Frequently Asked Questions

1 Can ArchAdministrator and its databases be shared over a network?
2 What is the price for ArchAdministrator?
3 Does ArchAdministrator integrated with Intuit QuickBooks?
4 So, how do ArchAdministrator and Lotus Approach interpret a two digit year?
5 Can data recorded in ArchAdministrator be exported to other programs?
6 Can data recorded in other programs be imported into ArchAdministrator?
7 Why do I need to Purchase Lotus Approach along with ArchAdministrator?
8 Can Engineering firms benefit from ArchAdministrator's powerful features?
9 How does PS Software Solutions determine the price of ArchAdministrator?
10 Does billing module allow for percentage of completion, hourly, etc. billing?
11 Can hourly rates stipulated in a contract differ from actual employee salaries?
12 Can hourly billing rates & overhead/profit multipliers be unique for each project?
13 How is data archived/purged in order to keep database files manageable?
14 How often is the ArchAdministrator software updated?
15 What has been the cost for ArchAdministrator version upgrades?
16 Can I purchase modules for ArchAdministrator separately?
17 Is it possible to run the program without using the Accounting module?
18 Will ArchAdministrator track project document reproduction/plotting costs?
19 Will ArchAdministrator track travel mileage and expense costs?
20 Is ArchAdministrator available outside the United States?
21 Can I integrate accounting data from the accounting program I am now using?
22 Can contacts stored in ACT! Gold Mine, etc. be imported into ArchAdministrator?
23 Does PS Software Solutions have clients located outside of New Jersey?
24 Is ArchAdministrator easy to learn? What training is required and available?
25 PS Software Solutions seems to be a small company. Is this true?
26 Will ArchAdministrator enhance our efforts to manage risk?
27 Will ArchAdministrator track my consultants' fees and billings also?
 

Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

Q1 Can ArchAdministrator be shared over a network?
Lotus Approach's client/server technology allows ArchAdministrator to be run on one computer or a network of many computers.

Q2 What is the price for ArchAdministrator?
Pricing for ArchAdministrator is based on the size of the firm (number of employees). Click Here to review single user and volume/system pricing for ArchAdministrator and Lotus Approach.

Q3 Does ArchAdministrator integrate with Intuit QuickBooks?
A new QuickBooks Integration Feature has been added to ArchAdministrator. The new feature allows users of ArchAdministrator's accounting module to export thousands of transaction records into an Intuit Import File (IIF) using just a few mouse clicks. Accounting records can be easily imported into any new or existing QuickBooks company file. Click Here to find out more about the QuickBooks integration feature.

Q4 So, how do ArchAdministrator & Lotus Approach interpret a two digit year?
The first two releases of Lotus Approach, 1.x and 2.x, assumed all two digit years fell into the 20th century. With the 3.x release Approach implemented a fixed window approach to two digit dates. The window used 30 as the split. So if the user inputs a number between 0 and 29 that date would be input as 20xx. If the number is between 30 and 99, the year 19xx would be input. In Approach Millennium, Lotus standardized all the SmartSuite applications on a sliding window. This window defaults to and 80/20 split. Thus, two digit years up to 80 prior to the current year will be assumed to be in the current or previous century. So, if the current year is 98 and the user inputs a date with a year of 25, 1925 will actually be entered. But if the user input 05, 2005 would be entered. Likewise, if the current year were 2010 and the user entered 05, 2005 would be entered. The number 25 now produces the year 2025.

Q5 Can data recorded in ArchAdministrator be exported to other programs?
ArchAdministrator stores the data recorded into "dBase IV" type database files that are ODBC (Open Database Connectivity) compliant. This ODBC open standard allows export of data to many popular programs. Additionally, text that has been entered into ArchAdministrator can be cut or copied to the windows clipboard and pasted into other popular programs.

Q6 Can data recorded in other programs be imported into ArchAdministrator?
ArchAdministrator stores data into "dBase IV" type database files that are ODBC (Open Database Connectivity) compliant. This ODBC open standard allows import of data from many popular programs. Additionally, text that has been cut or copied to the windows clipboard can be pasted into ArchAdministrator.

Q7 Why do I need to Purchase Lotus Approach along with ArchAdministrator?
Lotus Approach is the front-end (engine) that runs the database templates created in ArchAdministrator. Therefore, a legally obtained copy of Lotus Approach 97, 9.5, 9.7, or 9.8 is required for each concurrent user of the program. Please note that Lotus Approach software and additional user licenses can be purchased separately or can be purchased directly through PS Software Solutions.

Q8 Can Engineering firms benefit from ArchAdministrator's powerful features?
Yes. ArchAdministrator's powerful features and user defined flexiblility allow engineering firms, contractors, interior design firms, etc. to obtain all the benefits provided to architectural firms

Q9 How does PS Software Solutions determine price of ArchAdministrator?
PS Software Solutions has based the price of ArchAdministrator on the size of the firm purchasing the software. Firm size is defined as the number of individuals employed by the firm and entered into the program's databases. ArchAdministrator's single license and System 5 through System Gold provide all the same database modules and powerful features. The only difference between each system is the number of employees that can be recorded and tracked throughout the program.

Q10 Does billing module allow for percent of completion, hourly, etc. billing?
Yes, the program provides the user with all expenses associated with the project and the user decides the form of compensation and how much to bill for.

Q11 Can hourly rates stipulated in contract differ from actual employee salaries?
Yes, ArchAdministrator tracks employee time sheet (direct personnel expenses) data in three separate ways: 1. "Actual Hourly Wage" paid to the employee. 2. User defined "Hourly Cost" that includes provisions for office overhead, benefits, vacations, etc..
3."Contract Wages" - hourly rates stipulated in the Proposal/Contract for each employee title.

Q12 Can hourly rates & overhead/profit multipliers be unique for each project?
Yes, each project can have a unique set of Contract Wage amounts stipulated for each employee title (i.e. Principal, Associate, Project Manager, etc. - 15 titles max.). User can also set projected Overhead and Profit multipliers for each project.

Q13 How is data archived/purged in order to keep database files manageable?
The user can manually archive selective database information/records to an archive database and then purge the archived records from the active database. PS Software Solutions is currently creating a new archiving feature that will automate the task of selectively archiving all data (i.e. invoicing, correspondence, transmittals, travel logs, etc) associated with an inactive project.

Q14 How often is the ArchAdministrator software updated?
ArchAdministrator is an open-ended work in progress. PS Software Solutions is constantly incorporating new features and functions into the program. Most of the product enhancements are based on suggestions from our clients. There have been over 80 version upgrades to ArchAdministrator over the past 12 years. Each new upgrade is available to licensed users via an Internet download.

Q15 What has been the cost for ArchAdministrator version upgrades?
Upgrades are typically half the price of a full version upgrade. It is our intention to provide users with the best possible office and project management software solution while keeping user upgrade expenses to a minimum. Click here to view current upgrade pricing.

Q16 Can I purchase modules for ArchAdministrator separately?
ArchAdministrator modules are so tightly integrated that we cannot sell them independently. However, your firm can selectively utilize only some modules and disregard others.

Q17 Is it possible to run the program without using the Accounting module?
It is possible to run ArchAdministrator without using the Accounting/Invoicing module. However, you may want to enter data into both, your own accounting program, and ArchAdministrator, especially if you want to track account transactions for projects in the Project Management module of ArchAdministrator (i.e. receipts from clients, payments made to consultants, etc.)

Q18 Will ArchAdministrator track project document reproduction/plotting costs?
ArchAdministrator will track costs for reimbursable expenses like plots, prints, copies, postage, etc. The user can summarize reimbursables/reproductions and items transmitted (or used in-house) for specific periods, projects, clients, etc. when working in the Transmittal/Repros module.

Q19 Will ArchAdministrator track travel mileage and expense costs?
ArchAdministrator will track costs for travel mileage and expenses. It also tracks employee reimbursement requests for out-of-pocket expenses. The user can summarize all travel mileage and expenses for specific periods, projects, clients, etc. in the Travel Logs module of the program.

Q20 Is ArchAdministrator available outside United States?
PS Software Solutions currently offers its products and free web based demonstrations to firms located in the United States and Canada.

Q21 Can I integrate accounting data from the accounting program I am using?
ArchAdministrator can import/export data with many programs (see Q5 & Q6). However, unlike ArchAdministrator, some popular programs use a proprietary database format and do not allow for the free exchange of stored data.

Q22 Can contacts in Outlook,ACT!, GoldMine, etc. be imported into ArchAdministrator?
Yes, data from Act, Palm Pilot, Gold Mine, Outlook, etc. can be imported/exported from/to ArchAdministrator.

Q23 Does PS Software Solutions have clients located outside of New Jersey?
Until 1999, ArchAdministrator was offered exclusively to firms located in New Jersey. For years PS Software Solutions had worked closely with these firms to further develop ArchAdministrator's seamless integration, productivity enhancement capabilities and user-friendly design. Today, our client base continues to grow throughout the United States. ArchAdministrator is currently being used to track hundreds of thousands of projects, contacts, billing invoices, time sheets, transmittals, travel logs, etc. generated by architectural practices located in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Indiana, Illinois, California, Vermont, Nevada, Texas, Florida and more.

Q24 Is ArchAdministrator easy to learn? What training is required and available?
ArchAdministrator has an integrated on-line help database and a 110 page illustrated manual. These features, coupled with ArchAdministrator's easy-to-use interface, allow most users to begin working with the software with little or no special training or instruction. "Phone-In" and/or our ArchLink distance training, utilizing webcast technology can be arranged for a set fee. In-house training can also be arranged.

Q25 PS Software Solutions seems to be a small company. Is this true?
PS Software Solutions is a small software development company. Our size allows us to quickly integrate new ideas, features and requests that are received from our growing client base. PS Software Solutions provides personalized technical support and services. Our clients perform an integral role in the development of our products and services. Every client is empower with the ability to shape the future of our software development initiatives.

Q26 Will ArchAdministrator enhance our efforts to manage risk?
ArchAdministrator, although not specifically designed to address Risk Management issues, does inherently enhance a firms ability to manage risk. For example: The program enables all firm members to record, track, retrieve and summarize; letters, memos, fax cover pages, phone conversations, field reports, etc.. The program creates a firm-wide standardized format for this information and does an excellent job of allowing the user to quickly record and retrieve pertinent project information.

Q27 Will ArchAdministrator track my consultants' fees and billings also?
Yes, the user can breakdown proposed fees for an unlimited number of consultants and by each phase of the project. The user can allocate partial amounts of invoiced fees stipulated in the Billing Invoice module to consultants (to aid in cash flow management). The user can also register/track payments made to consultants for specific projects. A report in the Project Management module summarizes proposed consultant fees, invoiced amounts allocated for consultants, payments made to consultants and outstanding balances that remain for each consultant involved with the project.