TOTAL 2011 FAQ

General questions / differences between TOTAL and WinTOTAL
Installation questions
Working with TOTAL and WinTOTAL simultaneously
Using TOTAL 2011 features and integrations

General Questions

1. I already own WinTOTAL and have a current support membership. Is TOTAL 2011 free to me?
   Yes. Whenever we release new versions you get them free so long as you have a current membership.
2. Fundamentally, how is TOTAL different than WinTOTAL?

   Most likely, you’re going to fall into one of two camps:
   
   • Camp A thinks WinTOTAL Aurora and Athena are “too heavy with bells and whistles” and wants a lighter, simpler formfiller.
   • Camp B likes the bells and whistles and wants to stick with that Enterprise level software.
   
   No matter which “camp” you’re in, so long as your membership with us is current, you get new versions free of charge. So if you want that lightweight formfiller, you’ve got it and can start using it today. Just visit www.alamode.com/MyAccount and log in to download it.
   
   If you’re in Camp B, and like all the tools in Aurora, you can still use TOTAL on your laptop. It’s also a great recommendation for the trainees and office staff who need an inexpensive formfiller. Remember that files are compatible across versions and you can install both WinTOTAL and TOTAL on the same machine.
3. Which is better – TOTAL 2011 or WinTOTAL?

   Neither is “better” than the other – just like a Lexus isn’t better than a Prius or vice versa.  They simply serve different people. If you’re in the Camp A example above, go with TOTAL 2011.  If you’re in Camp B, choose WinTOTAL Aurora.  Our goal is to provide appraisers with the best possible tools to get the job done. Part of that is not dictating how you work.
4. What features are exclusive to TOTAL 2011 versus WinTOTAL Aurora?
   Here’s a few of those TOTAL features:

   - Rental and listings are easily adjusted in the Side-by-Side view

   - Position favorite tools like QuickLists anywhere on your desktop – ideal for dual monitors

   - JumpStart lets you start reports faster with a minimum amount of data

   - Undo, redo along with find and replace actions taken while writing reports

   - The JumpTo slider makes navigating to reports faster

   - Advanced addenda tools such as spell checker, font reduction minimizes overflow, and more

   - SureDocs signing and fraud detection stores a digital report fingerprint on our servers

   - It’s the only appraisal formfiller to earn the “Compatible with Windows 7” logo from Microsoft
5. What features are exclusive to WinTOTAL Aurora versus TOTAL 2011?
   - Comparables database and auto-adjuster – search all the comps from your old reports and easily mark and place comps in your reports
. 
   - Photos database lets you quickly search for and use images from your camera, PC or memory card.

   - Billings/Accounts receivable for tracking your accounting information plus make custom financial reports.

   - QuickPix instantly pulls images from your camera into WinTOTAL, labels and saves them in seconds.

   - Digital Workfile documents your entire appraisal and supporting work paperlessly, and in compliance with USPAP. 

   - Extended reports view, report history, and tracking folders to keep everything organized.
6. Why doesn’t TOTAL include the comps and photo databases?
   TOTAL 2010 (now TOTAL 2011) was intentionally built on an entirely different design philosophy than its predecessors. We chose not to tack on the databases to the form filling platform to keep TOTAL lightweight, fast, and light years ahead of its predecessors. With TOTAL, you’ll be able to fill out forms in record time, without the “weight” of traditional databases.
   
   However, we know that these databases are important to many appraisers. And rather than just tacking a database onto our newest, lightest formfiller, we’re going to have a whole new product – codenamed “Spectrum.” Its goal is to dramatically improve the wide-ranging process of actually appraising, instead of just how you type up a report. It lets you comprehensively gather, analyze, and format data in a way that saves time, while simultaneously improving the accuracy, defensibility, and marketability of your efforts.
   
   On the data gathering front, Spectrum will be a plug-and-play central hub. It automates the process of downloading comps directly into one master database, seamlessly connecting to as many different MLSs and public and private data sources as you need – and it even detects and reconciles conflicting property details. It automates the process of snagging plat maps, tax info, and so on directly from county assessor sites. It pulls multiple types of street maps and aerials, plotting much more than just a handful of comps. It grabs and manages photos from your camera, it gets contracts and docs from agents and lenders, and it imports your DaVinci data from your iPad or other device. If it’s a piece of data you use in building an appraisal, Spectrum can manage it.
   
   Comps search tools include intelligent subject matching and even “rubber band” irregular polygon searches drawn on the map. As you discard comps from the results, popup checkboxes let you quickly indicate multiple reasons why, so it can automatically generate a list of all rejected comps with English-language explanations for the reviewers. And any set of sales, rentals, or listings (or all three) can be instantly sent to the built-in spreadsheeting tools, or to custom maps, or to a full comps grid side-by-side view. Everything is auto-logged to the USPAP-required Workfile, so you can defend your work at any time. And, of course, all your analysis will slide into WinTOTAL and TOTAL 2011 seamlessly too. Or, for that matter, you may use another forms system, or not produce a form at all. Integrating any output with Word or Excel, is simple – perfect for court testimony, private clients, or commercial assignments.
   
   There will be three levels of Spectrum: Silver, Gold, and Platinum. Shockingly, all three will be free to any customer based on their corresponding support membership level. That’s because we think the thing Spectrum solves – getting and analyzing data, and really performing the appraisal process itself – is such a core aspect of appraisal technology that to fail to make it part of the service you already pay us to provide would be to miss the whole point.
   
   Be on the lookout for more news about Spectrum. It will be in the labs this spring. Until then, bookmark our labs page and check back often to see how it’s progressing: www.alamode.com/labs.  
7. I can’t decide which would be best for my office. Have any advice?

   Give us a call. We’ll help you choose the right fit. There are also free trials of both versions so that you can test them without paying anything. Also, keep in mind that one version isn’t better than the other – they’re just built for two different types of appraisers.
8. How is TOTAL 2010 different than TOTAL 2011?

   - True Side-by-Side View lets you see, edit, and adjust all properties including listings, rentals, and comps in one screen

   - Flood and census data pop into your forms in two clicks

   - QuickBooks integration for transferring invoice fee data
9. Will TOTAL be compatible with the new UMDP requirements?
   Yes, by July it will be delivering XML as required by Fannie Mae. And in fact, Veros, the technology provider for Fannie Mae’s Collateral Data Delivery (CDD) system, has already committed to accepting TOTAL XML files natively. This makes sense as over half the nation's appraisers use our formfilling products daily. If you use TOTAL, you'll be ready.
10. With the release of TOTAL 2011, will you still support Athena?
    Yes. But, bear in mind that Athena is a decade old, and that we’re not updating Athena except for ensuring you have any new or updated forms. Since Athena was released there have been four new versions of Windows released. Soon, Athena will simply become obsolete as a result of not being compatible with newer versions of Windows. 
11. How do I get a referral bonus for having my ACI/Bradford/DayOne/trainee associate purchase it?
    Just tell them when they purchase to drop your name. The sales representative will immediately credit your account $50 for every referral.  It's that easy.  Or, visit www.alamode.com/refer.

Installation questions

1. Do I have to upgrade to TOTAL 2011?
   If you’re using WinTOTAL Athena (v4), or Aurora (v5) then you can keep using your current version of WinTOTAL just like you are today.  If you’ve been using TOTAL 2010, then TOTAL 2011 will be an automatic update.
2. If I install TOTAL 2011, will it overwrite my current WinTOTAL installation?
   If you’re using WinTOTAL Athena (v4), or Aurora (v5) then TOTAL 2011 installs in a completely different location and it will run in parallel. In fact, TOTAL won’t allow you to install it on top of an existing WinTOTAL Athena or Aurora installation.
3. Where do I get TOTAL 2011?
   Visit https://www.alamode.com/MyAccount. Log in and click My Downloads on the left. From there you can download TOTAL. It’s a tiny download compared to Aurora, and you can download, install, and start using it in 10 minutes (provided you have high speed Internet).
4. How do I get my authorization code?
   Visit https://www.alamode.com/MyAccount. After logging in, scroll to the bottom to retrieve your authorization code.

Working with TOTAL 2011 and WinTOTAL simultaneously

1. Can I still send reports to my associate using the Athena or Aurora generations of WinTOTAL?
   Yes. In fact, the files you create in TOTAL, Aurora or Athena are all compatible. Files started in Athena can be opened in TOTAL, edited and sent back seamlessly. It’s important to note, however, that SureDocs secure signatures from TOTAL 2011 don’t transfer back to Aurora or Athena because SureDocs doesn’t work with those versions.
2. Can I use TOTAL 2011 and my existing Aurora or Athena installation on the same machine? And if so, how?
   Yes. As mentioned above, TOTAL installs separately from existing WinTOTAL installations. This is especially useful while learning the new program, should you choose to. That said, hopping back and forth between programs can slow down your overall workflow, we recommend picking one as your primary program. Initially you'll need to be able to move files between either Aurora and Athena, and TOTAL 2011. We've put together two documents to help you do that. The first shows you how to attach a directory so your Aurora/Athena files are available in TOTAL 2011. You can also make a copy of your reports from Aurora/Athena for use in TOTAL 2011.

Using TOTAL 2011 features and integrations

1. I want to set up a SureDocs secure signature. How does that work?
   The first time you sign a report in TOTAL 2011, you'll be walked through a short identity verification process, provided by EquiFax. You're asked some questions only you would know, based on your credit record, such as who might hold the loan on your vehicle, or your current address. This doesn't incur a "credit hit," and doesn't affect your credit rating at all.
2. What if I don’t want to provide my Social Security Number during the SureDocs identity verification process?
   That’s absolutely up to you. We neither look at nor retain any information you provide during the SureDocs identity verification process that is provided by Equifax. And if you choose, you can still sign reports in a non-secure manner in TOTAL 2011.
3. What sketcher is integrated in TOTAL 2011?
   Our DaVinci for Desktop sketcher is integrated, and included for free with all installations of TOTAL 2011. Even if you install TOTAL 2011 on a network server, all your PC workstations will have DaVinci installed automatically and free.
4. How do I use XSite Order Manager with TOTAL 2011?
   Just download and install XSite Order Manager on your PC. You can then receive and deliver files from your XSite, lender and AMC clients, and through Mercury Network. To download XSite Order Manager, log into your My Account, and click on My Downloads.