The PITNEY interface program is a DOS program. It is used to convert expense transactions from a Pitney Bowes system to be compatible with the TABS III Merge Data Capture Transactions program. The PITNEY interface program works with the following Pitney Bowes systems:

If you are using the J-700 or the Ascent/Solo systems, this program can also create a client validation file that can be used by Pitney Bowes. This file will contain a record for each active client/matter that exists in the TABS III Client file.

A120, A130, G120, G140, G150, or G170: It is assumed that the Pitney Bowes remarks field contains the TABS III client/matter number. Numbers including a decimal separator between the client and matter numbers will be converted as they are. Numbers without a decimal separator will be converted as client numbers appended with zeroes for the matter number. For example, 200.03 would be converted as client 200 and matter 03, while 20003 would be converted as client 20003 and matter 00 (assuming your TABS III key length is 8.2).

A-10000, Star 190 Carrier Management System, or G-300 series: It is assumed that the fields are defined for the following information:

J-700 or Star 700, Ascent/Solo, and Accutrac systems: Both systems have predefined client/matter fields. They are converted with the same assumptions used with client/matters for the A-10000 system.

The Pitney Bowes interface program (Pitney.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 Pitney Bowes interface program disk.

To install the Pitney Bowes interface program on your hard disk:

1. Insert the Pitney Bowes 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:

        A:

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

        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.

Use the following procedure for conversion:

1. Transfer the data file from your Pitney Bowes System to the directory on your hard disk where your TABS III program and data files reside. The data must reside in a file named TRAN_CMS.TXT in the TABS III data directory.
2. From a DOS prompt, start the PITNEY interface program by entering:

        PITNEY

Note: If you want to use a different data file name other than TRAN_CMS.TXT, you can specify that name when executing PITNEY. For example, if your data file name is DATA.TXT, you would enter: PITNEY DATA.TXT

3. The first time you run the PITNEY program, you will be asked to select which Pitney Bowes system you are using. The choices are as follows:

        1) A120, A130, G120, G140, G150, or G170

        2) A-10000, Star 190 Carrier Management System, or G-300 series

        3) J-700 or Star 700

        4) Ascent/Solo

        5) Accutrac

Next, you will be asked to enter the TABS III transaction code number that you use for shipping cost transactions.


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

4. If you selected the J-700 or Star 700 or the Ascent/Solo systems in Step 3 above, you will be prompted to enter a command: CD, CV, or Q. If you enter "Q" (for Quit), the program will be aborted.

If you enter "CV" (for Create Validation File), and you are using TABS III version 3.4 or later, this routine will create a client validation data file named CLIENT.DAT in the TABS III program directory. This file will contain a record for each active client/matter that exists in the TABS III Client file. You will be prompted to choose from two available client validation methods. They are as follows:

Method	File Name	Format
1	CLIENT.DAT	Client/Matter Number, Client Name
2	CLIENT.DAT	Client/Matter Number, Client Name Search

If you enter "CD" (for Convert Data), the program will look for the TRAN_CMS.TXT file containing the Pitney Bowes data. If the TRAN_CMS.TXT 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. The files T3EXPKEY.REM, T3EXP.REM, and T3EDESC1.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.

Note: If you are running TABS III Version 9, you must first run the Create Validation Files program in TABS III with the Data Capture Device option selected and the Client check box selected before using the "CV" command. If new validation files are not created in TABS III before creating validation files in PITNEY, current client information will not be included in the new validation files for J-700 or the Ascent/Solo systems.

5. If you selected the A120, etc., A-10000, etc., or Accutrac systems in Step 3 above, you will be asked "Is it OK to continue (Y/N)?". If you enter "Y", the program will follow the same steps as above for the "CD" command.