The Top 10 Frequently Asked Questions Received by ABS Staff

Posted by Brandy on February 15, 2013

This week we increased our shipping prices. Shipping costs have been going up for a while now. We tried to put it off for as long as could, but we finally had to increase our rates, too. We are asked about shipping prices almost daily and it got us thinking about other frequently asked questions, so we put together a list of the ten most common questions received by the sales and support staff here at Atlas Business Solutions, Inc. (ABS). 

The Top 10 FAQs

1. Do you offer training?
2. Is this software compatible with a Mac?
3. How do I register the software?
4. I bought your program several years ago. Am I eligible to upgrade my software to the most current version?
5. Can I install this software on my server?
6. I got a new computer and now VSS Pro is asking me to activate PDF driver. How do I do that?
7. We’ve sent email reminders and messages from Customer Appointment Manager for years. Now I’m having problems on my new computer. What do I do?
8. I use Staff Files and was testing out the various password options. Now I’m locked out. What happened?
9. How do I back up my HR files in Staff Files or my appointment book in Customer Appointment Manager?
10. And finally… how much does shipping cost?

1. Do you offer training?

   We do not have on-site training. However, we do have many learning resources available. There is a Quick Start Guide or User Guide and how-to video tutorials that were specifically created with new users in mind. These learning resources are all free and can be found on the Training web pages in the Support section on our web site. In addition, the Help file in the software itself includes step-by-step instructions on each feature.

2. Is this software compatible with a Mac?

   Our PC-based software (including Visual Staff Scheduler, Customer Appointment Manager, and Staff Files) is not compatible with a Mac.  However, our online scheduling software (including ScheduleAnywhere and ScheduleBase) work with PC-based and Mac computers, as well as mobile devices, such as tablets and mobile phones.

3. How do I register the software?

   Whenever you install our PC-based software on a computer for the first time it will ask you to register the software. User registration is free and easy to do. If your computer has internet access, the fastest option is to choose to Register Online when you’re prompted to register the software. Otherwise, you can call us at 1-800-874-8801 or go to www.userregistration.com to obtain a registration key.

4. I bought your program several years ago. Am I eligible to upgrade my software to the most current version?

   Yes, you can upgrade to the most current version of the software even if you’re a couple of versions behind.

5. Can I install this software on my server?

   No, the software is installed on the individual computers that are licensed. Only the database file or schedule files are saved on the server, so all your users can access the shared information.

6. I got a new computer and now VSS Pro is asking me to activate PDF driver. How do I do that?

   If you’ve got another software program that uses a newer version of the print driver used in VSS Pro and Ultimate Business Planner, you’ll get a message asking you to update the PDF driver. Customers using VSS Pro version 14 and Ultimate Business Planner version 5.0 can send an email to our technical support at support@abs-usa.com asking for the updated PDF driver. Our tech support will reply with the file update and instructions on how to activate PDF driver.

7. We’ve sent email reminders and messages from Customer Appointment Manager for years. Now I’m having problems on my new computer. What do I do?

   In the Email Messages to Customers window or in the Format tab when sending email reminders, check the box to Use alternative email method if you are using Windows Live or a 64-bit version of Microsoft Outlook.

8. I use Staff Files and was testing out the various password options. Now I’m locked out. What happened?

   When Windows Authentication takes place at login, the username used to log into Staff Files or Staff Files Pro is compared to the username used to give access to the computer. If the two do not match, access to Staff Files is denied.

9. How do I back up my HR files in Staff Files or my appointment book in Customer Appointment Manager?

   Backup your database files frequently. You should always keep a backup copy of your data in case it becomes unusable due to some unforeseen computer problem. To backup your database, click on the File menu and select Backup. The program displays the Backup Database dialog box. Use the Browse function to select the location for backing up your database. Or, enter the drive letter followed by the name of the employee file. Click OK.

10. And finally… how much does shipping cost?

    For customers in the continental United States, it costs $12.95 for UPS Ground, $20 for 3-day, $30 for 2-day, and $60 for Overnight shipping. For customers in Alaska and Hawaii, it costs $40 for UPS Ground, $45 for 2-day, and $70 for Overnight shipping. For Canadian customers, it costs $30 for UPS Standard, $100 for Expedited, and $110 for Express shipping. And for all other international customers, it costs $110 for Expedited shipping.

If you have any other questions about the software we develop at ABS, please contact us at 1-800-874-8801 or info@abs-usa.com.