To:      All WinTOTAL Aurora (version 5) users
From:  Adam Calvery, VP Appraisal Products, a la mode, inc.
Re:      Aurora:  Desktop Billing public beta and other improvements

Today’s WinTOTAL Aurora update is now available on our servers. To download it, click the “Get Updates” button on the toolbar in your Appraisal Desktop. 

While today’s update does include the launch of the Desktop Billing public beta (more on that in a moment), there are also a large number of other improvements.  The full list is at the end of this message, but I’ll quickly mention several that have been highly requested:

• To save you time, WinTOTAL now detects if the major form in your report is Letter sized, and then when adding minor forms (map pages, sketch pages, etc) they’re automatically added as Letter sized to match.
  
  
• In the Comps Side-by-Side view, Ctl+L now locks fields just like in the comps grid on the actual form.
  

• The redundant backup copies of reports we implemented last year (.BZ2 and .BZ3 files) are no longer saved.  This will save hard drive space, and won’t affect your report file or the main backup file (.BZ1).
  
  
• Our new GP Land form is ready for public review.  To visit the Aurora Status website and see the form, click here.   

For those of you who’ve been eagerly awaiting the Desktop Billing module in Aurora, this update contains the first public beta release.  To get it ready for public beta, over 200 alpha testers and a number of our regular beta testers have been using it and providing feedback for several months now.  If you’d like to start using it and helping shape what will ultimately become the final version there are some things you should know.

1.     How do you start using it?  After installing today’s update, simply open your Appraisal Desktop, click Options on the toolbar, then Configure WinTOTAL Settings and choose the Billing icon in the upper right.  Before enabling the public beta, I’d strongly recommend you read the Billing Frequently Asked Questions, especially if you’re planning to make the switch from XSite to Desktop Billing.  After you’ve read the FAQ, click Save and you’ll be prompted to close and re-open WinTOTAL.  Once you’ve done that, you’ll see the new Billing PowerView in your Appraisal Desktop. 

2.    How do you give feedback and participate in the public beta?  There are two ways.  First, we’ve set up an e-mail box just for Desktop Billing, so you can send your feedback directly to the Desktop Billing Product Manager.  The second way is to join our online forum community just for the Desktop Billing public beta.  Choose whichever method suits you best.  To join the Desktop Billing forum or to send us your feedback, e-mail BillingSupport@alamode.com.

3.     Where can you get more information?  The Aurora Status website has a section devoted to Desktop Billing.  You’ll find a list of known issues, a list of things we’re currently working on, and the Desktop Billing user’s manual.   Also, we’ll make weekly pre-release versions available for download in between regular WinTOTAL Aurora updates.  As always, the Aurora Status website is the best place to go to find out what’s going on with Desktop Billing.  To visit that page, click here. 

We’re looking forward to your feedback, and we’d like to thank all those that have already been involved.  You’re deeply appreciated. 

One last note before I go.  I received a number of replies from customers in response to my last update e-mail who had the impression that they had to upgrade to the new Windows Vista.  This IS NOT the case at all.  You do not have to upgrade to Vista.  New PCs being sold now come with Vista rather than XP, and we’re making sure Aurora is compatible.  Don’t worry.  We’ll continue to support Windows XP and 2000 for the foreseeable future. 

That’s it for today.  As always, thank you for your time and your business.  Please let me know if you have any questions.

Adam Calvery
VP, Appraisal Products
a la mode, inc. 

WinTOTAL Aurora (v5) – February 19, 2007 Update

This update contains improvements to Desktop Billing and many other areas of WinTOTAL.

Desktop Billing

• You can now enable Desktop Billing from WinTOTAL Configuration Utility.

Comps Database

• Adding a new comparable with a long street number no longer causes an overflow error. 
• Building Type is now properly added to the database when using a Canadian major form. 
• Gross Building Area, Energy Efficient Items, and Porch/Patio/Deck are now properly added to Commercial Database. 

Comps Side-by-Side

• Ctrl + L now locks fields in the side-by-side view. 

Contacts PowerView

• Added the ability to search contacts by first and last name.
• The Alt key shortcuts can now be used to access the File, Sync and Help menus. 
• The correct number of contacts is now properly displayed. 
• In the Company view, double-clicking a Contact shown under the Company will now open that Contact's information instead of the Company's.
• Scrolling in the Companies view after changing the "Group by" setting will no longer cause an error.
• When adding a contact, the “Assign to Company” field will only display the companies that match the type of contact (Appraiser, Client, Other).
• Multiple e-mail addresses can now be added to a single contact.
• The speed that contacts synch with an XSite is now much faster.
• Clicking one of the letter filters at the top of the PowerView, and then changing the "Group by" setting, will no longer cause a "run-time error 13.”

Conversion Wizard

• The car storage checkbox on the Exterior-Only Condo [Form 1075] is now converted correctly for Appraisal Studio reports.
• Conversion will now work with SFREP's new 1004 form.

Files PowerView

• A rare scenario that could display Windows Desktop items on the Workfile tab has been fixed. 
• Changes to the column layout made by dragging and dropping column headers are now saved properly. 

Forms PowerView

• WinTOTAL now detects if the major form in your report is Letter sized, and adds all accompanying minor forms (map pages, sketch pages, etc) as Letter sized automatically.
• A problem has been resolved that could cause parts of certain PDF files to be missing when they were added using Add Document.
• Certain PDF documents could be distorted after importing them with Add Document.  This will no longer happen.

General

• A problem has been corrected which prevented an appraiser contact from being added to a report after using the search to find that contact.
• A specific scenario has been corrected that could cause an error when saving a report stating "WinTOTAL was unable to insert the report into the database."
• When trying to print to PDF, if Adobe Reader isn’t installed, WinTOTAL now properly takes you to Adobe’s Download page. 
• Reports can no longer be closed while the Save process is running. 
• The correct dialog box is now opened when saving a report in Athena format. 
• Redundant backup copies of reports (.BZ2 and .BZ3 files) are no longer saved.  This does not affect your report file (.ZAP) or the main backup file (.BZ1). 
• When upgrading from Athena, a rare error when converting the text databases will no longer occur. 
• When creating a PDF, certain scenarios could cause a message box to be displayed behind WinTOTAL, making WinTOTAL appear as though it was frozen.  This will no longer occur.
• Adding images to a report from a folder that contains an apostrophe in its name will no longer cause errors.
• QuickList tooltips have been improved so they will not show off-screen. 

HoverLinks

• The "See How" link now points to the correct WinTOTAL User Guide. 
• The Maps PowerView option is now correctly listed in the PowerViews section. 
• Under WinTOTAL shortcuts, Photos PowerView now correctly shows as Images. 

Images PowerView

• An issue which could cause an error after adding a long address to a photo has been fixed.
• Switching away from the Images PowerView before it completely loads will no longer cause an error.
• An issue has been corrected which could cause the wrong address to be associated with an image when using the Add button on the toolbar to insert an image in the database.

net.X Connect

• If you incorrectly enter your XSite login information and then try to use net.X Connect to sync with your XSite, you’ll be prompted to input the correct login information. 

Order PowerView

• The Help link has been updated with new Order PowerView Options. 
• The Edit option is now disabled for contacts that have not been added to the contacts database.
• When searching for a contact in the Borrower, Co-borrower, Owner, Occupant or Agent fields, the proper search window is shown instead of the appraiser search.
• Appraiser contacts can now be inserted into the order form after searching for the contact. 
• Contact URLs now transfer into the order form correctly. 

Property Presentation Wizard

• Pasting information into the property description no longer allows you to add more text than can be displayed. 
• The XSite domain is no longer editable when delivering with the Property Presentation Wizard. 
• Images in .GIF format can now be uploaded to your XSite.
• Passwords are now saved correctly when the "Remember my password" option is checked.
• Contact information now displays correctly when previewing reports.

QuickBooks Integration

• Payments will now be applied correctly when using QuickBooks 2007. 

Report Delivery

• An issue which caused an error when searching for a contact by name has been corrected.

Sketch PowerView

• Canceling an import process no longer removes the Sketch areas from the PowerView. 
• Site Area square footage will now transfer when importing legacy sketches.

Workfile PowerView

• File comments are now being saved properly.
• When printing a PDF in your Workfile, a blank Adobe window is no longer opened.

New Forms

• NFIP Elevation Certificate [FEMA Form 81-31][February 2006] 
• Limited Residential 1095 [9-95]  

New Forms (Canadian)

• [Digital/Small] Comparable Photos [Ltr]
• [Digital/Small] Subject Photos [Ltr]

Forms - Updated Navigation

• [Digital Half] Map Page
• [Digital][General Half] Sketch Page
• [Digital][General] Sketch Page [Letter]  
• [Manual Half] Sketch Page
• [Manual Ltr] Sketch Page
• 1-4 Unit Property Inspection Report [10\95]
• 1-4 Unit Property Inspection Report [9\02]  
• Additional Competing Properties
• Agreement for Appraisal Services [Ltr]
• Appraiser Disclosure Statement [Appraiser] [Ltr]
• Appraiser's Resume [Single Page] [Supr. Sig.] 
• Appraiser's Resume [Single-page]
• Appraiser's Resume [Two Page] [Supr. Sig.] 
• Appraiser's Resume [Two-page]
• Appraiser's Worksheet [FmHA 1922-10]
• Catastrophic Disaster Area Inspection Report
• Commercial Review - 4002  
• Disaster Area Inspection Addendum [1 Page]
• Earthquake Insurance Analysis Addendum [FHLMC 2/1995]
• Energy Addendum
• Engagement Letter [Ltr]
• Environmental Addendum - Evaluator
• Evaluation [FW 69]
• Evaluation [FW 69] [combined date field]
• Fax Cover Sheet [Legal]
• Fax Cover Sheet [Letter]
• Fax Cover Sheet [Ltr] [Client]
• Final Certification of Substantial Completion [08/06]  
• Financial Grid
• Invoice [Manual DOS 2000 Lgl]  
• Invoice [Manual DOS 2000 Ltr]  
• Invoice [Manual DOS Old Legal]
• Invoice [Manual DOS Old Ltr]
• Irrigation, Drainage, Levee & Mineral Suppl. Rpt. [FmHA 1922-2] [Y2K]
• Letter of Transmittal [Automatic Ltr]
• Limited Residential 1095 [9-95]  
• Manufactured/Mobile Home In-Park Appraisal  
• Master Residential Appraisal 2045  
• Master Residential Appraisal 2045
• Multifamily Summary Appraisal [HUD-92264 8/95]  
• Multi-Purpose Supplemental Addendum
• Multi-Purpose Supplemental Addendum [Rev. 3/2002]
• Native American Cost-Based Valuation Addendum [Form 3080] [August 2004]
• NFIP Elevation Certificate [FEMA Form 81-31 Rev. 01/03]
• NFIP Elevation Certificate [FEMA Form 81-31] [February 2006]
• Nonfarm Tract Comp Data [FmHA 1922-12]
• Property History of Subject Property [3/2003]
• Property History of Subject Property [old]
• Rent Estimates for Low/Moderate Income Units [HUD-92264-T 04/2003]
• Residential Review - 2002 [NARA old 1988]
• Restricted Appraisal [FW79]  
• Review Narrative - 2004
• Review Short Form - 2006   
• Satisfactory Completion Certificate [Lgl Rev. 2002]
• Satisfactory Completion Certificate [Lgl w/sig. block]
• Satisfactory Completion Certificate [Lgl/Y2K]
• Satisfactory Completion Certificate [Ltr/Y2K]
• Satisfactory Completion Certificate w/Digital/Medium Photo [Lgl/Y2K]
• Scanned Document [Lgl] [Full Header]
• Settlement Statement [Transactions w/o Sellers] [HUD-1A 2/94]
• Small Income [old 10/89]  
• SONYMA Satisfactory Completion Certificate [208/12-00]
• Standard Flood Hazard Determination [FEMA Form 81-93 DEC 05]   
• Standard Flood Hazard Determination [Rev. 10/98]
• Standard Flood Hazard Determination [Rev. 6/95]  
• Supplemental Addendum [Single-page]
• Uniform Residential Loan Application [old]  
• Vacant Land Comparable
• W-9 Request for Tax ID Number [October 2004] [Supr. Sig.] 
• W-9 Request for Tax ID Number [old 2002]
• W-9 Request for Tax ID Number [old 2003] 

Forms - Updated Navigation (Canadian)

• [Digital/Manual] Comparable Sales Map
• [Digital/Manual] Environmental Hazards Map
• [Digital/Manual] Flood Map
• [Digital/Manual] Listings Map
• [Digital/Manual] Location Map
• [Digital/Manual] Plat Map
• [Digital/Manual] Site Map
• [Digital/Manual] Zoning Map
• [Digital] Above-Grade Building Sketch
• [Digital] Additional Buildings Sketch
• [Digital] Below-Grade Building Sketch
• [Digital] Building Sketch
• [Digital] Common Areas Sketch
• [Digital] Foundation Sketch
• [Digital] Location and Building Sketch
• Cover Page [Digital/Large Photo w/gray border and header] [AIC 2004]
• Cover Page [Digital/Large Photo w/gray border and header] [old]
• Cover Page [Digital/Large Photo w/gray border] [AIC 2004]
• Cover Page [Digital/Large Photo w/gray border] [old]
• Cover Page [Digital/Large Photo w/line border and header] [AIC 2004]
• Cover Page [Digital/Large Photo w/line border and header] [old]
• Cover Page [Digital/Large Photo w/line border] [AIC 2004]
• Cover Page [Digital/Large Photo w/line border] [old]
• Cover Page [No border] [AIC 2004]  
• Cover Page [No border] [old]  
• Cover Page [w/logo] [AIC 2004]
• Cover Page [w/logo] [old]
• Letter of Transmittal [Automatic Lgl]
• Letter of Transmittal [Automatic Ltr]
• Letter of Transmittal [Automatic w/logo Lgl]
• Letter of Transmittal [Automatic w/logo Ltr]
• Scanned Document [Lgl] [Full Header]
• Table of Contents/Cover Page [AIC 2004]
• Table of Contents/Cover Page [old]

{150.01 02/08/2007 TJH}