Using the inventory

We have put together a quick tutorial for using the inventory feature in DLF Data:

Step 1: Select the new inventory menu option
Before you can start filling up an inventory with products you must create one, and give it a name and description.













Step 2: Enter the new details for the inventory











Step 3:Add products to the inventory
Browse the product directory or use the search engine to find the product you want to add to the inventory:







Step 4: Choose a supplier
Each inventory item must have a supplier, DLF lists all the national suppliers that it knows of, if the supplier does not exist you can use the 'Add one yourself' link on this page to add a new one!








Please feel free to contact me, Dave Clarke dave.clarke@dlf.org.uk if you need more help and advice on setting up and using your inventory, or if you have ideas for new features!

Dave.

New features

Hi,

You may have noticed our recent update, we hope you don't mind us improving the menus but people told us they would prefer somethng a little simpler and friendly than our blocky blue menu!

Also, you told us several times to add fast print buttons, which we have now done on product listing pages and on product detail pages, keep an eye out for the printer button:



We are also continuing to work on our general news panel, to give you a little condensed version of what is being talked about on the web regarding health in the UK every day! We will add more sources of news as we find them.

Finally, we have simplified the building of reports and created a report box beow the left hand side menu. It shows how many products are in the report and provides big buttons for printing the report in short or long form!

Please do let us know if you would like to see more new features! And if you really like or dislike anything!

Are you making use of the Inventory?

You may have noticed that DLF Data has a menu option called inventory. This allows any organisation or individual to manage an inventory of products and share it with other DLF Data users. DLF is working hard to complete the inventory of all of the products in its London demonstration Centre, no mean task, as we have over 1000 items of equipment. Why don't you give it a try for your own centre, apart from being a convenient way of keeping track of your items (at no cost!), a label printing option is available.

Furthermore, DLF would like to make available inventories for DLC's around the country in AskSARA, so that anyone who wants to see equipment demonstrated after answering SARA questions online can find there local centre! Of course, we would ask your permission before making the list public, if you are interested in doing this then email me

If fact email me with any comments about DLF Data and I will do my best to answer them.

David.

Welcome Notes for Trial Users

Thanks for taking the time to try out DLF Data Online. As the developers of the system we're keen to see people using it and getting the best from it. The Disabled Living Foundation (DLF) was set up over 35 years ago to provide impartial information about Assistive Technology equipment and now the Internet brings everything we have to your desktop or PDA.

You will see from the blog that we like to keep users informed of developments as well as listen to requests and add features or modify the system to make it better for everybody.

Here is a list of the key features on the system:

• Information is categorised and can be browsed or searched.
• Reporting and Printing of information. Building reports is a primary function of many of our users and we provide quick and simple ways to do this.
  
• Searches use our own Google Mini specifically set up to provide the data in the correct format. As such you can use all the powerful Google search functions.
  
• Product updates are uploaded as they happen. The records are maintained by the DLF Data Services department who oversee over 14,000 records.
• Comparison of products. Up to four products in a category can be compared, useful when assessing the correct choice for a client's requirements.
  
• Supplier information is available for all 1600+ suppliers on our database.
  
• Manufacturers and suppliers will shortly be able to provide their own versions of our product records and manage their contact information.
  
• An Inventory system has been developed for use by any user with a stock of equipment to manage. Our own Equipment Display Centre is currently building an inventory of display equipment.
• Contacts. Over 1600 useful organisations are listed by the DLF.
• News Feeds. We collect together feeds of interesting and relevant information for health professionals.
  
• Coming soon: 'My DLF Data' page for managing various snippets of your account, such as passwords.
• In Development: Helpline case manager, a simple tool for recording call information and sending letters with reports; More useful resources for students, let us know what you feel we should include to make the database useful for career development and learning.
  

Please have a good look around as DLF Data Online has lots of dark corners, although we try to highlight what it can do, and is a very powerful everyday tool for many professionals. The information is used by a number of helplines including our own to provide much needed information to the General Public. We know that it is often used to find unusual or specific items of Assistive Technology equipment.

If you want to arrange a visit from us to demonstrate DLF Data Online and our other products to your staff (anyone from CEO/CIO to Therapist) please make sure you get in touch with our Sales and Marketing Department (020 7432 8003) . Hamilton Directory users may find a trial of the system very helpful.

If you are interested in finding out more about the Disabled Living Foundation or about Training or Volunteering opportunities please visit our main website: www.dlf.org.uk

The self sign-up trial period is two weeks. If you need a bit more time please call DLF Sales and Marketing on 020 7432 8003 today.

Innovation is a key element of the DLF's IT operations and as a result we won an award from ICT Hub recently which we're very proud of. ICT Hub Award link

Let us know how you get on [DLF Development Team]