C9 Chat

This version of c9 includes a powerful new module called chat. It allows you to send messages between different terminals in the shop and to other shops running c9. Chat to individuals or departments internally or from other dealerships.

In top menus of c9 is a new icon,

It will flash whenever there is a new message.

Click and open to manage your messages. User interface should be fairly easy to figure out. A couple of tips:

1.  Modify button to tweak your name, your groups you are in and level of visibility to other dealerships. C9 will preload groups for you based on your last 100 txns done
2.  New chat to start a chat with a different group, a specific person or a different dealership
   • a: groups you belong to
   • b: a group you belong to where someone outside group has messaged
   • c: example of an external dealership you are messaged, in this case #service department at Boltons
   • <not shown> : shop direct messages will show in another group here
3. current chat, shows firstly your connection to the chat then the other party. In this case it is Fishy at Boltons talking to spares group, being part of spares group you will see these conversations

Other notes:

• Some settings in main setup screen that influence chat (Networking #2 tab)
  • By default the feature is disabled for remote access but there is a setting you can flick to enable it via remote access. For casual remote access chat doesn't make alot of sense but if remote access is needed for typical day to day : e.g. a service department which is in a different building, there is a setting in setup to grant you ability to connect in
• Requires always on internet to work : even when viewing older messages
• Messages are persistently stored so if you are not online, messages sent while offline will be received once you are online.
• Requires online backup to be installed. So during install of c9 for first time, will not be available until about day 2 or 3 of an install (to be fixed at a later date)

Note this feature is fairly experimental and difficult to get right especially testing of pathological cases of network failures etc or anticipating all the possible ways it can and will be used, so might be a couple of rough edges with it which we will iron out with some feedback.

Other tweaks and fixes

• Magician and Part image importing for GasGas and WP Suspension
• Old school menu has finally being removed in this version of c9
• Workshop invoices : print notes after invoice total. Current design means some totals might be pushed onto page two etc, and customers may only part sub totals which generally always print on page one
• Rework account suspended : previously account suspend meant suspended from performing accounts receivable txns, but intuitively most people expect this to mean suspended from doing any sort of txns. So modified because to align with common expectation. To this:
  • When selecting a suspended contact, pop a warning screen similar to notes screen
  • New clerk key permission in place separate from override limits : can ignore account suspension. Applies / is tested for  most txn entry points.
  • remove prior suspended tests connected to ar balance test only