Need program for client database

[JM]

Hello,

I am donating a computer to a local Samaritans organization. Up to this
point, they have kept up with all their clients ("clients" is not the right
word, but honestly I'm not sure how they refer to the people who come to
them for help) on paper cards. It's very basic information: Name, address,
contact info, DOB, and notes concerning the reasons for their coming to the
Samaritans.

They want me to help them get computerized. I was hoping to find a freeware
program that would allow them to enter the data into a database. I could
use Excel and Access, but I think they would do better with something along
the lines of a CRM, such as a very scaled-down version of ACT! or Goldmine.
I need the interface to be very user friendly, as the volunteers there are
not experienced with computers.

Can anyone suggest something that might work?

thank you,

jm

 

[canetoad]

Hello,

I am donating a computer to a local Samaritans organization. Up to this
point, they have kept up with all their clients ("clients" is not the right
word, but honestly I'm not sure how they refer to the people who come to
them for help) on paper cards. It's very basic information: Name, address,
contact info, DOB, and notes concerning the reasons for their coming to the
Samaritans.

They want me to help them get computerized. I was hoping to find a freeware
program that would allow them to enter the data into a database. I could
use Excel and Access, but I think they would do better with something along
the lines of a CRM, such as a very scaled-down version of ACT! or Goldmine.
I need the interface to be very user friendly, as the volunteers there are
not experienced with computers.

From experience, people who are not very computer savvy would probably
find most CRMs or even customisable address type programs to be baffling.

My suggestion is to start them off with a simple Open Office
spreadsheet, maybe you could help them set up the fields. To start using
it all they need to know is how to move between cells/fields, use find
and sort.

From there, the same spreadsheet could eventually be imported into the
OO database module and a form created to make data entry very simple.
The advantage of this method is it will impart a little basic
spreadsheet knowledge to people who will find it useful.

Good luck.

 

[mike]

Hello,

I am donating a computer to a local Samaritans organization. Up to
this point, they have kept up with all their clients ("clients" is not
the right word, but honestly I'm not sure how they refer to the people
who come to them for help) on paper cards. It's very basic
information: Name, address, contact info, DOB, and notes concerning
the reasons for their coming to the Samaritans.

I agree with canetoad that a spreadsheet would be easier than a database.

Even easier would be Treepad - every node a name, and the information in
the ...hem..information box.

It doesn't sort or print worth a damn, but has an excellent built in search
function that will find whatever you want easily. I use it for everything,
but Susan's the real addict!

There are later progs, which I am tempted by, like Neomem, that I would
like to try, but they don't import treepad files, and I can't face retyping
all my info, but if you're just starting, give it a hard look.

Also wikidpad has been mentioned here recently, another one I'd try if it
would import my files:

http://www.jhorman.org/wikidPad/

There is a prog called Golden notes which is payware now, but there's a
freeware version here:

http://www.5star-shareware.com/Windows/Business/PIMs/golden-notes.html

which is a more fully featured type of treepad.

HTH

mike

 

[Helen]

I agree with canetoad that a spreadsheet would be easier than a
database.

Even easier would be Treepad - every node a name, and the information
in the ...hem..information box.

It doesn't sort or print worth a damn, but has an excellent built in
search function that will find whatever you want easily. I use it for
everything, but Susan's the real addict!

There are later progs, which I am tempted by, like Neomem, that I
would like to try, but they don't import treepad files, and I can't
face retyping all my info, but if you're just starting, give it a
hard look.

Also wikidpad has been mentioned here recently, another one I'd try
if it would import my files:

http://www.jhorman.org/wikidPad/

There is a prog called Golden notes which is payware now, but there's
a freeware version here:

http://www.5star-shareware.com/Windows/Business/PIMs/golden-notes.html

which is a more fully featured type of treepad.

HTH

mike

What about Works? There's a word processor, excel, etc on the OLD Windows.
The one with Win 3.1 isn't very big. Also you could set it up so that it defaults to
a certain program upon pressing a certain key. You could have it start up the
SS, or put an icon on the desktop to press. The key idea is to get them to realize
that nothing drastic is going to happen when using the computer. You might
want to create an automatic backup some place. Will it be on the 'net' or just
used for the 'business'? If the latter, there's less concern over errors, seems to me.

There are auto parts stores here that use the old progrma Multi-Mate (I always hated it),
and other programs from that era to run their parts lists, cost per item, part number, etc.
Just my $.02 worth.

Helen

 

[mike]

What about Works? There's a word processor, excel, etc on the OLD
Windows. The one with Win 3.1 isn't very big. Also you could set it
up so that it defaults to a certain program upon pressing a certain
key. You could have it start up the SS, or put an icon on the
desktop to press.

"I need the interface to be very user friendly, as the volunteers there are
not experienced with computers."

And Works isn't freeware, which I imagined JM was after

mike

 

[Susan Bugher]

I agree with canetoad that a spreadsheet would be easier than a database.

Even easier would be Treepad - every node a name, and the information in
the ...hem..information box.

It doesn't sort or print worth a damn, but has an excellent built in search
function that will find whatever you want easily. I use it for everything,
but Susan's the real addict!

Guilty. One of the many nice things about Treepad -> those "notes
concerning the reasons for their coming to the Samaritans" could be
added after the more structured information and they could be as long or
as short as needed.

There is a prog called Golden notes which is payware now, but there's a
freeware version here:

http://www.5star-shareware.com/Windows/Business/PIMs/golden-notes.html

IIRC GoldenSection Notes has a proprietary format - not good if you want
to be able to migrate the information to another app some time in the
future.

TreePad files are plain text.
TreePad files can be exported to text files.
TreePad is VERY easy to learn.

I rest my case. . .

Susan
--
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Pricelessware & ACF: http://www.pricelesswarehome.org
Pricelessware: http://www.pricelessware.org (not maintained)

 

[mike]

IIRC GoldenSection Notes has a proprietary format - not good if you
want to be able to migrate the information to another app some time in
the future.

TreePad files are plain text.
TreePad files can be exported to text files.
TreePad is VERY easy to learn.

I rest my case. . .

Sorry, Susan, I thought Golden notes could import treepad files;
but it's been some time since I've used anything but Treepadlite



mike

 

[Susan Bugher]

Sorry, Susan, I thought Golden notes could import treepad files;
but it's been some time since I've used anything but Treepadlite

Just checked (in my TreePad file). Someone posted this on Date: Sun,
10 Nov 2002: "Keynote and Treepad allows for import/export in other file
formats than the internal one, which could be of importance when
migrating from one app to another... GSN supports .gso _only_!"

Buzzy has a nice walk-through on using GoldenSection Notes here:
http://www.buzzys.net/GSNotes.html

Susan
--
Posted to alt.comp.freeware
Search alt.comp.freeware (or read it online):
http://www.google.com/advanced_group_search?q=+group:alt.comp.freeware
Pricelessware & ACF: http://www.pricelesswarehome.org
Pricelessware: http://www.pricelessware.org (not maintained)

 

[mike]

Just checked (in my TreePad file). Someone posted this on Date: Sun,
10 Nov 2002: "Keynote and Treepad allows for import/export in other file
formats than the internal one, which could be of importance when
migrating from one app to another... GSN supports .gso _only_!"

Ah, I musta thought I meant Keynotes; but of course thats the one I mix up
with ATNotes!

If I had a brain I'd be dangerous

mike

 

[Al Klein]

Can anyone suggest something that might work?

R-Base in Index Card Display mode, if you can find an old copy. They
use index cards now, so they should be comfortable with an index card
metaphor.

Or write an Access or OO interface that looks like an index card. Sort
is just one button, find, a box and print could pop up a criterion
window for the more experienced.

 

[Helen]

: JM wrote:
: > Hello,
: >
: > I am donating a computer to a local Samaritans organization. Up to
this
: > point, they have kept up with all their clients ("clients" is not
the right
: > word, but honestly I'm not sure how they refer to the people who
come to
: > them for help) on paper cards. It's very basic information: Name,
address,
: > contact info, DOB, and notes concerning the reasons for their coming
to the
: > Samaritans.
: >
: > They want me to help them get computerized. I was hoping to find a
freeware
: > program that would allow them to enter the data into a database. I
could
: > use Excel and Access, but I think they would do better with
something along
: > the lines of a CRM, such as a very scaled-down version of ACT! or
Goldmine.
: > I need the interface to be very user friendly, as the volunteers
there are
: > not experienced with computers.
:
: From experience, people who are not very computer savvy would
probably
: find most CRMs or even customisable address type programs to be
baffling.
:
: My suggestion is to start them off with a simple Open Office
: spreadsheet, maybe you could help them set up the fields. To start
using
: it all they need to know is how to move between cells/fields, use find
: and sort.
:
: From there, the same spreadsheet could eventually be imported into
the
: OO database module and a form created to make data entry very simple.
: The advantage of this method is it will impart a little basic
: spreadsheet knowledge to people who will find it useful.
:
: Good luck.

What about 602Pro PC Suite v2000b? It has a spreadsheet and it's free.
It's is an integrated office suite which includes four applications: a
word processor, spreadsheet, graphics editor, and visual desktop. OS:
Windows 95/98/Me/NT/2000 License: Freeware.
http://www.software602.com/products/pcs/index.html

http://www.software602.com/products/pcs/documents.html

 

[David]

R-Base in Index Card Display mode, if you can find an old copy. They
use index cards now, so they should be comfortable with an index card
metaphor.

Or write an Access or OO interface that looks like an index card. Sort
is just one button, find, a box and print could pop up a criterion
window for the more experienced.

I'm not sure if XP still has it but the original Windows Cardfile.exe
works fine in 98/ME

 

[John Corliss]

(various snips apply)

What about Works?

Helen, Works is definitely *NOT* freeware. However, assuming that the
Address Book built into Windows won't meet the simple needs of the group
JM refers to and if he wants a CRM, here's one (I haven't used it though):

http://www.emadar.com/crmadar/crmadar.htm

Or JM can go to Jan's site:

http://www.jansfreeware.com/

and click on "Database" under "Software". Maybe "Sold" will meet his needs.

Finally, here is a small program that looks like it might work:

http://www.chaosmanager.net/


--
Regards from John Corliss
I don't reply to trolls like Andy Mabbett, Doc (who uses sock puppets)
or Roger Johansson, for instance. No adware, cdware, commercial
software, crippleware, demoware, nagware, PROmotionware, shareware,
spyware, time-limited software, trialware, viruses or warez for me, please.

 

[Al Klein]

I'm not sure if XP still has it but the original Windows Cardfile.exe
works fine in 98/ME

I still run the version of Cardfile I had on my first Windows 3
installation for my contacts list. The only possible problem for the
OP would be the limited size (in bytes) of each card.