Pre-Installation Questions

So, what's new in Aurora?  Why should I install it?
Aurora is packed with hundreds of time saving features that customers asked for during our training seminars, in online forum discussions and on our customer service lines. It integrates with office management on your XSite, can import data from your MLS, is faster on a network and includes faster form navigation, and much much more. While we're still supporting our older Athena system, Aurora users are by far in the majority with more installs every day.

What are the system requirements?
In summary, you need a computer with 512 Mb RAM, running Windows XP, Windows 2000, or Windows Vista with 500MB of free space.  Most computers sold in the last 3 years meet this criteria.  Unlike our older "Athena", Aurora will not run on Windows 98, NT, ME or 95.  Click here for document 5032 which has detailed system recommendations.

How do I install it on a network?
On networks, the Aurora CD must be run on the server.  Unlike other versions of WinTOTAL that could be installed from a workstation, Aurora's installation needs to be run while sitting at the server.  This is because of our new database backend which greatly increases the speed and reliability of your databases over a network.

For additional network installation instructions, see our WinTOTAL Networking Guide.

How long does the installation take?
This depends on the speed of your PC.  Set aside 10 to 20 minutes for the install and then a few hours to get acquainted with the new program layout.  The install will go a lot faster if you disable your antivirus software as well as close down any other programs that may be running.  As with any software, if you've got a tight deadline and are pressed for time, don't run an upgrade until you can set aside an evening or afternoon.

Can I run Aurora & Athena at the same time?
No.  When you install Aurora, it converts your Athena data and settings, then removes the old version from your system.  If you have a "spare" or extra computer that meets Aurora's requirements, feel free to install it there and practice a little bit.  Going back to Athena is as simple as running a reverse installation with our custom built "reverter." For more information on this process, see Tech Doc 4999.

Are Aurora data files backwards compatible with Athena?
No.  Our old Athena version won't be able to open files saved in Aurora.  Aurora has a Save As Athena... option in the file menu in case someone needs to open your ".ZAP" file on a PC running only Athena.

How can I back up my existing files & settings?
This is one of our most common support questions.  The answer is "The Vault and Exact".  Vault comes as part of our Elite packages and is also sold standalone.  In addition to backing up appraisal files online, you can also use "Exact" to store settings such as QuickLists, digital signatures, contacts database, and other customizations.  Click here for more details on the Vault and Exact.

Do I need a new authorization code to install Aurora?
No.  For most people receiving a CD, the Aurora installation will find the existing registration during an Athena upgrade and apply it automatically.  If for some reason your settings cannot be used, click the Help menu and choose Register WinTOTAL.  From there, you can obtain a new authorization code.

Do I need to run a file conversion?
Except for your contacts, Aurora takes care of any necessary conversions.  (Appraisal "zap" files aren't converted until you open them.) 

Your contacts are the one exception. Due to a complete redesign of this part of WinTOTAL, additional information is required to convert this information.  You will be walked through this process the first time you click on the Contacts PowerView in the Appraisal Desktop.

How long will the older Athena version be supported?
Indefinitely. We’ll let you install either Athena or Aurora at any time and support both on our tech lines. Athena will not be “replaced” by Aurora at all. If all you want to do is fill out forms and print and deliver, Athena is perfect for you, and we won’t make you switch. You can move up to Aurora’s more advanced features later, or never. It’s up to you. It will be like Microsoft Works versus Microsoft Office. Both are current products, but targeted at different types of users with different needs and different technological desires.

Troubleshooting Common Problems

I'm receiving an error that says, ""You may need to install file & print sharing for Microsoft Networks. Please refer to the FAQ for details."
This is often due to security settings on your PC.  Refer to Tech Doc 5001 for details on resolving this error so you can continue the Aurora upgrade.

After installation, I receive a message about closing setup.exe.
Depending on what programs are installed or running on your PC when you install Aurora, the setup program may need to restart your computer.  If, for some reason, setup.exe can't be closed automatically, you'll be notified.  Just click "End now" and let your computer restart.

If the Aurora installation needs to restart your PC, be sure to leave the CD in the drive and log back into your PC with the same username that started the Aurora installation.

There are duplicates for some of my contacts.
Aurora synchronizes contacts with your XSite and earlier releases could sometimes upload duplicates.  We've added logic into Aurora and the XSite synchronization process to reduce the chances of the same contact being uploaded twice.  However, in cases where our synchronization routine can't tell if a contact is really a duplicate (perhaps, the name is the same, but there is a different e-mail address or company) we will take the safe route and simply keep both. For details on reducing the number of duplicate contacts you've acquired, see Tech Doc 5762.

Some of my QuickList items are duplicated.
WinTOTAL has a special designation for fields that are able to be transferred between forms, such as the header of your addenda or even the sales comparison.  Another attribute to these fields is that any QuickList comment created in them will display on any form that has a field by that same name.  In Aurora, more fields are now able to be transferred between forms - most notably, fields in the neighborhood description. 

In the past, you might have created separate QuickList comments for each neighborhood section because the comments wouldn't transfer between forms.  Now, they do transfer, so you may end up seeing all comments ever created for a field with that same name when you click in the field. 

We haven't yet devised any automated system to clean up these duplicates.  However, QuickLists - especially those that fill multiple fields at the same time - have been improved so that the fields filled by them go off the field name instead of the field order.  Therefore, even if you use a QuickList comment created in another form, it will only fill fields that match based on field name.

General Questions about Aurora

Where do I get help for Aurora?
Aurora's documentation is built into the program and available in multiple places.  When in the Aurora Appraisal Desktop, we've provided a Help PowerView that has links to various guides and even videos.  When in the main formfilling part of Aurora, click the Help menu and choose Contents to get to a searchable online guide. Keep in mind, you can press F1 at any time in WinTOTAL to open the manual to the chapter that explains what you're looking at.

		View all our training videos, webinars and online eBooks at http://www.alamode.com/products/Appraiser/Training/.   We update these continuously, so check back often to review the latest training material.

How do I use Aurora with my XSite?
With WinTOTAL's new and improved XSite integration features, you can keep your XSite in sync with WinTOTAL and take advantage of some advanced billing and invoicing features that we've added to XSites.  For the most up to date information on our new Billing and Order Management features in XSites, see our Billing FAQ or attend our Billing & Business Management or Online Ordering webinars.

My EDI center is gone.  How do I view my old messages?
Remember, Aurora's File Delivery is centered on your XSite since it has all the advantages of the old EDI Center plus additional tracking and security.  For messages in the old system, however, they're still there.  We've designed a legacy EDI viewer for you to use to view your old EDI e-mail messages.  To use it, just click Start, [All] Programs, WinTOTAL, Tech Support Assistant. When the window opens, choose WinTOTAL Utilities and click Next.  Then, double-click 14. Legacy EDI Viewer in the right column to view your old EDI messages.

Billing information from Athena isn’t viewable.
Your billing information from Athena hasn’t been erased.   We've designed a legacy viewer that you can use to view your old Athena billing info.  To use it, Tools, Legacy Management Reports in the Appraisal Desktop. 

You can also upload up to a year's worth of Athena billing information. To do so, click Options, Tracking Rules and specify your preferences.