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Software Certification Standards

To receive certification for your software application, the software must receive 93 points from the requirements below. All mandatory requirements must be met. If a program fails one or more mandatory requirement, the evaluation is stopped at that point and does not continue until the program is fixed.

If a program does not meet the requirements for certification, the software author will be notified of the results of the evaluation and given the opportunity to correct those issues. We will re-evaluate the program one more time at no cost after the issues are corrected. If the program does not meet the requirements for certification a second time, the author must resubmit a new application for certification, to include certification fee.

Mandatory Requirements

  • The program does not install viruses or spyware on the user's computer.
  • During installation, the program does not install other programs, above and beyond the standard program, without the user's consent.
  • All reports accurately reflect the results entered into the system.
  • If the company website provides for on-line ordering, it must be on a secure server.
  • The program does not connect to the internet, gathers information from the user's computer, or sends information over the internet without the user's knowledge and consent.
  • The program does not alter computer settings or affects the operation of the computer without user notification and acceptance acceptance.
  • The program does not degrade or have a negative impact on the system after installation.

Installation / Un-Installation Requirements

  • The program has an intuitive installation wizard that walks you through installation. (2 points)
  • The program has an intuitive un-installation wizard that walks you through the un-installation process. (2 points)
  • When un-installed, the program removes all files, directories, and registry entries from the computer. (2 points)
  • The program provides a repair capability in the add/remove programs area of the control panel. (2 points)
  • The installation provides the user the capability to choose the installation directory. (2 points)
  • The program installation comes complete. The user will not be required to download and purchase third-party modules or products to use the program. (3 points)

Documentation

  • The program comes with a help system. (2 points)
  • The program provides context sensitive help. (2 points)
  • The program provides microhelp hints. (2 points)
  • The program provides a user's manual, either printed or downloadable. (2 points)
  • A tutorial is available for the program. (1 point)
  • The program provides program tips on startup. If provided, the user must have the option to turn them off. (1 point)

Program Operation

  • The program uses the standard "Windows" menu structure. (3 points)
  • All data entered is editable and can be deleted by a user with appropriate authority. (3 points)
  • Data entry is categorized into appropriate groupings of related information types. (3 points)
  • The program is able to run and be fully viewed on a screen resolution of 800X600 and above. (5 points)
  • The program provides keyboard shortcuts and hot keys. (3 points)
  • The program provides one or more step-by-step operation wizards. (3 points)
  • The program provides for the user configuration, such as system defaults and lookup tables. (3 points)
  • The program provides data validation and user-friendly messages when the data is not valid. (5 points)
  • The program provides data formatting whenever possible, such as formatting phone numbers and dates. (3 points)

Security

  • If the program stores sensitive information, it provides protection for the data, such as passwords. (5 points)
  • If the program stores sensitive information, the database or data files are encrypted. (5 points)
  • The program provides for user authorization levels where appropriate. (2 points)

Backup and Recovery

  • If the program stores data, it provides backup and recovery capabilities. (5 points)
  • The program provides for the importing and exporting of data within the system. (3 points)

Reports

  • The program provides the capability to preview reports prior to printing them, giving the user to print or not. (3 points)
  • The program provides date filtering for date oriented information and content filtering where appropriate. (3 points)
  • The program provides printing or saving the report in multiple formats. (2 points)
  • The program provides for sorting and/or grouping of data in reports. (3 points)
  • The program provides for ad-hoc report creation. (3 points)
  • The program provides for ad-hoc querying of data. (3 points)

Customer Support

  • The program comes with at least 1 year of support. (3 points)
  • The program comes with 2 or more years of support. (2 points additional)
  • The company website provides on-line support in support of the program. (2 points)
  • The company website provides a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section in support of the program. (2 points)
  • The company website provides for ordering by mail. (1 point)
  • The company website is helpful in providing detailed information regarding the program. (2 points)

Evaluator's Subjective Items

  • The program is intuitive and easy to use. (up to 3 points)
  • The program provides a professional appearance. (up to 3 points)
  • The program provides for a full range of functionality for it's intended purpose. (up to 3 points)
  • The program contains the right mix of bells and whistles. (up to 2 points)
  • The program provides user customization. (up to 2 points)

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