Lee B

Eric, I really appreciate that you are being proactive on this. Thanks, Lee Barckert

There have been 2 more posts on the ATX board. One user has crashed and can't open the program. A second user (standalone) is not having any problems and can open 3 returns at once for the first time.

I copied these posts from the ATX board about 12.17: Different strokes for different folks. "Updated this morning and no problems encountered. Print manager still slow to open. Program doesn't seem as sluggish as prior versions. Windows 2000 Domain Server Workstations WinXP, SP3, 2GB ram" "I updated this morning. I see no change. It seems to be worse. It took almost 5 minutes to open a return. Navigating between forms as a time lag. I think the program is getting slower. Version 12.13 seemed to be the best one." "My program was not responding and then crashed 2x this am so I thought ok - bite the bullet and update.. WRONG_O_ ssssooo slow! waiting for anything to happen, opening a return, waiting for it to change between forms I am so sorry I updated! I do not have time for this!"

I am in the midst of evaluating Drake. I have seen 3 different posts this last week of users who switched who were unhappy with the Depreciation Module and the reports. They weren't complaining about the conversion or accuracy but seemed to feel that functionality was less than desired. I would appreciate any other feedback on this issue ???

Michael, You've hit the nail on the head! It's their lack of communication and their attitude when they do communicate!

According to Form 1120 instructions, all corporate tax payments must be made by EFTPS or by direct debit, otherwise penalties may be applied. There are no details as to what the penalties might be. I've used direct debit before and it worked fine.

Politics has become a "tool" for all the different interest groups to achieve their goals, whatever they might be We're getting further from being a representative democracy every day.

I copied this post from the ATX board. Since i'm still on 12.13, I now know not to call ATX ! "Just got off the phone with customer support. Apparently anyone who is still having issues with ATX has problems with their system set up! It is not a problem with ATX! I wish I would have know that yesterday! They are completely oblivious to the situation they/we are in. Also, it doesn't become a tech support issue until you have installed version 16 and are having problems. Version 13 is not supported through tech support. I have used ATX beginning in 1999. They don't believe that there is a problem. They don't get it. I suppose it is one of those isolated incidents.... OK....rant over.....no I don't feel better... Rich"

I plan on staying at 12.13 until I'm forced to update. It's working OK with minimal problems.

Just a clarification. This workaround was posted as a postscript to the 12.16 update instructions. You actually had to scrollown to see it. It was not openly posted on the ATX board or on their important notes that show up on the page before the ATX Community. It's almost like they didn't want to draw anyone's attention to it. Very very strange.

ATX posted this workaround for 12.16 crashes this afternoon Updated 5-17-2013 ATX2012 crashes (displays the long stack error then closes) when printing returns after the 12.16 update. Work-around: Run 'check return' right before printing the return. If any changes are made to the return (even tabbing through fields), you will need to run check return again before printing. SOLUTION: This will be fixed in version 12.17, planned for early June

Posters on the ATX board are also reporting crashing and the backup/restore function is still hanging up the program. More of the same !

We are finalizing a solution for this. We are in the final stages of completing the 12.16 release that will correct the backup issue generated with the 12.15 download. Kim Manuel VP - Customer Relations

The Webinar that I signed up for about CWU on May 22nd and all the other May Webinars are free unless you want CPE Hours, then there is a $19 fee for CPE.

You can sign up to attend Webinars or to view online tutorials for free at www.DrakeETC.com.

You can sign for Drake Webinars or view a long list of online tutorials for free at www.DrakeETC.com.

Several years ago, my state of Oregon had a tax amnesty program, which waived all penalties and reduced the interest by 50%. for all nonfilers who filed and paid all the taxes due. I ended up preparing ten years of C Corporation returns for a client.

This morning on the ATX Blog & board, ATX admitted that program was getting hung up in midst performing backups. They say they have identified the problem and are working on a patch for the users who have already updated to 12.15. Then they will redo the 12.15 update. I am now going to delete my copy of the update, which I didn't install. More of the same.

I am a one person operation running on a standalone, so some more knowledgeable people than me will have to interpret this jargon. While I had minimal problems, this is the final confirmation for me, that it's time to leave ATX.

Good morning, Here are some Q&A's on the Raven Database. What is the purpose of RavenDB in ATX2012? RavenDB is used to provide information to some of the data grids in the application, like the Return Manager and E-file Manager grids. RavenDB is not used in any way to compute the tax return. In what mode or manner is the RavenDB used? ATX is using RavenDB as an embedded database, in embedded mode. In order to use RavenDB in this manner in a way that is supported by RavenDB, there are a couple of implementation rules that must be true. 1) The database can only be opened and used by a single instance of ATX2012 at any given time. This requirement is adhered to by ATX2012. This limitation is one of several reasons that opening ATX2012 under multiple different Operating System Users at the same time is not supported. 2) The database that is opened by ATX2012 must be stored on a drive that is local to the computer that is running the application. This requirement is also adhered to by ATX2012. There are installation scenarios where a database created and used by an instance on one computer may also be seen to be available across the network. However, in this situation, when the application is being run across the network, ATX2012 creates a second database instance that is local to the computer where the software is executing. On a Win7 OS, this local database is found at %SystemDrive%ProgramDataCCH Small Firm ServicesATX2012Data” ATX2012 was never implemented to permit sharing of the database across multiple ATX2012 instances OR to make use of a database that was not found on drives local to the computer that the software is running on. In response to several statements on the community board about the vendor confirming that we are using RavenDB in an unsupported manner; We have been in contact with the RavenDB vendor and explained that ATX2012 opens the database local to the computer AND that we do not support the use of the software from multiple OS user accounts at the same time or in a Terminal Server/RDP or Remote Desktop scenario. After explaining the above unsupported environments, and detailing how ATX2012 makes use of RavenDB, the vendor confirmed that based on his understanding of how the application is making use of the software and of the lack of our support for the RDP/Remote Desktop scenarios, ATX is using RavenDB in a supported manner. Thank you, ATXMichelle I guess that anyone on a network now knows exactly what they are going to get for 2013.

Yeah, I skimmed that announcement. The gist of it seemed to be that anyone who had a IRS isued EIN was obligated to keep the IRS informed of any changes.

I have been using the program and I am at 12.13, which the program still considers to be current. I have auto update turned off. In order to get 12.15, you still have to go to the download center.

According to the new issue of CPA Practice Advisor, ATX declined to participate in their annual review of Tax Software. If ATX is going to have software for the 2013 tax year, you would think that they would want to be included ?

I took a look at Agile Tax. It looks appealing. I was in the midst of arranging a demo. Fortunately, I had an honest rep. She told me she wouldn't sell it to me or anyone else because it had a lot bugs etc.

I have actually written 3 or 4 of these letters over the years, but only when I was doing writeup, payroll and tax prep for the client for more then 10 years in a stable situation, where there was no questions. In your situation, I would not write the letter.