models

[Brad Smith]

Hi Greg,
It doesn't need to be that complicated.  Unless you really must have an
encyclopedic, dynamically-driven application which includes all
possibilities as 'choices'.
If you require yourself to create an entry for every possible model for
every manufacturer, you'll never leave the house.
Just have separate 'drop down' fields for BRAND, MODEL, etc. unless you want
to delve into creating relational databases and customized user interfaces.

I have simple drop down lists for Brand, Type and Model. I've found that the
drop down list is most helpful for manufacturer and type ... i.e.   Steinway
Baby Grand
Then I just enter data for model and serial.  If you want, I could send you
a delimited text file of the manufacturers I've collected for the past
several years. It could make the start easier.  Then, you just add
manufacturers as you need to.  I've also collected drop downs for many of
the other common fields.  With a little surfing, you can almost always find
a list of cities, zip codes, states, etc.

Do you already have a database started?  Or are you starting from scratch?
Why Filemaker? (Just curious).  There are many contact management
applications that can slice and dice info, create marketing groups, manage
tasks/calls/appts with very little set up required.   For example  Goldmine,
ACT!, SalesLogix....even Microsoft Outlook can do much of what you need for
piano service management.  (Depends on what you are trying to accomplish
with it.)

I have found ACT! to be a tried and true app for this, although I'm always
checking out alternatives.
You can create as many fields as you wish; formatted however you wish;
import/export existing data to hearts content; easily create customized
reports/invoices/letters; export to mail merges; automate MapQuest links for
contacts; send it all to a PDA; etc.

SQL, Microsoft Access and Filemaker are certainly more powerful databases,
but if you are just managing contacts/tasks/calls/meetings...your needs are
more in the 'front end' user side of things...not in the engine room.  Plus
there is so much available to interconnect with other applications and
machines.  It becomes more practical to use existing stuff rather than build
your own.    ( I guess that's why I own every Spurlock jig there is!)


Best regards,

Brad Smith, RPT
www.smithpiano.com



-----Original Message-----
From: Greg Newell [mailto:gnewell@ameritech.net]
Sent: Monday, June 06, 2005 11:18 PM
To: pianotech@ptg.org; MPT
Subject: models


Greetings fellow list members,
         I am beginning to develop a Filemaker Pro database and I need to
populate a pull down list for piano model.

best,
Greg

Greg Newell
Greg's piano Forté
mailto:gnewell@ameritech.net