software suggestions

[Ryan sowers]

I purchased piano DB after looking into all the other 
piano-technician-specific data bases out there. I'm still figuring it out. 
For a hundred bucks it seemed like the best deal. The web site at 
dcalcoda.com is informative. I think getting familiar with Access will be a 
big help. Can anybody recommend a good book on Access?

There was a guy at Reno Demonstrating "Gold Mine" which looked very 
impressive. Its in the $250 range and looked more than powerful enough to 
handle a piano technician's needs. I wish I could remember who the guy was 
who was demonstrating the software. It was at the Cyber Cafe.

Ryan Sowers, RPT
Puget Sound Chapter, #985
Olympia, WA



>From: "Farrell" <mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com>
>Reply-To: pianotech@ptg.org
>To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
>Subject: Re: software suggestions
>Date: Sun, 29 Jul 2001 14:03:47 -0400
>
>I wrote and said that I use PTBiz and it meets my needs. That is true. But
>also, what Tom says below I find to be quite valid also. If I were to start
>over, I would look very seriously at PianoDB.
>
>Terry Farrell
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Tom Servinsky" <tompiano@gate.net>
>To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
>Sent: Sunday, July 29, 2001 8:44 AM
>Subject: software suggestions
>
>
> > List,
> > I have been using PTBiz, and honestly after have using it for 2 yrs.,
>don't
> > like the way the program's usefulness. It is too limiting and 
>cumbersome,
> > especially in the accounting mode.
> > To boot, my program either has a flaw in it or some other phenomenon, 
>but
>it
> > constantly changes the city listing on various customers...very
>frustrating
> > correcting that window over and over again.
> > Some of the limiting factors I don't like: Reports.
> > Get a month end report of net sales for the month of July...can't do it
> > unless you get it for the entire year. It will only give you the year to
> > date figure.
> > Should be able to ask for any month or amount of months in any report. 
>But
> > not this one!
> > Backup should require a single keystroke and the program should be doing
>all
> > the digging and placement of data. Not on this one, you have to save it,
> > then go into Explorer, then copy it, then send it to a floppy.  Not that
> > this is hard or confusing, just a case where the programmer could have 
>set
> > up all those keystrokes in the course of planning this out better. You
> > should here the slack you'll get when you call the author about things
>like
> > that!
> > In the accounting mode:
> >  You have to enter the date 3x in a row for a single invoice.Isn't the 
>job
> > of the program/er to limit the repetitiveness?
> > For a given invoice you:
> > 1.enter the date of the service you would enter
> > 2001727 ( 7/27/01)  then the invoice number,
> > 2. the date of the service
> > 3  the date of the service.
> >  Makes perfect  sense to me ...hmmmmmm
> > The troubling part is that when the report is listed, the invoice number
>is
> > not listed. Then why did it ask for it?
> > The rest of the program is fine as it is a straight forward database
> > program. It's just those little time-consuming things that drive me up 
>the
> > wall.
> > I used to use Dean Reyburn's program, and honestly, I'm sorry I ditched
>it.
> > It was nice and neat, and extremely efficient. Dummy me figured  the DOS
> > program wouldn't do well with the new advanced machines and apparently I
>was
> > wrong. I might go back to the DOS program of Dean's or I would love to
>hear
> > about some other favorites out there.
> > I have been trying to get enough energy up to design an MS Access 
>program
> > myself but I'm aware of the time obligation I'm committing to. Extra
>amounts
> > of slack time is something I don't have enough of.
> > Please tell me more about PianoDB or other favorites out there.
> > Tom Servinsky, RPT
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Phil Bondi" <tito@PhilBondi.com>
> > To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
> > Sent: Saturday, July 28, 2001 2:35 PM
> > Subject: Re: software
> >
> >
> > > Mike, I use PianoDB. It is pretty friendly and easy to get up and
> > running..I
> > > would suggest, however, that you sharpen your MS Access skills if you
>want
> > > to do any modifying. Piano DB is based in Access.
> > >
> > > I'm no Access wiz by anyone's stretch, but I can fumble around as well
>as
> > > anyone else if I want to change something.
> > >
> > > There's really not that much to do but start imputing your database to 
>a
> > > database that's well thought out, regardless of your Access skills.
> > >
> > > roo(k)
> > >
> >
>


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