| Microsoft Retail Management System (MS RMS), | | | | Tables Structure |
| formerly known as QuickSell 2000, is an | | | | |
| integrated retail management software | | | | When a business entity is processed, the |
| designed to help small and medium-sized | | | | information is written onto the RMS database |
| retailers to automate their business | | | | tables. The tables structure is |
| processes. It runs on personal computers and | | | | self-explanatory. Entities include Customers, |
| can be used by practically any type of a | | | | Transactions, Supplier and Tender. |
| retail environment: sporting goods, hobby | | | | |
| stores, convenience food stores, appliance | | | | Links |
| stores, liquor stores, just to name a few. It | | | | |
| can also help manage a number of store and | | | | The master table in Microsoft RMS usually |
| headquarters operations including inventory | | | | displays an ID Column and the Transaction |
| control, employee management, purchase | | | | linked to it: |
| orders, and sales tracking. | | | | Transaction.CustomerID=CustomerID. If you |
| | | | were to create a query that will display |
| Microsoft RMS uses worksheet technology, | | | | customer information and sales transactions, |
| wherein updates from Headquarters are | | | | do the following statement: |
| deployed to the stores by generating a | | | | |
| worksheet with a specified command. The | | | | Select b.FirstName, b.LastName, a.* from |
| stores, on the other hand, upload data | | | | [Transaction] a join Customer b on |
| including sales transaction and receipt | | | | a.CustomerID=b.ID |
| journals back to Headquarters. These | | | | |
| transactions are not generated from | | | | Use this knowledge to create links for your |
| Headquarters. It is, therefore, not wise to | | | | report creation. |
| attempt data integration of such transactions | | | | |
| between the two entities (store and | | | | SQL Views and Stored Procedures |
| headquarters). | | | | |
| | | | Since Microsoft SQL can be deployed in RMS, |
| Crystal Reports is a report-writing software | | | | you have unlimited access to SQL Views and |
| that can integrate itself to Microsoft RMS | | | | execute a number of Transact-SQL statements |
| database. It goes beyond the report creation | | | | into one using Stored Procedures. |
| process of RMS' own Report Writer. As a | | | | |
| developer, Crystal Reports will help your | | | | Advanced Techniques and Tips |
| client access decision-driving information to | | | | |
| aid in managing their businesses more | | | | You can create a link server in Microsoft SQL |
| effectively. | | | | Enterprise Manager to connect to all ODBC |
| | | | OLEDB-compliant databases (Ctree, |
| The following are some guidelines in using | | | | PervasiveSQL/ Btrieve, MS Access, Oracle, |
| Crystal Reports in Microsoft RMS: | | | | DB2, Unidata) and C/ODBC-compliant database |
| | | | such as Navision. |
| Microsoft SQL Server or MSDE | | | | |
| | | | You can also use the OPENROWSET keyword in MS |
| A native SQL driver can be deployed in RMS to | | | | SQL to create a pool of linked databases for |
| connect to the database targeted for report | | | | your Crystal Reports. |
| generation. | | | | |
| | | | Need more information? |
| You can also use Open Database Connectivity | | | | |
| (ODBC) - an integration tool to connect a | | | | Contact us: |
| client application to an ODBC-compliant | | | | |
| database. Microsoft RMS uses the ODBC drivers | | | | For customization work and advice, please |
| installed by Microsoft SQL Server. Once it | | | | contact Andrew Karasev, Alba Spectrum Chief |
| prompts you to connect to the appropriate | | | | Technology Officer. His works include |
| data source, choose the company database that | | | | development of applications with the use of |
| you are targeting that contains the data | | | | Dexterity, SQL, C# .NET, Crystal Reports and |
| needed for your Crystal Reports. | | | | Microsoft CRM SDK. |
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