1. The PastPerfect User List!
2. Regional Training Sessions
3. Free Information Sessions!
4. Current Update Available 3.5B2
5. Tip of the Month
6. Look Who’s Using PastPerfect…
7. Conference Schedule for 2004
8. Contact us!
Have you checked recently to see if your institution’s name is listed on our User List? Check it out at www.museumsoftware.com/client_list.htm and let us know what you think! If you are not on this list and wish to be included on it or if you see any changes that need to be made, please e-mail Brian at brian@museumsoftware.com!
2. Upcoming Regional Training Sessions
Wethersfield, CT: Wethersfield Historical Society
May 19, 20 & 21
Aurora, CO: Hosted by the Aurora History Museum at the Aurora Credit Union
Building
June 9, 10 & 11
Sugarland, TX: Museum of Southern History located on the campus of Southern
National Bank
June 15, 16, & 17
Columbus, IN: Hosted by the Indiana Historical Society at the Indiana Business
College
June 21, 22, & 23
Billings, MT: Hosted by the Peter Yegen, Jr. Yellowstone County Museum at
the Montana State University - Billings College of Technology
June 23, 24 & 25
Sandusky, OH: Ohio Veteran’s Home
July 19, 20, 21 & 22 (special VE Training on 22nd)
Waterloo, IA: Grout Museum District
August 18, 19, & 20
Contact training@museumsoftware.com for more information!
Pastime Software is offering Free Regional Information Sessions for those who are interested in learning more about PastPerfect. Attendees will have an opportunity to meet with our staff and see a demonstration of PastPerfect Museum Software, the most widely-used museum software in the world. If you know someone who is interested in attending an Information Session, have them RSVP by calling 800-562-6080 or e-mailing sales@museumsoftware.com.
Wethersfield, CT: May 18, 2004 @ 1:00pm
Hosted by the Wethersfield Historical Society
at the Keeney Memorial Cultural Center
200 Main Street, Wethersfield, CT
Aurora, CO: June 8, 2004 @ 1:00pm
Hosted by the Aurora History Museum
at the Aurora Credit Union Building
6 Abilene Street, #300, Aurora, CO
Sugar Land, TX: June 14, 2004 @ 1:00pm
Hosted by the Museum of Southern History
located on the campus of Southern National Bank
14080 Southwest Freeway Sugar Land, TX
4. PastPerfect Version 3.5 - Current Update Available 3.5B2…
The latest update now available from www.museumsoftware.com is 3.5B2. New
Features available in update 3.5B2 include…
* Change MARC tag list order to tag, subfield, indicator
* Allow “dataset” field to be used in Report Maker Accession Reports
* Option to arrange people, subjects, classes, and search terms alphabetically
on search results screens
* Allow import and export of Dimtype field
* Change paid thru to 12/31/9999 for Life Members
* Editing of description on image management screen no longer allowed
* New more efficient routine for sorting mailing lists
* On dues & donations summary report, dues payments for people sharing
membership no longer included twice in totals
* On natural history screen display of identified date was cut off
* On natural history screen "Elements" field can only be changed
when in edit mode
* On detailed condition screen memo fields can only be changed when in edit
mode
* Protected against duplicate individual id #s when two users add a new individual
at the same moment
* Sort items on printed incoming and outgoing loan form by object id #
* Users restricted from keyword search mgmt are also restricted from rebuilding
keyword index from keyword search screen
* When adding a new image, date created always brought up today's date, even
when fill entries from last is checked
* When restricted form accessions, credit line was visible on catalog screens
* When restricted from editing authority files user couldn't scroll memo fields
in creators detail information screen
Don’t forget, if you have suggestions for PastPerfect improvements, please e-mail them to suggestions@museumsoftware.com. We are always open to suggestions and eager to hear of ways that PastPerfect can better serve our users.
5. Tip of the Month- Set up the Browse Feature in PastPerfect
There are many things you can change about the way you browse in PastPerfect. For example, you can change the order in which information displays in browse mode, or you can change the amount of information that you see in browse. You can even set PastPerfect to allow you to edit while in the browse mode, which is handy if you have to clean up a large amount of your data.
To make these changes to the browse screen, open PastPerfect and click on the Setup tab. Then click on the button that says “Browse.” Each database has its own tab where you can specify the order of the fields you see each time you click the browse button from the item record. The order of these fields is numeric, in other words, the field with 1 next to it will show first, the field that has 2 next to it will show second, etc. To show only a few fields in browse, click on the “Clear all Fields” button, then number the fields you want in the designated order (Objectid-1, Object Name-2, etc.). Then click “Apply.” Only the fields with a number next to them will display in browse mode for that catalog.
If you want to edit information while in browse mode, click on the “Edit in Browse Setting” button. You will see here you have the options to “Edit only,” “Delete only,” or “Edit & Delete,” as well as the option for “No Edit & No Delete,” while in Browse mode. Just place the dot next to the choice you want and click “Ok” (please note that you will not be able to edit accession numbers and object ID numbers while in browse mode). Next, click “Apply.” We strongly suggest that you take care with the setting to Edit in browse mode, and return the setting to “No Edit and No Delete” when you are finished with data cleanup. It is very easy to make accidental changes or deletions while browsing. Now, just go back to the catalog you were setting up the browse mode for and you should be able to see your changes!
6. Look Who’s Using PastPerfect… *Motts Military Museum*
The Motts Military Museum was founded in 1989 as a tax exempt educational organization with the charge to preserve items from and educate visitors about American military history. Located near Columbus, Ohio, the Motts Military Museum preserves and displays items, and interprets history from every military campaign with which the United States has been involved. They are approved by the United States Military History Center to receive surplus military equipment, and are also the caretakers of a tank driven by Arnold Schwarzenegger as a soldier in the Austrian Army during the 1960’s. Currently, the Motts Military Museum is adding a new wing, built entirely by their volunteers, which when completed, will double the size of the museum.
The Motts Military Museum makes use of PastPerfect in a multitude
of ways, from cataloging items and printing out exhibit labels to keeping
track of membership information and maintaining mailing lists. The museum
has its entire collection already catalogued in PastPerfect and is able to
add in items into the program as they come in. The museum recently started
utilizing the Digital Imaging feature to attach images to each item record
in PastPerfect. Learn more about the Motts Military Museum at http://www.mottsmilitarymuseum.org/
7. Conference Schedule for 2004
Please visit Pastime Software staff at the following conferences in 2004…
American Association of Museums: New Orleans, LA. May 6 – 9
Florida Trust for Historic Preservation: Delray Beach, FL. May 12 – 14
Association of Indiana Museums: June 21 – 25
American Association for State and Local History: St. Louis, MO. Sept. 29 – Oct. 2
Association of Railway Museums Annual Conference: Ogden, UT. Oct. 13 – 17
Mid Atlantic Association of Museums and Pennsylvania Federation of Museums & Historical Organizations: Philadelphia, PA. Oct 16 – 18
Address: 300 N. Pottstown Pike Suite 200
Exton, PA 19341
Website: www.MuseumSoftware.com
Sales & Product Info: 800/562-6080 sales@museumsoftware.com
Support: 800/562-6080 support@museumsoftware.com
Training: 610/304-0973 training@museumsoftware.com
Data Conversions: 253/589-0463 conversions@museumsoftware.com