<HTML><BODY style="word-wrap: break-word; -khtml-nbsp-mode: space; -khtml-line-break: after-white-space; "><BR><DIV><DIV>On Sep 4, 2007, at 10:28 PM, Joe Wiencek wrote:</DIV><BR class="Apple-interchange-newline"><BLOCKQUOTE type="cite"><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Hi list,</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Does anyone out there have special or preferred software for managing pianos at universities?<SPAN class="Apple-converted-space"> </SPAN>A few techs and I just got hold of 52 pianos at NYU and the previous techs keep poor and inaccurate records.<SPAN class="Apple-converted-space"> </SPAN>Any suggestions?</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Thanks,</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><BR></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Joe Wiencek, RPT</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><A href="mailto:jwpiano@earthlink.net">jwpiano@earthlink.net</A></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><BR></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">tel: 551 358 4006</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><BR></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><BR></DIV> </BLOCKQUOTE></DIV><BR><DIV>Someone had set up a database in Filemaker Pro before I came here. It is perfectly functional enough, but I would like to figure out how to link it to some sort of scheduling program. The way it is set up, I don't think it could work. At least 3x5 index cards can be organized to work their way to the front of the box every so often.</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>Before they set up the Filemaker Pro program, my predecessor made up inventory sheets he kept in a large ring binder notebook where he kept very good records. I can go back and access tunings, repairs or whatever, well back into the late 1970s for every piano we have.</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>With my private business, we use Time & Chaos. It only works with PC. It isn't really designed for our purpose either, but it is very reasonably priced and you can set it up to be more suitable. You do have to stay on top of it, though. If a piano scheduled to be tuned (or scheduled contact) comes up and you don't address it, it gets forgotten until you go back through the entire inventory to check for what's been missed.</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>Computer programs can be overrated. I still prefer pen and paper for record keeping. You have it right there with you at the piano and record everything as you do it, then just stick it in the appropriate file, if that is even necessary. Computer programs require you to carve out extra time to record what you've done later. A lot can get backed up and it gets very easy to procrastinate. Especially when you have way more work than you have time for, record keeping is easy to put on the back burner.</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>Jeff</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><BR><BR><DIV> <SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: auto; -khtml-text-decorations-in-effect: none; text-indent: 0px; -apple-text-size-adjust: auto; text-transform: none; orphans: 2; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; "><DIV>Jeff Tanner, RPT</DIV><DIV>University of South Carolina</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><BR class="Apple-interchange-newline"></SPAN> </DIV><BR></BODY></HTML>