Frequently Asked Questions

Questions
Click the red arrow to view the answer to each question.

1. Does Flex support EFT / Direct Debtors?
2. What types of input devices does Flex support?
3. How do I get more information?
4. How can I get a demo CD?
5. Why am I having troubles downloading the software?
6. How can I link Flex to my accounting package?
7. Can I do mail-outs?
8. I download Flex but have not received a license
9. When I type in the license I receive an "Invalid License" message?
10. Do you have any US distributors?
11. What is the minimum hardware I need to run Flex?
12. Why is Flex telling me my license is about to expire?
13. Does Flex support Windows 95?
14. My Flex database is very large, how can I make it smaller?
15. How can I buy Flex? Can I pay by credit card?
16. Does Flex support picture ID?
17. Does your software print statements/invoices?
18. Can data from my existing program be imported into Flex?
19. Can I use Flex on more than one computer?
20. What is the difference between a serial barcode scanner and a keyboard-wedge scanner?
21. Can I use one barcode scanner for member checkin and POS?

Answers
1. Does Flex support EFT / Direct Debtors?
Flex manages periodic payment memberships. A variety of account types are supported, including major credit cards and bank accounts. A range of different output file formats can be generated that can be processed by financial institutions and funds clearance houses.
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2. What types of input devices does Flex support?
Flex supports serial bar code scanners and serial magnetic card swipe readers. Click here for more information.
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3. How do I get more information?
Please contact us with any questions you may have about the products and services FlexWare provides. top

4. How can I get a demo CD?
An evaluation version of Flex can be ordered from this website.
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5. Why am I having troubles downloading the software?
The complete Flex software image is nearly 50 megabytes, due to the large feature set. If you have an unreliable internet connection, e.g. 56K dialup modem, then your line may drop out during your download. An option is to use a download manager such as Go!Zilla (www.gozilla.com) or order a CD-ROM.
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6. How can I link Flex to my accounting package?
Flex provides a wide variety of financial export formats that can be imported by your accounting package.
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7. Can I do mail-outs?
Flex supports a wide variety of reports from member reports to financial reports. Most report data can be exported for use with your word processor. Flex also supports automatic mail-merge using MS Word.
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8. I download Flex but have not received an evaluation license.
An email message is sent to the address specified in the download form. If this email address was incorrectly specified, please complete the form again. You will not need to download the software image again.
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9. When I type in the license I receive an "Invalid License" message?
FlexWare will provide a software license via email or with your FlexWare package. The software license comprises two elements, a club name and a license key. Ensure you enter the club name provided by FlexWare into the Club Name field, not your club name.
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10. Do you have any US distributors?
FlexWare offer reseller programs to interested distributors. Please inquire for further information on our resller programs. We currently have several resellers throughout the USA and Canada. If you want us to put you intouch with a reseller in your area for sales, training and installation purposes, please contact FlexWare and let us know your location. Flex software is also provided and supported by FlexWare Australia for the US fitness market. See Flex Testimonials for installation sites in the US.
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11. What is the minimum hardware I need to run Flex?
Click here for Flex software system requirements.
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12. Why is Flex telling me my license is about to expire?
If you have purchased Flex with a credit card, it is standard FlexWare policy to issue a 45 day license to minimise the possibility of credit card fraud. A new non-expiring license will automatically be issued.
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13. Does Flex support Windows 95?
Microsoft is phasing out support for Windows 95 and the latest versions of Flex do not support Windows 95.
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14. My Flex database is very large, how can I make it smaller?
Flex member databases can be compacted to remove deleted data. Select Compact from the Database menu item in the File menu.
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15. How can I buy Flex? Can I pay by credit card?
Visit the FlexWare Store to find out how to buy FlexWare software. Payment can be made by credit card. Major cards are accepted.
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16. Does Flex support picture ID?
Each member can be assigned a photo that will be displayed when the member is checked-in.
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17. Does your software print statements/invoices?
Flex supports a wide variety of financial reports. Financial report data can be exported for use with your word processor to create statements or invoices. Flex also supports automatic document mail-merging using MS Word.
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18. Can data from my existing program be imported into Flex?
Flex can import basic member information from a CSV (comma separated value) format file. Select Import from the File menu.
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19. Can I use Flex on more than one computer?
Flex fully supports operation on a Windows local area network (LAN). A Flex LAN installation consists of a server version and a number of client versions.
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20. What is the difference between a serial scanner and a keyboard-wedge scanner?
A keyboard-wedge barcode scanner simulates key presses on a keyboard. For example, if the barcode to be read was the number 1234, a keyboard-wedge scanner effectively presses the keyboard keys 1, then 2, then 3, then 4. As such your PC does not know that the four key presses came from a barcode scanner instead of the keyboard. Keyboard-wedge scanners were used for DOS-based programs where typically there was only one text box or input field where the barcode should be scanned into.

In a Windows environment, there may be many applications running at once on your PC and many text boxes or input fields visible. If you were to scan a barcode using a keyboard-wedge scanner, your PC and Windows would assume that you have pressed keys on your keyboard. Which ever application was currently active, and where-ever the text cursor was located, that is where the scanned bar code would be placed. If for example you where running FlexMM and where currently editing a member's address and a barcode was scanned, the barcode number would end up in the member's address field. This is a less than ideal situation.

FlexMM has been specifically designed to interface with serial barcode scanners. The term "serial" refers to the fact that these scanners plug into the serial port of your PC, not the keyboard port as do keyboard-wedge scanners. Plugging into the serial port allows FlexMM to monitor the port for activity and react accordingly when a barcode is scanned. Using the previous example, if you were editing a member's address and a barcode was scanned using a serial scanner, FlexMM would realise that a barcode was scanned and behave accordingly, either by checking the member in, or adding a product to the current sale in the POS facility, and the member's address details would not be affected.

In fact, FlexMM does even need to be the currently active application in order to process barcode scans. You may be working on a document in MS Word whilst member check-ins are processed via a serial scanner. FlexMM will happily process the check-in in the background, only raising itself to your attention if there is a problem with a membership (e.g. it's cancelled).
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21. Can I use one barcode scanner for member checkin and POS?
Yes, FlexMM can be configured to use the same serial barcode scanner for both checking in members and processing products in POS. To differentiate between member's barcodes and product barcodes, FlexMM determines if you are using the POS screen or the check-in screen. If the POS screen is currently active, then the barcode scan is assumed to be a product barcode. If the POS screen is not active, then the barcode is assumed to be a member's id number and therefore, a check-in operation is performed.

The ideal situation is to use two serial barcode scanners. One is configured for member check-ins and the other is configured for POS transactions, therefore, FlexMM can automatically determine when a barcode is scanned from either scanner, whether it is a member check-in or a POS item, regardless of whether the POS screen is active or not. In fact, if a product barcode is scanned, FlexMM will automatically bring up the POS facility and begin a sale, including the product just scanned. Even during a sale, member check-ins can be processed via the other scanner.
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