Following is a list of the core differences, as communicated to me by Top Producer. If you have any questions about other things it may or may not do, feel free to e-mail me about them.
Technology:
Top Producer 7i is based on Microsoft Java technology which does not come installed on new computers. Microsoft's Internet Explorer is the only web browser supported, leaving users of Firefox, Safari, and other web browsers with no way to use the program.
Top Producer 8i is based on ASP.net and Ajax. It is compatible with a wider range of web browsers. Top Producer 8i also places a lighter demand on resources and responds faster.
Web Browser:
Top Producer 7i's interface disabled most web browser functions that normally appear across the top of the browser window. This included functions like the address bar, Back and Forward buttons, the Refresh button, multiple windows, tabs, and so on.
Top Producer 8i runs in a normal browser window with all of these features are available. The Top Producer 8i user will also be able to use the browser's print screen functionality to print off whatever anything in browser window. Users can now display any information they want, sort it how they like, and print it off.
Landing Pages:
A completely new feature to Top Producer 8i that allows users to go a landing page that provides a brief summary of stats for items like contacts, leads, referrals.
The Ne UI:
Top Producer 8i's main navigation is a departure from Top Producer 7i. The main features have been given their own buttons. When clicked, rather than simply displaying a list of possible functions, they will take the user to a landing page for that feature. These landing pages are a brand new function in Top Producer 8i, and make all of the commonly used functions available right away.
Screen Forms:
Top Producer 7i used multi-step wizard based interfaces for many of its workflows. In Top Producer 8i, these wizard based interfaces have been replaced with single-screen forms with necessary fields for activities such as contact entry or creation of listings or closings in a single window
Contact Look-Up:
The Contact Look-Up interface appears on the right side in every workflow that could require a contact record. The 8i user can drag and drop a contact's name into the appropriate spot on a form rather than typing out their name or performing a search as was required in Top Producer 7i.
Load Indicators:
Unlike Top Producer 7i, When Top Producer 8i is retrieving information from the server, it will display an indicator which will inform the user that the operation is still ongoing. This indicator will, in most cases, appear in the lower right hand corner of the browser window
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