Control provides thousands of configuration options. These are categorized into several broad categories:

• System Options - These “options” are not configurable by the user but are configured in advance in the system data. They are primarily used for features that might change (like menus and reports) and when tailoring the program between different franchises or organizations that use the software.
  • Franchise Options - This is a special category of System Options that applies to a specific franchise or organization.
• Store Options - These options apply to all users.
• User Options - These options are set individually by each user.

Options in Control are given default values until they are set. These default values are looked up in the following manner:

1. Control looks for a set value for that User (a User Option).
2. If not found and the option is a COLUMN CHOOSER OPTIONS used in Explorer and other grids, Control looks for a set value for the Administrator account (a User Option). If the option is for anything other than Column Chooser, this lookup step is skipped.
3. If not found, Control looks for a set value for the Store (a Store Option).
4. If not found, Control looks in the System Database for a set value for the franchise/organization.
5. If not found, Control looks in the System Database for a default value.
6. If not found, Control uses the programmed default.

This hierarchy of lookups allow defaults to be set for different uses. If a store owner wished to set the default columns in Explorer, Parts Grids, etc. for all her employees, she would log in as the administrator and set these value. Then, unless and until the employee sets his own value, he would use the Administrator's default.