Dear WinTOTAL User:

In my update e-mails, I try to stick to specific changes related to the updates we’re shipping, but today I need to broaden it a bit. That’s because, instead of posting an update today, I made the decision to hold it for another week so we can get a few more core fixes in, and to be sure those fixes are properly tested. I want you to know why.

1. We want extra testing time for some recent changes to the most core components in WinTOTAL. As Dave mentioned last week, speed and stability (“crashing”) issues have been noticeably improved in our test versions. (One severe automated stress test went from being able to run 15 times in a row to now looping 8000 times without a problem.) We have a special team dedicated to the core forms engine, which is the foundation for everything else in WinTOTAL, and these areas are currently addressed in the update you’ll receive:

Fixes to the cursor jumping randomly while in the forms
The screen flicker when typing and scrolling has been addressed
You’ll see much smoother movement tabbing and entering through fields
Greater stability in the Comps side-by-side view when adjusting, swapping, adding and removing comps
Perhaps most importantly, a dramatic increase in overall stability
Much more reliable files management
All the additional things listed below in #2

Because some normal “fixes to the fixes” came out late in the testing cycle, I want the extra week, and I assume you do too. If not, we have an option.

2. For those interested, we can give you a pre-release version of the files we’re testing for next week’s update. People reporting specific problems can get the updated files now, on an ad hoc basis. So far the results are incredibly positive. If you’re having any of these issues, e-mail me at debug@alamode.com and I’ll see to it that you’re sent a link to the files. Remember, these are pre-release, but I’d like to hear from you if you’ve experienced:

“Error 0” when saving reports
Missing files from your Files PowerView
Crashing when in the Comps side-by-side view
Opening a report and the last things you entered are missing
Frequent WinTOTAL crashes
TOC.XML errors when opening Athena reports in Aurora for the first time

3. The non-lender forms are still ready, but have to be held until next Friday. I really wanted to get these new Appraisal Institute AI Reports™ out to you this week. But the forms are dependant on the core components we’re testing for the next week. They’re ready, and they’ll be available to you next Friday.

This was a little longer than I’d hoped. I know how busy we all are, but hopefully this is information you’ll find useful. We’re continuing to work on mapping, comps, the Files PowerView, form filling, photos and many other things, but this next update will be focused primarily on important core forms engine fixes I listed here.

The bottom line is that the update will be on the 21st, and it will have a big impact for those of you with the worst problems. As always, thanks for your support and your feedback. If there’s anything I can do, please let me know.

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