Using PNG Graphic Files in Document Templates

When you attach city logos are other graphic files to document templates in the Document Editor it is important to use as small a file size as possible. To this end it may be worth considering using the PNG format which is often even smaller than JPGs. Even though PNG files are not included by default when you search to attach a graphic file to a document template via the Document Editor, they are supported. To find them you have to change the default "Files of Type" navigation dialog drop-down to "All Files." Then you can attach a PNG file and it should work just fine.

Rental Record Archive Option

An option has been added to ZonePro that allows users to move older records out of the Rental database. The old records are then stored in an archive database that is created just for that purpose. To use this option you would go to the ZP Toolbox screen and click on the SQL Archive Utility button. A new tab has been added here for Rental records. It only selects records that were entered at least five years ago and have a Rental Status of "Archive." These records can then be pulled out of the main database and stored in a new one. The benefit of using this tool is really just reducing the size of the Rental database and thereby speeding up report operations and other activities that sift through the full set of records. The downside is that you are removing records that may be of historical interest.

Permit Mover for Staff Web Site

The SQL Permit Mover tool has been added to the Staff Web site. You can get to it by going to Maintenance and then the System section. The Permit Mover is part of the ZP Toolbox options in the Windows version of ZonePro SQL. It allows you to move a permit from one property to another which is useful if the permit was accidentally entered under the wrong address. I think the web version is even easier to use than the Windows version because it only presents you with drop-down boxes so there is no typing, and it gives better feedback on the chosen permit and the chosen property so that you can be sure you are making the right choices.

New Custom Report Training Video

Yesterday I had a customer request that I create a custom report for them. Instead I posted a new Training Video that shows how to they could do it themselves in 5 minutes. You can watch the new video here!

Document Editor Text Block Video

I just created a short video that talks just about the process of creating and editing Text objects using the Document Editor. The Document Editor is one of the trickier tools to use in ZonePro so I figure every little tip helps.

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.

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.

SQL Sweeper Tweak for Apostrophes

One of the pitfalls of using SQL databases is that you have to be extra cautious handling apostrophes. Apostrophes (or single quote marks) are used by SQL to delimit field values so when a field value has an apostrophe as part of the value (e.g., O'Hara) it can cause problems. A customer found the latest example in the SQL Sweeper tool. He was unable to make changes to a field value that contained an apostrophe. I have fixed that issue and you can download the update but there may be other apostrophe issues still lurking in parts of the system that we haven't found yet. Always report any error messages to us so we can keep improving.

SQL Browser Tool Added

Although the Database Browser tool was carried over from ZP 32 to ZP SQL, it is of limited use in the ZP SQL environment because it cannot browse SQL databases. Now we have added a SQL Browser tool that gives you a way to directly view the contents of any of the databases in your SQL account. This tool can be very useful for troubleshooting purposes. Like the Database Browser, it also includes an option for printing the file layouts of databases. This is a great resource for learning the field names you need when customizing documents and reports in ZonePro SQL. One of the major differences between the SQL Browser and the Database Browser tool is that the SQL Browser does not allow any editing of the data. This is a limitation that we just have to live with because the data is internet-based. Still this new tool will be a welcome addition to the Toolbox Module arsenal.

SQL Sweeper Gets Advanced Filter And More

This past week we added several enhancements to the Toolbox Module for ZP SQL. The SQL Sweeper tool has been upgraded so that you can now use an Advanced Filter option to define your selection criteria for global changes. This allows for much more complex replacement operations. The initial version of SQL Sweeper only supported character fields. The upgraded version now supports numeric and date fields as well.

SQL Permit Mover Available

I just finished translating the Permit Mover tool in the Toolbox Module of ZP 32 for use in ZP SQL. To refresh, this tool allows you to easily move a permit that was entered under the wrong property record to a new property record. Without it, your only recourse is to delete the errant record and re-enter the permit under the correct property. With this tool you only have to supply the ID Code of the permit you wish to move and the Property ID of the new property you wish to move it to and it takes care of the rest. I'll have the updated Toolbox Module available for download soon.

Toolbox Folded In

Like the Security Module and the Contact File, ZP Toolbox has also been folded into the ZonePro SQL Base Module. I did that because a) everybody needs the Document Editor option and b) a lot of the other tools may not survive the transition. In the initial release of the Toolbox Module for SQL I gutted most of the database manipulation tools. Just recently I began adding some of those tools back in. The first is called SQL Sweeper which, of course, is a version of Street Sweeper that works with the SQL databases. I also have a SQL version of the Field Case tool. Other tools, like the workhorse Database Browser, don't work well with remote data and probably will never appear in ZP SQL except for working with local copies of the databases.