Springbrook Enhancement Lists

Springbrook Code Modernization

Springbrook’s underlying system architecture has been updated for 7.17.0. This project involved a complete programmatic translation from Progress 4GL to the more modern C# programming language. This update will result in a number of “behind-the-scenes” improvements to the application without affecting the familiar look and feel for application users.

Changes to be aware of include:

• The Progress/OpenEdge application server tier is no longer supported and has been replaced by the Springbrook Application Server component. Springbrook recommends a new/clean operating system installation. Alternatively, Progress can be uninstalled/removed from the existing server. Organizations may also stop using Progress and allow it to remain on the existing application server, though Springbrook recommends against this approach.
• As a result of the above change, Progress DBMS (database management system) is no longer supported.
• .NET 4.5 is a new server-side requirement.
• IIS 7 has been a server-side requirement for some time, but the Springbrook application tier is now completely dependent upon IIS. This provides increased visibility into the application layer and an opportunity for better system monitoring.
• Regular application users no longer need file share permissions to most of the Springbrook application server (users only need read-access to the ClickOnce Deployments). The only users that will need direct access to the Springbrook application server are IT staff or individuals that need to save external or local reports. This enhancement provides improved control over how users access files from the Springbrook application tier.
• Upgrading to 7.17.0 will require minor changes to the machine.config file on the Springbrook application server. These changes to the config file will impact every .NET application on the server in question. The specific change allows for transaction times longer than the default of 10 minutes.
• IT staff should review these changes before upgrading from 7.16.0 to 7.17.0.

 

Client Logging

The Logging Settings window has been added to the Help menu. This window allows users to log information about the current session, including information about events such as errors, warnings and updates.

 

Exception Reporting

The Exceptions Reporting window has been enhanced for 7.17.0 to utilize standard Springbrook data grid sorting functionality. This is a minor change that will not impact the user interface.

 

Job Scheduler

The Job Scheduler has been enhanced for 7.17.0. This window will now display “Review” instead of “Complete” in the Status column if the job was completed but needs additional attention.

 

The Job Scheduler has been updated to utilize parallel processing. This update will improve performance when multiple jobs are being processed simultaneously.

 

Login Screen

The Login Screen has been updated to include a splash animation for 7.17.0. This animation will help prevent users from attempting to login a second time while the initial login attempt is being processed.

 

Performance Tuning

The application has undergone another round of performance tuning for 7.17.0. This ongoing tuning process is designed to improve general system performance by improving the application code.

 

Query by Example

Query by Example reports across the application have been updated for 7.17.0 to more closely match standard database naming and sorting conventions. All database-specific tables and fields are now rendered in lower case and all fields are now ordered by name. While this change will have no effect on Query by Example report functionality, organizations that use third-party reporting tools may need to update any reporting queries written before the upgrade to 7.17.0.

 

The Query by Example Maintenance window has been updated application wide to sort the available report fields by field name. This change applies to fields in both the Primary and Secondary tables and is meant to improve efficiency.

The PR Employee Location field has been added to the list of available fields on the Query by Example Maintenance window. This field corresponds to the Location field on the PR Employee Maintenance window.

 

Report Sorting

The Springbrook Code Modernization project outlined above resulted in an update to the default sort order on a few Springbrook reports. These changes are minor, but you should confirm that the reports listed below are set up to sort in a manner that works best for your organization.

• AP> Reports> Outstanding Invoices
• CR> Cash Receipts> Proof List
• GL> Reports> Account Type
• PR> Computer Checks> ACH Register
• PR> Oregon Retirement> Export
• PR> State Reports> Oregon Tax Report
• PR> State Reports> Oregon Unemployment Export
• UB> Maintenance> Account> Account History

Employee Self Service

Updated the account lockout message to provide locked-out employees with more useful information about how to unlock their ESS account.

 

The user-configurable Web Explanation text field has been moved from the right margin of the window to the top. This change will improve readability and allow users to create longer web explanations without being concerned with formatting the explanations to display in the margin.

 

The Weekly Total field has been added to the Pay > Timesheets page. This field will display the total amount for each week of timesheet entries.

 

Error messaging has been improved across the ESS application. The general "This page is unavailable" message has been replaced with more specific messages that cover common issues such as unauthorized user and invalid URL messages.

Computer Checks

The Computer Checks process has been updated to include support for VersaSeal Z-Fold laser checks. This feature allows users to print checks that do not require an envelope in the Checks step of the process.

 

Invoices

The Invoices process has been enhanced to include Tag security on the Invoices step. This enhanced security feature will prevent Springbrook users from creating new invoices for a vendor that they do not have access to.

Tag functionality is a premium feature. Contact your Springbrook Project Manager for more information.

 

The Springbrook Code Modernization project outlined above resulted in an update to the default description displayed in the AP> Invoice> Reference field for invoices generated from PR Computer Checks. The system will now always select the first invoice line description to populate the Reference field. This change will have no other effect on the Invoices process.

 

Vendor Maintenance

The ACH Type field has been added to the Details tab of the Vendor Maintenance window. This drop-down menu is used to select type of automatic clearing house transaction that will be associated with the vendor. Users can select Consumer (PPD) or Business (CCD) from the drop-down menu. This enhancement is related to the updated Clearing House module export file formats covered below.

 

The Tag tab has been added to the Vendor Maintenance window. This tab is used to add or remove tags that are associated with the vendor. See the Tag Maintenance item in the System Setup section below for more information. Tag functionality is a premium feature. Contact your Springbrook Project Manager for more information.

 

Manual Checks

The Import step has been added to the Manual Checks process. This step allows users to import historic AP data or large numbers of manual checks into the system. This step takes advantage of the new Configurable Import functionality to allow users to customize the import file to fit their needs.

 

The Configurable Z-Fold option has been added to the Check Type drop-down field on the Checks tab. This allows users to select the VersaSeal Z-Fold check as the default configurable check for Accounts Payable. Z-Fold checks do not require an envelope.

 

Void Checks

The WO Distribution step has been added to the Void Checks process. This step will reverse any work order distribution transactions that were created by each check associated with a work order.

Account Maintenance

The ACH Type field has been added to the ACH Info tab of the Account Maintenance window. This drop-down menu is used to select type of automatic clearing house transaction that will be associated with the account. Users can select Consumer (PPD) or Business (CCD) from the drop-down menu. This enhancement is related to the updated Clearing House module export file formats covered below.

 

Utilities

Added the Rebalance Accounts tool that allows users to rebalance AR accounts.

Form Maintenance

Nested mail merge functionality has been added to the Form Maintenance window for 7.17.0. This feature will allow users to include lists of fees and inspections associated with a permit on the mail merge forms that the system generates for the permit holder. In a related update, the Compatibility mode toggle has been added to the Letters window launched from the Adjustments and Letters processes and from the Permit Maintenance window. This toggle is used to toggle off the default nested mail merge functionality described above.

 

The mail merge field names displayed in MS Word have been expanded for clarity for 7.17.0.

 

The Form Maintenance window has been enhanced to include DATE and NEXTRECORD word merge functionality. The DATE merge field will display today’s date. The NEXTRECORD merge field will force the current row to move to the next record without adding a new page.

 

Utilities

Added the Rebalance Permits tool that allows users to rebalance BP Permits.

Business Maintenance

The Business Number field on the General tab of the Business Maintenance window has been expanded to 10 digits. This enhancement provides organizations with more freedom when formatting business numbers.

 

The Creation Date field has been added to the General tab of the Business Maintenance window. This field will record the date the business was created and cannot be edited.

 

The Number of Employees field on the General tab of the Business Maintenance window has been updated to no longer require a non-zero number.

 

The Licenses tab of the Business Maintenance window has been updated so that it will not display when an organization does not use the Licenses and Permits module.

 

Form Maintenance

The Compatibility mode toggle has been added to the Letters windows launched from the Letters and Past Due processes and from the Business Maintenance window. This toggle is used by some organizations to enable legacy word merge functionality that is not supported by Springbrook.

 

Reports> Unapplied Credits

The Unapplied Credits report was added to the Business Tax module. This report is used to display accounts that have credits that need to either be refunded or applied to invoices in the redistribution process.

 

BT Setup

The Validate Federal Tax ID toggle has been added to the Settings tab of the BT Setup window. When checked, this toggle with alert a user when the Federal Tax ID number entered on a new BT Business record matches the Federal Tax ID number on an existing BT Business record.

Cash Receipts

The Import Receipts step has been added to the Cash Receipts process. This step is used to import payment data from Online-Bills.com and third party applications through a user-configurable import file. The Import Receipts functionality is a premium feature. Contact your Springbrook Project Manager for more information.

 

The BT Proof List has been enhanced to include a drill-down links to any BT returns included in the report. The return record will open in read-only mode.

Direct Debit

The Generate Pre-Note step has been enhanced with additional validation protection for 7.17.0. The step will no longer be allowed to process if a Misc AR account is included in the batch.

 

The format for the file generated in the Export ACH File step has been updated. The records included in the file will now be grouped by Entity Type as either Consumer or Business records.

 

Electronic AP

The format for the file generated in the Export ASCII File step has been updated. The records included in the file will now be grouped by Entity Type as either Consumer or Business records.

Form Maintenance

The Compatibility mode toggle has been added to the Letters window launched from the Steps tab of the Issue Maintenance window. This toggle is used by some organizations to enable legacy word merge functionality that is not supported by Springbrook.

Period Budgeting

Period Budgeting functionality has been enhanced and reintroduced to the Extended Budgeting module. The standard process for generating requested, proposed, approved and adopted budgets in the Extended Budgeting module has been updated to capture period budgeting data.

 

Position Budgeting

Position Budgeting functionality has been enhanced to allow users to generate position budgets for individual departments. This enhancement includes a new Position Budgeting window accessed through the Extended Budgeting palette in the EB module that will allow department heads to export data from a position budgeting scenario to an extended budgeting revision. The data displayed in this window will be determined by the access rights of the current user.

 

The Location column has been added to the Position Budgeting window. This column is used to report on the location associated with an employee record included in the budget scenario.

Budget Adjustments

Period Budgeting functionality has been added to the Budget Adjustments process. This functionality allows users to target particular periods for budget adjustments. This enhancement is related to the EB Period Budgeting item outlined above.

 

Journal Entries

The Bank Account field has been added to the Journal Entry Line Item window. This field is used to enter a bank account for journal entries that impact bank balances through transfers, bank fees or interest.

 

The Import step, the Journal Entry selection window and the Proof List will also be updated to include a bank account information.

 

New Budget Info

The Export Budget Analysis file has been updated to include Extended Budgeting information. This allows users to more easily evaluate budget information across fiscal years and to more readily recognize trends.

Position Control Maintenance

The Location column has been added to the data grid on the Position Control Maintenance window. This column will display the location associated with the employee record, but can be edited in the data grid.

Reports - Stack Summary

Added the Stack Summary report to provide LIFO and FIFO based report that can be used for balancing purposes.

Form Maintenance

Nested mail merge functionality has been added to the Form Maintenance window for 7.17.0. This feature will allow users to include lists of fees associated with a license on the mail merge forms that the system generates for the license holder.

In a related update, the Compatibility mode toggle has been added to the Letters window launched from the Adjustments, Letters, Past Dues and Renewals processes and from the License Maintenance window. This toggle is used to toggle off the default nested mail merge functionality described above.

 

The mail merge field names displayed in MS Word have been expanded for clarity for 7.17.0.

 

The Form Maintenance window has been enhanced to include DATE and NEXTRECORD word merge functionality. The DATE merge field will display today’s date. The NEXTRECORD merge field will force the current row to move to the next record without adding a new page.

Form Maintenance

The Compatibility mode toggle has been added to the Letters windows launched from the Collections, Excessive Tickets and Past Dues processes. This toggle is used by some organizations to enable legacy word merge functionality that is not supported by Springbrook.

Accrual Adjustments

The Import step has been added to the Accrual Adjustments process for 7.17.0. This window is used to import bulk adjustments into the process.

 

Computer Checks

The Employee Count field has been added to the Timecard Proof List and Checks Proof List reports. This field will display the number of employees included in the report and will also provide employee counts by department when applicable.

 

The Computer Checks process has been updated to include support for VersaSeal Z-Fold laser checks. This feature allows users to print checks the do not require an envelope in the Checks step of the process.

 

Added Location information to Computer Checks. See the Employee Maintenance item below for more information.

New Hotkeys have been added to the Timecards step of the Computer Checks process. These hotkeys are designed to improve efficiency when entering timecard information. These hotkeys include:

• CTRL+M = Modify the currently selected check
• CTRL+S = Calculate salary for the currently selected check
• PAGE DOWN = Save and move to the next check
• PAGE UP = Save and move to the previous check
• DELETE = Delete currently selected check

 

Employee Maintenance

The Location field has been added to the General tab of the Employee Maintenance window. This field is used to associate a specific location with the employee. This functionality is designed to improve efficiency by allowing users to print and sort checks by the location where the employee is expected to pick up the check.

 

The Accruals tab of the Employee Maintenance window has been enhanced with additional delete validation 7.17.0. Accruals associated with an employee can no longer be deleted if they include any accrual history.

 

New Employee Wizard

The Location field has been added to the Financial and Position Information step of the New Employee Wizard. See the Employee Maintenance item above for more information.

 

Reports> Accrual Calendar

The Accrual Calendar report has been added to 7.17.0. This report will display employee time off based on accrual type. The report can be generated in standard report format or as a calendar. This report expands and replaces the Vacation Request report.

 

Reports> General Wage

The Employee Count field has been added to the General Wage report. This field will display the number of employees included in the report and will also provide employee counts by department when applicable.

 

Reports> Payroll Register

The Employee Count field has been added to the Payroll Register report. This field will display the number of employees included in the report and will also provide employee counts by department when applicable.

 

Reports> Quarterly Wage

The Employee Count field has been added to the Quarterly Wage report. This field will display the number of employees included in the report and will also provide employee counts by department when applicable.

 

Utilities> Employee Mass Update

The Location field has been added to the General Information step of the Employee Mass Update tool. This field is used to update the location associated with every employee included when the update is processed.

 

PR Setup

The Configurable Z-Fold option has been added to the Check Type drop-down field on the Checks tab. This allows users to select the VersaSeal Z-Fold check as the default configurable check for Payroll. Z-Fold checks do not require an envelope.

 

The Department/Location/Last Name and Location/Last Name options have been added to the Computer Check Sort drop-down field on the Checks tab. These options allow users to sort computer checks by the location associated with the employee record. This functionality is designed to improve efficiency by allowing users to print and sort checks by the location where the employee is expected to pick up the check.

 

Utilities> Import W-2 Updates

The Import W-2 Updates utility has been added to the Payroll module. This tool is used to import data for a specific set of W-2 fields en masse via CSV file. The data that can be imported includes Employee Number, SSN, Box Number, Box Code, Amount, Wages, and Description.

 

Arkansas Retirement

The APERS Export format has been added to the Arkansas Retirement process.

 

Florida Retirement

The Florida Retirement process has been updated to more closely follow Springbrook standards.

 

Iowa Retirement

The Iowa Retirement export file has been updated to meet state format requirements. Social Security Numbers included in the export file will now occupy the positions required by the state.

 

Massachusetts Teacher’s Retirement System (MTRS)

The Massachusetts Teacher’s Retirement System (MTRS) process has been added to the application.

 

Michigan Retirement

The Michigan Retirement batch process has been added to the Payroll module. This process is designed to help Michigan clients meet state retirement reporting requirements.

 

Oregon PERS

The Oregon PERS process has been updated to allow filtering by Reporting Group and to support the DTL1 export format.

 

Utah Retirement

The Utah Retirement batch process has been added to the Payroll module. This process is designed to help Utah clients meet state retirement reporting requirements.

 

Washington Unemployment

The Washington Unemployment report has been updated with new formatting for export file. This update separates the employee name within the export file, per new Washington state requirements.

 

W-2s

The Generate step of the W-2s process has been enhanced to include additional overflow functionality for Box 14. When a W-2 includes more than the maximum number of entries that can be displayed for Box 14, the system will create an overflow W-2 form and populate those entries that could not be included on the main W-2.

 

The Edit step of the W-2s process has been enhanced to include additional information for the expanded overflow functionality that covers overflow pages for Box 12, Box 14, and Box 19.

Change Orders

The Change Orders process has been enhanced to include Tag security on the Change Orders step. This enhanced security feature will prevent Springbrook users from creating new purchase orders for a vendor that they do not have access to. Tag functionality is a premium feature. Contact your Springbrook Project Manager for more information.

 

Purchase Orders

The Purchase Orders process has been enhanced to include Tag security on the Purchase Orders step. This enhanced security feature will prevent Springbrook users from creating new purchase orders for a vendor that they do not have access to. Tag functionality is a premium feature. Contact your Springbrook Project Manager for more information.

 

Requisitions

The Requisitions process has been enhanced to include Tag security on the Requisitions step. This enhanced security feature will prevent Springbrook users from creating new requisitions for a vendor that they do not have access to. Tag functionality is a premium feature. Contact your Springbrook Project Manager for more information.

Department Maintenance

The Location field has been added to the Maintenance section of the Department Maintenance window. This field is used to associate a location with a department. When an employee is assigned to that department, the location will also be associated with that employee.

 

Import and Export Configuration

The Import Configuration and Export Configuration tools are used to design and configure how imports to and exports from Springbrook will render to text. These tools will allow users to create custom formats that match existing imports and exports. They will also allow users to quickly update those import and export formats when third-party vendors make changes to their own formats. This enhancement eliminates the need for complicated, costly code customization.

 

Jobs Viewer

The Jobs Viewer has been enhanced to allow users to open job reports that were previously inaccessible as a result of an error encountered during processing. The Status column on the Jobs Viewer will now read “Review” instead of “Error” and users will be able to review the transaction in order to make the necessary changes.

 

Report Layout Maintenance

The Location field has been added to the fields available for the Configurable Check. This field is used to include the location associated with an employee record. See the PR Employee Maintenance item above for more information.

 

Tag Maintenance

The Tag Maintenance window has been added for 7.17.0. Tags are used to create user-defined categories for Springbrook entities. For example, AP Vendors could be tagged as Office Supplies, Fire and Rescue, or Heavy Equipment vendors in order to control which employees have access to specific types of vendors and to improve efficiency when working with large numbers of vendors. Tag functionality is a premium feature. Contact your Springbrook Project Manager for more information.

 

URL Setup Maintenance

The Behavior drop-down menu has been added to the URL Setup Maintenance window. This field is used to specify what the system will do when a URL type code is launched. The Open Browser option is standard behavior. A new Process Online Exchange option allows the UB module to interface directly with Online Utility Exchange’s bad debt management tool. The Online Utility Exchange interface is a premium feature. Contact your Springbrook Project Manager for more information.

 

Web User Maintenance

The Reference Name, Reference Code and Reference Type fields have been added to the Search Criteria section of the Web User Selection window. These fields are used to search and filter web users by the employee, business or license name and number associated with the account. Reference Name, Reference Code and Reference Type columns will be displayed in the data grid below.

UB Web Payments

A new service interface is available for clients utilizing Springbrook’s Online-Bills.com service. This new service completely replaces a server component commonly referred to as the “Boomerang Service.” The old Boomerang Service component needed to be installed as a stand-alone/independent Windows Service whereas the new service is shipped as part of the base V7 application and is run directly from Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS).

Some organizations may have set up their old Boomerang Service to run on its own physical or virtual server. Springbrook recommends you run the new service from the primary Springbrook application server. The new service interface should benefit from increased stability, significantly reduced server file I/O, and significantly faster performance. These performance improvements are expected to result in improved overall end-user performance for users accessing the Online-Bills.com website to pay their utility bills. If your organization is using Springbrook Cloud the new service interface will be automatically set up and configured as part of your cloud upgrade event.

 

Adjustments and Fees

The Import window has been added to the Adjustments and Fee process. This window is meant to improve efficiency by allowing users to import large numbers of adjustment fees rather than hand entering them. Imported data includes Account Number, Amount, Fee Code, Multiplier and Transaction Date.

 

Account Master Search

The Co-Applicant First Name and Co-Applicant Last Name fields have been added to the data grid on the Account Master Search window. See the Account Maintenance item below for more information.

 

Account Maintenance

The ACH Type field has been added to the ACH Info sub-tab of the Account tab of the Account Maintenance window. This drop-down menu is used to select type of automatic clearing house transaction that will be associated with the account. Users can select Consumer (PPD) or Business (CCD) from the drop-down menu. This enhancement is related to the updated Clearing House module export file formats covered above.

 

The UB Payment Plans feature accessed from the Payment Plan sub-tab of the Account tab has been enhanced to provide improved functionality. The Payment Plans tab now includes the Installment Description field, the Print on statement toggle, an enhanced data grid and the Calculate installments button. Payment plan reminders will now be displayed in the Special Messages section on UB statements.

 

The Summary sub-tab has been added to the People tab of the Account Maintenance window. This tab is used to display basic customer and co-applicant information associated with the account.

 

The Co-Applicant and Co-Applicant Misc sub-tabs have been added to the People tab of the Account Maintenance window. These tabs are identical to the corresponding Customer tabs and are used to record information associated with a second customer on the account.

 

The Drivers’ License Exp and Date of Birth fields have been added to the to Customer sub-tab of the People tab of the Account Maintenance window. These fields are used to record additional customer information.

 

The UB account interface with Online Utility Exchange has been added for 7.17.0. This interface allows users to access Online Utility Exchange’s bad-debt management tool and automatically populate that tool with the UB account details. Please see the URL Setup Maintenance item above for details. The Online Utility Exchange interface is a premium feature. Contact your Springbrook Project Manager for more information.

 

New Account Wizard

The Co-Applicant step has been added to the New Account Wizard. This step is identical to the Customer step and is used to record the information associate with a second customer on the account.

 

Final Account Wizard

The ability to transfer deposits to a new account when an existing account is being finaled has been added to the Final Account Wizard for 7.17.0. When the This customer is moving to a new lot toggle is checked, any existing deposit amount will be transferred to the account associated with the new lot.

 

The Account Activation step has been added to the Final Account Wizard. This enhancement will allow users to activate a suspended customer account that is associated with the lot on the UB account being finaled. This is an optional step and will be disabled if the “A new customer is moving to this lot” toggle is checked on the first step of the Final Account Wizard.

 

Adjustment Type Maintenance

The Adjustment Type Maintenance window has been updated to include the Prompt for service requests toggle and the Service Request Code field. These updates are used to create a Past Dues adjustment type that includes a Cash Receipts alert. When this adjustment type is attached to an account that has been disconnected, the user processing payment on the account in Cash Receipts will have the option to reconnect the service directly from the Enter Receipts window. This enhancement is related to the Past Dues item below.

 

Device Maintenance

The Backflow Device Maintenance window has been updated to include expanded testing functionality. This enhancement is meant to assist clients that must periodically test all backflow devices to meet local requirements. The Connections tab now includes a Test Period column, which is used to specify when the selected backflow device should be tested. The Connections tab also includes a Test Results section that will display the date, time and status of each previous test.

 

Form Maintenance

The Compatibility mode toggle has been added to the Letters window launched from the UB Account Maintenance window. This toggle is used by some organizations to enable legacy word merge functionality that is not supported by Springbrook.

 

Query by Example Maintenance

The UB Query by Example report has been updated to include additional backflow device testing data. QBE reports can now be generated with UB Backflow as a secondary table. These enhancements are related to the Device Maintenance item above.

 

The Co-Applicant fields associated with the new Co-Applicant tabs on the Account Maintenance window have been added to the Query by Example report.

 

Meter Readings

The Meter Readings reporting process has been updated to include MXU ID and Register ID details. This data will now be included in the Serial Number column on the Proof List, Change Outs, Misread Meters, Unread Meters and Meter Sheets reports. This enhancement will provide additional information to clients that have upgraded to more technologically advanced meters.

 

The Reading and Variance columns on the Edit Meter Readings window have been updated for 7.17.0. The Reading column will now display values to two decimal places. The Variance column will now display values to two decimal places and include the thousands separator even after editing the Reading column.

 

The Meter Readings Import and Export steps have been enhanced to utilize user-configurable import and export files. Once Meter Readings-specific import and export configurations have been created, users will be able to select them from the Configuration drop-down menu on the Import and Export windows.

 

The Import step has been updated to include the Import Latitude/Longitude toggle. This toggle is used to import meter latitude and longitude data when using the Neptune 1.0 meter interface.

 

The Meter Readings export file has been updated to include latitude and longitude data when using the Neptune 1 layout format.

 

Support for the Badger 2 and Badger 3 import and export formats have been added to the Meter Readings process.

The import and export files for the MVRS 1, 2 and 3 file layouts have been updated for 7.17.0. This change will require users to import their data from MVRS before upgrading to 7.17.0.

 

New Billing

The Preview step of the New Billing process has been enhanced to include the Comparison Amount and Variance columns. These columns are used to alert the user when a new billing amount exceeds a specified variance amount. This variance amount can be calculated based on the amount from the same month of the previous year or on the average amount from a number of previous months. When a new billing amount exceeds this acceptable variance range, the value will display in red on the Preview step. This optional process is set up on the Billing tab of the UB Setup window.

 

Past Dues

The Past Dues process has been updated to track data related to account disconnections. This new functionality uses a Past Dues adjustment type that includes a Cash Receipts alert. When this adjustment type is attached to an account that has been disconnected, the user processing payment on the account in Cash Receipts will have the option to reconnect the service directly from the Enter Receipts window. This enhancement is related to the Adjustment Type Maintenance item above.

 

Reports

The Backflow Test Results report has been added to UB Reports. This report displays test result information for backflow testing. This enhancement is related to the Device Maintenance item above.

 

The Detailed Meter Information report has been updated to include MXU ID and Register ID details. This data will now be included in the Serial Number column and provides additional information to clients that have upgraded to more technologically advanced meters.

 

Reports Consumption

The Consumption by, Consumption by Service Request and Sub Meter Listing reports have been updated to include MXU ID and Register ID details. This data will now be included in the Serial Number column and provides additional information to clients that have upgraded to more technologically advanced meters.

 

The default settings for the Summary by Service Rate Consumption report have been updated for 7.17.0. The Service Rate checkboxes will now default to checked based upon the most recent effective Service Detail revision instead of the first Service Detail revision found in the database.

 

Service Requests

The data grid on the Input step has been updated for 7.17.0. These enhancements are designed to improve efficiency by providing more service request details on the Input window.

 

The Service Date, Service Performed Description and Billing Cycle column have been added to the data grid. These columns provide additional details about the selected Service Requests.

 

The Description column has been renamed Service Request Description to help differentiate it from the new Service Performed Description column.

 

Pivot grouping functionality has been added to the data grid. This enhancement will allow users to apply primary and secondary sorts to the data grid.

 

Service Request Wizard

The Save and Print buttons have been added to the Service Request Wizard. These buttons allow users to print or save the service request at any point when the service request is being created.

 

The Cancel and Void options have been added to the Status field on the Service Request Wizard. These statuses will allow users more flexibility when working with service requests that are no longer active.

 

The Service Request process has also been enhanced to allow users to manually install, remove and change out backflow devices. Previously, the Service Request Wizard would allow users to set up backflow devices, but manual installation, removal and change out was unavailable.

 

UB Setup

The Billing tab of the UB Setup window has been updated to include the Comparison Method, Months for Average and Variance Alert Percent fields. These fields are used to set up how the system will calculate the comparison value for the New Billing process outlined in the New Billing item above.

Adjustments

The Allow overwriting of activity date toggle has been added to the Settings step of the Adjustments process. This toggle allows users to overwrite the original activity date associated with an existing work order activity line item. This toggle is used in conjunction with the Activity Date column on the Transfer/Adjustments and Reversal/Adjustments windows. This toggle and column can be used when a user discovers an activity line was added to the wrong work order and that work order was processed.