VISUAL ALERT News May 2011

The new format is three numbers separated by dots. The first number is the version of Visual Alert. That is followed by the update number or release number. The final number is the build. Example: Visual Alert 2.1.0 is version 2, release 1, and build 0.

Lower prices on Visual Alert training

Metro's two new training options are helping clients save money. Prices for live webinar training provided over the Internet and classroom training in our new Visual Alert Training Center are significantly lower than equivalent training at client sites.

At the Visual Alert Training Center in Wayne, Pa., groups of six to eight users can escape the distractions of their normal workday and focus on gaining the skills they need.

Metro's experts lead participants through hands-on training sessions using networked computers and high-end AV equipment.

To schedule training or learn more, email support@metroalert.com

Look for UPDATE every six weeks

This e-publication will be used to alert you to updates to Visual Alert. Exceptions will be made in the case of critical updates, which will continue to be delivered immediately, and updates requested by a client to address an emergency situation.

Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board offering law enforcement grants

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board website reports that the Board is authorized to award grants to local law enforcement agencies and the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) for the purpose of investigating, enforcing and preventing unlawful gambling in the Commonwealth. A maximum award of $150,000 may be sought by any single local law enforcement agency and a maximum award of $250,000 may be sought by the PSP. Grant funds may be used for the purpose of attending or conducting education and training events; defraying costs associated with the investigation, prevention, deterrence or enforcement of laws related to illegal gambling; or prosecuting crimes involving illegal gambling.

For more information, go to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board website at www.pgcb.state.pa.us.

New Feature in
Visual Alert Version 2

Based on feedback from our users, our Development Team has added an Intersecting Street field into the Incident, Citation and Accident forms of Visual Alert. Traffic stops can now be entered by intersecting streets instead of unit blocks. Along with the addition of Intersecting Street, the Search by Street Address in Incidents has been modified to include the Intersecting Street. This new feature can be found below, in the VA2 Update.

July Visual Alert Tip:

Reassign Name/PID

The Reassign Name Utility allows the department to combine records for the same person that have been entered into the system more than once to create one master record of that person.

Reassign Names

Reassign Name/PID (Merge)

From the Utilities Menu, select Reassign Utilities.
Select PID.
Type in the first and last name of the person that is being displayed in your system more than once and select the Search button.
Those two (or more) listings will be displayed. Select the checkbox for "Set as Main" to the person they will all be reassigned to. Then select the checkbox for "Reassign" to the other names so they can be merged into the Main Name.
Select Run Reassign button.

Visual Alert Version 2
Update 2.7.1 available now

Version 2.7.1 is available for download. To download the update and the instructions for performing the update, click here. Below are highlights of the modifications made in the release:

Accident Report

Reportable Accident Report - expanded number of characters in People Information (Block 14) on printed report
Reportable Accident Report - Officer Name on printed report has been expanded to 30 characters

Asset Inventory

Increased the Item Number field to accept 17 characters

Criminal Complaint

Allows the Distance field to be entered in addition to checking one of the other NCIC code types in the NCIC Extradition section

Incident

Added Intersecting Street field
Corrected issue with cascading Incident screens
Case Disposition of Juvenile/No Custody will now count as an exceptional clearance on Return A of the UCR Report
Trimmed the width of the display box on the dropdown for Keyword to avoid an accidental click on the Approval button
Enabled the F8 key (current date/time) for the Clearance Date

Parking

DMV Export /Import Utility - file can be saved to desktop for burning to a CD

Persons

Expanded the Last Name field to display all 25 characters

PSP Labsheet

BAC and Multi-Media have been added to the Type of Analysis. Ballistics and IBIS have been combined into one entry Ballistics/IBIS

Traffic Citations

Actual Speed field can now contain a decimal

Quick Forms

Corrected error with Open Tables Box in the Make/Model dropdowns

Visual Alert Version 1 customers: Update 1.16.727 available now

Version 1.16.727 is available for download. (Note: This update was first announced in the January issue of UPDATE, so if you downloaded it then, there is no need to do so again.) To download the update and the instructions for performing the update, click here. Below are highlights of the modifications made in the release:

Incidents

Corrected display of Incident screen when using 800 X 600 resolution.
Corrected the source of the occasional message "Option is currently under development" or "A serious internal error has occurred which has caused your Visual Alert session to become unstable."
Confidential Information button now appears on the Persons screen when a business is entered.

Parking Tickets

Corrected the printing of Offense Time and Issued Time when printing Citations.

UCR Reporting

Reporting of Homicide information has been corrected.
Modified the month and year range to be unlimited.

Vehicles

Corrected the occasional open file dialog box when opening the Vehicle screen.

800-658-5716 news@metroalert.com www.MetroAlert.com
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