[pianotech] Client Management Software Recommendations

[William Truitt]

Thanks, Mark:

I appreciate your input, but I have never used PTBiz.  My remark was
directed to Terry, who will have to wrestle with that issue unless he wants
to hand input all 1,000,000 of his files.  Does Daylight or Filemaker Pro
read the format of PTBiz?  I've used Lotus Approach for about 15 years, the
latest version I have is Approach 97, which may give you an idea how long in
the tooth it is.  It's slowly becoming an orphan.  I custom built my
multiple databases long ago in Approach, which is relational and easily
customizable.  The file format is Dbase IV.  I understand that both
Filemaker Pro and MS Access can import that format.  Of course, that still
means I have to build my databases in which to import those files.  I don't
think that will be particularly difficult in either Filemaker or Access, but
it will be time consuming because, as you point out, there is a lot of
detail to pay attention to so that they can talk to each other.  And I will
make some changes in my structure as well, as I will want to add some things
and drop others.  

Our problem is that we are living too long.  We're outliving our computers,
and our operating systems.  Most importantly, we're outliving our database
software.

Will



-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Mark Purney
Sent: Monday, October 04, 2010 6:06 PM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Client Management Software Recommendations

  William,

The problem with PTBiz data (assuming you have found a way to export it) 
is that it has a very specific, customized relational structure. Client 
information is kept in one set of data, piano information in another, 
and service records (work orders) yet another, and there are many 
separate, but related data sets. These sets of data relate to each other 
using ID numbers stored in ID fields.

So the problem is that in order to import all the data into something 
different, the new database would need to be designed with a compatible 
relational structure, or designed to process the incoming data into a 
new structure. It's not as simple as importing or exporting contacts 
from your phone to your PC. You might be able to import just your client 
contact info into a program like Daylite, but you'd likely need to scrap 
all piano information and service history.

If you're stuck using PTBiz, there aren't any easy solutions. The best 
one I know of is to spend a lot of time learning how to use Filemaker on 
an advanced level. Then you can create your own database solution that 
imports the PTBiz data into a similar relational structure. Then you 
will have total control over how you work with your data, plus total 
flexibility to adapt to how your needs may change over the years.

Good luck.


On 10/3/2010 7:13 PM, William Truitt wrote:
> A more important question would be can it recognize and import the file
format from
> PTBiz?.