Which Software Option Should I Use?

We have three primary software options, each suited to different users. To help you decide which one is right for you, review these descriptions:

Option A – Desktop software for Windows which provides electronic data entry forms. We recommend this option for most users who have application or sales data to report. Option A now includes the third-party file validation functionality that was formerly part of Option C. Use this option to check whether your ASCII text files meet our PRL Text File Specifications.
Option D (Installed version) – This option replaces Option B, which is no longer available. It includes the same Control Center user interface as Option B did but uses standard Microsoft Excel spreadsheets as forms. These spreadsheets do not include any macros or custom code.
Option D & O – Formatted Microsoft Excel spreadsheets with none of the features that were provided by Option B. This option is recommended for users having difficulty installing Option A or D, Macintosh users of Excel, and users of the 64-bit version of Excel. Option O is similar to Option D, but may be used with an “Excel-compatible” spreadsheet program, such as Apple’s Numbers, Google Sheets, or OpenOffice.org’s Calc.

Additional Considerations

Options A - D (installed version) require installation on your computer. If you are using a computer on which you cannot install software, Options D or O may work for you since it does not require installation; each of the four forms is a separate download.

Option D provides minimal assistance to the user except for formatting the PRL spreadsheets. There is no built-in function for uploading a PRL report to the NYSDEC. This option is recommended for users who have expertise with Excel but cannot use any of the other Options (e.g., users who cannot run Windows-based programs or Excel workbooks with VBA Macros).

Option O is similar to Option D except it is for users that do not have Excel, but do have an “Excel-compatible” spreadsheet program.

For most users, Microsoft does not recommend using 64-bit Excel. To determine whether you have the 32 or 64-bit version see this article.

After you have checked the system and user requirements and determined which option to use, download and install the software.