Photo Module Supports Adds from Main Screen

A new version of the Photo Module is available for download that allows users to add new entries from the Photo Screen off of the Main Screen. Previously you could only view photos from this screen and had to go to the Photo Screen off of the Property Screen to add anything. You can also now use the Batch Loader from both Photo Screens. Users who converted from ZP 32 will recognize that this is more like the way the Photo Module works in that version.

Faster Inspection Processing on Staff Web Site

Had a great idea from a customer for a faster way to handle most building inspections on the Staff web site. On the Inspection Review page (click the Inspections button from the main page) there is new Building Inspections list that shows any scheduled inspections due within a certain number of days. You can also filter the list by inspector. This new list has an extra column that you only see when logged in with the proper security clearance. The extra column adds a "Pass" option to each inspection listed. Clicking on the "Pass" option clears the Next Inspection Date and Next Time fields, fills in the Last Inspect date with today's date, and fills in the Result field with "PASSED." This is an incredibly quick way to clear the majority of inspections that require no further input. For those that do require more input you can still click on the "Select" option but now you go straight to the Inspection Details screen for that permit so that you can edit the detail item and add notes as needed. This should be a great new option for building inspectors using the web site in the field. One further note, there is a special feature to this page that lets each customer define their preferred verbiage if, for example, they would rather fill in "APPROVED" instead of "PASSED."

Bracket Change for Custom Alert Messages

You can create your own custom message to insert in the Alert Message Option in ZonePro. In prior versions this was done by putting your message in the Notes field and book-ending your message with the tags: and . Because the angled brackets are associated with HTML web coding I decided it best to switch to curly brackets instead for ZonePro SQL. The feature still works the same as always except now the framing tags should be: {BeginAlert} and {EndAlert}. If you need any assistance finding and converting your existing custom messages please let me know.

Skip the Fee Prompt When Adding Building Permits

When adding a new building permit in ZonePro SQL after you select your desired Permit Type the system prompts you to see if you want to copy in the fee details from Maintenance. This prompt exists to allow users to delay adding fees until later. Yet another way of reducing SQL traffic across the internet. But for users who always want the fees added right away, this prompt is just clutter. Now a new Global Personalization Option has been added so that you can skip the prompt and have the fees added automatically. In the Global screen there is a new item called "Prompt For Fees When Adding New Building Permit." This option is turned on by default. You can turn it off, however, and your fees will henceforth be added automatically.

Extra Permits Database Now Available from Staff Web Sites

Today I updated the Staff web sites for all ZP SQL customers so that it now includes pages to access the new Extra Permits database which is part of the Miscellaneous Module.

On-line Photo Storage Driver Install

Several customers have run in to connection problems when they try to upload photos to the internet using ZP SQL. The likely culprit is a missing ODBC driver on the PC. ODBC drivers are Windows system files and are used to access different types of databases. The driver to access your main data, which is stored in SQL 2005 databases, is included standard with most Windows installations so it does not require any extra action. For on-line photo storage, however, we are using SQL 2008 databases and the driver needed to access it is not always installed. This oversight is easily resolved by installing the driver yourself. I've just posted a item called "Installing the Driver for On-line Photo Storage" on the Tutorials page of our web site that tells you how.

Contractor Link Tweaks

I've tweaked a couple of features involved in linking Contractors back to permit records. When you choose "Contractor" as the Applicant Type, the Applicant Name field will now be filled in with the Contractor Company info if there is no person's name in the Contractor record. The second feature is a simple prompt to also fill in the Contractor field in the Zoning, Other Permit, or Extra Permit screens when you choose "Contractor" as the Applicant Type and link to a contractor in the Contractor database.

Quick Add Options for Owners and Occupants

I've added a super fast way to add a new Owner or Occupant to a Property record in ZP SQL. If either the Owner field or Occupant field is blank in the Property Screen, you can now right-click on the relevant View Info icon to launch a Quick Add screen. All you have to do is enter a new name in the Quick Add screen and a new Contact File record is created and linked to the Property. I'll post a training video on this option soon.

Training Videos for Two Newest Features

Two new videos have been posted in the Training Videos section of our company web site that cover the latest new features in ZP SQL. There is video on the new Extra Permit database that has been added to the Miscellaneous Module. There is a second video demonstrating the new option for the Applicant drop-down box that makes is possible to select any linked Contact as the Applicant.

Making Any Contact the Applicant

Earlier today I had a customer request a way to auto-fill Contact File information into the Planning Screen. This led to a script that I posted on the User Script Blog that showed a way to pick any existing Contact as the Applicant for a permit record. I liked this idea so much that I incorporated the code into ZonePro. Now, from any of the permit databases, you can right-click on the Applicant Type drop-down box and get a Browse window showing all of the Contacts linked to the presiding Property record. Selecting a name fills in the Applicant Type, Name, Phone and Address fields. This alternate approach lets you easily fill in Applicant Types beyond the usual "Owner" and "Occupant" values.