState
  • WRKJOB QZDASRVSD should be used to check the job log of the daemon for any error messages.
• Verify that socket daemon QZSOSMAPD is running in QSYSWRK subsystem.
  • as-svrmap should be in theListenStateas shown by NETSTAT *CNN.
  • WRKJOB QZSOSMAPD should be used to check the job log of the daemon for any error messages.

The PC locates the socket used by the database server by connecting to the server mapper socket. It retrieves the socket used by as-database. It then connects to the proper socket which is being monitored by the database server daemon, QZDASRVSD. The server daemon will attach the client’s connection to a QZDASOINIT prestart job in QUSRWRK. If this is the first connection made to the server from this PC, then two other servers are used: Central server for licensing and signon server for userid/password validation.

For more information about verifying that TCP/IP is started, see General TCP/IP problems.

http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infocenter/iseries/v5r4/index.jsp?topic=%2Frzaii%2Frzaiiodbc25.htm

During the seventh inning stretch a couple of us made a trip from our seats to get beverages. At the beverage booth the vendor was talking it up a bit, and kiddingly said to us “Your boss is on the phone and wants to know where you are and when you are showing up for work!”  I told her the boss knew exactly where we were because he sent us, and that the afternoon was courtesy of Quadrant Software! 

 The vendor thought that was great and asked what we did. I quickly told her we delivered solutions for businesses that needed to create documents like checks, purchase orders, labels, whatever they needed, and that we sent , received and route documents by email and fax.  She was impressed. 

I’m sure I speak for all of us who attended when I say thank you to Eileen McDonough for making the arrangements and getting us to the game.  And thank you to Quadrant Software senior management for the tickets, lunch and a fun afternoon spent with fellow employees at Fenway Park.

We were sad to see the season end this week. Til next year!

(Picture above from left to right: Eileen McDonough, Deb Walsh, Bill Reardon, Karl Seiden, David O’Keefe, and Pauline Hubert)

This year I chose to volunteer at the Taunton Animal Shelter. I love animals and enjoy helping those who do not have homes. I am passionate about this cause because we as people have to be the voices for animals. Every animal deserves to be loved and cared for regardless of breed or situation. I have spent numerous hours at the shelter over the years and I find it truly rewarding.

For the past five years I have worked at Quadrant Software I have volunteered with many different organizations. Not only have I received a sense of pride from my experiences, but I have also learned more about my fellow co-workers for those volunteer days I have attended with a group.

This isn’t the only way we give back to the community. As a company we hold toy drives, donate to local organizations and support each other’s charities. It is important for us to give back to our community and I’m proud to be part of this team!

If you had one, where would you spend your volunteer day?

Last weekend Hurricane Irene struck our area with brute force. Trees down, power is out, and a lot of cleanup is ahead of us, but thankfully our office in Mansfield, MA was spared. My house… not so much. My family and I are going on day 5 without power or water. I wish I took the storm more seriously or listened to the advice like ‘have a well… fill your tubs with water.’

We actually have many employees still without power. I’ve mentioned it before, but I have to say again how great everyone here at Quadrant Software is. The company and my co-workers have shown their compassion for the inconvenience this storm has caused in more ways than I could ever expect. With two children under three, it hasn’t been easy, but it certainly could have been worse. 

I sit here at work, happy to have the internet at my fingertips, thinking about what my workday would be like if we had no power in the office. How would orders be processed? How would replacement boxes be sent? How would tech support calls be answered?

Come to find out, we have a business continuity plan in place. We’re prepared for power outages. Do you have a plan in place should a natural disaster occur? What day-to-day business processes have to continue regardless of what’s happening around you?

I wasn’t aware until the power outage that we need power to operate our well. It’s almost comical how little we know about something we depend on so much. Oftentimes our customers are faced with a similar scenario. Employees come and go and somewhere along the line the details about what the product is used for is lost. ‘It just works’ is something we hear often. It has come up many times in the past, whether it’s from a natural disaster or through a change within their network, when a customer discovers how critical FastFax or Formtastic is to them and their business.

Do you depend on Quadrant Software solutions for the creation or delivery of your mission critical documents? Do you know the ins and outs about how it works? Maybe there’s something that you wish it could do that is already available to you. Or maybe you depend on it more than you think. I encourage you to use your Account Rep and our support team as resources. We want to know how you use our product and we want to help you utilize it to its fullest potential.

How can we help?

I always laugh when I get those emails about “When I was a kid”

- I had to walk in the snow to school uphill both ways.

- We didn’t have “color” tv, we had to imagine the colors.

- If I wanted to change the channel, I had to get up and walk over and turn the dial.

- If the phone rang, I got up, walked over to the phone, picked it up and had to stand next to it if I wanted to talk to the person.

So today, I was sitting at my desk and a customer called in and said, “What is the easiest way to send a fax?” I thought to myself and kind of chuckled at the days when I first started working and would print out the page I wanted to fax, walk to the end of the building that the shared printer was at. Then I would go back to my desk and fill out, with a pen, the cover sheet and then walk back over to the other side of the building and send my fax out. I used to stand there for about 2 or 3 minutes to make sure it went through and wait for my confirmation sheet to print out. We used to get a line of people at the fax… Talk about the gossip spot.

Smile on my face, I told my customer, well I fax one of two ways, I open up the document I want to fax and just select print, then it opens up a Window Fax option. I choose my recipient from the address book and cover sheet and send. Or I just shoot over an email with the document as an attachment. I can put the fax number in my email “To:” field and it sends right over. The customer asked, “Can I do that”? I looked their company records and said, “Yes, actually both options are available to you.” Within minutes I was linked to her desktop and we had sent 2 faxes one from each module.

It amazes me how far we have come with technology. We are always on the edge of a new break through. With innovative companies like Quadrant Software, I am always eager to see what our development team can think up next.

So next time someone starts up with the old, “When I was a kid”, remember what it was like a few short years ago “When you first started faxing.”