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IntelliPart® Features FAQ |
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you support Industry standards like AAIA?
Yes. Typotronics is an active participant in the AAIA eCommerce committee and other activities which promote the adoption of supportable industry standards. We are committed to supporting any and all emerging standards so that IntelliPart can act as a universal translator for all consumers of your data.
Do you have a Web-based Option? See information on our IntelliPart Online offering.
Why is Client/Server better than a File-Server application?
The Client/Server model provides a secure, reliable, scaleable architecture. The File-Server model is not secure, easily corrupted and doesn't expand well. The file server may often send the entire file over the network even though the application only requires a few records in the file. This increased network traffic can saturate bandwidth and negatively impact other users. IntelliPart is a Client/Server application.
What kind of security does the software provide?
IntelliPart uses both application and database enforced security techniques. The application enforced security is role-based which means that you can define logical task groups or "roles" within your organization and assign users to one or more of these groups. Every screen element and menu item can be assigned to these groups with either full access, read only, or no access security. In addition, you can set up divisional security which further limits the parts that are visible to the user.
Each division within a company can define its own product groups to categorize parts. These product groups are organized in a hierarchy with as many levels as desired. All parts (including OE and Competitor parts) are assigned to a product group within this hierarchy. Within each product group, you can further define what "uses" and "locations" are allowed for that group. For example, a relay may have several uses (fuel pump, cooling fan, etc.) and could even have a location (front, rear, etc.) on a particular use.
Will numeric parts sort properly on output?
Yes. Special sorting logic is integrated into the product so that part numbers are sorted properly in publications and reports, Every part has a sort field which is maintained automatically by the system but which may be overridden if necessary. This technique ensures that part number "20" sorts before part number "100", for example. The sorting algorithm allows up to ten part number segments.
Yes. IntelliPart maintains the relationship between a "physical part" and the brands that use that part. Information that is not brand specific is attached to the physical part. This includes product group, description, specifications, grade, etc. Brand specific information is available as well including part number, status, sales history, cost, UPC, supersession information, etc. Interchanges and applications are managed at the physical part level and so apply to all brands of that part.
How are applications validated when entered?
IntelliPart eliminates common errors by prohibiting invalid applications from ever being entered. Validation is performed on the component, part number, product group, use, location and qualifier expression. An "expression builder" is used to select only options which are valid for a particular component. Complex expressions are supported including ANDs, ORs, parentheses and Excepts.
Do you support vehicles without a year designation?
Yes. Components are created with user selected production "breaks." These breaks are usually years, but could be serial numbers or any other identifier which helps to define the component. This is especially useful in heavy duty, marine, off-road and agricultural equipment.
What is "compression" and why do we need it?
Simply stated, compression is the enabling technology within IntelliPart that allows you to concentrate on managing content rather than on fighting with delivery methods or layout. One of the biggest problems catalog managers face today is that they are constrained by a single catalog format. Normally, this format is designed to produce a printed book. That paper-specific format is now being asked to produce electronic catalog files for ProfitPro, NAPA TAMS, NAPA2000, CCI/Triad, private label catalogs, specialty catalogs and the Web. But it can't. With IntelliPart and its unique application database approach and powerful compression technology, you can maintain your data once and publish it in any format you desire.
How do you format the catalog pages?
IntelliPart uses either an internal report writer or an external publishing system to produce catalog pages. Certain "standard" catalogs are more easily handled by a report writer while other, more difficult formats are best handled by a complete publishing system. Some of the primary features of a publishing system are support for pair kerning, hyphenation, ligatures, letter spacing, word spacing, hanging indents, relative indention, keep logic, balanced columns, two-page spreads, etc. Another advantage to using a publishing system is that you have the ability to make manual adjustments if necessary (as in adding an advertisement, changing leading on several pages to get the page count down to an even signature, etc.)
Can we define our own catalogs?
Yes. Catalog Builder is an extremely flexible, end-user tool used to define your publications and control the extraction and compression of application data into files suitable for use by external publishing systems.
Do you support foreign languages?
IntelliPart provides support for foreign languages in two ways. Footnotes can be stored in any number of languages. When the primary footnote is changed, an indicator is set to let you know to translate the footnote in your other languages. Also, the valid model table is "regionalized" so that country specific model names can be included.
What kind of reports do you provide?
How can I look up applications?
Applications can be searched by Component (i.e. Make, Model, Year range), part number, product group and/or use. All applications that meet the search criteria will be displayed in a grid for browsing. Can I show "holes" (parts I don't supply) in my catalogs?
Yes. When defining catalog extractions with Catalog Builder, you can instruct the program to show a part as "not required" or "unavailable" based on the underlying OE application.
Can I store specification data that is different for each type of product?
Yes. Individual part specifications (or Attributes) are combined together to form Attribute Groups. For example, a "Dimensions" attribute group might include Height, Width and Depth measurements. These attribute groups are then assigned to one or more product groups to create a template for all parts belonging to that group. A Reference Graphic can also be defined to label certain distinguishing features ("Inlet 'A' diameter"). Any part attribute may be output in Price Sheets, catalog publications, etc.
What information is stored with an application?
An IntelliPart "application" contains an identification of the component (Make/Model/Year, Mfg/Engine/Year, Mfg/Engine/Serial#, etc.) an exception to the component (1998 Ford Taurus Except Taurus SHO), a "production range" (e.g. From 3/1/98), a qualifier expression (Exc. Turbo Wagon), a "Use" (one electical switch might be used to control a window or a sunroof), Location (Left, Right, etc.), Quantity, and one or more application footnotes (usually installation instructions, etc.).
Do you support interchanges and links to Sales Force Automation (SFA)?
Yes, competitor interchanges are supported and we have provided custom links to SFA systems. Standard interchange export files are delivered with the system.
Do you support one-way and two-way supersessions?
The system supports both standard "one-way" supersessions (sellout x and reorder y) and "two-way" supersessions (re-label x to y). A "publish date" is also required for each supersession to define when the supersession became (or will become) active. Additionally, many parts may supersede to a single part and a single part may supersede to many parts. When a supersession is made, it is made centrally in the part record. Any application that uses the superseded part will now be output showing both the old and new parts until the old part is made inactive.
What about "fan-out" supersessions?
Yes, the software supports one part superseding to two (or more) separate parts. It is a rare, but sometimes needed feature.
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