====== Sales Tracking ======

===== What is the function of the status field on the sales? =====
Each sales order can be placed in to a state.  The state indicates where in the order fulfilment process the order is.
For example, a typical flow of sales order states is:

  - Order confirmed
  - Credit hold
  - Ready to Pick
  - Picking
  - Ready to Ship
  - Dispatched
  - Completed

Orders are moved through each state along the order fulfilment process.

===== What is a complete state? =====
One or more states can be designated as ''complete''.  Orders placed in a complete state are consider finished and no further processing is required on these orders.

===== What is a hold state? =====
If an order is in a hold state it cannot be invoiced, delivery noted or placed in the checkout area.
In order to continue processing the sale, it must be moved into a non hold state.
A typical use of hold states is a ''Credit hold'' state where an order is held until payment for the goods are received.

State transition will not work for order in a hold state.
===== What is a mandatory state? =====
All orders must enter and exit all states marked as mandatory.  Orders are checked for entering and exiting all mandatory state just before invoices and delivery notes are created.
Mandatory states only useful in a very small number of use cases, they place an additional burden on order processing.

State transitions will not work for orders in a mandatory state.
===== What happens when an sales are moved between states? =====
  - A diary entry is created on the sale to showing, the new state, the time and date of the change and the user that caused the state change.
  - If there are any letters associated with the new state, they are sent to the customers email address.

===== How can I automate the sales state changes? =====
Some events can be set to move a sale into a particular state.  From the main menu select ''Settings, Configuration, Sales States''.  
From the states dialog select the ''Transitions'' tab.

For example, setting the ''On Checkout'' drop down to ''Ready to Pick'' will set the sales to the state ''Ready to Pick'' when the sales is put in the checkout area.

Automated state transitions will not work on order that are in ''hold'' or ''mandatory'' states.  i.e. Order placed in to a ''hold'' stay "on hold"" and must be manually moved to the next state.