Table of Contents

(click on any article title to move directly to that article)

The Podium--A Quick Overview of this issue

Tech Flash – A look at report categories in Nexus XP

Feature Spotlight - Inactive Contracts

Winter 2003 Calendar of Events - Where will MBS be this Quarter?

Did you know? - You can visit MBS at the ICFA show in booth 121

Hints and Tips - Helpful Suggestions and other items of interest

TechFAQs – Changing a Contract Number in Nexus XP

Sites Unseen – Interesting Web Sites

Some thoughts from the CEO - Why Suggest Electronic Transfers? by Fred Miller

Very Important Information for IMAP Users – A reminder to Pack your tables in IMAP

Well, the groundhog says it’s still going to be cold for a bit longer, but here in Tennessee, things are just starting to heat up—both in terms of the weather and what’s happening. First, MBS will be celebrating in 2003. This year marks our 20th year of participating in and serving the deathcare industry. As we start this year we would like to offer a very special thanks to our clients and those with whom we have worked to make our organization what it is today. We couldn’t have done it without you!

As we move forward, MBS will be entering a new phase in our offerings through Nexus XP 3.2. To help our clients make better use of the innovations in this version, our feature spotlight, techFLASH and Fred’s editorial all focus on a product feature so that you can learn about that new element as well as how to apply it to your needs. Specifically, techFLASH will focus on some of the 175+ reports now in Nexus XP, while the feature spotlight discusses the use of the inactive contract status. Fred then focuses his eye on the use of E.Comm enabled Nexus XP, which can bring electronic payment options to your clients.

If you are an IMAP user, be sure to look at our definition of terms to better understand thematic maps and SQL Selections. Also, check out page four to understand the importance of packing and re-indexing your IMAP tables and how to do this very important mapping step.

As always, our Hints and Tips will offer you ways to make better use of your own computers and general Windows software.

Lastly, if you are looking for MBS this spring, be sure to visit us at one of the many industry trade shows we’ll be attending this year. Listed are our events for February and March including our booth number (121) for the ICFA show.

So, again, thanks for making us what we are today and we look forward to serving you for 20 more years!

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For Article Suggestions, Copies or Requests, please email Tom Balducci at tbalducci@mbs-intl.com.

For Site Corrections or Suggestions, please email jmcquiston@mbs-intl.com.

Thank you.

It Is In There—Looking at Reports in Nexus XP v. 3.2

Looking for specific information from your Nexus XP system? The answer is found in your Reports. In fact, Nexus XP v. 3.2 has over 175 reports with the number growing constantly. One of the most common questions we receive here at MBS which report will give our users specific information. To help guide this quest, below we will take a short look at some of our most common report categories.

Current Transactions – Information generated since the last close on a deposit report. Includes payments, sales, commissions, adjustment entries, and exceptions.

Personal Information– Information for a person including profiles, property details and any cash received, but not yet applied to a contract. Also includes mail merges, labels, and contract cross references, which list contracts with purchasers and co-purchasers.

Contract Information– Reports and views including allocations made to trust, commissions, interest and other funds, coupons, statements and invoices, early payoff calculations such as contract pay off amount, repayment schedules that include principal and interest allocations, potential credit available, contract transaction history, contract and item status listings, and detailed inquiries with payment by payment information related to a contract, including contract items, funds, commissions, and property.

Sales Reports– Including analysis of sales programs, cash flow, performance, accounts receivable and gross profit. Also offering reports of projected cash flow, down payments, sales by source, category, counselor, and date range, commission schedules, override schedules, commissions earned and paid, and commissions grouped by contract, date, and counselor.

Accounting Reports– Accounts receivable, aged trial balance, delinquent accounts, and late charges.

Fund Activity—Such as monthly trust account summary, fund account status for each contract, contracts requiring full funding based on months to pay fund, summary of all funding breakdowns in a selected period, earnings and withdrawals.

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Inactive contracts are a new feature programmed into Nexus XP v. 3.2. With this addition, each contract entered into Nexus XP is automatically made Inactive until finalized by the Nexus XP user.

With the option of Inactive Contracts, users can enter a contract, and maintain the flexibility to change options including goods and services, prices, commission, trusts, payment methods, payment terms and the amount of the downpayment until both the company and the client are satisfied. Inactive contracts are also a solution in cases where the company or family needs contract terms and conditions in writing before being committed. An extra benefit is found in preplanning as this feature allows users to save and print the client’s preferences, with no money exchanging hands.

To use this new feature, begin with the traditional steps for contract entry. Once the contract is complete or completely planned, it should be saved as normal. As it is saved, the user is given the opportunity to finalize the contract and make it Active or leave it Inactive.

If the contract is left Inactive, the user will be given a Terms and Conditions Screen for printing instead of the traditional Contract Verification screen. The status of the contract can be left as Inactive indefinitely, which will allow the cemetery or funeral home to change the contract details at any time until it is ready for completion. The contract can later be edited and finalized after any save.

Once the contract is finalized, its status will automatically be changed to Active, which will limit the changes that can be made to the contract and apply any associated funds, including unapplied cash, to the contract, trust funds and GL. This will also make the contract visible on all related reports.

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February 2-3—South Carolina Cemetery Association Annual Mid-Winter Workshop, Columbia, SC.

March

March 6-8—Illinois Cemetery and Funeral Association Meeting, East Peoria, IL. Fred will be presenting at this meeting.

March 10-13—ICFA Annual Convention and Exposition, Las Vegas, NV. Look for MBS in Booth 121.

March 26-28—Interment Association of California Annual Spring Conference, Los Angeles, CA.

Visit our complete events calendar at http://www.mbs-intl.com/Events.htm

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Be sure to visit us in Booth number 121 and learn more about our software. Technical and sales experts will be on hand to answer your questions. While you’re there, don’t forget your GooGoo Cluster!

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Keep Your Favorite Programs Near the Top of the Start Menu (WinXP)

Do you have a favorite program that you frequently use? Elevate its priority on the Start menu by putting it at the top of the list. This ensures that the program will remain on the Start menu and cannot be bumped by other programs, even if you use the others more frequently. Right-click the link to your favorite program on the Start menu and select Pin to Start Menu. Your program will be moved permanently to the top part of the list, just below your browser and e-mail programs.

 Close Multiple Windows (Works in all versions of Windows)

If you just opened a number of separate, related windows (a folder inside a folder, and so on), there's an easier way to close them all than one-at-a-time. Hold down the Shift key as you click the X caption button in the upper-right corner of the last window opened. Doing so closes that window and all windows that came before it.

 Don't Ignore the Windows Logo Key

The Windows logo key, located in the bottom row of most computer keyboards is a little-used treasure. Don't ignore it. It is the shortcut anchor for the following commands:

Disable Error Reporting (Win XP)

You can get rid of that annoying Windows XP error report message if you don't want to send another one to Microsoft (and really, who does?). Start the System Configuration Utility:

1. Click Start, and then click Run.

2. Type msconfig to open the System Configuration Utility.

3. Click the Services tab.

4. Clear the Error Reporting Service check box, and then click OK.

5. Hit Restart to reboot your system.

 Stop the Floppy Scan (Win 98)

When Windows 98 boots up, it wastes time scanning for new floppy drives. You can reclaim these lost seconds via the System Control Panel applet (Start/Settings/Control Panel/System, or right-click My Computer and choose Properties). Select the Performance tab; click the File System button; select the Floppy Disk tab; and uncheck the option "Search for new floppy disk drives every time your computer starts."

 Don’t be an INDENT-ured servant! (Word)

How fast could YOU indent in an emergency? What do you do?

Press Ctrl-M.

Should you ever need a fast unindent, press Ctrl-Shift-M.

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TechFAQs

A: No, you do not have to delete or re-enter the contract because the contract number field is editable. After locating the correct contract through the Task Center, select Edit Contract from under the Tasks menu option. Next, click the <Edit> button in the toolbar. Make the necessary changes to the contract including the contract number and click the <Save> button on the toolbar.

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Sites Unseen

This month’s Sites Unseen focuses on deathcare industry associations.

www.icfa.org

www.imsa-online.com

www.ntriplec.org

Homepage of the National Catholic Cemetery Conference.

Sites Unseen is a list of interesting, informative and helpful Web sites we thought might be useful to you.  If your cemetery or cemetery-related business has a Web site, e-mail the address to us at tbalducci@mbs-intl.com.

MBS will shortly release the latest version of Nexus XP. Version 3.2 contains several advanced features that will impact your bottom line, one of which is its ability to provide linkage with the E.Comm Group of Denver.

This linkage provides the opportunity for MBS clients to participate in a direct Electronic Payment Program (EPP) that will cut your operating costs and dramatically reduce your contract cancellation rate.

Under this program your customers sign authorizations that direct their bank to transfer the regular contract payments to your bank for deposit. Nexus XP is notified electronically upon the completion of the transaction and the payment is processed just as if it had been manually keyed into the system.

The payment is recorded and the balance due is calculated. Nexus XP continues the process, automatically performing cash allocations, distributing commissions, overrides, interest, taxes, care funds, and trusts.

This process cuts office supply and labor costs. Keying errors during the payment entry process are eliminated. The entire process is completed safely and accurately with minimal staff involvement.

The authorized direct EPP will go a long way toward keeping contracts active until they are paid off. This is important as many states move towards the passage of 100% refund statutes on canceled contracts. The retention of contracts to completion will become a financial imperative if these laws are passed.

New research points out an unprecedented rise in persistency rates for contracts paid off through authorized direct EPP. Statistical data in our industry reflects that 50% of purchasers prefer authorized direct payments. Once consumers understand the advantages of this payment program and provide authorization they are reluctant to interrupt the pay off process.

MBS marketing has developed the tools to assist our clients in training their sales staff in effectively presenting the merits of the authorized direct EPP option. This is a winning concept for all concerned. Consider what such a program would mean to your organization.

The benefits to your organization are:

• More stable and predictable cash flow
• Reduced late or partial payments
• Dramatically improved collections
• An end to postal delays
• Lowered labor costs
• Immediate notice of NSF problems and immediate resubmission for payment without your involvement

The nightmare of dealing with delinquent accounts going 30, 60, 90 days past due without response to letters, phone calls and expensive collection services could finally be at an end.

This is an idea whose time has come and all of us at MBS and E.Comm are anxious to roll it out. Call us if you are interested in learning more details of the program. At MBS we just keep getting better.

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Regardless if you use IMAP in conjunction with Nexus XP, a custom front-end package, a bridge update system with another program or update your data directly in IMAP, it is imperative that you pack your IMAP Space Layer often.

Packing a table compresses the map and data by removing all deleted records. In addition, packing a table in IMAP also reindexes the file. Both functions are necessary for the proper running and display of your maps in terms of locating records, SQL selections and thematic shading and should be performed nearly as often as you update your data and maps.

When you pack a table, be sure that there is enough free space on your computer’s hard drive to make an additional full copy of the space layer files. Typically this can be anywhere from 8K to over 200M depending on the size and layout of your cemetery. If you are unsure about the size of your files, check them in Windows Explorer. You will find your IMAP space layer files in the IMAP\Data\"CemeteryName" directory. "CemeteryName" will be similar to the name of your cemetery. The space layer has the same name as this folder and will have five files with different extensions. The combined size of these five files comprising the space layer is your concern.

Once you have determined that there is enough room on your computer, pack the table from within IMAP. To do so, have your non-shaded MapView open in IMAP. Then select Table>Maintenance>Pack Table from the top menu bar. In the following window, select the space layer, which will be named similarly to your cemetery, and choose to pack both types of data. Click <OK>. If your cemetery is extremely large or has several depths, this may take several minutes. Typically though, this is a quick process. After you have finished packing the table, IMAP will close the view of the space level data. To view the data, reopen any of your MapViews by selecting File>Open MapView from the top menu bar and open any of your MapViews as they will all be updated.

You should pack your map files no less than one to two times per week if you are updating either your maps or data daily. If you print regular sales maps or reports, pack your files before you start your set of printouts or queries to make sure the indexes and therefore display is fully up to date.

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