The purpose of Karmak Compass is to keep all our customers informed of current activities within the Karmak family. This newsletter is designed for both technical and non-technical readers. 

Karmak Home Page

  Training: Karmak Legend^® - INFO 5^® - Director Series

New offerings through Karmak Training Center
In addition to our popular Legend and INFO 5 training classes, the Karmak Training Center is now offering webinars. A webinar allows you to attend class from your location via the Internet in a live, interactive session. In addition, Legend regional training is coming to Las Vegas, Nev. Look for details soon on upcoming INFO 5 Release 7.2 Update Evaluation webinars. These classes provide a preview of what to expect when upgrading to Release 7.2. Visit the Legend and INFO 5 Training Center websites for all currently scheduled classes.

Director Series training
For ProfitMaker^® customers, Director Series Upgrade webinars are available via the Internet. Call the Director Series Help Desk at 1-866-452-7625 to schedule a WebEx Upgrade Training date after Director Series has been installed on your server. 

Karmak Home Page

Karmak Home Page

What's new at Karmak?

• Coming soon! Sales Management 1.3
• Director Series 1.1 available soon
• Internet Parts Sales goes to beta
• Update on INFO 5 Release 7.2
• IBM OS V5R3M0
• ProfitMaker sunset date reminder
• Karmak holiday schedule reminder

Coming soon! Karmak Sales Management Version 1.3

Karmak employees are putting the final touch on the Sales Management v1.3 release. Karmak is working closely with Microsoft to resolve issues with Microsoft's new patch for their .NET version 1.1 framework in a timely manner, while also taking the time to ensure the quality of our product. This patch contains enhancements and updates that are a result of the feedback Karmak has received from you. One of the major enhancements is Currency Exchange – you will have the ability to sell or hold inventory in a foreign currency and book in your native currency.

Please contact ProfitMaster Services at with any questions regarding Sales Management Version 1.3.

Karmak Home Page

Director Series 1.1 available soon

The newest version of Karmak's Director Series software will be released soon. Director Series replaces the current ProfitMaker product and offers you even more functionality and revenue-generating enhancements.

The Director Series software allows you to better control your parts inventory and increase service shop efficiency. The advanced software is designed for fleets, parts distributors, and service shops. The latest release of Director Series has been in the beta testing phase at AllTruck and Equipment, Inc. in Medford, Mass. since September. A specific general release date has not been determined, but the product will be available before the end of the year. 

In this release, communications with the Legend business system have been enhanced and now include the following features:

• Automated finalization of stock and emergency orders to a Legend customer, and retrieving ship files to receiving parts from a Legend system sales order invoice.
• Checking available quantity-on-hand from a Legend system customer, using the Send Inquiry option in an emergency order.
• Cost/price updates pull cost from the Legend system and update Director Series inventory with the new cost.
• Director Series 1.1 also allows you the option of printing the supplier on an invoice.

Many more updates have been made. A detailed list of those changes are available here in PDF format: Director Series 1.1. If you have questions regarding Director Series or the 1.1 release, or would like to request the 1.1 update, contact ProfitMaster Services at .

Karmak Home Page

ProfitMaster Internet Parts Sales (IPS) is currently being beta-tested at Custom Body in Kansas City, Mo. Custom Body customers are ordering parts from them using the Internet, and the process is working smoothly and efficiently. Customers can search for parts, check price and availability, create and maintain a shopping cart, and check out. Security and easy-to-use features are built into both the retail and administrative environments. Internet Parts Sales will be available for general release in early 2005. Visit the Internet Parts Sales web page or contact your Karmak Regional Manager for more information.

Karmak Home Page

Update on INFO 5 Release 7.2

Karmak is currently in the final stages of beta testing Version 7.2 of the INFO 5 software, and plans to make an announcement in mid- to late-December 2004 that it is available for general release. At that time, early scheduling will begin for client upgrades. Karmak will be providing pre- and post-update training via the Web to assist clients in upgrading to Release 7.2, as well as using the new software enhancements.

Look for more information in the near future.

Karmak Home Page

Dubbed "i5/OS", the newest version of the IBM operating system, has officially been released by IBM and is shipping with all new iSeries Servers. This release has been tested by Karmak to work with the INFO 5 business system. The biggest impact on INFO 5 users is that you can now set a Time Zone feature that will automatically adjust for daylight savings time where applicable. See the IBM iSeries website for more information.

Karmak Home Page

ProfitMaker sunset date reminder

Karmak’s ProfitMaker software is being replaced by our latest software offerings, PartsDirector™ and ServiceDirector™. 

Because we are continually working hard to provide you with the best software for your needs, we have incorporated the latest technology available when creating PartsDirector and ServiceDirector. Microsoft .NET framework has allowed us to include features in our new software that will enable you to more easily navigate the software and more quickly access data. Because of these benefits offered with Karmak’s Director Series (which includes PartsDirector and ServiceDirector), we would like to remind you of the upcoming sunset date for ProfitMaker on December 31, 2004.

Karmak will continue to support ProfitMaker through the end of 2004. After that time, we will offer Help Desk Support and product upgrades only for our Director Series products, PartsDirector and ServiceDirector. Contact Barb Mitchell, Manager of ProfitMaster Services, at or 800-252-7625, or your Karmak Regional Manager with any questions.

Karmak Home Page

We would like to remind you that the Karmak offices in Carlinville, Ill. and Springfield, Mo. will be closed for the Christmas and New Year’s holidays on the following dates:

• Friday, December 24—Christmas Eve

• Friday, December 31—New Year’s Day observed

We will have staff available for emergency calls during each of these holidays. However, calls received during the holidays are considered after-hours billable support calls and will be billed at our holiday rate of $225 per hour, with a one-hour minimum. In addition to the reminder letters you have received throughout the year, Karmak will also have a pre-recorded message on our customer support lines reminding you of the holiday rate. 

If you have any questions about these dates, Legend clients may contact Joyce Donaldson at 800-252-7625 or , and INFO 5 clients may contact Heather Gardner at 800-865-8991 or .

Karmak Home Page

Did you know?

Speedy support via telnet

Did you know that Karmak support representatives can support your business system over the Internet via a telnet connection? Do you have high speed Internet access? Do you have a firewall? Then consider setting up Internet access for Karmak support! An Internet connection will allow faster responses times and fixes can be deployed faster. Contact one of the following support groups for more information.

• Legend Systems Support: 888-671-6010 or
• INFO 5 Systems Support: 800-865-8991 or

Karmak Home Page

  About Karmak Compass

This newsletter is designed to bring Karmak customers useful information using the convenience and speed of the Web.

Use our Feedback Form to send us suggestions, comments, or news items for publication.

To subscribe, update your e-mail address, or unsubscribe, use our Subscription page. Subscriptions are free to all Karmak customers.

Karmak Home Page

© 2004 Karmak, Inc.
One Karmak Plaza
P.O. Box 680
Carlinville, IL  62626
www.karmak.com