I figured i'll try this resource as it is the last bastion for any hope of sanity in regards to this software and company.
I purchased ATX in order to make a move from Proseries as the total cost has seemed to rise of the past years. From the outset I had nothing but problems, as many of you have, and they continue.
The software should have NEVER made it out of beta in this state. Constant bugs, endless conflicts, completely unresponsive in many aspects.
Rolling over any large number of returns at a time causes the software to crash.
Trying to highlight more than a few returns at a time causes the software to crash.
Doing a remote client install from the server causes the software to crash.
Clicking on any of the help links takes you to a dead site and causes the software to crash.
I have the software installed on a server with more than enough hardware to support programs far beyond the complexity and design of this software so I can rule out the physical side.
My network setup is solid with sufficient hardware and cabling so I can rule out the network as a problem.
The bottom line is that the software is full of issues. Most likely because the intended time table for its completion was either unrealistic for its designers or that the quality of the software was not a priority.
The constant promise of fixes over the horizon is a hollow moan in the face of the tidal wave of customers who pour through my doors with paperwork in hand ready to have their taxes done.
When I called customer support today to dig my heels in and demand a response I was told by my sales agent that he was well aware of the overwhelming customer dissatisfaction with the software and that I would not have the same problems with the same companies opposing software, Taxwise.
While it seemed absolutely absurd that a company could make one perfectly functioning software suite and one so infused with failure. Not being unreasonable, I agreed to try out the Taxwise software.
I was sent a download link for a demo version of the 2011 Taxwise software.
A demo of a year older version. The 2011 version of ATX works just fine. I can only assume the same problem is held by this software as well.
In my hubris I assumed that a level of quality and accountability would be standard in a product of this size and applicability. Obviously I was very wrong. While I see only a small fraction of your users actually using these boards, I see enough of that fraction using them for nothing more than complaints about the software itself.
I myself am only here to feel better about the large amount of time and energy I have wasted this year trying to get something that, by the admission of its own designers, does not work, to function properly.
Even in filing for the refund, I found more failure. After filling out the online refund form on the ATX website and submitting it, I was greeted with a server error. I'm not sure if that means that the request was submitted or not.
I wish all of you well, and the best of luck with this software. While I assume this post will be in some way censored or removed by the administrators here, if it is not, I bid you beware.
Heed my warning. This company is in a major transition phase. I'm assuming that is the source of their issues but in truth I imagine a basic level of detail attention and quality concern is the true problem.
I'd suggest if you have something that works for you and are seeking to save a small sum, to simply stick with what you have or find some other avenue than CCH to explore.
TL;DR
Don't buy this, buy something else. This is broken and they can't fix it.