The information in this section applies only to those users that utilizing AnyPO in conjunction with AnyBook (publishing business software) or AnyOrder (general invoicing and ordering software).  If you are using AnyPO by itself, you can skip this information.

From AnyPO (The Purchase Order System), you can view the Product Information Database found in AnyBook (Publisher's Business Kit) or AnyOrder (Mail Order Business Software).

To use this function, you must be at the Stock Ordering Database Screen and click on the "View" button.  (To reach the Stock Ordering database in AnyPO select STOCK TOOLS and STOCK ORDERING AND PRODUCT DATABASE.)

To view the Product Information Database, click on the "View" button.  A screen appears which displays contents of the Product Information Database in an abbreviated form (below).  This function allows you to compare records in the Product Information Database with records in the Stock Ordering Database.

Since the Product Information and Stock Ordering Databases can be confused, it's helpful to look at the two in more detail . . .

Product Information Database vs. Stock Ordering Database

The core program (the main part of AnyBook or AnyOrder) uses the Product Information Database to store all of the products that you sell.  When working in AnyBook or AnyOrder and when you use the Pop-up list to enter items on an invoice, the products that you see on list come from the Product Information Database.

AnyPO (Purchase Order System) has a similar database.  It's called the Stock Ordering Database (or simply the Stock Database).  This database is used to store all the products that you buy.  Or, in other words, the Stock Ordering Database holds products that you order from your suppliers.

Although they are two separate databases, they are closely related.  If you do a lot of re-selling (buying from suppliers then re-selling them), then your Stock Ordering Database and Product Information Databases will be nearly identical.  On the other hand, if you are a manufacturer or book publisher then your Stock and Product Databases may be considerably different.  The Stock Database may be used for ordering supplies and materials while the Product Information Database includes your finished products.

If you are in a situation where many of the products are the same between databases, AnyPO has built in tools so that you can copy records from one database to the other.  That's found in the Stock Ordering Database Screen (STOCK TOOLS and STOCK ORDERING AND PRODUCT DATABASE).  On the screen, you'll find a "Copy Record" button that allows you to copy a product and its information from the Stock Ordering Database to the Product Information Database in the core program.

Conversely, you can copy products from the Product Information Database to the Stock Database.  That's done by using the "L" (List) button alongside "Your Catalog #".  The L-button brings up a pop-up list of products in the Product Information Database.  By selecting from the list, the product is move into the Stock Database..  To use this function, you must be at AnyPO's Stock Ordering Database Screen and click on the "View" button.