Tech Doc - Report Tips & Tricks

ACI Training — Fri, 22 May 2009 20:05:37 GMT

Report Tips and Tricks

The Database Redirector is a utility for changing database directories and file locations of stored data.

Tip #1 Linked Common Responses

Linked Common Responses are indentified by a chain link symbol displayed to the left of the description in the Common Response drop-down list, and are used to create commonly used entries for related fields. City, County, State and ZIP Code are an example of related fields. Linked Common Responses can be created for a range of fields (consecutive fields) or select fields.

Creating Linked Common Responses for a Range of Fields

Enter text in all fields in the range.
Click in the first field in the range. Press Ctrl+Shift on the keyboard and click in the last field in the range (all fields in the range are highlighted).
Press F6 on the keyboard.
Click Save and click Close to exit.

Creating Linked Common Responses for Select Fields

Enter text in select fields.
Click in the first field of the Common Response. Press Ctrl on the keyboard and click in each field to include in the Common Response (select fields are highlighted).
Press F6 on the keyboard.
Click Save and click Close to exit.

NOTE: A Linked Common Response is only accessible from the first defined field in the range.

Tip #2 Custom Report Paks

Report Paks make reporting easier by combining a collection of forms commonly used together under a single name in the Report program. Create custom Report Paks for specific reporting requirements. Create a Report Pak from scratch, or clone an existing Pak as the basis for the custom Pak.

Creating Report Paks

Click Tools > Report Pak Utilities and click Create.
The Pak Creator opens. Highlight a form in the Reports Pool. Double-click to add the form to the current report. Use the arrow icons to add, remove, and reorder forms in the current report.
Select a Primary Form for the Report Pak and click Build.

NOTE: By default, the first available principal form in the Pak e.g., the 1004 Single Family 2005, is set as the Primary Form. Click the drop-down arrow to change the Primary Form.

Enter the Report Pak Name and click OK to save. Click Done to exit the Pak Creator.

Cloning Report Paks

Click Tools > Report Pak Utilities and click Clone.
Select the Report Pak to clone and click OK.
Edit Report Pak contents. Use the arrow icons to add, remove, and reorder forms in the current report, and click Build.
Enter the new Report Pak Name. Click OK to save and click Done to exit the Pak Creator.

Tip #3 Open Multiple Report Pages in a Report

View multiple report pages in a report, like comparables and thumbnails, at the same time. Press the Ctrl key on the keyboard while clicking on a report component icon in the Component List. The selected component opens in a new window. To resize windows, click and drag on a window’s blue title bar.

Tip #4 Report Notes

Report Notes are the digital version of little yellow sticky notes. Attach notes to a specific report field to record comments, suggestions, reminders, or other notes. Notes are saved in the report file for future reference. Report Notes do not print.

Using Report Notes

Open a report and click in a report field.
Click Edit > Notes > Edit, or click the Edit Notes () icon, or right-click and select Notes > Edit, or press F2 on the keyboard.
Enter the note text. Click the red X to close the note.
Click Yes to save the note, or click No to abandon.

Tip #5 Image Gallery

Inserting photos into a report is as easy as drag and drop when using the Image Gallery to insert photos into a report from another report, a canister, a file, a memory card or a database. Directions for inserting photos from a file are provided below. See Inserting Photos into a Report on theTech Docs page of our website, http://www.appraiserschoice.com/, or view the video, Photos and Images, in the Editing Reports section on the inMotion Videos page.

Inserting Photos from a File

Click the Thumbnails icon () in the Component List.
Click View > Gallery, or press Ctrl+Shift+G on the keyboard.
Click the Open Gallery from Folder icon ().
Browse to a folder, select the image file, and click Open. The image imports into the gallery.

TIP: To select multiple images, press Ctrl on the keyboard while clicking on the image files. Click Open to import images.

Click and drag a photo into the corresponding slot in the Thumbnails.
Click the X in the upper right corner of the gallery to exit.

Tip #6 F4 Function Key

Use F4 to quickly jump to another section of a report. Press the F4 function key on the keyboard, select the form section, click Go to, and jump to that section.

NOTE: Applies to forms with multiple sections.

Tip #7 Swapping Comparables

Rearranging comparables is easy when you know the keyboard shortcuts. Need to swap Comps 1 and 3? Click in any field under Comp 1 and press Ctrl + 3 on the keyboard to swap data, including photos, with Comp 3. See the chart below for additional Comp shortcuts.

Action	Shortcut
Jump to Another Comp	Alt + # (e.g., Alt + 3 to Jump to Comp 3)
Copy Field from Subject	=
Copy Subject Column	= =
Copy Field From Comparable Number	= # (e.g., = 2 to Copy a Field from Comp 2)
Copy Comparable Number	= = # (e.g., = = 2 to Copy Entire Comp 2 Column)
Swap Comparables	Ctrl + # (e.g., Ctrl + 3 to Swap with Comp 3)

Tip #8 Insert a Word Document into a Report

Microsoft® Word docs can be inserted into a report. This feature is only available in addendum pages.

Open a report file.
Click in a field in the addendum, for example the Beginning Addendum.
Click Edit > Insert > Word Document on the main menu or right-click and select Edit > Insert > Word Document.
Browse to the Word file, select the file, and click Open. The content of the Word file is inserted into the addendum.

Tip #9 Auto-replace

Auto-replace saves you from typing trip-ups and spelling challenges and keeps reports looking professional. Use Auto Replace to enable shortcut keys for frequently typed text. Many shortcuts are predefined: Type =A then press the Enter key or space bar on the keyboard to insert the word Average, a time-saver on the Comparables grid. Create user defined shortcut keys for other commonly used words.

Auto Replace automatically corrects specified misspelled words. Type “teh” instead of “the” and Auto Replace corrects the spelling. Auto Replace contains a predefined entry to replace “teh” with “the”. Add other commonly misspelled words to further customize the Auto Replace feature.

Creating User Defined Shortcut Keys

Click Options > Environment > Auto Replace.
Check Auto Replace to enable this feature.
Enter the text to be replaced in Replace. Enter replacement text in With.
Click Add to save the Auto Replace entry.
Click OK to exit Environment Options.

TIP: Click Symbols to insert a symbol in the replacement text (With field). Select a symbol and click Insert. Click Close to return to Auto Replace.

Tip #10 Building a Comps Database

It’s easy to build your own Comparables database of previously reviewed properties using Research. ACI Research is an intuitive comps database that allows the user to locate comps using the same approach most appraisers use, but faster and easier. Research allows the appraiser to access the database, select a "neighborhood," and key in search filters such as price range, design, and exterior finish. The appraiser works with a manageable number of sales from which the "best" comps are chosen and posted directly to the market grid. Research allows users to search for comps using several field parameters; view full comps including thumbnail photos; import comps and photos directly into forms; and export comps and photos from Report to Research.

Want to learn more? See the Importing Comps from ACI Research and Auto-export of Comps to Research videos on the inMotion Videos page of our website, http://www.appraiserschoice.com./ Research videos are located in the Editing Reports section under Comparable Data.

ACI - The Appraisers Choice

Tech Doc - Report Tips & Tricks

Report Tips and Tricks

Tip #1 Linked Common Responses

Creating Linked Common Responses for a Range of Fields

Creating Linked Common Responses for Select Fields

Tip #2 Custom Report Paks

Creating Report Paks

Cloning Report Paks

Tip #3 Open Multiple Report Pages in a Report

Tip #4 Report Notes

Using Report Notes

Tip #5 Image Gallery

Inserting Photos from a File

Tip #6 F4 Function Key

Tip #7 Swapping Comparables

Tip #8 Insert a Word Document into a Report

Tip #9 Auto-replace

Creating User Defined Shortcut Keys

Tip #10 Building a Comps Database