This page describes the Contract Main screen and the actions you can take. The main screen of the contract summarizes general information about the contract. Information about the contract, including the relevant Account, Payment Terms, Weighing Terms, and Reference numbers, is entered on this screen. In addition, CATS tracks the balance and progress of the contract on this screen.

You can view summary screens for contracts that already exist by selecting Contract from the Main Menu. Select either Purchase (for purchase contracts) or Sale (for sale contracts) and choose Main.

All contracts (purchase and sale) have main screens. Purchase Main screens differ slightly from their Sales counterparts.

When you enter a contract, you will fill out the details of that CATS will use to create the contract record. The quantities you see on this screen come from the units, price, and weight you enter on the Item screens.

Entries in coded fields are checked against the appropriate table of codes. If a new code is entered it can be added without interrupting the entry process. Appropriate text based on the entries in the coded fields will automatically appear on the printed contract.

Besides allowing you to enter and change details about the contract, you can also see a summary of the status of this contract.

Contract - The actual quantities covered by the items on the contract. Contract price is used to calculate the Amount.

Allocated - Purchase material that has been attached to sales items.

Produced - Material used as input in the Production System. (Purchase Contracts only.)

Charged - Charges against this contract via Payable Invoices. (Purchase Contracts only, unless Vendor Sale invoices are created.)

Delivered - Material used in the Delivery System, an alternate allocation method.

Billed - Sales Invoices posted against this contract.

Balance - The difference between the contract quantity and the Billed amount.

If there is more than one item on the contract this information can be viewed for each item from the Item Screen.

All of the activities you perform on the main contract screens are accessed through the toolbar menu at the top of the screen. We will explore those options now.

Select Edit (or press the [E] key) to edit the fields of the main contract screen after a contract has been created.

Select Prn (or press [P]) to print detailed information about the contract you are viewing.

Choose Contract Info Boxes to see accounting information, purchase and sale invoices, and a summary of contract and traffic information. Accounting activity for a date range may also be printed. Detailed profit analysis can be selected for inclusion in this report.

CATS will ask you to determine what information to include in the contract record. You will see a screen like the one pictured below.

Click on an item in the box at left to select it. When you are finished selecting items, press the Continue button to print the report.

This report may be printed for a range of contracts by using the Contract History position report.

Other options on the Prn menu include: Traffic Listing - Prints the Traffic Accounting check report, also accessible via the Position Reports menu. Trade Sheet - Prints this contract's items in the same format as the Position Report type Trade Sheet.

Select Del (or press [D]) to delete the contract record.

Contracts can only be deleted if no charges have been posted or if the contract is closed and older than a specified position.

After picking Del, you will be asked to enter a password. Type the password and hit the [Enter] key to proceed.

CATS will run a check to ensure that the status of the contract permits deletion. An on-screen report will pop up with any information.

Any problems with deleting this contract will pop up. If there are no issues, you will receive a message confirming deletion.

Select Yes to proceed with deletion or No to cancel.

Select Item (or press the [I] key) to review the items on this contract. Each contract has one or more items distinguished by Grade, Optional Identifier, Shipment or Trading Position, Destination, or Price. Important item information (such as the price and position) appears in a list at the bottom of the contract main screen.

You can also access the Item screen by clicking on the blue Item Description link on the left of each item listed on the Main Contract screen.

Select Loc (or press L) to see location screens for the contract.

Location screens? are for tracking and allocating to sales physical portions of the purchase. From the location screen, you can review the allocation/location of a physical commodity, whether it is in inventory or futures.

Location screens are used primarily by the traffic department. Locations screens are automatically created when a purchase contract is entered.

Sales are allocated to purchases through the assignment of location screens to the sale.

Included on location screens are various notice dates, marks, warehouse information, steamer information, etc. Also, loan information is attached to the location screen.

To top Use Marks to Select Location Screen

Select Mrk (or press M) to lookup the location screen using its marks.

You can scan the marks attached to the location screens for either a Purchase or (allocated) Sale contract. Clicking on a selected mark will take you to its location screen. This is especially useful if you are using this feature from the Sale Main screen. Marks Scan on Main Screen Marks Scan on Main Screen

You can print out the list of marks using the Print to HTML feature. To top Recalculate Summary Information

Select Recal (or press R) to update the totals on the contract.

The recalculation feature calculates the various totals from the location screens and updates the Contract Main screen.

This is useful if you have made changes to the contract that are not yet reflected in the totals (for example, changing quantity on the Item screen).

You can recalculate all your contracts? at once. To top Print Contract Confirmation

Select Cntr (or press C) to create, edit, or print a contract confirmation? (written contract) that can be signed by both parties.

You can also use this area to modify contract confirmation forms (templates) and set up default forms to use for types of contracts. To top Show Credit Information

Select Cred to see credit information.

Credit balance is the balance of all open invoices. Exposure balance is the Amount Due but not Invoiced on fixed-price contracts. Credit Limit Info Credit Limit Info

Credit limit information is also stored on the Accts: Name/Addr? review screen. To top Allocation

Select Allo (or press A) to allocate? this sale to one or more traffic screens.

The allocation menu option is only available on Sale Contract Main screens. Use the Alloc option on the location screen to allocate from the Purchase Contract.

Sale General Info Screen menu The general information screen menu for a sale contract

You must allocate the Sale to a Purchase before you invoice (bill) the Sale contract. To top Letter of Credit, Loan, ETA etc.

Select Othe (or press O) to enter data including carrier and letter of credit? information.

When you choose this option, you will see a screen like the one pictured below. Enter letter of credit, carrier, etc. info Enter letter of credit, carrier, loan and other information

This information will automatically transfer to all location screens if desired. The carrier can be specified for sale or purchase. The other fields can only be specified for the purchase. The carrier is used with the cost analysis? calculation. To top Broker

Select Brok (or press B) to enter broker information for the contract.

Two brokers can be entered for each contract. The broker's account codes will appear on the general information screen. Before posting you will be shown the amount of the commission? and be asked if you want to post the commission. Broker commission information Broker commission information

Enter the broker's account code in the Broker field.

Enter the commission in the Commission field.

The broker commission can be entered with a variety of basis (per Lb., per KG, etc.). Broker commission information Broker commission information

The broker code must have an account type of BRO. Commission information will be transferred automatically to the vendor invoice (purchase voucher) or sales invoice. To top Status of Signed Contract

Select Stat (or press S) to enter information about the contract status. You will see a screen like the one pictured below.

Status of a Contract Contract status screen

Enter the date the contract was Sent to the recipient, when it was Received, and when it was Returned to your company.

Change the Contract Status to exclude it from reports if needed.

Active: Allows activity in the contract (i.e., additional costs).

Complete: Does not allow any activity in the contract. If you mark the contract completed, CATS will ask you to enter a date of completion.

Changing the status of the contract may be password protected depending on your company settings.

You can generate a report? that lists the status of contracts. To top Switch Between Sale and Purchase

Select Z (or press Z) to switch between a sale and a purchase contract.

The default contract number that pops up in the box provided is the last contract you viewed. Use Z find unallocated Sales or Purchase contracts and view related contracts.

To top Edit Notes

Select & (or press &) to edit the note field on the Contract Main screen.

There is no limit to the size of notes. The latest information can be kept at the beginning of the note.

The note field will expand to contain as much of the note as possible. You can also click on the “magnifying glass” icon shown when you hover over the note field to force it to expand. Magnifying Glass on Note Magnifying Glass on Note

Special keys? when editing notes include:

  CtrlHome: move the cursor to beginning of note field
  F2: save changes and continue
  F4: print the note. 

To top Navigation Keys

Use the navigation shortcut keys to quickly switch to another general information screen. These keys are also available in the menu.

Use the minus sign (-) to switch to the previous record in contract number order.

Use the plus sign (+) to switch to the next record in contract number order.

Use the less-than sign (<) to see the previous record in entry order.

Use the greater-than sign (>) to see the next record in entry order.