Vault Storage

[MS Rebel]

Thanks David! I will have to get my geek son to do this for me. We have a network. My husband and son are wireless - I am not.

 

[David Beasley]

Thanks David! I will have to get my geek son to do this for me. We have a network. My husband and son are wireless - I am not.

Then you are set. Your son will likely have to install a couple of networking protocols that allow programs to actually "run" across the network (IPX/SPX, etc) but that is easy, and they are free (are located on your Windows install disc).

Also, I forgot to mention that this *only* applies to WinTotal itself. If you want 2 sketchers, and your sketch program is not as network friendly, you will need a 2nd sketch license. Otherwise, WinTotal (Athena) is totally functional across the network, maps, photos, IDC, you name it. You can even tell it to get the instant updates from any machine, and each machine on your network will be updated automatically the next time they physically run WinTotal.

 

[Michael Chu]

Then you are set. Your son will likely have to install a couple of networking protocols that allow programs to actually "run" across the network (IPX/SPX, etc) but that is easy, and they are free (are located on your Windows install disc).

Also, I forgot to mention that this *only* applies to WinTotal itself. If you want 2 sketchers, and your sketch program is not as network friendly, you will need a 2nd sketch license. Otherwise, WinTotal (Athena) is totally functional across the network, maps, photos, IDC, you name it. You can even tell it to get the instant updates from any machine, and each machine on your network will be updated automatically the next time they physically run WinTotal.

All good advice, except the part I highlighted in red.
Circa Windows2000 release THE default protocol for networking Windoz computers has been one and only - TCP/IP
In fact, putting anything else onto the stack will slow your network down.

Other protocols such as IPX/SPX are spill overs from the Novell era (uses IPX/SPX by default) and as you say, is available for free and easy to install, but who deals with NetWare these days?

PS. for network novices alamode has techdocs for download that anyone can follow on a lazy afternoon.

 

[David Beasley]

Your advice may very well be spot on, but I had to install several additional protocols on my WinXP SP2 system in order to get WinTotal Athena to run across it. TCP/IP alone *did not work*.

 

[MS Rebel]

Thank you both. And just think - I taught him when he was 5 years old - I think it was Windows 3.0 back then? Maybe earlier.

Since he does this stuff for a living - hopefully he will be able to figure it out. Mom is the last person to get what she needs - and is computer poor for providing all the latest gadgets for decades.

How did I get so far behind???? I'm totally lost in today's world. (must be old age)

 

[Pittsburg_22_m]

$200 a year for 1000 files? HAHAHA. If ala mode was serious about data backup they would have given you software to backup to an external device. Every time you install from a backup you have to reinstall wintotal (no biggie) but it also kills your quicklists, comp database, clients, etc. Saved the entire WinTotal directory hoping that it also would restore your data like most other programs out there? Yeah, doesn't work that way.

With every new version of WinTotal I feel it is out of date, buggy, bloated, and lacks basic features that should be included with a program of such cost. The mapping software is finally improved to where it should have been all along but I still have problems with bugs such as losing sketches, software occasionally pulls random forms to include with a merge, and the like. Why not call tech support? What's the point? With every bug I get help with spawns two more. I also absolutely hate the performance of WinTotal when you are running some other programs such as bit torrent. And it's not the other software with the issue because it runs perfectly fine with anything else. And I hate that the importing of comps from old reports only displays street address. So many clunky things with this software that have driven me nuts for years that complaints fall on deaf ears and its not like any of these are technically difficult to implement. I suppose maybe it's sand bagging because if they gave you everything you wanted in one version why would you want the next?

(Yeah i just had a sketch disappear on me so I am a bit frustrated!)

And the stupid comparable data that disappears at random occasions when going from the comp grid to the images and then back to the grid. Ugh!

 

[David Beasley]

LOL! Disappearing sketches...man. I have my issues with WinTotal, but I guess I am stuck with it. I know how to use it, and bugs and all they do at least update it...

I am about to build a new network here at the office, to pasture some of this early-2000s computer equipment, and am looking to *finally* make the move from Athena to Aurora. Neither are perfect, but Aurora has been working fine on the test machine I have it on (to test and learn with). At least it has worked with the included samples and few actual old files of mine I've put on there to test it with.

But don't get me started on the aggravation I have with WinTotal. Totally weird stuff: The condo form always adds .35 cents to comp 1 adjusted sales price. Every time. I have to manually recalc the form to ever get rid of it...The inability to tab entirely through the URAR - it gets stuck in a loop in certain sections of the form, sometimes only bouncing between just a couple of check boxes (like the number of sections (1,2,3) for the subject of the manufactured home form)...Having to line up certain form sizes in a residential packet to get the file number AND IT'S surrounding box to line up just right when printed - line up legal and letter incorrectly and the number and box only appear properly on Page 1 and on no other pages...Some sections will allow you to type on at the end of a narrative space and it will automatically dump you to the overflow addendum, others, nadda. Won't even let you set up the overflow options (like the too small lot dimensions box, certainly since we're supposed to list ALL lot dimensions and not just the front and a side like most appraisers I review...) I could go on for days... but these are just what I've hit today while typing up a couple.

 

[dblbogey]

am looking to *finally* make the move from Athena to Aurora.

You might want to wait on that David. Talked with tech support a couple of weeks ago and a new version will be released soon. Unlike Aurora, which was an "upgrade" from an existing program (Athena), the new one is being written from scratch and it's supposed to be very slick.

Like you, I waited to upgrade to Aurora. When talkng to the sr. tech he told me the learning curve would be about the same and for now it would be best to just wait on the new release rather than having to do it all again before very long.

 

[David Beasley]

You might want to wait on that David. Talked with tech support a couple of weeks ago and a new version will be released soon. Unlike Aurora, which was an "upgrade" from an existing program (Athena), the new one is being written from scratch and it's supposed to be very slick.

Like you, I waited to upgrade to Aurora. When talkng to the sr. tech he told me the learning curve would be about the same and for now it would be best to just wait on the new release rather than having to do it all again before very long.

Doesn't that just figure? lol

Thanks for the heads up. It's likely going to be a couple of weeks before I can buy all the parts and get the computers built anyway. I will measure the wait on the new product versus installing the Aurora I have at that time.

If it's anything like their move from DOSTotal to WinTotal a decade or so ago, "just around the corner" for a new product could mean up to 3 years. That's about what it took from the time we bought WinTotal until it finally shipped.

 

[klong]

You don't have to have them stored at a secondary location, but it is the smart thing to do in case of a total loss of your office.