palm client list

[Ron Koval]

It's been awhile since we've 'talked' about palm pilot use for client lists. 
  Anybody found a great package for record keeping?

Here's my "kludgy" method, using the built-in database and to do list.  I 
still use a computer-based database to print invoices, but I wanted to have 
all my client records with me on the road.  I was able to import to palm 
(via an ascii file) all of my client info, including name, address, phone, 
piano, and directions.  There are 4 custom fields that I use for directions, 
last time called, and piano information.  Palm only sorts using two fields: 
Last name, and Company.  I'm going to use the company field for some kind of 
region shorthand.  You know, hometown, close north, close south, way far 
west, etc.  That way, if I need to fill-in, I can quickly look up the pianos 
near to an existing appointment.  Since palm uses catagories to divide the 
phone list, these are all under "piano" to keep them separate from my 
personal list.

A note can be attached to each record.  This is an area for entering text.  
I use it for a shorthand for service history.  I try to keep typing down to 
the minimum, so a note for the church I just tuned at  (going back two 
tunings)looks like this:

12/9/02 kv1.9 28% +10  $xx
6/8/02  pen  44%  +-3  $xx

This lets me know the date, temperament, humidity, how far off the piano was 
to begin, and the charge that day.  I add notes for anything repaired, or 
voicing, etc.  I'm not sure how long the notes can be for the palm, so I go 
in reverse order, showing the most recent visit at the top.

Schools get the same treatment, but I'll list the room number or piano 
number before the temperament inside brackets, so it's easy to see while 
scanning down the list which piano was tuned when.

Since I call people to set up appointments, I needed to have a way to remind 
myself when to call. (I'm NOT chatty on the phone, I don't use much time for 
this)

Using the built in to do list, I made 12 different catagories. 01jan, 
02feb......  This will display them in order when you go to choose which 
catagory to show.  I then list the client name, phone# and town.  I use the 
"complete" box when I've scheduled an appt.  It's a snap to move people from 
month to month, as needed, or just leave open if they decide to skip a year. 
  When the next year rolls around, just uncheck all for that month, which 
leaves the date from last year on the record.

6 month people get two entries in the appropriate month, with a note letting 
me know it's a 6 month person.

Now I just need to figure out the expense report thingee for keeping track 
of income........

Ron Koval

(taking the long road..)






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