Match-IT is a very flexible system. Nearly every aspect of its operation can be tailored to your preferences through its system of defaults. There are over 1000 defaults that you can change. All will be set to their most usual value when the system is first installed. Most of them will be appropriate for you and will not need to be changed. However, to help you get the best out of the system, it is important to understand how the default system works.

Defaults are used to set your system preferences, and also to set the standard, or most usual, value for fields in forms. For example, the image you want to use as your desktop wallpaper is a preference, but a default nominal account code is a standard value for a field. Both types of default are treated in the same way.

Each default has a system value that is automatically set when you start the software. However, this value can be overridden depending on the context. There are five levels of ‘contexts’ that can successively override the base level default. The contexts start at the broadest level, the whole system, and gradually become more specific. The levels are:

•The whole system

•The site the system is operating at

•The station you are working at

•The user who is logged in (you)

•The role you are currently using

•The customer or supplier you are currently dealing with

The most significant level is the last one, the customer or supplier. By associating appropriate defaults to specific customers and suppliers, the system can change its behaviour to suit the customer or supplier you are dealing with. For example, if you specify the currency used by a foreign supplier, then when you place an order on that supplier, the system will use their currency on the purchase order.

See Setting your default preferences for more information.