File Attachments

In a manner similar to how a file can be attached to an email, Service2000 can attach any file to any customer document or part in inventory. You can attach as many files as you like to any service order, service invoice, parts invoice, estimate, credit, or to any part in inventory.

How it works...
The feature is invoked by clicking on the attachment icon and selecting a file to attach. Whenever a file is attached to a particular document, the icon color changes from black to bright yellow to notify users that files are attached. Whenever a user is scanning through service history, the yellow icon color would immediately indicate that there are files attached to a particular service invoice. At that point, the attached files can be easily viewed by double-clicking on the yellow paper clip icon and then double-clicking on the file attachment itself.

Below is a service invoice to which files have been attached. Note the bright yellow paper clip icon indicating that files are attached to this particular invoice.

Here are some examples of how you might use the file attachment feature:

Attach to Service Invoice

• output files from alignments to the actual invoice

• output files from scan tools with the actual invoice
• Pictures (taken by digital camera) of failed components to show your customer
• Pictures (taken by digital camera) of failed components to show an insurance adjuster
• Pictures (taken by digital camera) of failed components for legal purposes

Attach to Parts

• scans of schematics to a part or kit

• scans of installation instructions to part or kit

• scans of any sort of documentation to a part

• scans of safety-related documents for a hazardous materials you keep in inventory

Attach to Customers

• Pictures (taken by digital camera) of the customer or of his/her vehicle(s)

History Viewer Showing A Service Invoice With An Attachment

The screen capture below is the service history viewer in Service2000. Notice the bright yellow paper clip icon. This icon is black when there are no attachments, yellow when there are. As you scan through the invoices (by repeatedly clicking on the VCR buttons at the top of the screen), the icon color immediately tells you whether the invoice currently being viewed has attachments. To view any attached files, simply double-click on the yellow paper clip icon to open the file attachment's dialog (see below).

The file attachments dialog, showing 2 attached files:

To view any attached file, double-click on the file you wish to view.

Attached files are actually compressed and stored within the Service2000 database, so that you can delete the originals if you like. However, if you ever need them back again in their original form, Service2000 supports that - just click on the "Save" icon to do a "Save As", and you get the typical "Save As" dialog, allowing you to save the file back out of the Service2000 database anywhere you like.

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