How Do I Use My Laptop to Work on RetailEdge Data Remotely

[Bill]

Many people want to be able to work on a computer that is not connected to the store at all times and then get changes to inventory, purchase orders, customers, etc. back into their store database. RetailEdge has an import/export function that will allow you to do this. You can use the import/export function for transferring:

1. Sales from a laptop or a temporary computer used for trunk shows.

2. Purchase Orders from a computer used at trade shows to write your purchase orders.

3. Inventory and Customers files from a home computer.

4. Sales from a computer that was used temporarily because the main computer broke or was disconnected from the network temporarily.

To setup your laptop or disconnected machine:

1. Install the Client Server installation on the laptop (you will need another RetailEdge license key to do this).

2. In the Store, make a backup of the store's data, by choosing Backup from the Tools|Backup menu item and save the file.

3. Transfer the backup file to your laptop via USB memory stick or other means.

4. Restore the store's backup file into the local database by choosing Restore from the Tools|Backup menu item.

You will now have a complete snapshot of the store's data in your laptop and can disconnect from the network and work on this RetailEdge data remotely.

When you want to take data back into the store's RetailEdge data, you should perform the following:

1. Export the data that you want to bring back to the store in a RetailEdge Data Interchange (REDI) file format by choosing Export from the Tools menu and saving the export file to the laptop's drive or some other local media. RetailEdge currently supports doing this with sales, purchase orders, customers, departments, vendors and inventory.

2. Transfer the REDI file to your Store computer via USB memory stick or other means.

3. Import the saved REDI export file by choosing Import from the Tools menu.

The REDI file will contain all the information you need on each import so you don't have to do multiple imports. For instance, if you are importing new Purchase Orders, RetailEdge will also bring in new inventory, vendors, departments, and classes that might have been created on the purchase order. Or if you are bringing in sales, RetailEdge will also bring in any new inventory items, vendors, etc. that might have been used with items that were on the sales.