Glossary

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A

AA: Advanced Analysis
Accruals: Autoline module that provides automatic posting into the nominal ledger of repetitive monthly journals such as pre-payments, accruals and standing orders
Ad-hoc enquiries: Enables the composition and execution of database queries. The result can be displayed as text, displayed as a graph, printed, or exported to a file.
Administrator: Facilities including electronic mail, company phone book, electronic diary and other tools
Adoption / adopt: When a vehicle is taken from consignment and its status set to adopted, it indicates that the vehicle is fully paid for and owned by the dealer.
Advanced Analysis: Optional Autoline high level management information facility that provides paperless exception reporting and the ability to browse summarised figures
Advice Note: Order confirmation file, sent by a manufacturer or supplier, containing delivery and invoice data. Also called GRNs (Good Received Notes.)
AJ: Abbreviation of Accruals
AK: Abbreviation of the Archive module
Alpha: Abbreviation of alphabetic, typically referring to a field (in a form) that accepts only characters entered with the letter keys of a keyboard
API: Application Program Interface
AR: Asset Register
Archive: Autoline module enabling access to archived documents
Asset Register: Autoline module enabling access to information about company assets and transactions involving those assets
Autoline: ADP dealer management system

B

Backup: A copy of a file or collection of files for safe keeping in the event of the loss of the originals. The backed up files can be restored to a new or repaired computer system after failure of the original.
BACS Submission: Optional Autoline module that interfaces with a bank to transfer money between accounts
Banner line: An area at the top of a displayed data form bearing the form name
BE: Bodyshop Estimating
Bodyshop Estimating: Optional Autoline module that acts as a translator between estimating packages such as Glassmatix, Audatex, Shopwatch, Quoites, and so on
Broadcast Message: A facility for broadcasting a text message (up to 50 characters) to all logged-on users. The Broadcast Message form is located in the System Utilities module.
Browser: A program that interprets HTML files, whether pages posted on the World-Wide Web or Autoline help pages, formats them, and displays them. The ADP standard browser is Microsoft Internet Explorer (not to be confused with Windows Explorer).
BX: Abbreviation of BACS Submission

C

Case (upper/lower): Refers to capitalisation of characters, including those entered via the keyboard into Autoline forms, upper case being CAPITALS. Some operations, such as entering a log-in ID, may be rejected if text is input in the wrong case.
CD: Abbreviation of Valuation Systems
Check box: A graphical representation in the form of a square box alongside a data field name or display option. It can be in one of two states; selected or cleared. When it is selected, it contains a tick or cross. When it is clear, it contains nothing. A group of check boxes is typically used for selection from a group of related but non-exclusive choices. See also option button.
CM: Abbreviation of Customer Contact Management
Configure schedule: A facility that determines which timed operations are run and when
Consign / consignment: When a vehicle is delivered to a dealer, the manufacturer sends details of vehicle prices. Although the vehicle is in the possession of the dealer, it is not owned by the dealer until it is taken into adopted stock. Each manufacturer allows a specified number of days for consignment of stock.
CRM: Customer Relationship Management
CSV: Comma Separated Variable (file format)
Customer Contact Management: Optional Autoline module enabling the generation and processing of call lists
Customer Relationship Management: Autoline module that enables large organisations to operate with the same degree of communication as smaller operations, without losing personal contact with customers

D

Daemon: A networking program that carries out housekeeping or maintenance utility functions automatically; without being run by a user (a person). A daemon is activated only when needed. The mailer daemon and the printer daemon are examples. The word daemon is thought to derive from an acronym for Disk And Execution MONitor.
Daily Rentals: Optional Autoline module enabling a fleet of rental vehicles to be controlled, providing cost analysis, income, and use statistics for each vehicle
Data area: Region of a displayed Autoline form, below the banner line and above the command line, where data content is displayed
DD: Abbreviation of Franchise Data
Default: A value entered into a field (or other variable) automatically. For example, a date field may have today's date (as held by the computer system clock) entered into it by Autoline when you first display a form to create a new record. You may be able to edit it, but the default date is the system date.
DMS: Dealer Management System (such as Autoline)
DR: Daily Rentals
Drop-down menu: When you click a drop-down button , a list of options is displayed in a drop-down format.

E

Ellipsis button: Ellipsis buttons are displayed adjacent some data fields on Autoline forms. When you click one, a search facility is started.
Employee Records: Optional Autoline module that operates in conjunction with the Payroll (PR) module
EOD: Abbreviation of End-Of-Day, an Autoline Rev.7 suite of programs that provides information update processes throughout various modules and databases. See also Timed Operations.
EPC: Electronic Parts Catalogue
Explorer: There are two programs named Explorer used on computers that typically provide access to Autoline. Windows Explorer is a system browser, displaying files on your computer and local network. Internet Explorer is a web browser, formatting and displaying HTML pages.

F

Field

Component of a data record, a surname or telephone number for example
Indivisible component of a displayed Autoline form that contains the corresponding data field belonging to a record

File

Collection of related records

Franchise Data

Autoline module used to store all the data necessary for the vehicle administration, daily rentals, showroom and CRM modules

FS

Format Stationary

FTP

File Transfer Protocol

G

GB: Abbreviation of the Global module located in the Environment major module area
GDX: General Data Extraction
GIS: Goods in Suspense, a code used in Accounting and Aftersales modules
GRN: Goods Received Number (or Goods Received Note), identifying a purchase order, advice or delivery note, or possibly an invoice
GUI: Graphical User Interface, a combination text and graphics display such as that used by Autoline

H

Help: Help files used in Autoline are accessed with the Help button on forms and menus.
HTML: Abbreviation of Hypertext Markup Language, used for storing the content and display characteristics of Autoline help pages, web sites, and similar content rendered by web browsers. See also XML and browser.

I

IM: Incident Management
Incident Management: Optional Autoline module capable of storing details of an incident (for example roadside breakdown or accident), recording details of known vehicle/customer/company, and creating new records in CRM where necessary
IP: Internet Protocol, a scheme for transmitting information between computers, used for HTML files including Autoline help pages
ISDN: Integrated Services Digital Network, an international standard for digital transmission of voice, data, and video

K

KCBT: ADP computer-based training system, designed to demonstrate common tasks in Autoline
Kclient: Computer program, activated by clicking the Autoline icon, that communicates with a server and displays the Autoline user interface
KCML: ADP programming language used for Autoline
K-mail: ADP electronic mail (e-mail) system
K-print: ADP hardware-based print manager
Key path: Field copied to an index file, enabling fast lookup of records. An Autoline file may contain up to nine key paths, providing you with a number of ways of quickly accessing records in a file.

L

Login: Logging in is the method of accessing a system by entering a login; a personal (user) I/D code. Autoline associates every transaction with a specific login.
LOGPA: Parts Sales/Purchases log file in Point-of-Sale
LTS: Labour Time Schedule

M

MA: Management Accounts
Main menu: Opening menu of an Autoline module, selected from the master menu
Management Accounts: Autoline module that enables accounts reporting in both hard copy print and display
Manufacturer Systems: Autoline module containing franchise/manufacturer-specific programs
Marketing: Nowadays known as CRM (Customer Relationship Management)
MMA: Major Module Area, a collection of related Autoline modules. For example, the Vehicle MMA consists of the Franchise Data (DD), Showroom (SR), and Vehicle Stockbook (VS) modules.
Mask: A template record or field primarily used as part of the search facility. See also Word search.
Master menu: Autoline top-level menu, displaying modules as selectable options
Max/min calculations: A facility for updating Maximum/Minimum stock quantities held. Normally run monthly, it is controlled by a parameter in Stock Management system parameters. Its invocation can be automated in Timed Operations. It can also be run manually via the Report Generator in Stock Management.
MK: Abbreviation of Customer Relationship Management
Module: A collection of related files and programs. Each Autoline installation consists of a number of basic modules and a number of optional modules.
MS: Manufacturer Systems

N

NL: Nominal Ledger
Nominal Ledger: Autoline module that provides a consolidation of data from other modules, as well as the nominal ledger itself

O

Object Linking and Embedding (OLE): A way of transferring and sharing information between applications by pasting data created in one application into a document created in another. For example, copying from a spreadsheet to/from word processing file.
Option button: A graphic, normally a small white disc that contains a black disc when it is selected, displayed in a group and representing a set of mutually exclusive fields or switches. Only one in a group can be selected at one time, so selecting one de-selects the one previously selected. See also check box and push button.

P

PARCH

Parts log file (Logpa) archive

Password

Series of characters and/or digits that, together with a login ID, enabling access to a secure system such as Autoline

Note: Do not tell anyone your Autoline password and do not write it down.

PAU

Parts advice note upload file

Payroll

Optional Autoline module that operates in conjunction with the Employee Records module

PC

Purchase Control

PCR

Parts Central Replenisher

PE

Abbreviation of Employee Records

Personnel

Optional Autoline module that normally operates with the Employee Records and Payroll modules

PL

Purchase Ledger

PN

Abbreviation of Personnel

POS

Point-of-Sale

Point-of-Sale

Autoline module designed to control all areas of activity within parts, service and bodyshop environments. It monitors all aspects of work-in-progress and records all sales transactions for parts and labour.

PR

Abbreviation of Payroll

Price book vehicle

A vehicle ordered from the factory as distinct from one in the dealership stock

Purchase Control

Autoline module located in the Aftersales major module area

Purchase Ledger

Autoline module in the Accounts major module area

PUSH BUTTON

A rectangular graphic bearing one or two words of text. When selected, it performs an action on a menu or form. See also option button.

Q

QA: Quality Assurance

R

RADIO BUTTON

Older term for option button

Record

A collection of related fields, an employee record for example. A collection of records constitutes a file.

Report

Reports provide information about the records of sub modules within a major module area. Reports can be gathered using the Report Generator facility.

Report Generator

Commonly referred to as REPGEN, this facility enables the creation of reports from any combination of fields in the records of a file

Note: Some Report Generator reports, termed update reports, generate database transactions that change the content of files, as distinct from merely reporting on the state of those files.

Rev.8

Autoline revision 8

Revision

A number representing a version of Autoline, such as Rev.8. In Autoline 8-35-9304-05, for example, 8 is the revision (version), 35 is the release (update of that revision), 9304 is the build (update of that release), and 05 is the iteration (update of that build).

RG

Report Generator

RTS

Repair Time Schedule

S

Sales Ledger: Autoline module enabling you to enter, report on and control data concerned with revenue of the business and resulting debtors
Search: Autoline facility enabling you to find records in a file
SC: Stock Checking
SMS: Short message service: A message service provided by the global system for mobile communications (GSM) digital cellular telephone system. Using SMS, a short alphanumeric message (160 alphanumeric characters) can be sent to a mobile phone to be displayed there, much like in an alphanumeric pager system. The message is buffered by the GSM network until the phone becomes active.
Showroom: Autoline module enabling and promoting the sale of new and used vehicles
SI: Spreadsheet Interface
SL: Sales Ledger
SM: Stock Management
SO: Abbreviation of Point-of-Sale
Spool: Simultaneous Peripheral Operation On-Line. A print spooler, for example, enables printing to be carried out as a background task without interrupting normal system functioning.
Spreadsheet Interface: Optional Autoline module used for exporting information to a DOS or Windows spreadsheet package such as Microsoft Excel
SR: Abbreviation of Showroom
Stock Checking: Autoline module enabling the stock file to be counted in one of three modes: Full; counting the entire stock file, partial; counting a selective range of parts or bin locations, or perpetual; counting a small number of parts each day.
Stock Management: Autoline module enabling the entry, reporting, and control of parts information
SU: System Utilities
System Utilities: Autoline module located in the Environment module area. It enables users to change passwords and amend user details as well as administer backups, view security logs, and check files and file access statistics.
System Operator: A person with high level of access privilege priority to Autoline

T

TC: Abbreviation of Training Course Schedule
Text box: Rectangular area in a displayed form containing text
Timed operations: Autoline Rev.8 replaces the previously used end-of-day program with Timed Operations. This is a similar suite of programs that provides information update processes throughout various modules and databases.
Training Course Schedule: Optional Autoline module enabling the construction and implementation of a programme of training courses tailored to customer requirements

U

URL: Uniform Resource Locator. The address of a resource on the Internet, typically a web page or online help file.

V

Valuation Systems: Optional Autoline module that integrates used vehicle valuation information (accumulated from sample auction values, prices obtained from dealers, and various other sources) into Autoline
VEH: Abbreviation of Vehicle Administration System (Vehicle Stockbooks), an Autoline module enabling administration of new and used vehicle records
Verify Files: Database file structure verification process that can be run in isolation, usually daily, or as part of the Timed Operations or End of Day information update program
VIN: Vehicle Identification Number
VOR: Abbreviation of Vehicle-off-Road, referring to a vehicle taken off the road under an emergency order
VS: Vehicle Stockbooks

W

WDN: Wholesale Dealer Net
Wild Card: A special character or sequence of characters specifying categories of matches in a string comparison. For example, in a Unix and DOS command, ? matches any single character and * matches any string of characters.
WIP: Work In Progress. A WIP record in Point-of-Sale is often referred to simply as a WIP.
WL: Workshop Loading
Word Search: Autoline function enabling searching for a specific word, name, address, postcode, and so on, by entering the first three characters or more of the search string. See also record search.
Workshop Loading: Autoline module that enables operation of the loading and scheduling system

X

XML: Abbreviation of eXtensible Markup Language, used for storing data of help pages, web sites, and similar items rendered by web browsers. Importantly, it does not store the display characteristics of those items. See also HTML.