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<< Click to Display Table of Contents >> Navigation: MLS 2026 Installation and System Setup > System Information Setup > Setup Values |
MLS 2026 automates much of your daily information processing, calculations, printing, and workflow management. Before these features can operate properly, however, the system must first be configured with the default values and operational settings specific to your business.
Most setup operations are accessed from:
Tools → Setup
The following sections explain each setup category and how it affects your daily processing. These settings control everything from taxes and labor calculations to invoice appearance, security access, CRM automation, and workstation behavior.
Carefully review each section before placing the system into full daily operation.
The Defaults section stores many of the system-wide operational values used throughout MLS 2026.
Examples include:
•Default labor rates
•Tax calculations
•Validation settings
•Operational preferences
•Standard processing values
These defaults help ensure consistent calculations and reduce repetitive data entry.
Jump to:
Taxes and Rates
MLS 2026 prints text in many different locations throughout the system.
Examples include:
•Invoice disclaimers
•Service notes
•Customer messages
•Thank you statements
•Terms and conditions
•Printed reminders
This editor allows you to personalize the text displayed on your printed documents.
Jump to:
Text Options
The Invoice setup controls how invoices and estimates print throughout the system.
Examples include:
•Number of copies
•Graphical appearance
•Watermarks
•Company information
•Framing and shading
•Printing options
Jump to:
Invoice Printing
Technician Worksheets provide printed working copies of repair information.
You can control:
•What information prints
•Technician notes
•Parts and labor detail
•Inspection information
•Internal processing notes
Jump to:
Worksheets
Each employee may be assigned:
•Their own login
•Password
•Security permissions
Access can be restricted to specific portions of MLS 2026.
Examples:
•Accounting only
•Workorders only
•Management access
•Inventory access
•Reports
•File editing
Proper security setup is extremely important.
Jump to:
Security Setup
The Job Costing setup controls labor costing calculations used internally by the system.
These settings help analyze:
•Technician productivity
•Labor profitability
•Actual labor costs
•Shop efficiency
Jump to:
Job Costing
Some inventory items may be grouped into a special printed category on invoices and reports.
This setup allows you to define:
•The breakout code
•The printed description
Examples might include:
•Shop Supplies
•Environmental Fees
•Hazardous Materials
Jump to:
Breakout
MLS 2026 stores data on the server while workstations access that information across the network.
This setup controls:
•Data paths
•Shared folder locations
•External executable paths
•Integration locations
These settings should normally be changed only by the system administrator.
Jump to:
Interface Settings
Some businesses track information using a special category or label unique to their operation.
This setup allows you to define the title used throughout:
•Invoices
•Reports
•Displays
•Work processing
Jump to:
Special Label
MLS 2026 can attach inspection checklists to workorders and invoices.
You can configure:
•Inspection items
•Printed layout
•Technician review items
•Customer-facing inspection forms
Jump to:
Inspection Checklist
Different workstations may use different display styles.
Examples include:
•Traditional desktop
•Widescreen monitor
•Tablet mode
These settings affect the appearance and layout of windows throughout MLS 2026.
Jump to:
Display Settings
MLS 2026 can communicate with numerous third-party products and services.
Examples include:
•Parts suppliers
•Merchant services
•CRM systems
•Diagnostic software
•External utilities
This section controls the locations and paths used for those integrations.
Jump to:
Interface Settings
Some legacy installations may utilize the Advantage Database Server (ADS) platform.
This setup specifies:
•Server location
•Network configuration
•Database connectivity
Please note:
ADS reached End Of Life in 2015 and is no longer available for new purchase. These settings remain only for existing legacy installations.
Jump to:
ADS Configuration
MLS 2026 includes email automation and communication tools used throughout the system.
Examples include:
•CRM follow-ups
•Appointment reminders
•Invoice emailing
•Marketing communications
•Internal notifications
This section controls:
•SMTP settings
•Email authentication
•Sender information
•Automation behavior
Proper configuration is essential for reliable communication.
Jump to:
Email Setup