Vendor Search Specs

Description:
When searching for a vendor, most users have indicated that they know the “Alpha” for the vendor, but not necessarily the Vendor Number. We have designed a solution for the Vendor Searches in Data Plus to search on the Vendor Alpha field.

Because we are very sensitive to our users’ desire to minimize the number of keystrokes to do any individual task, we have put a significant emphasis on making it fast. At the same time we do not want to take away any functionality that is needed for the less common situations, e.g. only a portion of the vendor’s name is known.

Details:
To describe the new functionality, the screens below use the “Contractor” (Vendor) field in Project Management. If the user types in a unique Alpha Code into the “Contractor” field, when they tab off the field, the vendor number and vendor name display will display to the right. If the user does not type in a unique Alpha Code, when they tab off the field, the Vendor Alpha search will pop up with the search browse positioned at the closest matching record (alphabetically) to Alpha Code the user typed in. If what they type in is beyond the last vendor alpha value, the browse will be positioned at the first Alpha Code.

Examples:
When choosing a contractor, which is a vendor in our vendor file, if the user enters a unique Vendor Alpha code and leaves the field, the vendor record is found and the Vendor Number and Name will be displayed to the right of the Alpha Field:

If the user enters a partial Vendor Alpha code for a vendor in the vendor file, the vendor alpha search is automatically run and the positioned at the closest vendor record matching the code entered:

If the user enters some text for the Vendor Alpha code for a vendor in the vendor file and there is no Vendor Alpha Code that begins with the text typed in, the vendor alpha search is automatically run and the positioned at the closest vendor record matching the code entered:

The user can then browse forward or backwards within the browse to find the correct vendor record:

Once you select the vendor record, you are returned to the contractor screen and the vendor number and name are displayed:

If the user enters a Vendor Alpha Code that is not unique, when the user leaves the field, the vendor alpha search is automatically run and the positioned at the first vendor record matching the code entered:

Using the search button launches the vendor alpha search and will also position the user at the first vendor record matching the code entered:

The Vendor Alpha Search window has several features of its own:
• Sortable columns so the user can resort the data by clicking the column they wish to sort by:
Initial browse:

After clicking on the “Alpha” column, the data is resorted in reverse alphabetical order using the data in the “Alpha” column:

• After clicking on a column to select it, the user can type a letter to have the cursor reposition to the first record in that column beginning with that letter. For example, the initial browse is:

After clicking the “Alpha” column, if the user types a letter “C”, the cursor will reposition to the first record beginning with the letter “C” (Note the dotted line around the “CCProd” alpha below):

Pressing return or choosing the “Select” button will populate the field back in the main window with the selected Vendor Alpha Code: