HECON Interface Program
Version 1.3

Overview

The HECON interface program is used to convert expense transactions from HECON KCCL-Link Accounting Units to be compatible with the TABS III Merge Data Capture Transactions program. HECON KCCL-Link software has been discontinued. HECON recommends the use of HECON KCC-Net which uses the CONVASCV.EXE program to convert expense transactions.

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 HECON interface program (HECON.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 HECON interface program disk.

To install the HECON interface program on your hard disk:

  1. Insert the HECON 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 HECON Interface Program

Use the following procedure for conversion:

  1. Create a data file from your HECON Accounting Units. This file is generally called KCCL_ALL.RPT. Transfer the data file to the directory where your TABS III data files reside.

    2. Note: The HECON interface program handles two different HECON data file formats. The first format has 4 fields per record, which include the TABS III client/matter number, the copy count, and the copy cost. The other format has 3 fields per record, which include the TABS III client/matter number and the copy count. Since the second format does not contain the copy cost, you are required to enter the cost per copy when configuring the HECON interface program.

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

    3.         HECON

    Note: If you want to use a different data file name (other than KCCL_ALL.RPT), you can specify that name when executing HECON. For example, if your data file name is TRANS.TXT, you would enter: HECON TRANS.TXT

  3. The first time you run the HECON program, you will be asked to enter the file name of the HECON data file. The HECON data file must be present in order to determine which data file format your HECON unit is using. Next, you will be asked to enter the TABS III transaction code number that you use for copy cost transactions. If you are using the HECON data format with 3 fields per record, you will also be asked to enter the cost per copy.

    4. Note: All of the options entered in Step 3 are stored in a parameter file named HECON.PRM. Each time the HECON program is executed, it will read the HECON.PRM file and use those options automatically.

  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 data file containing the HECON data. If the data file is found to contain data, the program will display the message "Converting Transactions" followed by a counter as each transaction is read from the file. Upon completion, the T3EXP.REM, T3EDESC1.REM, and T3EXPKEY.REM files will have been created. These files can then be merged with the main TABS III data files. In order to merge these files, you must start TABS III and then run the Merge Data Capture Transactions program.

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

Note: You may change the data file name, cost transaction code or cost per copy used by the HECON interface program by deleting the HECON.PRM file (created in your TABS III program directory during Step 3 of the execution instructions). This will allow you to go through the setup procedure described in Step 3 of the execution instructions as a first time user of the program.

2000/08/16