Enhancements recently completed:

• Locality Name Change - If a locality already exists in your profile, you will be able to click on a drop-down list to select a different name. This feature is available in either the buildings or sites sections.
• Building Form Fields - LOIS rearranged the location of the fields on the building entry form to match the overview page.
• Sites Contact Info - The contact information that was missing in the printable brochure has been added.
• Electric Utility Label - The generation capability label has been reset to MW and shows as such in the printable brochure.
• Share E-mail Link - The new "Share Email Link" is located right next to the printable brochure link on the presentation site. Now you can share any page with someone by clicking on the link, which will automatically open your email program and place the link inside the body of your message.
• Map Message When users try to generate a map within a 50-miles radius, a message will appear to inform them that the report does not exist.
• Regional Malls - In the States, Counties and MSA tabs, certain administrators may indicate if a regional mall is enclosed or not. This feature is only available to those of you who agreed to administer the Counties tab.
• NAICS Link - A link to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) was added to the leading employers admin screen. See link below.

• Modify Date Filter - Due to technical problems, the completion date has been pushed into early 2007. This feature will group listings by date and notify users that listings are becoming outdated.
• Document Center - An area for attachments will be set up in each main admin section, which will allow users to attach certain documents (up to 3MB) such as PDF's, Excel files and Word documents.
• Google Map Integration - Upon performing an advanced search, visitors will be able to choose between viewing a map or a list in the results window.
• Image Section Map - LOIS will soon be adding a new map option in all sections which will essentially place a map in the 4th image position that would be clickable. Currently, only 3 images can be placed on each overview page.
• Excel Import Feature - Users with logon info will be able to import data from Excel into LOIS. A drag-and-drop feature will allow administrators to match their fields w/ those in LOIS. If you use the same Excel file, this procedure will only have to be performed once.
• Web Trends Report - LOIS will be building a component to display the number of visits and hits that each administrator's link registers. This will alleviate administrators from having to purchase a report directly from LOIS.
• Screen Resolution - LOIS will be reset to fit inside an 800 x 600 window, to accommodate all screen sizes.
• Password Option - Users will be able to change their own password.
• Photo Labels - Users will be able to add a caption under each photo.
• Active Column - Make the Active column in the administration screen sortable.
• Sites Filter - Filter sites by type.
• Add Sale/Lease Field to Advanced Search - Add a field to indicate whether a building is for sale or lease in the advanced search feature on the presentation site.
• Page Headers - Profile headers will automatically stretch to fit each page.
• Streaming Video - New users will be able to receive LOIS training online.

In November, you may recall filling out a survey. We'd like to thank those of you who participated. A survey geared towards realtors and brokers will be developed and sent out later this spring. A quick overview of some results can be seen below.

• 86% of you said you use LOIS.
• 72% of you said the LOIS presentation site is easy to use.
• 70% said your Web Site contains links to LOIS.
• 53% of you indicated that LOIS is important to your organization's marketing effort while 32% said it is very important.
• A number of you indicated that follow-up training would be helpful for offices that have had some turnover in staff. Please contact me at 608- 261-2501 to set up a date and time for training.

A number of you indicated that you would like to be able to set up links to LOIS on your Web site, but aren't sure how. A new feature in LOIS makes it easy. Simply log into the admin screen and edit a building or a site. A URL beginning with "http" will appear near the top of each Overview page. Those links can be copied and pasted into your community's Web site.

Some concerns were also raised about resources - finding people to help enter information into LOIS. One good resource might be your local UW extension office. Many EDC's have invited students to help with entering data. Some EDC's have also hired local consultants from civil engineering companies to help. It's true that entering data can be time consuming, but once completed, it's just a matter of keeping the data current.

Finally, some of you asked if it is possible for realtors to link their own databases directly into LOIS and the answer will be yes. LOIS plans on implementing an Excel download feature in which current LOIS administrators, including realtors and brokers will be able to transfer data from Excel directly into LOIS. More info coming this spring!