CreditNow! Classic FAQ

These are the minimum system requirements. If you plan to process large batches ( more than 10,000 transactions per batch) or a large number of batches per day, you should consider using 100 MHz Pentium machines with at least 16 Mbytes of memory. Customers running Windows 95 or NT will want to have a minimum of 16 MBytes of memory.

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The Demo version is the same in every function except for two. First, you cannot archive completed batches in the demo version. Second, the demo version simulates the actions of dialing the telephone and transmitting batches to Paymentech.
The demo version returns random Address Verification responses. All transactions ending in an even penny amount will be Authorized. All transactions ending in an odd penny amount will be declined with a random decline code.

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The Single User version features a user-interface that allows an operator to manually input the transactions, import/export transactions from another application and then submit batches to Paymentech.

The AP version discards the user interface. It automates the import/export and submisstion steps. The AP version allows you to integrate credit-card processing into your overall workflow through the simple interface of a delimited ASCII text file.

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Each user of the CreditNow! Single-User software must have their own licensed copy. Since the AutoProcessor version of CreditNow! does not identify the source of the text files it is processing, it does not distinguish between single and multiple users. The AutoProcessor can provide a back-end to an already existing multi-user order-entry application. Typically, there is no need for more than one copy of CreditNow! AutoProcessor at a single site.

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Probably not. As long as your order entry software can generate tab or comma delimited files, you can generate batches for use with the AutoProcessor. You will need only a single copy of the AutoProcessor.

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We refer to the original 16-bit application as the 'classic' version. CreditNow! was, as far as we know, the first fully-native Microsoft Windows application in commercial usage. CreditNow! CN-3000 is the successor to that application. This FAQ is maintained for historical purposes.

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You need to contact your Paymentech representative and let them know you have ordered CreditNow! software. They will generate your individual ID numbers and passwords and fax them to us. We will configure your CreditNow! software with your unique customer numbers and ship overnight.

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Appropriate Solutions requires that after you have installed the CreditNow! software, you call us and check your configuration settings with us, and then do a test submitting to our server before you call and schedule a "Live" test with Paymentech. This gives the operator more confidence in the submitting process and allows us to spot problems if there are any.

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The CreditNow! AutoProcessor supports the Paymentech Instant Authorization protocol. You need to speak with your Paymentech representative about this service.
CreditNow! does not support single-transaction, real-time authorizations. The Paymentech service is designed as a batch-oriented service. CreditNow! reflects this capability.

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Not at this time. We are looking at adding this capability when Paymentech provides the serivce.

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The Single User version is designed to be manually operated by a person entering directly into the program or manually importing/exporting from another source.
The AutoProcessor version is designed to be a conduit between another program, receiving the batch to be submitted to Paymentech and automatically getting the response back, sending the collected information to either a "Good" or "Declined" folder. This is a completely "hands-off" process. For the import/export function in both versions, a delimited text file needs to be generated for the process to work.

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Two common problems may cause this error. Some Program Manager shell applications (such as Norton Desk Manager) do not allow installers to add icons to the desktop. CreditNow! has been installed properly on your disk, it is only the Program Manager icon which is missing. You can add this manually.
Some Program Manager shell applications provide security levels which lock-out installers. Check your settings.
Some Anti-Virus programs will stop installers from running properly. Use the Virus Checker to scan the CreditNow! installer diskette and then turn it off. (Note: ASI makes every effort to ensure the diskettes we ship are virus free. However, it is always important to be cautious when installing software on a business system.)

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CreditNow! isolates you from many of the technical comlexities of the Paymentech interface. RFR stands for Request For Response. CreditNow! sends an RFR when it retrieves batches from Paymentech. The software does this automatically five minutes after it sends the batch to Paymentech.

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Five minutes is the time frame specified by Paymentech. This delay allows them to ensure your entire batch has been processed.

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If you transmit very large batches (10 to 20 thousand), it can take up to 15 or 20 minutes for Paymentech to process the entire batch. CreditNow! will automatically try back again every few minutes if your batch is still processing.

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There are several common file import problems you should check:

• Make sure you have a comma or tab between each and every field in the record (comma or tab delimited text).
• Put double-quotes around each field in the record. This is not required. However, sometimes data can contain unexpected commas (such as in "Smith, Jr.").
• Make sure each line ends with a carriage return/line feed. This a frequent problem when the import file has been generated on a mainframe or mini computer.
• Do not add extra spaces around data.
• Remember that dollar amounts must have a decimal point and two digits to the right of the decimal. 101 is wrong. 101.00 is correct.
• Do not include currency symbols or commas in dollar amounts. $1,000.00 is wrong. 1000.00 is correct.
• Check your import template. You should not be able to see double-quotes in the field view in the upper-right of the import dialog. If you see double quotes, check the Has Double Quotes box.

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This occurs when you install the upgrade in a different directory than the older version of CreditNow!. The upgrade does not contain all the required DLLs. Reinstall the upgrade and make sure you install it to the proper directory.

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Yes. As long as you haven't submitted the batch, it is active. The same goes for Follow-up batches you might create. Not only are they active, but you can add orders to them.

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You go to the Menu bar and select Submit - then choose Create Follow-up.

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In the Single User version, they go into the CreditNow! directory. You can find the "reject files" by going into File manager in Win 3.11 or Win Nt, or by using My Computer in Win 95. You can read a "reject file" by opening it with a text editor.

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Go to Configure on Menu Bar and choose Merchant IDs. You can edit existing IDs or add new ones. You can change the description of any Merchant ID as often as you like. However, actual Merchant ID numbers can only be issued by Paymentech. Contact your Paymentech representative if you need to add new Merchant IDs.

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This error message is usually seen after you have submitted a batch, and then for one reason or another, that batch has been removed from the Awaiting Response side of the Submission Queue screen. When you are trying to bring back the response, the processed batch can't find the database to merge the information with. (Generally seen in versions 1.2 build 138 and older).

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In the Single User version of CreditNow!, after your batch has been settled, you should put it into the Archive directory to keep for as long of a period as you choose. The only restrictions are the size of your hard drive.

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Check to see if you have any batches in the Show Queue screen. Usually there is a batch in the Queue when this happens. It is a safeguard so that you won't Archive something that isn't settled.

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With the AutoProcessor you need to go back to the original delimited text file to change any item in a record. CreditNow! has no way to make changes once the import has taken place.

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CreditNow! supports two types of modems:

• US Robotics V.32 Sportsters or Couriers. Modem models of 14.4Kbps, 28.8Kbps, and 33.6Kbps are supported.
• Telebit PEP capable modems (such as the World Blazer).

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Although there are many V.32 modems on the market, these two modem manufacturers give you the greatest consistency and reliablilty in transmitting data to Paymentech. CreditNow! has been optimized for use with these two modems. This ensures the quality and integrity of your high-speed credit card processing.

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External modems provide you with a significantly greater level of control than internal modems. During testing, you are better able to follow the call's progress. You can see if data is flowing properly by checking the send and receive lights. And, if communication problems should occur, you can reset the external modem by simply turning it off and on. With an internal modem you must reset your entire computer.
In general, we've found external modems are easier for customers to set-up and configure. Initial testing times with external modems is usually shorter than with internal modems. We want you to start transmitting credit card transactions as quickly and easily as possible.

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By testing first with Appropriate Solutions, you can be confident that your modems are communicating properly and you have a chance to walk through the basic batch tranmission procedure with our customer support staff.
Paymentech requires you to go through a formal testing sequence before you can start sending live transactions for processing. This testing procedure must be scheduled days ahead of time and must be completed within a specific time period. This is not the time to find that you have communications problems.
Scheduled test times with ASI are not quite as structured as Paymentech's. We can frequently schedule times on very short notice.

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First look in the Configuration menu. Go to Communications Setup. Check to see that the rate is set to 9600 and you have selected the correct Port. This should correct the problem.

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If you are communicating through a PBX system, it may be causing problems. For best results, you should be communicating through a direct phone line that does not go through a PBX.
If you are using a PBX, make sure you add the proper dialing prefix required to gain access to an outside line. Typically the two characters nine-comma (9,) are sufficient. Some Centrex systems require this pair to be repeated (9,9,).
It is possible that you don't actually have a V.32 modem. Some older 14.4 Kbaud US Robotics modems use the HST standard rather than the V.32 standard. Check your modem carefully.
In very rare cases you may have a bad modem. This is extremely rare, but we have had one customer correct their communications problems by replacing the modem.

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The most common cause of this problem is the use of a serial cable without hardware handshaking. Cables with and without hardware handshaking are indistinguishable. It is important that you specify a hardware handshaking cable when you order your modem.

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CreditNow! software is a Windows based program. It supports Windows 3.11, Windows for Workgroups, Windows 95, Windows NT 3.51, Windows NT 4.0.

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