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PowerBase October 2019
Darren GilbertNov 4, 2019 8:32:24 AM9 min read

PowerBase Updates For October 2019: What’s New and Updated?

October has been a busy month for the DotActiv PowerBase. Since our first update last month - read what changed here - we have added and updated a total of 26 articles. Each and every piece we’ve added or updated will help you to be more efficient when using DotActiv software.

Since there have been so many changes, we’re only going to provide you with brief summaries of what has changed. We’ll also provide you with a link to the PowerBase article to read how a function works.

New Articles

New articles on the DotActiv PowerBase

For the month of October, we published a total of 21 new articles on the PowerBase.

1. You can sync a floor plan with a market from a database

As part of the recent official software release (Version 3.6.11), we designed a function that allows you to easily sync a floor plan (new or existing) with a specific market from the database.

Interested in learning how to do that? Read the article on the DotActiv PowerBase here.

2. DotActiv Free versus DotActiv Trial

Since the release of DotActiv Free, there has been a lot of confusion around whether it’s a trial version of our software or free software. It doesn’t help that we also offered ‘free trials’ of our software.

We have since changed the naming convention to clear up any confusion.

We’ve also written an article explaining the key differences between DotActiv Free - free planogram software - and a 14-day trial of DotActiv software.

To learn about the differences, read this article where we explain everything you need to know.

3. Region Settings

For DotActiv software to work correctly, you need to set up your region settings.

Your region settings influence how your date/time, numeric and currency data types appear when applying formatting options.

If you’re struggling to do so, you can read this article which explains how to configure your settings. Please note, this is for you if you use Microsoft Windows.

4. New fixture type - Cassettes

A second new feature in the latest official release (Version 3.6.11) is the addition of a new fixture type. Namely ‘Cassettes’.

A type of fixture that you can add to a planogram, cassettes are best used for beauty products such as make-up items.

To learn how to add a cassette fixture, read this article on the PowerBase.

5. Common Retail Terms and Acronyms

As you work in DotActiv, you’ll no doubt come across various retail terms and acronyms specific to the software. That’s where this article comes in.

Spread out across five sections, we unpack over 40 common retail terms with the goal of aiding your space planning or floor planning efforts. If you don’t find the one you want to know about, please let us know.

Read up on the most common retail terms and acronyms here.

6. Downloading different editions of DotActiv

No matter which edition of DotActiv software you want to use, you can learn how to download and install it by reading this article.

There are different steps you need to take depending on the edition that you want to use. This article covers downloading and installing all versions of DotActiv, including DotActiv Free.

7. DotActiv Free license key error

One of the most common questions we receive about DotActiv Free is to do with the license key. Specifically, if we can provide it to users as they haven’t received it.

In truth, after you download DotActiv Free - you can do that here - we will send you an email with your unique license key.

If you can’t find the email with your license key, please check your junk/spam mailbox. It can also take a while before the email comes through to you. You can read this article for more information on what to expect.

8. Switching between DotActiv editions

Once you have downloaded DotActiv software and installed it, you need need to reinstall it again. If you want to upgrade to a different package, all you need to do is change your license key.

In this article, we explain how you can update your month or annual license, depending on which option you’ve chosen. You can read more here.

9. Creating a custom report in DotActiv

A custom report creates a standard report template that you can use as a report template in the future. The result is that it ensures consistency and efficiency.

Need to create a custom report? You can follow the steps in this article.

10. Generating and editing a custom report

If you’ve created a custom report, you also need to know how to generate one and edit it where necessary.

Generating a report includes mapping data sources to your report template. And, if you have multiple fields in a graph or grid, you need to know how to drill into the various levels.

Read this article to learn how to do all of the above.

11. Microsoft Access vs SQL Server

In the past, DotActiv software used Microsoft Access to run. Of course, we have since updated and modified the software to the point where DotActiv no longer uses Microsoft Access.

The primary reason is that we’ve optimised our software to support a more advanced database interface.

In this article, we pit Microsoft Access against SQL Server, focusing on the key differences with regards to the interface, tables and recovery. If you’re interested in the key differences, read this article.

12. What are product classifications?

While product classifications are not part of the software - it is critical that you understand them?

Why? Because by understanding how to classify your products, you can apply category management principles when creating a planogram.

What are product classifications? Read more here.

13. Clean and classify data

A direct result of the above article on product classifications is this one. Once you know what product classifications are, it’s time to learn how to classify your data.

In doing so correctly, all products will appear on the right planograms in the right spots.

Read this article to learn how to clean and classify your data.

14. Product performance based on proposed vs existing planograms

If you want to compare a proposed planogram versus an existing planogram in DotActiv software, this article is for you.

It explains how to use the Product Performance Report, taking you through the steps to show you the overall performance of any product on your planograms.

You can learn how to use the Product Performance Report here.

15. Report on saved versus existing clusters

If you want to know how to complete an advanced report on saved clusters versus existing clusters in DotActiv software, this article can help.

It explains the steps on how to report on clusters, load the ADDM report, load changes and more. Read more about the Clustering Report here.

16. Report on proposed versus existing range

If the above article focuses on reporting on saved clusters, DotActiv also has a report that allows you to compare the differences between your proposed and existing range.

It’s known as the Ranging Report.

In this article, we unpack the steps you can take when you want to compare a proposed range versus your current range. That includes covering the range optimizer function.

17. Cross Merchandising SKUs

If you want to know how to report on cross-merchandised SKUs across all of your categories using DotActiv software, there is a specific report to use.

It’s called the Cross Merchandising Report, found in the ‘Advanced’ section of our reporting tab. Read how to set it up here.

18. Customise your DotActiv ribbon

If you use a smaller screen such as a laptop, you might find that you can’t always see all the items in the ribbon. That can be frustrating and even more you less efficient.

Fortunately, you can custom the ribbon. This is especially helpful if you only use certain tabs in DotActiv as you can reduce the number of options.

Learn how to customise the ribbon here and increase your efficiency while working in DotActiv.

19. Transferring a DotActiv license

DotActiv’s licenses are unique to each user - a license will only work on one computer at a time. However, there are certain circumstances where you can transfer a license.

In this article, we unpack the reasons where you can do that. We also explain what information you need to give to your customer success consultant.

Want to transfer your license? Please read this article first.

20. Calculating formula fields

If you use DotActiv software, you’ll come across various formula fields used by the software. Of course, many of them can sound complicated.

The purpose of this article is to negate any confusion. What you’ll find are a few common formula fields used in DotActiv as well as how the software calculates each.

Read more here.

21. Apparel Fixtures

DotActiv has been hard at work improving the software. That includes adding new features, a few of which we’ve already mentioned in this article.

Currently in Beta testing, you'll can look forward to our apparel fixtures feature.

Interested in learning more? Read this article about what you can expect in our next official release.

Updated articles

Updated articles on the DotActiv PowerBase

Along with the new articles, we have a handful that we updated during October. Five, to be precise.

1. Converting planograms to and from file formats

While we have an article that covers the steps you need to take convert your planograms to and from various file formats, it didn’t cover the process of mapping your planogram fields.

We’ve since updated to the article to take through that step. You can read all about importing files and changing the mapping here.

2. Setting up a data cube

When adding a fact field to a data cube, you can now easily include a related percentage field. What’s more, available database views will allow specific formulated data to be added to your data cubes

Both are based on DotActiv’s recent release (Version 3.6.11).

Read more here.

3. Accessing DotActiv Academy

Before we updated our article on DotActiv Academy, we hadn’t included clear steps on how you could access it as a paying customer.

With this update, you’ll know precisely how to access it if you’ve bought DotActiv software. In this article, we first unpack how to get DotActiv Academy before explain how you can access it.

Learn more here.

4. DotActiv Free limitations

DotActiv Free is our free planogram software with a variety of features. There are, of course, limitations to the software.

The original article only covered a few of the limitations. We’ve since updated it to include all the of the limitations. Please note that these are new limitations, per se - they have always been there.

In that sense, the update to the article is to provide you with better clarity on what you can and cannot do with DotActiv Free. Read up on all the limitations of DotActiv Free here.

5. Validating your data for integration

The last article we updated for the month of October was the ‘How To Validate Your Data For Integration’.

As part of the update, we included a section about integrating DotActiv with ERP systems. There are hundreds of different ERP systems and unfortunately, DotActiv cannot integrate with all of them.

Fortunately, that doesn’t stop you from working with or use DotActiv.

Conclusion

The DotActiv PowerBase provides you with quick answers to specific questions about how to make the most of DotActiv’s products and services. If you come across an article that doesn’t answer a question to your satisfaction, please leave a comment on the article. It’s entirely anonymous and will help us to help you get the answers you deserve.

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Darren Gilbert

Darren Gilbert joined in 2017 and is the content manager. He has a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies from the University of Stellenbosch.

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