February
This particular February is a very special one. Jonas Software would like to celebrate the efforts of all of the participants of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games being held in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
February’s Featured Article comes from our Product Development Group. Read all about our latest enhancements to the Mobile product with its increased platform flexibility.
The Important Reminders section this month announces the sunsetting of version 11.8 and what that means to you.
News and Events highlights information on the upcoming Trade Shows Jonas will be attending. Make our booth a “must see” and introduce yourself!
Become a Jonas expert! Enroll yourself and your staff in our informative Upcoming Webinars.
As always, Jonas staff are working hard to emulate the Olympic Champions’ motto – “Swifter, higher, stronger”. Please read the Continuous Improvement article about our updated website.
Meet one of our newest and yet very experienced Jonas support staff in Know Your Support Rep.
Once again, your support department offers up some of their tips and tricks in the FAQ’s and Helpful Hints section.
We are still welcoming submissions for Stump the Staff. You could win a valuable prize! Enter as many times as you like. Submit your tricky questions to Evelyn Garnet.
If you have missed previous issues of the Insider, please click here.
Please remember to share the Insider with your staff.
We want to hear from you! If you have ideas or suggestions for improving the Jonas Insider, please forward these to us via e-mail.
Jonas has expanded its product offering yet again! This time, we have created a mobile software version which is compatible with Laptops and Tablet PC’s in addition to Smartphones and PDA’s. Our Mobile System is now able to run on Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, and XP Tablet Edition operating systems, thus ensuring peace of mind no matter what system you are using. We are proud to say that this new flexibility will afford Jonas users significantly more options when selecting hardware.
Enjoy the convenience of using Jonas Mobile on a laptop or Tablet PC. Our application connects dispatchers with technicians enabling work orders to be created in the office, and in seconds, sent to technicians in the field!
All the details related to the work order are available to your technicians including equipment on site, site history, and customer information. Once the work has been completed, enter the cost of material and labor in the field and the customer can sign off on the work performed summary sheet directly on the device! In addition, copies of work order summary sheet are then be emailed to the customer as well as back to the office.
Once the ticket has been completed and sent back, all the costs are attached and will automatically update Jonas. When updating, the system will multitask by sending labor hours both to payroll on behalf the tech, as well as to work order billing for invoicing. Likewise, for the material, it will relieve inventory and charge the parts to the work order.
Use this new Jonas Mobile application to simplify communication and efficiently update the progress of your work orders.
For more information please contact sales@jonassoftware.com or call 1-888-789-9073 ext 2395.
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NOTICE FOR ALL CLIENTS ON VERSIONS 11.9 AND EARLIER
Jonas would like to thank you for being a loyal client and working with us over the years to enhance our product. This year, we have released our product Version 12.0. As we are supporting many release enhancements for our many Clients, we regret to inform you that we can no longer provide product updates for versions 11.8 or earlier as of March 31, 2010. Also, as of March 31, 2010 we are no longer able to provide code fixes or product enhancements on these versions. Please note that we will continue to provide you with support. If you need to speak with someone at Jonas about this issue, please call our Client First Support at 1-800-352-6647. We would be happy to speak with you about updating your Jonas Software version.
Jonas Product Updates – Maintenance updates are recommended for all customers within the same product version. Regular updates should be performed at a minimum of every four to six weeks, ideally more frequently. They are obtained via the Jonas website: jonas-construction.com. These tested improvements are made in each version when issues with the software are discovered and corrected. They may also contain customer-requested design changes or features. When you install a product update, your version stays the same, however your release level will increase, e.g. v 11.9.1200 would increase to v 11.9.3200. Your version and release level is displayed in the bottom tray of your Jonas screen to the right of the date and workstation ID.
Jonas Version Updates – These updates move your software from one version to the next and can only be done via CD which will be distributed directly to each Client. A software version update replaces a prior version. You will be notified when new versions of the Jonas Software Release become available.
The current version is 11.9 and product updates are available on our website at www.jonassupport.com
Note: All Construction clients on v 11.9 or higher, should be downloading the DN version of the product update.
General version 12.0 will be dispatched to our Clients in April through June 2010.
Since its launch in October 2009, it has been thoroughly tested and improved, and we have many construction clients currently using it.
Thank you again for your business and continued support.
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Jonas Software is proud to announce its attendance at 2010 ACCA Conference & Indoor Air Expo.
This year's show will take place March 7, 2010 to March 9, 2010 at the Tampa Convention Centre in Tampa Bay, Florida.
Visit Jonas at Booth # 227
For more information on the show visit the show website at: http://www.accaconference.com/
Jonas Software is proud to announce its attendance at 2010 CMX Ciphex Show.
This year's show will take place from March 25, 2010 to March 27, 2010 at the Metro Toronto Convention Center in Toronto, Ontario.
Visit Jonas at Booth # 1422
For more information on the CMX Ciphex show visit their website: http://www.cmxciphexshow.com/
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Date & Location: Thursday, March 11th, 2010
Session Length: 3 hours
Session Time: 1:00pm-4:00pm EST
Location: Webex
Fee: $200 per connection
Trainer: Gary Nowak
Course Description: This session is designed to help you manage your jobs more profitably, efficiently and effectively. This session will explore the various methods available for you to collect and track job costs, revenue, labour and equipment hours, material consumption units and productivity units. The session will cover the following topics:
- Job Cost System Profile – Key flags and options
- Job Estimates & Takeoffs
- Processing Invoices & Common Problems
- Holdback/Retainage
- Multiple Billing Options
- Various Progress Billing Options & Procedures
- Progress Billing Integration to AR and JC – Common Problems
- Forecasting
- Report Generation
- Integration into other Jonas modules
- Job Scheduler
- Review of Key Reports for Project Managers & Executive Dashboard
- Project Management
- Manage RFI’s, Transmittals, Submittals
* Minimum four client registration required.
Webinars are subject to cancellation.
Please notify us 48 hours in advance before a cancellation notice or you will be billed.
Date & Location: Friday, March 12th, 2010
Session Length: 3 hours
Session Time: 1:00pm-4:00pm EST
Location: Webex
Fee: $200 per connection
Trainer: Gary Nowak
Course Description: This introductory course will teach you how to gain control over material purchases for jobs, inventory, work orders, equipment, and general accounts. We will cover the basic setup and procedures for purchase orders. You will quickly learn the daily procedures for creating, editing and completing a purchase order. You will learn how to assign non-inventory and inventory items to purchase orders and how to link them to GL`s, work orders, jobs and/or equipment. Understanding the integration to other Jonas Software modules will be reviewed. Various flags, rules and options available to you will be reviewed so you can adopt them based on your current company procedures. The importance of proper archiving and running key financial views will be reviewed.
* Minimum four client registration required.
Webinars are subject to cancellation.
Please notify us 48 hours in advance before a cancellation notice or you will be billed.
Date & Location: Thursday, March 18th, 2010
Session Length: 3 hours
Session Time: 1:00pm - 4:00pm EST
Location: Webex
Fee: $200 per connection
Trainer: Gary Nowak
Course Description: This exclusive training session will help guide your Service Managers and Dispatchers to manage and keep control of your ongoing Service work using the Dispatch Board. Best practices will be shared using proven organizational frameworks, planning strategies and control parameters. This valuable session will benefit those professionals who wish to refresh their knowledge of service billing. These innovative solutions will enable you to establish clear objectives and realize successful outcomes – no matter how intricate or detailed your business may be. You’ll learn to multi-task priorities and competing activities seamlessly and successfully.
Service Billing Topics:
- Improving Your Service Management Skills: The Basics For Success
- Dispatch Board – Using it more efficiently
- Create, Design and Interpret Key Service related reports
- Best Practices for the Service Manager
- Process Management and more.....
* Minimum four client registration required.
Webinars are subject to cancellation.
Please notify us 48 hours in advance before a cancellation notice or you will be billed.
Date & Location: Friday, March 19th, 2010
Session Length: 3 hours
Session Time: 1:00pm-4:00pm ST
Location: Webex
Fee: $200 per connection
Trainer: Gary Nowak
Course Description: This course will cover everything there is to know about creating informative reports using the report generation module. This advanced session will present task-based, real-world scenarios covering the design, coding, and implementation of reports. You will quickly learn how to use the data fields, set conditions, understand the coding and secure key reports.
* Minimum four client registration required.
Webinars are subject to cancellation.
Please notify us 48 hours in advance before a cancellation notice or you will be billed.
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As you may have noticed by now, our corporate website has received a significant facelift. Over the holidays, www.jonassoftware.com was re-launched with improved looks and content. These changes have been designed to allow easier access to information while providing a more direct line of communication between Jonas and our clients.
The following changes to the websites should be noted, as they may impact the way with which you access the Jonas Support Portal.
- Clients who wish to access our knowledge base, log a support call, or find information regarding the latest releases and enhancements can either visit www.jonas-construction.com and click on the “Get Support" button in the top right of the screen, or simply navigate to www.jonassupport.com and log directly into our Online Support Portal.
- www.jonassoftware.com will act as the new home of all corporate information, including details regarding Jonas Software subsidiary brands and the markets they service, corporate News and Events, and contact information.
- For 2010 Payroll updates go to www.jonassupport.com, log in, click on "Enhancements" on the top menu then select "Product Updates"
- To log a support call, go directly to www.jonassupport.com.
If you do not know your login and pin, please email support@jonassoftware.com or call our support line 1-800-352-6647.
If you have any additional questions regarding accessing our corporate websites or Online support Portal, please feel free to contact our support department by emailing support@jonassoftware.com or calling 1-800-352-6647.
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 In December 2009, the Jonas Construction Support Group welcomed Darlene to the support team after having previously worked for two Jonas clients.
With several years experience in the Accounting and Management fields, Darlene brings with her both procedural and hands-on knowledge of Jonas. As well she earned her diploma in General Business, majoring in Accounting with a minor in Legal Assisting.
Being one of the newest members of the Jonas team, Darlene tells us that she has never worked with a group of nicer, more welcoming people in her career. She said her co-workers were very instrumental in making her employment transition to Jonas a memorable and rewarding experience. She is looking forward to working with her colleagues and to her continued learning within the Jonas environment.
In her spare time Darlene enjoys spending time with her 15 year old schnauzer, Kramer, and she is also looking forward to her wedding which is to take place October 2010. She also enjoys outdoor activities such as boating and snowmobiling.
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Q. Is Windows 7 compatible with Jonas?
A. Yes, Jonas is compatible with Windows 7 but will require an updated setup.exe file if the Jonas version is lower than version 12.0.
We can send an updated setup.exe file to install Jonas workstation clients on Windows 7. The setup.exe file can be saved and then run from the Windows 7 workstation drive mapped to the network Jonas share:\GJCWIN\CUSTOM directory and this will write the correct target line in the Jonas shortcut. Windows 7 clients require the path to the Jonas.ini in the target line of the shortcut to launch properly (e.g. J:\GJCWIN\sbbwin.exe C:\WINDOWS\Jonas.ini GJC00).
Note to turn OFF User Account Controls in the Windows Control panel. The user will also require full control permissions on their local drive.
When Your Logo Won’t Print on Your Form
- Check that you are using a form that is GUI and has the Optional Letterhead functionality. The example below is a Service Billing invoice form.
- Make sure your bitmap is stored in the Jonas folder:\GJCWIN\DATA folder.
- Ensure that the path for your logo is not too long including the name of your file – keep file names as succinct as possible.
- Check the printer style you have set up to print your logo - see Knowledge Base article #4451 for how to set up your logo printing. Check the Pref’s screen and ensure you have it set to 2. Scale to fit. You may also have to experiment with the x1, y1, x2, y2 coordinates.
You can test how it will print on a general ledger trial balance report – be sure to select your Logo printer style. If you can get it to print on this document, it is an indicator of what it will look like on your form.
- Ensure that the image in your logo file is not too large – it may be that you will need to rescan the image to a smaller size.
- When printing, say “Yes” to letterhead.
- Make sure to turn on Line Drawing in the Printer Alignment screen.
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"As of tomorrow, employees will only be able to access the building using individual security cards. Pictures will be taken next Wednesday, and employees will receive their cards in two weeks."
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