May 2006
- What's the Future of TOPS? You Tell Us!
- Maximize Your ROI through TOPS Training
- Notes from CAI Spring National Conference
- TOPS Web Site Special for Smaller Associatons
- Latest Design Options for TOPS Interactive Web Sites
06/13/06 TOPS User Group (Phoenix, AZ)
07/27-28/06 CACM Expo and Conf. (Anaheim, CA)
08/16/06 TOPS User Group (Clearwater, FL)
08/17/06 TOPS User Group (Fort Myers, FL)
08/23/06 TOPS User Group (Orlando, FL)
08/24/06 TOPS User Group (Fort Lauderdale, FL)
10/13/06 CAI Houston Chapter (Houston, TX)
American Coupon Company: The Payment
Book Specialist! Quick setup and turnaround time with personal customer
service is our commitment to you. We are uniquely capable of processing
orders in all TOPS formats. (800) 624-3952, or
www.amcoup.com.
Best Fit Solutions, LLC provides TOPS v3.2.1™ training & accounting services. On-site or Internet-based training services available. Learn more at www.bestfitsolutions.net, or call 281-870-0404.
Use www.ReadyDOCS.com to sell documents online and turn Process into Profit. Contact us at (888) 497-8832 to find out how!
ReadyCollect integrates with TOPS Software to provide a complete collections process when accounts are turned over to your attorney. Visit www.ReadyCollect.com for more information on this money-saving program.
TOPS Corporate Trainer now provides
training on your site or via the Internet! Our corporate trainer, Dave
Black, has years of experience training in TOPS Software products. To
schedule a training session:
Toll-Free: 1-800-760-9966
Email: davidb@topssoft.com
The TOPS Internet Backup Service allows you to automatically back up your important TOPS Community Data from right inside TOPS v3.2.1™! For More Info, see www.topsbackup.com.
The TOPS Web Admin Forum, located at admin.topswebsites.com provides resources for TOPS Community Web Site Administrators, from free web site content to direct chat with other admins. If you are not a member of this forum, be sure to request your login today.
If you have not yet checked out TOPS' Online Support Center, do it today! You can see your current usage minutes, review past tickets, and see what tickets are open for your organization. All you need to do is know your TOPS Client ID and fill in a one-time sign-up form.
TOPS Software will be conducting our second User Group Conference on June 13, 2006 in Phoenix Arizona.
The conference will be sponsored by US Bank, and held at their facilities in Phoenix.
Contact Sales at 1-800-760-9966 or sales@topssoft.com for more information.
The onTOPS Ezine is published by TOPS Software, LLC., 25400 US 19 N. Clearwater, FL 33763. Copyright© 2001-2006, All rights reserved. Articles may be reprinted with permission from the publisher.
Welcome to onTOPS!
Welcome back to the onTOPS Ezine, a monthly email publication from TOPS Software. We hope you enjoy reading this month's issue!
All of the articles in the ezines are stored in the articles section of our web site, www.topssoft.com, which also means that ezine articles are searchable via our web site search engine! You will find the search link at the bottom of each article, along with a convenient option to send an article of interest to a friend or colleague.
Please send feedback to: insider@topssoft.com
TOPS Software is searching for companies interested in Beta Testing our two newest products:
5 companies are needed to test the new enhanced Internet Backup Service Files and Folders backup. This new enhancement allows you to back up any files and folders from your local machine, in addition to backing up your TOPS community files. Customers interested in testing this new version of the Backup service should be existing users of the TOPS Internet Backup Service. Contact webbackup@topssoft.com to apply.
Beta testers are needed to try out our new Calendar/Scheduler program. Interested customers should be on TOPS v3.2.1™, in a networked environment, and on an active support agreement. Customers using the CC&R, Work Order, or Job Streaming modules, or the TOPS Internet Backup Service or TOPS Interactive Web Sites are especially welcome. Interested parties should contact info@topssoft.com to apply.
Those selected to join the Beta groups will be contacted via email. Testers will receive a pre-release copy of the program, along with initial documentation in the beginning of June.
What's the Future of TOPS? You Tell Us!
Sooner than you realize, TOPS Software will be releasing the most ambitious design to date of our industry leading Association Management Software Package. This revolutionary new software product is being designed from the ground up to be the ultimate solution for association management companies.
Now we want to hear from you! What would you like to see in the next version of TOPS? We have created a form where you can type in your thoughts, comments, wild ideas, and wishes. Send them to us, and we will do our best to make sure they come true.
[More]
User Group Update
We've received an overwhelming response to the announcement of the June 13th TOPS User Group Conference in Phoenix, Arizona. So much, in fact, that every seat has been filled!
This is shaping up to be a truly exciting event, where we will be sharing best practices, tips and tricks to maximize the efficiency of your staff, information on all of the new technology that we are working on, and getting your feedback to help shape the future direction of TOPS Software's family of association management products.
This is also an excellent networking opportunity to exchange ideas with other TOPS Users.
[More]
Maximizing your ROI through TOPS Training
Buying a software package like TOPS v3.2.1™, a system that is vital for business operations, and not investing in initial training is like buying a forty-foot sailboat without taking sailing lessons. While it looks great, getting it out of the slip without being trained to sail it will be quite a feat. Yet many people mistakenly believe that training isn't necessary to operate such a robust system.
Another misconception is that TOPS Technical Support provides training. Calls to Technical Support will get you answers to questions that might include simple problems and general "how-to" questions or help with more complex advanced features or an operating failure. But these answers do not compare to the knowledge and increased efficiency you gain from the training you will get from an experienced trainer of TOPS Software products.
[More]
Notes from the CAI Spring National Conference
CAI's National Conference was a inspirational experience that was both exciting and frenetic. We hardly noticed the backdrop of beautiful Palm Springs, California, as this was one of the busiest and best attended conferences in years. Attendees from TOPS included Jeff Hardy, President, Ryan Allen, Vice President of Technical Services, and myself.
We received raves galore about TOPS v3.2.1™ from customers who made a point to stop by our booth to tell us. Among the more popular features that people couldn't stop talking about were the new CC&R Batches and the Attachments feature. We also gave a sneak preview of two of the new products we will be releasing within the next two months - the TOPS Calendar/Scheduler and the new Files and Folders functionality for the TOPS Internet Backup Service, both of which generated a lot of excitement. The cobalt blue shot glasses commemorating TOPS' 21st anniversary were also a huge hit.
[More]
Special Pricing for Smaller Associations:
Attention property managers: Do you have associations with fewer than 50 units? Take advantage of our special limited time offer to provide a full-featured TOPS Community Web Site for your smaller associations. Through this amazing service, residents of small communities can now enjoy the same benefits as residents of large communities, without having to pay the same price.
From now until July 31, 2006, TOPS Software is offering a lower cost solution for smaller associations who have always wanted a TOPS Interactive Web Site, but found it cost prohibitive - until now. Sign up your associations with 50 or fewer units for a TOPS Interactive Web Site by July 31, and receive half off the $100 set up fee, and pay only $29.95 monthly.*
This pricing is guaranteed for the first two years of your community's web site. That's $530 in savings!
[More]
The Latest Design Options for TOPS Interactive Web Sites:
New Frameless Site Layouts!
TOPS Software is pleased to announce the latest development in our TOPS Interactive Web Site Service: We've gone Frameless!
New Flash Headers!
Management Company Web Sites, and communities under the Premium Web Site plan can now take advantage of our newest design feature, Flash headers. A Flash Header is an animated graphic displayed in the header of your home page, enticing visitors, and enhancing the look of your web site. You can see an example of a Flash header implemented on one of our client's web sites, at www.camga.com.
[More]
What is the Difference Between Cash and Accrual Accounting?
Cash basis accounting is similar to a personal checkbook. Financial transactions are recorded when cash is received or paid out. Income is recorded when cash is received and deposited to the bank. Expenses are recorded when a check is written to pay a bill. Nothing is recorded in your General Ledger unless a Cash transaction occurs.
[More]
- Congratulations to Chris Layton! Baby Elizabeth Gail was born on May 2, 2006.
- Congratulations to Brian and Kerry Shaw, who were married on May 13, 2006!
- Happy first wedding anniversary to Carl and Nicole Beal, and Ryan and Chantel Allen.
- Congratulations to Bruce Gran on joining the CAI National Faculty.
TOPS v3.2.1™>
- Activated the user dictionary for spell checker in Form Letter. Users can click the "Add" button to add words to the user dictionary. (If Form Letter continues to be out of date after updating, toggle Setup, Use Advanced Form Letter off, then on again.)
- Corrected issue with Phone Messenger reports printing blank for some customers.
- Updated Phone Messenger user interface to remove redundant icons at the bottom of the 'My Messages' screen.
- Upgraded CC&R Reminders to provide a cleaner front end, and a more reliable back-end.
- Corrected error 424 message that appeared when attempting to click Copy Settings button in the CC&R Control Info.
- Corrected issue causing owners not to display in the selection for Gate Security Special Instructions.
- Check Rec module can now handle $10 million dollar amounts.
- Changed pool passes so printed child passes are highlighted to be more easily recognizable.
- Corrected user access issue causing Pool Pass to deny entry to customers with valid keys.
- Moved 'Thru Date' below the image on Avery 5361 Picture ID passes in Pool Pass.
- Added relationship field to Avery 5361 Picture ID passes.
- Corrected issue with Income Statement cutting off data on the first page when printing in Landscape mode.
- Corrected issue with Summary Group Owner report printing an extra blank page.
- Expanded the size of the Property Manager signature field in the General tab of the Community Fact Sheet. The property manager's signature merge code may now hold up to 64,000 characters.
- In the Community Fact Sheet, Board President address now pulls from Location of Homes, instead of from Community Info.
View More TOPS v3.2.1™ Updates >>
TOPS On-Site>
- Corrected security issue allowing users to add new communities without logging in.
- Corrected issue causing Work Order or CC&R not to load upon entering the module for some customers.
- The security key system has been updated to mirror that of TOPS v3.2.1™. This eliminates the need for key disks, and allows keys to be distributed automatically via the Internet.
TOPS MaintCo>
- Payment Adjustment action buttons are now available when entering the Pay Adjust screen.
- Activity log now records work order deletion.
- Corrected issue causing Work Order charges not to update properly.
TOPS Interactive Web Sites>
- Replaced the old Web Reports Manager with a new scaled down program that allows you to perform the needed administration to keep your report list up-to-date on your community web sites.
- We've gone Frameless! Customers can now choose between a framed or frameless site layout for Management and Community Web Sites. [More]
- Flash headers now available for new site setup. A Flash Header is an animated graphic displayed in the header of your home page, enticing visitors, and enhancing the look of your web site. [More]
New Themes>
- We have two new themes this month kicking off our City series: St Louis and Vegas Baby!
Software Sales
- 800.760.9966
Web Site Sales - 800.556.7852
Tech Support - 800.899.5689
ext1
Web Support - 800.899.5689
ext2
Backup Service - 800.899.5689
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Billing Questions - 301.869.8144
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