Using United Natural Foods' Online Order Form
or the FoodLink Software

Announcement:

Members can now order online even if they don't have the Foodlink software.

• To use United Natural Foods' online order form, click here.
  

In addition to simplifying the ordering process, online ordering also means fewer errors in calculation and product input, not to mention paper savings.

To Install FoodLink:
Contact your coordinator to use the group CD (FoodLink will self install) or download off the Internet.

Download instructions:
· Use the following link:

http://www.unitedbuyingclubs.com/COORDINATORS/FOODLINK/FoodLink_Main.htm

· Download takes about 1 1/4 hrs, significantly faster with a high-speed connection.
Recommendation: Save the compressed download file on your hard drive in the event that you need to reinstall.

After installation, users will see two FL icons on their desktop. One icon starts FoodLink. The other initiates the compact process for maintaining the efficiency of FoodLink and should be used frequently. Should you lose your icons from your desktop, the only way to recreate them is to reinstall.

Note for people running Access 2000: After installing FoodLink it is necessary to reestablish the links to your other Access databases. Do this by opening each database from within Access. You will only need to do this once.

Initial Setup:
Have your Order Coordinator email you the setup.lzh file (member names, tax codes,
discount %, etc.) and the products.lzh file. (pricelist). FoodLink ordering is not possible without these files. These files arrive as email attachments and need to be saved to your FoodLink folder at c:\foodlink. If unfamiliar with saving email attachments, use the Help menu in your email program, contact your Internet Service Provider (ISP) or ask a friend for assistance.

After the setup.lzh and products.lzh files are saved to your FoodLink folder.
· Double click on the FL icon to start the program.
· At the Welcome screen click the Member button and then OK.
· Update Your Settings: This will import the setup file you previously saved. After it is successfully imported you will be able to select your Member ID and Coordinator ID from the displayed drop down boxes.
· The 'Email Server Name' field will need a SMTP Server Name that can be obtained by calling your Internet Service Provider (ISP)
Users with AOL, Yahoo and Hotmail type email programs may experience difficulties using FoodLink's built in email functions. The alternative is to use your external email program and manually attach the desired file.

Pricelist
· Click Import Pricelist
· Click Decompress button
· Click Import Pricelist button
· Click View Pricelist, and look at the first line to check that the correctly dated pricelist is loaded.

Ordering With FoodLink
Orders can be compiled two different ways and you can toggle back and forth between the two windows if you wish.
1. Order directly from the pricelist by clicking in the left margin box next to the product. Click the Add To Order button. Fill in the next screen with quantity. Click Split if ordering eaches from a case your group is sharing. Add Now button puts the item on your order. The pricelist's powerful Sort and Find features are explained in detail below.
2. Orders can also be typed in by choosing the Enter Order button from the Main Menu. Choose the correct Distributor in the upper left corner before typing product numbers.
· The Split box can be checked with a click of the mouse or the space bar. The More field is used to show additional product you would buy to help fill the case.
· To delete an item, click the box to the left of the product. The box will turn black. Press the Delete key.
· After order is complete, click the Print/Send button. The next screen allows for both printing and emailing order to your Coordinator. The Print Order File button previews the order on the screen. To print use Ctrl+P (press the Control key and the P key). The Email Order File button emails your order file to the address specified in Settings. You should receive an "Email Successfully Sent" message.
An error message is probably the result of an incorrect SMTP server name setting.

Beginning a New Cycle
· Deleting an old order - click on the Delete Order button.
· Alternatively, compile your new order by deleting products off the old order and then add new items.
Members can backup FoodLink as needed. At the Main Menu choose Utilities, Backup All FoodLink Tables. To restore saved data, insert the disk and choose Restore All FoodLink Tables.

Pricelist Sort and Find Features
The FoodLink pricelist has both sorting and searching capabilities to help the user find products.
· Sorting choices are located in a "drop down box" in the upper left corner of the pricelist screen. Selecting any of the options will resort the pricelist. Two of the more useful sorts are "Brand" and "Category". By default the pricelist is sorted by "Distributor" and Item #.
· The "Find Option" is located at the bottom of the screen and works in tandem with the "Search For" field directly below. The user first decides which column of information to search in (description, product number, category, etc) and selects it from the drop down box in the Find Option. Next, type into the Search For field the text being searched for (eg. flour, 956778, DF, org).
· The last step is to click the "Search Now" button, which displays only those products that meet the entered criteria. It is also possible to search within a search to narrow the selection even further.
· To return the display to the full pricelist click on the "Restore" button.
When entering text for the Find Option of "Description" it is best to use only a few letters. Too complete entries may actually miss products because of the abbreviations used in the descriptions. For instance, type in Echi instead of Echinacea.