TAPIT Telephone Transaction Interface Program
Version 1.2

Overview

The TAPIT program is a DOS program. It is used to convert telephone expense transactions from a TAPIT data capture unit to be compatible with the TABS III Merge Data Capture Transactions program.

The TAPIT 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 Tapit interface program (Tapit.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 Tapit interface program disk.

To install the Tapit interface program on your hard disk:

  1. Insert the Tapit 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.

Executing the TAPIT Interface Program

Use the following procedure for conversion:

  1. Transfer the data from your TAPIT data capture device to your computer's hard disk. The data must be in ASCII format and must reside in a file named TABSIII.DTA in the same directory where your TABS III program files reside.

    2. Note: The ASCII format is obtained by using the Export for Billing module available from TAPIT. Earlier versions of the Export for Billing module may create files called TABSIII.EXP and/or TABSIII.TIM. TAPIT.EXE can convert these files as well.

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

    3.         TAPIT

  3. The first time you run the TAPIT program, you will be asked to enter the TABS III transaction code number that you use for telephone expenses. Next, you will be asked if you want to convert the TAPIT descriptions or the TABS III transaction code descriptions. Once you respond to both questions, the TAPIT program will save your responses and use them each time you run the TAPIT 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 TABSIII.DTA file containing the TAPIT device's data. If the TABSIII.DTA 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 TAPIT 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 TABSIII.DTA file will automatically be deleted when the conversion is complete to avoid double posting of the data.

Note: You may change the telephone transaction code in the future by deleting the file TAPIT.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.