Objects are the main elements of the database structure; there are different Types and they serve different purposes within the system. Objects could be People, Machines, Equipment, Rooms, Services, etc.
They can have Rates, Activities, and Accessories and belong to Object Classes or be part of Groups.
Setting up the Database is about adding these objects to your farmerswife. This is done in the Object Manager.
Some Object Types can be booked on the Timeline to get an overview of who, what, and when equipment and facilities are booked, and the cost will be calculated in relation to the time booked or used.
Other Objects are added directly to Projects as costs.
Rates
All Objects can have Buy and Sell Rates, which makes it possible to financially control Projects, and make Budgets, Quotes, Invoices, and Financial Reports.
Most Rates are based on Hour or Day, and for others (Extras) individually defined units are applied. When setting the Rates on the Objects it is important to decide whether the Rate should be on the ‘operator’ (‘User’ or ‘Resource’), on the machine or suite (‘Objects’), or on both.
Object Class
Objects of the same kind can be organized into Object Classes. For example, if there are five HD Cameras of the same sort these can all be placed within a class called “HD Camera”, or if there are ten Editors these can be placed within a class called “Editor”.
Using Object Classes simplifies database structure, booking, searching, reporting, and rates administration.
A machine or a person can belong to more than one Object Class, a person could for example belong to both a Class of Cameramen and Directors, etc.
When booking the Object you get to choose with which Object Class the Object is to be booked, e.g. which "job function" (Object Class) the person is going to perform for this booking.
Object Allocation:
If it is not important when creating a booking which Camera or which Editor to use for the job, it is possible to book using just the Object Class, and farmerswife will allocate one available object from the class. Or you can ask to show all available Objects of the class and then choose a specific one. This is managed in the Users' Toolbox Settings.
Inherit Rates From Object Class:
Rates can be set for the Object Class (or Activity – see below) and can be inherited by each individual Object belonging to that Object Class. If the rate is set on the Object Class it is not necessary to set an individual rate on each Object belonging to the Class.
Read more on Object Classes here.
Activity
If an Object can perform different jobs that have different Rates, these are added as Activities to the Objects. The Activity is selected when booking the Object on the Timeline (if Toolbox > Setting > Class / Object > Ask For Class And Activity is enabled!)
Activities:
- Can be set up on Objects, Groups, or Objects Classes
- Are used to set different prices for various jobs that can be carried out in a room, on a machine, or from a person.
- Display on the Timeline to indicate which job is carried out in a room, on a machine, or from a person.
- Can be used as the display name in a Project Report or Invoice (rather than the object name).
Accessory
An Object can be linked to another Object as an Accessory. When for example booking an Editor that is always booked with a specific machine, this machine can be the Accessory of the Editor. When the Editor is booked the machine will automatically be booked.
Or Equipment can have a set of Accessories (either specific Objects or Classes) that will be booked with the Object.