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ClickFORMS v.3.0 Released!
There are a ton of great features with “V3” – free form text, digital map labels, additional auto-adjustments, NDCdata integration and more!
If you’re on software maintenance you can get it today for free »
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You can have a fully functional website dedicated to your business in less than 15 minutes. Learn more » |
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Valuation 2005
Visit Bradford Technolo-gies Inc. at the Valuation 2005 Show in New Orleans! May 25 – May 27. Learn more at www.valuation2005.com
Free Webinars
The modern appraiser is not only mobile, but also Internet savvy. They leverage the Internet for showcasing their services, marketing, order processing, e-mail, file transfer and more. More info »
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The ClickFORMS technical support has collection of step-by-step movies tutorials for quickly learning and using ClickFORMS.
See movie » |
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Customer Feedback
Tell us how you like ClickTALK.
Send us an Email |
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» ClickFORMS and X-Sites Workflow Disruption – Jeff Bradford
» The Internet Appraiser – Free Webinar (Web-based Seminar)
» Free Masters’ Training – We have a winner!
» Tech Tip – How do I Search for Forms in the Forms Library?
» The “Force” is With Us . . . (Some Star Wars fun) |
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ClickFORMS and XSites Workflow Disruption
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From Jeff Bradford, Founder and President of Bradford Technologies
When we released version 3.0 of ClickFORMS, those of you who use a la modes’ XSites to transfer reports to clients experienced problems with XSites.
It failed to convert the ClickFORMS reports property.
ClickFORMS has an Export function (under the File menu) specifically developed to export all data in the report in a consistent, structured manner. The Export function was implemented for the sole purpose of avoiding the kind of problems you are experiencing with XSites.
For some reason, a la mode has decided, with XSites, to try to decipher our proprietary file format instead of using the Export Data file. Why? We’re not sure. We have told them about the Export file, but they continue to insist on trying to decipher the ClickFORMS proprietary file format. We suspect it is a ploy by them to get you to switch to their software. The idea being that if you and your client experience enough hassles either your client will drop you or you will switch to their software. And they know that every time we enhance ClickFORMS, their converter program will break. So, it’s a guarantee that you and your client will be experiencing plenty of hassles.
From our stand point, we can keep the ClickFORMS file format static, limit the enhancements to ClickFORMS and not cause any disruptions with XSites. Or we can continue to enhance ClickFORMS and have the XSites report converter choke periodically. As you might have guessed, we will definitely continue to enhance ClickFORMS and change our file format as needed.
We will also continue to work with the Mortgage Bankers Association to work toward the MISMO Appraisal XML open standards to avoid these problems all together. (We are the only appraisal software vendor actively working for an open appraisal standard. So your support and endorsement is greatly appreciated.)
We are sorry that this situation is causing problems. In our upcoming releases, we will try to be more proactive in informing you when the ClickFORMS file format has changed and alerting you to the fact that this change may be incompatible with the XSites proprietary report converter.
Thank you,
Jeff Bradford |
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Part 1 – Web Presence
This is the first in a series of articles for the Internet Appraiser.
In the “dot com” era, it has become ever-important to have a presence on the web. In other words, you need a web site to represent your business. A web site is, believe it or not, an easy and cost effective way to advertise and attract customers.
Question #1: Why have a website?
- The Internet is probably the most cost effective form of advertising today. It generally costs less than $30 a month to have a fully functional website bundled with email, file transfer protocol (FTP) and a domain name. That’s pretty cheap if you think about your overall advertising budget.
- If your competitors get there first, you may be losing out on business. The bigger companies may already have websites; however, among individual appraisers, the numbers are still small. People are catching on quickly, though. Get your web presence before your competition does!
- The web is THE preferred method of choice to shop for products and services. You can talk to most people and they would tell you that they use the Internet to find just about anything. Wouldn’t it be nice if they found your business with a simple search on Google?
Question #2: What do I need to build a web site?
- Domain Name: A domain name is your “address” on the web (e.g. “appraisalworld.com”). Many web hosting packages out there give you a free domain name for a year. You can also register a domain name on your own and transfer it to the web hosting company. Alternatively, some people like to just have a domain name so that way they can have an email address that uses their domain (e.g. “info@appraisal.com”).
- Web Hosting Service: This is a service that hosts your web site files. Some hosting services also provide you with email, FTP access, site statistics, etc. Prices range from as low as $10/month to as high as $50/month. It all depends on the package. Cheaper hosting services do not provide a domain name or email. Because web hosting is becoming more affordable, you should consider investing in a service that provides the complete package: email, FTP, domain name, etc.
- A Web Development Solution: This is the software that you will use to build your website. Again, when you are searching for a hosting company, you will need to search for one that gives you online software that is easy to use (point and click). Some hosting services give you templates to choose from. These templates give you a pre-set design – all you would need to do is provide content. Alternatively, you can invest in web building software such as FrontPage and Dreamweaver. However, you will need to learn this software. It may not be very easy. In addition, you can hire someone to build your site for you. This can be quite costly.
- Content: Once you have selected a web hosting company (preferably one that provides you a domain name and software to build your website), you will need to provide content. It is important that you give clear information about your business, how to place and order and how to contact you.
Question #3: Is this easy?
Yes it is! By selecting a hosting company that provides everything you need to get a web site up and running, you can relax and have fun with it! Here at Bradford Technologies, we offer you a simple-to-use package, geared towards appraisers, that gives you all the tools necessary to build your website today: AppraisalWorld WebHomes
Next Issue: Part II of The Internet Appraiser Series: AppraisalWorld Web Homes
Free Webinar (Web-Based Seminar): The Internet Appraiser
The modern appraiser is not only mobile, but also Internet savvy. They leverage the Internet for showcasing their services, marketing, order processing, e-mail, file transfer and more. We’ll show you how to optimize all that the Internet has to offer.
We’re offering a free webinar (web-based seminar), every Friday for the next four Fridays. This will be an interactive phone and web conference, so you’ll be able to hear and see the cool stuff you can do.
And the best part is, you don’t even have to leave your desk to attend!
• Friday, May 13th – 10:00am – 11:30am (PDT); 1:00pm – 2:30pm (PDT)
• Friday, May 20th – 10:00am – 11:30am (PDT); 1:00pm – 2:30pm (PDT)
We will be having more webinars, so if these times don’t work, give us a call.
Sign up to reserve your spot today. 800-622-8727 - “See” you there! |
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Submit Your Tech-Tip Question - Our First Winner!
George Bomely of Morro Bay, CA is our first winner in the Submit a Question and Win contest.
As a result, George gets a free Masters’ Certification training! ($199 value!) (George Bomely’s question is below in Tech Tips.)
| Send your question to support@bradfordsoftware.com. We will choose one question per ClickTalk (two per month), so your chances are good that you can win! |
AnswerTeam Tech Tip:
Q. How do I Search for Forms in the Forms Library? – George Bomely, Morro Bay, CA
A. Sometimes you may be asked to add a particular form into your report by a lender and you are not sure where the form is. ClickFORMS has implemented a search function for the Forms library to assist you on such occasions.
Let’s say a lender asked you to include a Review Short Form 2006 into your Appraisal. With your report open, open the Forms Library (click on the yellow forms library icon at the top OR go to the pull-down menu and select Forms > Forms Library.
Once the Forms Library is open, at the top type in a key word for the form you are looking for (like the word review or 2006) and click on Find.
The first form that matches your criteria will be highlighted in the Forms Library. If the first result is not the desired form, click Find Again to locate the next form in the library. Double click on the desired form to add it to your report. |
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Another search method
would be to select Forms > Find Forms… from the pull-down menu, which will open a Form Finder search window. Type in your keyword, click Find and all the forms that meet your search will be displayed. Double-click the desired form OR click Add to Report. |
By David Mendoza – Technical Support Specialist
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The Force is Strong With Us!
Bradford Technologies’ Support Specialist and Trainer, Jenny Rhoten, gives an account of her trip
to Star Wars Celebration III in Indianapolis, Indiana
From April 21 – 24, my husband and I traveled with our local Star Wars fan club to Indianapolis for Star Wars Celebration III. Over 30,000 die-hard Star Wars fans from around the world gathered in Indy to celebrate in anticipation of the final installment in the Star Wars saga – Episode III: Revenge of the Sith.
April 21 – Lines, lines, lines!
It is not a true Star Wars event without the lines! We stood in line starting at 6 AM in order to be the first at the door – we weren’t alone, however. The line had already wrapped around the block before we got there! And, this was only to get inside!
Our first stop was the Celebration III store. Here, we were able to buy exclusive merchandise, including the special Darth Vader action figure that played James Earl Jone’s voice! The figure was $15. By the end of the event, the figure was selling for over $50!
Geesh, that first day was one big blur to me! All I know was that I didn’t get a chance to do half of what I wanted to… |
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April 22 – The Star Wars Spectacular!
The producer of the Star Wars prequels, Rick McCallum, premiered 15 minutes of exclusive footage of Revenge of the Sith. Oh my – we were blown away!! There was a digital projector in the exhibit hall, so we were able to see the footage the way it was intended! Is it May 19th yet???
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After many panels and $$ spent on merchandise in the exhibit hall, we attended the fan viewing of Return of the Jedi that lasted though midnight. There is nothing more fun than watching Star Wars movies with obsessed fans! With trusty plastic lightsabers in hand, the crowd cheered, booed, clapped and even cried! However, we all had a secret motive – after the movie, start standing in line for “The Man”… |
April 23 – “The Man” was in the house!
We camped out overnight to see “The Man” – Mr. George Lucas – live in person @ 8:30 AM. The line started at midnight, right after the screening of Return of the Jedi. At last count, close to 10,000 of us were waiting in the cold rain and wind. After about 3-4 hours in the rain, the Hyatt Regency allowed us to enter the hotel to stay dry. It was a long journey to the hotel itself. On our way over, we passed by steamy windows.
Our friend Dennis wrote on the window, “Damn you, George Lucas!!” It’s so true – we love the man for creating the greatest movie saga in history, but we hate him for all the pain we go though!
Some of us stayed awake all night, while others took naps. We eventually got in the door and waited… Then, there he was! Mr. Lucas answered our questions and confirmed that there will be a Star Wars TV series soon.
So, there is more Star Wars to come! Yay! |
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April 24 – Still more to do!
The crowds died down a little, so this gave us a chance to get caught up on areas that we weren’t able to get to on previous days. The biggest highlight was “Star Wars in 30 Minutes”. In this show, a group of amateur actors quickly told the story of the original Star Wars trilogy in only 30 minutes. Actors would portray multiple roles (e.g. Chewbacca was also Darth Vader!). It was totally awesome! I highly recommend catching their show at other sci-fi conventions.
This was a great bargain day, too. The exhibitors gave great deals on merchandise. This one guy gave me an additional $2 off on a vintage action figure just for being a San Francisco 49er fan. :)
Overall, I had a wonderful time! I am not sure how often we will have conventions in the future, but it definitely was a memorable experience!
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