Invoice bank

[metro]

I am currently sending invoices via snail mail and wondered if
it is possible to setup an invoice server.

As almost all of the clients have only given us mobile phone numbers
and the salesmen always forget to ask for an email address.

I wondered if it would be possible to store the invoices (as a PDF) on a rubasic site
and send each customer a link via text message.

They can then login using either their contact details or address (or invoice number, or code in the SMS)
and retrieve their invoice.

Any ideas appreciated.

[meerkat]

May 2, 2020 20:12:22 GMT -5 metro said:

They can then login using either their contact details or address (or invoice number, or code in the SMS)
and retrieve their invoice.

Any ideas appreciated.

G'day !
Sure, Why not simply give them a sign on with user/pass and give them a list of their invoices with info like date, amount, invoice number and description, and a small window maybe 2 or 3 inches of the PDF data. You could then give them options such as [VIEW] the detail, [PAY] then item, or [CONTACT} you for whatever. The [VIEW} would show the PDF detail with options again. I know PDF's are a pain, but what you gonna do?

HTH..Dan

[metro]

Thanks Dan,
I'll flesh that out in a couple of days, hard drive started clunking today so using my tablet till I can install a new one.
Darn clever these hardware manufacturers the WD drive lasted one month longer than the warranty.

Hope ya safe over there, seems there could be some backlash over your lockdown.

Watching with interest, natural selection in progress

[meerkat]

May 3, 2020 8:53:52 GMT -5 metro said:

Hope ya safe over there, seems there could be some backlash over your lockdown.

G'day Laurie..

Ya! Just got back from the San Jose area. That place is like a ghost town. Tried to get some coffee in the morning, and drove all over to find a place open..
Turns out, the gov cannot keep you at home or lock out the beaches. So people simply ignore them.

Anyway, glad to be home in the North part of California. We don't seem to have the problem. Restaurants are open for take out, and stores have limited number of people at one time. But not too bad compared to SF and San Jose.

Forgot to mention. You should be able to create a DB with ionSQL or SQLite. Then run rbGen and it should generate the program for you. It should be 90% of what you want. You will have to add the pointer to the PDF in the DB. And using standard browser HTML statements be able to see the PDF. Placing the PDF in a <table>, you can use percent wide and high to control the size of the PDF display...

Hope this helps..

Maybe you down under can escape a lot of the virus..

Have a great day...
Dan

[meerkat]

As almost all of the clients have only given us mobile phone numbers
and the salesmen always forget to ask for an email address.

I wondered if it would be possible to store the invoices (as a PDF) on a rubasic site
and send each customer a link via text message.

They can then login using either their contact details or address (or invoice number, or code in the SMS)
and retrieve their invoice.

Laurie,
I have a couple questions.
1. Is there a item master that the clients order from.
- Does it have a unit price?
- are all items "EACH" or do they have a "Unit of Measure"
2. Can clients order any item.
3. Do invoices get paid by item, or do they pay by invoice?
- and what happens if they only pay a percentage of the invoice
4. Why PDF. If you already have the customer invoice in the DB why put it in a PDF. I have never found a reason for a PDF when the HTML can already produce a invoice that looks exactly the same. And in most cases it's better.
5. Do you have a payment file so they or you can enter the payments to track against the invoice.
6. Since the clients have access via phone or pc it does not matter what OS they use since your server can serve anyone that has access to your site, and they can do whatever they want with their invoice such as save it print it.

Just wondering?
Have a great day...
Dan

[metro]

G'Day Dan,
Unlike your stock market experience my stocks have not recovered.
So after 13 years of retirement I've taken a part time job as a bookkeeper.
Can't sell any of my properties either the market is flat.
So the Pest Control company I'm looking after invoices via MYOB, only 6 or so line items.
The salesmen never ask for email addresses, so I find myself posting 100 letters a week.
We do get 95% of people give us a cell phone number.
So as I can print invoices to a PDF I figured I could use a SMS service to send a link to a server with their logon details to print the invoice.

I haven't tackled it yet as one of my Tennant's has kept me busy sorting out why her hot water timer is not working, A leasurely 90 mile round trip.
Hope to start something next week when my new SSD drive gets here and I can get my computer back up and running.
Good news here we will be out socialising next week , less restrictive lock down.
Might just have ta crack a stubbie or 6

[meerkat]

G'day Laurie
Yep.. Extremely lucky in the stock market. Don't know why it's up, but after losing a lot of money, I'm now actually up???

Just got back from replacing a deck in one of our properties. I thought I was going to die. It was 95 degrees, and I was working in the sun. Today I have to fix a hole someone made in the wall of the laundry room. And someone backed into a iron fence. So busy today. Guess i'm getting to old for this.

Anyway, I have a system similar to what you are doing. If you want a copy, let me know.
The system has;
1. Client table. I classify client types as your invoice header, People you do work for, Banks for check reference. Or any type you want to define. Clients have preference of contact such as eMail, snail Mail. Each client can have multiple photos assigned to it.
2. Event table. Dated events such as checks, work done, comments or any event type you want to define.
The events are listed on the invoice with total amount. Over payment is a credit.
3. User table. Each client can have multiple users. Users have all the info about a user + username/password. Each user is assigned a system they can see in the site menu with Add/Chg/Delete privileges assigned.
4. Translate table. Cross reference file to translate stuff like client types, event codes, state codes, preferences.
5. Folder table. This is a system to replace your filing cabinet. It can hold photos, documents, PDF's, Doc, Html, or anything you want to file.

Basically a user signs into your system. And sees a list of clients, and events they have access to. The can click on the invoice, and it shows them the invoice. Since they see all this stuff in a browser, they can print anything, including the invoice.

Don't know if it's anything you can use, but if you have any interest, I'll see if I can find the stuff.

Have a great day.. Not for me however, I gotta fix stuff today.

Dan

[metro]

Maybe it's time to hang the boots up and do something you want to do.
Should be some really cheap deals on boat cruises for the next couple of years.
I'm giving it 5 years then I'm off around the country for a couple of years.
Gunna join the grey nomads.

If and when you find the time I'd like to take a look at the code you have
I can't churn it out as fast as you.
Thanks for the offer....
Don't work too hard, ya need some time to spend it, coz if you don't the kids will when you're gone