Trap-Ease

Trap-Ease targets include small- to mid-sized companies and departments of large companies needing comprehensive solutions to manage common data collection tasks in the manufacturing, warehousing, distribution, and retail areas.

Trap-Ease Lets You:

• Create multiple tracking applications
• Enter data quickly via a keyboard or portable data collection unit
• Track all changes or transactions made to each item
• Enter an unlimited number of items, users and locations
• Define user fields using character, numeric, date, logical or math data
• Print pre-designed reports or generate new reports
• Print pre-designed tracking labels or design new labels
• Print to over 250 thermal printers, as well as any Windows printer
• Export and import data in many formats for easy transfer of data to and from other computer systems

Trap-Ease's Components include:

1. Multiple databases
2. Advanced Label Design and Printing
3. Flexible Report Designer
4. Transaction Module
5. Trap-Ease Application Templates
6. Optional PDT Support

1. Trap-Ease Databases

Trap-Ease developers can customize the fields and data contained in the following five databases:


• User Database: contains records for all authorized users of the Trap-Ease program
• Transaction Database: keeps track of item activity (including history and reservations)
• Item Database: contains the items that are being tracked
• Relationship Database: adds ability to internally link items to a location or another item
• Location Database: stores information on all the locations in which items can be stored

2. Advanced Label Design and Printing

Trap-Ease includes an advanced Label Designer program enabling you to build custom labels and print them on laser, dot matrix, or thermal\thermal transfer printers. The Label Designer will allow you to print bar code labels to identify inventory items, users, and locations where items are stocked. User-friendly features include:
• True WYSIWYG design and editing
• Label design and printing wizards
• Over 25 bar code types
• Advanced error and warning tools
• Support for TrueType fonts
• Support for over 250 thermal transfer printers
  Printer families supported include: Astro-Med, ATC, Avery, C-ITOH, Century Codewriter, ComNet, Comtec, Datamax, DH/Cognitive, Eltron, Epson, Genicom, HP, Intermec, Kentek, Kroy, Meto, Microcom, Monarch, Opticon, RJS, SATO, Std Register, Star, TEC, Telxon, UBI, Unimark, Willett, and Zebra, as well as any printer with a Windows driver

3. Flexible Report Designer

Trap-Ease Report Designer will allow you to create new reports, edit existing reports and print reports using Trap-Ease. The Report Wizard is an easy-to-use tool, providing virtually unlimited reporting capabilities. The wizard allows you to:
• Select records from any of the databases
• Choose the fields to include in your report
• Order items by the selected field using the sort option
• Assemble and count the items in the selected group by using the grouping option
• Select a detailed or summary report display to show only the information that is needed
• Perform math calculations on selected fields allowing value summations on items
• Choose report layout styles and font types for professional looking reports

4. Transaction Module

Trap-Ease users will spend the majority of their time in the Transaction module, tracking and observing item or inventory operations. All transactions (Check In/Out, Restock/Take Out, etc.) are performed within one of the two types of applications available in Trap-Ease: Item Tracking and Inventory Tracking. The way the Transaction module works depends on the type of application that is currently open. If the application is an Item Tracking application, then "Check In/Out" is displayed. If the application is an Inventory Tracking application, then "Restock/Take Out" is displayed. Descriptions of the two types of tracking options appear below.
• ITEM TRACKING- Item tracking applications track items that are uniquely identified. These items are usually non-consumable in nature and exist in limited quantities. Some examples include books, office files, client records, and tools. Each item you check in/out in an item tracking application is stored via unique item identification in the applications Item database. Checking items in/out in Trap-Ease's item tracking application works just like checking books in/out at a library. When you take an item or return an item, your user number and name is recorded along with the item's ID number and the transaction time and date. In fact, any time an item is checked in, checked out, or reserved, this movement is recorded in the Transaction database for the application.

• INVENTORY TRACKING- Inventory tracking applications track items that are not unique or exist in multiple quantities. Items in an inventory tracking application are often consumable items that are taken, used up, or that cannot be replaced (or reserved). Some examples include label stock, office supplies, raw materials for manufacturing, and finished goods. In inventory tracking, the Take Out function can be used to remove (or use up) an item. The item will need to be restocked at some point, but the quantity restocked does not necessarily need to equal the quantity taken. As the quantity of a particular item is depleted, the transaction is recorded in the on-hand inventory field. When inventory is reduced or restocked, an entry is posted to the Transaction database that records the user, quantity, time, and date of the transaction.

5. Trap-Ease Application Templates

An application must be present to run Trap-Ease. An application pulls together a powerful combination of database structures, labels and reports into one system. With the Trap-Ease Developer, you can choose a pre-defined template or design your own system without incurring the time and expense needed for custom programming. Developers can use pre-defined templates as is or modify them to create custom solutions for any business tracking need. A description of the predefined templates currently included in Trap-Ease follow.
• ARCHIVAL/OFF-SITE STORAGE: Using the Archival/Off Site Storage template, items can be tracked to buildings and locations for easy retrieval of archived records. Items are checked out similar to how users check out books in a library.

• CAPITOL ASSET TRACKING: This application was developed to track the location, age and value of capital assets for the office and production areas.

• COLLECTIONS: This template is specially designed to track invaluable items. The collection application tracks information on the history of antiques or priceless collections to help users know exactly where every item is and what value is associated with it.

• DOCUMENT AND FILE TRACKING: This template is perfect for the dynamic office environment where client, patient or customer documents need to be tracked on or off site. Document and File Tracking dramatically reduces the time spent trying to locate office documents.

• EQUIPMENT TRACKING: Portable equipment can easily be damaged or lost. Trap-Ease's Equipment Tracking template helps you locate what you need, when you need it, in addition to tracking damages or repairs needed on the equipment. This template is perfect for tracking usage of items and scheduling preventative maintenance.

• GENERAL INVENTORY: This template allows users to manage spare parts inventory, office supplies, building supplies, etc. General Inventory keeps track of total inventory value and supplies used per month, in addition to who took what inventory and how often items are restocked.

• HUMAN RESOURCE FILES: This application keeps track of valuable information about your staff. Pre-defined reports make it easy for you to know every employee's hire date, home phone, telephone extension, e-mail, home address, annual review dates and more.

• LIBRARIES: The Libraries application keeps track of your manuals, magazines, reference books, and confidential information to help users find important documentation fast and efficiently. It also keeps track of who reviewed the document and how long it was checked out.

• TOOL TRACKING: Tool Tracking accounts for the tools used by people at specific work sites to track pilferage, usage and the location of any size tool. Users can easily track equipment, completed repairs, and available stock with this application template.

6. PDT Support

Using a portable bar code reader with Trap-Ease allows remote access to the Trap-Ease program. One full PDT license is available at no additional charge with the developer's version of Trap-Ease. This allows the developer to immediately start generating and testing applications on a PDT without the added cost of purchasing a 5-user PDT module. This is a $214 savings that is immediately passed on the developer. Five (5) licsense Portable Data Terminal (PDT) software packages are available to integrate Trap-Ease with each PDT added. Each PDT package is designed to perform Trap-Ease's check out take out, check in/restock and move functions for a specific brand and model of PDT. Optional PDT modules also allow users to remotely add items and carry out physical inventory activities. Trap-Ease supports the Compsee Apex II Terminal and the Symbol 3100 PDT. Additional PDT modules will be added as developed.

Current PDT add-on modules come with 5-user licenses, allowing you to load the program on five (5) separate PDT's.

Because Trap-Ease is a 32-bit program, we recommend that a Windows 95/windows NT operating system be used to run the program. If you have Windows 3.1, you must have Win32s installed to run the program. the Win32s add ib (Pw1118.exe) is available for download on Microsoft's website at www.microsoft.com.

2. Integrated Security Features

Special Security Groups can be set up allowing you to limit or grant access to various Trap-Ease system files, specific applications, and functions within each application.

3. On-Line Help

Trap-Ease includes a comprehensive context sensitive online help system to assist new or inexperienced users. This easy-to-use help system means less training time as the information is at your fingertips. The Start-up Help Screen includes a "Getting Started" tutorial and an Application Development Reference Guide.
• The "Getting Started" tutorial steps through a sample Trap-Ease tracking application and demonstrates how one particular type of application works. You will also get a chance to see how Trap-Ease's many features work together to provide you with tracking solutions tailored to your specific business needs.
• The Applications Development Reference is a valuable aid to directly assist the developer in quickly understanding the fundamentals of creating Trap-Ease applications, performing transactions and manipulating Trap-Ease's Database Maintenance Module.

4. User-Defined Field Structures


When developing a custom application, you have the ability to add user-defined fields in addition to the pre-defined system fields already available. In the Item and User databases, you can add 60 user fields and define the description, data type, and length of each field. Trap-Ease Developer supports five data types (character, numeric, date, logical, and mathematics), and up to a 200-character field length can be assigned for long descriptions. Up to five additional fields are allowed in the Transaction database. An unlimited number of new locations can be added in the Location database.

5. Import and Export Data


The Import and Export features will allow you to easily integrate data between your other computer systems and Trap-Ease. These features provide transfer of data through many different file formats including:
• Comma Delimited File (ASCII)
• Space Delimited File (ASCII)
• Tab Delimited File (ASCII)
• dbase II I/dBase Database (DBF)
• Data Interchange Format (DIF)
• Framework 11 (FW2)
• Microsoft Multiplan (MOD)
• Paradox (PDOX)
• RapidFilel.2 (RPD)
• System Data Format (SDF)
• Symbolic Link Datachange (SYLK)
• Lotus 1-2-3 spreadsheet 2.x (WK1)
• Lotus 1-2-3 spreadsheet 3.x (WK2)
• Lotus 1-2-3 spreadsheet 1 -A (WKS)
• Lotus Symphony (WRK)
• Microsoft Excel 2.0/3.0/4.0 (XLS)

6. Item Relationship


Items entered into Trap-Ease's Item database can be related to locations or to other items. For example, a hammer may be related to a toolbox, so every time the toolbox is checked out, all tools it contains are also checked out at the same time. This is considered a parent-child relationship between two items; the hammer is the 'child" and the toolbox is its "parent." This is especially useful when a "child" item must be tracked independently.

7. Customization Functions


Trap-Ease comes equipped with the ability to customize your application's appearance and toolbars. An optional toolbar permits up to 12 buttons to be added. These are designed to act as shortcuts or hot keys to frequently used functions such as importing, printing labels, or editing items. Developers can change the main splash screen graphic and modify the text on the main screen module buttons.

8. Year 2000 and Beyond


Trap-Ease will allow users to track into the year 2000 and beyond. As part of a commitment to better quality products and services, Compsee's Quality Assurance department has tested all products to verify that Trap-Ease is year 2000 compliant.

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Assessing Your Tracking Needs

Trap-Ease is available in a Developer and a Run-Time version to accommodate varying user levels and custom application needs. An explanation of the intended uses of each is listed below.

• Trap-Ease Developer
  Trap-Ease Developer is the tool for creating custom applications. It also has the ability to run the application in the main program. The Developer version of Trap-Ease enables you to create applications and customize them with various screen graphics and toolbar buttons. If you have a unique application in mind, you can use the Developer version to create applications and application-specific reports and labels. You can also use the pre-defined templates to reduce your application development time. Once created, all of these components (applications, reports, and labels) can then be combined and distributed to other users as prepackaged solutions.

• Trap-Ease Run-Time
  The Run-Time version of Trap-Ease allows you to work within applications created in the Trap-Ease version. You cannot create new applications in this version; you must have a previously designed application in order for the program to run. The Run-Time functionality includes adding item, location, and user records to the databases, and designing and printing labels and reports. If you are running an item tracking application, the Run-Time version allows you to check items in and out and reserve items for a later date. For inventory applications, you can use the Run-Time version to restock and take items out of inventory.

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Tools

• Trap-Ease Time-Limited Demo
  A Trap-Ease Time-limited demo is available on CD to all customers. Reference the Trap-Ease Demo in the Shareware section of the Compsee website. The time-limited demo is full functioning Trap-Ease program that will operate on a single PC for 30 days. The demo version is also limited to 25 item records and three applications. In addition, a Compsee message will be inserted on each label printed.

• Trap-Ease Development Kit
  As a Certified Trap-Ease Developer, you will receive the Trap-Ease Developer's Kit. This kit includes tools and sample materials for distribution of pre-designed applications. With Trap-Ease Developer you can duplicate an application and sell it to multiple customers with the same tracking needs; the Developer Kit provides materials to speed up this process.

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Additional Information

• Concurrent, Multi-User Configuration
  Trap-Ease provides support for multiple concurrent users. The standard Trap-Ease Developer version comes in a 1-user license configuration with additional 1, 5, 10 and 25 user add-on licenses. A standard version must be present on the system for add-on licenses to operate. Network license tracking controls the number of simultaneous users, allowing customers to access any valid license on the server up to the maximum number available (locked licenses are automatically freed up in the event a local station is disabled). If any station is unable to obtain a license, an error message is returned to the station to inform the user that the maximum number of licenses are already in use.

• Installation
  Trap-Ease is a Network product. A single sentinel key must be present on one of the workstations in order for the program to run, even if running only one copy. We recommended that the key is placed and the program is installed on a drive that can be shared by all stations needing access to Trap-Ease.

  No sentinel key is required for the 30 day demo.