I'm probably speaking out of line here, but just in case, I remembered that years ago Quickbooks sent out a blurb about this program. I use QB (in fact started with Quicken vers.2 years ago--dates me!), but I never tried their companion customer management programs. maybe one of these would help?
http://marketplace.intuit.com/v2/f-customer-management/software-solutions.aspx
Diane Hofstetter
From: pianotech-request at ptg.org
Subject: pianotech Digest, Vol 35, Issue 83
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Date: Mon, 26 Sep 2011 09:41:00 -0600
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--Forwarded Message Attachment--
From: zeno.wood at gmail.com
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Date: Mon, 26 Sep 2011 10:49:40 -0400
Subject: [pianotech] M&H AA Scale Info??
Remind me not to ever ask a question on this list.
--Forwarded Message Attachment--
From: joegarrett at earthlink.net
To: noahfrere at gmail.com; pianotech at ptg.org
Date: Mon, 26 Sep 2011 08:07:05 -0700
Subject: Re: [pianotech] M&H AA Scale Info??
Noah,
If you have to ask that, then all is lost in your concern! Yes, I am serious about this.
Joe
----- Original Message -----
From: Noah Frere
To: joegarrett at earthlink.net;pianotech at ptg.org
Sent: 9/26/2011 7:34:43 AM
Subject: Re: [pianotech] M&H AA Scale Info??
Seriously! What the heck?!
On Sun, Sep 25, 2011 at 1:56 AM, Joseph Garrett <joegarrett at earthlink.net> wrote:
Rob said:
"?Does anyone have the stringing scale for a Mason & Hamlin AA? Serial
22715, (1914). This one has the right angle turn connecting the bass bridge
to the treble bridge. I am doing a complete rebuild on this one for a
client and it was restrung probably 50 years ago- incorrectly I might add.
I have the "Guide To Restringing" book that should list the correct scale
but I can't locate it and it would probably take me half a day of digging
in order to find it.
Thanks,"
Rob, et al
I find it unconscionable(?) that this question keeps surfacing! Doesn't
anyone pay attention?? We have the ability to SCALE Pianos for the greatest
overall improvement of sound, on an individual basis! And yet, none of you
techno-geeks seem willing to put forth the EFFORT to learn how to do this!
What is that???? To assume th at every piano of a specific Make/Model/Year
is exactly the same is just down-right STUPID! I'm sorry and I apologize
for being so sarcastic, but this is one of those subjects that really
pushes ALL of my buttons! PLEASE, learn the technology or DO NOT
REBUILD???!! You're not up to the task, imho.
Joe
Joe Garrett, R.P.T.
Captain of the Tool Police
Squares R I
--Forwarded Message Attachment--
From: david at davidandersenpianos.com
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Date: Mon, 26 Sep 2011 08:11:57 -0700
Subject: Re: [pianotech] M&H AA Scale Info??
Yow. Hey, Joe, where ya goin' with that gun in your hand???
Mr. Garrett: please have a seat, take a deep breath, close your eyes, and CHILL OUT.
We love you, and that's why we put up with your hair-trigger tendencies; but it gets old after a while; kind of a buzz-kill.
Everybody's got a different process to go through, a different learning curve. There's probably one or two things about pianos that you don't know EVERYTHING about---just maybe. :--)
xoDA
On Sep 26, 2011, at 7:34 AM, Noah Frere wrote:
Seriously! What the heck?!
On Sun, Sep 25, 2011 at 1:56 AM, Joseph Garrett <joegarrett at earthlink.net> wrote:
Rob said:
"?Does anyone have the stringing scale for a Mason & Hamlin AA? Serial
22715, (1914). This one has the right angle turn connecting the bass bridge
to the treble bridge. I am doing a complete rebuild on this one for a
client and it was restrung probably 50 years ago- incorrectly I might add.
I have the "Guide To Restringing" book that should list the correct scale
but I can't locate it and it would probably take me half a day of digging
in order to find it.
Thanks,"
Rob, et al
I find it unconscionable(?) that this question keeps surfacing! Doesn't
anyone pay attention?? We have the ability to SCALE Pianos for the greatest
overall improvement of sound, on an individual basis! And yet, none of you
techno-geeks seem willing to put forth the EFFORT to learn how to do this!
What is that???? To assume that every piano of a specific Make/Model/Year
is exactly the same is just down-right STUPID! I'm sorry and I apologize
for being so sarcastic, but this is one of those subjects that really
pushes ALL of my buttons! PLEASE, learn the technology or DO NOT
REBUILD???!! You're not up to the task, imho.
Joe
Joe Garrett, R.P.T.
Captain of the Tool Police
Squares R I
--Forwarded Message Attachment--
From: deanmay at pianorebuilders.com
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Date: Mon, 26 Sep 2011 11:31:13 -0400
Subject: Re: [pianotech] M&H AA Scale Info??
Don’t do it if you are thin skinned for sure. But if you can get passed the gruff exteriors most of the ole curmudgeons on the list have some really good stuff to share. I suspect if you ask Joe he’ll be more than happy to help you do the rescaling. You’ll get a better piano and learn something in the process.
Dean
Dean W May (812) 235-5272 voice and text
PianoRebuilders.com (888) DEAN-MAY
Terre Haute IN 47802 Give us a LIKE on Facebook! Go to PianoRebuilders.com
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Zeno Wood
Sent: Monday, September 26, 2011 10:50 AM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: [pianotech] M&H AA Scale Info??
Remind me not to ever ask a question on this list.
--Forwarded Message Attachment--
From: encorepianos at metrocast.net
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Date: Mon, 26 Sep 2011 11:40:45 -0400
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Computer Software
Greg, I doubt that someone is going to make the Holy Grail for you, at least not in yours or my working lifetime. You and 10 million other PC Business users would like something like what you want to meet their specific needs. I have always shied away from the dedicated Pianotech programs, in part because they don’t do things exactly the way I want them to, and my fear that these programs, being so narrow in focus and with such a small potential market, will eventually make their users orphans. They don’t get migrated to new operating systems and computers, and that is the end of that.
I am just beginning the process of building my new databases in MS Access 2010, into which to import my Dbase IV format database files from Lotus Approach 97. Yep, it’s that old and I will make myself an orphan if my 7 year old Windows XP machine craps out, as Window 7 Professional won’t run Approach, even in XP mode. At this stage, it is a matter of making sure all of the fields match in the new to the old, so that the Import will occur without losing or truncating data. I built my Approach databases 15 years or so ago, and what I have has served me well. I want to make some small changes.
Filemaker Pro could meet your needs within the specific limitations others have discussed. Those limitations would exist with any other database, including Access. You will not be able to get away from the double entry bugaboo. You think the rest of wouldn’t like that too? Either of these programs could meet your needs or those of any of the rest of us, as our needs are pretty limited and relatively unsophisticated, given the power that these industrial strength programs offer. I think Gerald decided to use Filemaker because it was customizable to his needs, as was Approach (and soon to be Access) for me.
The Office Suites like MS Office do offer more and more integration between the programs as time goes on. But accessing that still takes a deeper understanding of the programs than most of us have and would take more time than we want to commit to set up. So we still do things the old way.
I downloaded a free 30 day trial of Filemaker Pro 2011 a while ago. It looks like an awfully nice program to me that I would enjoy using. That said, I am going with MS Access because it came with the Office Professional Suite, along with 6 or 7 other programs for about $350 as an upgrade at Staples. Either of these programs can be set up to do what I need them to do. Running Office on Windows 7 Professional, I find things load very quickly and have been very stable.
I use Outlook as my Calendar and find it quite satisfactory, I no longer use a scheduling book, which I did for more years than I can count.
I don’t know what you are using for payroll. I use Quickbooks for my accounting needs, and used their Payroll program for several years. I hated it. For the last two years, I have been using a dedicated and separate payroll program called Payroll Mate. It is drop dead simple to use, auto loads the tax forms I need (always accurately, which QB Payroll never could do), and is less expensive, $99 a year. You can download a free trail copy from www.realtaxtools.com Even an idiot like me can use it, so it can’t be too hard to use.
Will Truitt
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Gerald Groot
Sent: Monday, September 26, 2011 8:17 AM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Computer Software
Hey Greg,
Good morning!
Thanks for the compliments. I appreciate it. Well, we tried… The main concern for myself was having something that I could use for a main database to look up anything and everything I needed for my clients. Something that I could use that would auto remind me when something was due with a pop up, or when someone needed to be called with a pop up. I wanted an easy way to look up who needed to be called and on what months so, of course, I built it with myself in mind… J
I don’t mind doing a separate billing program. I admit that I too wish I could incorporate it all into one but, if there is a way with FM I haven’t a clue and am not willing to pay more $$$$ to have it done. Seeing as how I have thousands of different bills inside of the billing program, when I make a new bill, I simply hit “control f” for find, type in the beginning of the client that I am looking for, it pops up, I click in the field, hit “control n for new,” then I hit control ‘ which then auto fills the entire field with what was on the previous bill without me having to re-enter it all. This, takes me a total amount of about 5 seconds is all, I’ve done it so many times. Big time saver for entry for me.
I’m sorry it isn’t going to work out for you but, you’ll figure out something, I’m sure. J Maybe someone else out there has something they are willing to try and share with you as well.
Hey, actually, I do take care of my office stuff too most of the time. I do that every day during lunch or after work. I only have my secretary come in occasionally, usually during the evenings, sometimes during the day, once or twice a month, is all, to make the outgoing “due to be called and scheduled” customers. Otherwise, I input the data into my computer for the clients myself, I do all billings and I make about ½ or more, of the appointments, including all incoming calls while she makes the rest of them when she comes over but, you were close. J
I suppose, one could learn the program, ( not for me! I HATE that sort of thing. I know enough about it to get me by… That’s all I care to know about it. J ) and figure out what you want for it to do… Maybe there is something out there for you.. Hope you can find it and wish you the best of luck in doing so!
Have a great week!
Jer
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Greg Newell
Sent: Sunday, September 25, 2011 11:30 PM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Computer Software
Ger,
First and foremost, kudos to you for being willing to share, free of charge, something that you have paid hard earned dollars to purchase. That is a very generous thing for you to do. We will agree that your programmer’s or builder’s efforts are not right for me. At least that is the way I feel about it now. There is still double entry with your system, which I can and do have to do now with Quickbooks and Outlook or a paper calendar. You and I work differently in that I have my office with me during the day. You go home to someone having had taken care of your office during the day. That seems a rather large distinction. Not only are there the issues that I have with scheduling or calendars with your program I also have to do payroll. If Quickbooks were better searchable as your is and had a calendar interface we would not be having this discussion as I would have found my holy grail and all would be well in Greg Newell land. As it is I am still hoping to one day have something that puts it all together for me. Your’s, as it is now. Isn’t it. It is, however, very nice, as I’ve said in the past and still do.
All the best,
Greg Newell
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Gerald Groot
Sent: Sunday, September 25, 2011 11:21 AM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Computer Software
Hi Greg,
Maybe FM isn’t the program for you, I don’t know… It’s up to you if it is the program for you or not. If it isn’t that’s fine. J Your original, main concern below, seemed to be (and still is) worrying about a program that might not be updated years down the road or no longer made like PTBiz. That’s why I said, we can encounter that problem with any program and also said that FileMaker has been around since 1990 or so.
I really don’t know as if there is a program that “does it all.” Probably not. We all know that one particular program or, one particular piano for that matters, may not fit the next persons needs. Most programs that I use means, switching screens from one program to another even within itself, including emailing.
Yes, FM was created for me. I paid for it all including purchasing FM. But, the main issue here, is that it has already been created. It already works. It does not have to be created from scratch by anyone else. Perhaps the most important thing of all? It has not given me any problems at all since he made it for me in 2004. No crashes. No freezing up. No lost information. No missing information. Nothing. Of course, if something were required then, yes, I will hire someone to fix it for me, just as many of us hire someone to set up a website for us, to maintain that or to repair our computers when they break down. That is my choice because I do not wish to take the time to learn how to do it myself. But, so far with FileMaker, it needs no maintaining whatsoever. All it needs from us, is our time to input clients into “it.” I do this daily. Or, I update the clients information that is already in there after each visit. I enter today’s tuning, today’s date, what I did to the piano today, any estimates I may have given. There is even a separate field in there for the amount of the estimate that I left. Usually, in that field, I write the date which can be inserted by holding down control and typing the dash button (–), it will show up as 9/25/2011, which it auto enters as such. It will enter the date using that short cut, anywhere into FM that you may want it to be. Then, next to the date, I write in the amount of the estimate given on that date.
No, it will not take countless hours and it will not be a full time job to learn the program. I haven’t learned the program. I don’t need too. I most certainly don’t want too either. I have learned however, how to input information into the program which is just about as simple as typing a letter, hitting the enter button, tab button etc.
My advice to you and to anyone that I’ve sent it to, would be to immediately learn some of the short cuts. Do that by going into the “help menu” and type in “shortcuts.” A list of them will be brought up. Read it. Try some and watch what it can do for you. It is very time saving to use the short cuts. Just as typing in control P right now, will bring up the printer menu, to print this page, that short cut is a lot faster than moving the mouse up to find the print button somewhere else. J
To reiterate a bit, everything in my program is set up and ready to go and was made and sent to you and others for free. J I paid for everything myself and am willing to share that with anyone that can use it for free. J I have not had to modify anything whatsoever since the completed was set up in 2004. Oh, I take that back, I wanted something to pop up sooner so, I had him change that for me which he did via email. It was NOT a problem. It was just something that I wanted changed.. That took us maybe 10 minutes tops. Otherwise, there is no need for me to change anything else. It is a strong, powerful, easy to use program, (once we use it for a while and get to know it a bit) mostly because all that is left to do, is to enter information in it. Entering information into a program, is what is time consuming with any program. I do not use most of the programs that are in FM. I use mainly the data base itself along with the billing program, the letter writing program that is in the billing program and the envelope printing button feature that is also in the billing program. J
The main thing that many of you might have to do, is to change my name, address etc., to your name address etc. That is fairly easy to do. BUT, that will only have to be done in the Billing program. This is how to do it. Beware that whatever you change, it will ask you if you wish to save it. If it is not lined up and you hit save, it is a permanent change but, you can go back into it again, and redo it as many times as you wish….
OK… Open up the Billing Program. On the FAR LEFT of the screen, directly under BROWSE there are 4 buttons. The 3rd one is an arrow pointing upward. Clicking on that will open up the Define menu which means, now you can enter your own information in there. Double click on MY NAME for starters. Enter in YOUR NAME instead and then see if it is centered or not. Do the same with other fields such as your email, address, phone numbers etc. Those are the only fields you will need to change other than if you are not an RPT, that will have to be deleted along with the logo that I had placed in there for me.
To get started in the main database or with the Billing program to make a new bill, because you have been given a empty data base by me that needs clients entered, simply hold down the control button and type the letter n. This means new. Now, click in a field that you want to type in and start entering the information you want for a new client. Hit the tab button to move to the next field or, to skip a bunch of fields, click in another field using your mouse. In one of the fields, hold down the Control dash button (–). This will enter the complete date of 9/25/2011. J
Microsoft Outlook (MO) is a good program for scheduling. I use it. I’m in the program anyway doing emailing. There could be a way to incorporate MO into FM but, I don’t know how and for me, it isn’t that important. I schedule with it, which is what that particular program was designed to do besides emailing which is the next important thing that I do with MO. I copy and paste information that I have entered into MO into FM after the end of each day. Name, address, phone number. Any other information like piano make because I don’t know that many times until after I’ve tuned it what it is, the serial number, what I did to it that day, what is needed on the piano etc., I have written down on a piece of paper that I take with me. I enter that info into FM at the end of each day. It takes me less than 5 minutes to do this when I’m in my office.
Try it… See if you like it… J You’ve already had it for quite some time now, have you even played with it at all yet?
Hope this helps…
Jer
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Greg Newell
Sent: Sunday, September 25, 2011 1:27 AM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Computer Software
Jer,
We talked about this before but FileMaker is a program that gives you everything necessary to create all that you have shown me and the list. It is very robust in what it can do. I agree that it is an excellent product that can be used to create a great many things. I’ve no doubt it will do all that I want it to do and more if I were only willing to drop everything else that I am responsible for and devote countless hours in order to figure it all out. Therein lies the issue. I don’t have either the time, or the desire to take on what would amount to at least another full time job. Whomever you used created all of that for you did a great job. What happens when he goes away or is too busy to fix or modify things for you? Will you be able or willing to do it for yourself? Will you pay someone else programming fees to configure it the way you want? This is exactly the problem I had with PTBiz which was, I believe, built from Excel or some other Microsoft product. So you see, I view this as another of the same issue I had before. If I knew how to do it all myself it would be a no brainer and I would adopt FileMaker in a heartbeat. Thoughts?
Greg
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Gerald Groot
Sent: Thursday, September 22, 2011 7:48 PM
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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