Misc. Information

Click on a menu option tab or caption to skip to that topic in Help.

Many of the settings in this section describe the way The RAM System handles the settings, this may or may not apply to The RAM System Corporate Edition. In many cases the settings must be the same as they are in the store level software in order to correctly report information at the corporate level.

COMPANY SETUP - MISC. INFORMATION TAB

Use Performance Reporting

Performance reporting can calculate performance periods for reporting purposes.

Use Performance Reporting

Click in this check-box if you want to calculate performance periods based on quarters. These quarters are defined as having 4, 4 and 5 weeks each. This enables you to track more consistent totals for evaluating performance of employees. You are required to set up the Performance Calendar in order to define your performance periods.

Use Performance Reporting

If this check-box is not checked, reporting uses a calendar month in calculating performance periods.

Use MACRS Depreciation

The system can make the depreciation calculation faster if it knows ahead of time what type of depreciation calculation you plan to use.

Use MACRS Depreciation

Click in this check-box if you want to use MACRS depreciation method for either book or tax method.

Use MACRS Depreciation

If this box is not checked, this indicates that you do not use the MACRS depreciation method for either book or tax method.

When entering the system, if this box is UNCHECKED but you have items set to use this method a message is displayed telling you to fix this flag.

You have USE MACRS in Company setup set to FALSE, but you have items set to use the MACRS method. Please correct this condition and try again.

Use RPM Depreciation

The system can make the depreciation calculation faster if it knows ahead of time what type of depreciation calculation you plan to use.

Use RPM Depreciation

Click in this check-box if you want to use RPM depreciation method, or Income Forecasting method for either book or tax method.

Use RPM Depreciation

If this box is not checked, this indicates that you do not use the RPM depreciation method, or Income Forecasting method for either book or tax method.

Centralized Inventory Control

The system handles the inventory process differently if you have centralized or non-centralized inventory.

Centralized Inventory Control

Click in this check-box if your inventory is received at the corporate office and is distributed to your store through your corporate office.

Centralized Inventory Control

If this box is not checked, it indicates that your store receives inventory directly from the vendor.

Use Retail as Cost

The system can use the retail price set up in Warehouse Inventory as the cost in the store level Inventory file.

Use Retail as Cost

Click in this check-box to have the retail price you have set up in the warehouse for this inventory item to be the cost of this inventory item when it is transferred to a store.

Use Retail as Cost

If this box is not checked, it indicates that the cost in the warehouse remains the same when it is transferred to a store.

Do you Rent Wheels / Tires?

If you rent wheels and tires there are special fields associated with wheels and tires that are enabled when you answer YES to this question.

Do you Rent Wheels/Tires?

Leave this box unchecked if your store does not rent wheels/tires.
Do you Rent Wheels/Tires?

Click in this check-box if you rent wheels/tires to your customers.

DEFAULT STATUS CODES

This section sets up the status codes the system uses to automatically track inventory through the system. Each inventory item has a status code that tells you where the item is, whether it's rented to a customer, or paid in full, or even when it's not in your store anymore. If you have previously input (or imported) status codes, choose the correct status code from the drop-down box.

DEFAULT STATUS CODES

Active

When inventory is rented to customers the system looks at this default status code to see what status to automatically assign to rented inventory. The status code you input in this section is the status code assigned to ALL rented inventory.

Idle

When inventory is added or received from a purchase order the system looks at this default status code to see what status to automatically assign to idle inventory. The status code you input in this section is the status code assigned to ALL new idle inventory.

This status MUST have a status type of I - Idle.

Idle Service

When an idle inventory item is put in for service, the system looks at this default status code to see what status to automatically assign to service items that were previously idle. Similarly, when this item is returned from service, the system automatically assigns the default IDLE status code to this item. The status code you input in this field is the status code assigned to all inventory that is idle before it goes into service.

This status MUST have a status type of U - Unavailable.

Active Service

When an active inventory item is put in for service, the system looks at this default status code to see what status to automatically assign to service items that were previously active. Similarly, when this item is returned from service, the system automatically assigns the default ACTIVE status code to this item. The status code you input in this field is the status code assigned to all inventory that is active before it goes into service.

This status MUST have a status type of C - Customer Has It.

Transfer Out

When an inventory item is transferred to another store, the system looks at this default status code to see what status to automatically assign to transferred items. The status code you input in this field is the status code assigned to all inventory that is transferred to another store.

This status MUST have a status type of N - No Longer In Inventory.

Paid Out

When an active inventory item is paid in full, the system looks at this default status code to see what status to automatically assign to paid out items. The status code you input in this field is the status code assigned to all inventory that is paid out.

This status MUST have a status type of P - Paid Out.

Sold for Cash

When any inventory item is sold for cash, the system looks at this default status code to see what status to automatically assign to sold items. The status code you input in this field is the status code assigned to all inventory that is sold for cash.

This status MUST have a status type of N - No Longer In Inventory.

On Loan

When an idle inventory item is loaned temporarily to a customer, the system looks at this default status code to see what status to automatically assign to loaned items. The status code you input in this field is the status code assigned to all inventory that is loaned.

This status MUST have a status type of L - Loaned to a Customer.

Pending

When an idle inventory item is added to an Advanced Order, the system looks at this default status code to see what status to automatically assign to ordered inventory. The status code you input in this field is the status code assigned to all inventory that is on order for a customer.

This status MUST have a status type of U - Unavailable.

ADD STATUS CODES

The screen shows no status codes have been added initially, because there are no status codes in the Status Code File

Click ". . ." to enter status codes. Each status must be added to this file, the information on this screen is only the default status codes. You may enter as many additional status codes as you need to track your inventory. Once you have added all the status codes in the Status Code File you are ready to assign those codes to the default status codes listed in this section.

Click the arrow in the drop-down box to display the available status codes. Each default status code requires a different "status type", so only the status codes with the correct status type are displayed in the drop-down box. Choose the correct status code to be assigned as this status, for each of the default status codes listed.

1st Day of Business

Enter the first day this business was opened. This number is used for calculating MACRS depreciation. A drop-down box reveals a calendar, so you can choose the correct date, or simply type the date using MM/DD/YYYY format.

Fiscal Year End Month

Enter the number of the month for your fiscal year-end. If this is December enter "12".

Weekly Divide Factor

Enter the divide factor to calculate the weekly rental rate based on the monthly rental rate entered in the Category file. If you enter 4.33333 the monthly rate is divided by this number to display the weekly rate.

1st Day of Week

Enter the first day of the week. A drop-down box displays the days of the week. This field is used to calculate all Week-To-Date fields. If you want your business week to begin on Thursday instead of Sunday, set this field to "Thursday".

Markup Factor

Enter the number used to multiply times the cost to arrive at the cash price in the Inventory file. If you calculate the retail price by multiplying the cost x 3 then enter 3.00 in this field.

Report to File

The Report to File option allows the system to create a report in PDF (Adobe Reader® format) and copy it to a directory on the computer that you specify. This is file is in addition to the printed copy of the reports.

Report to File

Check this box to allow the reports in the system to be printed automatically in a PDF format to a directory on the computer that you specify.

Report to File

If this option is not checked, the reports in the system are not automatically generated in PDF format and are not copied to the computer.

Report File Directory
This field has been replaced by the SHARED DIRECTORY in Workstation Setup.

Use Rates

If this check box is checked you can use the Rates file to automatically calculate the rental rates on your inventory based on the cost and the other fields in the Rates file.

Use Rates

If this check box is not checked you can manually enter the rates on each individual inventory item.

Use Pre-Payments

The use pre-payments check box, when checked, allows the system to collect and track pre-payments for customers. For example, this is sometimes called "escrow" or "over payments". The money paid in addition to the customer's regular rental payment can be saved and stored in the pre-payment account to be used later. If the customer does not have enough money for the regular payment next month, the pre-payment money could be used to pay the rent due.

Use Pre-Payments

Click in this check box if your company uses pre-payments.

Use Pre-Payments

Leave this check box unchecked if your company does not use prepayments.

Customer Prepayment Description

Enter the description you want displayed in the Customer screen and the Payment screen to describe the pre-payment amount.

Use Deposits

The Use Customer Deposits check box, when checked, allows your customers to add money to an account to be used as a deposit, and to be applied to rent or any other charges. This amount of money is kept separate from the Prepayment balance. The Customer Deposit is a place for the customer to put money aside to be used at a later time.

Use Deposits

Click in this check box if your company uses customer deposits.

Use Deposits

Leave this check box unchecked if your company does not use customer deposits.

Customer Deposit Description

Enter the description you want displayed in the Customer screen, the Income Activity menu, the Payment screen and all other Customer Prepayment references in the system to describe the pre-payment amount.

Overtime Calculation

The Overtime Calculation option allows you to decide how to pay overtime for your employees. A drop-down box reveals the (2) two possible calculation methods.

Weekly Over 40

Choose this option to calculate overtime if the employee has time worked over 40 hours per week.

Daily Over 8

Choose this option to calculate overtime if the employee has time worked over 8 hours per day.