New Previews File Program

Import Monthly Windows File

This should be done when it becomes available from Diamond. The file is downloaded from the Diamond website from within the Previews on Windows program. (on my system I have to shut off my spyware/firewall programs for this to work). An alternative way to download the file without shutting down your firewall (or custom configuring it) is to navigate to the Diamond website and download the POW file. The file will typically be saved in the C:\Program Files\Previews on Windows\temp folder with a name such as OF200506.txt being the June 2005 Previews file. Once saved to the hard drive, the file can be imported into the CBPF. This step is really not necessary, but since the download is necessary to use the POW, it takes little time to also import the file into the CBPF also. There are a few fields contained in this file which are not available in the POD file 'Max Issue' probably being the most useful which informs of what the last issue of a limited series is. If this file has been previously imported when monthly auto pulls are added to a customers record, limited series' will automatically accept the 'Max Issue' as the last issue to pull for a customer.

Import Monthly Previews Descriptions

This imports the Previews Descriptions as seen in the Previews catalog. To view the descriptions, use the View Description hot-key from various forms (including the 'Diamond All' form). This procedure adds a lot of text to each record in the table, therefore if you are short on hard-drive space, this would be a feature which would be considered optional.

Update Vender Names

This imports the Vender Names from the Previews on Windows program. If done from a networked computer, this process must be done from the computer which contains the Previews on Windows program which is used to download the monthly order form. This process should be done whenever new Vender Names are downloaded from within the Previews on Windows program. This need not occur every month, but Vender Names will fail to be displayed within the 'Diamond All' and 'Customer' forms for new Venders if their Names haven't been imported.

Import Cancellations

Diamond provides a cancellations file on their website (monthly tools section) which contains all items cancelled. This file is posted once a month and a history of past cancellations files is also on their site. The purpose of this is to show what items have been cancelled in the Diamond All form. The Customer form, Items Ordered tab is searched to see if customers have ordered items which have been cancelled. If so, the item is cancelled with a 'DC' code and placed in the Pull Archives tab. If the item was prepaid, the customer will be credited.

This step is highly suggested if you take prepayment. You can also manually cancel items by checking the 'Cancelled?' box in the Diamond All form when an item is listed as cancelled at the top of your weekly invoice. This will also credit prepayments and cancel the item.