Close the book of 2008, and open 2009
   2008 was a roller coaster of ups and downs everywhere. Everyone was touched or knows someone who was touched by the activities of the year. As we move forward into 2009, here's a look back at some of the positives for FIREHOUSE Software in 2008.

• FH Mobile version 1.5 and 1.6 were released.
  • FH Mobile v1.5 was distributed to all clients with FH Mobile licensing.
  • FH Mobile v1.6 introduced a name change for FH Mobile EMS to FH Mobile ePCR and included the Device Monitor  add-on component.
• FIREHOUSESoftware.com was redesigned with a new look.
  •  FH Webcasts were introduced to assist users with some of the most frequently asked questions.
• The FIREHOUSE Software Education and Training Seminar was held in New Orleans, LA. for a record 545 attendees.
• The FH maintenance update to v 7.3 was distributed to all clients with active support contracts. This update is compliant with all NFIRS code changes implemented in 2008.
• State specific NEMSIS elements for FH were developed for 16 states.
• FH .NET development continued down the path for the next generation of FIREHOUSE Software.

   Once again, we thank you for choosing ACS FIREHOUSE Software. We know there are other software options available in today's market. We appreciate the dedication thousands of you have given to our software. We welcome new clients using our software for the first time, and we welcome back clients who considered other options. We pledge to continue to be the leading software for customer satisfaction, and the most widely used software in the industry. We also pledge to continue improving on the strongest product support in the industry. The world depends on you, and you can depend on us! 

FHETS 2009

   We are pleased to announce the location and dates for the 2009 FIREHOUSE Software Education and Training seminar. We continued with our tradition of regional opportunities, this time going to the Southeast US.
   The 2009 FIREHOUSE Software Education and Training Seminar will be held Tuesday, October 13th through Friday, October 16th at  Disney's Coronado Springs Resort in the beautiful Orlando suburb of Lake Buena Vista, Florida. The Disney's Coronado Springs Resort is located in the Disney's Animal Kingdom Park  of the Walt Disney World Resort. We anticipate another 500 attendees to join us for this year's event in the Greater Orlando area. The seminar price will be finalized soon for the 3 day event. Registration will open for FHETS '09 in the 1st quarter of 2009. The hotel rooms will be available for $129/night, with this special event rate to extend 3 days prior and following the seminar based on guestroom availability. Breakfast, lunch, and between class snacks will be provided for the attendees during the seminar. Other great attendee perks courtesy of the Disney's Coronado Springs Resort include:

• Free use of health club
• Free parking for hotel guests
• Complimentary local phone and long distance access from guest rooms
• Complimentary transportation to Disney Theme Parks and Downtown Disney
• Complimentary airline check-in and baggage at the hotel
• Complimentary airport transportation

   We will post more details at www.firehousesoftware.com as they become available. If you have any questions, please contact our training coordinator at fhtraining@acs-inc.com . We'll see you in October in Florida!

Tips from the Field...
This column details different ways FH clients have put FIREHOUSE Software to work for their department. We encourage clients to submit tips and suggestions for future FireVISION articles. Feel free to email them to: FHdocumentation@acs-inc.com.

Applying a New FH Enterprise Activation Code

   When FH version 7.2 was released in June 2007, a new feature was implemented to allow users to activate FH licenses with activation codes instead of a license (.LIC) file. As departments expand their modules or user levels with new licensing codes for FH, they commonly receive an activation code which is valid for 45 days from its creation. Some FH Enterprise Edition users have discovered the Online System Activation option mentioned in the instructions to apply the new code is not available to use. This is caused by the System Activation feature not being chosen when FH Enterprise was installed originally. To correct this, the system activation component needs to be installed by a user following these steps:

1. Logged on to the computer with administrative access, insert the newest FH Enterprise installation CD into the CD/DVD drive.
2. When the FH Enterprise Installation menu appears on the desktop, select Install or Update the FIREHOUSE Software Enterprise Client(Workstation).
3. Check Update Existing Installation and Skip automatic search for existing installations, then press Next> three times to continue.
4. The Update the Database form will appear with a check box to Update the database. This should remain UNchecked. Press Next> two times to continue.
5. The Additional Installation Options form should now be displayed. Options already installed will be checked by default. Leave those checked, AND apply a check to Install System Activation Utility. Press Next> two times to continue.
6. The Start Installation form should be displayed. Press Install>.
7. When the installation is completed, choose Exit from the FH Enterprise Installation menu and return to the instructions provided with the activation code.

   If the activation code has exceeded its 45 days, FH Technical Support can assist you with providing a new code. Email support@firehousesoftware.com to have a new code created and sent via email.

Valuable Support Features from FIREHOUSESoftware.com

   As 2008 closes and 2009 opens, end of the year activities should be performed. FH Webcasts provide some great video tutorials on how to perform the end of period activities departments should complete. Some of the most popular and beneficial webcasts for viewing are:

• Export NFIRS Incidents to State
• Export EMS Incidents to State
• Running 'End of Period' Reports
• Updating FIREHOUSE Software

   Plus, don't forget to check your state specific web page on FIREHOUSESoftware.com for any information on changes to NFIRS or EMS incident reporting for your state. If any questions come up, don't hesitate to contact  FH Technical Support.

New Addition to the Team!
   We are excited to welcome another new member to our team. Merek Budinich joins the team as a Systems Development Specialist. Merek recently graduated from Hawaii Pacific University and will be working with the development team on the future .NET products. We welcome him to the team!