On Saturday, August 25, 2001, CME will install and test a new TOPS Software Release, Version 15.3. If our testing is successful, we will implement this new software release in production Sunday, August 26, 2001. All firms are welcome and encouraged to participate in the testing. Participating firms will be provided a script Friday, August 24, 2001 by fax or email. Testing will begin at 9:00 a.m. and will conclude 11:00 a.m. TOPS users on the CBOT Floor will only be allow to test between 9:00-11:00 am.

Below we have listed some of the more prominent features and bug fixes of the TOPS 15.3 Release:

• The sequence number has been expanded from 4 to 5 digits on all TOPS and CUB tickets, TOPS screens, TOPS FTP files, and TOPS TREX records.

Note: When accessing Good-Through orders entered prior to August 25, 2001, you must add a zero in front of the sequence number. For example, if you enter order number AB1-5001 on August 23, 2001, you will need to enter it as AB1- 05001, to retrieve that order on August 27, 2001.

• TOPS will now cancel orders, when the cancels are originated from FirmSoft.
• Changes to cancel/replace orders will be limited to quantity and price only.
• The TOPS FTP files will now have the same clearing codes as the RJE files.
• IO will now work properly when both a month and 2-digit year are entered.
• CUBS� fallback will always print reports with zeros for non-accepted and accepted totals.

In addition to the items listed above, this release provides some enhancements for exchange TOPS staff and corrects some other known bugs of the TOPS system.

In addition to the Saturday testing, we are also offering access of our TOPS test environment, CTOPS, for testing prior to Sunday. Because one of our changes was the expansion of the sequence number, we have made changes to the TREX record, and the TOPS end-of-day files that are available via FTP. If you would like to obtain access to CTOPS, or receive a test TREX record, or sample TOPS EOD file, please send your request via Email to one of the individuals listed below.

Also please be aware that the RJE file transmission will no longer be available after August 25, 2001. As previously announced, in System Update #35, dated April 3, 2001, CME will discontinue production of both TOPS end-of-day (EOD) RJE files and reports. We are making two FTP files available to replace the discontinued RJE files. These FTP files will be made available upon request only.

To ensure our new release performs properly, we once again encourage all TOPS firms to plan to participate in the testing. Member firm staff needing access to either of the exchanges� trading floor, will require their trading floor ID�s. If you have any question please contact one of the individuals listed below. Thank you.

Toni Hudson (312) 338-7190 thudson@cme.com
Eugene Bridges (312) 338-7110 ebridges@cme.com