This document contains important information pertaining to the release of FORCAST Version 06.11.0193 as of February 21, 2005. Contents of Readme.Txt ---------------------- 1. Contact Information 2. Installing FORCAST 3. Applying a FORCAST Update 4. System Requirements 5. Significant Issues 6. Version History ================================================ 1. Contact Information Call your AVP consultant if you have any questions. St. Louis 800.828.6309 Atlanta 800.441.4969 2. Installing FORCAST If you are updating FORCAST from an earlier version, skip this section and follow the instructions in section 3 on "Applying a FORCAST Update". The FORCAST program files must be installed on a local PC, not a server. The CCRC data files can be located in any directory on the local PC or network drive. If you store the data files on a network directory, they can be accessed by any workstation that has FORCAST installed and the appropriate network directory mapped. However, only one user at a time can access the same files. Check that your computer meets the system requirements in section 4 and, if so, proceed with the installation: - Close all other applications. - Using Windows Explorer, locate the FORCAST installation file, SETUP.EXE. - Double-click on this file to start the installation process. Follow the instructions on the screen. See Help on Data Directory to assign a data directory for your community files. 3. Applying a FORCAST Update If FORCAST is not already on your PC, this section does not apply. Follow the instructions in section 2, "Installing FORCAST". A. BEFORE INSTALLING THE UPDATE, BACKUP OR COPY THE COMMUNITY FILES IN YOUR FORCAST 6 DATA DIRECTORY!!! The update process is not reversible. The file structures will be altered permanently and cannot be returned to your previous version. If you are upgrading from a version earlier than 06.11.0084, please note these special instructions. Otherwise, skip to 3B below. There are three items that need to be re-entered after upgrading, so we recommend printing the existing information before upgrading: i) Any special filters that you have created will be erased. To print a copy of any filters you have saved, go to Database/Utilities/Query Database. Select the filter and choose the "Edit Filter" button. Press the "Alt" + "Print Screen" keys on your keyboard. Open Word and choose Edit/Paste. Then print the Word Document. Repeat for each filter you want to reenter in your upgrade version. ii) Any changes you have made to the resident data settings will be erased. This includes setting default values for certain fields, or suppressing certain fields so they are not displayed when working in the resident database. To print a copy of your database settings, go to Database/Edit/Setup/Setup Database screen. Press the "Alt" + "Print Screen" keys on your keyboard. Open Word and choose Edit/Paste. Repeat this process on the setup screen after scrolling down to the bottom of the list to capture the second screen of default settings. When finished, print the Word Document. iii) Beginning cash balance, actuarial balance sheet, and GAAP balance sheet data screens are now combined in one area. To print a copy of existing data, go to Define Financial Statement Parameters /Beginning Cash Balance. Press "Alt" + "Print Screen" and paste onto Word document as in steps i) and ii). You will need to do each category with data on Actuarial Balance Sheet Current and GAAP Balance Sheet Current screens as well. In the new version, this data will be entered under Financial Statement Parameters/Current Balance Sheet Data. See Help on this screen for a description of the new format. B. Applying the update: - Close all other applications. - Using Windows Explorer, locate the update file, WFUDxxxxxxxx.EXE, where xxxxxxxx is the update version number. - Double-click on this file to start the update process. Follow the instructions on the screen. The update process will search for your original installation of FORCAST 6 and apply the update to that installation. 4. System Requirements Hardware: Minimum Recommended --------- ------- ----------- CPU: Pentium III 1.0 GHz Pentium 4 2.0 GHz or faster Pentium M 1.4 GHz or faster Available hard disk space: 1 Gigabyte 1 Gigabyte or greater RAM: 128 Megabytes 512 Megabytes or greater Screen Resolution: SVGA (800 x 600) SVGA (800 x 600) or higher Color Palette: 65536 colors or 65536 colors or High Color(16-bit) High Color(16-bit) or higher Operating Win98SE, WinME Win2000 or Windows XP system: Win2000 Internet Connection: Dial-up High-speed such as DSL or Cable *NOTE: These requirements are subject to change. 5. Significant Issues (from version 0.6.11.0104 or earlier to 06.11.0193) The purpose of this section is to alert the user to any significant changes in modeling that may materially affect results that were generated from previous versions. If the user believes that their results have been affected by these issues or if the user obtains results that are not intuitive, please contact your FORCAST consultant for an explanation. Not available on website version, refer to readme.txt that was installed in your FORCAST6 directory or contact your FORCAST consultant. 6. Version History The purpose of this section is to describe the new features and enhancements to FORCAST between version upgrades. Not available on website version, refer to readme.txt that was installed in your FORCAST6 directory or contact your FORCAST consultant.