PastPerfect Museum Software Newsletter, January 2005
1. Correction on December’s Tech Tip
2. PDF Producer on sale!
3. PastPerfect Training classes in your area!
4. Version 4.0 Learning Edition
5. Free Updates for PastPerfect Museum Software!
6. User List
7. Look Who’s Using PastPerfect…
8. Contact us!
1. Correction on December’s Tech Tip…
The Tip of the Month in the December newsletter contained a misprint on one of the new features in version 4.0. To change the image on the main menu of the PastPerfect version 4.0, simply renaming an image to be mainmenu.jpg will not work. Instead, try deleting the default images that the program comes installed with in the MenuImages folder. If you think you might want to use those images for the default slide show in the future, you will want to save them somewhere on disk. After you have removed those images from the MenuImages folder, place the image you want to display on the main menu into that MenuImages folder so that it is the only image there. After doing this, you can set the program to Default Slide Show, and it will display only your image. To do this, follow these steps:
1) Locate the image you would like to have displayed on the main menu and name it something other than "mainmenu" (any other name will work).
2) Then Double click on My Computer, double click on Local Disk C: and double click on the pp4 folder. Inside the pp4 folder is a folder entitled MenuImages, double click on this.
3) Delete each of the images in this folder (they are all the default images for the slide show the program comes with) and when you are finished, copy and paste the image you want to display on the main menu into this folder.
4) Then close out of all windows and open PastPerfect. Click on the Setup button off the Main Menu and then click on the Main Menu button. Under Main Menu Images, select Default Slide Show and then click the reload button. When you exit out of this window, the main menu image should change to become the image you chose!
2. PDF Producer on sale!
Only for our Newsletter recipients, while supplies last, we are offering PDF
Producer for only $29! PDF Producer allows any program on your computer to
print or send reports and other documents in the form of PDF files. PDF Producer
is easy to use and installs itself on your computer as a printer. When you
click on the print button of any document (not just from PastPerfect), you
are able to select PDF Producer instead of a standard printer, thus getting
your documents in a format that is workable for e-mail, posting on a website
or printing from a computer that doesn’t have PastPerfect. PDF Producer
also allows you to watermark and set security settings for your documents.
Your PastPerfect reports will be viewable even on computers that do not have PastPerfect installed! PDF Producer works with all documents on your computer whether they are from Word, WordPerfect or PastPerfect, and it is compatible with Windows 2000 and XP computers. PDF Producer is now available from Pastime Software Company for $29 plus a $5 shipping fee. Supplies are limited, so call our sales office or visit our online store at http://www.museumsoftware.com to order your copy of PDF Producer today!
3. PastPerfect Training classes are coming to your area!
Training classes for PastPerfect Museum Software are set to resume in 2005! To find out more information about the scheduled training classes below, or to inquire about possibly scheduling a session in your area, please contact our Training Coordinator, Amy Dunn, by phone at 610-304-0973 or by email at training@museumsoftware.com.
Sacramento, CA
Hosted by the Sacramento Archives & Museum Collection
Center
January 25- 28
Irvine, CA
Hosted by the Orange County Harbors, Beaches & Parks
at the Irvine Ranch Historic Park
Jan 31, Feb 1-3
Borger, TX
Hosted by the Hutchinson County Museum at the Frank
Phillips College
February 15-18
Little Rock, AR
Hosted by the Museum of Discovery
March 8-11
Statesboro, GA
Hosted by the Georgia Southern University Museum
March 14-17
Also, be sure to check out our website at www.museumsoftware.com/training.htm for additional training dates and other information!
4. Version 4.0 Learning Edition
Not sure if Version 4.0 is right for you or your organization? For $24 you can purchase the 4.0 Learning Edition, that comes complete with a 400 page user guide, and see what version 4 can do for you! It also comes with a PastPerfect version 4.0 Evaluation CD as well as a Virtual Exhibit Evaluation CD, so you can see how easy it is to get items from your collection on the web. To receive your own PastPerfect version 4.0 Learning Edition, please contact our sales office toll free at 800-562-6080 or visit our online store at www.museumsoftware.com!
5. Free updates for PastPerfect Museum Software!
Did you know updates are available for your PastPerfect Museum Software versions 4.0 and 3.5 from our website? These free updates are released every few weeks and are available for download by going to http://www.museumsoftware.com/software_updates.htm. If you would rather receive an update on CD, please contact our Support Office toll free at (800) 562-6080.
PastPerfect Version 4.0 - New Update Available 4.0A7…
The current update now available is 4.0A7. New Features found in the 4.0A7 update include…
* Add year 2005, drop year 1995 from Dues and Donations History
screen
* Allow udf1-3 to be printed on Donation Thank You letters
* An image may be added to the Detailed Condition Report
* Collections List report option to exclude Loaned-In
items
* Export through Lists & Labels of Contacts with
Membership Info added these fields: member number, membership name, paid thru,
type, subtype, and last paid
* New Scatter option to CD/DVD to select drive and not
finalize disk
* New option of Setup | Multimedia screen, “Don’t
display metadata screen when attaching a new image”
* When attempting to add an item to an exhibit that
is already on another exhibit, display the other exhibit# and name
* When attempting to add an item to a loan that is already
on another loan, display the other loan# and name
PastPerfect Version 3.5 - Current Update Available 3.5B6…
The current update now available is 3.5B6. New Features found in the 3.5B6 update include…
* Add “Market Evaluation” to reason for appraisal
list
* Add “Evaluation” to condition report type
list
* Add authority file to medium field on Archives/Maps
Screen
* Change catalog record update when an image is added
or changed
6. User List…http://www.museumsoftware.com/client_list.htm
We are in the process of updating the list of PastPerfect users on our website. Please visit the site and let us know if we should add or remove your museum or make changes to our records. If you see any changes you would like us to make, please email your contact info and the necessary changes to brian@museumsoftware.com.
7. Look Who’s Using PastPerfect…*Cliveden*
Cliveden, a historic house museum sometimes referred to as “The Chew House,” sits on 5 acres located in the Germantown section of Philadelphia, about 6 miles from downtown and the Liberty Bell. Built by Benjamin Chew between 1763 and 1767, Cliveden is recognized as one of the most significant surviving homes from the Colonial American period. Once the site of the 1777 Battle of Germantown, the house has gone through a few periods of change, but still retains much of the true character of the home. Among the many unique features of Cliveden are the home’s period architecture, and its wonderful collection of American decorative arts and furnishings, which characterize life in an upper class Philadelphia home through the late nineteenth century and beyond. Descendents of the Chew family resided at Cliveden until 1972, when they transferred ownership of the house and contents to the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which manages the site.
Cliveden is using PastPerfect to fill out a sparse Multi-Mimsy catalog of all of the artifacts, archival documents and books that were contained in the house. It was originally estimated that the house contained approximately 1200 items or so; however, with help from the PastPerfect staff they now know they have over 4200 items in their care.
A huge thank you to Phillip Seitz, Curator, for recently inviting Pastime Software Company to visit and for the wonderful tour of Cliveden!
Address: 300 N. Pottstown Pike Suite 200
Exton, PA 19341
Website: www.MuseumSoftware.com
Sales & Product Info: 800-562-6080 or sales@museumsoftware.com
Support: 800-562-6080 or support@museumsoftware.com
Training: 610-304-0973 or training@museumsoftware.com
Data Conversions: 253-589-0463 or conversions@museumsoftware.com