- How can TradeTek Cloud be configured to use my Gmail or Yahoo Email Server?
- To link TradeTek Cloud to one of those email servers, you start by defining an App Specific password within your Gmail or Yahoo account.
Within the TradeTek Cloud dialog, select the Settings panel and locate the Email Server section.
The password that must be used by Gmail or Yahoo email servers is NOT the password used to log into your account.
Use the App Specific password that has been defined in your Gmail or Yahoo account.
Here is an example for gmail:
Host smtp.gmail.com
User info@somecompany.com
Pswd abcd efgh ijkl mnop
Port 587
Email info@somecompany.com
- What issues should be considered when sharing TradeTek jobs between team members.
- TradeTek is a desktop application that runs on a local computer. Jobs are normally stored on the local computer hard drive, but
can also reside on a network or cloud storage device. Many cloud storage systems are a variation on the idea of a Dropbox style
file system. Here are some of the issues that you may encounter with these environments (not specific to Dropbox) and why we
designed TradeTek Cloud to avoid them.
Dropbox stores files in the cloud and provides what appears to be a local folder of those files on each user computer to access
those files. If Tom adds, deletes or changes a file on his computer, then those changes are synced across the cloud to Sally’s
computer. These environments can introduce potential problems.
1. Reading and writing files on cloud storage may be 10x or 100x slower than the flash drive in your local computer.
2. Syncing the file changes between Tom and Sally's computer may introduce a millisecond, second or even minute delay.
3. Cloud storage may use a caching process to give the illusion that a file is instantly available.
4. When connected to the external cloud drive, your computer may slow dramatically affecting application performance.
5. An application dependent on an Internet based storage drive may not be functional at all when the Internet goes down.
TradeTek continuously reads and writes hundreds of files to maintain the current environment preferences and active job. If
preferences and job files are stored in the cloud using a dropbox like environment, performance may slow dramatically. If the
cloud environment uses a caching system to fake the real status of a file, the application may fail.
By design, TradeTek is a desktop application that takes full advantage of the local CPU, RAM and solid state drive to optimize
performance. Preferences should ALWAYS be stored on the local drive. For best performance, jobs should also be store locally if
possible when generating or editing the job.
With TradeTek Cloud, jobs are stored on the local drive during the editing process and then synced to cloud storage using the built-in
TradeTek Cloud Portal window. The Reserve and Release process in the Jobs panel allows different team members to coordinate
their efforts. If the Internet goes down for a few minutes, there is little impact on TradeTek users. TradeTek Cloud automatically
coordinates the efforts of team members to ensure files are not currently in use or overwritten by others. For the most part, users
can be blissfully unaware that other team members are also using the same Cloud account.
TradeTek Shared is designed for an individual user that frequently jumps between a Main and Second computer. It provides cloud
storage for preferences and jobs. Bundle licenses are shared on the Second computer used at home or when traveling.
- How can team members share messages with TradeTek Cloud?
- 1. Present the TradeTek Cloud Portal dialog and select Messages panel.
2. Messages are stored sequentially with Date and User name for anyone to read.
3. A User can edit or delete messages they created. Admin can edit or delete any message.
- How does a user switch between Main and Second computer when using TradeTek Shared?
- By design, the Main and Second computer should never run TradeTek at the same time.
After initial setup, preferences should be the same on Main and Second computer.
The TradeTek Shared Setup dialog is only available from the Main computer and is seldom used after setup.
For daily use, the Shared button on the Home panel presents the TradeTek Shared Portal dialog.
Job are stored in Local storage on the main and second computer.
A job is intially created on one computer, uploaded to the cloud and then downloaded to the other computer.
Thereafter the fast "To Cloud" and "From Cloud" buttons are used in the TradeTek Shared Portal dialog.
When completing work on a computer, if you plan to use the preferences and jobs on the other computer,
remember to sync the preferences and jobs to the clould with the “To Cloud” buttons.
From the other computer, use the "From Cloud" buttons to update the Preferences and Jobs before doing additional work.
If TradeTek is running on the Main computer is in use, TradeTek cannot be opened on the Second computer.
If TradeTek is running on the Second computer, TradeTek should generally not be used on the Main computer.
As a fail safe, TradeTek allows the user to optionally run TradeTek on the Main computer even if it detects that it was left
running on the Second computer, but the user gives up the ability to save any unsaved changes from the Second computer.
- How can Admin user setup a secure Cloud account and only give Standard users access to the TradeTek Cloud Portal?
- Admin User
1. From the Preferences dialog, click Admin Protection. Assign an Admin password and click Protection On.
2. From the Admin Protection dialog, enter password and click Admin Login button.
3. From the Admin Protection dialog, click the Restrictions button then set the TradeTek Cloud checkbox.
4. From the Preferences dialog, click the TradeTek Cloud button, enter the Cloud Serial Number and Connect.
5. Assign a Name and Password to each user on the Team from the Users panel in Cloud Setup.
6. From the Preferences dialog, click the Export button and distribute TradeTek.ttpref file to all users.
Standard Users
1. Each user opens the Preferences dialog, clicks the Import button and selects the TradeTek.ttpref file.
2. Each user clicks the User name in the Preference dialog and enters the user name assigned by Admin.
3. Each user can now click the Cloud button at the top right of TradeTek window and log into Cloud Portal.
- Our company stores preferences, lists, jobs and other files in TradeTek Cloud. How do we maintain backups of that data?
- There are several ways to make backups of all the data in your TradeTek Cloud account:
1. From the TradeTek Setup dialog, an Admin can click the Backup Cloud button and then click Backup Now.
2. From the TradeTek Setup dialog, an Admin can click the Backup Cloud button and schedule a Daily backup.
3. From the TradeTek Setup dialog, an Admin can click the Hot Backup button and then click Backup button.
The Backup Cloud button downloads and stores all backup files to the local computer hard drive.
A backup to your local drive takes longer, but you own the data and can store it as long as you wish.
A Hot Backup is stored on the same server so it is very fast. It replaces any previously dated Hot Backup.
- How can Admin setup User accounts in TradeTek Cloud?
- 1. Present the TradeTek Cloud Setup dialog from Preferences.
2. From Users panel, click Add button and enter unique User name, Job Permissions and Authentication methods.
3. For Computer authentication, each user provides an Authentication code from their Office and Home computer.
4. User displays Authentication code by clicking on User Name in the Preferences dialog and give it to Admin.
- How can Admin setup Preferences in TradeTek Cloud?
- 1. Present the TradeTek Cloud Setup dialog from Preferences.
2. On Preferences panel, click Add to name Preferences and Assign to main User for uploading.
3. Main user selects Preference Name from TradeTek Cloud Portal and clicks To Cloud button.
4. Once preferences are on the Cloud, Other Users access TradeTek Cloud Portal and click From Cloud button.
5. Admin can assign different named preferences to different groups of users.
- How can Admin setup Email Server in TradeTek Cloud?
- 1. Present the TradeTek Cloud Setup dialog from Preferences and select Settings panel.
2. Contact Email service provide for credentials to send email through your account.
3. For example, assume you use Gmail or Yahoo. Set up an App specific password in your account.
4. In Host field of Email Server section, enter Email host like this: smtp.gmail.com.
5. In User and Email fields, enter account name and email address like yourname@gmail.com.
6. In Port field, enter 587 unless Email service provides requires a different port.
7. In Password field enter account password or App specific password like abcd abcd abcd abcd.
8. Click Upload button, then click Test button to send yourself a TEST email to ensure credentials are correct.
- How can I give my User account Admin privileges?
- Admin Protection is enabled from the Admin Protection dialog presented from the Preferences dialog.
When TradeTek is launched, every user regardless of User name has Standard permissions.
There are two ways to give your User account Admin permissions during your TradeTek session.
1. From the Admin Protection dialog, enter the Admin password and click Admin Login.
2. If TradeTek Cloud is enabled, click User name at bottom of TradeTek window. Enter Admin and Password into Login dialog.
- How can Admin setup Company data, Logo and Defaults in TradeTek Cloud?
- 1. Present the TradeTek Cloud Setup dialog from Preferences and select Settings panel.
2. Complete Company Data fields that are later used when building Budget and Invoice reports.
3. Click the Upload button to select a 100 x 100 pixel JPG or PNG file for Budget and Invoice.
4. Select the default Assigned and Other Users used throughout the TradeTek Cloud Setup dialog.
5. Click the Upload button to save any changes made to the Settings panel.
- How can Admin setup and organize Jobs into groups and control access by User in TradeTek Cloud?
- 1. Present the TradeTek Cloud Setup dialog from Preferences dialog, then select Settings panel.
2. Click the Groups button to add or change a list of Group names. Group name changes are not reflected in existing Jobs.
3. Click the Add button to name a job and assign it to the User responsible for takeoff. Each job is assigned to one group.
4. Assign the job to other users that need access. For a selected user name, click the Access button to set privileges.
- How can Admin setup, enter data or assign access to Lists accessible to specific Users in TradeTek Cloud?
- 1. Present the TradeTek Cloud Setup dialog from the Preferences dialog, then select Lists panel.
2. Name the list, then select one or more users. All users have read/write access to List data.
3. Admin can use the Status field to indicate responsiblity for maining the List.
4. A List is a CSV file. Admin can Upload, Download or click Data to edit data in the List.
5. Lists are normally maintained from TradeTek Cloud Portal by a non Admin user.
6. From List panel in TradeTek, use the List Layout dialog to select TradeTek Cloud radio and reference a List in Cloud.
- How can Admin create Contact entries assigned to Groups that are accessible to specific Users in TradeTek Cloud?
- 1. Present the TradeTek Cloud Setup dialog from the Preferences dialog, then select Contacts panel.
2. Click the Groups button to add a list of Group names. Group name changes are not reflected in existing Contact entries.
3. Click the Add button and enter at least the First and Last name of the contact and assign it to a Group name.
4. Assign the Contact to a specific User to manage the Contact data from the Portal dialog and other users that need to view it.
- How can Admin assign a Budget to a specific Job and allow access by specific Users in TradeTek Cloud?
- 1. Present the TradeTek Cloud Setup dialog from the Preferences dialog, then select Budgets panel.
2. On the Budgets panel, select the Job the budget applies to and click the Add button to name the budget.
3. Set a checkbox for each user that needs read and write access to the budget, then click OK.
4. The Data button presents Budget editing window. Click in a cell to edit data or in a Column or Row header to change the table.
5. The Setup button at the bottom right of the Budgets panel configures up to three leading or trailing custom columns for all budgets.
6. The Column Map button on the Budget Setup dialog presents a dialog that maps data from a TradeTek Report to Budget line items.
7. Budget line items are often populated from a TradeTek Report using the Build button. View Report and click Budget button at right.
- What are the formatting options of a Budget in TradeTek Cloud?
- 1. The Budget Report dialog can be presented from TradeTek Cloud Setup or TradeTek Cloud Portal dialogs.
2. Name budget with a bold title across the top and Logo image. Data is displayed in a table with column headers.
3. Format the generated file as a JPG image, PDF or select Print to output to paper or other file formats.
4. The Company Info line at the bottom of the page is constructed from Company Data on the Settings panel.
5. Use Border, Guidelines, Margin and Shaded Rows to decorate the budget as desired.
6. Proceed each line with a Line count at the left or add totals at the bottom of the table.
7. Paginate a large budget across multiple pages by controlling the number of rows per page.
8. Set checkboxes to control which columns of the raw data should be included in the presentation budget.
- How to build line items and format Invoice from manual entry or Report data in TradeTek Cloud?
- 1. Present the TradeTek Cloud Portal dialog and select Invoices panel.
2. Select an Invoice name and assigned to your user account by Admin, then click Data button.
3. Line items of a invoice consists of columns and row where data can be manually entered.
4. Invoice line items can be generated from a selected TradeTek Report by clicking the Build button.
5. Populate Invoice line items, then click the Report button to choose data and format of generated invoice.
6. Formatted Invoice can be saved as PDF or JPG file and then uploaded to PDFs or JPGs panel for Cloud viewing.
- How to build line items and format Budget from Report data in TradeTek Cloud?
- 1. Present the TradeTek Cloud Portal dialog and select Budgets panel.
2. Select Budget name assigned to your user account by Admin, then click Data button.
3. Line items of a budget consists of columns and row where data can be manually entered.
4. Budget line items are normally generated from a selected TradeTek Report by clicking the Build button.
5. Populate budget line items, then click the Report button to choose data and format of generated budget.
6. Formatted budget can be saved as PDF or JPG file and then uploaded to PDFs or JPGs panel for Cloud viewing.
- What are the formatting options of an Invoice in TradeTek Cloud?
- 1. The Invoice Report dialog can be presented from TradeTek Cloud Setup or TradeTek Cloud Portal dialogs.
2. Name invoice with a bold title across the top and Logo image. Data is displayed in a table with column headers.
3. Format the generated file as a JPG image, PDF or select Print to output to paper or other file formats.
4. The top of the invoice can display the Company, Bill To and Ship To data from Settings or selected Contact.
5. An Invoice Number is displayed at the top right of the generate invoice.
6. The optional Shipping data section adds fields across the top of the invoice. Use Calculate button to construct this data.
7. The Subtotal columns are displayed below to at the right edget of line items. Optional footer notes can be included at the left.
8. The optional Balance row data adds field across the bottom of the invoice.
9. The Company Info line at the bottom of the page is constructed from Company Data on the Settings panel.
10. Use Border, Guidelines, Margin and Shaded Rows to decorate the invoice as desired.
11. Proceed each line with a Line count at the left or add totals at the bottom of the table.
12. Paginate a large invoice across multiple pages by controlling the number of rows per page.
13. Set checkboxes to control which columns of the raw data should be included in the presentation invoice.
- How can Team use TradeTek to manage Preferences, Jobs, Contacts, Budgets, Invoices, PDFs or Files across the Cloud?
- A TradeTek Cloud subscription provides all TradeTek users on your Team with appropriate access to shared files on the Cloud.
An Admin user creates a User account for each Team member with secure login credentials that control access to Cloud files.
Team members on Mac or Windows using any TradeTek license type can access Cloud files from the Cloud Portal dialog in TradeTek.
Preferences including configured Assembly Tabs, Lists and Reports can be shared with Team members and easily updated.
Jobs can be assigned, created, updated and securely managed in the Cloud with the performance benefits of Local storage.
Data collected from Lists, Manual entry or the Takeoff process can generate a TradeTek Report that populates a Budget in the Cloud.
Create custom formatted Invoices that can be sent to Customer contacts with your own integrated Email server.
Organize and share General or Job specific PDFs, reports, images or other files with other Team members.
You own your data so your Admin can Backup or Restore your entire Cloud account from a local hard drive.
- How can Admin assign an Invoice to a specific Job and allows access by specific Users in TradeTek Cloud?
- 1. Present the TradeTek Cloud Setup dialog from the Preferences dialog, then select Invoices panel.
2. On the Invoicess panel, select the Job the invoice applies to and click the Add button to name the invoice.
3. Set a checkbox for each user that needs read and write access to the invoice, then click OK.
4. The Data button presents Invoice editing window. Click in a cell to edit data or in a Column or Row header to change the table.
5. The Setup button at the bottom right of the Invoice panel configures up to three leading or trailing custom columns for all invoices.
6. The Column Map button on the Invoices Setup dialog presents a dialog that maps data from a TradeTek Report to Invoice line items.
7. The Labels button on the Invoices Setup dialog presents a dialog that allows control over labels on a formatted invoice.
- How can I send a Budget or Invoice to other employees, customers or users with Tradetek Cloud?
- 1. Present the TradeTek Cloud Portal dialog and select Budgets or Invoices panel.
2. Assume budget or invoice was created and saved to disk as a JPG or PDF file.
3. Click the Send button to present the Send Budget or Send Invoice dialog.
4. The last generated Budget or Invoice is already selected. Alternatively click Select to pick one.
5. Set Store in Cloud, Email Contact and/or Print checkboxes. When printing, use Page Setup to select properties.
6. When storing Budget or Invoice in the Cloud, it resides in the PDG or JPG panel associated with specific Job.
7. When distributing by email, use Contact button to choose one or more comma separated email addresses.
8. An Email requires a Subject and Message. The Budget or Invoice is attached as a JPG or PDF file.
9. Click the View button to preview the selected Budget or Invoice before sending it.
- How can any file type be distributed to other users with TradeTek Cloud?
- 1. Present the TradeTek Cloud Portal dialog and select the General or Files panel.
2. If file is associated with a specific job, then select Files panel and select that job from popup.
3. Click the Upload button to select the file from disk for upload into the Files panel.
4. If the file is not associated with any job, then upload the file from the General panel.