Allocator Options

The Options dialog (Tools-->Options) is used to set or control program options, such as default report file location, or to customize the Source ASCII file layout.

FILE LOCATIONS Tab

You can change the default directory where Allocator files are created and stored by selecting the file path you want to change and clicking Modify. Use the browser control to select the new file path.

Any user changes to the default field lengths in the options will be denoted with an asterisk.

1. Report Files - All report files be created here.
2. Export File - Any files export will be created here.
3. Backup Files - If you select the feature save a copy of a report file before appending a new ASCII file, the original report file is saved here.
4. ASCII Files - The browser defaults here when you search for an ASCII file to process using the GeoCode Address dialog.

To change the file location:

1. Select Options from the Tools menu.
2. Double click on the file type path you want to modify. Then use the browse window to change the location.

ASCII FORMAT Tab

If you are processing an ASCII file in fixed width format, you can increase or decrease the size of the fields to fit your needs (See Appendix C). Custom column widths for fields cannot exceed 250, except for the Premium Amount field which cannot exceed 25, and the Zip Code and State fields. A separate custom format is applied to each module. ASCII formats are applied on a state by state basis. This option must be selected before processing a file.

To customize the source data fields

1. Select Options from the Tools menu.
2. Select the ASCII Format tab.
3. Change the starting position and length of each field you wish to customize.

PREMIUM TYPES Tab

You can change the premium type codes used in the source ASCII file (See Appendix C).

A separate set of custom codes is applied to each module. Multiple custom codes can be assigned to each default code. Each custom code is separated by a comma. You can map multiple lines to a single premium type code (e.g., line 10, 11, 12 = C). Premium types are applied on a state by state basis. This option must be selected before processing a file.

To change the premium type code:

1. Select Options from the Tools menu.
2. Select the Premium Type tab.
3. Change the premium code which corresponds to the premium type you wish to customize. If you are entering more than one premium code, separate with a comma.

If you use custom codes instead of the default ones, and if your ASCII file is in fixed width format, make sure to check the ASCII FORMAT Tab to make sure the Field Length matches your file.

PERCENTAGE Tab

You may assign a percentage to each Premium Type. This percentage will be applied to the Source Premiums of each policy. The resulting product will appear in the Premiums column. The total of the Premiums column will appear on the Allocation Summary Report. The percentages can be used to reduce source premiums to taxable premiums. The percentages are applied on a state by state basis. This option must be selected before processing a file.

PRINT Tab

The Print Tab allows you to customize the options used when printing reports.

• You can increase or decrease the font size of a printed report.
• You can choose to size the columns to fit the data, print row numbers, and alternate row background color. Checking this option will alternate each row color between white and gray.
• You can print the date and time, page number, and a user created message on a footer that appears on each report.

MISCELLANEOUS Tab

Processing

If you would like to use the following options, they must be selected before processing a file.

• Save a Copy of Data File Before Appending Data to Current File.  If you chose to “Append Data to Current File” during Process Premiums, this option will allow you to save a copy of the current data file.  This gives you a backup of the data file in the event that the program errors during subsequent processing.
• Plot Address to Map if Match Code 2. By default, this option is not selected.  There is little benefit to returning a poor matched address on detail reports and plotting the coordinates to the map because this information is not utilized to determine the taxing jurisdiction. Using the option will increase the amount of time necessary to process a file.  It is not necessary to have this option enabled to correct an address.

Re-Allocation

• Re-allocate all duplicate addresses.  This option will cause all policies having identical addresses to be re-allocated to the same corrected address (when you are correcting an address using the Geocode Address dialog).
• Re-allocate Florida Fire and Police duplicate addresses. This option works the same as the Re-allocate all duplicate addresses option. However, addresses will be changed in both modules. 
• Re-allocate New York Fire and MTA duplicate addresses. This option works the same as the Re-allocate all duplicate addresses option. However, addresses will be changed in both modules.

Report Display

• Display tool tips.  Sometimes the contents of a field are longer than the width of the field. As a result, the text is truncated. When Display Tool Tips is selected, you may read the obscured text by floating the cursor over the affected field.
• Restore Column Widths to Default – Click the button to restore column widths to default values.  The change will be applied to the report currently open.

Other Options

If you would like to use the following options, they must be selected before processing a file.

• Report Buffalo and NYC returns to the Department of Insurance, include premiums in these two cities in the exported TXT file. The NY Department of Insurance indicated that you can pay the foreign fire tax for these cities by filing with the cities directly or by filing with the Dept. of Insurance text file.
• You can choose to filter ASCII characters when processing a file. By default, only certain characters are allowed in the ASCII file. Characters not included in the list will be filtered during the process. De-select this option if you would like to use any characters. If the option is de- selected and characters used in the ASCII file cause the Allocator program to terminate or error, you will need to either check this option or remove the characters from the file. Please note that this option does not affect the delimiter. Any delimiter can be used. Each line in the file must end with a Carriage Return/Line Feed. Please note that this list does not affect the delimiter. Any delimiter can be used. Allowable characters are:
  • Letters: A-Z and a-z
  • Numbers: 0-9
  • Characters: ! " # ( ) + - , . / : ; < > ? [ ] \ _ ` { }
• Process all Out of State Records. This option will place out of state policies in the state you have selected to process. Records may be assigned a match code of 5 (address not in state). Out of state records will not appear under the Other Jurisdictions node.
• Allocate match exceptions to zip code. This option can be used if the address cannot be allocated to a matching address or the source city. The option takes the source zip code and returns a city name. The city name used will be the USPS preferred city name for the zip code being searched.