01 onTOPS

May 2002

1. onTOPS: Welcome to onTOPS!
2. onSoftware: What will be in version 3.1
3. onSales: Improving our service to you
4. onSupport: TOPS On-Site
5. onSpecial: Web Site Discounts
6. onLine: New stuff on our web site

onTOPS

Welcome to onTOPS, a new e-zine produced by TOPS Software to keep you informed about our products and services. This is the first issue of onTOPS. We look forward to hearing your feedback about the e-zine. Please let us know what things you liked, what you would like to see, and any suggested articles.

We are adding several new functions to our software package in addition to improving our service to our valued clients.  The community association industry is dynamic; our product must be updated regularly to stay current with the rapidly changing environment to which our software is designed. 

Read the articles below to learn of the many improvements that TOPS is making.

by Bruce Gran

onSoftware

As you may have heard, we are currently preparing to release a new update to TOPS 2000(tm). The new version number will be 3.1, and a number of improvements and new features will be included. 

Only customers who have purchased a Maintenance Support Agreement with Updates will be eligible to receive the update. Following are a few of the key features that will be included:

• We have added "Closed Through" in the General Ledger and throughout our software to prevent posting to closed accounting periods.
• We changed the General Ledger year-end closing to retain the transaction detail after closing.
• We have added the ability in cash receipts to allow for entry of negative amounts ( to clear credit balances) to charge codes.
• We have activated a number of "rental management" features in our software to help our customers who also handle a limited number of rental properties. 
• We have redesigned the Gate Security, CC&R, and Work Order modules to add more functions and to make them easier to use.
• We have added a Community Fact Sheet to the Owner Database.
• We are developing a "job streaming" program for our software, which will be a tremendous time saver to portfolio managers.

Changes will be released in two stages. The first stage (version 3.04), due out in early June, will contain updates to optional modules Work Order, CC&R, Gate Security, and Pool Pass. The second stage will be the full version 3.1 release with all of the new features listed above. We expect to release that version by the end of the summer. 

by Jeff Hardy & Bruce Gran

onSales

TOPS has a new feature available to you to solve some of those "issues" that have been a task for you in the past. Have you ever wanted a computer in a remote location to review pool passes, at the gate house or in a clubhouse to check status of work orders, architectural applications? Well now we have it available to you.

It's called Tops On-Site, and it is a stand alone product whereby you can research these pieces of information and enter new work orders/vehicle information, etc. If you have a pool and need to know who has access and print a new pass on a weekend, you could do it. If you need to find out who owns that black sports car that's circling the neighborhood and see if it belongs in there at 10pm, you can do it.

The information is downloaded from the main server at the office and loaded via floppy or network to the remote location. On-site employees have access to potentially everything but the accounting functions. These are not available with the On-Site product. Information can't be merged so data entry can only be done at one location for any of these options, and then exported and restored to the other location. Each module is optional so you only get the ones you want/need to have. 

For more information about these or any other products, call the Sales Office at 800-760-9966, or e-mail sales@topssoft.com.

by Cathy Flynn

onSupport

In addition to the many improvements we are making to our software, we have been working to improve the service we provide to our customers. Here are some of the recent developments on that front: 

• We have added two new members to the TOPS Software team in technical support.
• Support hours have been extended to accommodate west coast hours.
• We have added dealers and trainers in key areas of the country to better serve our many clients.

Please contact me directly via email, bruceg@topssoft.com with any ideas that would improve our software or services, we are genuinely motivated to be the best possible software package in the community association industry. 

by Bruce Gran

onSpecial

This month, management company customers can receive a $50 discount on the setup of your own website when you sign up 2 new community websites. For more information, and a live demo, check out: http://www.topshome.com/

by Andrea Drennen

onLine

Some of the new stuff online:

• New message forums added - http://pub57.ezboard.com/btopssoftware 
• New Articles Added - http://www.topssoft.com/Articles/index.htm 
• New Management Companies Added - http://www.topssoft.com/mgmt_locator.htm 
• New Dealers and Trainers Added - http://www.topssoft.com/Sales/dealers.htm  http://www.topssoft.com/Support/TOPS_Training.htm 
• New Advanced Search Added - http://www.topssoft.com/search.htm 
• New Navigation System Implemented - Our new DHTML Menu bar has been implemented to make it even easier to navigate our site
• New Items Added to FAQ - http://www.topssoft.com/Support/faq.htm 
• New How Tos Added - http://www.topssoft.com/Support/howto.htm 
• TOPS On-Site Section Added - http://www.topssoft.com/TOPS_On-Site/ 

by Andrea Drennen

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