Speed Feedback Needed

I am trying some experiments with database sorts in ZP SQL to see if I can improve the speed with which it can retrieve data. I need to know where existing customers are experiencing delays when using ZP SQL. Please send me your feedback. I need very specific information including the screen you are on, and the specific task you are trying. For example, if you notice long lags using the Locate Screen, I need to know whether it is on a street name search or a parcel search, etc. I want to recreate the lags here at my office so I can get a feel for whether a new database sort can help.

PDF Shortcut in Output Options

I find that I am printing to PDF files more and more these days. I like it for two reasons. One it is easy to send as an attachment to an e-mail. And two it is easy to archive and retrieve without me having to stuff a paper document in my file cabinet. ZonePro SQL users have always had to option to print documents or reports to PDF files but it was hidden away in the Toolbox Option and seldom used. I've made it a lot easier to print to PDF files now though by adding a "To PDF" option to the Output drop-down box on every document screen and report screen in ZP SQL. Using this option automatically creates a PDF file in the \EXPORT folder and displays the new file on the screen. You can rename the document or save it to a new location right from that screen. There are other ways to get a PDF in ZP SQL but this is now the quickest and easiest. The updates are available for downloading.

New Conversion Document for ZP 32 Customers

I just posted a new document on the Tutorials page of our web site called "Converting From ZP 32 to ZP SQL." This document is designed to help explain some of the issues existing ZP 32 customers should be aware of when switching to ZP SQL.

Time Box Values Tweaked

I made a change to the values listed in the Time Box option for filling in Next Inspection Times, etc. The old method wasn't sorting correctly in the report screens. I've switched it around so now the "AM" or "PM" bit comes first and got rid of the underscore for PM values. So now instead of "06:00 AM" it reads "AM 06:00" and instead of "_6:00 PM" it is "PM 06:00." Takes a little getting used to but it solves the issue with report sorting. This change won't effect any fields that already had a time value assigned, only your future selection options.

Initial Caps Global Change

In the Toolbox section of ZP SQL there is a tool called the SQL Field Case Converter which allows you select a field in a database and change all entries for that field to either upper case or lower case. "Not good enough," said a customer recently who wanted a way to change a field to initial case (also known as proper case). So we have added a third "Proper" option to the Case drop-down list which will perform this function.

Printing Contractors on Building Ticket

You can now include the first 5 contractors entered for Building permits when printing the "Building Ticket" report from the Inspection Reports Screen. The field values are "contractor1", "contractor2", etc. Note that if there are no contractors listed for a permit these field value result in a NULL value. You can use the function NVL() to eliminate the printing of the word "null" on your reports. So for example the field expression for the first contractor would be: NVL(contractor1,"").

Forcing Log In for Staff and Mobile Sites

To go along with the change to the Public web page I wrote about earlier today, I have configured a way that customers can force users to have to log in before they can use either the Staff or Mobile web pages. By default both of those pages can be used without logging in. That makes them quicker to access and use. But it also lets unregistered users see more information than they can by using the Public page. By not allowing unregistered users access to the Staff or Mobile pages the problem is solved. Again, just let me know if you want your Staff and Mobile pages set for password-only access.