PastPerfect Museum Software Newsletter, February 2005

1. Discussion Forum for PastPerfect Users
2. PastPerfect Training classes in your area
3. Free Updates for PastPerfect Museum Software
4. Upgrading Virtual Exhibit from version 3 to version 4 is free
5. Technical Tip of the Month
6. Look Who's Using PastPerfect
7. User List
8. Contact Information

1. Discussion Forum for PastPerfect Users
PastPerfect users and potential users can benefit from the PastPerfect Online Discussion Forum. The Discussion Forum is a bulletin-board style forum where visitors can post questions about using the PastPerfect program and about museum practices. Replies are posted by both PastPerfect staff and other members of the museum community. The Forum is also fully searchable, so visitors can browse previously posted questions to find answers to their own inquiries. The Forum gives visitors the benefit of other PastPerfect users' experiences. You can visit the site by pointing your web browser to www.museumsoftware.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi, or going to our website at www.museumsoftware.com and clicking the Discussion Forum icon. Please note that the Discussion Forum is not intended to be used as a substitute for technical support, so technical questions should be directed to the support office by emailing support@museumsoftware.com.

2. 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.

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

Portland, ME
Hosted by the Maine Historical Society
April 12-15

Cincinnati, OH
Hosted by Historic Southwest Ohio
April 19-22

West Barnstable, MA
Hosted by the Cape & Islands Historical Association at the Cape Cod Community College
April 26-29

Also, be sure to check out our website at www.museumsoftware.com/training.htm for additional training dates and other information!

3. 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 4.0B1 The current update now available is 4.0B1. New Features found in the 4.0B1 update include
* Ability to display both flags "Item on Loan" and "Item on Exhibit" at the same time on the catalog screen
* Ability to enter unlimited In-Kind donations
* Add an "Update loan addresses" button in the Contacts section under loans
* Add field address "Type" for primary and secondary addresses
* Membership renewal may be designated as "Complimentary"
* New field in dues file for tax deductible amount
* Print unit of measure on the default catalog reports

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

4. Upgrading your Virtual Exhibit from 3 to 4 is free!
If you have purchased version 3 Virtual Exhibit, and have already upgraded your PastPerfect to version 4, the upgrade to Virtual Exhibit 4.0 is free and can be downloaded from http://www.museumsoftware.com/upgradeVE.htm. You can also request this upgrade on CD from the Support Office, if you prefer. Directions for upgrading Virtual Exhibit from 3.0 to 4.0 can be found on our website at http://www.museumsoftware.com/Download/TechTip1_2005.htm or call us at the Support Office toll free at (800) 562-6080 with any questions.

5. Technical Tip of the Month- Enter Unlimited Gifts In-Kind in v4!
One of the newest features in PastPerfect 4 is the ability to enter an unlimited number of In-Kind gifts. These In-Kind gifts are donations of goods and services that people give to your institution. For example, a local electrician might donate his time and experience helping to get a new exhibit installation working. Each of these gifts should be recorded; however they don't fit easily into the program as a standard monetary Donation. For that reason, every Contact record has a section for In-Kind gifts where entries can be made, in a manner similar to regular monetary donations.

To enter an In-Kind donation, locate the Contact record for the person who has made the donation. If there is not already a contact record for this person, you will need to add a new one. To do this, click on the "Contacts" button on the main menu of PastPerfect. To add a new Contact record, click the "Add" button at the top of the record and type in the information. To add an In-Kind donation to a record, click on the "Gifts In Kind" button on the Contacts record. Then click "Enter a New In-Kind donation." Fill in the information about the donation and click "Post." You have just entered an In-Kind donation! A few points to keep in mind, the total value for the In-Kind donations is kept separate from and not added to the total number for monetary donations, and you cannot access the In-Kind donations from the Pledges/Receipts screen.

This In-Kind donation feature was expanded because of suggestions from customers like you! If you have suggestions for new features or fields you would like to see in PastPerfect in version 4.0, please e-mail them to suggestions@museumsoftware.com. We are always eager to hear your comments and learn ways that PastPerfect can better serve our users.

6. Look Who's Using PastPerfect *Canterbury Shaker Village*
Canterbury Shaker Village is comprised of 25 original Shaker buildings and three reconstructed buildings with gardens, which sit on more than 690 acres of Canterbury, New Hampshire countryside. Some of these buildings include: the Meetinghouse, the Dwelling House, the School House, as well as various Shops, the Creamery, the Laundry and the Infirmary. The Village was founded in 1969 and strives toward its mission of "preserving the 200-year legacy of the Canterbury Shakers and providing a place for learning, reflection and renewal of the human spirit." They offer a variety of workshops and classes for adults, from Broommaking and Brushmaking, to creating dovetail boxes and stepstools. They also offer classes for youth and children as well as tours and school programs.

Canterbury Shaker Village is currently using PastPerfect to catalog their collections which encompass more than 40,000 objects, photos and over 45,000 archival materials. They recently were able to catalog 12,000 objects under a grant from NEH and are currently looking forward to cataloging 8,000 or so photos with the help of a grant from IMLS. Jennifer Carroll-Plante, Curator of Collections, for the village states "By 2006, Canterbury Shaker Village will use its database to create a series of online exhibitions. PastPerfect's Virtual Exhibit component will allow Canterbury Shaker Village to interpret a broader range of historical themes including foodways, agriculture, and 20th century Shakerism. It will be a tool for training tour guides and other staff/volunteers. And, Canterbury Shaker Village will use V.E. to develop collaborative exhibits with other Shaker sites and to attract new audiences."

Learn more about Canterbury Shaker Village at their website, www.shakers.org.

7. 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.

8. Contact Us!
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