January 5, 2009

How To Build A Mortgage Calculator For Free in Microsoft Excel!

Filed under: Software Infos @ 9:03 pm

One of the really cool parts aspects of Microsoft Excel is the functions Microsoft has created for you to use. This means that rather than have to develop a function from scratch you can use pre-built ones to do a plethora of tasks like Building your own Mortgage Calculator. The Mortgage Calculator or PMT function is just one of many Financial Functions available.

Okay, so how to build a mortgage calculator…

The first thing we have to do is to start by setting up a few basic headings. So lets begin by starting a new workbook and clicking in the first cell A1. Enter into cell address A1 the heading - Monthly Loan Repayments. Next off, enter into cell address A2 - Amount of Loan, cell address A3 - Interest Rate, cell address A4 - Length of Loan and then in A6 - Monthly Repayment.

In example mortgage calculator, we will take the Loan Amount, Interest Rate and Length of Loan and calculate your Monthly Repayment. Okay so in the corresponding field B1 enter the value of $200,000 and make sure you format the field as a currency. In cell B2 enter a value of 9.25% and format the field as a percentage and then finally enter in a value for the Length of the Loan as 25. The value you enter into the Length of the Loan field is in years.

Now its time to create the formula that will do your calculation for the Monthly Repayment. The function we will use for this calculation is called the PMT function. The PMT function always returns a negative number so one of the things we will need to do is to convert it into a positive number, but a little on that later.

There are three arguments we will use for this formula and they are -

= PMT(Monthly Interest Rate, Number of Payments, Amount Borrowed)

So to work out the Monthly Interest Rate we simply take the value in B3 and divide it by 12 - B3/12. The PMT function works on the basic of the number of payments you are going to make, so if we are going to make monthly payments on our mortgage we simply take the number of years in cell B4 and multiply it by 12 - B4 *12.

This means that to calculate the Monthly Repayment for our mortgage we need to enter the following formula -

= PMT(B3/12, B4*12, B2)

Now as I said before, the PMT function always returns a negative value, so to turn this into a positive value we simply type the PMT function with the Absolute Function encapsulating it as shown below -

= ABS(PMT(B3/12,B4*12,B2))

Simply type the formula above into the cell B6 and press the enter key. You must now format the cell address B6 as a currency and you can do that by simply pressing the Dollar Symbol on the Formatting Toolbar. As soon as you enter the formula and press enter you should get a result of $1712.76. If you do not get this answer, simply go back and make sure that you have entered the formula correctly.

The cool part about this Mortgage Calculator is that you can go back and change any one of the values in B2, B3 and B4 which are the Loan Amount, Interest Rate and Length of Loan to work out what your monthly mortgage repayments will be.

The cool part about this simple tool is that it tells you really quickly whether borrowing massive amounts from the bank is worth it and whether you can really afford that mortgage. Why not check out what your repayments will be if your interest rate went up by 2 or 3%, it can be really interesting to see the impact on your budget.

Simple tools like this can save you thousands of dollars and can also help you see what changes interest rates will have on your own budget. It is certainly worthwhile building yourself a Budgeting Spreadsheet and the mortgage calculator to work out just what you really can afford especially in these uncertain times.

Chris Le Roy has available Microsoft Excel Shortcuts to help you with Microsoft Excel. To learn more about the mortgage calculator simply check our Chris’s correspondence course where you can earn yourself Microsoft Excel Certificates issued by his company without even leaving home - Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet Training

Tips on Microsoft Excel are also Available.

January 3, 2009

Great Plains Dexterity - Microsoft Great Plains Customization Overview

Filed under: Software Infos @ 5:08 pm

Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains, former Great Plains Software Dynamics and eEnterprise are Dexterity-written applications. Also small business line: Microsoft Small Business Manager or Small Business Financials is written in Dexterity and uses the same code base as Great Plains.

The history of the Dexterity. Great Plains Dexterity - is proprietary programming language and technology, designed back to earlier 1990th with the goal to build platform independent graphical accounting package - Great Plains Dynamics. Dexterity itself is written in C (following popular those days hope - that C will provide platform independence). You can install Dexterity from Great Plains 7.5 CD #2. Obviously it requires a lot of learning / training, but it allows your custom piece be seamlessly integrated with Great Plains interface.

• Native Dexterity Cursors. Dexterity was designed as platform independent programming language and so if you want your code to be operable on all currently supported databases - you use Dexterity ranges and loops to manipulate the records

• Great Plains Dexterity with SQL Stored Procs Nowadays, most of Great Plains installations are moved to SQL Server - so you can use Dexterity for custom forms drawing only and make the buttons run SQL stored procedures.

• COM Objects calls. Beginning with version 7.0 Dexterity supports COM objects - you register them as libraries in Dexterity. Refer the manual. This technique allows you to call such nice things as web services across the internet.

• Dexterity Forms - if you like VBA and are comfortable to do all the business logic in VBA - you can use Dexterity as new forms creator/editor. This is OK - but you have to purchase VBA/Modifier and Customization Site Enabler from MBS.

• Great Plains Alternate Forms. These are modification to existing forms - the ones found in DYNAMICS.DIC. The most popular customization are made on SOP Entry form. If you are designing your customization - we recommend you to avoid alternate forms - the problem is customization version upgrade. In the case of alternate form - customization should be redone.

Some restrictions. Great Plains is actually integration of multiple dictionaries: DYNAMICS.DIC, ADVSECUR.DIC, EXP1493.DIC, etc. In your Dexterity customization you can deal with one dictionary - DYNAMICS.DIC. If you need cross dictionaries customization - consider using SQL Stored Procs for crossing dictionary borders and pulling data/making changes in the other dictionary.

You can always have us help you with the customization. Call us: 1-866-528-0577, 1-630-961-5918.

Andrew Karasev is Chief Technology Officer in Alba Spectrum Technologies - USA nationwide Microsoft CRM, Microsoft Great Plains customization company, serving clients in Chicago, California, Texas, New York, Georgia, Arizona, Louisiana, Michigan, Florida, Canada, UK, Australia, South Africa and having locations in multiple states and internationally ( http://www.albaspectrum.com ), he is Dexterity, SQL, C#.Net, Crystal Reports and Microsoft CRM SDK developer.

January 1, 2009

Chiropractic Software

Filed under: Software Infos @ 7:09 pm

Just like almost every aspect of life and every branch of medicine, technology is stretching its reach and improving the field of chiropractic medicine. Medical professionals, industrial engineers and software engineers have collaborated and contributed knowledge from their respective fields in order to develop innovative solutions to prevent injuries.

Ergonomics is the branch of industrial engineering that studies and develops new equipment that ensures the most natural form of the physiology. With the engineer’s expertise combined with the knowledge of chiropractor, a software has been developed that can compute and detect stresses in your spinal cord.

Chiropractors use various software, and the most basic one available is the 3D modeling software that allows patients to view a computer rendered view of the bone structure, while the chiropractor explains the injuries. This type of powerful software allows the doctor to pinpoint specific vertebrae in the spinal cord while the injury is displayed on the screen.

Simulation software is used to simulate the effect of possible scenarios with the spinal cord when certain stresses are applied. This type of software is used to study the possible causes of stress and injuries to the back. Chiropractors are able to share their discoveries with their patients. With this information, patients can maintain postures that will help them prevent such injuries.

Another version of chiropractic software, and a very popular application in the field of professional sports, is the use of this type of simulation software combined with a motion capture apparatus. With these advance technologies, medical professionals can advise athletes on proper posture and form, not only to prevent injuries, but also for better performance.

Chiropractor provides detailed information on Chiropractor, Equine Chiropractors, Chiropractic Clinics, Chiropractic Software and more. Chiropractor is affiliated with Alternative Medicine Schools.

December 1, 2008

Document Scanning Services: Needed Or Not?

Filed under: Software Infos @ 12:11 pm

It is hard to imagine anyone in today’s age of computers not being able to
scan a document, let alone know what to do with it once it is scanned. Yet,
there are countless services offering to do just that–scan, upload and make
your file as you want. Whether you want it simply stored on your computer,
changed into a PDF, converted into c.d. form or simply sent out as an email, these services will do it. The question is: are they actually needed? Do you have to have someone else scan and create your documents?

The answer is both yes and no, and below we will offer the advantages and disadvantages of using such services.

Why To Use It:

Most companies suffer from poor storage. They have row after row of filing cabinets, all stuffed with documents and important papers. What most services will do is offer to convert all of these into computer files, saving you the time of 1) having to scan all the papers yourself or 2) continually rummaging through the cabinets in hopes to find what you are looking for. They will go through your mountain of paper and organize them on the computer. This can save you a great deal of time both now and later. Now since you don’t have to spend your time organizing, as opposed to focusing on current projects. Later since you won’t have to try and find what you need in a messy file cabinet.

Another reason to use a document scanning service is the quality. These companies guarantee that you will have perfectly scanned and organized files. They will do whatever you need to be done, so you won’t have to waste your time guessing against a piece of equipment that you swear hates you since it never seems to work.

Why Not To Use It:

Ultimately, most–if not all–office workers know how to scan. It’s routine. To pay someone else to do it can seem wasteful and, since the prices can be expensive, it can also seem foolish. Scanning and organizing are traits that any worker should have, and employers may hesitate to send for someone else to do what is, essentially, your job.

Also, since the prices can be expensive, it has to be viewed from an objective point: is it better to spend the money and save some time, or just have a worker come in an extra day? Employers may look toward the latter.

Is It Worth It:

Depending on your situation, document scanning services can either seem very appealing or very pointless. If you are unfamiliar with how to fully use your computer (perhaps you can scan but the rest is just guesswork), then using a service might be an excellent way to learn and get yourself organized. If you are competent with scanning, however, you may see this as a waste of money and time. It all comes down to how much faith you have in your skills and how much money you are willing to spend.

Richard Cussons is a prolific and diverse writer. You will find out more about scanning services at the Document Scanning Advice website.

October 14, 2008

Accounts Payable Outsourcing: Things You Need to Check Out

Filed under: Software Infos @ 6:54 pm

Every individual running a business wants to be free of the burden of paying money which they owe to anyone as soon as possible. Accounts payable literally means the money which a business owes to sellers for products and services which have been bought from them on credit. If not paid in time accounts payable can pile up and spell trouble for any business. If you are finding it difficult to keep a track of the amount of your accounts payable, then get accounts payable outsourcing service from an outsourcing company. This is the perfect way to deal with this condition.

When you are running a business, keeping track and managing of things like accounts payable, can become very demanding and hectic. Nonetheless this is an important aspect of any business process and has to done and done in time. Accounts payable outsourcing services are offered by many companies which deal with finance and accounting outsourcing.

The best way for searching a firm providing accounts payable outsourcing services is through the internet. The internet is a storehouse of information, and all you will have to do go online and search for information. The numerous options which you will find in the internet can confuse you. Take some time out from your busy schedule and do a proper research about the companies offer accounts payable outsourcing to clients. I am sure you want the best services for your business. Get an in depth analysis of the services offered by the firm before you actually decide to take up services from the company.

Make sure to check the security arrangements the company has in place for its clients. See for yourself and find out if the security measures are adequate to protect customers personal identify and financial data. Online security in this internet age is vital and you must never compromise on this aspect. Make checks and cross checks about the security arrangements of the firm providing accounts payable outsourcing, before you actually outsource your work to the outsourcing company.

Accounts payable outsourcing has many advantages. One of the main advantages is that you can save huge amounts of revenue through the outsourcing work. Work is outsourced mostly to developing countries where there is abundance of manpower and labor is cheap. This automatically means that your accounts payable outsourcing work will be handled by trained professionals at a very cheap rate. The revenue which you will save in this manner is the profit for your business.

There are some outsourcing companies which offer free trails for prospective clients. You can check out such companies and get some of your work done under the free trail offer. See for yourself the type of work done, the amount of money charged and then decide if the company is capable of handling your accounts payable outsourcing work or not. If you are not satisfied with one company, there are plenty of others for you to choose from.

Accounts payable must always be handled properly and every account must be in place for you to make payments timely. Piling up accounts payable will only put you under a huge amount of strain. Accounts payable outsourcing is a simple way for you to keep all your accounts in good shape. Go ahead, rest easy and earn revenue for your business by accounts payable outsourcing.

Michelle Barkley is a CPA working for IFRworld. She specializes in Accounts Payable Outsourcing, bookkeeping outsourcing and tax returns preparation outsourcing. to know more and to use the services visit http://www.ifrworld.com

October 13, 2008

Church Accounting Software

Filed under: Software Infos @ 6:26 pm

The church is a revered institution that commands the respect and faith of the Christians who contribute billions of dollars to enable it to perform its multifarious secular, religious and spiritual duties. The maintenance and management of records of the financial transactions of the church require a large task force of financial experts that may tax upon the time and management resources of the church. The solution to this lies in using church accounting software, designed by a team of accounting experts who are well versed with the special accounting needs of the church. These will save time and money in the long run.

Church accounting software is different from the other accounting software packages. This is because the church is a non-profit organization, and the accounting is different from that of tax paying corporations. Also, the church has multiple income and expenditure account heads. The church accounting software, apart from meeting these needs, can also be customized according to the specific needs of the church. When important financial meetings are held, relevant data reports can be presented without hassles. The accounting software can help save a lot of time and money.

Comprehensively devised accounting software can help create budget reports, statements of accounts and balance sheets. It can print checks, maintain records of purchases and invoices and make cross checking of the accounts convenient. Before you buy your church accounting software, look into the various brands and formats. Make sure they can truly help your church and your congregation as a whole.

Church Software provides detailed information on Church Software, Church Management Software, Church Home Page Software, Church Accounting Software and more. Church Software is affiliated with Intranet Extranet Software.

Inventory Software

Filed under: Software Infos @ 11:12 am

To understand inventory software, it is important to take a close look at the main issues involved in managing inventory. First, there has to be correct identification of the functions performed by the inventories. Second, there has to be an establishment of the right relationship between inventory functions and inventory levels that decides the optimum level of inventory. Finally, strategies have to be worked out to keep inventories at optimum level.

Of these, the most important issue is defining what the optimum inventory is. In simple terms, it is the level that is sufficient to meet the projected demand, but not enough to erode the projected profits. The firm has to determine at what inventory level it can avoid lost sales due to stock out situations. Lost sales are a relevant concept in inventory management from more than one angle.

It is quite easy for any firm to totally avoid stock out situations and the consequent risk of lost sales by maintaining a very high level of inventory incurring a heavy cost. Sound business calls for optimization of inventory levels and costs subject to the condition that the forecasted sales are realized from the relevant territory. Reducing the inventory levels can reduce inventory costs. Obviously, one must assess the probability of run-out and the effect on sales and profit and offset the costs of holding the stocks against the profits accruing from holding the stocks and realizing the sales.

Since the task is basically one of offsetting the costs of holding the inventories against the benefits derived by holding the inventories, inventory management is essentially a balancing act. Inventory is primarily a function of the customer service level fixed by the firm. And the customer service level in the physical distribution context is primarily a function of the ability to meet a demand at the retail outlet level as and when the demand arise from the readily available stocks without having to generate a back order.

Inventory Software provides detailed information on Home Inventory Software, Inventory Accounting Software, Inventory Management Software, Inventory Software and more. Inventory Software is affiliated with Fleet Maintenance Software Reviews.

October 11, 2008

Artificial Intelligence and Decision Making Computer Software

Filed under: Software Infos @ 11:20 am

Currently many industries are developing artificial intelligence software and decision matrix protocols to evaluate and determine the best choice of action for a given scenario. In the future probability and complexity will be no match for such tools. One will be able to ask a question and get a relevant and best possible answer within extremely short amount of times. Even NASA scientists are now developing such software, which will be able to evaluate options for mining materials for life support, colony building materials and refueling in lunar factories.

The most advanced of these artificial intelligent decision-making computer software systems can now rate and compare more than five different types of lunar or Martian Base station manufacturing systems and compare components of each for the best possible choices. In the future more and more criteria will be added to insure the best possible decision for the situation. For instance using the Moon as our platform to manufacture in Space to service needs of Manned Mars Exploration.

Indeed, such systems will be good templates for future decision matrix artificial intelligent systems, which NASA can use to determine how to best use the materials, elements and compounds on other planets too, as mankind expands their horizons. With NASA using such AI decision programs to determine the best systems, which by the way they are now designing these things to make Business Decisions too; NASA should be able to evaluate the choices without the human politics of choosing systems.

Often when you mix politics, science and business you are asking for problematic situations in the bidding and design contracts, which are inherently corrupt; IE people, humans involved. Those who design such AI decision systems will need to consider the manipulation of criteria and how even those who exhibit the greatest level of integrity might justify it as the human mind of an individual is looking for financial gain or scientific status among peers.

These decision making matrix systems can take the “human element” out of such decisions and thus allow the negative innate characteristics of the species to screw up lesser important decisions, yet still feel in control for piece of mind. Undoubtedly those who program such systems will need to consider in advance the human animosity as they question the decision process and the AI systems decision?

Can humans design a system to make decisions that they will trust and that they will believe? Will these decision matrix systems stand the test of human being scrutiny? Human psychology predicts that if a human does not have a way out and has something to prove to save face or needs to be duly respected to fulfill personal desire that there will be issues with AI decision-making? Perhaps the biggest question maybe the interaction aspects as humans learn to trust such systems, without attempting to manipulate them to serve their will at the expense of the mission. Think on this.

Lance Winslow - EzineArticles Expert Author

“Lance Winslow” - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/