Margill Standard and Law Edition – Release Notes

Changes and improvements in the latest Margill update

Version 4.4 – Released January 12, 2024
(Version 4.4.240112.1)

What’s new:

  • “Payments between two dates on one amount” calculation:
    • Correction of an error introduced in the December version 4.4 for the “Effective Rate (Equal periods)” and “Simple interest capitalized methods” with Actual/Actual Day count
    • New button  for easier access to the first capitalization date (Simple interest capitalized)
  • “Periodic payments” calculation:
    • New button  for easier access to the first capitalization date (Simple interest capitalized)
    • Now possible to eliminate capitalization lines in the “Simple interest capitalized” method (as long as the last capitalization line of the Payment schedule is included in the lines to delete)
    • Optimization of the Undo function in the Payment schedule

*****

Version 4.4 – Released December 6, 2023
(Version 4.4.231206.1)

What’s new:

  • “Interest on one amount between two dates” calculation:
    • Simple interest capitalized method – option to set the date of first capitalization at a date other than the Start Date anniversary
    • Apply the Interest Table rates as of date x (instead of as of the Start Date only)
    • Capitalization can now be Daily (minimum capitalization interval was Weekly in previous version)
  • “Recurring payments (Amortization)” calculation:
    • “Simple interest capitalized” method – option to set the date of first capitalization at a date other than the Origination Date anniversary
    • Capitalization can now be Daily (minimum capitalization interval was Weekly in previous version)
  • Launched on latest development tool (WD 28) for Windows 11 and latest Windows Server compatibility
  • Various windows format fixed for better compatibility with high definition monitors
  • Various fixes to version 4.3

*****

Version 4.3 – Released June 26, 2019
(Version 4.3.190626.1)

What’s new:

  • Launched on new development tool (WD 24) for Windows 10 compatibility
  • Recurring payments and Arrears calculation: irregular insertion and import of payments (and principal) and arrears via Excel sheet can now include two or more transactions on the same date (“Irregular” Frequency option before the Results table is computed)

*****

Version 4.2 – Released April 23, 2019
(Version 4.2.190423.1)

What’s new:

  • Harmonization of the Daily interest (per diem) in the various calculation types. The daily interest amount is always based on the nominal interest rate (not the effective rate) even in compound interest
  • For the Network version, MargINI.exe setting to launch at every computer startup (in order to check for interest and indexation table updates)
  • Optimization for small ultra HD monitors

*****

Version 4.2 – Released November 22, 2018
(Version 4.2.181122.1)

What’s new:

  • Arrears: Asterisk to show which column data can be changed
  • Various corrections in the printed reports

*****

Version 4.2 – Released May 23, 2018
(Version 4.2.180523.1)

What’s new:

  • Optimization of some calculations in version 4.1
  • Import irregular payments via an Excel sheet (Recurring payments calculation)
  • Arrears: New column in Results table with computational balance (for information purposes)

*****

Version 4.1 – Released February 14, 2017
(Version 4.1.170214.1)

Changes and improvements since the previous version 3.4 / 3.5 / 4.0 (4.0 was a temporary version):

  • In-depth review of software:
    • New layout and graphics while keeping the same navigation.
    • Interest rate up to 999.9999% now allowed in most calculations.
    • More detailed descriptions of calculation types under the “Calculations” tab.
    • Correction of column width adjustment when the window is resized.
    • Improved navigation with the “Tab” key in Payment schedules.
    • Buttons allowing the user to increase or decrease the font size in many calculations.
    • Elimination of the Windows registry key use.
    • New method for license activation – Internet activation.
  • Complete revamp of the Annual Percentage Rate (APR) calculation:
    • Fees can now be Financed.
    • Elimination of the need of a balance = 0.00 in order to complete the APR calculation.
  • For the “Recurring Payments (Amortization)” calculation:
    • Merge of Simple interest Compound interest calculations in one window.
    • Calculation method (Simple Interest, Compound Interest and Simple Interest Capitalized) now in the data window instead of the Advanced options window.
    • For irregular payments, quick entry of payment amounts and dates before performing a calculation.
    • Interest capitalization (compounding) every 90 days when the method is “Simple Interest Capitalized”.
    • Numbering of Payment schedule lines in the Standard Edition.
    • Default compounding and payment at Monthly since this is the most frequently used.
    • Memory kept of last entered settings as defaults for the next calculation.
    • Calculation of “per diem” (daily interest) on each of the amounts that can be included in a calculation (Principal, Interest, Court fees, Fees, Prejudgment interest). Calculation based on Simple interest formula “End Balance x Interest rate / 365 “.
    • New print options:
      • Interest rate in the header at the current date when interest table is used.
      • For irregular payments, the displayed payment frequency can be set to NA (not applicable).
  • Judgment module (Law Edition) in the “Recurring Payments (Amortization)” calculation:
    • Court fees may be entered on a date other than the Origination date.
  • For the “Arrears” calculation (previously Known as “Accrual by installment”):
    • Calculation can now be done using “Simple interest capitalized”:
      • Capitalization only when arrears are included, or
      • Capitalization on every line
    • For irregular arrears, quick entry of arrears and dates before performing the calculation.
    • Line numbering.
  • For the “Interest between two dates” calculation:
    • Merge of Simple interest and Compound interest calculations in one window.
    • New column displaying the amount of interest representing the difference between a fixed interest rate and the floating interest rates.
    • Correction when interest rates are increased.
  • For the “Present value” calculation:
    • For reports of 10 pages and more, option to print the first and last pages only.
    • Correction of the first payment date in certain circumstances when printing.
  • For the “Indexation of an amount” calculation:
    • Now possible to write the indexed amount so the software calculates the original amount that led to the indexed amount (inverted indexing).
  • Simplified software activation and directly by Internet.
  • Compatibility with newer Windows versions (7, 8, 10…).
  • Elimination of Windows Registry.  User preferences now stored in database.
  • Various corrections to previous versions.
History:
Versions 3.4 et 3.5
  • Access to the various functions by keyboard.
  • Added in the “Recurring Payments (Amortization)” calculation, the Simple Interest Capitalized method, using the Actual/366 days count to account for leap year.
  • Various corrections to previous versions.

*****

Version 4.0 – Released July 12, 2016
(Version 4.0.160712)

  • Temporary version
  • See what’s new in version 4.1

*****

Version 3.4 – November 11, 2012
( 3.4.121111.x)

  • Greatly improved Present value calculation
  • Windows 8 compatibility
  • Activation code improved for stability
  • Various minor fixes

*****

Version 3.3 – March 3, 2011

( 3.3.11021.x)

  • For the Law Edition, in the “Periodic payments (Amortization)” calculation, “Judgment module”, option to change the refund order and add multiple refund orders.
  • In the “Periodic payments (Amortization)” calculation, “Simple interest capitalized”, change of method when adding a new line at the end of a Payment schedule.
  • Ctrl Alt N – Select all negative payment lines “Periodic payments
    (Amortization)” in the calculation Results window.
  • Show User Guide with F1.
  • Show Shortcuts with F2.
  • Various other minor improvements and fixes.

*****

Version 3.2 – July 12, 2010
(3.2.100712.5)

  • For the Law Edition, a unique and powerful new judgment collection module in the “Periodic payments (Amortization)” calculation that can include Court fees, Pre and Post judgment interest, and Other fees:
    • Court fees bearing no interest
    • Court fees bearing interest at the same interest rate(s) as that(those) on the judgment
    • Court fees bearing interest at another interest rate than that(those) on the judgment
    • Other fees bearing no interest
    • Other fees bearing interest at the same interest rate(s) as that(those) on the judgment
    • Mix of interest bearing and non interest bearing fees Prejudgment interest bearing interest or not
    • 45 columns clearly separating the various monetary elements (principal, fees, interest, etc.)
    • Predetermined refund order: 2
      • Interest on Court fees
      • Interest on Prejudgment interest
      • Interest on Other fees
      • Interest on principal (judgment amount)
      • Court fees
      • Prejudgment interest
      • Other fees
      • Principal (judgment amount)
    • Individual reports:
      • Global report
      • Court fees portion
      • Prejudgment interest portion
      • Other fees portion with or without interest
    • Daily interest (per diem) on remaining balance (using the Simple interest method)
  • For the “Accrual by installment” calculation (arrears):
    • Option to include a comment on each installment line
    • Amount of interest generated for each of the unpaid installments (however, one can only print these two new columns by exporting the table per se in a spreadsheet (Excel or other)). The report does not include these data.
    • Option to show all interest rate change lines when the interest rate table used includes successive identical interest rates.
  • For the “Interest between two dates” calculation:
    • Option to show all interest rate change lines when the interest rate table used includes successive identical interest rates.
  • For the “Present value” calculation:
    • Up to 36,600 installments
    • Present value of every individual installment now included in the report
  • Reports:
    • Interest table used in calculation
    • Name of calculation performed
    • Quick print (without having to preview)
  • For table and software updates via Internet, option to choose the port number (as opposed to the default port 80) and option to use a Proxy server.
  • Improvement in the stability of the anti-piracy activation key.
  • Various other minor improvements and fixes.

*****

Version 3.01 – February 20, 2009
(3.01.090220.1)

  • For “Recurring Payments (Amortization)” a new calculation calculation method: Capitalized Simple interest. Thus the simple interest formula is used during a period and interest compounding (capitalization) is only done at the payment “anniversary” date based on the compounding frequency indicated by the user.
  • For “Recurring Payments (Amortization)”, if payments are set to “Irregular”, Principal may now be 0.00. Improvements in the “navigation” in the “Recurring Payments (Amortization)” results table.
  • For the Network version a more reliable MargINI.exe utility to check for interest and indexation table updates. Table check is now done twice a day and the minimized utility goes to the Windows Icon Tray to be less intrusive.
  • Change of the term “Actuarial” method to “Effective Rate” method. New back-end platform (transparent to user but requiring a full install).
  • Various technical issues solved.

*****

Version 3.0 – November 26, 2008

(3.00.081126.1)

This update consists mainly of minor improvements and corrections of the last major Margill update (from 2.9 to 3.0):

  • Improved navigation in the Results tables (Periodic Payments (Amortization) calculation)
  • When changes made in the Results table – display issues resolved (Periodic Payments (Amortization) calculation)
  • Language issues resolved
  • Export to Excel improved
  • Printed report – larger font ((Periodic Payments (Amortization) calculation) for now…)
  • Various other minor adjustments

*****

Version 3.0 – April 2, 2008
(3.00.080402)

Changes and improvements since latest 2.9 version:

  • In “Recurring Payments (Amortization)” a comment may now be added on each payment line.
  • Print (export) to Acrobat PDF.
  • New consolidated User Guide (including the consolidation of all changes and improvements since Margill version 2.3 released in 2003 and its predecessor Logicalc released in DOS version in 1992 and its Windows versions updated over the years).
  • New single window for fixed or variable rate calculations.
  • New tool for automatic update of interest and indexation tables.
  • Newly formatted printed reports including additional data.
  • In “Recurring Payments (Amortization)”, for the “Number of payments” field, the right mouse button now allows the user to enter the number of years or the amortization end date to determine the number of payments.
  • In “Recurring Payments (Amortization)” for the Margill Law Edition, new tool for the collection of court fees and prejudgment interest whether these bear interest or not.
  • In the “Recurring Payments (Amortization)” results table, a new right mouse clic option, “Balance = X” facilitates the entry of a balance other than 0.00 (for recomputing the payment or the interest rate ).
  • In the “Accrual by installment” results window, when simple interest is chosen, the “Total” column now indicates the “Computational total” or computational balance for each line. The effective (true) total or balance for each line, including interest, is indicated at the bottom right of the window and in the printed report.
  • Mathematics engine optimization.
  • Various technical improvements.

*****

Release notes not available before 2008