The configuration options available are especially helpful for formatting the presentation for online/email display, versus a printout on which information might be written down. As an example, the first preference listed allows you to specify “line height” so that you can extend the space between lines in the “fill in the blank” sections when technicians will be writing information on the form. Additional settings indicate the number of blank “fill in” lines that should be displayed, such as lines for technicians to “list” parts that were used. If technicians in your organization update information directly into the system, the Work Order Report can be configured to minimize or hide these “fill in” sections.

As the above image indicates, there are a set of preferences that allow you to configure the “Maintenance Details” area displayed at the top of the report, as well as specify the level of detail that should be included (e.g., asset address, asset details such as model and serial number). A number of these settings were added in Version 5.0 of Maintenance Connection.

Additional preferences are available for each section of the report, allowing you to specify whether the section should display (always, only when there are records), and indicate whether or not particular columns should display:

Lastly, you can determine whether approval information and the Labor Report should display, as well as indicate whether or not a signature block should be included:

Stay tuned for next week’s post in the series, in which the options to configure the Purchase Order Report will be highlighted.

Report Preferences

To access Report Preferences, select Tools->Preferences from the Menu Bar, and then select the Report Folder. Since several preferences are repair center based (the ones that do not display a globe), these settings can be unique for each repair center as needed. In the following example, the XYZ University has defined their report preferences, some of which are unique for their “Athletics” Repair Center.

Return Path for Bounced Email: This preference allows you to list a specific individual to receive messages from bounced emails. Listing “SENDER” will result in the individual sending the report receiving the “bounce” notification.

BCC/CC Email List for All Outgoing Emails: These preferences define the email address of any individual who should be copied (or blind copied) on reports sent via email. Listing “SENDER” will result in the individual sending the report receiving a copy (or blind copy).

Email Address FROM/FROM NAME: These preferences determine the Email from Name (and Address) that is used when a report is manually emailed (using the Email Button on the Report Preview Window). If a value is not set, the email address of the logged in user will be used.

Number of Lines Per Report Section: This preference determines the default number of rows (records) that will be displayed before another “report section” is generated. Records included in the same section are displayed on a single HTML Page, allowing you to scroll down to view other records without moving to another section using the control available on the Report Preview Toolbar. This preference is set to 1000 records by default. If you would like to have more records displayed on a single “HTML Page” to avoid navigating to different sections, you may wish to increase this value (e.g. to 2000). It should be noted, however, that there are performance implications to increasing this value, as the system must retrieve and present more data at once.

Replacement/Additional Logo for Reports: The logo preferences allow you to have a logo displayed on reports that is different from the one displayed on your MC Home Page (or in addition to). This setting is often used when a different logo is desired for a particular repair center’s reports. In the following example, XYZ University uses a different logo to display on reports generated by the “Athletics” Repair Center:

Announcing 2012 Checkpoint User Training Seminar
Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino, April 24-26, 2012

Are you or your team looking for a little extra training with your Maintenance Connection implementation? You can’t miss this once a year opportunity to join hundreds of other MC users all taking their CMMS skills to the next level. You’re guaranteed to leave with a full tank, with new tools, tips, and tricks to take back with you to enhance how you use the software every day.

For more information or to register online today, check out:
www.maintenanceconnection.com/checkpoint

We will be releasing discount codes for our fans on Facebook and Twitter on Friday, January 13th.  If you’re not already a fan of Maintenance Connection, please visit our page for these discount codes.

Still need some convincing? Here are 10 reasons we feel you can’t miss this important experience: 

1. Network and connect with other MC users in your industry
   
2. Attended before? This year’s seminar will be an all-new format with unique topic-based classes
   
3. Learn from the Maintenance Connection experts
   
4. Get a hands-on look at the latest Maintenance Connection v6.0
   
5. Gain useful insights to save time and clicks every day  
   
6. Be among the insiders to learn about MC product plans for 2012
   
7. Win prizes in a poker tournament by enjoying our private casino event on Wednesday night 
   
8. Break away from the office for a couple days for focused learning time
   
9. Enjoy a group discount and bring others from your team to learn together
   
10. Tackle specific issues one-on-one with MC during the Ask The Experts time
    

Check out the Checkpoint 2012 Promo Video:

If you have any further questions, we’d be happy to help you out. Contact our Checkpoint team via email checkpoint@maintenanceconnection.com, or call (888) 567-3434 x1.

Thanks! 

Maintenance Connection Checkpoint Team 

a few of the new customers

If you are a current Maintenance Connection customer, you understand the unique approach we take at our company. Many of you were instrumental in helping to bring these new customers on board by providing outstanding references. To both the new customers and our outstanding family of current customers, we say “thank you”, not only for making 2011 a great year, but for setting up 2012 to be the best year yet!

In a year of game changers, we’re excited to have welcomed another 11 members to our team to help support our new customer growth. We made major strides internally to enhance the customer experience, including a new department called “Customer Experience” which focuses on just that. We had record attendance at Checkpoint 2011 in April. We took the first of what we expect to be annual trips out of the country to give back in Cambodia. Our staff enjoyed a great holiday celebration earlier this month. And now we look ahead to what is shaping up to be a game changing Version 6.0 targeted for release in 2012.

At Maintenance Connection, we’re counting our blessings this holiday season. We are heading into our ninth year since the original launch into the market and we’ll be making our way over the 1,000 customer threshold very soon. Our nearly 95% customer retention track record is something we’re proud of. We have a great culture of employees and customers who understand what we’re all about, and individually contribute to making Maintenance Connection great.

While we take this time of year to reflect on what’s important, don’t forget to count your blessings. Thank you to our customers and partners for another great year. And remember that game changers can be created. Do something for someone this year that makes their holiday season a game changer.

Merry Christmas from all of us at Maintenance Connection. Have a safe and fun New Year, and we look forward to big improvements in 2012 so we can continue creating a positive impact in our world.

Brad Squires
Vice President

Here are a few interesting facts and photos about the data center:

• The facility has four (4) two-megawatt Caterpillar diesel generators for backup power
• Herakles employs 24x7x365 professional security services
• The facility is cooled with six (6) 500-ton water cooled chiller units
• Herakles uses Maintenance Connection’s CMMS software to track PMs and work orders

Click any of the photos below to take an Online Tour of the data center.

The next picture includes six additional MC Staff Members brought on board in 2011. Pictured left to right are Jenna Holiday, Dave Putnam, Ange Garner, Paul Klein, David Hopper, Brad Stutzman and Joel Cauley. Jenna handles Billing Support for MC, David is a Software Engineer working on our mobile product, Brad works on Multimedia Projects and Joel is a Sales Coordinator. The three remaining staff members, Dave Putnam, Ange Garner and Paul Klein, are Implementation Consultants, traveling the US to help new customers get up and running with MC!

MC’s Extended Family

We like to think of ourselves as an extended family at Maintenance Connection, and this has been a banner year for “family growth” as well! Three staff members welcomed a new baby into their family:

• Baby Girl Brooklyn to Jeremiah Sumner
• Baby Girl Emma to Billy Burciaga
• Baby Boy Judah to Scott Lasher

There were also three weddings in 2011 – Congratulations to Aubrey Kirch, Chad Marsh and Dave Putnam. And, to ensure there will be more personal milestones to celebrate next year, three staff members became engaged and have weddings planned for 2012! Best wishes to Jenna Holiday, Austin Hermle and Dan Buljan.

Customers, Vote on the
Maintenance Connection
Features Wish List


As part of our exemplary commitment to customer service, Maintenance Connection values the feedback received by customers and endeavors to enhance the software to meet your needs. Please take a moment to vote, by clicking here.

Here are just a few things we are thankful for this year:

1. An amazing staff who knows what it means to deliver world class service to our customers

2. We love our customers and the great connections we make daily. It’s truly a partnership.

3. Maintenance Connection is making the world a better place with our new MC Gives Back mission
   

4. Super exciting version 6.0 preview that our staff was able to see recently

5. Thankful for great experiences in 2011

And looking ahead, we are anticipating one of our best years in 2012 as we celebrate the 10th anniversary of launching Maintenance Connection. As we enter the 2011 holiday season, we hope you enjoy great time with family and friends while you focus on things that matter.

Follow Maintenance Connection

There are many ways to connect with Maintenance Connection and other software users. Join the conversation and follow updates through some of these social networks.

Facebook
Join the conversation, connect with other users, and stay up to date with the latest from Maintenance Connection.
facebook.com/MaintenanceConnection

LinkedIn
Connect with other users and people in the industry through LinkedIn.
linkedin.com/company/maintenance-connection-inc.

Twitter
Follow us on Twitter.
@MaintConnect

YouTube
Watch software tutorials and the latest update videos from Maintenance Connection through our YouTube channel.
youtube.com/user/MaintenanceConnect

PhotoBucket
Check out the latest photos from company events, trade shows, and MC Gives Back trips.
MC Photos on Photobucket

From the Work Order Complete/Close Dialog, users can click on the Add Button in the upper right hand corner of the Labor Report to retrieve a lookup table of acceptable values:

Selecting a value, places the selected “comment” into the Labor Report, where additional details can be added as needed.

As with all MC Lookup Tables, the values in the table can be edited by individuals who are members of an access group with permission to do so. For example, by clicking the Edit Button and selecting “New Code/Description” at the bottom of the list, a new comment can be defined:

The same lookup is available when the user clicks the button on a Task Record to access the Task Comment Dialog.

Users can even add multiple comments. As shown below, the user has returned to the lookup to select a second comment to add to the Labor Report: