jims

I was doing a new proposal today, and took note of the D-Tools behavior. Funny how you forget. It does ask on each wire.. but assuming you do all your wall plates, then all your speaker runs one after the other. The box defaults the the last HE location used. So if your "Speaker and Control Wiring" package has 4 wires in it. You just add the package, then hit OK, OK, OK, OK. Also, Use that "Apply" button, between Rooms. Keep the package box open. Change the room, Apply, OK, OK, OK, OK-Change Room, Apply OK, OK, OK, OK. etc.. I think it goes pretty fast. If you follow some common order of rooms then your wire numbers will also have some seemingly intentional maner of order. The only thing better would be a multi-room tab that let you spec a package or single equipment, check a bunch of boxes beside the appropriate rooms and add them all at once.

jims

Excuse my post above. I wasn't on the last page of the thread!

Now I get Keith's method with the labor item and wires as accessories. It's brilliant!

We have the same issue with fake items transferring to QB. It's not my department and I don't ever see the mess, but I get the gist. I'm going to update my packages in this proposal today, do a find replace, create a Sales Order and have a look. When I get the check from the client I'll just send it to Accounting and see if I get a "Nasty Gram" or not.

jims

Originally Posted by KeithC

How were you able to get all the wire lengths the same by answering the length only once???

That's a good question! I think I either defined them when I created the Package or I'm adjusting them on the first room and it's just repeating itself on the others.

The home runs are the "Default wire length" for the project. The two shorter runs are just a guess.

Attached is a screen grab of my package. (G Rated)

jims

Originally Posted by BlakeV

Here is a video on how to deal with a bundled cable. http://www.projectstreamer.com/users...dot6_040706BV/

I'm no QB expert, and I don't want to become one. If I use the "Generic Cables" in the proposal, so I can have labels and accurate documentation.

Then I let them Transfer to QB.

Don't order them.

Then put them on a QB Invoice.

Won't that eliminate them from Inventory?

Or will QB not let me Invoice things I never ordered?

Reed Phillips

Does everyone use inventory items in QB for all D-Tools items? We use Non-Inventory items for amost everything, so you don't have to sell something out of inventory that is not really an inventory item, items that were purchased for a particular job. In the resi world, do the clients need to see this detail on an invoice? We just invoicethe project (summary only), not all of the items in a project.

KeithC

Originally Posted by Reed Phillips

Does everyone use inventory items in QB for all D-Tools items? We use Non-Inventory items for amost everything, so you don't have to sell something out of inventory that is not really an inventory item, items that were purchased for a particular job. In the resi world, do the clients need to see this detail on an invoice? We just invoicethe project (summary only), not all of the items in a project.

The client does not own the gear untill he has taken possession of it.
Therefore the company owns it
Therefore it must be put into inventory
*****************************
Buy stuff and put it in inventory
sell stuff and relieve it from inventory
*****************************

For contracted projects, my clients typically dont see the invoices. All they see is the contract with the payment schedule which is already summarized. They can see the invoice if they require that level of detail, but rarely do they want it.

This method allows me to not blow the clients head off with detail AND I am able to relieve items from inventory AND have accurate inventory levels AND if they want the detail then I can give it to them.

KeithC

Originally Posted by jims

Excuse my post above. I wasn't on the last page of the thread! Now I get Keith's method with the labor item and wires as accessories. It's brilliant! We have the same issue with fake items transferring to QB. It's not my department and I don't ever see the mess, but I get the gist. I'm going to update my packages in this proposal today, do a find replace, create a Sales Order and have a look. When I get the check from the client I'll just send it to Accounting and see if I get a "Nasty Gram" or not.

Thanks, I am glad someone else gets it.

Reed Phillips

Ageed, my point was that by using Non-Inventory parts, it cuts down on the hassle of having to Sell them from inventory. It just saves a step.

It belongs to the dealer until it is delivered and the client signs a delivery receipt. We tend to separate ownership and inventory management.

Our Process:
Purchase as Non-Inventory part with a Job Name. (Cost is immediately assigned to the job)
Sell a few Items from inventory to the Job Name. (cables, plates etc.)
Deliver goods with delivery receipt and serial numbers. (D-Tools report)
Invoice the project. (No detail)
It does not require the extra step of selling equipment out of inventory that was purchased for the job, which is most of the items.

Works both ways, we were just attempting to lighten the accounting load. Thanks for detailing the process. I think I understand why you take this approach.
-reed

JordanC

I like your process except with wire, sometimes we get specials on ordering certain amount or we place an order for maybe 3 jobs at once to cut down on shipping / cost. Thus, WE do count wire as inventory, then we delegate the wire to the job when it is delivered to the job, and even checked back in from the job back to inventory. So I can right now, check the wire count in QB and decide what I do and do not need to order for the next upcoming job. As an example, we treat wire as if it were interconnects or speakers.

__________________

Space available for rent.

Reed Phillips

I can see why that is important. We maintain wire in inventory, but at this time do not sell it to a job. We sell wire, but the cost is never allocated to the job. This is our next step towards more accurate cost accounting. I do run a "Wire and Connector" report that tells the warehouse how many of each type of connector is needed for the job, and a rough estimate of the wire requirements. The connector report is handy because every once in a while a strange non-stock connector will be required. This flags it before the installers get onsite. Helps cut down on the dreaded, "We forgot something". It also helps them verify van stock before leaving the office. ANYTHING to keep them in the field and not driving back and forth to the warehouse.