WELCOME TO
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Common Cents Software has been developing custom solutions for business problems since 1981. When there just isn't an "off-the-shelf" solution - custom software must be built from the ground up. Built on the foundation of 4D Inc.'s world class database / RAD engine 4th Dimension -- Common Cents Software runs effortlessly and competently on Windows (98 - XP) or the Power Macintosh platforms with equal grace and speed - and is scalable from small single-user installations to Client / Server installations of a couple hundred workstations - plenty of capacity for the full range of our customers needs.
Common Cents Software includes the following Products:
- TrackIt™ - Manufacturing Inventory, Sales and Serial Number tracking.
- WaterWorx™ - Rural Water Utility Billing and Management System.
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Webpages and Websites
Common Cents Computers also provides Website creation, maintenance and management services - from simple webpages to large corporate presence sites with ecommerce and limited access secure area management. Some sample sites:
We have created several pages for doctors and other small businesses to large companies - what can we do for you?
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WaterWorx ™ |
Water Utility Billing and Management System
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Over 15 years in commercial service - this fully mature and competent package was designed by and for water system operators - from small rural systems of perhaps a couple hundred meters - to large systems of 200,000+ meters. It is designed primarily for rural water systems - including those operating under the funding and supervision of the Farmers Home Administration - but fits well with municipalities as well. Provides excellent audit controls of all aspects of cash, production, and management - making operation of the Water System straight forward and yet meets all requirements of standard accepted accounting procedures - and the FmHA. |
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Here are just some of WaterWorx™ features: |
- Can accommodate any number of rate tables (user maintained); with independent tables for water, sewerage and garbage; can bill misc. additional charges as well (such as once a year testing charges, etc.)
- Simple payment posting system handles multiple application payments (where one payment pays two or more accounts); cash, checks, money orders, drafts, etc. all handled effortlessly. Prints bank deposit slips. Automatically generates and prints drafts.
- Generates fully compliant (or modified if needed) NACHA files for electronic draft submission.
- Handles multiple reader routes; generates traditional meter sheets (separated by route if desired); high speed keying routine for posting from meter sheets; easily exports to and imports from hand-held data collectors - and radio read collectors such as Neptune's EZRoute System.
- Handles Volunteer Fire Department donations - handles multiple departments; tracks donations and provides simple concise collection and distribution reports. Can provide donation statements to customers for tax purposes.
- Multiple tax authority collection, tracking and reporting.
- FULLY compliant with IRS regulations for asset distribution allocation rules - asset "ownership" is calculated for each member and their "distribution" is calculated and printed in a formal report - either as a "demonstration" report (percentages only) - or as an actual allocation report (dollars). Note that ALL non-profit water systems must be in compliance with this requirement (IRS Revenue Ruling 72-36. 1972-1 CB151).
- In addition to several dozen pre-built reports - there are custom search and report generators that allow the operator super flexibility in creating special reports when needed. Searches and reports can be based on ANY of the stored data in the system.
- Historical data (meter readings, usage, charges, misc. charges and payments / credits are maintained permanently... a customers history can be printed out since the installation of the system.
- Simplified customer / new member setup and entry. Many fields are "auto-complete" from lists of commonly used entries. The operator is always able to modify the lists as needed.
- Independent Member / Customer files and Meter files - automatically carries forward all appropriate data to a new customer moving in to an existing meter.
- Any and all data can be easily exported- for analysis in spreadsheets, etc.
- Available as single user (recommended for 250 - 2500 customers) and multi user (Server / Client) (recommended for 2500-200,000 customers). We currently support several types of handheld data collectors - including the HP 200LX series, and the Husky / Itron FS3 and DAP data collectors. We also import / export to / from EZRoute - Neptune's radio read meter systems. A use license for MeterReader™ -- our handheld data collector meter reading software is included in the price of WaterWorx ™ -- and that single price covers all of the handheld data collectors owned / used by your water system - you don't have to buy multiple licenses.
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| WaterWorx™ "Splash Screen" |
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| All functions are selected through the menus at the top of the screen... |
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Customer main page
Note the navigation buttons at the top - these allow you to quickly scan through the files - and work regardless of the page
(Main, Transaction, or History). There is no (practical) limit to the number of notes for each customer - the operator can easily add notes as desired - the system also automatically adds notes - such as when an account is closed, disposition of deposit, etc. Meter number order is the "read order" - so placing a meter in it's proper place is easy - and doesn't require multiple entries There are facilities to handle system re-numbering - retaining the old meter / account numbers for historical completeness - while accommodating older systems that need a reorganization. Common Cents Computers has helped many systems reorganize and clean up.
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| Customer Transactions page - Payments and Misc. charges remain forever. Current Journal entries clear each month - however - they are summarized in the historical record. |
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Customer History page -
Starting with the most recently closed period - each month is summarized in a clear and easy to read table. One can get a "handle" on an account very quickly from this table. The data goes back as far as the system has data (either since installation - or imported from a previous systems if available). |
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All functions are available from a standard menu bar |
| Quick glance at the systems totals... available any time during the month. |
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| System options screen - where many defaults can be set. Most - such as due date, penalty date, etc. can be overridden when bills are actually printed. This just auto-fills-in many items with "usual" values to save time. |
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| The NACHA info screen - WaterWorx™ will generate a fully compliant NACHA file - or some common "variants" that some banks need (such as inserting a CR delimiter). Several other options can be accommodated such as FID prefix, etc. |
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| Report options |
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| Typical Water Rate Table. There is no limit to the number of tables, you can create one for just about any combination of factors imaginable. Note that Gallons and CuFt can be accommodated in the same system; Tax rates on water and "other" are independent; and each "level" is calculated out to make sure the intended charge is correctly entered. Sewer and Garbage tables are similar - and just as flexible. |
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| Meter Record - independent of the accounts records - making it easy for the program to automatically carry forward appropriate data to a new customer. |
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| Meter change out screen - typical of the many routines built-in to expedite something as routine - yet as time consuming as changing out an old meter for a new one. This automatically calculates the water used since last read - then "backs up" the new meter's reading by that amount - so that when it's read - the total water used is correct. (Waterworks automatically handles "rollovers"). |
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| The custom report wizard - steps you through the creation of any report you can imagine - from any of the data in the system. Once created - the report form can be saved - and called up for later use - saving much time on complex or often used reports. |
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| Similar to the custom report generator - the custom label generator helps you create mailing labels to suit any need - on any form or type of labels. Like the Custom Reports - the operator can save these layouts for later use. |
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| Some additional features: Accounts with multiple meter deposits are accommodated - so the meter deposit report fully reflects those unusual accounts (usually rental units). Extremely strong internal auditing: All accounts are checked automatically by a cross-foot routine where not only are the balances and aging amounts checked - but the journal entries are then summed to a net change - and this net change is compared to the stored values in each customer record - insuring that there is a journal entry to support getting from there (last months balance) to here (current balance) -- I.E. Last months balance + Net change must = new balance. Further - Meter Deposits are included in the cross-foot checks - to ensure that there are full journal entries to support any change in the Meter Deposits - and the resulting liability accounts (Meter Deposits held and Refunds Due accounts). |
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| Included with WaterWorx™ is our highly regarded in-field meter reading software MeterReader™. |
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MeterReader™
Handheld Data Collector Software.
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Announcing MeterReader™ Version 6 - for Windows CE .NET Handheld Data Collectors.
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| This new version of MeterReader™ retains all of the features that have made MeterReader™ a favorite of so many Uilities - while adding several new features. MeterReader™ 6.0 is compatible with any Handheld Data Collector that uses the Windows CE .NET operating system version 4.2 or newer. Operators have a choice of choosing to use a new extended data file system which supports new features such as GPS locating and mapping, graphic support for documenting infield conditions, locations, etc. However - operators may choose to use the old MeterReader™ file format in which case datafiles may be freely exchanged between the Window CE units - and older DOS based Handheld collectors that their system many still have in use. That means should a Windows CE suffer a casualty in the field - it's data file can be loaded immediately and directly into a spare (retired) DOS unit - allowing readers to continue with minimal interruption. Even if the Windows unit is using the new extended file format - WaterWorx™ version 10 has a utility which will take a partially completed extended file - extract the additional data from the meters already read- and export the remaining meters into the old format for use in an old (retired) DOS Handheld. |
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| MeterReader™ Meter "scan" screen |
This is the primary navigation screen. From here - pressing the up (down) arrow key moves forward (backwards) 10 meters at a time. Holding the SHIFT key - the scan moves 100 meters at a time (this can be changed by the operator to suit the size of the route). The Find function searches by Name (or street - this option is set by the operator) and gets the list into an area. The No Reading scan finds the first meter without a reading (a zero read meter is already read - the sytem knows the difference). Pressing the No Reading key again moves to the next un-read meter. The third column is the current meter reading - note that 0 is indeed the reading for meter 1024. Meter 1088 - the blank shows that meter not yet read.
As noted - Version 6.0 retains all of the familiar features of MeterReader™ - including the familiar keyboard operation using the same set of keys. All operations are carried out through the keyboard - so even if wearing gloves, or hand are muddy and wet from digging out a register - the display does not become obscured from trying to use a touch screen. The familiar F1 - F5 keys, the Alpha keys A-J, numeric keys 0-9, ESC ENTER and ARROW keys are still the "core" operating keys. The keyboard layout of the Juniper Systerm Alegro CE make this extremely easy to reach - as these keys are easily reachable "by the thumbs" - making it easy to navigate and make entries.
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| Customer screen. Press F1 to enter reading. |
Notes in WaterWorx™ Meter files (such as physical location and misc notes (such as watch out for the nasty dog - or beware the GuardGoose) are downloaded to the handheld - so they can assist the meter reader in locating difficult to find meters, and be aware of other "issues". The reader can also enter Comments / notes for each account - noting such things as a broken / missing meter cover, or that the meter was running when read - these notes print out on the system printer when the readings are uploaded to WaterWorx™. |
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| Notice - that the reader need only enter the most significant digits - 4 in this case - since the last two digits (tens and gallons) aren't "significant" - they are added by the software - saving keystrokes. The reading is then checked for "reasonableness". The customer's average use (as calculated by a season-weighted algorithm in WaterWorx™) is checked against the calculated use as entered - plus or minus a range which can be set by the meter reader in the field. Notice the improved layout of the Windows CE system. Also notice on the right screen - the reading entered is much less than the previous. On many systems this would indicate a negative reading - MeterReader™ understands meter roll-overs - and automatically handles 6 - 10 digit meter rollovers. Also note that the Windows CE version now also includes a calculate function that can test a reading (by pressing TAB) before it's "Entered". |
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High reading alert.
Note here a night picture showing the Alegro's back-lit screen - extremely readable not only in daylight and dark - but at twilight as well. |
| Here the reading is high - the collector beeps - and warns the meter reader - and asks for a re-read confirmation. The meter reader can re-enter the reading or flag the reading as "Double Checked". When the readings are uploaded to WaterWorx™ - the flag is retained so the office personnel know the reading has already been checked. This saves many, many re-read trips when customers with a leak, etc. call in complaining. Note here a night picture showing the Alegro's back-lit screen - extremely readable not only in daylight and dark - but at twilight as well - when many of the older systems were difficult to see and read. High readings, Low readings, and Negative readings are all checked and alerted. WaterWorx™ generates an average use for each meter based on its history of that meter - giving the most weight to the last 12 months. The reader in the field can then adjust the tolerance of the test - to allow for unsual seasonal usage. The DOS version allows the previous reading to be changed in the edit mode - where the meter reader can change the previous reading - such as when a meter has just been changed out - and the new reading hadn't been entered into WaterWorx™. The Windows version allows a new previous to be entered from the reading mode.
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| Juniper System's Alegro CX |
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MeterReader™ Version 5 works on any DOS 6.2 compatible computer.
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| HP 95/100/200LX series palm-top computer. |
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"Navigation" and entry keys are arranged so that they are easily pressed with the thumbs while holding the unit.
Of course all keys can be used when needed for full alpha-numeric entry for notes, etc. |
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Husky FS3 data collector - slim waist for holding in one hand - while keying with the other.
Note that the Navigation keys are the same - F1-F5 for menu selection - arrow keys to move about, etc. The Husky is water proof, drop resistant; and has a back-lit display. DAP units are similar, all run the same version of MeterReader™ software - which determines which model it's on - and adjusts the display accordingly. One can even transfer the data files between units without loss or hassle (some systems that use Huskys as their primary collectors keep HPs in reserve "just in case".
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| While Husky, DAP and similar data collector are practical for larger systems; their high can be a problem for smaller systems. On the other hand, the HP Palmtops are available on the internet for a quite reasonable price - and since they improve accuracy, and save a lot of time -- their purchase price makes them a very attractive alternative.. Of course - the HPs are not as durable - and (as one of our customers found out the hard way) they don't float - still many small systems have used them for many years - and are extremely pleased with them |
For more information - contact us at:
Common Cents Computers
2412 C Street
Meridian, MS 39301
601 482-4534 601 693-5958
or E-Mail us here: info@commoncentscomputers.com
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Alegro CE™ is a Trademark of Juniper Systems, Inc.
HP 95, 100 200LX are Trademarks of Hewlett Packard, Inc.
Windows, Windows XP Windows CE .NET are Trademarks of Microsoft, Inc.
Quite frankly - we don't know who now owns Husky - as the product appears abandoned.
© 2010 Common Cents Computers
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