In this month's Newsletter the focus is on "DMS Online Ordering Management" and the tools available for controlling your online ordering engine and web site.

In the beginning of our web development days, customers that wanted to make changes to their web sites had to sit on the phone and make their change requests manually. DataWedge has since created an Administration Web Site known as "DMS Online Ordering Management" as a comprehensive solution designed to simplify the management of building a web site and controlling your online ordering engine. This site automates a large number of tasks that assist in doing everything from managing the text on your pages, to controlling the template used on your website (if any), as well as controlling black-out dates and times to ensure that your web site is not taking orders during holiday hours.

This web site is loaded with it's own built-in tools providing powerful results. Web site hosting, design, content, security, and user options can all be managed and customized through these tools. This site is also very user friendly making it easy for any user to manage regardless of their technical skill level.

All DataWedge customers that utilize DataWedge's Online ordering engine have access to the Admin Site, whether using templates and hosting or using the online ordering snap-in.

DMS Online Ordering Management Login

DMS Online Ordering Management is a secure and personalized web portal that enables our customers to help themselves 24x7.  To enter this site simply login with your user name and password issued through DataWedge. If you did not receive a user name and password, or if you cannot remember it, please call technical support at (208) 874-4185.

Photo #1 is a screen shot of the login page to "DMS Online Ordering Management". To login click on the link and enter your  User Name and Password. http://admin.dtsc.net/

The DMS Online Ordering Management Home Page and Control Panel

Photo #2 is a screen shot of the "Home Page" or "Control Panel". Once you have successfully logged in, this is the page that will open. Under the top header notice your RDS Company name and your DMS ID. To your left notice the shaded grey column with red text. These are links or buttons that open the tools, pages or modules for controlling you online ordering engine and web site. Here you can setup, update, and modify your online business information. Just right of the shaded grey column shows recent internet orders placed.

The Address and Phone Number, Email Addresses, and Hours of Operation modules are all very simple to use. Click the link to that module and fill in the form adding the correct information, then click the update button to save your work. It's as simple as "Point, Click and Type". 

With the holiday season just around the corner, some RDS Companies may keep irregular operating hours and even close on certain days. The Admin pages allow an RDS to establish days of closure during a holiday period, and even establish different operating hours during this time. (For example, on the day following the 4th of July, many RDS's will be closed for Lunch the following day, choosing to re-open during the dinner period on July 5th).

Photo #3 shows the "Black-Out Date" module. Aside from the regularly scheduled "Hours of Operation" this is the module used if you are going to be closed on those special occasions like New Years, Christmas, Easter and so-on. These dates are set for INDIVIDUAL periods. (This means that making your RDS closed for Thanksgiving in 2007 will NOT make it closed for Thanksgiving in 2008).

Click on the "Black-Out Date" option in the grey column under the "Setup" category in the grey column. The module shown above will open.

For example, let's say you want to show you are closed on October 31st, 2007. Scroll to the month of October using the arrows to the right or left of the month. Select day 31.

The window shown above in photo #4 will open on your computer screen and read "The RDS will be CLOSED on 10/31/2007. Select OK.

Once the task is complete your computer screen will display as shown in photo #5. Notice October 31st, 2007 is displayed in dark red. The day, date and year will be displayed to the right of the calendar in red text verifying a successful entry. It will then be listed in a column just under the red text along with other future dates you set to show closed (if there are any). Remember the text in red is a verification of a successful entry, those in black text are the dates selected to be closed.

To reverse the setup simply select the date you want to show as open. The same window shown in photo #4 will open, only this time it will read "The RDS will be OPEN on 10/31/2007" select OK. To set multiple date repeat the steps shown above.

Black Out Times

Photo #6 shows the "Black-Out Time" module. Let's say you are open Sunday thru Thursday from 11AM to 10PM, but on October 31st you want to close at 8PM. You would use this module. This module is a little different than setting the "Black-Out Date" module.

Select the "Black-Out Time" option under the "Setup" category in the grey column. The module shown above will open. On your computer screen you will notice the grey column is displayed throughout every step in every module, so you may select something different at any time (not shown above). If you do not save your work, it will be lost.

Again we select our target date. We are going change our default close time from 10PM to 8PM because of the kids trick-or-treat night. Scroll to October using the arrows to the right or left of the month. Click on day 31.

(This is different than the "Black-Out Date" setup!) Photo #7 above will appear. Notice that day 31 is displayed in red and there's a black dot in the Default Hours choice. This is letting you know day 31 was selected and the default hours have not been changed from what was selected in the "Hours of Operation" module.

To be able to change the time we must select the "Custom Hours" setting and enter the times you will be open on October 31st, 2007.

Photo #8 above shows "Custom Hours" is selected but you cannot enter or change the time. Why is that? You ask! To activate this setting, after you select "Custom Hours" (make sure there's a black dot in the radio button) you must select the update button to activate this option.

There we go! Now you can enter your times, see Photo #9. The "Custom Hours" setting is now active. Using the drop down arrows  select your open and close times for this lunch and dinner.

Photo #10 shows are are open for lunch from 11AM to 3PM and dinner from 4PM to 8PM. Once you have the correct times selected, save your work by selecting the "Update Button"

NOTE:  You should not overlap your dates and times.  For example, do not set a Black-Out Date for October 31st, then additionally choose a modified time period for that same date.  Choose ONLY a Black-Out Date OR a modified range of operating hours for that single date.

Photo #11 shows you have completed your task. Any dates with altered hours will display on the calendar in dark red, and a blue Hyperlink to the right of the calendar.

To change back to your regular default hours of operation, simply select the link to the right of the calendar, then select the "Default Hours" option when the window opens shown in photo #10.

Template Design

Template above with black background also comes with white background.

Photo #12) shows some templates offered by DataWedge.

For businesses that don't have the want, will, or time to invest in a custom web site for their business, DataWedge has assembled multiple templates that can be quickly deployed and changed by an RDS.  Everything needed for an online business is available. Through  the tools built into this site, you can build a site and publish it in no time, and/or activate and control online ordering snap-in. With a click of your mouse you can add pages already built for your RDS. All you have to do is select the pages you want on your web site, then personalize them with text and images. To personalize the pages you selected, just point, click, and type. There are 5 templates and 22 pages in all to choose from. Brand Yourself! Add your own personal company logo, pictures, and files.

Watch for more information in next months newsletter on "How To Build A Web Site" using DataWedge template designs and pages. We will be reviewing the Template Settings, describing the modules in that category, and illustrating how work in these modules.

This Months Tips & Tricks

Windows XP Tips & Tricks

1. Make your Folders Private

Open My Computer
•Double-click the drive where Windows is installed (usually drive (C:), unless you have more than one drive on your computer).
•If the contents of the drive are hidden, under System Tasks, click Show the contents of this drive.
•Double-click the Documents and Settings folder.
•Double-click your user folder.
•Right-click any folder in your user profile, and then click Properties.
•On the Sharing tab, select the Make this folder private so that only I have access to it check box.

Note

•To open My Computer, click Start, and then click My Computer.
•This option is only available for folders included in your user profile. Folders in your user profile include My Documents and its subfolders, Desktop, Start Menu, Cookies, and Favorites. If you do not make these folders private, they are available to everyone who uses your computer.
•When you make a folder private, all of its subfolders are private as well. For example, when you make My Documents private, you also make My Music and My Pictures private. When you share a folder, you also share all of its subfolders unless you make them private.
•You cannot make your folders private if your drive is not formatted as NTFS For information about converting your drive to NTFS

2. How to make your Desktop Icons Transparent

Go to control Panel > System, > Advanced > Performance area > Settings button Visual Effects tab "Use drop shadows for icon labels on the Desktop"

3. Set Permissions for Shared Files and Folders

Sharing of files and folders can be managed in two ways. If you chose simplified file sharing, your folders can be shared with everyone on your network or workgroup, or you can make your folders private. (This is how folders are shared in Windows 2000.) However, in Windows XP Professional, you can also set folder permissions for specific users or groups. To do this, you must first change the default setting, which is simple file sharing. To change this setting, follow these steps:
•Open Control Panel, click Tools, and then click Folder Options.
•Click the View tab, and scroll to the bottom of the Advanced Settings list.
•Clear the Use simple file sharing (Recommended) check box.
•To manage folder permissions, browse to the folder in Windows Explorer, right–click the folder, and then click Properties. Click the Security tab, and assign permissions, such as Full Control, Modify, Read, and/or Write, to specific users.

You can set file and folder permissions only on drives formatted to use NTFS, and you must be the owner or have been granted permission to do so by the owner.

4. Search For Hidden Or System Files In Windows XP

The Search companion in Windows XP searches for hidden and system files differently than in earlier versions of Windows. This guide describes how to search for hidden or system files in Windows XP.
Search for Hidden or System Files By default, the Search companion does not search for hidden or system files. Because of this, you may be unable to find files, even though they exist on the drive.
To search for hidden or system files in Windows XP:
Click Start, click Search, click All files and folders, and then click More advanced options.
Click to select the Search system folders and Search hidden files and folders check boxes.
NOTE: You do not need to configure your computer to show hidden files in the Folder Options dialog box in Windows Explorer to find files with either the hidden or system attributes, but you need to configure your computer not to hide protected operating system files to find files with both the hidden and system attributes. Search Companion shares the Hide protected operating system files option (which hides files with both the system and hidden attributes) with the Folder Options dialog box Windows Explorer.