Uploading jobs - order processing
Applies to: IOS
When uploading jobs to the Timestone Internet Ordering System (IOS), three options are available regarding how orders are handled:
- Download into Fulfill - all orders are downloaded and printed in Fulfill
- Download as pre-orders - all orders are downloaded into the Orders Mode of NeoPack
- Split order processing - orders are downloaded into either Fulfill or NeoPack
The preferred method is selected in the 'General' section of tsIOS, as shown in the screenshot below:
Figure 1: Process online orders
Download as Pre-Orders
The term 'pre-orders' is used because the most common use of this method is for taking orders prior to photography day, usually as Identify orders. However, the pre-orders method can also be used with images after photography.
Orders received for a job uploaded with the 'pre-orders' method are downloaded into the software. Unlike Fulfill, orders are not automatically downloaded; instead, the download is triggered by the user. As such, the pre-orders workflow lends itself to batch handling of the orders.
Configuring the Software to Download Online Pre-Orders
Before orders can be downloaded into Orders Mode, the application must be configured to communicate with the IOS server. This is done in File > Options > Portal, as shown in the screenshot below:
Figure 2: Configuring the software to download orders
Downloading the Orders
Pre-orders are downloaded into Orders Mode via Orders > Download Online Orders.
Online pre-orders are designated by a single down arrow icon. A filter is available to limit the list to only online orders, while a search window allows orders to be found by subject, order key, or customer.
Understanding the Information
Each online order is described by at least two rows. The header, shaded in grey, specifies the order date, order key, and customer (the person who placed the order). Below each header is a row for each package in the order and the subject for whom the package was ordered.
In the screenshot below, the first order was placed by Becky Murphy on November 6th, 2015. The order key is S3XLJXGE. She ordered package C for subject Mark Murphy and packages A and D for subject Tammy Murphy. Mark Murphy has an ID of 1253215 and is in a folder named 'Thomas', while Tammy Murphy has an ID of 1257854 and is in a folder named 'Sims'.
Note the order for Janet Jones. The subject is prefixed by a "?" (question mark) symbol, indicating that the order is an Identify order that has not yet been identified.
Figure 3: Orders Mode showing online pre-orders
Pre-orders can be deleted in Orders Mode, but they cannot be re-processed. This is an important distinction between pre-orders and paper orders.
Printing with Fulfill
Fulfill is a stand-alone utility capable of printing all IOS orders, including composites created in NeoComposite and named groups created in NeoGroup.
Fulfill connects directly to the IOS web server and automatically downloads new orders every 60 seconds. Orders may be printed in the sequence they were received or batch printed for a particular job or date range.
Fulfill also allows for the printing of headers, which may contain information such as the order content, customer name, and delivery address. (See Order Headers and Item Strips in Fulfill.)
Split Order Processing
A job may be uploaded with the 'split order processing' option. This allows Identify orders to be handled separately from subject, family, and folder key orders. Typically, Identify orders are batch downloaded into NeoPack as pre-orders, while subject key orders are sent to Fulfill.
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