onTOPS Issue 37

August 2005

Welcome to onTOPS, an email magazine produced by TOPS Software to keep you informed about TOPS products and services.

In this issue:

• WHAT'S NEW: New Name, New Sales Office Address, New Employee
• SALES: Special Invitation
• WEB SITES: Keeping Residents In The Loop
• APPEARANCES: TOPS Comes to You!
• SPECIAL: $100.00 Off Any of These Great Modules Through September 30th
  CCR/ACC Enforcement, Work Order, Gate Security, or Pool Pass
• PRODUCT UPDATES: 11 New Updates to TOPS 2000™
• DOWNLOADS: 4 New Themes for TOPS 2000™
• SUPPORT: How Can I Get a Printout of All General Journal Entries Entered In January?

Feedback: insider@topssoft.com

WHAT'S NEW

New Name, New TOPS Sales Office Address, New Employee

There's always something new at TOPS Software, and this month is no exception! We have got three new happenings to share with you:

New Name

For years we've been known as TOPS Software to the Association Management industry. But in fact, when the company was originally formed back in 1985, the official corporate name was Property Management Systems, Inc.

Rather than referring to our product as "PMS Software", Our founders came up with the acronym "TOPS - The Optimal Property System", and the name "TOPS Software" was born.

Over the years TOPS Software has earned an excellent reputation as the product of choice in the association management industry. With such strong brand recognition tied to the TOPS name, Property Management Systems, Inc this month officially changed the corporate name to TOPS Software, LLC as part of our long term strategy to further reinforce the branding of new TOPS products.

New TOPS Sales Office Address

The TOPS Software Sales Office move went off without a hitch, and our sales staff are settling in to their new digs in the Clearwater Florida facility. While the physical location of the sales office has changed the great service you have come to expect is still the same.

Now, you can contact both TOPS Sales and TOPS Support by calling either of our toll-free numbers: 1-800-899-5689 or 1-800-760-9966. As always, you can e-mail sales@topssoft.com . The new mailing address is:

TOPS Software, LLC
25400 US 19 N. Suite 212
Clearwater, FL 33763

We welcome Sales to the Clearwater office and hope they enjoy living in the Tampa Bay area as much as we do.

New Employee - Welcome Carl Beal to TOPS!

Please join us in welcoming Carl Beal to the TOPS Software Support Team as the new Network Administrator.

Carl has over 10 years of experience in the IT industry. His broad range of knowledge of computer systems from main frames to high end raid servers is a tremendous asset to the TOPS Software operation and our clients.

Welcome Carl!

SALES

Special Invitation

On Thursday, September 15, 2005, at the e^deltatorium in Suwanee, GA, TOPS Software will be holding their very first User Group. The purpose of this User Group is to gather TOPS Software users together in a forum where they can learn how to make the most of their TOPS Software system. In addition, the User Group will serve as a forum for users to swap ideas and make suggestions for future versions of TOPS Software systems.

The cost to attend this first User Group is $15 per person, which includes a catered lunch. If you would like to attend, please contact TOPS Software Sales at 800-760-9966 or sales@topssoft.com The deadline to sign up for this User group is September 9, 2005.

TOPS INTERACTIVE WEB SITES

Keeping Residents In The Loop

It's Budget Time again and we've got some terrific news!!! No price increase for 2006!

On another topic, yet so closely related, states are starting to push (CO even passed) legislation that requires Boards to be more transparent in their business dealings, keeping residents informed throughout the year instead of just during the annual meeting. A Community Web Site is the perfect way to meet these requirements!! Board meeting minutes can be posted, budgets disclosed and even copies of contracts can be added to the web site.

If you're with an Association Management Company, contact our Sales Department web sales@topssoft.com and we'll customized information packets (including a guided tour of the web site service on CD!) for you to give to every board member. Web Sites allow for technology to handle the simple tasks freeing up a manager's time to handle the real issues related to association management! Partner with TOPS and bring leading edge technology right to your residents' doorsteps!

To learn more about TOPS Interactive Web Sites and how they benefit you, the HOA Officers, and residents go to www.topshome.com or Contact TOPS Web Sales at
(800) 556-7852 or web sales@topssoft.com.

APPEARANCES

TOPS Comes to You!

SPECIAL

Pick a Module, any Module

Receive $100 off the purchase of add-on modules from TOPS Software! Offer expires September 30, 2005.

There are millions of community associations all over the country and each association is different in their needs. Some are condominiums, some homeowners associations; some associations are gated, others have restricted parking; some have clubhouses, tennis courts and pools, and others have golf courses. No matter the particulars of your association, TOPS Software has the add-on module for you.

This month when you purchase CCR/ACC Enforcement, Work Order, Gate Security, or Pool Pass as an add-on module to your existing TOPS 2000™ system, you will receive $100 off the purchase price of that module. Now is the time to purchase the module(s) for your association's particular needs, because this offer expires on September 30, 2005!

Please call the TOPS Software Sales office at 800-760-9966 or e-mail to sales@topssoft.com for additional information.

DOWNLOADS

Four New Themes for TOPS 2000™

If you missed out on an exotic location for your summer vacation, take a virtual vacation to Asia with this month's themes. We have 4 this month: Kanji Characters, Pagoda, Sushi Time, and Zen and the Art of Kung Fu.

To download the new themes, click View, Theme Manager to access the program. When the Theme Manager appears, click the Download button next to the themes you wish to install. If you wish to uninstall a theme, click the remove button. Once you have finished installing themes, click the Done button to close the Theme Manager. To Switch Themes, click View, Themes, and select the theme you wish to apply.

We want to thank everyone for the kind words we have gotten regarding the TOPS Theme Manager. If you have a suggestion or a request for a future theme, please drop us a line at insider@topssoft.com.

PRODUCT UPDATES

11 New Updates for TOPS 2000™

Updates to Internet Backup

1. Internet Backup now provides an option for PDF documents.
2. Internet Backup graphics options has been replaced with the Attachments option.
3. Internet Backup has been updated to prevent the backup of temporary database files.

Updates to Utilities

1. Removed PDFs, Attachments, Filed Reports, and temporary database files from the "Transfer Community to TOPS" utility. This change will speed the upload process significantly when sending problem communities to TOPS Support for review.

Updates to Payroll

1. Corrected issues with deductions earning code for "Tips".
2. Employees with 2 or more earnings codes will not correctly print on check stubs.
3. Balance warning has been added for shortages in sick or vacation hours.
4. Leading zeros are no longer necessary when entering employee numbers to process payroll, allowing distributions to save correctly.
5. In Manual Payroll, SUI will now calculate correctly if the employee has not reached the maximum.
6. Quarterly Reports will no reflect data converted from the DOS Payroll correctly.
7. Changed the headings in the Quarterly Report.

Please be advised that the Internet Updater is restricted to customers on a current maintenance support agreement. If you are interested in our support plans, please go to http://www.topssoft.com/Support/MSA_plans.htm.

UPDATER: How to Update Your Files

1. Make sure you are logged into the computer that will be performing the update. (If you are updating in a networked environment, update the server first, as a workstation, and then run the update on each workstation.)
2. If it is open, close TOPS on your computer.
3. Connect to the Internet and navigate to http://www.topssoft.com/downloads.htm.
4. Under "Program Updates" click the GO button.
5. Click Open, to run the update from the current location.
6. When the TOPS Web Updater appears, click the down arrow next to 'Select Module to Check' and Choose TOPS 2000™.
7. On the bottom right, ensure that the "Workstation Only" option is selected.
8. Click the "Begin Update" button. (The system may prompt you for a User ID. If so, enter in your TOPS Customer ID).
9. Once the update is complete, you can close this window and re-open TOPS 2000™.

Direct questions to TOPS Support at 1-800-899-5689 or via email at support@topssoft.com.

SUPPORT

How Can I Get a printout of all general journal entries entered in January?

Q: How can I get a printout of all general journal entries entered in January?

A: You can print a list of general journal entries from the SOURCE REPRINT option.

To access SOURCE REPRINT, click on GL, then REPORTS. Select the SOURCE REPRINT button.

Complete the fields as shown:

SOURCE ID: GJ* (* = wildcard)
REFERENCE ID: *
START: 01/01/05
END: 01/31/05

Note: Every ledger entry in TOPS2000 is assigned a SOURCE ID and REFERENCE ID. These fields can be viewed from GL/VIEW ACCOUNTS or from a printout of the general ledger.

In the example above, a wildcard (*) is used to print ALL entries with a source id beginning with GJ. (General Journal SOURCE codes begin with GJ; i.e. GJ0003. Accounts Payable codes begin with AP; i.e. AP0000, etc.)

You can also print a single entry by entering a complete source id and reference id. See below example from the General Ledger Report showing SOURCE and REFERENCE fields. To print only the last transaction use:

SOURCE: AP0000
REF ID: 1441
START: 01/20/05
END: 01/20/05

CONTACT US:

Here is a list of some of the most common contact data for TOPS Software:

Copyright© 2005 TOPS Software, LLC, 25400 US 19 N Ste 212, Clearwater, FL 33763. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

To manage the emails that you receive from TOPS Software, please visit
http://www.topssoft.com/eforms/manage_subscriptions.htm.

What's onTOPS?
For regular TOPS News and Info, Subscribe to the onTOPS Ezine!

Click Here to Manage Your TOPS Subscriptions.

NOW OPEN: Online Support Center!
The TOPS Online Support Center lets you track support tickets, billing minutes and more for your Client ID. Create your account today!

Link to TOPS
Do you have a web site? Link to TOPS Software!