Give your inventory business a competitive modern professional cutting edge...

Offer your customers in-depth reports and analyses that few competitors can provide, whether or not you currently use machines capable of transmitting.

Full transmitting capability "out-of-the-box" with National Datacomputer 2.5 handhelds using the same machine software you are most likely now using. Windows VISTA is now also supported.
New for 2008: November 2008: Version 4.5 also includes a Linux version, which is now being used in the field. Ubuntu Linux (or Debian & variants) is recommended, though with a few tweaks it should run on any system. The 4.5 version now includes a completely updated background system: Apache 2.2.5, MySQL 5.0.67, and PHP 5.2.6, which updates these components to nearly state-of-the-art as of this writing. As a result, Windows versions prior to XP SP2 are no longer supported, though that's not to say it won't work.
Linux version shipped separately, and the first orders will receive a significant discount.
Native serial port or USB-serial adapters supported. The new version (for all platforms) now includes a COST report, which allows you to specify a retail markup percentage for each department, then the report will calculate and display the gross margin and show the components of both the cost and markup dollar amounts, based on the adjusted retail count (by department). Floppy disk support has been discontinued, and now only one audit trail ("ctrail", the most useful) is provided. There is now a feature to delete an unused database, as well as a feature to dump all stores automatically to one backup file, so that porting them to a new computer is a snap, even between Linux & Windows computers in a mixed environment.

Professional inventory reports, direct cable uploading of your handhelds in seconds, currents/priors (up to 7 months for summary data, one prior for all detailed data), easy point-and-click interface, unlimited automatically-created store databases and archiving features.
Now includes fully customizable section, side & category capability, or you can use the suggested defaults requiring no setup time. In that case it's ready to run, just be sure your field lengths are correct and program your machines with the same sections/sides/categories in "edit master files"...

------> site updated November, 2008: version 4.5 now available...

Here are two quick and partial screenshots, be sure to visit the demo area below for access to a fully navigatible mock-up interface with full sample copies of the various reports...
Best of all, once set up, it's just a few clicks to upload your data and print the reports, as well as archive and backup everything, or to add new stores. Very little user-time needed for all of the automatic features and reports provided... you will be greatly pleased once choosing this software, it's a wise investment in your inventory business... See below for a full list of features and pricing...

Snippet of an area report showing one gondola:

Snippet of the history report showing one department (cropped from screenshot):

This application has been written primarily for the independent inventory contractor specializing in convenience store audits. If you currently use outdated software or conduct inventories by hand (that is, with perhaps a counting machine but using handwritten reports or tedious manual entry into spreadsheet software), this application will provide a much easier method of automation and computer-generated professional-looking reports.
The newest version has been released in November 2008, and the software has proven itself in the field since 2004.
All that is needed to use this application is one or more National Datacomputer 2.5 handhelds, a laptop running XP SP2 or VISTA (see below), or Linux, an inkjet or laser printer, and a serial cable.
You may also use this software using an ICAL or a calculator, and produce professional reports with the easy "manual entry" interface.

Competitive Features...

• Uses National Datacomputer's own "financial audit" handheld program with nearly rock-solid stability, which you are probably already using in your handhelds. No need to switch to another program.
• Machines can be transmitted (uploaded) directly into the computer program with a serial cable, for instant readiness of the reports from your laptop.
• Generate, view, and print any of 7 reports with just a few clicks.
• Individual reports may be archived or sent by e-mail very easily.
• You create a separate database for each store with just one click.
• Each store database will contain current and prior information, store info, and detailed information about the "up and down" variances of each section, side and category.
• No need to enter new headers for each store into your handhelds, uses the same configuration for all. Any custom category descriptions, etc., which may vary from client to client are contained in your highly customizable store databases, and you will still key the same info into your machines from store-to-store. Client-to-client customization is automatic.
• Most clients track their inventory by departments, some with just three (cigarettes, beer, grocery), and others with quite a few more. You may have up to 40 departments, but the "categories" can go from 000-999. To offer more information than your competitors, you can use multiple categories in your machine which "boil down" to one department. For example, several cigarette categories, several "general merchandise" categories (sunglasses, batteries, propane, school supplies, auto, etc.), which you key in as separate categories on your machine, but will only print one summary line on the summary report, while giving detailed comparison lines on the area & category reports. This is a unique and special feature, a 2-tiered system. This is set up entirely in the interface, and the default configuration already has all this work done for you unless you choose to customize it differently per client or for all stores. And, as always, you would key into your machine the same way for all stores, as the software makes the customized breakdowns per client as you wish.
• Any number of auditors can count a store simultaneously, even parts of the same areas and categories simultaneously, all data will be automatically and accurately combined, no need to combine machines.
• Any number of transmissions can be made per store, no need to wait until the end to send the data. This way, for example, you can count just the cigarettes and print a report before continuing. The data will accrue with each transmission. You will clear your machines after each transmission, checking to see that the total has been incremented by looking at one of the reports at that point.
• Easy to clone (or add) new stores, very user-friendly and almost foolproof graphical interface.
• The interface comes up on a web browser, with easy-to-use buttons and entry fields, much easier than any "spreadsheet"-type format. Internet Explorer is the default, but Firefox can be used as well. For Linux, please use Firefox. Your computer becomes an "intranet" within itself, without being on the outside web. Any time you capture a transmission, or click a "submit" button for entering data, the data is immediately updated and safe, even if you shut down the computer. When you boot up again, it will remember the exact place where you were working last. You should make frequent backups though, as a battery or power failure (thunderstorm, etc.) can require a restore from a backup in certain cases.
• Works with any modern inkjet or laser printer (parallel or USB).
• Easy 5-minute CD (or flash drive) installation to Windows XP SP2, Vista or Linux
• Easy audit trail launcher included, chained entries 3 deep supported, (i.e., $2.59 x 24 x 12 x 6, etc.)
• Tracks pieces/dollars for all cigarette categories, or any other categories selected.
• New 2008 version includes a detailed history report which stores, tracks and analyzes 7 months of summary data (depts., not categories) side-by-side for each store, including the sales, credits, purchases and book figures.
• New 2008 version includes a cost report, for if your client needs "marked down" totals.
• If your customer comes back later, and says they have a revised "over/short" figure for any of the previous 6 months, due to finding something in their paperwork, there is a pair of lines on the history report that will show a revised (if any) over/short amount for any month (by total store only), and this will "correct" a second pair of "over/short" tracking lines at the very end of the report (by dollar & percent). Very easy to plug in this info and it can be further corrected at any time during the 6 month period.
• 2 easy one-click backup methods: hard drive (2nd location), pen (flash/jump, etc.) drive
• Backups can be easily ported to other computers, or sent by e-mail.
• You can enter sales, purchases, credits, and book figures directly into the computer.
• A "cover sheet" may be printed with any type of verbal communications (store condition descriptions, etc.).
• Manual entries, corrections and adjustments can be entered directly into the computer.
• Entire transmissions can be deleted, reposted, or edited by summary line.
• If you use an ICAL, calculator, etc. (which cannot transmit by cable), you can still use this system with all its features to produce professional reports, priors, history, etc., by manual entry, and is much easier, automatic, and more foolproof than using a spreadsheet.
• Very affordable pricing, and one year free tutoring/support for the new user.

Requirements:

For direct cable transmitting: National Datacomputer handhelds, must be version 2.5 or later (only 2.5's have been tested). I can provide support for 2.0's if I am provided with a copy of the machine software, or even a copy of the output files sent to PC if you send them to me by e-mail. Newer machines (i.e. DC5, should work) if they have the compatible audit program. Any other units/brands, send me your output files for review. The 2.0 units already loaded with the older NDC software may work.
Windows XP SP2, Vista, or Linux on your laptop.
VISTA requires a few extra steps due to security, info will be provided to you.
A full serial null-modem cable (25 pin male to 9 pin female) or USB-serial converter.
At least a 600MHz processor, and 256 Megs of RAM recommended (slower machines may work).

The system itself is very modern, it has been written to run in a web browser. It's based on a background system running the Apache (open-source) web server, the MySQL (open-source) database server, and PHP (also open-source, which means no licensing costs). PHP allows program scripts similar to "C" language commands to execute on the fly as embedded commands in the web "pages" which are provided with the system. All commands will immediately update your "live" databases, and, along with the backup options, provide 3 levels of data integrity. The system is very easy to use once gaining familiarity with the pages and functions.
All components of the system will install very easily on your laptop, and you will be
up and running very quickly with just a few commands.

I have provided an online demo for you to explore, and it will open in a new window. In this demo, none of the forms or clickable buttons will do anything, but you may navigate all the pages and functions of a previously set-up demo store, and view all the output of the reports. A few of the of the pages will have differing dates (and perhaps data) due to updated features released later, and the difficulty of retaining an older single "snapshot" of one particular store while showing pages with updated features.

On the entry page, there are links for "User Documentation" and a "Quick Reference Guide" at the lower left. These will open in a new window. Click these to view the full documentation (as of this writing). Enter the demo system via the large "Enter" link at the center of the page.

In addition to navigating (using the green links at the top of each page), you can (1) open the "Preview Transmission", "Capture" or "Transmission Utility Page" links on the "Transmit" page to see what these actions may produce (and here, these are only a mock-up for sake of the demo), (2) go to the reports page and bring up each report provided by clicking on the links at the bottom of the page, (3) view samples of a typical floppy (floppy support now discontinued, but you may request it if need be), hard drive or pen drive backup directory on the backups page. Close these extra pop-up windows (for the "transmit" items, reports, and backup directory samples) when finished viewing them. Close the main window to return here. This is only a demo, so the total integrity of the data/quantities among the pages may not be completely consistent. The actual machine "transmit" and audit trail script are run from lower-level system-generated windows, so will not be displayed here in the demo, but you can click the second link to see a sample screen running the "ctrail" audit trail application.

Click here to start the demo

Sample screenshot of "ctrail"

The application can be provided to you on a CD or pen drive.

Current pricing (3 plans):

COMPANY: Installation media for up to four teams and full one year tech support
for each registered user (up to 4) via phone or e-mail: $795.00
Additional teams (over 4): $95.00 per team including tech-support

STRIPPED:Same offer, but with media that do not include direct-cable transmission features
or audit trails (i.e., "manual-entry-only" versions/ICAL users,etc.): $395.00 (for up to 4 teams).

ECONOMY: Full installation (including direct-cable transmitting) for a one-site user (for example a husband/wife team), including 6 months tech support: $595.00

Periodic upgrades and feature enhancements: Free to any paid registrant for one year (critical upgrades free without restrictions).

The current version includes several new enhancements, well tested in the field, and should work well provided you stay within the recommended parameters mentioned in the user documentation, and have set up your handhelds per the documentation. Using this software, you agree to hold the writer free from any harm due to lack of fitness for purpose, lost data, or any incidental damages. Custom setups (such as supported categories, departments, section and side descriptions) which differ from the default settings shipped with the media can be provided at reasonable cost, based on time required to implement the changes, but virtually all of this customization can be now done within the interface. This software's custom scripts have been copyrighted and archived with the U.S. government copyright office and Library of Congress.

Replacement media (only to original registered users and shipped to the same names and addresses): $30 (the replacement media may contain newer versions of the scripts than your original, but the background system will most likely be the same).

When ordering installation media as new user(s), you must specify the primary e-mail address(es) of yourself and the others (if ordered as a group), your business/cell number(s) and name(s) which will be used for tech support calls. When ordering for up to four persons (as above), please indicate the names of the additional registrees when ordering. No requests for support will be honored for any other persons. You must agree to not sell or redistribute this software to any third parties, nor alter any of the proprietary code or functionality, nor allow it to be used by an unregistered team member or associate. Special arrangements may be made for certain businesses as package deals, and more detailed information will be required from you when ordering. Further tech support options (beyond the first year) available on request. Orders can be sent via paypal, to frank754@bellsouth.net
If ordering by phone, I can provide a mailing address if you wish to remit with a money order or check. Send an e-mail first to receive a copy of the agreement, which needs to be returned to me, and how you will be paying (electronically or by postal mail) when placing an order, and request any further details you need, or questions you may have.

Other tech support/consulting package/training information available on request, on a per-incident basis or for a specified time period.

For further information and for orders:

Please contact Frank:

Home Phone: 828-687-8718

Business Phone (cell): 828-215-4755

Click on the button to send an e-mail inquiry now:

We look forward to serving you in the near future....