1. No category

ARGUS Developer v7.0
Product Release Notes
Document Version 1.02
May 21st, 2015
ARGUS Software – An Altus Group Company
Release Notes for ARGUS Developer v7.00.002.035
Error! Unknown document property name.
Release Notes for ARGUS Developer v7.0
May 21st, 2015
Published by:
ARGUS Software, Inc.
3050 Post Oak Boulevard
Suite 900
Houston, Texas 77056
Telephone (713) 621-4343
Facsimile (713) 621-2787
www.argussoftware.com
Information in these release notes is subject to change without notice and represents no commitment on the
part of ARGUS Software.
These release notes are copyright © 2015, ARGUS Software. All rights reserved. These release notes are a
confidential and proprietary trade secret of ARGUS Software and its licensors, made available only under a
license containing obligations of confidentiality. Information in these release notes is subject to change
without notice.
"ARGUS Software" is a trademark of ARGUS Software, Inc. All other trademarks and registered trademarks are
property of their respective companies.
2
ARGUS Software – An Altus Group Company
Release Notes for ARGUS Developer v7.0
ARGUS Developer v7.0
ARGUS Developer System Requirements ............................................................................................................... 4
System Requirements ........................................................................................................................................ 4
Permissions ........................................................................................................................................................ 5
Further documentation about this product ....................................................................................................... 6
Enhancements Introduced in 7.00.002.035............................................................................................................ 7
Enhancements Introduced in 7.00.000.144............................................................................................................ 7
Fixed Defects in ARGUS Developer 7.00.002.035 ................................................................................................. 10
Fixed Defects in ARGUS Developer 7.00.001.003 ................................................................................................. 12
Fixed Defects in ARGUS Developer 7.00.000.144 ................................................................................................. 13
ARGUS Software – An Altus Group Company
3
Release Notes for ARGUS Developer v7.00.002.035
Error! Unknown document property name.
ARGUS Developer System Requirements
Before you Begin
Before starting to install ARGUS Developer, please take a moment to make sure that you have fulfilled the
following prerequisites.
System Requirements
The following represents minimal supported system requirements for use of ARGUS Developer v7.00.002.035:
Client & Workstation PC Requirements:
Component
Computer and Processor
Required
1.5 gigahertz (GHz) processor or higher
Memory
2 gigabyte (GB) RAM or higher
Hard Disk
500 megabytes (MB)
Display
SVGA 1024x768 or higher resolution
Operating System
Microsoft Windows Vista™ with SP1 (32-bit or 64-bit); Microsoft Windows 7™
(32-bit or 64-bit) , Microsoft Windows 8™ (32bit or 64bit)
Other
Installation of the Microsoft .NET Framework 4.0™ or higher
Export to PDF requires an accompanying reader such as Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Additional
Some functions, such as Microsoft Excel Export and Import Requirement, require
Microsoft Excel 2007™ or higher.
For the Excel Analysis Reports, require Microsoft Excel 2010™ or higher.
Application Server Requirements:
Component
Required
Dual processors rated faster than 2.5
gigahertz (GHz)
Recommended
Quad processors rated faster than 3.0
GHz
RAM
4 gigabytes (GB)
8 GB
Disk
NTFS file-system formatted partition with at least 3GB of free space with the operating
system (O/S) installed
Operating System
Windows Server 2008™ Std x86 or x64
Other
Microsoft .NET Framework 4.0™
Processor
Windows Server 2012™ Std x64
Supported Database Environments (please note for user to be able to connect to SQL Server with Windows
authentication, users need to be set up as users by the SQL Server administrator):
4
ARGUS Software – An Altus Group Company
Release Notes for ARGUS Developer v7.0





MS SQL SERVER 2008™ (Recommended)
MS SQL SERVER 2008 R2™
MS SQL SERVER 2012™
MS SQL Compact v3.5™ service pack 2 (subject to a database size limit of 4Gb – which
approximates to 500 .wcfx files containing on average 5 phases based on a 5 year timescale)
In addition, a shared installation of SQL SERVER Express equivalents of the above are also
supported. However, the following limitations apply to SQL Express installed on a server:
o
o
o
10 GB database
Single core processing
1 GB RAM
NOTE: This version of ARGUS Developer only supports Windows Authentication but does not
currently support SQL Server Authentication, when connecting to a MS SQL Server™ instance.
Permissions
Whether ARGUS Developer is installed on a single PC or a server with many workstations, you will need the
appropriate permissions to allow the installation of the software in compliance with your organisation’s IT
policies.
The following are the levels of permissions required:
 Local Administrator – access rights to the individual PC/workstation
 Network Administrator – access rights to configure servers
 Database Administrator – administers any database systems held on your servers
 Application Administrator- Controls the set-up and configuration of ARGUS Developer
Action
Local

Network SQL Server –install pre-requisite
Local SQL Server – install pre-requisite

Install ARGUS Developer7 – workstation

Setting up ARGUS Developer v7 configuration
Application



Install ARGUS Developer7 – network
Database configuration utility
Administrator Type
Network
Database



Whilst ARGUS endeavours to correct known issues, software is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind,
express or implied. In no event shall ARGUS be held liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special or
consequential damages arising out of the use of or inability to use this software.
ARGUS recommends that clients check new versions in a test environment before releasing to their users.
ARGUS will provide test licences to all clients under support who wish to upgrade to the new version.
ARGUS Software – An Altus Group Company
5
Release Notes for ARGUS Developer v7.00.002.035
Further documentation about this product
Error! Unknown document property name.
Further documentation including these Release Notes can be found in the ARGUS Developer>Region>[select
relevant region] folder or downloadable from the ARGUS Software website:
http://customer.argussoftware.com/site/downloads/ARGUSDownloadsNewDev.htm.
This includes the following documents:

ARGUS Developer Release Notes version 7.0.pdf – These Release Notes in PDF format.

ARGUSDeveloperInstallGuide.pdf - The installation guide in PDF format.

Import Actuals Data.pdf – This guide details the file formats and process to Import actuals data into
ARGUS Developer.

Calculations Manual.pdf - This is a guide to the main calculation methods employed in ARGUS Developer.

Quick Start Guides – These handy guides show you the basics to get you started using the Project and
Snapshot (if licence acquired) modules.

User Guide - A printable version of the context sensitive help system is downloadable from the ARGUS
Software website.
6
ARGUS Software – An Altus Group Company
Release Notes for ARGUS Developer v7.0
Enhancements Introduced in 7.00.002.035
The following are enhancements, features, and modifications added in ARGUS Developer.
Description
Type
Import/Export – The following files formats or data sets can now be
imported/exported:
Platform





Export Portfolio – contains all project data including cost code information in
the .adx format
Export Cost Code – export a cost code set in an xml format
Export Template – export a project as a template for future repeat use
Export to version 6.5 – export an ARGUS Developer v7.0 project to enable it
to be read by version 6.5
Import Developer Portfolio – import a portfolio .adx file
Sensitivity Analysis - Export your sensitivity analysis results into Excel
Sensitivity Analysis
Enhancements Introduced in 7.00.000.144
The following are enhancements, features, and modifications added for the new Snapshot module in ARGUS
Developer.
Snapshot Module [These enhancements will be only available if the user has acquired the
additional Snapshot module. Please contact ARGUS Software for more details]
Description
Type
Budget Cash Flow - is a powerful analysis tool to:
Budgeting




Compares the budget of all costs, revenues and financial (including
Structured Finance) records against the latest forecast
Enable to track the progress of development projects
Ability to re-forecast your model to account for actual spending
Calculate KPI’s based on forecasts and actual costs and revenues from
accounting systems
KPI Budget Dashboard – Compares the original budget KPI’s to the current KPI’s
showing the fixed and percentage variance
Budgeting
Spread Variance editor – where actual spending varies from the forecast, redistribute or absorb the variances into future periods. 5 options option are available
for re-modelling the variances:
Re-modelling





Add to the next distribution period
Add to the last distribution period
Spread evenly over the remaining distribution periods
Spread proportionally over the remaining distribution periods
Manually adjust the future forecasts
View mode - controls which view of the Budget & Project Cash Flow is displayed:
ARGUS Software – An Altus Group Company
User Interface
7
Release Notes for ARGUS Developer v7.00.002.035
Description
Error! Unknown document
Type property name.

Actual/Forecast – this is the up to date view of your project model. It
contains actuals that have been imported and the corresponding forecasts
for future periods
 Original Budget – this is the view of your project when the Original Budget
was created.
 Revised Budget – this is a view of your project when the Revised Budget was
created.
 Current Forecast - this is a dynamic view of the Project Cash Flow (excluding
actuals)
Budget Reports – Consolidate information across multiple portfolios and projects that
contain imported actual transaction data in three new reports:
 Budget Summary
 Cash Flow
 Actual Transactions Log – see details of what has been imported
Cost Codes (chart of accounts) – are the primary system data component when
configured in ARGUS Developer allows it to work with a variety of external data
sources
Import Actuals Data - the ability to import actual transaction from an external
Finance/Accounting systems:


Reporting
Platform
Platform
Configure a direct connection to your external system
Import via .csv or .xml files
ARGUS Developer now uses a database platform and supports SQL Server and SQL
Compact Edition.
SQL Compact Edition is ideally suited to single-user installations
Existing ARGUS Developer models (.WCF, .WCFX) must be imported into the database,
either on a one-by-one basis, or as a batch, before they can be used.
Database
A new File tab contains the Backstage for all file, database and configuration options.
All things that you can ‘do to’ a project are available here.
Backstage Area
Manage individual users and user groups to apply security using system permissions
Security
Snapshot specific sample files : To assist you with how some of the new features
work, sample data files can be found in the ARGUS Software installation sub-folder
Region > [my region] > Data
Sample Data
File Formats
[myregion] Sample Cost Codes .xml : contains a set of cost codes that will allow the
actuals from the sample .csv file be imported into the sample model (see Help files >
Cost Codes)
Lark Wood Pond [myregion] sample project.wcfx : an ARGUS Developer project file
with sample cost codes already assigned to the items in the Project Cash Flow (see
Snapshot Quick Start Guide)
Lark Wood [myregion] Sample Actuals.csv : contains several months of sample
actuals data that can be imported into your sample model (see Snapshot Quick Start
Guide)
8
ARGUS Software – An Altus Group Company
Release Notes for ARGUS Developer v7.0
Known Issues and Workarounds in ARGUS Developer 7.0
Item
Description
Workaround
17760
VAT on Revenue collected as part of sales
proceeds calculates as positive receipt rather
than cost
As this VAT tax is a pass through, and
Developer does not currently tie the receipts
of tax collections to the eventual tax
payments, it is suggested that the amounts
be entered as 0.01 as a placeholder
19716
Reserve Account Balance is negative at the
end of the cash flow
Try restricting the distribution of profit from
the reserve account until the final project
cash requirement
65799
When selecting the Repay Balance
functionality on a Timed Repayment Line in
the Finance Cash Flow, an outstanding
balance still remains.
Manually enter a value into the Timed
Repayment Line to ensure outstanding
balance is 0
73009
Hotkeys are not enabled for the Portfolio &
Project browsers in the Backstage Area
Use buttons or right-click context menus to
perform actions
75359
"Devwin.exe has stopped working" error is
displayed on closing the application,
Devwin.exe process is still running even after
closing the application
Use Windows Task Manager to end process
80129
If a user has created a connection to SQL
Server using SQL Server authentication in the
database wizard, on logging on to AD an
error message "Could not verify the
password is seen" is displayed
Use Windows Authentication to connect to
the SQL Server instance
81125
‘TPeriodSplitDCFCycleCalculator: Period must
be a greater than 0’ error exception message
is displayed
Ensure when editing Cash Flow View Cycle,
the ‘Months in cycle’ is set to be greater than
0
83461
When the display settings in Windows (7 &
8) is set to a DPI higher than 'Smaller', the
text in a number of screen & editors do not
change
Leave DPI setting on the “smallest” setting
and re-boot the computer to ensure the
setting is applied
UK users only
Following the Stamp Duty reforms announced in the UK Government’s 2014 Autumn Statement to Parliament,
the supplied Stamp Duty scheme template (see Help > Acquisition Costs > Stamp Duty) in ARGUS Developer
has been updated to reflect these reforms. They came into effect for residential properties on 4th December
2014.
In addition, the Scottish Parliament has been granted the power to set their own rates for Land & Buildings
Transaction Tax. The proposed new rates are due to come into effect on 1st April 2015.
For further details, follow the link:
https://www.gov.uk/stamp-duty-land-tax-rates
ARGUS Software – An Altus Group Company
9
Release Notes for ARGUS Developer v7.00.002.035
Error! Unknown document property name.
Fixed Defects in ARGUS Developer 7.00.002.035
Item
Release
Description
Area
User Interface
20048
7.0
Letting Agent Fees: Unable to switch off letting cost on renewal of lease
43037
7.0
Operated Assets – Room Occupancy Profile: Cannot edit the Profile name
after clicking the Delete button
73524
7.0
Budget Cash Flow: Copy Row & Copy Cell functions are disabled when the Cash
Flow Context menu is selected
User Interface
74352
7.0
Project Cash Flow: ‘Interest Totals’ button is disabled on Cash Flow context
ribbon tab
User Interface
76573
7.0
Print Preview: Adding watermarks to a report leads to very large fonts being
displayed on the report
Reporting
76577
7.0
Backstage Information: Cannot sort the information by date or version
User Interface
78457
7.0
Project Cash Flow: Access violation occurs when copying & pasting a cost code
to other rows in the Project Cash Flow
User Interface
78474
7.0
Budget Reports: Projects that do not have a budget created are included in the
Budget Reports
Reporting
78480
7.0
Cost Codes: A two level cost code format displays a trailing dash on the dropdown list when assigning a cost code in the Project Cash Flow
Formatting
79163
7.0
Cost Codes: If the Cost Code description is updated, it is not updated if that
Cost Code has been assigned to a row in the Project Cash Flow
Cost Codes
80039
7.0
Revised Budget: ‘Delete Revised Budget’ deletes all imported actuals
Budgeting
80652
7.0
Timescale & Phasing: Imported actuals are moved by a corresponding number
of months, forwards or backwards when the Project Start Date is changed
Timescale &
Phasing
81429
7.0
Cost Codes: Editing state for Cost Codes displays text as unreadable
Formatting
81584
7.0
Budget Cash Flow: Creating an original budget when the Finance Phase Group
is unchecked displays the error message “Cannot determine the first linked
phase”
Budgeting
81708
7.0
Installation: Unable to do a network installation to a mapped network drive
when doing an Upgrade to ARGUS Developer 7.0 from an earlier version
Installation
81770
7.0
Allocate Actuals: Unable to Allocate Actuals if a source cost code format of one
level has been used
Cost Codes
10
Operated
Assets
ARGUS Software – An Altus Group Company
Release Notes for ARGUS Developer v7.0
Item
Release
Description
Area
82270
7.0
Cost Codes: A newly added cost code item cannot be mapped when the cost
code set it belongs to is already in use
Cost Codes
82399
7.0
Project Template: When the currency is edited for a template, it does not
persist. When a new project is started using the template, the currency reverts
to the original setting
Templates
82591
7.0
Original Budget: Once an Original Budget is created, the Finance Type can be
changed
Budgeting
83285
7.0
Export Data: A project that is exported does not have its changes saved to the
database if another project is subsequently imported
Import/Export
83652
7.0
Structured Finance: Equity Multiple calculation does not take into account any
Timed Contributions
Calculation
85371
7.0
Importing Actuals Data: Actuals data can be imported into a closed period
85564
7.0
Budget Cash Flow: Unit information is not being saved to the Original Budget
when the project is re-loaded
85751
7.0
Export Portfolio: Unable to export a portfolio if the user does not have a
Snapshot licence
ARGUS Software – An Altus Group Company
Import/Export
Budgeting
Import/Export
11
Release Notes for ARGUS Developer v7.00.002.035
Error! Unknown document property name.
Fixed Defects in ARGUS Developer 7.00.001.003
Item
Release
Description
Area
User Interface
81369
7.0
Projects – Delete Projects: Deleting a project which has been opened, deletes
the first project in the portfolio instead
81541
7.0
Pro-forma/Appraisal Summary: When escalation/growth is applied to Sales
values, the Adjustment & Net Sale columns are not displayed on the Proforma/Appraisal Summary
12
Reporting
ARGUS Software – An Altus Group Company
Release Notes for ARGUS Developer v7.0
Fixed Defects in ARGUS Developer 7.00.000.144
Item
Release
Description
Area
29143
7.0
Operated Assets: Start date displayed in the Rates & Occupancy tables does
not agree with selected income flow start date when accessed via the main
toolbar
Capitalised
Rent
40113
7.0
Cash Flow Options: Changes to the ‘Number of Calculation Iterations’ field
were not being saved and applied
Structured
Finance
42096
7.0
Summary Report: Total Area and formatting of Imperial/Metric units were
incorrect on the Summary/Pro-forma Report when merged phases selected
Reporting
43401
7.0
Summary Report: Currency symbol is displayed on some fields and not on
others
Reporting
43413
7.0
Summary Report: does not have a blank line to separate Sales totals from the
Purchaser's Costs/Sales Fees
Reporting
43418
7.0
Summary Report: Heading Additional Revenue appears on the Summary
Report when no additional revenue has been entered
Reporting
43419
7.0
Summary Report: Underlining of the Construction Totals is incorrectly placed
Reporting
43605
7.0
Net Operating Income Report: Report analysis years do not correspond to the
years defined by the Project timescale
Reporting
43642
7.0
Summary Report: Page does not refresh figures (Equity IRR%) when the option
"Include Interest and Finance Fees in IRR Calculations" is turned on/off
Calculation
50100
7.0
Summary Report: Cost type "Revenue reducing cost" does not appear
Reporting
50507
7.0
Finance Cash Flow: When tax is applied, the Summary By Source view does not
calculate the After Tax Equity IRR
Calculation
50912
7.0
Sensitivity Analysis: Data shown as "N/A" within the Analysis Results tab is
displaying a value instead when generating a report
Sensitivity
Analysis
53415
7.0
Additional Related: Line item entered in 'Acres' shows up in pro forma as ‘pf2’
Formatting
53739
7.0
Detailed Cash Flow Report: will not print in portrait
Reporting
55652
7.0
Element Cost Summary Report: Total Construction Estimate Line is not
displayed
Reporting
64538
7.0
Additional Revenue: manual adjustments to data distribution automatically
revert to Phase Start timing
64691
7.0
Sensitivity Analysis: Sensitivity fields not being loaded into Setup tab
64790
7.0
67256
7.0
Leasing Commission Profile: If checked, Renewal Rate on First Renewal Only
calculates ALL renewals.
If unchecked, Renewal Rate on First Renewal Only calculates only the first
renewal
Add New Finance Structure: When creating new a Finance Structure, the
Mortgage is active by default – it should be inactive
ARGUS Software – An Altus Group Company
User Interface
Sensitivity
Analysis
Capitalised
Rent
Structured
Finance
13
Release Notes for ARGUS Developer v7.00.002.035
Item
Release
Description
Error! Unknown document property name.
Area
68138
7.0
Export Reports: Stream write error occurs when trying to export reports to .rtf
format in a Citrix environment
68338
7.0
Enhanced Excel Analysis: Error exporting file to Excel
70148
7.0
Copy Finance Structure: Date and settings are not correctly copied
70181
7.0
Geared IRR: When Interest Cost assumptions have been excluded, they are still
included in the calculation of Geared IRR
Calculation
70183
7.0
Finance Cash Flow: Class "TreXMLDeveloperData" cannot read Element
"Developer data" error message displayed when re-allocating cash in the
Finance Cash Flow
Structured
Finance
70184
7.0
Enhanced Excel Analysis: 'Discrepancies exist in Key Profit KPIs in this
workbook; please see top of DataCheck worksheet for details.' being displayed
even if there no discrepancies during the exporting of data
Analysis
Reporting
70336
7.0
Project Cash Flow: Cannot copy & paste from Excel into Project Cash Flow
User Interface
70341
7.0
Structured Finance IRRs: ‘Maximum Number of iterations reached’ error
message displayed even if the IRR has been calculated
Structured
Finance
70422
7.0
Balancing Account: The Fixed Contribution is displaying values when it should
be 0
Structured
Finance
70698
7.0
New Source of Funds: Creating a new Source of Funds from Sources tab does
not appear for selection on Profit Distribution tab
Structured
Finance
72604
7.0
Mortgages – Income Selection: The areas selected are not maintained when
navigating to other areas of the application
Structured
Finance
72669
7.0
Funding Source Cash Flow Report: Access Violation error occurs when
Previewing Funding Source Cash Flow report
Reporting
72923
7.0
Finance Cash Flow: Construction loan is not paid down when mortgage
proceeds are applied
Structured
Finance
74807
7.0
Mortgages: ‘Month to Repay Mortgage’ column not retaining user input when
reloading data file
Structured
Finance
76426
7.0
Licence Maintenance: 4 Combi licences allowed to be activated but ARGUS
Developer only recognises 3
76804
7.0
Timescale & Phasing: ‘Integer Overflow’ error when changing the number of
months in Timing & Phasing editor
User Interface
76827
7.0
Stamp Duty Configuration Template: Cannot add or modify Stamp Duty
schemes
User Interface
79265
7.0
Sensitivity Analysis: Analysis Results are not displayed when selecting
Operated Asset models
14
Reporting
Analysis
Reporting
Structured
Finance
Platform
Sensitivity
Analysis
ARGUS Software – An Altus Group Company