RTG Bills Version 2 Installation
We released RTG Bills and RTG Timer Version 2 on September 1. Many firms upgraded quickly in order to get the new spell checker.
A change in the standard installation location has caused some confusion. Because Version 2 is designed for Windows* 95, Windows 98, and now Windows Me, a new installation (on a non-networked computer) will put the program in the folder C:\Program Files\Rtgbills. The Program Files folder is the standard place to put an application program such as RTG Bills.
Version 1, however, was compatible with Windows 3.1. Windows 3.1 did not have a Program Files folder, so the standard installation put the program in C:\Rtgbills. That works under Windows 3.1 as well as the newer versions of Windows (95/98/Me).
Unfortunately, confusion arose because of this change. If you are upgrading from RTG Bills Version 1 to RTG Bills Version 2, we recommend installing the program in the same folder as Version 1. That way, RTG Bills will see the old database and use your existing data. But the installation program always offers to install Version 2 in C:\Program Files\Rtgbills and, if you do, it will appear as if your data is gone!
Of course, the data isn't gone. RTG Bills and RTG Timer never overwrite your data during an installation (or even an un-installation). It's just that the data is in the same folder as Version 1 instead of being in the folder for Version 2.
The solution is simple. First, remove Version 2. This is done in the standard way, by going to the Windows Control Panel and running Add/Remove Programs. You will see RTG Bills and RTG Timer on the list. Select that entry and click Add/Remove.
Now install Version 2 again. This time, when the installation program shows the Destination Folder as C:\Program Files\Rtgbills, click the Browse button and type in C:\Rtgbills. A message will tell you that the directory already exists, which is exactly what we want, so click Yes to proceed.
When the installation is done, run RTG Bills and it will automatically convert your database to the format required for Version 2.
RTG E-Bills
Some clients want to receive their bills in electronic format rather than on paper. Usually this means they are using software to read the bills and analyze them.
In order for a program to read a bill, the bill must be in a specific format that the software understands. Simply reprinting the bill to disk won't work, because the format is not correct.
Also, you will want to print a copy of the bills on paper for your own records. The paper bills show the previous balance, payments, and other details that are not included in the e-bills. So the matter will, in effect, have two bill formats: one for the paper bills and another one for the e-bills.
To meet this need, soon we will introduce a new program called RTG E-Bills. After you install RTG E-Bills, you will see a new menu choice in RTG Bills: Bills, Reprint As E-Bills.
Different clients may require different electronic bill formats. However, there is an industry-standard format called LEDES 1998B, and this is the first format we will support with RTG E-Bills. Other formats will be added as necessary.
RTG E-Bills will create a separate disk file for each e-bill. The files will be named with the matter number and bill number. For example, the file 345-2-1045.txt would be an e-bill for matter 345-2, with bill number 1045.
Setting up your billing system to create e-bills properly can be time-consuming. Frequently, the client will assign a code to each of your matters. For example, the client might use a claim number to identify the matter. You must enter the client's code for each matter into RTG Bills (in the Matter Reference field), so that RTG E-Bills can include it in the e-bills. Other information, such as timekeeper classifications, may also be required.
Once it is set up, however, the creation of e-bills is easy. It is just like reprinting bills on paper, except they come out in disk files in the Ebills folder within the RTG Bills folder. RTG Bills will know which matters require e-bills, so it will automatically skip over the rest.
RTG E-Bills will be available soon for $199. That's several hundred dollars less expensive than our competitors' prices. It will require upgrading RTG Bills to Version 2.02.
We will announce the release of RTG E-Bills by e-mail to everyone who has purchased RTG Bills. Please make sure we have your current e-mail address. You can update your contact information, including your e-mail address, on the Support page:
http://www.rtgsoftware.com/support.htm
If you are interested in e-bills, please let us know. We need to know the details of the bill format that your clients require.
PayPal
PayPal, at http://www.paypal.com, lets you send money to anyone with an e-mail address. When you sign up with PayPal, you give them either your bank account information or your credit card information. To send money to someone, all you need is the person's e-mail address. The money can be taken out of your PayPal account, or PayPal can charge it to your credit card. They will even take it directly out of your bank account, if you wish.
There is no service charge for sending money with PayPal. The advantage is that you give your credit card information to PayPal, but you do not have to give it to the people you are paying. This scheme has become quite popular for online auctions, where the buyer and seller usually don't know one another.
RTG is accepting PayPal payments for upgrades from Version 1 to Version 2 of RTG Bills. We will soon be including other products as well. When you send your payment to
orders@rtgsoftware.com
we get an e-mail message saying that you have paid. It's a lot faster than sending a check in the mail.
RTG Bills and RTG Timer are trademarks of RTG Data Systems. Other company and product names may be trademarks of the companies with which they are associated.
Copyright © 2000 RTG Data Systems