palm client list

[Jason Kanter]

Just be aware that if/when you sync with a desktop computer, the custom field info you have been using will most likely get lost. 
..........
.  jason kanter . jason.kanter@wamu.net . jkanter@rollingball.com
.  vp/manager . learning & performance development
.  consumer loan servicing . washington mutual bank
.  office 206 490 6708 . cell 425 830 1561
...............................

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ron Koval" <drwoodwind@hotmail.com>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Thursday, December 12, 2002 11:44 AM
Subject: palm client list


| 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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