Frequently Asked Questions

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Nelson Perry
6 years ago
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Frequently Asked Questions Undoubtedly our current Cow Sense customers have many questions about the new version and what an upgrade to the Next Generation of Cow Sense may entail.

1 Frequently Asked Questions Undoubtedly our current Cow Sense customers have many questions about the new version and what an upgrade to the Next Generation of Cow Sense may entail. Accordingly, we have created this list of Frequently Asked Questions and respective answers. We have grouped these by the four categories listed as follows. I. The Next Generation of Cow Sense Features and Benefits 1. What is different about this version of Cow Sense? A. In summary everything. Cow Sense NxGen is a totally new design from the ground up. With NxGen we have consolidated the features available in previous Cow Sense core products (EZ-75, Lite, Commercial and Purebred) as well as the features currently available in PIC and Power Tools. The NxGen offering now consists of just two core product designs, EZ and PRO. Each design or template offers features from which you can pick and choose based upon the level of detail you want your herd records to provide. Then you actually customize the product to fit the needs of your operation. Ease of use is tremendous and you determine the level of detail you wish to record. 2. What differences are there between the EZ and the PRO features available in Cow Sense NxGen? A. As this new design has greatly consolidated our former product line, former customers considering an upgrade should refer to and study the NxGen Features Comparison Product Detailer. Please note the My Operation column which allows you to mark the features important to your operation. Please note that NxGen is designed to provide you with a template, allowing you to tailor the product to your management requirements. If you have not already reviewed that document, go to the following link to the Cow Sense website: 3. What are the differences between the EZ-100 and EZ, as well as PRO-100 and PRO designs? A. The NxGen EZ-100 and PRO-100 products are designed for cow herds with fewer than 100 Active Breeding Cows, 10 Active Breeding Bulls and their Active progeny (current calf crop). In addition these products allow for the use of a single herd file. This provides producers with herd sizes fitting these criteria with a product cost more economical to their operation size. EZ and PRO products are designed for larger operations and have no limitation to herd size (number of Active animal records) or number of herd files that may be used. 4. What are the computer operating system requirements for installing and running NxGen? A. Cow Sense NxGen is fully compatible with all current Windows operating systems (including Windows XP). If you have an Apple computer, you will need to run Windows as a virtual computer or dual boot. Revised: 9/12/2014

2 Page 2 Frequently Asked Questions II. Availability and Production Timeline 1. When will NxGen be available? A. Cow Sense NxGen is being released in strategically planned phases. The Pre-Release was launched in February at the NCBA 2014 Convention and Trade Show. We projected to have all EZ features available in March and the PRO features available in April Unfortunately, we have experienced unanticipated production delays due to reprogramming and feature enhancements both causing great delay to our planned release. Our current production plan is to have EZ completed in June and core functionality of the PRO features available this July. If current features meet your present record keeping needs, it may make sense to upgrade now to the Pre-Release that is currently available. As features are completed and tested they will be made available at no additional cost through the built in auto-update capability. 2. I have other Cow Sense companion products such as PIC, Power Tools, Cow COMM, Pocket Cow Sense or Sale Manager. When should I consider an Upgrade to NxGen? A. You should wait to consider an Upgrade to NxGen until all products you currently use are available in the Next Generation format. We will make further announcement as these features are finished. 3. When are these companion products planned to be available? A. The completion of EZ and PRO core products are the top priority and the foundation upon which these additional companion products will be built. Following their completion, we will turn our development resources to the following*: PIC The features presently available in the Premium Interface Component (PIC) will become a part of PRO. The Data Exchange Wizard will perform the same kind of data exchange with breed associations and production partners (feedlots and alliances). These will be completed on a breed by breed and partner by partner basis. Plans are to have the Angus, Red Angus and Simmental breeds completed by October Other breeds templates will follow through the balance of this year. An important feature enhancement provides you the ability to record and maintain registration information (including EPDs) for animals recorded in multiple breed associations. Cow COMM The features available in this companion product will become known as Cow Sense Chute-side. Plans are to have this product available for fall processing October/November Power Tools The ability of adding an animal picture and calendar feature already exist in the Pre-Release of EZ and PRO. All additional features presently available in Power Tools will be migrated to features built into PRO. Plans are to have the bulk of these features released in late Pocket Cow Sense Will be the first companion product to be converted to the new design. Plans are to have this product available First Quarter Sale Manager The final Cow Sense companion Sale Manager is projected to be available First Quarter We ask for your patience and understanding as we complete the conversion of nearly 25 years of programming into this next generation of products. The last thing that we as a company or you as a valued customer wants is the release of a product before it is fully tested. Your upgrade path will depend upon your needs and the projected product releases. The included auto-update feature allows for an efficient and expedient method of delivering these additional features to you at no additional cost. *Due to some production delays the above release dates have changed.

3 Frequently Asked Questions Page 3 4. I have Cow Sense and/or Sale Manager Multi-user Editions. When will this networked capability be available in the NxGen platform? A. Once all products have been completed in the new platform, we will begin to develop the networked capability of Cow Sense and Sale Manager. We anticipate availability to be late III. NxGen Upgrade Costs and Pricing 1. Do I have to upgrade to NxGen? A. No. Version 4.85 is a very stable product and the features contained in that product are very current. Although we will be making no further program enhancements to that version, we will continue to provide technical support for that version for some time to come. Once all current products have been converted to the present platform, we will make a decision on the timeline to which we will no longer provide technical support to that product. 2. What are the NxGen Upgrade costs? A. The cost of the upgrade from Version 4 to NxGen will depend upon the product you choose. Current Cow Sense customers can initially upgrade at half price of the product retail value, as shown below: Cow Sense NxGen Upgrade Pricing (from Cow Sense Version 4) Product Retail Price Upgrade Price EZ-100 $ $ EZ $ $ PRO-100 $ $ PRO $ $ After upgrading to NxGen customers have a 30 day period to evaluate if they wish to upgrade to a NxGen product with additional features. They can do so during that time for just the difference in upgrade cost. Further product upgrades purchased after that time will be at the difference in retail price. 3. If I am currently a Cow Sense Commercial Version 4 user, should I choose to Upgrade to EZ and find it does not provide all the features I was using in Version 4; what would be the cost to Upgrade to PRO? A. If you took advantage of the discounted pricing to upgrade from Cow Sense Commercial Version 4 to NxGen EZ, you have 30 days to decide if you would like to purchase the PRO upgrade for just the difference in the discounted upgrade price (an additional $150.00). 4. I have a second site License for Cow Sense Version 4. Is there a cost to upgrade that license to NxGen? A. If you have purchased a Second Site License for Cow Sense Version 4 and wish to upgrade that license for use with the NxGen version, the cost will be $47.50 (half the original cost). This pricing will be available for 30 days from your upgrade to NxGen.

4 Page 4 Frequently Asked Questions III. NxGen Upgrade Costs and Pricing...continued 5. Is there any included technical support included with the upgrade to NxGen? A. As an existing customer you received the included customer service and technical support as a part of your original purchase. The cost to upgrade to Cow Sense NxGen is extremely economical. We did not inflate that price to include additional telephone or technical support. The Video Tutorials and Quick Start Guide both found under the NxGen Help Menu are valuable resources to assist you with learning navigation and use of NxGen. Built in wizards guide you through many common procedures in this new design. Additional technical support is always available through our Value Based Service Plans. 6. I currently have a Cow Sense Version 3 product. What would be my cost to upgrade to a NxGen Product? A. You would have to follow the upgrade path and purchase the Version 4 Upgrade ($125.00) in addition to the appropriate cost for the NxGen Upgrade: EZ-100 ($75); EZ ($150); PRO-100 ($150); and PRO ($300). In this scenario, there is still a total cost advantage provided to former Cow Sense customers over retail product price. 7. What are the costs to upgrade my Sale Manager, Cow COMM or Pocket Cow Sense programs? A. As these products become available on the new product platform, we will be in a better position to know what our development costs and how to price the respective upgrades. Rest assured that given the very economical upgrade costs for the core products (EZ and PRO); we will strive to follow that same strategy to make the end cost to you as economically fair as possible. IV. Conversion of Existing Cow Sense Data 1. Will my Cow Sense Version 4 data convert into the new version and if so what steps should I take to prepare? A. The Herd Converter is built into the File Menu of Cow Sense NxGen and becomes available when the upgrade is purchased and activated. The Herd Converter makes the process very simple and straight forward. However for the best results there is some preparation and verification you should do in your Version 4.85 herd file prior to conversion. We have created a NxGen Guide that outlines our recommendations for preparing a Version 4.85 herd file for conversion to a NxGen herd file. Please follow this link to that document: 2. If I download the NxGen Trial will it affect my current Cow Sense data? A. No, in fact we encourage you to download; install and test drive the NxGen Trial Edition to help you decide if you are ready to upgrade. You can work with the included Sample Herd and even create a herd of your own. If you are considering upgrading and converting a Version 4.85 herd file you will not benefit by entering a great deal of data in a new herd file you created in Trial Mode. When you upgrade and convert existing Version 4 data you can then add your new data into the NxGen herd file. The Tutorial Videos and Quick Start Guide, both found under the NxGen Help Menu are valuable resources to assist with your evaluation.

5 Frequently Asked Questions Page 5 3. I currently have Cow Sense Version 4 Commercial. What version of this new product should I consider if I choose to upgrade? A. You should carefully consider your record keeping needs prior to purchase of either NxGen EZ or PRO. You should review the NxGen Features Comparison Product Detailer (see link below) and determine what features are critical to your operation. In addition this new design makes accommodations for cow herds with 100 or fewer Active cows. If in doubt, upgrade to PRO and turn off any fields you do not wish to appear I currently use some, or all of the user defined Bull, Cow, Calf and Yearling Group and Subgroup Fields available in Cow Sense Version 4. Where can I find this data after converting to a NxGen Product? A. If you purchase the upgrade to either NxGen EZ-100 or EZ and convert your Version 4 herd file, this data will be preserved and stored in the Notes fields on the Individual Animal record. You will be able to sort out animal records by filtering data that are stored in the Notes fields. Neither of the EZ products provide for user defined fields. On the other hand, if you purchase the upgrade to either the PRO-100 or PRO product, you will have access to user defined fields. In this case, upon conversion of a Version 4 herd file we preserve and store Group and Subgroup data in the Custom Fields which are a part of this product design. 5. I am currently using Windows XP. As it is no longer supported, by Microsoft, what security issues do I face? A. Contrary to some forecasts that the sky is falling as Microsoft is no longer supporting Window XP, that operating system will continue to function. However you should take measures to protect yourself from potential threats if you continue to use XP. We have created a Product Support Bulletin to assist our customers who plan to continue using XP or are planning a prolonged migration to a newer operating system. Please follow this link to that document:

Pocket Cow Sense User s Guide

Pocket Cow Sense User s Guide Midwest MicroSystems 245 S 84 th Street, Suite 218 Lincoln, NE 68510-2600 Toll Free: 800.584.0040 POCKET COW SENSE NxGen USER S GUIDE Table of Contents Pocket Cow Sense Desktop