Setting up Power Closer

Setup

Updates

Download

Beta test

Basics

1099-S

Balance

Checks

Docs

Tips

Help

Setup

... Customizing Power Closer

On this page:

Required setup
Setting up Power Closer's template options
Setting up Power Closer's accounting interface
Setting Power Closer's options for merging documents

Before using Power Closer you should:

Enter your firm's address, phone number and tax ID number in Site Options as it is to appear in Form 1099-S.
Install one or more printers at each workstation. Visit Power Closer's Workstation Options. Select printers from the list of Windows printers, and set Power Closer's paper handling options for each printer selected.
To be able to e-mail and/or fax the HUD-1 form and other printouts, set up an Acrobat PDF printer driver and/or your fax driver as printers in Power Closer. For more about this, see E-mailing HUD-1's in PDF Format.

If necessary, you may change Site Options for how Power Closer calculates and displays prorations, interim interest adjustments, and real estate commissions. Most users do not need to change these calculation options. We recommend that you consider carefully before changing these options, but make changes when you are clear you need to do so. Changes to these options only affect closing files created after the change is made.

Setting up Power Closer's template options

When you create a new closing, it is based on the default template unless you choose to base it on another template or on another closing.

A simple but limited way to edit a closing template is to go to the Options menu item and select Default Template. Here you will see buttons that give control over check allocations, deposits, which documents are automatically selected for printing, which charges are automatically allocated to the seller and which to the buyer, and so on. You can also edit most of the language that appears on the HUD-1, including footnotes, certification and authorization text, settlement signatory text, and settlement address.

A more powerful way to edit a closing template is to go to the File menu, selecting Open, and click the Templates menu item at the top of the Open a File screen, and selecting a template, which then opens and can be fully edited just like any closing. Some items for a closing, such as Footnotes and other text, are accessed by going to the Options menu item and selecting This File, which presents certain options for whatever file you have open..

Setting up Power Closer's accounting interface

Before setting up the Accounting interface, we suggest that you update Power Closer to at least version 3.2.15 (for certain accounting features) and preferably 3.2.30 (for ease of setup).

Appendix 3 of the Power Closer User Guide tells how to set up and use the accounting interface, step by step. Many firms start using Power Closer's accounting interface by referring to Appendix 3 without additional help. Others call for technical support, which may typically involve one or two ten minute phone calls, but the support calls may occasionally take considerably longer. Some users choose to purchase Annual Support to help them get off on the right foot. For more, see Prepare checks automatically.

Setting Power Closer's options for merging documents

Before setting up for merging documents, you may need to:

update Power Closer to at least version 3.2.30. That version has added some important options, capabilities and extra merge fields. The following discussion assumes that you are running Power Closer version 3.2.30.
get clear about where you keep your merge forms and closing documents.

For more about the location of word processing forms and documents, see How you organize your word processing forms and document files.

To set Power Closer merge options, go to each workstation in turn, select Power Closer's Options menu item and select "Workstation" options. Click the merge setup button to access the merge options for this workstation. Likely settings for the various Power Closer merge options are as follows:

Merge data folder:	If in doubt, set the path to C:\P-Closer
Constant data file name:	Check this unless you require a special data file name.
Forms folder:	Set the path to the word processor's folder for Power Closer merge forms.
Closings folder:	Set the path to the word processor's documents folder for Closings.
Create closing folder:	Set according to firm preference. If in doubt, check.
Open the forms folder:	Set according to personal preference. If in doubt, check.
Open the closings folder:	Set according to personal preference. If in doubt, check.

The "Forms folder" may be a single shared folder for all users, or a separate folder for the particular user. Some firms set up a single "Closings folder" for all users. Most firms check the checkbox to "Create closing folder", which creates a separate subfolder within the "Closings folder" in which to save and find each closing's documents. The word processing software's "File Locations" may be set consistently with the "Forms folder" and the "Closings folder".

We recommend merging to a single word processing software. That way you only need to learn the idiosyncrasies of one word processing software, and you only have to maintain a single library of forms. With that in mind, you may set Power Closer merge options for MS Word, or WordPerfect, or both. If using both, be sure to return to the preferred word processor's options for each workstation as you click OK to complete and save the merge options at the current workstation.

Be sure to set the Power Closer merge options at each workstation where Power Closer is installed.

For orientation to using the merge feature, see Merging Documents.