ICPA for Windows (Canadian Version) Help Index

Feedback

Overview

Get Config

File

Save Text

Save Text As

Save Config As

Save Config

Print

Exit

Append Text

Append Text To

Edit

Delete Marked

UnDo

Clear

Copy to Clipboard

View

Prices in Selection

Push Buttons

Systems

Displays

Memory

Extras

Printers

Software

Pricing

Formulas for pricing

Fonts

No. of Systems

Customer Information

Save Settings


Feedback

While every effort is made to ensure accuracy, errors or omissions may appear from time to time. In addition, an idea or suggestion (e.g. adding more charts, cross-references, or items) submitted by an individual user might be of benefit to all. IBM Canada wishes to encourage feedback from any and all users (internal IBM users, Business Partners, and our customers). Many of the enhancements made over the past year have been as a result of comments from users.

Please send us any questions or comments regarding accuracy, enhancements, etc. Our preference is for electronic means. FAX can be used (905-316-4100) or electronic mail, to

Internet:

(budgeb@vnet.ibm.com)

or to the

InformationExchange/IBMNetwork:

(CAIBM8LW at IBMMAIL)


Help for the ICPA Application

Help for the various keys and functions within ICPA.


Help for ICPA Help

Use these choices to find out how to use help, to get extended help, to go to a list of keys, or to go to the help index.

  Help for help

Provides detailed information on the kinds of help available and how to use help.

  Extended help

Displays general help.

  Keys help

Displays a list of keys.

  Help index

Displays the help index.


Help for Help

Use this choice to obtain information on how to use the Help facility.


Help for Extended Help

Use this choice to obtain general information on the tasks you can perform while you are viewing a help window.


Help for Help Index

Use this choice to display the help index.

The help index lists the titles of the help information that is available.


Help for Keys

Use this choice to see a list of keys and a description of the function of the keys.


Extended Help for ICPA

The Integrated Configurator and Pricing Application (ICPA) provides a fast, convenient and accurate way to configure and price PS/1, PS/2, PS/VP and Mobile systems.  The Microsoft Windows user interface is used to select optional components from pop up menus. Selected components, part numbers and prices are displayed on the screen when selected. Priced configurations can be saved and restored. ASCII files for printing or inclusion in customer proposals may be created.

Pricing options may be selected from a pull down menu.

The program is driven by configuration files (prepared by IBM Canada, or by Lexmark Canada) and pricing files which may be tailored by the user to reflect the prices available in his or her environment. Together, they provide a "knowledge base" which will ensure accurate configurations of available components.

Generally, the steps required to do a configuration are

Select the required pricing method using the Pricing option on the action bar.

Select the required System using the System push button.

Select other components (Displays,  Memory,  Extras,  Printers or  Software) using the other push buttons.

Use the File pull-down menu to Print or Save the configured system.


Get Cfg

Use this option to start the configuration process with a pre-configured system.  All lines in the existing configuration will be cleared and you will be prompted for the specific configuration name. The file extension .CFF is used for all configuration files.

A second copy of the config, with the extension .CF2, can be saved. It contains only the partnumber, description, and qty of each item selected. No comments are saved in the .CF2 file, making it more useful for those who might wish to use this version of the config to feed an order entry system.

To enable this optional second config, the Command Line field in the Program properties must contain "-a".


File

The File options provide the following functions

Get existing configuration

Save Configuration for future use with ICPA

Save Configuration under a new name

Save output of configurator as a text file

Save output of configurator under a new name

Add output of configurator to a text file

Add output of configurator to a different text file

Select a printer

Print output of configurator

Exit ICPA


Save Text

This will save the current configuration in external format. In this format, the file can be edited with a text editor such as Notepad. It can be used for inclusion in customer proposals.

If a filename was not specified previously during the current execution of the program, you will be prompted for one.  This option will write the configuration details to the specified file, overwriting the contents of the existing file or creating a new file if no file with the specified filename exists.

If there is a marked selection, only the marked lines are written to the output file.


Save Text As

This will save the current configuration in external format. In this format, the file can be edited with a text editor such as Notepad. It can be used for inclusion in customer proposals.

You will be prompted for a file name.  This option causes an existing file to be overwritten with the new configuration details.

If there is a marked selection, only the marked lines are written to the output file.


Save Config As

This will save the current configuration in internal format. The file extension .CFF must be used. This extension is automatically added if you do not enter an extension.

You will be prompted for a file name.  This option causes an existing file to be overwritten with the new configuration details.

You may use this option to save a number of standard configurations. These configurations may then be used as a starting point to obtain modified versions.


Save Config

This will save the current configuration in internal format. The file extension .CFF must be used. This extension is automatically added if you do not enter an extension.

A new function added in ICPA version 6.02 allows the user to save a second copy of the config, with the extension .CF2. This optional second config contains only the partnumber, description, and qty of each item selected. No comments are saved in the .CF2 file, making it more useful for those who might wish to use ICPA to feed an order entry system.

To enable this optional second config, the Command Line field in the Program parameters must contain "-a".

If a filename was not specified previously during the current execution of the program, you will be prompted for one.  The configuration details are written to the specified file, overwriting the contents of an existing file.  A new file is created if a file with the specified filename does not exist.


Print

Selecting this option will print the current configuration on the currently selected printer, or the system default printer if none was previously selected.

If there is a marked selection, only the marked lines are printed.


Append Text

This option causes the output to be added to the end of an existing file, if one exists.  If not, a new file is created.

The current configuration is saved in external format. In this format, the file can be edited with a text editor such as Notepad. It can be used for inclusion in customer proposals.

If a filename was not specified previously during the current execution of the program, you will be prompted for one.

If there is a marked selection, only the marked lines are written to the output file.


Append Text To

This option causes the output to be added to the end of an existing file, if one exists.  If not, a new file is created.

You will be prompted for a file name.

The current configuration is saved in external format. In this format, the file can be edited with a text editor such as Notepad. It can be used for inclusion in customer proposals.

If a filename was not specified previously during the current execution of the program, you will be prompted for one.

If there is a marked selection, only the marked lines are written to the output file.


Edit

The Edit options allow you to do the following functions

Delete a marked selection

Undo (delete) the last selected part

Delete all selections in the current configuration

Copy all or marked selection to the clipboard


Delete Marked

Use this option to delete a marked selection from your configuration. You may mark any selection by clicking with the mouse on the part of the screen containing the selection.  When you click on a marked selection, it becomes unmarked.  Only one selection may be marked at a time.

It is not possible to delete a System which still has other selections.


UnDo

This will remove the last part added to your configuration. This includes all optional components added with the part.

Repeated UnDo requests are possible.


Clear

This will remove all parts selected and allows you to start a new configuration. If the "Bays" and/or "Slots" windows are open, they will also be reset.


Help for Copy to Clipboard

All lines in the current configuration will be copied to the clipboard in text format. The current clipboard contents are cleared before the data is copied.

Once copied into the clipboard, the data may be pasted into programs which allow pasting of text data from the clipboard.


Help for View
View

This menu allows various viewing options to be chosen.

Currently only Price in Selection is supported.


Price in Selection

Checking this option will cause prices to be displayed when selecting configuration components.

The price displayed will be that for the currently selected pricing method and then only if available in the price list file.


Push Buttons

The push buttons allow you to configure systems in a predefined sequence :

A SYSTEM MUST BE SELECTED FIRST. From now on, only options which are valid for the selected system will be displayed.

Once a System has been selected, you may proceed to select a Display, a total memory size, Extra options such as Adapters, Mouse etc, Printers and Software. Only one memory choice and one display is allowed per system.


Systems

All the systems available for configuration file are displayed.  To select a particular system, you must position to the one of your choice (using the mouse), and double click.  The details of the selected system will be displayed.

Only one System can be selected for one configuration. Only the parts that are valid for the selected system will be presented to you when you select other components (Memory options, Displays etc). If no listing for a specific option appears (e.g. internal CD-ROM drive), then there is no internal CD-ROM drive option available from IBM for that system.


Displays

This push button lists the available displays.  Only the displays which are valid for the selected system will be presented.  Only one display may be selected per config.  You must position to the one of your choice, and double click.  This will display the details of the selected display, at the same time updating the total configuration price.


Memory

A list of memory options is displayed. Only the options which are valid for the selected system will be presented.

Only one memory option may be selected per config. You must position to the one of your choice, and double click. This will display the details of the selected option, at the same time updating the total configuration price.

Where the selected memory option consists of one (or more) adapter cards, the "Slots" window will be updated to reflect the additional adapter cards.


Extras

A list of add-on options is displayed. Only the options which are valid for the selected system will be presented. Many options may be selected per config. You must position to the one of your choice, and double click. This will display the details of the selected option, at the same time updating the total configuration price. The Extra options will remain on the screen to allow you to select another option.  When you have selected all the required options, click on the EXIT push button to remove the options box from your screen.

Many of the options will automatically include other options when selected. For example, when a 8514 screen is selected, an 8514 adapter may be included.  Some adapters may also be individually selected.

Some Extras will involve either or both storage devices and adapter cards. Both the "Slots" and "Bays" windows will be updated with any items that require either an adapter slot or device bay or both.


Printers

A list of printers is displayed. Only the printers which are valid for the selected system will be presented. More than one printer may be selected per config. You must position to the one of your choice, and double click. Printers generally have quite a few optional components. You will be prompted for the optional components on the selected printer. Once all components have been chosen, all details will be displayed.


Software

A list of software options is displayed. More than one software package may be selected per config. You must position to the one of your choice, and double click. This will display the details of the selected package, at the same time updating the total configuration price. The Software options will remain on the screen to allow you to select another.  When you have selected all the required packages, click on the EXIT push button to remove the options box from your screen.

The Software options become valid once a valid System has been selected.

A list of software options is displayed.


Pricing

The formulas used for pricing can easily be modified by editing the profile (PRICING.PRO) using a text editor such as Notepad. A description of the statements in PRICING.PRO is provided in the ICPA Users Guide. CES (Certified Education Specialist) is a Canadian price category, for eligible educational institutions.

Changing the prices for a local requirement can be done easily, by modifying the PRICES.LST file (i.e. changing the CES column to show prices unique to a specific customer) and the PRICING.PRO file to reflect the new name for the altered price column.

Up to ten different pricing formulas using the same or different price files may be used. The overall width of the data columns (prices) in the PRICES.LST file must not exceed 80 characters.

The format of the price files is given in Appendix C of the ICPA User Guide. Only one pricing file is kept in memory during program execution.  When a pricing option which requires a different file is selected,  the new file is read from disk.

The pricing option may be changed at any time during the configuration process.  Prices of selected parts will be updated to reflect the latest pricing option.

Where no price was established by IBM (for example, no "IBM Direct" price, the List price has been used.

To Change the default price from "List" to any other, simply edit the PRICING.PRO file and move the paragraph containing the desired default to the top of the list.


Options

Fonts

The fonts used for the list of items selected, and for the Bays and Slots windows can be easily selected through this pull-down option. The pop-up window will display the available font options.

Number of Systems

The number of systems desired for this configuration can be specified. Whatever value is selected will remain current, unless changed for the next configuration.

Customer Information

Customer information such as name, address, and phone number can be saved, as well as a description of the configuration (e.g. "Sales Dept. std. model A-1"). The text used will remain active for all subsequent configurations, unless cleared, making it easier to do multiple configurations for the same customer.

Any information entered in these fields will print or save as part of the output.

Possible uses of this function include

customer files (maintain config. info)

customer files (maintain contact name & address)

Save Settings

The fonts, window sizes, and locations will be saved and become the defaults for all subsequent sessions.  The settings information will be saved in the path defined in the parameter settings, otherwise it will default to the working directory.


Exit

Use this choice to end the ICPA program.


Keys Help

 ALT + KEYS

Alt:

Place the input focus on the menu bar. The various menus can

then be accessed using the TAB key.

Alt + Underlined Character:

Opens the menu with the underlined character in it's name.

Alt + Spacebar:

Opens the system menu in the active window or dialog box.

Alt + Esc:

Switch to the next program, including full-screen programs.

Alt + F4:

Closes the active window or dialog box.

OTHER KEYS :

Arrow keys:

Scroll one character at a time in the pricing window, or move

between menu choices.

Esc:

Close the active dialog box.

PgUp:

Scroll the contents of the pricing window up one page.

PgDn:

Scroll the contents of the pricing window down one page.

Underlined letter:

Activate that item on a popup menu.

 CTRL + KEYS :

Ctrl + Esc:

Switch to the Windows task list.

Ctrl + 1 to 8:

Opens the dialog boxes normally accessed by the configuration

buttons. For example, CTRL + 1 allows system units to be chosen

whereas CTRL + 6 will show the list of available printers.