HelpConsole 2008 SP3

This document has been created to assist you in installing the Margin Master program and getting Store Data from the Activant System into Margin Master. Please follow the below instructions in the order that they are given, as the order is often critical to a successful installation!

These instructions are specifically tailored to POS Systems from Activant.

Margin Master is far too complicated of a program to effectively learn from a single document. This document is simply intended as a guideline for the basic Margin Master procedures required to offer the dealer some immediate, factual, and actionable information about the current state of their own pricing strategy

What’s Changed?

When Margin Master was created for use within my own stores, the purpose for the software was purely centered on finding and fixing pricing inconsistencies that existed throughout my organization. Quickly many other dealers jumped on the Margin Master bandwagon – and we all saw significant improvements on our bottom lines. While the additional income was great, it became obvious after personally working with hundreds of retailers, and their specific pricing concerns – Margin Master had only partially hit the target. The real target turned out to be more complicated than I originally thought.

Margin Master has grown not only in complexity, but also in sophistication. The newest components have a far greater impact to dealers than I had ever dreamed. In an unofficial survey, I determined that the typical Ace dealer spends between 4 and 8 hours per week – managing their pricing. Many stores have one or more employees – dedicated to pricing. All of this time managing Hotsheets, and making pricing decisions certainly should have a payback! The reality is – there is no payback. Poor pricing decisions continue to be made without complete or accurate information. Inconsistency is typically the rule – not the exception. This has to change – and Margin Master is here to help.

Over the last 25 years, technology has changed many things in our lives. Think of some basic tools of today, like computers, cell phones, and the internet. Most of the technology commonly accepted today – didn’t exist 25 years ago. Funny thing though – when my Dad first got his PACE Computer system (I think in 1981) – it used this high tech device – called a modem – to dial up weekly, and download these things called Hotsheets. These Hotsheets would effectively maintain our costs and retails – it was a big deal. The scary part of this is that we still depend on the same technology today. Where has the advancement in pricing technology been? Now Margin Master and the revolutionary implementation of Pricing Strategies promises to give back – all those hours being spent – in every store across the country – and put a nice bump to the bottom line as well.

So let’s get started…

Setting Up Eagle for Windows

Getting Started

To start, there are two reports in the Activant System that are required by Margin Master. The two reports are the RIV (Inventory Valuation Report) and the RIH (Item Sales Report). Below you will find the steps to create the queue that runs those reports.

Note: Most stores on the Activant System have an RIV that automatically runs in their end of day queue. Please do not use this RIV report as it is not run with the proper parameters. You will need to run a separate RIV to import into Margin Master.

The Queue

What is a queue?

To simplify the process of getting store data from the Eagle System into Margin Master, users should set up a queue that will allow them to quickly execute the required reports, in a single step. Don’t worry about the formalities of queues; just understand that a queue is simply a grouping of reports – that can all be run at the same time.

There are two reports that must be run for each store that will be using Margin Master. The RIV report is an inventory valuation report that lists information like current price, and quantities on hand. The RIH report is a sales history report that shows monthly sales details for each Sku.

Obviously, these reports are the source of the information needed by Margin Master to effectively help a store manage and manipulate their pricing strategy. Follow the steps below to correctly set up the RIV and RIH reports, and to save them to the queue.

Setup the RIV Report

Open the Eagle Browser.
At the Launch Bar near the top of the screen, enter RIV and press enter.
The RIV Report Screen will open. Make the following selections by selecting the appropriate Tab on the left side of the screen:
On the Print Tab – Select Print to “S” to Send the report to the Spooler
On the Options Tab – Select the Cost to Use (Typically Replacement)
On the From/To Tab – Enter the Store Number you are running the report for.
Set the Subtotals option to “N”.
After making the above selections, hit F7, or click on the QUEUE button at the top of the Report Screen.
Enter the Name “MMASTER”
Keep the Store Number at the default value.
In comment, type Margin Master Reports
Click Ok.
You will see a message stating that the report has been added to position #1 in the Queue.
Repeat the RIV creation for each store in the organization – adding each report to the queue.
Press the ESC Key to Exit the RIV Report Screen

Setup the RIH Report

From the Eagle Browser as above, Enter RIH in the Launch Bar and press Enter.
The RIH Report Screen will open. Make the following selections by selecting the appropriate Tab on the left side of the screen:
On the Print Tab – Select Print to “S” to Send the report to the Spooler.
On the From/To Tab – Enter the Store Number you are running the report for.
Set the Subtotals option to “N”.
After making the above selections, hit F7, or click on the QUEUE button at the top of the Report Screen.
Select the Name “MMASTER” from the dropdown list.
Keep the Store Number at the default value.
Click Ok.
You will see a message stating that the report has been added to position #2 in the Queue. (Unless Multiple RIV Files were created in a multi store environment.)
Repeat the RIH creation for each store in the organization – adding each report to the queue.
Press the ESC Key to Exit the RIH Report Screen

Setup the RDE Report

From the Eagle Browser as above, Enter RDE in the Launch Bar and press Enter.
The RDE Report Screen will open. Make the following selections by selecting the appropriate Tab on the left side of the screen:
On the Print Tab – Select Print to “S” to Send the report to the Spooler.
On the Options Tab – Enter N as the Report Format.
On the From-To Tab – Remove the Store Number to include ALL Stores.
After making the above selections, hit F7, or click on the QUEUE button at the top of the Report Screen.
Select the Name “MMASTER” from the dropdown list.
Keep the Store Number at the default value.
Click Ok.
You will see a message stating that the report has been added to position #3 in the Queue. (Unless Multiple RIV & RIH Files were created in a multi store environment.)
Press the ESC Key to Exit the RDE Report Screen

Setup the RCL Report

From the Eagle Browser as above, Enter RCL in the Launch Bar and press Enter.
The RCL Report Screen will open. Make the following selections by selecting the appropriate Tab on the left side of the screen:
On the Print Tab – Select Print to “S” to Send the report to the Spooler.
On the Options Tab – Enter N as the Report Format.
On the From-To Tab – Remove the Store Number to include ALL Stores.
After making the above selections, hit F7, or click on the QUEUE button at the top of the Report Screen.
Select the Name “MMASTER” from the dropdown list.
Keep the Store Number at the default value.
Click Ok.
You will see a message stating that the report has been added to position #4 in the Queue. (Unless Multiple RIV & RIH Files were created in a multi store environment.)
Press the ESC Key to Exit the RCL Report Screen

Once you have created this Queue, you can now and in the future execute all of the Margin Master reports quickly by going into Network Access and running the Queue rather than going into Eagle and running each report individually.

Note: In a multi-store environment, you will have one QUEUE that will contain ALL reports for ALL stores. Each report must be created and saved to the queue separately.

Running the MMASTER Queue

After successfully creating the MMASTER queue above, you are now ready to initiate or execute the queue. From the Eagle Browser, open Network Access, and login with the proper username and password. At the Function Screen, type in MMASTER and press Enter. A small box will appear in the center of the screen with the cursor blinking in Run Time. Hit N, and the run time will change from End-of-Day to Now. Hit the F3 key to submit the queue, and the reports will begin running.

The reports will take varying amounts of time from system to system. Multi-store organizations obviously have more reports that need to run. The length of time isn’t important. The important thing is that these reports MUST finish running BEFORE we can import them into Margin Master. Since we have more work to do, we can get the rest of our work completed – then we will verify that the reports have finished processing.

CREATING NEX RECORD

NEX is a feature in the Activant System that determines how a user will scroll through the Sku’s. The specifics of NEX are not important – in fact I can’t tell you much about it. The only thing for certain is that each PC running Network Access is required to set one up if it doesn’t already exist.

The good news – this is very simple.

If not still open from above, run Eagle Browser and Network Access. Login as required.
From the Function Menu Type NEX and press Enter
The NEX screen will display.
Press F4 to add a record accepting the default values.
If you already had this set up – no changes will be made.
Hit ESC to return to the FUNCTION Menu.

The Import Macro

What is the import macro?

The Import Macro is what gives you the ability to send price changes that you create in Margin Master back to your Eagle System.

Note: While Macros are available in the Eagle for Windows system, Network Access has proven to be more reliable so we recommend that you use Network Access.

Creating the Import Macro

If not still open from above, run Eagle Browser and Network Access. Login as required.
Using the Windows Menus at the top of the screen, Select Options/Keys/Programmable Keys
Select an available Programmable Key from the dropdown list. An available key will have nothing defined in the Macro Definition Box.
Enter a Description in the Description field.
In the Data Field Name, enter C:\MARGINMASTER\NEWRETAILS.TXT

For the next part, make sure to follow the exact instructions. The Macro Definition is created by pressing the assigned Activant keys, not by typing the text that is shown.

With your cursor blinking inside the Macro Definition field, from the Windows menu, Click Insert/Data File Column.
Enter 1
Press OK
Press [Enter]
Click Insert/Data File Column.
Enter 2
Press OK
Press [F4] to create the <Add>
Press [F12] to create the <Clear>
Click OK to Save and Return to the Network Access FUNCTION MENU.

Get The Server IP Address

At the top of the Network Access screen, you will see the Server IP address located in the Window Bar. Write this number down – we will need it later! It should be similar to “192.168.1.10”

Setting up the MARGIN MASTER PC

System Requirements

Before you even begin the process of setting up Margin Master, please make sure the dealer has a PC that meets the requirements outlined. Due to the great number of calculations Margin Master performs, processor speed and memory are critical.

Internet Access is required to download the program, as well as receive program and pricing updates.
The PC must be connected to the Activant Server. Typically, this means the dealer can access Eagle Browser from the computer.
Margin Master will perform on just about any Microsoft System, although Windows XP is preferred.
Make sure the PC has at least at least 2 GB memory. At least 500 MB of hard drive space per store for multi-stores. 2.0 GHz or better processor. Utilize the stores Newest/Fastest computer!

To determine what version of Microsoft Windows Operating system the computer has, simply click on the Start Button and go up to My Computer. Right click on my computer and select Properties. A System Properties Screen will appear. Under the General Tab, you will see all system information including the amount of memory, and the processor speed.

Meeting the minimum system requirement is not mandatory. Margin Master will run successfully on a computer with less impressive specs. The reality though is that technology has gotten so cheap, a new PC should simply not be out of reach for anyone. Because Margin Master is crunching lots of numbers, it does require some horsepower.

Installing Margin Master

To install Margin Master on to the PC, visit our website at www.retailersoft.com and click on the Downloads Button. Once you enter/verify the store information, you will be at the Downloads Page. Click on Margin Master Program Version 3.xx and begin the download.

Note: Internet Explorer and other browsers may block the automatic download as shown below. To begin the download, click the yellow warning bar, and select Download File… from the dropdown menu.

Typically, when prompted to Run, Open or Save the file, you should choose Run or Open. After the download is completed, the installation program will begin. Follow the on screen instructions to complete the installation.

Note: Some machines may need to update some of the Microsoft components. These components may require the system to reboot. If the system is rebooted, you will need to re-download and install Margin Master from the website again.

Running Margin Master For The First Time

The installation program will place a Margin Master icon on your Desktop, and in your Start Menu. Click one of these icons to execute the Margin Master program.

By default, Margin Master will run in Demo Mode. A pop up screen will appear explaining that you are currently in Demo Mode. Click OK. Another screen will display offering you the chance to continue using the Demo Database. If you are ready to import the store data, select no, and the program will create an empty store database for you to begin using.

Registering the Margin Master Software

While Margin Master will operate for 30 days in DEMO Mode, users wishing to fully activate the software must complete the software registration. To complete the software registration contact a support representative via the live support or by calling our phone support (989)896-8000

Checking For Updates & Downloading Ace Data

From the Margin Master Main Menu, click on Tools/Check for Updates and follow the steps to complete the update. Margin Master should recognize that you need the Ace Data, and will download that file. When the download is complete, click Import Data on the Main Menu. You will see the Ace Data file ready to be processed. Click Process – and the Ace Data will be imported. When completed – you will see the number of records imported during the Ace Data update. Click Done to return to the Main Menu – again you can verify the number of Ace Records now in the database.

Getting Store Data Into Margin Master

Verify That Reports Have Finished Processing

To verify if the reports have finished, you have two options.

NETWORK ACCESS
At the FUNCTION SCREEN, type RABO and press Enter to see a list of reports that are still processing. The report should not have any RIV or RIH Reports listed – indicating the reports have finished processing.
EAGLE FOR WINDOWS
In the LAUNCH BAR at the top of the Eagle Browser Window, type QUE and press Enter to see a list of reports that are still processing. The report should not have any RIV or RIH Reports listed – indicating the reports have finished processing.

Switch to the Store Database

From the Margin Master Main Menu, click Tools/Options/Database Options. Make sure the Use Store Database option is selected. Click Done to return to the Main Menu.

Import Data

From the Margin Master Main Menu, click on the Import Data Button to go to the Import Data Screen. This will take you to the Import Data Screen. Click the Download Activant Files button located on the bottom left corner of the Import Data Screen. Clicking the Download Activant Files Button will take you to the FTP Transfer Screen. Margin Master will attempt to configure the connection. If the program is able to determine the correct configuration, you should see some files listed on the right hand side of the screen.

If the screen says “Unable to Connect”, edit the settings to the left of the screen as follows:

Report Directory - /u1/SPL/
User Name – test
Password – 'wdm<,

With these settings in place, click the ‘Connect’ button and a connection should be made.

The files listed are in reverse date order. The top files listed in the FTP Screen will be the reports you recently ran. You can double check this by reviewing the date and time the reports were run. Place a checkmark next to the RIV(s) and RIH(s) you just ran and click the Transfer Button at the bottom of the screen. You will begin to see Margin Master transferring and converting each report file. Once the files are done transferring and being converted, Margin Master will automatically return to the Import Data Screen and begin processing the files.

Note: In some instances, while the RIV and RIH are converting, you may get a message that says “Margin Master is unable to identify the store number for this store. Do you have more than one store?” Click NO here. You will get the same question for the second file, as well. Answer NO again and Margin Master will complete the process and assume these reports are for store 1.

Once the processing has completed, next to each report name on the Import Data Screen, Margin Master will tell you how many records have been imported. It is always a good idea to review this information to make sure your files have processed correctly. The number of records processed from the RIV and RIH is determined by the size of the store and the number of SKUs in the store. However, you do want to check to make sure the numbers on the RIV and RIH are relatively close. If the numbers vary significantly, you may want to re-run your reports to ensure you have complete store data.

After verifying the numbers, click Done to return to the Main Menu.

Using the Program

One Click Statistics

Now that the data is in Margin Master, you are now able to go into the program and take a look at the One Click Statistics.

From the Margin Master Main Menu, click on the Run Margin Master Button. The Margin Master program will now load. Once in Margin Master, you will find 4 gray buttons at the top of the screen – Basic Selection, Price Selection, More Selection, and One Click. Click on the One Click Tab. You will now see two buttons – one says One Click Statistics and the other is Execute Pricing Strategy. Click on One Click Statistics.

A screen will open that gives you some overall pricing for the store. It is here that you can see how many items are currently less that Ace Retail, at Ace Retail, greater than Ace Retail but less than Level 1, etc. One click statistics not only gives you the number of SKUs that fall into those pricing categories, but it also tells you the overall percentage as well as a Potential Dollar Amount. The Potential Dollar amount is based on moving the items from their current level, Less than Ace Retail for example, to the next level, Ace Retail. Based on the sales history, the Potential is the amount of money the dealer could add to the bottom line by making those price changes.

One Click Statistics also breaks down how many of those items are Blind, Competitive, Non-Competitive and sensitive, as well as A, B, C, D and X items.

At the bottom of the One Click Statistics Screen, you will find a Mean Level number score. Take that number and match it to the color coded chart on the left side of the screen to determine where the overall pricing for the store falls.

What’s next?

Now that you have your own data in Margin Master, the fun can really begin. With the basic look above at the One Click Statistics, you will undoubtedly generate lots of questions about your current pricing. Better yet, you may be pleasantly surprised at what you see.

The steps you take next with Margin Master are beyond the scope of this document. Basically, play around! Practice bringing up different selections of Sku’s. Begin to formulate a list of pricing strategies that you feel might be applicable to your store.

For further learning, be sure to check out the Downloads page on www.retailersoft.com. The Web-Help system also at www.retailersoft.com is probably the most complete Margin Master reference available. The Web-Help document is available as an Adobe PDF file that can be downloaded and printed from the Downloads Page.

Certainly there will also be additional training opportunities in the future. Keep an eye on the website for additional information and training dates.

Article Details

Created:4/30/2009 11:05:41 PM
Modified:5/29/2009 11:39:05 AM
Author:bgreen
Views:266

Options

	Print Article
	Bookmark Article
	Link to this Article

Related Articles

File Attachments