census traks plus® Frequently Asked questions

Basic Information:
BITI has developed a very user friendly and complete desktop compliance software product set for those customers who choose to perform the compliance task in-house. Its product set is comprised of the following applications:

Census Traks Plus® CRA Module - performs all necessary geocoding, field editing, and submission requirements for agency reporting and is rich with management reports.

Census Traks Plus® HMDA Module- performs all necessary geocoding, field editing, and submission requirements for agency reporting and is rich with management reports.

Frequently Asked Quesitons:

Q: How do you manually add records to the Editor?

A: If the user wants to manually add records to the CTP software (because they purchased the software in the middle of the year and already have started a hand-written record, or they want to enter the denied and withdrawn applications), you are able to do this. In order to help the system run smoothly, you should open CRA or HMDA. Go into File/Preferences/Editor and click off of the Auto Verify box. Then go into Editor and open the file you want these records attached to. When in the Editor, click on the New button. Enter the information on this record. Click Save. You will be asked if you want to add another? Answer Yes or No. If you do not have the GeoCode info, those areas can be left blank. When done entering all records, at the top of the screen, click on Special/Process File. This runs all the addresses through the edits and also does the geocoding.

When done adding records this way, the user should go back into File/Preferences/Editor and mark the box for Auto Verify.

Q: What should I do if I get a File Structure Error?

A: When opening a Financial Link®, loan.center or Mortgage Publisher file in Batch Mode in CTP, if the user gets this error message: "Load set up import file structure does not match current input file" it usually means that a comma was input in the name or address field in MP, GP, or l.c.

The easiest way to look at the file is to open it in Excel. The file name for CRA is CRAMPUB.CSV in MP, exp-cra.csv in GP, and fccra.csv in l.c. The file name for HMDA is HMDAMPUB.CSV in MP, exp-hmda.csv in GP, and fchmda.csv in l.c. Start by looking at the name column. Make the column larger for ease in seeing the problem. Usually the name appears in two columns instead of one. This is caused when a comma was input in the last name field in FL or MP (example - Smith, Jr.). Put the entire name in the name column without commas - and save the file. A pop-up box will appear mentioning comma deliminated. Answer Yes to this box. When exiting Excel the message box asks if you want to save in a Microsoft Excel workbook format. Always answer NO because you have already saved the file.

Another common reason for the columns to be off is a comma that was input in the street address field in MP, GP or l.c. (example - 1 E. Main St., PO Box 13). Check the street column to see that the street adderss appears in one column and the city, state and zip in the next column.

After the file is saved, the customer can proceed to the Batch Mode in CRA or HMDA software, open the file and process.

Q: What do I do if the .csv file is not deleting automatically?

A: When a .csv file is processed and saved through the Batch mode in CTP, the file is supposed to automatically delete itself so that it is ready for the next loans to be exported from MP, GP or l.c. If the file is not being deleted automatically, first check its properties through Explorer. Is the Attribute set as Read Only? If that is not the problem, have the network administrator check the log-in status of the PC. Sometimes it is set to not allow read/write access to the file. The Write part of that is what does the deleting.

Q: What do I do if I have an addresses outside of Wisconsin that fails geocoding?

A: If the bank is only open to geocode addresses from Wisconsin and they have an address in another state, that address will fail geocoding. They can fax to FIPCO the addresses and we can look up for them because we are open for all 50 states.

Q: Can I create a report in a different format?

A: If you want to print the LAR according to action taken date (Census Tracks Plus is not set to print by that sort order), do the following:

Export of the LAR to Microsoft Excel spreadsheet program, then sort in that software.

Procedure for sorting by different criteria than what's available in the CTP software:

In Batch Mode, click on Open File. Harland File? NO. In the Open window, mark the all files box. Double click on Data, and double click on the file name (.lar file). Click Define Address & Header to see if the address including city, state and zip has pulled into the fields at the bottom of the window. Click cancel to get out of that window. Click the Export button. Click Select Export Fields button. In the window choose the export format (like Excel). Select the fields to be exported and move them to the right hand window. Click OK. Click Process. Wait. In Export Preview, glance at the info and see if it came over. Click continue. Click Export Report - Yes. Name the file. Make a note of the pathing on where to find this file when opening it in Excel.

Open Excel and open the file you just created. Highlight the whole screen. Format/Column/Autofit Selection. Highlight the whole screen and Data/Sort/choose the sort criteria.

Q: What should I do if a Map can't be opened?

A: If you receive an error message that the map can't be opened, there may be a problem with the pathing. In File Manager or Windows Explorer, look in C:/Windows. Find the CTPC.INI if having problems getting into the map from CRA, or the CTPH.INI if having problems getting into the map from HMDA. Double click on the file name. Delete these two lines entirely:BNA= and GVIZ=. Be sure that any lines of information below these two are moved up so there are no empty lines in the file. File/Save and File/Exit. Yes to the next question that appears.

When going into the map from CRA or HMDA you will be asked 'Where is DataMap.exe'. The drive that DataMap is located on will have to be brought up, then the file DateMap, and then double click on the DataMap.exe file. An open box will appear asking where the boundary data is. With the Boundary CD inserted, find the CD drive and double click on the CTP_BNA directory, then double click on the file called NATL_BNA.BIN.

This process sets up the pathing for Data Map again. You should be able to get into that part of the software now.