Piano Service Software

[David Ilvedson]

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Which reminds me...the Pocket PC problem worked itself out?   I'm think=
 about updating from a Palm V...at least to something with color...

David Ilvedson, RPT
Pacifica, California





Original message
From: "Tom Servinsky" 
To: Pianotech 
Received: 12/14/2005 5:40:16 PM
Subject: Re: Piano Service Software


You are right, it doesn't do invoices nor accounting...it's simply  a g=
reat database and scheduling tool. I use QuickBooks for accounting on m=
y desktop and am about to add Pocket QuickBooks to my Pocket PC. 
But what I do have a my fingertips is simply an amazing about of useful=
 data pertinent to my everyday life while out and about.
Of course my main thing is to have a program which will sync with my po=
cket pc. And what they are charging, something like $45, it's a no brai=
ner in my book.
One of the neat little features it has is the file shortcut under each =
data file. Say I'm sending proposals, invoices, etc to a client. I simp=
ly right click in that area and add any files pertinent to that client.=
 Those are listed by date and in full view if you need to look somethin=
g up.
Another nice feature is having the mapquest option available for each c=
lient. While I'm making the appointment I do a quick mapquest and view =
the directions, cut and past into one of the many tabs it allows for di=
rections and etc.
When I make my appointments, the name, address, phone , numbers and dir=
ections are neatly copied and put into the scheduled time and day. Then=
 I print out my appointments for the day and off I go.
As far as the printing of invoices, if I were in your shoes, I would co=
nsider something like Quickbooks for all of your accounting needs. If y=
ou have the laptop, simply have Quickbooks installed and you are ready =
for some serious business.  I found out the hard way not to integrate t=
oo many facets under one program. If that main program has glitches ...=
you are sunk. Been there done that.
But back to the printing of invoices, one of things T&C offers is a bun=
dle of programs that work in junction with the main T&C. One of them is=
 legal billing which can print invoices.
Hope this helps. 
Tom Servinsky 
----- Original Message ----- 
From: John Formsma 
To: Pianotech 
Sent: Wednesday, December 14, 2005 8:01 AM
Subject: Re: Piano Service Software


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 p=
iano location. This looks more professional, plus it will elminate a bu=
nch of bookwork when I get home and don't feel like doing it. :-) Can y=
ou 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 fo=
rtune for some out-dated software. You'll get a tech service that is ou=
t of this world. You'll get one of the most flexible and most use-frien=
dly programs out there. And for less than $100. It also syncs with the =
Palm devices.  www.chaossoftware.com 
I've tweaked my program for the last 3 yrs and finally have running smo=
othly and effectively. 
Oh...and I'm a recovering PTBIZ user.
Tom Servinsky 
----- Original Message ----- 
From: John Formsma 
To: 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 f=
orgive.

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? Wo=
uld you recommend it?

I'm looking to replace PTBiz since apparently it is no longer being sol=
d or supported. (I'd hate to think about the mess I'd be in if somethin=
g 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, rem=
inders, and accounting, and is priced under $400.00? Am I living in "dr=
eam world"? PTBiz has done everything that I have needed. While it cert=
ainly 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 anoth=
er popular database). That way, if a program becomes obsolete for whate=
ver reason, one doesn't have to re-type all the data into the new progr=
am. 

Any ideas?

Thanks,
John Formsma

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