Richard,
I use Excel for a spread sheet for my accounting and taxes. I use Access to keep track of my customers and call back.
I have one field that is the customer number and I use word to keep a descriptive file on each piano with that number for the word file name.
I could say it is quite simple, but Microsoft has put thousands of hours into this group of programs and it does work quite well. Some people just like to run down the best.
Just my take on it.
William
----- Original Message -----
From: Richard W. Bushey
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Sent: Friday, September 23, 2011 1:12 PM
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Computer Software
Jer,
I've been using MS Access for my database, but am not happy with the reports and difficulty of setting it up. It's working OK for me, but I'd like to also try your template for Filemaker. I am downloading the Filemaker Pro free trial now.
Thanks!
Richard W. Bushey
Richard's Piano Service
www.RichardsPianoService.com
Rbushey at RichardsPianoService.com
573-765-9903
----- Original Message -----
From: Gerald Groot
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Sent: Friday, September 23, 2011 7:01 AM
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Computer Software
You're welcome and you're right, I couldn't resist putting it out last night yet. J I have no clue how to upload what you see in my other emails to the new format online and so, I haven't tried... Hopefully, the people over there will sneak over here to see it.. Basically, I downsized it a tad to fit most of it on the screen and then printed a screen shot of it and pasted it in the email.
If anyone wishes to download the free trial version and let me know, I'd be glad to send any of you via private email what I have set up. Your version 11.0 whatever it is, would update my version 7.0 automatically before it would be able to open "it". It would arrive to you all as a "clone" meaning, empty of files but for the one I send to you. I can make one record for you so that you can play with it. Of course, you would have to change my name, etc., to match yours. The rest of what I have in there, will remain fully functional. I would be willing to do this for anyone for "FREE".. What you might not care for in it, my set up may not be for everyone, you would have to learn how to change or, you would simply just not use it. I haven't used the Dampp Chaser part of it in a while now, registering installations online now instead but, that was a very cool feature. I absolutely love it!
If you send me how you would like it to read, provided, of course, that I don't receive 50 different requests, that would take me forever, I can change it for you.. If I receive to many requests, which is fine, I'll let you figure out how to change it yourself, it's pretty easy though..
I use a few short cuts such as, control f for "find." Means, locate customers. Churches, schools, etc., I place in the last name file. First Church of the whatever all goes right in there. If I want to look up first Church and type in first, everything with the words first come in. If it is first Presbyterian Church, I would type in Control f, fir presb and the whole record will would pop up. Or, anything with Presby in it. I have one client, Porter Hills Presbyterian Village. I type in control f and then in the last name field, port and it pops up lickity split.
Type in the help sections "shortcuts." Lots of info will pop up.
Control n = new client. You will have to type that in each time you want a new client. FM is FAST as lightening too. As fast as I hit the enter button, the one on the FAR right side of my keyboard, not the regular one we use to change sentences, the client pops up. Like I said, I've never lost any information whatsoever but, I also have it set up to back itself up twice a week as I do with my scheduling program, MS Outlook. I love it!!!
Jer
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Tony Caught
Sent: Friday, September 23, 2011 1:45 AM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Computer Software
Thanks Jer,
Looks like it didn't wait for the weekend.
I like it. Now to learn how to set it up.
Once again,
Thank You
Tony
Tony Caught
acaught at internode.on.net
0427 850 737
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Gerald Groot
Sent: Friday, 23 September 2011 10:49 AM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Computer Software
Sure, I will work on that tomorrow or over the weekend when I have a bit more time to see if I can upload a copy of what my database looks like so you all can actually read it without having to acquire FileMakerPro. FileMaker is available in as a free trial version too.
Jer
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Tony Caught
Sent: Thursday, September 22, 2011 8:39 PM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Computer Software
Hi Jer,
I have been running my business database on an old program called Microsoft Works 4.5 for Windows 95 and have recently purchased Filemaker Pro Advance version 10. Is it possible that you could show me you layout and how you use your data base ?
A few years ago someone put on a program on Microsoft access which was good, still have a copy of it but I think that the Filemaker program could be better.
Thanks
Tony
Tony Caught
acaught at internode.on.net
0427 850 737
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Gerald Groot
Sent: Friday, 23 September 2011 9:18 AM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Computer Software
I understand your frustration Greg. We could have that with any company though. From my understanding, FileMakerPro has been in business since around 1990 or so. That's 21 years +. My current version is 7.0. The most recent version is 11.0, I think. Mine has never crashed, never given me even one problem whatsoever and at this point, I really see no reason to pay $300 or more to update unless someone out there wants to gift me with it. J I've had mine since 2004 with not even one teeny problem. J
In case you're interested, here's something I happened across just now. http://www.filemaker.com/fba/devcon-awards-2011.html
Jer
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Greg Newell
Sent: Thursday, September 22, 2011 7:31 PM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Computer Software
FWIW, Jer, I really liked the database that you showed me in FileMakerPro but was faced with the same dilemma that I had with PTBiz some time back. All of the sudden the programmer decided that he wasn't interested in supporting his own effort any longer. Before that he had specifically asked users for input on what we thought that the program should include and the reply I receive back from a laundry list of items it took some time to investigate was "what's it worth to you?" Now I thought that he was looking to improve things with input not bucking for more dollars. He then added a dongle type thing which simply made the program a P.I.T.A. at which point I dropped it and moved to Quickbooks and a paper calendar. Bummer. Someday. Maybe. But it will have to be from a company that will be around for a while before I throw my hat in again.
Greg
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Gerald Groot
Sent: Thursday, September 22, 2011 7:14 PM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Computer Software
I like Filemaker Pro. Use it for both my main customer data base, as a billing program and for letter writing. But, I use MS Outlook for scheduling.
Jer
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Greg Newell
Sent: Thursday, September 22, 2011 7:04 PM
To: 'Matthew Todd'; pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Computer Software
Todd,
You are not alone!!!! I've been searching for this for decades. I have a guy working on it right now. He is interested in feedback from people who want what I do.
Greg Newell
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Matthew Todd
Sent: Thursday, September 22, 2011 9:28 AM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: [pianotech] Computer Software
I currently use Time & Chaos for my clientele database/calendar, and sort of use Quickbooks for my financials. Do you guys know of/use a software that has the best of both. I hate switching back and forth between two programs. I would rather find something that can do both.
TODD PIANO WORKS
Matthew Todd, Piano Technician
(979) 248-9578
http://www.toddpianoworks.com
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