dolibarr/README

README (english)
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Starter documentation
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1) Install Dolibarr
2) Upgrade Dolibarr from an older version
3) What's new in this version
4) What Dolibarr can do
5) What Dolibarr can't do yet, todo list


I - DOLIBARR INSTALL
--------------------

If you have no technical knowledge, and you are looking for an autoinstaller
to install Dolibarr ERP/CRM in few clicks, you must download DoliWamp (the 
all-in-one package of Dolibarr for Windows), DoliDeb (the all-in-one package 
of Dolibarr for Debian or Ubuntu) or DoliRpm (the all-in-one package of 
Dolibarr for Fedora, Redhat, Mandriva, Opensue, Mageia).

You can download this at:
http://www.dolibarr.org/downloads/

If you already have installed a Web server and a Mysql database, you can
install the standard version like this:

- Uncompress the downloaded archive.
 
- Copy directory "dolibarr" and all its files inside your web server root,
  or copy directory anywhere and set up your web server to use "dolibarr/htdocs"
  as root for a new web server virtual host (second choice need to be web 
  server administrator).
  
- Create an empty file "htdocs/conf/conf.php" and set permissions for your web
  server user (write permissions will be removed once install is finished).
  
- From your browser, call the dolibarr "install/" page. Url depends on choice
  made on first step:
   http://localhost/dolibarr/htdocs/install/
  or
   http://yourdolibarrvirtualhost/install/
   
- Follow instructions provided by installer...



II - DOLIBARR UPGRADE
---------------------

To upgrade Dolibarr from an old version to this one:

- Overwrite all old files inside old 'dolibarr' directory by files
  provided into new version package.
  
- If you came from version x.y.z to x.y.w (only third number differ),
  there is no need to run any migrate process.
  
- If you came from a beta version or from any version x.y.z to any
  other where x or y number differs, you must call the Dolibarr "install/"
  page in your browser (this should be done automatically at first dolibarr
  access).
  This URL should looks like:
   http://localhost/dolibarr/htdocs/install/
  or
   http://yourdolibarrhost/install/index.php

  Then choose the "update" option according to your case.
  Note: Migrate process can be ran safely several times.
  

III - WHAT'S NEW
----------------

See ChangeLog file found into package.



IV - WHAT DOLIBARR CAN DO
-------------------------

Main modules/features:
- Products and services catalog
- Customers, Prospects or Suppliers directory
- Address book
- Stock management
- Bank accounts management
- Orders management with PDF export
- Commercial proposals management with PDF export
- Contracts management
- Invoices management with PDF export
- Payments management
- Standing orders management
- Shipping management
- EDM (Electronic Document Management)
- EMailings
- Agenda with ical,vcal export for third tools integration
- Management of foundation members
- Donation management

Other modules:
- Bookmarks management
- Can reports Dolibarr events inside Webcalendar or Phenix
- Data export tools
- LDAP connectivity
- Third parties or products categories 
- ClickToDial phone numbers
- RSS

Miscellaneous:
- Multi-user, with several permissions levels for each feature.
- Serveral menu managers (can be used by internal users, as a back-office,
  with a particular menu, or by external users, as a front-office, with
  another menu and permissions).
- Very user friendly and easy to use.
- Optional WYSIWYG forms, optional Ajax forms.
- Several skins.
- Code is highly customizable (a lot of use of modules and submodules).
- Works with Mysql 4.1 or higher, or PostgreSql 8.14 or higher.
- Works with PHP 5.0 or higher.
- An easy to understand and maintain code (PHP with no heavy frameworks).
- A trigger architecture to allow you to make Dolibarr business events run
  PHP code to update your own information system.
- "NPR VAT Rate" (French particularity for managing VAT in DOM-TOM 
  called "Non Perçue Récupérable").



V - WHAT DOLIBARR CAN'T DO YET (TODO LIST)
------------------------------------------
This is features that Dolibarr does not support completely yet:
- No accountancy (only bank management).
- Dolibarr manage one currency at once (mono-currency).
- Dolibarr manage one company/foundation (mono-company). If you want to manage several companies or foundations, you must install several time the software (on same server or not). Another solution is to extend Dolibarr with the addon Module MultiCompany that allows to manage several companies in one Dolibarr instance (one database but with a logical isolation of datas).
- Dolibarr does not contains Payroll module.
- Tasks on module project can't have dependencies between each other.
- Dolibarr does not include any Webmail.
- Dolibarr can't do coffee (not yet).