Piano Service Software

[Greg Newell]

John,
         I've been printing invoices on the spot for years with PTBiz but I 
too am looking for a way out. You're correct that not all info will 
transfer to virtually any other program. I've bought a copy of FileMaker 
pro hoping to build my own database program but haven't quit every other 
bleeding thing in my miserable life in order to convert all my waking hours 
into becoming proficient with FileMaker pro. Whatever way I finally go it 
will be where I am beholding to no one. No dongles, no hasps, no software 
keys and no one individual responsible for the whole program. I'm sure the 
other previously mentioned programs are all quite good in their own way but 
I won't tie myself up like that again. As others have mentioned I am faced 
with transferring quite a lot of information and I really don't want to do 
it more than once. 3,000 clients and 21 years of invoices threatens to take 
quite a while.

best,
Greg



At 08:01 AM 12/14/2005, you wrote:
>Tom,
>
>OK, just looked at T&C. It looks like a wonderful scheduler and address 
>book program. But, it doesn't look like there's a way to do invoicing, 
>accounting, etc.
>
>What I'm wanting to do is use a laptop to print out an invoice at the 
>piano location. This looks more professional, plus it will elminate a 
>bunch of bookwork when I get home and don't feel like doing it. :-) Can 
>you do this with T&C?
>
>John Formsma
>
>Tom Servinsky wrote:
>>John,
>>Do yourself a favor and go directly to Time & Chaos. You won't pay a 
>>fortune for some out-dated software. You'll get a tech service that is 
>>out of this world. You'll get one of the most flexible and most 
>>use-friendly programs out there. And for less than $100. It also syncs 
>>with the Palm devices.  <http://www.chaossoftware.com>www.chaossoftware.com
>>I've tweaked my program for the last 3 yrs and finally have running 
>>smoothly and effectively.
>>Oh...and I'm a recovering PTBIZ user.
>>Tom Servinsky
>>----- Original Message -----
>>From: <mailto:john@formsmapiano.com>John Formsma
>>To: <mailto:pianotech@ptg.org>Pianotech
>>Sent: Wednesday, December 14, 2005 1:04 AM
>>Subject: Piano Service Software
>>
>>Greetings everyone!
>>
>>Resubscribed recently...if this is a recently discussed topic, please 
>>forgive.
>>
>>Is anyone using the technician software listed on ptg.org?
>>ExecuKey
>>PianoDB by D C Al Coda
>>PowerTech
>>PeakeWare
>>
>>If you are a user of any of the above, is your experience favorable? 
>>Would you recommend it?
>>
>>I'm looking to replace PTBiz since apparently it is no longer being sold 
>>or supported. (I'd hate to think about the mess I'd be in if something 
>>happened to the program or Hasp hardware key and I couldn't retrieve my 
>>data - yikes!)
>>
>>Any other software out there that is user-friendly, does invoicing, 
>>reminders, and accounting, and is priced under $400.00? Am I living in 
>>"dream world"? PTBiz has done everything that I have needed. While it 
>>certainly has its quirks, I like that it's compact and doesn't have all 
>>the "bells and whistles" that I don't really need.
>>
>>It seems to make sense to look toward a program that will allow data to 
>>be easily transferred into other programs, such as MS Access (or another 
>>popular database). That way, if a program becomes obsolete for whatever 
>>reason, one doesn't have to re-type all the data into the new program.
>>
>>Any ideas?
>>
>>Thanks,
>>John Formsma
>
>Greg Newell
>Greg's piano Forté
>mailto:gnewell@ameritech.net