Includes Database changes, you need to log all terminals out during upgrade

IMPORTANT CHANGES TO C9 DATA & CLOUD STORAGE

This version of c9 bakes in a critical change in technical approach for us for storing information in your c9 and how it is backed up into the cloud backup service we provide.

More and more dealers are using c9 as a generic document store as well as taking advantage of other data intensive features like pictures of units for website advertising.

We are are fast approaching limits on what we can store because of this.

We have solved this issue by creating a 'hybrid' model. Key data elements which we identify as 'archival/historical' we will offload out of you c9 and into our cloud service. The architecture:

• reduces size of your locally installed database by putting historical stuff in the cloud
• dramatically reduces our cloud storage requirements because we are not duplicating massive data store with overnight and monthly data saves
• the solution is near invisible for your c9. If you go to access a historical / archived element it will seamlessly fetch from cloud just like it would have if it was still stored in your local c9. The only constraint is for historical queries you must be online
• full restores of c9 will now be significantly faster as data flagged as stored in cloud will no longer need to be downloaded / restored

Initially we have identified the following items for archival

• emailed attachments, like invoices older than 6 months
• attachments and web images on units sold 6 months ago
• attachments on workshop jobs invoiced 6 months ago
• unused web images initially uploaded 6 months ago

We will monitor rollout of this solution over coming months and may make further adjustments to what we store locally in your c9. This architecture opens up some new opportunities to allow c9 to be used for document / receipt storage etc. But we will assess initial impacts of this change first before exploring other possibilities.

Other tweaks and fixes

• internal tweaks for things we use in c9 for emailing our invoices : was broken last two months. Should now be fixed.
• Reconciliation report : was not including recently added gl code for payment gateway clearing (1-1400-xxxx) so was often misreporting txns involving these as problematic. Now fixed
• ABA file creation. In event of a file creation error, like invalid path, c9 would try and plow on with ABA file create anyway. Result was a null pointer crash. Now just report error and bail
• Mojo Magician. Would show wrong price, showing trade price when it should show dealer price.
• website magician check . on dealer websites not working for a number of brands. Now fixed. Specifically Suzuki but possibly also impacting Gas imports, BCE, ORI, Ficeda, Motonat and Cassons
• Minor typo fix on supplier return screen
• tillpay tweaks. Tweaks to help highlight possibly fraudulent txns
  • Highlight 3DS Result if result is adverse
  • Display issuer bank + country. Highlight if it isn't australia
• Part number matching.  Tweak logic used to try and match polaris parts with extaneous 'P' in part number and prefix trim which is in place for some dealers who migrated from competitor system where that system requires a 3 letter prefix at front of part. Previously c9 will trim prefix then apply the polaris trim rule ontop of that. These two tests need to be independent on original user input.
• View job : show part no on a separate field below list so it can be right clicked and copied
• Mojo EPC importer : subtle bug with importing multiple units which share diagrams; the second model it would encounter with same diagram would fail to import diagram. This possibly will explain recent issues with missing engine components. Root cause is recent changes to improve memory usage of EPC import was misimplemented for Mojo

Includes Database changes, you need to log all terminals out during upgrade

Statement on time bonus / late penalty bug fixes

For some time c9 has included a feature where AR statements will offer a discount bonus for ontime payment / penalty for late payment.  There were rare but impactful edge cases and issues with how this was originally implemented; in part because of limitations in v4 / v5.1 debtor implementation. Original logic was carried over in v5.2 but better approaches are now possible.

The core issue is that c9 originally would assess if a condition is met by tallying up payment type txns in condition test period (i.e. calendar month after statement is created) and comparing to the figure on the statement. The main issue with this is the txns in question could be closed some other way : either by recording payments that backdate even those txns and / or manipulation or deletion of the txns on statement in first place.

This version of c9 implements a newer / better algorithm.

• Look at open txns and amount still owing on them at the start of the test period
• On those same txns note balance owing as of end of the test period
• The difference between the above the 'paydown' use this to compute test discount/penalty conditions instead of txns explicitly in the condition period.
• Before apply above, compare to what was originally recorded for open txn tally to recalculate amount owing. Ignore increases; amortize down, to zero if needed any varied decreases. so for example if original bal on open txns that make up a penalty on a statement are reduced  ( or removed), reduce the condition and effect accordingly first.

Other Tweaks and fixes

• warranty job invoice : was incorrectly printing warranty alert on jobs which had been picked up as warranty but then cancelled and revert to normal job. Now fixed
• Toro edit part : F6 change part with toro would not work correctly with toro's unusual part numbering where dashes are relevant. Attempts to save a part could result in wrong part being updated with toro only when contending with dash part number rules. Now fixed
• Date range widget: would misbehave on some screens, such as create BAS. When clicking on BAS, date widget would reapply the selected 'shortcut' option overriding any dates manually inputted first. Fixed to not do this.
• Terms and conditions tweak: to help with transitioning new owners of a shop we need new owners to accept T&C. The logic in c9 that validates this was a bit broken. Tidied (check T&C version and acceptance).
• Parts on order on deal. For parts where preferred supplier is not a franchise, when deal is saved to be ordered later, the later ordering would incorrectly place parts on order under the OEM, not the preferred supplier. Now fixed
• i-motor : add accessible option to allow all units to be exported in setup screen
• attachments : make sure save attachment works via c9 remote. Disable open option if accessed via remote
• staff report: changing staff code would push result into aggregated <unknown> staff classifier in report. Tweaks so that the report will still partially disambiguate labour figures . Timesheeting records connect be connected to labour records but charged labour can be reported with original staff code.
• Scheduler : allow access to view job from modify scheduled task screen which in turn lets you access reprint job card
• Statements
  • Option to disable printing recent changes that print print statements where balance is zero but there are txns in period
  • Change wording for statements which are zero. Previous message about account being in credit is confusing / misleading
• Workshop invoices : option to show pricing as ex GST to accommodate a NSW insurer
• Modify deal : make sure an allocated plate on a new unit isn't on an existing deal or invoice already. Avoid incorrectly reused plates on deals.
• auto reconciliation tweaks
  • Nag user when they fail to input a supplier
  • When auto reconciliation triggers provide option to provide a more detailed breakdown to root cause
• OEMs on website. Change name and order
  • Previously could only be done by Barney now options in website tab in edit franchise to change name as displayed on website and change order relative to other oems.

C9 websites can now display information on part alternatives.

When you view a part part will show you list of alternative part numbers. Useful for finding stocked aftermarket alternatives etc

This new feature is disabled by default as some dealers alternatives database is either inaccurate or confidential and shouldn't be effectively published on dealer websites.

If you are interested in this feature, contact us to enable.

Includes DB changes. You need to log all terminals out during upgrade

Tweaks and fixes

• Statements print zero balance statements if there are txns in the reporting period.
• clocking bug fix when clocked onto a wait type overnight the wait type is no longer selectable on the next day until you clockoff / clock onto something else. Now fixed
• Payment gateway reconcile  : grant access to other generic txn types like merchant fees while reconciling tillpay/paypal txns
• Warranty export : ignore case when grouping makes. e.g. Stihl and STIHL are same.
• Unit sale invoice : print customer email addr
• Aged payables : provide a second tally line that tallies older aging. e.g. for DUE shows the tally of due and older overdue figures
• Import price file : a while ago a supplier reformat option was added to reformat part numbers the way they should be, with spaces and dashes to make them more readable to people: something that OEM's one by one have forgotten how to do. The facility in c9 would cause huge performance penalties on price file import if most/all of the part numbers were fine as is to the point for some database setups the import would freeze entirely. This version optimises the affected code and import is now same speed irrespective of whether or not part number re-format is in play.
• List unit on website : web order option now allows -ve values so you can make sure a given unit appears early in the page. previously could only input +ve values which push unit towards end of the web page.
• Unit stock take report :  show count # of units in each category
• Triumph EPC: working again : more changes on triumph website
• Emails : new option to send a copy of emails to originator; adding the From: email addr to email CC recipient list.
• Miner: query stock attributes
• Suzuki EPC import : improvements to cope with rate limit logic in Suzuki API

 

Ongoing issues with epc import. Recent changes to help with Triumph broke all epc importing : mashing results into a single diagram.

Now fixed here

PPSR lookup timeout.  It appears that PPSR service c9 uses has slowed down alot and is bumping into c9's default 10 second timeout.  Modified c9 to increase timeout to 45 seconds. One further tweak which will be finished off today : part of PPSR check will send original PPSR pdf report to sales email address to help cope with scenario where PPSR isn't delivered bc of network issue

New report for till / paypal  : Business -> reports -> Gateway Rec.  Payment Gateway Reconciliation / Journal.  Does what it says on the packet. Similar to reconciliation screen but provides a heap more detail / information. Showing gateway txns and their application within c9.

Bugfix release

Fiche Import bugfix

Recent changes to fiche import to allow editing of models gets sideways for epc diagrams where default epc model name is excessively long, >= ~ 70 characters.  Mainly impacts triumph importing resulting in import being badly scrambled.  Fixed in this version.

Also fixed another smaller long term issue where reimport would blat 'visible' setting on an epc unit making a unit previously flagged as hidden visible again

Add transaction : txn selector issues

Recent version of c9 included modifications to verify that selected txn list is what a newly minted payment actually links to contending with simultaneous activity occuring in other copies of c9.  This change was not properly implemented and didn't handle case where something like a supplier credit is unlinked and then bundled into a collection of txns to settle. Now fixed and working for this case too.

Other tweaks

• Local EPC import : a couple of tweaks for importing EPC in a very specific excel  / folder structure. This is targeting a very specific non motorcycle / small engine client of ours.  So of no interest to most everyone else. Documented here for completeness.

 

 

Bugfixes relating to web orders, tillpay and paypal

• Refund logic : c9 is only supposed to recommend a refund on tillpay/paypal when we are at the final txn in a web order cycle. A bug meant it would recommend refund early could inappropriately trigger an unwanted refund for insufficient funding to cover parts still on order  , freight not yet invoiced.
• Web order finalise logic : c9 would regard a reserve /pickup as finalised for signalling tillpay/paypal when to trigger a refund of over captured funds. It isn't.

Includes db changes you need to log all terminals out during upgrade

Pay online for workshop jobs

This version of c9 includes a very cool new feature where as part of outbound email /sms alert for workshop completion you can include a link for customers to prepay work.  Customers can prepay jobs and prepayment lands as a deposit on the job in c9 automatically.  The solution requires you run a c9 website and you have either paypal and/or tillpay integrated into the website.

On job checkout is a new option : send pay link.

On selection and press on email and SMS sent to customer will contain a link back to your c9 website where they can pay for the job (and possibly buy other stuff at same time)

Operator clicks on link and sees below:

Once paid , a deposit automatically syncs into your c9 for the payment on the workshop job.

In time the feature will be expanded to also cover accounts receivable payments and unit sales but for time being, will implement on workshop only.

Configuring this

For this to work you must have a c9 website and either paypal or tillpay card processing integrated. It only works with these two payment methods.

There is some configuration in c9 need to bring it together. You need to tell c9 where your c9 website is, and you need to configure SMS and email templates to include payment link.

C9 website : setup -> other settings -> dealership details. Website and email. There is a configuration slot for exact c9 website (as this may be different to website address you print on invoice)

SMS / Email templates.

Setup -> main setup screen -> notifications. You need to include {paysms} in sms template for include cost. Hit reset button to add it automatically.

Similar for email : notifications 2 if you've used custom url here. Modify email body and then click on reset.

Reconciliation Analysis

A new screen / report has been added to view journals / view details : it shows for a given posting what reconciliations that posting affects.  Can be useful for tracing / inferring impacts of changes made to payment methods etc. Accessed via reconciliation on txn details, or in browse journal. Example output:

Other changes

• Tillpay terminal surcharging : you can now configure tillpay terminals to compute surcharge for you instead of c9 doing the calculation and this will be sync backed and included in c9 tax invocie.  The advantage of terminal surcharging is that the terminal can be configured to surcharged based on type of card swiped : e.g. EFTPOS free by credit cards 1%. This is not possible in c9 because c9 doesn't know what sort of card has been swiped.
• Deposit refund on modify job : changes made recently to make sure customer deposit was available when adding deposit wasn't implemented fully; the case of refunding deposit back to customer wasn't done. Now fixed.
• View contacts : highlight if contacts has sms reply / comment or attachment.  Colour code buttons to show if there is anything there
• Delete job bugfix : if job has deposits delete triggers a deposit refund, but if refund fails for any reason such as backdating refund before a gl lock, the job will be deleted even though it still has deposit. Fixed so that the delete operation is aborted if the deposit refund fails
• Sell Unit : profit breakdown in sell screen did not show unit other costs as a separate entry. Now displayed
• New GL Expense Code : IT / Cloud / Hosting fees

Tillpayments terminal audit and error handling

This version includes a fix with tillpayments terminal integration.  c9 is supposed to permanently log a record of eft interactions for future reference but certain operations cause this log to be destroyed. Common one is a failed /declined txn and operator then picks manual txn. Now fixed.

further the manual option is pretty brutal in its behaviour and often the incorrect option to pick : so pop an alert to confirm this is what operator really wants to do.

Finally when a txn is declined failed etc, log it as failed not OK. Otherwise output in eft journal screen is confusing.

Other Tweaks and fixes

• Magician checks
  • Kawasaki  : make sure results displayed are for AU warehouse only : not combined AU+NZ warehouse
  • Link  : working again
  • Triumph  : working again
• Workshop deposits : modify job and deposit tweak was not providing option to use customer deposits. Now fixed