|
Chicago ACT! USER GROUP
Meeting Notes
Meeting Date: January 14, 1997
NEWS YOU CAN USE:
ACT! 3.0 users, the latest release of ACT! is version 3.0.3. (Use the
command HELP, ABOUT ACT! to check which version you have.) If you don't
have the latest update, you can download it from Symantec's Web site (or
use ACT!'s LiveUpdate feature). Patch disks will also be available at user
group meetings. Also, E Tech Systems has just published Ten Top Tips for
ACT! 3.0. Learn ten ways to make using ACT! 3.0 easier. These tips are
available at E Tech's Web site, www.etechsys.com
MEETING FEATURE:
This month, we discussed how to grow sales by staying
in touch. As you know, one of the key benefits of using ACT! is to be
able to keep track of the many details of business relationships.
Yet, all the data in the world doesn't amount to much (in terms of
growing one's business) unless we act on it. This means understanding
customers' and prospects' needs and communicating with them. It also
means adding a few personal touches to our communications and
building relationships.
These personal touches - the thank-you note, for example
- when executed with sincerity can have a noticeable impact in customer
loyalty. In today's environment, where businesses typically lose 30% of
their customers each year, it makes sense that increased customer loyalty
translates to greater sales Tom Peters, author of In Search of Excellence
claims that short notes make an effective follow up to business events such
as a meeting, a trade show, or making a mistake (as in OOPS! we shipped you
the wrong widget). Now, thanks to ACT! and Firefly Greetings, sending
personal notes has become a lot easier. Our guest speaker, David Wainwright
of Firefly Greetings, demonstrated how ACT! users can send personalized
business greeting cards - complete with a signature that appears to be hand
written - right from their own computer.
Operation is straightforward. The first step is to select
the contacts you want to mail to with an ACT! lookup. Next, print a special
report (the template is furnished by Firefly) which serves as an order
form. Add any specific message (up to 35 words in length) in the report and
fax or e-mail the result to Firefly. Firefly will then write out the cards
using a font derived from your own handwriting , prepare envelopes, affix
postage, and mail the cards. You may choose from numerous card styles
geared to specific business occasions and events. The most popular cards
can be previewed on your PC monitor. It's also possible to add a company
logo to an existing card, or even design your own card.
All this costs from $2.75 to $3.35 (exclusive of custom
designed cards). Firefly is currently available for ACT! for Windows 2.0. A
Windows 95/ACT! 3.0 version will be available within 60 days. For more
information, contact Firefly at 800-555-6185, send e-mail to
[email protected], or visit their Web site at
www.fireflygreet.com.
OPEN FORUM:
Obtaining ACT! 3.0 Program Updates
Q What are my options for updating ACT! 3.0? How do I
access LiveUpdate?
A There are two options available. The first is to obtain
a patch disk with the update (either from Symantec or E Tech systems) or
use Symantec's LiveUpdate. If you have multiple PCs running ACT!, you'll
save time by using a patch disk, otherwise you'll have to download the
update for each and every computer. Using a patch disc is simple. The
Windows 95 command is FILE, RUN SETUP. There are two ways to access
LiveUpdate (provided, of course, you have a modem). The first is to use
your modem to dial Symantec's dedicated BBS. The second is to visit
Symantec's Internet FTP site and apply the update. Access is automatic via
LiveUpdate. Make sure you shut down your machine and re-boot to apply the
update.
Adding New Fields to ACT! 3.0
Q How do you add a new field to the ACT! 3.0 contact
screen?
A One of the nicest things about ACT! 3.0 is that you can
have unlimited fields. To add a new field, start by defining the field
using the command EDIT, DEFINE FIELDS. You can specify the type (numerical
or alphabetical) and format (a phone number, for example) of characters
permitted as valid entries. Finally, use the command TOOLS, DESIGN LAYOUTS,
FIELD to insert the new field on the tab of your choice.
No Longer Able to Access History
Q I'm using ACT! 2.0.9 for (Windows 3.1) and after
deleting 1000 contact records from my database found that I can no longer
access history for "my record". How can I access history?
A When all those contacts were deleted, ACT! recorded
each deletion in the history of "my record". The problem is due to the
sheer volume of history entries generated during this process. The solution
is to purge history by deleting history for a range of dates. The command
is FILE, ADMINISTRATION, MAINTENANCE. Check the box labeled 'PURGE
HISTORY'.
OUR NEXT MEETING . . .
of the ACT! User Group will be on March 11. The meeting
will focus on Office Telecommunications. We will discuss the benefits of
integrating office telephone systems with PCs. The April 8th meeting will
feature an ACT! 3.0 Mini-Lesson on Writing Form Letters.
The ACT! User Group (a SIG of the C.C.S.) holds meetings
on the second Tuesday of the month eight months out of the year. User Group
meetings are free and open to all C.C.S. members. They are held at the
Midway Motor Lodge in Elk Grove Village. Call E Tech Systems at
847-352-4770 or visit www.etechsys.com for details.
© Copyright 1997 by Alan M. Lee, all rights reserved.
Other nonprofit computer user's groups may reprint this material providing
credit is given the author and C.C.S. Future rights for publication
reserved by Alan M. Lee. ACT! is a registered trademark of Symantec
Corporation.
Back
|