<HTML xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40" xmlns:v = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m = "http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml"><HEAD> <META content="text/html; charset=us-ascii" http-equiv=Content-Type> <META name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 14 (filtered medium)"> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY dir=ltr lang=EN-US vLink=purple link=blue> <DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Eras Medium ITC'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV>I tried importing my MS Access database into Open Office. Data imported fine, the relational links were easy to establish (one customer, many appointments), setting up views was straightforward. It, too, reminds me of an earlier version of Access. Forms and Reports did not import at all. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Eras Medium ITC'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">David Stocker, RPT Tumwater, WA firtreepiano@hotmail.com</DIV> <DIV style="FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: small; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: none"> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt tahoma"> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV style="BACKGROUND: #f5f5f5"> <DIV style="font-color: black">From: <A title=del@fandrichpiano.com href="mailto:del@fandrichpiano.com">Delwin D Fandrich</A> </DIV> <DIV>Sent: Thursday, September 22, 2011 20:02</DIV> <DIV>To: <A title=pianotech@ptg.org href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A> </DIV> <DIV>Subject: Re: [pianotech] Computer Software</DIV></DIV></DIV> <DIV> </DIV></DIV> <DIV style="FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: small; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: none"> <DIV class=WordSection1> Out of curiosity—has anyone tried the database that comes as part of OpenOffice. I’ve used the word processer some—it’s a lot like the earlier version of M$ Word except that it’s free—but never the database.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p>  ddf<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p>  <DIV> Delwin D Fandrich<o:p></o:p> Piano Design & Fabrication<o:p></o:p> 6939 Foothill Court SW, Olympia, Washington 98512 USA<o:p></o:p> Phone  360.515.0119 — Cell  360.388.6525<o:p></o:p> <A href="mailto:del@fandrichpiano.com">del@fandrichpiano.com </A>— <A href="mailto:ddfandrich@gmail.com">ddfandrich@gmail.com</A><o:p></o:p></DIV> <o:p></o:p>  <DIV> <DIV style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0cm; PADDING-LEFT: 0cm; PADDING-RIGHT: 0cm; BORDER-TOP: #b5c4df 1pt solid; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-TOP: 3pt"> From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of Gerald Groot Sent: Thursday, September 22, 2011 6:19 PM To: pianotech@ptg.org Subject: Re: [pianotech] Computer Software<o:p></o:p></DIV></DIV> <o:p></o:p>  Sure, I will work on that tomorrow or over the weekend when I have a bit more time to see if I can upload a copy of what my database looks like so you all can actually read it without having to acquire FileMakerPro.  FileMaker is available in as a free trial version too.  <o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p>  Jer<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p>  <DIV> <DIV style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0cm; PADDING-LEFT: 0cm; PADDING-RIGHT: 0cm; BORDER-TOP: #b5c4df 1pt solid; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-TOP: 3pt"> From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of Tony Caught Sent: Thursday, September 22, 2011 8:39 PM To: pianotech@ptg.org Subject: Re: [pianotech] Computer Software<o:p></o:p></DIV></DIV> <o:p></o:p>  Hi Jer,<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p>  I have been running my business database on an old program called Microsoft Works 4.5 for Windows 95 and have recently purchased Filemaker Pro Advance version 10. Is it possible that you could show me you layout and how you use your data base ? <o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p>  A few years ago someone put on a program  on Microsoft access which was good, still have a copy of it but I think that the Filemaker  program could be better.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p>  Thanks<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p>  Tony<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p>  <DIV> Tony Caught<o:p></o:p> <A href="mailto:acaught@internode.on.net">acaught@internode.on.net</A><o:p></o:p> 0427 850 737<o:p></o:p></DIV> <o:p></o:p>  <DIV> <DIV style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0cm; PADDING-LEFT: 0cm; PADDING-RIGHT: 0cm; BORDER-TOP: #b5c4df 1pt solid; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-TOP: 3pt"> From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of Gerald Groot Sent: Friday, 23 September 2011 9:18 AM To: pianotech@ptg.org Subject: Re: [pianotech] Computer Software<o:p></o:p></DIV></DIV> <o:p></o:p>  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<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p>  In case you’re interested, here’s something I happened across just now. <A href="http://www.filemaker.com/fba/devcon-awards-2011.html">http://www.filemaker.com/fba/devcon-awards-2011.html</A>  <o:p></o:p> Jer<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p>  <DIV> <DIV style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0cm; PADDING-LEFT: 0cm; PADDING-RIGHT: 0cm; BORDER-TOP: #b5c4df 1pt solid; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-TOP: 3pt"> From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of Greg Newell Sent: Thursday, September 22, 2011 7:31 PM To: pianotech@ptg.org Subject: Re: [pianotech] Computer Software<o:p></o:p></DIV></DIV> <o:p></o:p>  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.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p>  Greg<o:p></o:p> <A name=_MailEndCompose></A><o:p></o:p>  <DIV> <DIV style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0cm; PADDING-LEFT: 0cm; PADDING-RIGHT: 0cm; BORDER-TOP: #b5c4df 1pt solid; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-TOP: 3pt"> From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of Gerald Groot Sent: Thursday, September 22, 2011 7:14 PM To: pianotech@ptg.org Subject: Re: [pianotech] Computer Software<o:p></o:p></DIV></DIV> <o:p></o:p>  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.   <o:p></o:p> Jer<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p>  <DIV> <DIV style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0cm; PADDING-LEFT: 0cm; PADDING-RIGHT: 0cm; BORDER-TOP: #b5c4df 1pt solid; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-TOP: 3pt"> From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of Greg Newell Sent: Thursday, September 22, 2011 7:04 PM To: 'Matthew Todd'; pianotech@ptg.org Subject: Re: [pianotech] Computer Software<o:p></o:p></DIV></DIV> <o:p></o:p>  Todd,<o:p></o:p>             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. <o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p>  Greg Newell<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p>  <DIV> <DIV style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0cm; PADDING-LEFT: 0cm; PADDING-RIGHT: 0cm; BORDER-TOP: #b5c4df 1pt solid; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-TOP: 3pt"> From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of Matthew Todd Sent: Thursday, September 22, 2011 9:28 AM To: pianotech@ptg.org Subject: [pianotech] Computer Software<o:p></o:p></DIV></DIV> <o:p></o:p>  <DIV> <DIV> 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.<o:p></o:p></DIV> <DIV>  <o:p></o:p></DIV> <DIV>  <o:p></o:p></DIV> <DIV> TODD PIANO WORKS Matthew Todd, Piano Technician (979) 248-9578<o:p></o:p></DIV> <DIV> <A href="http://www.toddpianoworks.com/" target=_blank>http://www.toddpianoworks.com</A><o:p></o:p></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></BODY></HTML>