New Fields for Other Permits Database

Four fields were added to the Other Permits database so that it is now identical in structure to the Extra Permits database. The four fields are: Final Date, Status, Dimensions, and Description. The Windows interface has already been updated to show the new fields and the web pages will follow. Use the Installed Modules screen in Maintenance to download the updated screens. Note that the new Status field now provides a second way of adding Alert Messages to Other Permit records.

Planning and Miscellaneous Modules Combined

The Planning Module has been absorbed into the Miscellaneous Module in the latest update. You may have noticed that this change happened a while ago in the Staff web site. Now it has happened in the Windows program too. This means that every customer who owns the Miscellaneous Module will now have the Planning database and screens added to their system. There are a handful of cases of customers who only own the Planning Module and they will now have access to the Miscellaneous screens (Misc Fee, Other Permits, and Extra Permits). The annual fee for the two modules will simply be combined starting in 2015. Most customers will not have to do anything other than download the latest updates to get access to the new screens. Those few with just the Planning Module will receive an e-mail with an extra step required to transition smoothly to the new format.

Delayed Permit Numbering

All of the application database screens that have permit number, application number, or case numbers now support a delayed permit numbering option. This means you can create a new permit record and intentionally leave the permit number field blank. At a later time you can come back and edit this record, right-click on the Permit Number field and the system will prompt you to see if you want to generate a new number for the record. Saying yes will generate the next number is sequence for that database. This is a very useful option if you wish to enter permit records in advance but will not actually issue the permit until a later date.

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.

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.

Extra Permit Database Added to Miscellaneous Module

Today we're making available a major upgrade to the Miscellaneous Fee module for ZonePro SQL. A third database application has been added called the Extra Permit database. This is a near twin of the Other Permits database. Like its sister, both applications are launched from the General application button group of the Property Screen. This is basically a second miscellaneous permits database - a place to store permits that don't fall neatly into the Building or Zoning permit categories. It functions identically to the Other Permits database. The only real difference is that the Extra Permit screen has a few more fields including Status, Dimensions, Final Date and Description. There is no charge for the upgrade and it will not change the fee for the Miscellaneous Fee module or its annual maintenance. You'll notice lots of other modules are also updated when you download this upgrade. That is because the Miscellaneous Fee module is closely integrated with many other pieces of ZonePro.