Welcome to the 1^st issue in 2005 of the Premvet Hints and Tips. We hope to have these out on a regular basic and will be specific to Premvet (and EnServe) sites. We look at some of the common Support questions we get and base the content on them as well as letting you know what is new for you.

Ø Guides

You will find enclosed some guides:

Release Notes - A copy of the current (2.20) release notes.

Ø Update CD

Please find enclosed a Premvet Update CD. This has the latest version of Premvet on it. Some of the new features (since the 2004 Congress release) are:

Ø More Data Major reports

Ø New Administrative Login

Ø E-Mailed Clinical History Reports

Ø Automatic Prescription Generation

Ø Stock Net Net pricing

Ø Display a map of where the Farm/Stable/Animal is

Ø Batch Number reports

Ø Support for Out Of Hours Work

Ø Support for the Equine FDI

Ø Pop-Up warnings when animals have NOT had specific recalls

Ø Automatic processing of Lab results via E-Mail

Ø Up to ten telephone numbers for animal

Ø Range of new Automatic Pricing options.

Please contact support when you are ready to load the CD. All the options have been tested with the current release of the OS (5.0.7) and one previous (5.0.6) - while we do not expect problems with the core options on earlier releases there may be the odd OS related option that does not perform as expected.

Ø Edge Upgrade

Microlite, the authors or BackupEdge, have released a free upgrade to all sites running version 2.xx.xx there is a copy of the Update CD - if you can't wait for support to load it - and are net connected (running EnServe) just use:

EdgeMenu -> File -> Check for Update

This automatically checks, Microlite's update site, if there is a newer version will download and install it with no fuss. The upgrade is well recommended (it's free anyway) as it does resolve a few existing problems with OSR 5.0.7 with all the update packs installed.

Ø Web Site

We have updated the FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) on the web site.

http://www.vetsolutions.co.uk/premvet/faq/

Please take a moment to see what is there. Some guides in particularly, the 'Admin login' this covers a complete new set of options for adding users, setting mail aliases, shutting down the system - all the tasks you keep putting off, as they are too complicated - not now. You will also find details of how the system handles lab e-mail and what you need to tell the labs along with a set of FAQ's specific to EnServe. Another handy section has been added dealing with Microsoft Windows and using it with Premvet Mail shots esp. the newer 2003 set of office tools.

Admin Login: http://www.vetsolutions.co.uk/premvet/faq/adlog.html
Lab E-Mail: http://www.vetsolutions.co.uk/premvet/faq/labmail.html
EnServe FAQ's http://www.vetsolutions.co.uk/premvet/manual/enserve/howtos/

Ø Mailing List

We do run a mailing list for general comments, help and feedback on using Premvet (and any other topic people want to discuss). It is open to ALL users of Premvet and all of you have E-Mail.

To subscribe, just send a mail message to support@vetsolutions.co.uk from the account you want to receive the mail and you will be added.

The mailing list address is Genlist@vetsolutions.co.uk we would ask as many of the existing subscribers cannot read html/word documents that you set your mailer to 'Send as Plain Text' it makes it easier all round.

Ø EnServe

We have updated all EnServe sites with a copy of LavaSoft's Anti SpyWare tools. You will find them in the folder \\server\comon\EnServe\ we recommend you install it on all PC's - it help catch the very irritating SpyWare pop-up that can hijack your system.

Shortly we will be releasing ssh (Secure Shell) for the 5.0.6 sites to allow you to encrypt any traffic when you are using the system from a remote location e.g. Home or on the farm.

Ø System Monitoring

This was mentioned in the last newsletter - a reminder - you can get a 'health Check' on how your system is performing, what software you have installed, is it current etc. by sending a mail message to info@bdsedin FROM ONE OF THE PRACTICE MAIL ACCOUNTS - you cannot use this feature from your home PC. Just send a blank mail message with the subject of 'SysMon' you do not need to enter anything in the body of the message - it will be ignored. The robot in Edinburgh looks at the Subject and From lines only and acts accordingly.

Ø What would you like to see here?

Please let us know what format you would like to the see the Hints and Tips come in. We can dispense with the paper copy and send via E-Mail - we can add different sections. We can expand on exiting areas of the software - we can even add a 'Letters' page - these guides are to help you - based on your feedback it can change. Use the support mail address at the bottom of each page or when speaking to a member of staff just let it fly.

Common Support Questions.

The Balance on the Clinical Screen is Different to that on the Management screen.

Note: Access to the Management financial figures are protected (112) - you may need to get your System Administrator to do this for you.

Make a note of the balance on the clinical screen e.g. œ10.50

Switch back to the Management screen and Edit

Ø If using Arrow Key editing: Navigate to the Fees figure - enter the amount from clinical e.g. 10.50, then enter 0 beside Drugs, VAT and Payments

Ø If using the 2 letter field codes: Enter FX for fees - enter the amount from clinical e.g. 10.50, enter, DX, VX and PX - beside each enter 0

The two screens should now agree.

I see a pop-up box saying 'This Account is locked' and I can't add work.

Correct - a lock has been applied to the animal to stop any new work being added. The System Administrator can remove the lock if you think it is invalid.

Note: System Administrator - Make sure you have access to remove the lock (permission number 128).

Select the animal then 'A' (Additional).

If you are defaulting to showing the extra telephone numbers select 'Status' to switch to the Status screen.

Select L 'Lock' - the animal is now un-locked.

Is your root password 'password' THEN CHANGE IT

Login as root, type passwd, answer the questions, and let support know. It's that simple.

Backup to DVD

You need to use DVD-RAM disks - any others will cause failures. When you get replacement media make sure you specify DVD-RAM.

Yellow Light on the DAT Drive is flashing

If the little yellow light on your DAT drive is flashing or the backup mail/summary mentions 'Tape Drive needs Cleaned' - this means the drive needs cleaned - slot in a cleaning tape - 20 seconds later it will be spat back out - the drive has been cleaned. Mark the card that comes with the cleaning tape, they do have a limited life ~20 times, once exceeded bin it.

Minimum Bill Amount

I have tried to print an invoice for a client in credit and nothing comes out. Check the 'Minimum Bill Amount' on the 2nd Invoice screen animals with a balance LESS than what is specified will not be printed. If you want credits to appear, then this should be a highish NEGATIVE number e.g. -9999.00.

Datamajor

I want to report on all sales of a specific analysis code but only for a specific surgery - How can I do it?

DataMajor -> AdHoc -> Clinical by Date

Enter the date range and analysis codes you are interested in.

The 'Restrict By' field - this is where you would enter the details - in this example we want to limit the work to just Surgery 4 for example, we would enter SurgeryDone = 4

Continue, as normal and the report will be limited to just surgery 4 animals.

Security Report

The EnServe Security report is going to the wrong users. Change it - Use the Admin login, Administrate Menu -> Edit System File -. Aliases - Locate 'security' and add the users you want it to go to.

The Option you told me is not on my system.

These tip are based on the current release of the software. The current release is on the CD you should have received with it. Please contact support if you want it installed.

Invoice Vatbooks and Recall Runs

Don't print them directly - Spool them - this allows you to check they are correct, re-print them as many times as you want and it also allows you to keep a copy for the VAT man.

Following on from above - Where is the spooler?

I have been told to spool my Invoices /Recalls/ Vatbook but can't find this Print Spooler.

Menu -> Text Utilities -> Printer Spooler (Classic Menus)

Menu -> Reports -> -Print Spooler (New Style)

If you don't see the option then it could be your System Administrator has not given you permission - It is Access Permission 132.

See the Print Spooler FAQ for more details. (http://www.vetsolutions.co.uk/premvet/faq/faq106.html)

Root mail - check it

The system will mail out any problems and summaries to the user called root. You should check mail for root periodically to make sure that there is nothing 'strange' happening with the system.

To do so, log in as root, at the # prompt type 'mutt' (or elm depending on what you prefer). Scan the messages - contact us if there are any you are not sure about. You will soon come to recognise what is strange or not. For more details see the faq
(http://www.vetsolutions.co.uk/premvet/faq/email.html)

Related records

Sometimes, if users have been doing a lot of relating/de-relating/merging the system can get 'confused' over which animal is related to which. The obvious symptoms are when you access one animal another is also brought up. Too rectify this run the Validation option 'Fix Related Records'

System Management -> Setup -> Validation -> Fix Related Record (New Style)

General Applications -> Validation -> Fix Related Records (Classic menus)

EnServe - WebMail

We have preset the default signature to be 'EnServe brought to you by Vet Solutions' - this is an arbitrary default - we certainly expect you to change it - click the 'Pref' icon
and enter your signature as suits.

User Profiles (Groups)

Many of the reports will breakdown work done, turnover, clients seen etc. by what group the user is in. You have 10 of them - it takes a couple of minutes to classify your staff - a lot of you seem to have all vets and no reception staff or all reception staff and no vets.

Take the time to set the profiles and allocate the correct staff to the correct profile - you will get much better reporting and it makes it very easy to change access permissions on a group by group basis. Set the profile name in Password Maintenance -> Setup Default and beside each user you have the 'Group' they belong to.

I can find animals by number but not by name.

The primary index needs re-built - this usually happens when someone re-boots the system during a validation (not a good idea). From the main menu:

System Management -> Setup -> Validation -> Fix main Index (New Style)

General Applications -> Validation -> Fix Main Index (Classic menus)

Don't Un-Plug Things

All servers have a mouse connected to them. Please do NOT un-plug it and use it with a PC thinking it's not needed it is. You will have problems if the server needs re-started, leave it alone. You should also NOT unplug monitors, terminals, printers etc. just because you need to plug in the vacuum cleaner - if you forget to re-connect, it others have problems. I know it seems odd to mention this, but we do get three to four calls a week where a 'xyz thing' is not working - the cause is someone unplugged it to use their laptop or yes the vacuum cleaner.

Mark the computer plugs with little red stickers and make sure ALL staff know not to mess with them.

Recovery Disks

Many of you have DVD or CD Writers on the System - When generating your Edge Recovery Disks - cut them to a CD instead (Pick the `boot media on cd/dvd0' when creating them). Floppies are very unreliable especially with the amount of dust and dog hair around in a practice - they do not get used frequently so are very likely to fail when needed - CD's are a lot more reliable - you only need to cut a CD boot disk once a year (or if your system changes) rather than every 3 months with floppies.