Shareware Overload/ShartewareOverload.cdr/finance/123respa.zip/UPDATE.DOC

Text File | 1991-07-03 | 12KB | 262 lines

                                     UPDATES

        Updates for Version 3.0
        =======================

        Several significant changes have occurred to get to version 3.0.

        1.   Menu System Accessed by Alt & M.  A menu system now resides
        where the macro system of doing things once ruled.  Don't worry
        if you liked the macros better... they're still there too.  The
        menu is accessed by pressing Alt M. The macros are listed
        parenthetically next to menu choices when available, so you can
        use macros as shortcuts if you wish.

        2.   Line Sensitive Help Accessed by F6 Key.  Line sensitive help
        during Data Entry is now a reality!  Help on any item is now
        available simply by pressing F6.  A one line message of help will
        then appear on the top of the screen.  To return to data entry,
        simply press F6 a second time.  Spreadsheet experts will
        recognize the F6 key as the {WINDOW} key, which is the
        cornerstone of the help system.  When you enter the data entry
        area from the menu or by pressing Alt & E, the screen is actually
        split vertically, with a two character wide window to the right.
        When you press F6, you are actually jumping to the window on your
        right.  It is extremely narrow, and can't be easily read from
        there, but the full contents of the cell are readable at the top
        of the screen!  There was a sacrifice in cell protection to
        achieve this window jumping help system.  All cells in the data
        entry area can now be accessed, including many which contain
        critical formulas which impact results throughout the
        spreadsheet.  Each of these have been clearly marked with text
        markers which say "FYI: (explanation) ------>".  Do not make
        entries into these cells.

        3.   Export Checks to Quicken.  If you have Quicken check writing
        program, most of your closing checks can now be written for you.
        From the menu choice, Print/Checks, a file is automatically
        created in your spreadsheet called Checks.Prn.  You simply need
        to switch over to Quicken, log into the account you desire, and
        press F2 followed by 6 (for Import).  Identify the file to be
        imported, (i.e. C:\Lotus\Checks.Prn).  Answer No to need for
        special handling, and that's it!.  Eighteen common transactions
        will be entered into your account, including deposits, mortgage
        payoffs, cash to sellers, and many others.  Some check entry will
        still be required, (and some checks may need to be deleted












        because they are for $0.00).  The goal is to speed up the
        preparation for closing, and while 100% coverage of all possible
        checks can (and has) been programmed, the execution time of
        searching for all possible checks, especially to one-time payees,
        is much slower than entering a few checks manually.  The template
        exports the eighteen most common items.

        4.   Allways Line and Shading.  In response to popular demand,
        Allways graphics capabilities has been taken further advantage
        of, resulting in the most attractive form print-outs to date.
        Alternate line shading, boxes and the like make the forms look
        more professional than ever.

        5.   Printed Calculation Detail Provided for Seller Attorney.
        Detailed information showing how you arrived at your calculations
        can be printed for review by the Sellers or their attorney right
        from the menu.  (Print Data, or Alt-C). Add this to the print-out
        of pages one and two for review before closing, and the Seller's
        attorney will have full documentation of the closing figures.

        6.   Precise "Go-To" Choices.  Moving around has become much more
        precise.  The Go-To functions have been expanded to allow you to
        go right to any one of six locations on either page one or page
        two of the RESPA.  After choosing Go-To Page One or Page Two on
        the menu (or Alt-O or Alt-T), press any number from 1 through 6.
        The location you'll be taken to is as follows:

                  ╔══════════════════════════════╗
                  ║ 1                          2 ║
                  ║                              ║
                  ║                              ║
                  ║                              ║
                  ║                              ║
                  ║ 3                          4 ║
                  ║                              ║
                  ║                              ║
                  ║                              ║
                  ║                              ║
                  ║ 5                          6 ║
                  ╚══════════════════════════════╝

        This feature takes you much closer to any specific location you
        are trying to get to.













        7.   Informational Property Tax Entry on RESPA Page Two.  The
        payment of property taxes on page two has an added explanatory
        feature, showing the purchaser how much of the taxes are being
        contributed by the seller.  Buyers have often been confused by
        the listing of full tax payments on page two, forgetting the
        pro-rating is done on page one.  Of course, this added
        information is strictly in the text portion of the statement, and
        the corrrect proration is still maintained on page one.  But,
        buyers appreciate being shown the interplay of the figures and
        knowing they are not paying too much.

        8.   More Efficient Programming. The codes for menu functions and
        macros have been reworked wherever poossible to make them more
        efficient and faster.  On visible change is the need for the file
        RESPA.ALS to be copied from the distribution diskette into your
        ALLWAYS directory.  Page Layout readings are then accessed with
        one command, rather than running through all the layout
        information for all the possible print settings.

        9.   Allways Hot Keys Now Irrelevant.  Access to ALLWAYS has been
        improved.  The F7 hot key no longer needs to be your hot-key into
        Allways.  In fact, when the template needs to access Allways, it
        doesn't matter what hot-key you've chosen, and the template even
        checks to see if Allways is even attached to the spreadsheet or
        not!  If not, the template attaches Allways and proceeds with its
        business.

        10.  Important Information Now Displayed at Home.  The "home"
        screen is much less cluttered because of the removal of the macro
        listing.  This has allowed room for the addition of important
        information.

        First, the closing date is now on the home screen.  Such
        prominent placement of the closing date is justified by its
        importance in multiple calculations throughout the template.
        Because many people have trouble grasping the concept of how to
        enter dates into 123, a macro called Alt D has been included to
        allow date entry in the more conventional form of MM/DD/YR.  The
        macro is used to get the closing date correctly inserted, but Alt
        D can be used whenever you are in any date cell, provided you
        arrived at the cell in unprotected mode (ie, you didn't use the
        menu or a macro to place you into Data Entry).













        Second, provided you use the menu or macro "Save" features, the
        current name of the template is displayed, along with the name
        the template will be saved under if you access the "Save" feature
        now.  This helps prevent accidental overwrites of important
        files.  A WARNING is displayed if the name to be saved is
        RESPA.WK1, because this is the master copy of the template.
        However, there is no impediment other than the warning to making
        customizing changes in the RESPA.WK1 for your own use.

        Updates for Version 2.0
        =======================
        Lotus 123 combined with Allways and a laser printer can make for
        wonderful printing capabilities, which is a combination we've
        taken advantage of in our latest upgrade to our RESPA template.
        It's hard to tell the difference between the print-out from this
        template and a HUD-1 form purchased from a legal supply house.

        To run this template as it is currently set up, you'll need an
        IBM or compatible computer, Lotus 123 v.  2.0+ software, Allways
        software, and a Hewlett Packard IIP or compatible laser printer.

        The menu choices and macros are all run while in 123, and will
        access Allways only when needed for printing.  You should use
        legal size paper in your printer, but you will not have to make
        any menu setting changes on the printer itself.  Users of the old
        template will notice all the dots and dashes are missing from the
        on-screen display, but all the lines you need are there when you
        call up Allways.

        There have been other improvements to the RESPA Template as well.
        The template provides for pro-rata adjustment of homeowner
        association dues, with the adjustment based on the actual number
        of days in the month.

        The template also calculates the per diem new loan interest, and
        calculates how much interest should be paid from the day of
        closing through the end of the month of closing.  It seems there
        is no universal method for calculating the per diem, and often
        lenders will come up with a figure pennies off from the
        calculated number.  For that reason, the cell is left unprotected
        and can be overwritten with the lender's number.  Nevertheless,
        the calculation is of great value in (a) keeping lenders,
        especially inexperienced closers, from making a gross error, and
        (b) giving clients estimates of what to expect before the lender
        figures are made available.













        Taking the proper amount of per diems on mortgage pay-offs can
        also be a trap for the unwary or careless.  For that reason,
        based on your answers, the mortgage payoff information now
        displays the DAY and DATE you are providing for the payoff to
        clear the old lender.  If you tell the template you need three
        days past closing for the check to get to and clear the old
        lender, it will tell you just what day of the week three days
        from then is, and will tell you the date.  No more fear of
        miscounting days and finding you took only enough per diems to
        get through a Saturday or Sunday!

        A sample of title insurance rate calculations has been left in
        the template.  The automatic calculation of title insurance
        premiums is a big help in protecting your clients from gross
        errors in calculations by inexperienced clerks at title agencies.
        For a nominal programming charge, registered owners of the
        template can order a customized template with title insurance
        rates of their favorite title company already built in.  Ask for
        more details when you register.  In fact, programming on the
        template is available for any of your firm's unique needs.  Feel
        free to describe what you'd like to see done, and ask for a quote
        when you register.  Make sure you include your address and phone
        number.