Setup Checklist

Here is a quick checklist of things that you should do to get the software set up, including some option settings that you may want to change.  Refer to the appropriate sections for more details.

Database Setup:

•Create your New Database file, so you have a "clean slate" to work with.

•Park information and Authorization Code -- this must be done first to enable the software!

•Operators and Access Levels -- define operator logins and passwords as needed.

•Data table fields -- decide which fields are important to you, and disable any that you won't use:

Park Fields -- Usually the only ones needing changed are the fields for electric meters, etc, covered later.

Site Fields -- These depend on many factors (which optional functionality you use).  Much of this is covered elsewhere.  For now just look at the Attribute fields as explained in the Data field definitions documentation.

Rate Fields -- We don't recommend disabling any of the fields here.

Reservation Fields -- As with Sites, just look at the Attribute (preference) fields for now.  Other fields should be left alone unless mentioned for some other function.

Customer Fields -- Here's where you can disable a lot of things you don't need.  But don't get carried away at first.  You can disable things later if you decide they're not being used.

Transaction Fields -- Except for the Shift field, covered in Shift Functionality below, you should not be making changes here.

... the rest of the data tables should be left alone unless instructed elsewhere.

•Pick lists:

Site Classes and Types.  Keep in mind that these affect many things, especially rates selections.

Pad Types and Site facing (if used)

Transaction Categories  -- very important for financial reporting.  Don't forget categories for Sales Tax, etc.

Note: If you plan to export transactions to QuickBooks, you may want to base these on your QuickBooks accounts, to make the mapping easy.

Payment Methods -- enable the types that apply to you

Discounts list, Rig types, How-heard, etc. -- add, remove, or rename the default entries as needed.

Reservation Types -- You can use your own names for the different types of reservations, or define more types as needed.

•Shift Functionality -- Enable shift tracking functionality if you need it.

•Schedule Functionality -- If you need to handle hourly reservations, for instance.

•Site 'Dirty' Functionality -- If you need this for tracking dirty rooms for housekeeping

•Sites -- set up each campsite.  You might set up just a few sites for now to help in testing other settings, and continue later.

•Maps -- if you want an interactive map view of your park, you can set it up after all of your sites are set up.

•Taxes -- set up the applicable tax rates (make sure you have a unique Transaction Category for each one first).

•Rates -- set up rates for each site type or class, with specific dates, applicable discounts, etc.

•Metered electric, gas and/or water support -- see that section for step by step details.

•Printing Options -- Reservation Receipt default format, number of copies, etc.

•Printed notices & text -- Customize the "notice text" and other options for receipts, etc.

•Printer Setup -- which printer(s) to use for each type of printing.

•Color Keys -- If you don't like the colors we chose for reservation status, you can set your own

•SMTP setup for sending E-mail, and E-mail Confirmation options

•Other Program Options -- lots more options for the finer details of operation

Advanced / Optional Functionality

•Import customer and/or reservation data from another source, if available.

•Network setup -- It's important that you read this if you plan to use Campground Master on multiple computers!

•Reservation Restrictions -- to define custom restrictions and reminders

•Deposit definitions -- to define automatic deposit amount calculations

•Point of Sale setup, if applicable

•Credit Card Processing -- if you want to process cards directly through Campground Master

•Online Reservations setup, if applicable

•Texting Setup for sending SMS text messages (through 3rd-party services)

•Advanced Customizations -- this really gets into programming, but allows you to customize many parts of the system.