Welcome to the Power of Nine eNewsletter. The goal of this free newsletter is to provide TEA users with tips and tricks on using TEA IX as well as news and other information about TEA IX. Please feel free to forward it to your co-workers, or let them know that they can access it from the TEA IX website.
Happy New Year 2005
We would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a very Happy New Year. We hope that everyone had a great Christmas and holiday season and wish you all a happy, healthy and prosperous new year. 2005 represents an exciting year at CommonGoals Software. There's significant development in the works here and the introduction of online training opportunities and new Custom Report Builder classes is sure to please. Stay tuned for more information...
What's New !
Version 9.13 Released
The latest update to the TEA software was officially released December 9, 2004. More details directly below in the TEA IX Updates section.
Instructor-led mini-courses being offered online
Ten newly-developed online training courses are available to all TEA users, starting March 2005. Each course is designed for a specific job position (Loan Officer, Collections Officer, Database Administrator etc.) and addresses the features and functions in TEA generally associated with tasks performed within those positions. Pre-registration is required. More details below in the Training section.
Additional support documents added to the online Document Library
Be sure to visit the TEA website and check out the TEA Support section's Document Library to see all the latest additions. The Document Library contains all sorts of documents including installation instructions, how-to documents, feature references and fixes and enhancements lists for recent updates.
TEA IX Updates
TEA IX v9.13 Update
We are excited to be releasing a new update of TEA to our users that addresses some minor database issues and adds some new features and also new add-on modules. Below is a brief list of some of the enhancements that have been made to the software.
- Ethnicity Field added to the to the Client Module
- Entity Number added to the Business Module
- Automatic Loan Numbering can be setup within the Administration Module
- Requirements Wizard which allows users to easily add pre-defined requirements or sets of requirements to a client, business or loan.
- Manual Fees are now posted to the delinquency journal
- Delinquency Wizard which allows user to easily modify the delinquency breakdown for 30, 60, 90, 120 days without having to enter an adjusting entry. TEA determines the adjusting entry for you.
- Added the ability to add a contact instead of a note to all email recipient records when sending out bulk emails.
- Added the ability to designate Regular, Balloon or Customized payment as prepayments. Payment marked as prepayments are the same as normal payments accept they do not affect the delinquency journal and delinquency reporting.
- Cashflow Report added that allows organizations to view future repayments based no a monthly, quarterly, semi-annual or annual basis.
- Rate tables and functionality for Canada Life – Atlantic Canada has been added to Insurance
- Enhancements to the Credit Bureau Reporting Manager
- Grant Module now available to manage any Grant Programs (add-on module)
- Services added to the Rolodex Module
- ... many additional program fixes and enhancements outlined upon install.
Fixes and Enhancements List for TEA v9.13 (PDF 39KB)
Detailed Features for TEA v9.13 (PDF 496KB)
Upcoming Events
Here's a look at some of the stops we'll be making in the coming months.
- AEO Annual Conference 2005
Portland, OR - May 10 - 13, 2005
Blazing Trails: Innovations through High Performance Microenterprise Development - National Federation of Community Development Credit Unions (NFCDCU's)
SanFrancisco, CA - June 8 -11, 2005
6th Annual Faith-Based Credit Union Conference. For more info, visit http://www.natfed.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=796. - The Ontario Association of CFDCs' Annual Conference
Timmins, ON - June 12 - 14, 2005
Together - Shaping the future....of our communities - The 2005 Annual Community Futures Conference
Red Deer, AB - June 15 - 17, 2005
Leadership Issues of the 21st Century - National Association of Development Organizations (NADO)
Seattle, WA - August 27 - 30, 2005
2005 Annual Training Conference. For more info, visit http://www.nado.org/meetings/index.html. - Community Business Development Corporations (CBDC) AGM 2005
St. Andrews, NB - September 13 - 15, 2005
- National Community Capital Association (NCCA) Annual Conference 2005
Los Angeles, CA - October 19 - 22, 2005
Training
Online mini-courses for TEA
Online training sessions for TEA have been scheduled! These instructor-led mini-courses are 2 or 3 hours in length and are tailored specifically to address the tasks and functions performed within TEA according to the duties of various staff positions within an organization. There are sessions for Loan Officers, Finance Officers, SEB Program Coordinators, Project Managers, Credit & Collections Officers, Database Administrators, and Management & Board Members, each one focusing on how TEA can be used to its fullest potential and be of greatest benefit to those who use it.
Pre-registration is required so be sure to sign up today! Full course agenda, schedule and registration information is available on our website.
Ontario CFDC Training set to begin
Group training sessions for OACFDC-member organizations are set to begin this month. Sessions are scheduled in multiple locations across the province of Ontario. If you haven't signed up already, don't delay! Pre-registration is required for these advanced sessions so go to our online registration page now for full details.
Custom Report Builder Training
We will soon be offering instructor-led, classroom training sessions for TEA's Custom Report Builder. Locations and dates are being finalized for cities across Canada (May/June 2005). There will be two levels offered:
- Level 1 focuses on the basic aspects of developing custom reports using the Custom Report Builder. Learn how to modify reports, mail merge, create labels, develop reports from scratch and much more.
- Level 2 focuses on the more advanced aspects of developing custom reports using the Custom Report Builder, building on the skills learned in Custom Report Builder – Level 1 (a pre-requisite for this course).
QuickHelp
- Viewing Clients from the Rolodex List
- Exporting TEA Reports to other formats
- Providing Loan Payout figures to Clients
- Working with Services
- The Importance of Backing up your Data
Records form the Client Module can be viewed in the Rolodex list. This displays an overall list of all contacts and clients entered in TEA.
The Show Clients menu item can be toggled on or off by following the instructions outlined below. When toggled on, the menu item icon will appear outlined in the menu to indicate that the option is selected. When toggled off, no outline will be seen.
To include clients:
When viewing the Rolodex list, select View | Show Clients from the menu. The clients are automatically included in the list without having to refresh the view.
To not include clients:
When viewing the Rolodex listing with the clients displayed, select View | Show Clients from the menu. The clients are automatically removed from the list, without having to refresh the view.
The clients are distinguished from the Rolodex contacts in the list by the client icon in the right-most column.
Exporting TEA Reports to other formats
Exporting a TEA report into another format such as MS-Excel is a great way to send information electronically to someone who doesn’t have access to the TEA program or to further edit the report. If you export a report to Excel, for example, you can add other calculations, formatting etc.
From any module, select the report that you wish to export, when the Print Report dialog box opens,
- Make sure that the Destination parameter, located in the Record Selection section, is set to Screen.
- Click Print
- When the Print Preview screen opens, click on the Printer icon on the toolbar.
- Check the Print to File checkbox.
- From the Type drop-down menu, choose the file format.
- In the Where box, click the ... button. In the Save As dialog that opens, set the location and filename for the report.
- Click the Save button.
- Click OK to export the report.
- Close the Print Preview screen.
Providing Loan Payout figures to Clients
The Per Diem Payout Report is your best bet as it provides the amount required to completely pay off the remainder of the loan. The report is broken down to show both the interest that will accrue between the last transaction on file and the payout date and the outstanding principal balance, interest, fees and insurance. The report specifies the payout amount for a range of dates.
The Per Diem Payout report can be accessed from within the selected loan record by selecting Reports | Per Diem Payout. You are required to enter the expected payout date, the number of dates to generate and the frequency. For example, if your enter 01/17/2005 as the expectd payout date, a count of 5 and daily as the frequency, payout amounts for 5 days starting 01/17/2005 and ending 01/21/2005 will be calculated.
Working with Services
The services section in TEA allows for setup and tracking of how services offered by or within your organization are used and by whom. Services can be tracked in the Rolodex, Client and Business modules.
Services used are recorded by date. Each individual service used will appear in the grid. However, when editing, all services used on that particular date will be available in the edit box. Additional services can be added or removed from that particular service record. The TEA Administration module allows for the customization of the type of services offered.
To add a service:
- Double-click on the record for which you want to add a service to open the selected record.
- Click Services in the navigation tree on the left.
- Click the New icon on the toolbar. The Edit/Add Services dialog will open.
- Enter the service details (date, type, referral source).
- Use the arrow key buttons to add and remove services to the Used list.
- Click OK to save the new service.
- Double-click on the record for which you want to add a service to open the selected record.
- Click Services in the navigation tree on the left.
How effective would you be if your e-mail, electronic business documents or your TEA data files were wiped out? How many hours would it take to rebuild this information from scratch? How would you service your customers without your vital system data?
Backing up your files is usually the last thing on everyone's mind. Nevertheless, it is important. Let's say during a freak lightning storm, your server is hit and the hard drive is fried. All data is lost! If you've been running regular backups, you can simply restore the information onto the new hard drive. Only a few hours work and the office is back up and running. Daily backups take little time. While a system is backing up, you can continue to work. In fact, most backup systems can be setup to run everyday at a certain time, without user intervention. Far too often little problems turn into big headaches, which all could have been avoided had someone taken the time to do a proper backup of their data.
Most of you have some sort of network in the workplace. That means you also have a network technician that you call for support issues. This should include scheduling, automating, performing, and if necessary, restoring backups. Don't be afraid to ask questions to ensure your backups are working properly. After all, if your server is damaged and your TEA data lost, it won't be the network technician re-entering your valuable data!
Backing up your data regularly is vital insurance against a data catastrophe. Unfortunately, this is a lesson that too many people learn the hard way. Developing a solid backup plan requires some investment of time and money, but the cost is far less than the often impossible task of recreating data for which no backup exists! If you are responsible for backing up your TEA data, put a schedule in place and stick to it. When a major system failure occurs, whether it the result of a hardware failure, power outage or a user error, you'll be prepared to deal with it. Don't wait until after such an event to start thinking about backing up your data.
In the mean time…
If you don't have a backup system currently in place, you can implement a simple but effective backup strategy for your TEA data files using Zip files. Zip files are archives used for distributing and storing files. Zip files contain one or more files that are usually compressed to save space. WinZip is the premier Windows file compression software program available. It is easy to use and can provide you with simple, quick, reliable way of "backing up" your TEA data files. For more information on using WinZip visit WinZip.com or, if you already have WinZip installed, consult the WinZip Help files from the WinZip Help Menu.
For customer service or technical questions regarding TEA IX, please visit the TEA Support page on the web. You must use your assigned Username and Password to access the Support area. If you have lost or misplaced your login information, you may contact TEA Support and we will e-mail this information to you.
As always, if you have any feedback regarding this newsletter, please e-mail your comments to us. We hope you have enjoyed this issue of the Power of Nine eNewsletter.
Best regards,
The TEA Support Team
Power of Nine
eNewsletter for TEA IX
January 01, 2005
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What's New ! |
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TEA IX Updates |
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Upcoming Events |
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Training |
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QuickHelp |
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