Read Me file for Strong Software's Electronic Payment program 
                      (C) Copyright 1996,2003 Strong Software

Files included with this program:
   read_me.ap     This read me file
   bank.txt       Information needed from your bank 
   ssepay.exe     Strong Software's program that creates NACHA (ACH) format


                           TRIAL/LIVE MODES

The trial program is available at no charge from our website.  Only 
the Prenote function is available in this mode.  This will allow you to
setup the files and submit a Prenote to your bank for approval before 
the install code is entered.  The Install code is issued through Strong
Software and is generated by using your bank routing number. It will convert 
the program to "Live" when the Install Code is entered into the EP_ICODE rule
as explained below.

INSTALL:
1) Print out this read me file and keep handy for installation.

2) Print out the Bank.txt file and send to bank for their response.

3) Copy the ssePay.exe program into the Pro system directory (where Sysdat.dbf
   is located).
   
                 THIS PROGRAM IS RUN FROM THE CUSTOM MENU
4) From Pro, choose System Manager. 
   Select: Maintain/Setup/System Installation/Custom
   Choose an empty option and under Menu Text, Type: Electronic Payment  
   Under Command Line type: do ssePay

5) Exit Pro.  Must exit to affect the changes in the Custom menu.

SETUP:
Check Number: The first time through printing a Priority 9 advise, 
  The Check Number prompt will be blank.  You are now starting a new
  check sequence for ACH transactions.  Start with a number that will 
  not conflict with your "live" check numbers.  The new check number is
  stored in your Sysdata file, MacLink field.  

Invoices:
  Approve to pay your ACH payables as Priority 9, (Priority 8 for prenote)

Vendors:
  In the Note File (Pro 5: Click on the "PostIt", Pro 6: use Notes Tab)
    in Vendor File Maintenance, add 2 lines:
  First line is a Warning notice about not changing the following line
  Second line.. Begin with: "$ACH$"
    Followed by account type: "Checking" or "Savings" 
    Followed by "$"
    Followed by 9 digit routing number (& check digit) of vendor.
    Followed by "$" 
    Followed by account number of vendor
    Followed by "$$"
  
  Example:
  The following line is for Electronic Payment.. Do not remove or change
  $ACH$Checking$123456789$555666777888$$

  You may keep other notes in this file, they won't affect this program.

Your Banking Data:
  Banking and company data needed for the ACH file are stored in the Pro 
  RULES table. Some of these fields are mandatory for you to enter, others
  are optional to override the default if required by your bank.
  
  Be sure to print out the BANK.TXT file and get the needed information 
  from your bank for entry into the RULES table as explained below.

OPERATION: 
  Creates a NACHA (ACH) file and prints the advise for vendors setup for 
  electronic payment and having invoices approved to pay with Priority 9.

The ACH transmit files are stored in the system directory with the extension:
  "ACH". When an ACH file is created, Two files are created at once: 
  APnnnnnn.nnn (where nnnnnn = last 6 numbers of the beginning check number 
  of the print run) and TRANSMIT.ACH Both files are identical. The 
  TRANSMIT.ACH file will always be a copy of the latest batch. The other 
  file with the check number is created for reference in case a new ACH 
  was created before the other got transmitted.
  No transmit files (containing the check number) are removed through this
  program. Obviously you may manually archive or remove them after a 
  comfortable period of time.


We highly recommend that you enter data into Praxis Company (Co 99) to 
familiarize yourself with the operations.
 
Print advises:
  You may use blank paper so that you will not be "burning" check stock. 

  Once the batch menu prompts are accepted, a report shows up on your screen
  showing the transactions ready to be processed. You may print this report
  if you wish. Note that the report will go to your local printer. Close the
  report screen to continue. You will then be receive another message
  giving you the number of transactions and the amount. Once you hit "OK",
  the NACHA (ACH) file is created and the advises are printed.  YOU ARE NOT
  ABLE TO REPRINT THE ADVISES.
  
  When the ACH file is produced, both the TRANSMIT.ACH and its duplicate:
  <check no>.ACH, are created at the same time and are found in the Pro
  system directory.

Prenotes:
  Be sure to have the proper bank information in the Vendor Note file then 
  code the payment with a priority 8. 

  Choose Electronic Payments from the custom menu and select Priority 8
  (Prenotes) from the menu selection.  A report showing the vendors with
  Invoices with Priority 8 approval will be displayed.  After accepting
  the report, the ACH file will be built with payments of zero amounts.
  
  Only the ACH file will be produced. No advises will be printed and NO Pro
  files will be updated. When ready to actually pay the invoices, change
  the priority to 9 for ach payment or other priorities for check payment.

            BANK & COMPANY DATA THROUGH THE USE OF "RULES"

Basic Rule steps:
  a)  From System Manager, choose Maintain/Companies/Rules. 
  b)  Select Company and add "EP_XXXX" as the rule (where "XXXX" is the 
        Identifier that's given below.
  c)  For Description you may enter anything you wish, something like:
        "Custom variable for Electronic Payment".
  d)  Normally it is a bit tricky to add a rule, so we will abbreviate 
        the operation and just use the Message Text line to store the
        data. On Message Text enter the values given below.
  e)  Keep the remaining defaults and Save rule.
  f)  Repeat for all companies.


REQUIRED FIELDS

Company ID (Rec 5, Field 5, Rec 6, Field 7, and Rec 8 Field 7 ):
  You will need to enter the Company ID 
  Enter it by adding a rule:
  a) 
  b)  Add "EP_COID" as the rule 
  c)  Something like: "ACH Company ID"
  d)  On Message Text enter:  
        1234567890 (your 10 digit number)
  e) 
  f) 
Bank Routing Number (Rec 5, Field 12):
  You will need to enter the Bank Routing Number.
  Enter it by adding a rule:
  a) 
  b)  Add "EP_ROUTE" as the rule 
  c)  Something like: "ACH Bank routing number"
  d)  On Message Text enter:  
        123456789 (your 9 digit number)
  e) 
  f) 

Bank Name (Rec 1, Field 11):
  You need to enter the Bank Name.
  Enter it by adding a rule:
  a) 
  b)  Add "EP_BANK" as the rule 
  c)  Something like: "ACH Bank name"
  d)  On Message Text enter:  
        BIG BANK (your bank name)
  e) 
  f) 

FOR LIVE TRANSACTIONS (INSTALL CODE)
  b)  Add "EP_ICODE"
  c)  Something like: "This is the install code."
  d)  On Message Text enter:
        99999999 (8 digit install code)  

OPTIONAL (Optional for our program, but maybe required by your bank)

Entry Class:
  Our program uses "PPD" as the standard entry class.
  You may change this to "CCD" by adding a rule:
  a) 
  b)  Add "EP_ECLAS" as the rule 
  c)  Something like: "ACH Standard Entry Class"
  d)  On Message Text enter:  
        CCD
  e) 
  f) 

Debit or Offsetting record:
  Our program DOES NOT supply a debit record by default. Should your 
  bank require to have a debit record, follow Basic Rule Steps:
  a) 
  b)  Add "EP_DEBIT" as the rule 
  c)  Something like: "Generate Debit Record for Electronic Payment"
  d)  On Message Text enter:  
        Route#xxxxxxxxx, Account#yyyyyyyyyy
        (where the x's represent your 9 digit Route number for this record
         and the y's represent the account number for this record)
  e) 
  f) 

Immediate Origin Name (Rec 1, Field 12):
  Our program uses your company name in this field of the ACH file.
  You may change this by adding a rule:
  a) 
  b)  Add "EP_COMP" as the rule 
  c)  Something like: "ACH Immediate Origin name"
  d)  On Message Text enter:  
        Praxis Financial (use correct company name)
  e) 
  f) 

Immediate Origin Number (Rec 1, Field 4):
  Our program uses the Bank Routing number for this record.
  You may change this by adding a rule:
  a) 
  b)  Add "EP_ORIG" as the rule 
  c)  Something like: "ACH Immediate Origin Number name"
  d)  On Message Text enter:  
         123456789 (may be a space followed by 9 digits)
  e) 
  f) 

Debit Record Routing Number:
  Our program uses the same Bank Routing number for the debit record.
  IF you use the debit record and need to change this, add a rule:
  a) 
  b)  Add "EP_ROUT6" as the rule 
  c)  Something like: "ACH routing number for debit record"
  d)  On Message Text enter:  
        12345678 (use correct number)
  e) 
  f) 

Printer Prompt:
  Our program does not prompt for the printer when printing advises.
  To turn on this prompt and choose a Windows printer:
  a) 
  b)  Add "EP_PRINT" as the rule 
  c)  Something like: "Turn on Printer Prompt"
  d)  On Message Text enter:  
        On
  e) 
  f) 

Effective Date:
  Our program has a default lead time of 1 day from system date.
  You may change the lead time by adding a rule:
  a) 
  b)  Add "EP_LEAD" as the rule 
  c)  Something like: "Lead Time in days from system date"
  d)  On Message Text enter:  
        3 (or any numeric value)
  e) 
  f) 

File Name:
  Our program uses "TRANSMIT.ACH" as the name of the last ACH file
  created.
  You may change the file name by adding a rule:
  a) 
  b)  Add "EP_NAME" as the rule 
  c)  Something like: "ACH file name"
  d)  On Message Text enter:  
        BANK (or any name up to 8 characters)
  e) 
  f) 


Log in record:
  IF your bank requires a login record.. If 2 login lines are 
  required, use EP_LOG1 followed by EP_LOG2
  a) 
  b)  Add "EP_LOG1" as the rule 
  c)  Something like: "ACH login record"
  d)  On Message Text enter:  
        %BANK%Logon (use your login supplied by your bank )
  e) 
  f) 
  
 Immediate Destination (Rec 1, Field 3):
  Our program uses the bank routing number for this field
  You may change the file name by adding a rule:
  a) 
  b)  Add "EP_IDEST" as the rule 
  c)  Something like: "ACH Immediate Destination"
  d)  On Message Text enter:  
         123456789 (may be a space plus 9 digits)
  e) 
  f)  
  
  
Thanks for using Strong Software  


                          Strong Software 
                          PMB 637
                          145 Corte Madera Town Center 
                          Corte Madera, CA  94925

                          Phone: 415/927-3163
                          email: info@strongsoftware.com
                          www.strongsoftware.com