• Created by Unknown User (rmw6), last modified on Oct 04, 2023

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.