RE: Your Views on the Mapics Manuals?

I've always been of the opinion that MAPICS manuals are there to tell you
the software works - not how to use it in your business.

That is, it will tell you how to print an Accounts Payable check.  It won't
tell you how to set up the chart of accounts to be meaningful to your
business, and what accounts the disbursement should be charged to, etc.

That is the job of the affiliate, consultant, or IS Director implementing
your software.

You are only USING software - the trick is to put it to work FOR you in your
business.  It's like buying an electronic calculator.  The manual tells you
how to multiply, divide, markup, etc. - but not what figures to put in or
how to interpret them.

-----Original Message-----
From: aldg [mailto:aldg@mail.rvi.net]
Sent: Friday, August 25, 2000 12:49 PM
To: MAPICS-L@midrange.com
Cc: Gershen, Al; Gershen, Al
Subject: Re: Your Views on the Mapics Manuals?


Hi Mapics ML:

Thank you for your replies so far on this subject.

I wanted to add that our bookkeeper made an additional comment to me about
the Mapics manuals when I followed up with her on this subject after posting
my original message.

She said that if she has a problem, ahe can't find any answers in the Mapics
manuals.  I believe what she means is that there's really no section in the
manuals that deal directly with the day to day problems a user is likely to
encounter with the different Mapics modules.

I liken this to looking at the two manuals I have for my automobile.  The
Owner's Manual deals with instructions for using the vehicle but the Service
Manual (which I bought separately on eBay), that is available to the service
people, deals with problems they're likely to encounter with the vehicle.

This "Service Manual" doesn't appear to be included within the Mapics
Manuals.  I guess in this age of the Internet, the "Service Manual" is
beyond the scope of the Mapics Manual and you have to either use the Support
Website, contact Mapics Support directly or better yet, use our favorite
Mapics ML.  :-)

Please continue with your comments on this subject.

Regards......

------My Original 8/24/00 Mapics ML Message------

>From: "aldg" <aldg@mail.rvi.net>
>Reply-To: MAPICS-L@midrange.com
>Date: Thu, 24 Aug 2000 09:08:21 -0700

>Hi Mapics ML:
>
>I was at a meeting this morning at work and one of our bookkeepers who runs
the A/P Mapics module made the comment, "I don't understand anything when I
look in a Mapics manual."
>
>Can you give me your opinion of the Mapics manuals in terms of:
>
>1. How do you rate their general readability and understandability?
>
>2. Do they usually meet your needs when you research a topic in them?
>
>3. How do they compare to manuals of other ERP programs you may seen in
your travels?
>
>4. Have the Mapics manuals improved as they evolved thru the enhancements
of the program over the years?
>
>5. What other comments would you like to share with the Mapics ML about
your experiences using the Mapics manuals?
>
>I hope that many of the Mapics ML members will take the time from their
busy schedules to share their experiences on this topic.
>
>Regards.......
------End of Original Mapics ML Message------


--
Above message before copy enclosure (if any) was sent by:

Al Gershen
Grants Pass, OR 97526 
aldg@mail.rvi.net & aldg@webtv.net;
and thru ICQ # 12342782

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