[pianotech] Computer Software

[Greg Newell]

Jer,

            I'm tempted to give this offering of yours' another try but the
glaring thing that instantly enters my mind is; why do you use different
scheduling software? One of the first items queried here was whether anyone
knew of some program that did it all! I'm sure that FileMaker would do it if
only enough time was spent to figure out how to configure it.

 

Greg

 

From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Gerald Groot
Sent: Friday, September 23, 2011 8:01 AM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
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 <http://www.toddpianoworks.com/> 

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