The Next Versions of OSAS

The next release of OSAS (version 6.2) will be based on the BASIS PRO/5 and Visual PRO/5 interpreters. The following release (version 7.0) will make use of BBj as the new language matures. These next two releases intend to address market requirements on two fronts: technology and features. As currently planned, version 6.2 will include application feature enhancements and certain technological enhancements unrelated to the language. A more in-depth discussion of these features is included below. Version 7.0 will follow with both application feature enhancements and the technological enhancements inherent in BBj and the Java platform. OSAS running under BBj will offer OSAS users an Internet-based accounting package, featuring true thin-client capabilities and increased platform availability.

Additional Applications

In addition to the upcoming versions of OSAS, we intend to add new applications to the product line to enhance the competitiveness of OSAS in the marketplace. Here is a list of proposed additions to OSAS:

· Contractor’s Job Cost—a text and graphical vertical solution for the construction industry

· OSAS Doc—customizable document formatting with output to laser printers and PDF files

· OSAS Office—seamless integration between OSAS and Microsoft Office applications

· OSAS Web B2C—eCommerce/retail shopping cart application

These application releases may not coincide with a major OSAS release, such as version 6.2 or 7.0. For example, Contractor’s Job Cost will be released in version 6.1.

Version 6.2 – OSAS Feature Enhancements

Version 6.2 of OSAS will include many enhancements frequently requested by OSAS users. Feature enhancements include global changes, such as a standardized user-defined fields function for key application files, as well as application-specific enhancements.

In addition to functional enhancements, certain technology-related enhancements will be made to the application to increase performance and functionality. Among them are e-mail support and the use of SELECT logic in key reports to enhance performance for users of the OSAS CS client/server version.

A partial list of key enhancements currently slated for version 6.2 appears below. A complete list of the currently proposed enhancements can be found in appendix A. All of these proposed feature enhancements are subject to change.

Accounts Payable

	Add user-defined fields to Vendor maintenance
	Allow for multiple Methods of Payment in transactions and Hold/Release function
	Add an option to default the Post All Invoices As Held field in Post Transactions
	Add the ability to print online checks from the Hold/Release function

 

Accounts Receivable

	Add user-defined fields to Customer maintenance
	Add Auto Credit Hold logic to transactions and cash receipts entry to set/remove the credit hold based on the customer’s credit limit
	Add Sales Rep 2 to Customer maintenance and default the second rep in transaction entry
	Add a command in Transactions to recalculate all prices for an invoice

 

Bank Reconciliation

Change the Reconciliation function to reconcile by GL period

 

General Ledger

	Optionally include unposted entries in balances on financial statements
	Optionally output financial statements directly to Microsoft Excel
	Allow more than 26 columns on financial statements

 

Inventory

	Add an option (at option and item levels) to prevent negative item/lot quantities
	Add new vendors to the item’s alternate vendor files automatically from AP/PO transactions
	Add picks for product line and price ID to the Price Report

 

Job Cost

Add an option to post to GL in either summary or detail

 

Payroll

Add user-defined fields to Employee maintenance

Add Employee Comments

Add an Employee Additions/Terminations Report

Add accrual limits to sick and vacation accrual tables

 

Purchase Order

Automatically generate Serial Numbers in purchase order entry

 

Resource Manager

	Add ability to tag applications you want to install in Install Applications
	Add a history header file in EIS to allow users to save individual screen history
	Add GUI right-click menus in all functions
	Add e-mail support

 

Sales Order

	Return Authorization Processing
	Allow Kits in Recurring Orders

 

Contractor’s Job Cost

The OSAS Office application offers control over Microsoft Office applications through OSAS application functions. Unlike the ODBC Kit, which pulls data from the OSAS data files, OSAS Office uses a push methodology to allow OSAS applications to create, populate and format spreadsheets, Word documents, e-mails, and the like from within the OSAS application.

OSAS Office will contain several predefined application functions that integrate with OSAS, such asdunning letters, reminder e-mails, and so on. The exact feature set has not yet been determined, but the technology allows these capabilities:

Excel automation for workbook/worksheet work, including:

	Text writing, reading, and formatting
	Paragraph formatting for margins, indents, etc.
	Tables
	Bullet- and number-style lists
	Images, both in-line and absolute
	Mail merge tag support, and text search/replace
	Document management and printing
	Macro and Sendkeys support
	Database automation via ADO:
	Connection via ADO to nearly any database
	Read and write via SQL commands
	Table and column structure inquiries
	Outlook automation:
	Email function supporting attachments
	Contact database read/write
	Appointment database read/write
	Tasks database read/write

As a compliment to version 6.2, the OSAS Web B2C application will become the second component of the e-Business solution for OSAS. While the OSAS Web B2B application, already available in version 6.1, provides for user-to-existing-customer interfaces common in a Business-to-Business (B2B) environment, OSAS Web B2C will provide a retail-customer-based interface common in a Business-to-Consumer (B2C) environment. OSAS Web B2C will feature a shopping-cart interface complete with credit card acceptance and verification. OSAS Web B2C also tracks personal preferences and purchase patterns, handles online promotions, and provides cross-sell and up-sell functionality.

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