Equitrac Phone Transaction Interface Program
Version 1.3

Overview

The EQPCONV program is a DOS program. It is used to convert telephone expense transactions from an Equitrac data capture unit to be compatible with the TABS III Merge Data Capture Transactions program (TABS III Version 3.4 or later).

The EQPCONV program must reside in the same directory as the TABS III programs in order to work properly.

Note: The Create Validation Files program must be run before you can successfully use this data capture device interface program. The Create Validation Files program is found in TABS III by selecting the following menu options Maintenance|Integration|Create Validation Files. When creating validation files, select a Validation File Type of Data Capture Device.

Installation

The Equitrac Phone Transaction interface program (Eqpconv.EXE) must be transferred to the directory on your hard disk where the TABS III program files reside. This is done by using the INSTALL program on the Equitrac Phone Transaction interface program disk.

To install the Equitrac Phone Transaction interface program on your hard disk:

  1. Insert the Equitrac Phone Transaction interface program disk into your floppy disk drive.
  2. From a DOS prompt, make the floppy disk drive the default drive by entering the drive letter followed by a "colon". For example, if your floppy disk drive is drive A, then enter:

    3.         A:

  3. From the floppy disk drive prompt, enter the command:

    4.         INSTALL

    Note: The INSTALL program has a built-in search feature that will find where your TABS III program files reside. On larger network hard drives, this search feature can take quite a bit of time. If you know where the TABS III program files reside, you can bypass this search feature by entering the path following the install command. For example, if the TABS III program files reside on drive F: in a directory named "STI", you would enter: INSTALL F:\STI

  4. Follow the on-screen instructions to install the software onto your hard disk. The Install program will locate your TABS III software on your hard disk so that the interface program can be transferred to the same directory as TABS III. After the installation process, the message "Installation Complete" will be displayed.
    5.

Executing the EQPCONV Interface Program

Use the following procedure for conversion:

  1. Transfer the data from your Equitrac data capture device to your computer's hard disk. The data must be in ASCII format and must reside in a file named PHNDATA1.EQP in the TABS III program directory.

    2. Note: The ASCII format is obtained by using a conversion program available from Equitrac or by using Equitrac's SSP communication program to transfer the Equitrac data from the Equitrac device to a host computer.

  2. From a DOS prompt, start the interface program by entering:

    3.         EQPCONV

  3. The first time you run the EQPCONV program, you will be asked to enter the TABS III transaction code number that you use for telephone expense. Once you specify the transaction code number, the EQPCONV program will use that same number each time you run the EQPCONV program.
  4. Next, you will be asked "Is it OK to continue? (Y/N)". If you enter "N" the program will be aborted. If you enter "Y" the program will look for the PHNDATA1.EQP file containing the Equitrac device's data. If the PHNDATA1.EQP file is found to contain data, the program will display the message "Converting Transactions" followed by a count of each transaction read from the file. The files T3EXPKEY.REM, T3EDESC1.REM and T3EXP.REM will be created which can be merged with the main TABS III data files. You must then start TABS III and run the Merge Data Capture Transactions program.

Important: Be sure to clear the transactions from your Equitrac device's memory to avoid duplication of data merged with your TABS files.

Note: If you are not using a demo version of the program, the PHNDATA1.EQP file will automatically be deleted when the conversion is complete to avoid double posting of the data.

Note: You may change the photocopy transaction code or the copier charge in the future by deleting the file EQPCONV.PRM which is created in your TABS III directory during Step 3 above. This will enable you to go through the setup procedure described above in Step 3 as a first time user of the program.