Newsletter for Packaging and Logistics

Fall 1998 Newsletter
	Attention ARTIOS Users! The TOPS development team is pleased to announce that if you are currently using ARTIOS for your box design, you can now export your work directly into TOPS for Windows v.3.50. The integration of your ARTIOS CAD files into v.3.50 is fast and seamless. TOPS v.3.50 Scheduled For Release in April '98. A few of the outstanding features are... Paste-on graphics capability so you can put your logo on your product with our 3D Graphical Imaging System Expanded email attachment capability with formats like PCX, TIF, JPEG, BMP & EPS Click & Drag customized placement with our Manual Pallet Pattern Editor Preview different Pallet patterns with our new Mixed Pallet Module Accurate international tax calculation with improved Net/Gross Weight Module TOPS Is Gearing Up For A Move... Due to tremendous growth, TOPS is proud to announce upcoming construction on a 25,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility that will serve as our World Headquarters. To be located in Richardson, Texas, the new building will house our newly-expanded customer service and technical staff departments, in addition to our expanded programming research & development, sales, marketing and operations staff. We're excited about our expansion and we hope you are too! Meet The TOPS Team! We'd like to take this opportunity to introduce you to several notable TOPS staff members... Paula Mc Inerney - Welcome Paula Mc Inerney to the TOPS team! Paula is our new Coordinator of Operations and joins TOPS with 12 years' experience in finance and banking. She will be devising and implementing new procedures designed to expand TOPS customer-driven focus. Coming to us from Germany, Paula is a recent resident of the United States who we are most pleased to have. Mark Buman - We also welcome Mark Buman, our new MVP Coordinator. Mark assists our customers with the many benefits of our Maximum Value Plan, which include free software upgrades, toll-free technical support and special purchase discounts. David "DB" Beattie - D.B. is our resident software support guru. A long-time TOPS veteran, he is a key member of our research and development team and is responsible for many of our leading edge software developments. Feel free to share your comments or suggestions with D.B. on any of our TOPS products. Great job, D.B.! TOPS PRO Coming Soon TOPS PRO is set for release in 1998. Here's a "sneak peek" at some of the powerful new features that will be standard in the PRO version... Shape Generator - Recreate almost any shape desired for your package Mixed Products Onto Pallets - Mix different sized products into a master carton, pallet or truck "Drag & Drop" Graphics - Powerful 32-Bit graphics engine makes striking visuals a snap User-Customized Reports - Gives you the ultimate flexibility when printing reports We'll keep you posted! Visit us on the World Wide Web at www.topseng.com Great New Features in TOPS for Windows Version 3.50. For those of you who are using version 2.xx or earlier, we strongly encourage you to upgrade to TOPS® version 3.50 for Windows. By updating your old version of TOPS® to version 3.50, you will gain many, many enhancements. Here are just a few feature of TOPS® version 3.50: Additional pallet pattern calculations Added graphical and text annotations to print outs Users choose what statistics appear on reports Graphical Online Drawing System (g.o.d. system) Added drawn dividers when putting a primary pack into a new case Improved quality of database analysis by 200% Length can now be smaller than width May now show "contents" for any box style Vehicle loads may be placed against any side Improved staggering of cans and bottles Draws dividers when a primary pack is put into a fixed case Paste-on graphics capability so you can put your logo on your product with our 3D Graphical Imaging System Expanded email attachment capability with formats like PCX, TIF, JPEG, BMP & EPS Click & Drag customized placement with our Manual Pallet Pattern Editor Preview different Pallet patterns with our new Mixed Pallet Module Accurate international tax calculation with improved Net/Gross Weight Module Upgrade Today! Now Shipping MaxLoad PRO version 2.06! MaxLoad PRO from TOPS is the industry's first load planning software designed specifically for Windows 95 and Windows NT. Loaded with great new features, MaxLoad PRO includes: Truck Manifest.. place your cargo loads of mixed sizes into your transit vehicle. MaxLoad PRO converts case quantities to full pallet loads, mixed layer pallet loads and mixed picked pallet loads before placement into the vehicle. Pallet Manifest... MaxLoad PRO easily and quickly builds mixed product pallet loads for optimal, efficient merchandising. Tote Manifest.. MaxLoad PRO quickly and accurately determines the best box to use to complete your customer's order, while minimizing packaging & shipping costs. Single Size Manifest.. MaxLoad PRO uses TOPS's proven "best in the business" loading algorithm for full truck load shipments of same-size product.

	Enhanced graphics Multiple languages Masterpacks/totes Command line interface Improved default system Expanded loading options 3-D click, drag & drop editor User-configurable mixed pallets Graphical On-Line Drawing system New, easier to use stack matrix Fractional input/output	Drop shipment sequencing New, more detailed reports Improved loading algorithms Axle weight/center-of-gravity calculations Annotated printouts with logos Improved stacking parameters New measurement unit options Complete user selection of colors Microsoft Access database 3-D Graphical Imaging System
	Free* Demo Available... Call 972.881.8677 For Details! You pay only shipping via Federal Express economy service Slashing Cost Is The Bottom Line With Maxload® Pro* "...we'll save close to one hundred times our investment in the first year alone! We used to estimate how many single and double SKUs we could fit onto our trucks. This resulted in overfills and underfills. After I ordered a demonstration copy of MaxLoad PRO it was clear that the software was a must-have for our company. MaxLoad PRO virtually paid for itself with the first truck shipment. RUBBERMAID expects to save well over $240,000 per year with this simple, easy-to-use software. Thanks TOPS for such a great product!" Doug Coen, Load Planning Coordinator RUBBERMAID, INC.
	MVP Means Maximum Value Plan! We at TOPS are constantly striving to improve software performance with added enhancements and great new features. By participating in our MVP (Maximum Value P an) Program, our TOPS customers will automatically enjoy a state-of-the-art package of benefits including... FREE shipping FREE software upgrades FREE 800# technical support FREE damaged media replacement FREE on-site (one full day) training at your location* or at our corporate headquarters in Dallas, Texas FREE newsletter with product info, tech tips & more PLUS special discounts on future software purchases Travel expenses are the responsibility of the customer. Training must be completed within the one-year period. MVP Upgrade Policy* Remember that all "major releases" are sent automatically to MVP customers. However, MVP customers are entitled to all upgrades, both major and minor. Telephone, email or fax us to find out what version is currently being shipped. MVP Open Door Training If you would like to take advantage of MVP's Open Door Training Program, but can't budget the travel expense at this time, we can schedule training on TOPS for Windows and MaxLoad® at Pack Expo East (November 8-12, Chicago, IL). Please advise us well in advance by telephone, email or fax. MVP Revision Updates... Below is a list of features that have been added to TOPS for Windows during the past 12 months (covering versions 3.14 through 3.23). Although these are not considered "major" upgrades, MVP customers are eligible to upgrade at no charge. Please send your diskettes back to us, and upon receipt we'll upgrade you to the latest version. Version 3.23 More tweaks to Package Profile Report Minor multi-lingual corrections on IP/Shipper dialogs Version 3.21 Users may now choose what statistics appear on reports Added multi-page printing system Simplified access to Packaging Profile Moved exporting features to a common menu Version 3.20 Added user-definable print margins to reduce dipping of output May now "Show Contents" for any style box Additional "soldiered" patterns Rectangular tubs now work with any dim vert Version 3.16-3.19 Added support for international dates Prioritized solution list for Carton/IP/Shipper analysis Better multi-layer pattern ShipCase packing Added telescoping & bundle Versions 3.14-3.15 Added slack fields to vehicle parameters More and improved diagonal patterns Improved solution list for specific counts into fixed cases Draws dividers for primary packs put into a fixed case Vehicle loads may be centered or placed against any side Added gross/net weight when using bottles, cans or tubs Did you know... You can get answers to your TOPS "Most Frequently Asked Questions" by hitting the "FAQ/Help" button on the control panel . You can rotate the 3D drawings in TOPS for Windows. Simply click on the drawing, hold down the ""Shift" key, and use the arrow keys on your keyboard to rotate your image Both TOPS for Windows and MaxLoad PRO convert fractions to decimals automatically for you. You can adjust your user specific defaults (i.e. number of decimals displayed, whether inside or outside dimensions are shown on graphics, how (UnitLoad is calculated, etc.) by clicking on "Tools'' in the menu bar and selecting "Configuration", You can center your analysis name when you print by leaving the print "heading" blank. MaxLoad PRO will calculate center-of-gravity & axle weights for you.

Fall 1998 Newsletter