Electronic Program Updates

As a user of our software you are probably entitled to update it to the latest version at any time, the only proviso being that the software is covered by current software maintenance. To have current maintenance, the software should be within it’s original cover period from sale (usually a year), under maintenance contract or under a rental agreement.

  • We are continually refining and developing our software. Updates can be done on as much as a daily basis. We don't 'hold back' software for specific release dates - our software is released as and when it has been written and tested.

Click here for instructions on how to install your program update.

  • Keep up to date with the latest software changes with our news.

Settlement Discounts

New government legislation has altered the way Settlement Discounts, also known as Prompt Payment Discounts, must be accounted for. Platinum has been updated to accommodate these new rules, as well as correctly process outstanding documents posted under the old rules.

Vehicle Deposits

The "Vehicle Deposits" could warn about existing deposits for vehicles when there weren't any has been allocated.

Payroll Adjustment Properties

The "Adjustment Properties" in the "Payroll" has been given the windows look and feel.

  • As this part of Platinum has been given the Windows look-and-feel the Home (on-line help) and End (functions) keys now work the way Windows uses them (i.e. Home goes to the beginning of whatever you are accepting and End goes to the end) so you should use the alternative help keys listed below:
    • The F11 key should be used for the on-line help.
    • The F12 key or the "Functions" menu should be used to access the function keys available.
    • Buttons have been given a shortcut key (F?) for use in Macros and anyone not wanting to use the mouse.
    • Windows may be repositioned and changed in size - these changes will be remembered from one Platinum session to another.
    • The columns in lists can be moved or resized by dragging the heading for the column you wish to configure - these changes will be remembered from one Platinum session to another.
    • Any tabs can be moved by dragging the heading for the tab to the new position - this new position will be remembered from one Platinum session to another.

Workshop and Personnel Planning Integration

If you have the Platinum "Personnel Planning" module, by enabling "Personnel Planning Integration" in your "Workshop Management" system parameters, under "General Job Parameters (2)", you can now use the "Personnel Planning" diary summary screen to assist in planning out the allocation of technicians to jobs. The function may be accessed using Ctrl+F6 from the "Workshop Diary", "Job Properties" and "Job Schedule" screens.

  • This feature depends on the allocation of a "User code" to each technician in "Labour Code Properties". Only users linked with a labour code will show up in the diary summary screen in this mode.
  • "Personnel Planning" diary appointments may now be marked "Unavailable for work", and any appointments marked in this way will show up as an "appointment clash" if they coincide with a "Workshop Management" job time allocation.

Site Specific Supplier Priority

It is now possible to configure stock supplier priority prices for individual sites. This is important as stock purchasing can now be configured to reflect local supplier relationships.

Stock Reordering (Stocking Levels)

The ability to set maximum and reorder stock levels based on simple stocking period parameters has been added. This makes the setting of these key levels very simple and means that they can automatically follow sales trends thus optimising stock held with the minimum of input.

  • The parameters which control maximum and reorder levels can be found and altered in "Stock Parameters".

Stock formula maintenance has been moved to the ""Stock Control"" -> "Stock Parameters" for better security.

The ability to run report generator reports within a formula has been added. This adds incredible flexibility to stock ordering.

Site Specific Stock Pricing

It is now possible to configure standard stock prices for individual sites. This is important as standard stock prices can now be set to reflect the local sales conditions.

  • To make use of this feature it is necessary to set a parameter on the site file to indicate a price range to be used to store prices specific to a site. It is then necessary to set prices in the stock amendments option for the stock lines requiring site specific pricing.

Employer Payment Summary

The "Employer Payment Summary" now shows monthly breakdowns of the amounts paid to HMRC.

Payroll Year-Start 2015/16

Changes to Platinum's "Payroll" module that allow you to start processing the year 2015/16, including:

  • Printed report P11 has been updated for the new tax year.
  • Old printed report P32 renamed to "Annual Employer Payments" as government form P32 no longer exists and all employers will now be submitting Real Time Information (RTI) online.
  • Updated PAYE tax rates for 6th April, including the addition of "M" and "N" suffixes for the new "Marriage Allowance".
  • Updated PAYE tax calculation routines to support the 50% overriding limit for all tax codes (previously only affected "K" prefix codes). Some amendments to report P11 have been made for this too.
  • If you have an always-on Internet connection then any updates to the PAYE tax rates through the year will be downloaded automatically.
  • Updated Class 1 National Insurance Contributions rates, including the addition of new category letters added for the under-21s.
  • The system now automatically changes an employee's National Insurance category letter when they turn 16, when they turn 21, and when they reach state retirement age (which is determined automatically from their gender and date of birth).
  • Updated SSP rates.
  • Updated SMP/SAP/SPP/ASPP rates.
  • Added support for the new Statutory Shared Parental Pay (ShPP) which replaces Additional Statutory Paternity Pay (ASPP). Existing ASPP records are not affected.
  • Updated Collection of Student Loans threshold.
  • Operating PAYE in real time, aka Real Time Information - or RTI:

    • Full Payment Submission (FPS), which happens automatically when you close off a period, has been updated for the year 2015/16.
    • Employer Payment Summary (EPS), in "Monthly Procedures/Reports" -> "Internet Filing of Returns", has been updated for the year 2015/16 (to clarify this, the year is now included in the option name).
    • If you have not yet submitted your final EPS for 2014/15 then you can still do this by selecting the "2014/15 Final submission for the year" box, or going to "Yearly Procedures/Reports" -> "Internet Filing of Returns".

SMP/SAP/SPP/ShPP Properties

The "SMP/SAP/SPP/ShPP Properties" has been given the windows look and feel.

  • As this part of Platinum has been given the Windows look-and-feel the Home (on-line help) and End (functions) keys now work the way Windows uses them (i.e. Home goes to the beginning of whatever you are accepting and End goes to the end) so you should use the alternative help keys listed below:
    • The F11 key should be used for the on-line help.
    • The F12 key or the "Functions" menu should be used to access the function keys available.
    • Buttons have been given a shortcut key (F?) for use in Macros and anyone not wanting to use the mouse.
    • Windows may be repositioned and changed in size - these changes will be remembered from one Platinum session to another.
    • The columns in lists can be moved or resized by dragging the heading for the column you wish to configure - these changes will be remembered from one Platinum session to another.
    • Any tabs can be moved by dragging the heading for the tab to the new position - this new position will be remembered from one Platinum session to another.

Attachment Order Properties

The "Attachment Order Properties" has been given the windows look and feel.

  • As this part of Platinum has been given the Windows look-and-feel the Home (on-line help) and End (functions) keys now work the way Windows uses them (i.e. Home goes to the beginning of whatever you are accepting and End goes to the end) so you should use the alternative help keys listed below:
    • The F11 key should be used for the on-line help.
    • The F12 key or the "Functions" menu should be used to access the function keys available.
    • Buttons have been given a shortcut key (F?) for use in Macros and anyone not wanting to use the mouse.
    • Windows may be repositioned and changed in size - these changes will be remembered from one Platinum session to another.
    • The columns in lists can be moved or resized by dragging the heading for the column you wish to configure - these changes will be remembered from one Platinum session to another.
    • Any tabs can be moved by dragging the heading for the tab to the new position - this new position will be remembered from one Platinum session to another.
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