GRIP Overview

The GRIP scanner can be used to read information into a GRIP job file on the hand held unit.
These files can then be down loaded into Texada SRM software to update the software data files.

• When a series of product codes are scanned into the GRIP unit, they can be used to build the product lists for use in:
  Counter Worksheet (job code prefix = cw)
  Rental Return (job code prefix = rr)
  Convert Reservation To Contract (job code prefix = fr)
  Grip Bulk Rental Return (job code prefix = br)
• IMPORT GRIP BARCODES, to update barcodes in the software product file at the time when the barcodes are physically assigned to the rental and sale products.
  (job code prefix - bi)
• A/R customer payments can be received and entered on the GRIP hand held unit by drivers at the customer sites, to later be downloaded and applied against the customers' charged accounts.
  (job code prefix = cp)
  Refer to GRIP CUSTOMER PAYMENTS for more details on this feature.

The steps are:

1. scan product tags into the GRIP handheld unit with quantities or enter in the payment information
2. dock the GRIP unit and transfer GRIP data into the PRO4DATA directory of the computer as a GRIP_IN file
3. - load the product GRIP files into the Texada SRM software (GRIP_OLD) with a date stamp, through the one of the following processes: Counter Worksheet, Convert Reservation, Rental Return, Bulk Return Report, or Grip Customer Payments.
   - load the customer payment GRIP files into the Texada SRM software(GRIP_OLD) with a date stamp, through GRIP CUSTOMER PAYMENTS.
   -load the new barcodes into the software through IMPORT GRIP BARCODES.

Any unused files can be set to be purged automatically.
The number of days after which unused Grip files should be deleted, can be set in the "GRIP Parameters" window of the company wide RENTAL SYSTEM PARAMETERS.

A setting in the in the "GRIP Parameters" window of the RENTAL SYSTEM PARAMETERS, controls whether multiples of the same product that are scanned individually, should be consolidated into a single product record on the GRIP worksheet with the correct total quantity, or whether the product should be listed multiple times, exactly as scanned.

A setting in the "Contract/Worksheet Parameters" window of the RENTAL SYSTEM DIVISION PARAMETERS, determines whether Kit products, and Suggested Sales List products, should be added automatically when the primary product is read in for this division, or whether they need to be scanned manually as well.

Settings on the GRIP Unit

Additional parameters on the GRIP handheld unit itself, can be set from the "Grip" menu by clicking on the SETTINGS option in the top right corner of the Grip screen.
The options include:

• "Enable Barcode Scanner": activates the ability to scan with the GRIP.
  This should only be disabled if your firm does not use barcode scanning and uses the GRIP unit to manually enter the product codes.
• "Default Quantity of One": causes a default quantity of one to be entered when a new product is scanned.
  This is useful for firms that have a lot of non-bulk inventory. Unchecking this forces the operator to manually enter in the quantity, which would be useful for firms with a lot of bulk inventory.
• "Default to Add mode": causes the Edit Work Sheet, Edit Rental Return, Edit Reservation or Edit Bulk Return, to always start in Add mode. When unchecked the edit screens will open in Edit mode.
• For information on setting up the GRIP Customer Payment feature, contact Texada SRM Client Services to discuss custom processing.

"Front-End" use of the GRIP Handheld Unit

The GRIP menu options available on the handheld unit screen include: