UPDATE: 2/14/2017
ZipForms Mobile now supports direct import of documents from DropBox, Google Drive, Box, and OneDrive - problem solved!!
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This quick post is just for Realtors -- it's regarding the software that we use to create contracts, disclosures, and other elements of a real estate transaction.
As I've mentioned in a prior post, the iPad version of the software (ZipLogix) doesn't allow importing of non-ZipLogix documents (typically PDF files), but the desktop browser version does. In a typical scenario, a PDF will need to be imported into the software, such that it can be set up for electronic signatures. Again, no problem with the desktop browser version, but a head-scratcher when you're on the road and need to set up a complex document for signatures. Unfortunately, the mobile version of software doesn't support cloud services, such as DropBox or Google Drive, either -- although we're told that ZipLogix will be supporting that at some point in the future (DropBox is now supported on the desktop browser version of the application).
A couple of years ago I was talking to ZipLogix support about this issue and they implied that one could fax documents into the system -- but then noted that they had discontinued that service. What they failed to mention is that apparently you can email documents into the system, which would then make them available for working with them from an iPad. I'm not sure how long this has been available, but it promises to be a great workaround for me when I'm on the road with only an iPad. I've been using remote control software to add any required documents to the desktop browser version, but it doesn't always connect and can be a slow process -- I recently was on the road and had a power outage at my home office, so my laptop went to sleep and wouldn't wake up -- no more remote control! UPDATE! Apparently the ZipLogix software doesn't recognize pdf files sent via iPad to the system (although I've since noticed that you can generate an email from within the iPad version -- unfortunately you can't respond to the email from your iPad :-( But at least there's a couple of workarounds. If, prior to heading out on the road, you send yourself the fax cover sheet from the desktop version, you can now fax docs back into the system from your iPad (I use eFax and it works well in this scenario). As an alternative, if a third party (such as escrow or the cooperating agent) emails you a document for signature, send them the email-to-transaction email from within the app, and ask them if they would resend the document as a reply to that email (but has to be from a desktop -- not an issue for escrow, but might be an issue if the other agent isn't near a desktop as well).
A couple of notes -- when you set up the transaction within ZipLogix, you'll need to send yourself an fax cover sheet from within the ZipLogix application (I would do this for every active transaction that you have - buyers, listings, and escrows). The email will include a cover sheet with a code that allows ZipForms to know where to receive the document (to which transaction to send it). Copy the code somewhere in your iPad or phone where you can easily retrieve it ("Notes" or Evernote, for example) or create a folder within your email account where you can easily pull it up.
Of course, once ZipLogix has support for DropBox, Google Drive, or other cloud services, this will all be a moot point. But in the meantime, you can be more productive when on the road with just an iPad or Android tablet. Hope this helps!
ZipForms Mobile now supports direct import of documents from DropBox, Google Drive, Box, and OneDrive - problem solved!!
***************************************************************************************
This quick post is just for Realtors -- it's regarding the software that we use to create contracts, disclosures, and other elements of a real estate transaction.
As I've mentioned in a prior post, the iPad version of the software (ZipLogix) doesn't allow importing of non-ZipLogix documents (typically PDF files), but the desktop browser version does. In a typical scenario, a PDF will need to be imported into the software, such that it can be set up for electronic signatures. Again, no problem with the desktop browser version, but a head-scratcher when you're on the road and need to set up a complex document for signatures. Unfortunately, the mobile version of software doesn't support cloud services, such as DropBox or Google Drive, either -- although we're told that ZipLogix will be supporting that at some point in the future (DropBox is now supported on the desktop browser version of the application).
A couple of years ago I was talking to ZipLogix support about this issue and they implied that one could fax documents into the system -- but then noted that they had discontinued that service. What they failed to mention is that apparently you can email documents into the system, which would then make them available for working with them from an iPad. I'm not sure how long this has been available, but it promises to be a great workaround for me when I'm on the road with only an iPad. I've been using remote control software to add any required documents to the desktop browser version, but it doesn't always connect and can be a slow process -- I recently was on the road and had a power outage at my home office, so my laptop went to sleep and wouldn't wake up -- no more remote control! UPDATE! Apparently the ZipLogix software doesn't recognize pdf files sent via iPad to the system (although I've since noticed that you can generate an email from within the iPad version -- unfortunately you can't respond to the email from your iPad :-( But at least there's a couple of workarounds. If, prior to heading out on the road, you send yourself the fax cover sheet from the desktop version, you can now fax docs back into the system from your iPad (I use eFax and it works well in this scenario). As an alternative, if a third party (such as escrow or the cooperating agent) emails you a document for signature, send them the email-to-transaction email from within the app, and ask them if they would resend the document as a reply to that email (but has to be from a desktop -- not an issue for escrow, but might be an issue if the other agent isn't near a desktop as well).
A couple of notes -- when you set up the transaction within ZipLogix, you'll need to send yourself an fax cover sheet from within the ZipLogix application (I would do this for every active transaction that you have - buyers, listings, and escrows). The email will include a cover sheet with a code that allows ZipForms to know where to receive the document (to which transaction to send it). Copy the code somewhere in your iPad or phone where you can easily retrieve it ("Notes" or Evernote, for example) or create a folder within your email account where you can easily pull it up.
Of course, once ZipLogix has support for DropBox, Google Drive, or other cloud services, this will all be a moot point. But in the meantime, you can be more productive when on the road with just an iPad or Android tablet. Hope this helps!
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