| Q: How do I find out if there are any special circumstances or laws that might apply in my state? |
| A: Nearly all Adams Legal Kits or CD products contain an Appendix that summarizes the laws of each individual state for the topic provided. You can check the appropriate Appendix to see if there are any specific laws in your state that will apply to the legal issue in question. |
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| Q: Can I really represent myself in court using Adams Legal materials without hiring a lawyer? |
| A: Yes, the United States Supreme Court has ruled that all American citizens have an independent constitutional right to represent themselves in court without using an attorney if he or she voluntarily and intelligently elects to do so. |
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| Q: Why doesn't the website for my state's laws that is provided in the Appendix of the Adams Legal Forms (CD version) seem to work? |
| A: The state law websites that are provided in Adams Legal products are valid on the date of publication. Unfortunately, websites are subject to constant change. If the provided website is no longer valid, use an internet search engine (such as Google® or Yahoo®) and type in your state's name and the word "laws" to find a valid link to your state's statutes. |
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| Q: My legal situation is quite complicated and seems beyond the scope of the information provided in the Adams Legal product. What should I do? |
| A: Although Adams Legal products can be used successfully in most common legal situations, if your circumstances are complex or do not seem to fit the explanations provided, you will need to seek the assistance of a lawyer. Many states provide low-cost legal aid services for many legal issues. In addition, you can contact your state's bar association for referrals to attorneys who specialize in specific areas of law. Please note that specific legal questions relating to the use of the forms or their likely consequences cannot be answered by Adams Technical Support. For specific advice on a particular legal point, you will need to consult a competent attorney. |
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| Q: How do I know if the legal information in my Adams Legal product is up-to-date? |
| A: The information in your Adams Legal product is continuously up-dated to provide the most current legal information available. If there are any changes to information in an Adams product since its publication date, updates will be provided on the product updates page of the Adams Legal website. Although Adams continuously updates legal information, laws and statutes are subject to constant change. Adams legal products are designed to provide accurate and authoritative information to the public regarding the particular subject matter of each product. |
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| Q: I have a specific legal question about using one of the forms. Can I contact Adams Technical Support about legal questions? |
| A: Adams Technical Support can answer questions about damaged or defective products and about installing and using the CD products. Unfortunately, specific legal questions relating to the use of the forms or their likely consequences cannot be answered. For specific advice on a particular legal point, you will need to consult a competent attorney. |
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| FORMS ISSUES: |
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| Q: Can I make copies of the forms that are provided in Adams products? |
| A: Individual Adams Legal Forms products provide multiple copies of each form. However, these products have a special signature block that shows the word "Copy" when the form is photocopied. This product feature protects you from fraud by ensuring the original document you created has not been altered by someone else. Most Adams Legal Kits and CD products provide forms that do not have such signature block protections and photocopies of these forms may be made for your own personal use. |
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| Q: Can I loan my Adams Legal Kit or CD to a friend? |
| A: No, the information contained in your Adams Legal product is protected by U.S. copyright laws and is only licensed for use by the original purchaser of the product. Any other use, including loaning it to a friend, is illegal and a violation of copyright law. |
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| Q: Why are there both text files and PDF files on some of the Adams Legal Forms CDs? |
| A: PDF (Portable Document Format) files are the most widely-used cross platform format for accessing computer files. The PDF files are fillable and printable on any computer using the Adobe Acrobat Reader® program that is included on the Adams Legal Forms (CD version). However, you cannot save or modify the information on a PDF file. If you wish to save or modify information in a form, text forms have been supplied that may be opened in your own word-processing program and altered to fit your own legal situation. |
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| Q: How do I install the forms from my Adams Legal Kit CD onto my computer? |
| A: The Adams Legal Kit CDs have an automatic installation program that will start when you put the CD into your computer's CD drive. You will be prompted with various choices as you move through the installation program. If the installation program does not start automatically, click on the Windows "START" menu, then on "RUN" and locate your computer's CD drive using "Browse". Then click on "install.exe" and click "OK" to run the installation program. [Note for MAC users: you will need to manually copy the appropriate folder from the CD directly to your MACs hard-drive. In addition, if you do not have Adobe Acrobat Reader® installed on your MAC, you will need to download this program from the Adobe website (www.adobe.com)]. |
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| Q: How do I install the Adobe Acrobat Reader® program on my computer? |
| A: The Adobe Acrobat Reader® program (which is necessary to view and complete the PDF forms that are provided) is installed automatically if you chose the 'typical' installation choice during the software installation process. [Note for MAC users: you will need to download the correct version of Adobe Acrobat Reader® for your MAC operating system from the Adobe website (www.adobe.com)]. |
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| Q: How do I access the PDF files that have been installed on my computer's hard-drive? |
| A: To access the PDF files, you must first open the Adobe Acrobat Reader® program. The installation program should have installed an Adobe Acrobat Reader® shortcut on your computer's desktop. Once the program is open, click on "FILE" on the program's menu bar, then locate the correct folder for the forms you desire. Open the folder and find the correct form and click on its icon to open the form. |
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| Q: How do I fill in the PDF forms on my computer? |
| A: Once the appropriate PDF form is open in the Adobe Acrobat Reader® program, you will see a "hand tool" icon as the cursor. Move this cursor over the first blank space that will need to be filled in. The "hand tool" icon will change to a vertical bar or "I-beam" icon in the space that will need to be completed. Fill in the appropriate information and then hit the TAB key on your computer. This will move the cursor to the next space to be completed. Please note that some spaces are not filled in using the program and will need to be completed by hand (particularly the signature and notary blanks). Once completed you may print out the form. Also note that filled-in information in a PDF form will not be saved in the Adobe Acrobat Reader® program. To save filled-in information, you will need to either use the provided text forms or purchase an upgrade to the program from the Adobe website (www.adobe.com)]. |
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| Q: Why can't I save my filled-in PDF form from my Adams Legal Forms (CD version)? |
| A: Filled-in PDF forms are not savable using the Adobe Acrobat Reader® program that is supplied with many of the Adams Legal Forms (CD version). If you wish to save (or modify) information in a form, you will need to use the text file forms that are also supplied with Adams Legal Forms (CD version). |
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| Q: How do I access the text files that have been installed on my computer's hard-drive? |
| A: To access the text files, you must first open your own word-processing program. Then, click on "FILE" on the program's menu bar and locate the correct folder for the forms you desire. Open the folder and find the correct form and click on its icon to open the form. |
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| Q: How do I complete the text forms on my computer? |
| A: Using your own word-processing program, you will need to insert the appropriate information into every space on the form that has an asterisk (*). The asterisks are used as place-holders in the forms. Delete the asterisk after you have entered your own information on the form. You may then format the form as you wish and both save and print out the completed form. |
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| Q: The text files from the CD look different than the samples provided in the instruction book. Is something wrong? |
| A: The text-version forms are provided in a basic text-file format so that the forms are compatible with the widest possible variety of word-processing programs. You can use your own word-processing program to format the forms to match the samples in the book or format them in different ways. Please note that Adams Technical Support can not provide any help with using your particular word-processing program. Please use the documentation that came with your program or contact technical support for your particular program. |
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| Q: Can I use the Adams Legal Forms (CD version) with my MAC computer? |
| A: Yes, the Adams Legal Forms (CD version) will work on a MAC computer. However, the automatic installation program for the forms is not compatible with MACs. Thus, you will need to manually copy the appropriate folder from the CD directly to your MACs hard-drive. In addition, if you do not have Adobe Acrobat Reader® installed on your MAC, you will need to download this program from the Adobe website (www.adobe.com)]. Be sure that you download the version that is correct for your particular MAC operating system. |
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| POWERESTIMATOR™ SOFTWARE SUPPORT |
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| Q: I am a registered user, but I cannot access programming modules. |
| A: You are not supposed to. All data worksheets are available to registered users for modifications. However, programming modules are not. |
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| Q: Can I distribute the estimator file to others in my organization? |
| A: Each estimator is licensed for installation and use in one computer or workstation. Therefore, it is illegal to distribute to others. |
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| Q: When I start any PowerEstimator™ software program with Excel, I do not see the menu inserted among the standard Excel menu system. Why? |
A: Because your macro security is set to "High". Excel's "High" level macro security will not allow Excel macros to run on the computer. The standard setting is "Medium". If your setting is at "High", you should switch to "Medium" security in order to run the Estimator. Excel's "Medium" level macro security warns users when files with macros are opened. At this point, click on "Enable Macros" button.
To change level of security:
- In the Tools menu, point to Macro, and then click Security.
- Click the Security Level tab, and then click the option you prefer.
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| Q: When I open the estimator, Excel says macros which may contain viruses. What should I do? |
| A: This is a standard Excel warning that is issued whenever program code (macro) is present in the Excel file. You should click on "Enable Macros" button and proceed. Because PowerEstimator software contains extensive program code built-in, if you disable macros, then you will not be able to run the estimator successfully. |
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| Q: Using General Contractor, when I insert cost items in my database should I also add a costcode? |
| A: This is not necessary but highly recommended. Because, with an attached costcode, the cost item may be sorted and uniquely defined. |
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| Q: With PowerEstimator™ software programs, how can I customize the "Quote" report that goes to my client? |
| A: There are 2 ways. One is to edit the source data in the "Quote" worksheet. You may edit highlighted cells. The second way is to edit the final report. After edits, simply print on printer and send to your client. |
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| Q: I want to rename tab labels to reflect my industry. How can I do that? |
| A: Remodel Contractor and General Contractor will allow you to rename cost category tabs. Be sure not to have spaces in the labels. Also, you may not delete tabs or add new tabs. |
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| Q: How can I find out about new products and updates? |
| A: Visit our register page and register your software. You will automatically be subscribed to our informative newsletter where updates will also be announced. |
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| TECHNICAL SUPPORT ISSUES |
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| Q: What type of technical support is available from Adams? |
| A: Adams Technical Support can answer questions about damaged or defective products and about installing and using the CD products. You can contact Adams Technical Support if your computer can read other CDs, but can't read the Adams CD product. You can also contact Adams Technical Support if anything seems to be missing from your Adams Legal product. Specific legal questions regarding the use of Adams Legal products cannot be answered by Technical Support. In addition, any questions regarding the use of your computer, your word-processing program, or the Adobe Acrobat Reader® cannot be answered by Adams Technical Support. Please contact your computer's manufacturer, the provider of your word-processing program, or for information regarding how to use these products. |
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| Q: I have a specific legal question about using one of the forms. Can I contact Adams Technical Support about legal questions? |
| A: Adams Technical Support can answer questions about damaged or defective products and about installing and using the CD products. Unfortunately, specific legal questions relating to the use of the forms or their likely consequences cannot be answered. For specific advice on a particular legal point, you will need to consult a competent attorney. |
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| Q: How do I contact Adams Technical Support? |
| A: You may reach Adams Technical Support during the hours of 7:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. EST, Monday thru Friday, by calling 1-877-860-4649. |
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| If you were unable to find an answer to your questions regarding a specific product on this FAQ page, you may contact one of our legal experts "here". Please find your specific product on the list, and call the corresponding number. (For product-related questions, please see the Contact Us page.) |
