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Software Updates

May 2007 Newsletter

1. Important Installation Information about PastPerfect and Microsoft Vista

2. PastPerfect is coming to a conference near you!

3. Upcoming Training Opportunities for PastPerfect 4.0!


4. Free Updates for PastPerfect Museum Software

5. Look Who's Using PastPerfect: Gibbes Museum of Art, Charleston, SC


6. Tech Tip: Change Your Catalog View in PastPerfect 4.0!


7. Contact Information


1. Important Installation Information about PastPerfect and Microsoft Vista

Thank you for your patience while PastPerfect was tested with Microsoft Vista. All installations of PastPerfect 4.0 on Vista computers must install at version 4.0D1 or higher. Previous installation CDs for PastPerfect 4.0 are not compatible with the Vista Operating System.

All installations of Virtual Exhibit 4 on Vista computers should be at version 4.005 or higher.

All users who are planning to use PastPerfect 4.0 and/or Virtual Exhibit 4 on Microsoft Vista computers should contact our support office toll-free at 1-800-562-6080 for Vista-compatible installation CDs.

PastPerfect Version 2 and Version 3 users will need to upgrade to PastPerfect 4.0 if they wish to use PastPerfect on a Vista computer.

For updated PastPerfect hardware requirements, please visit our website at http://www.museumsoftware.com/hardware_requirements.htm.



2. PastPerfect is coming to a conference near you!

PastPerfect is continuing to add new locations to its conference schedule. Below is a list of conferences we are scheduled to attend. Be sure to stop by and say hello-we enjoy meeting our clients!

American Association for State & Local History
Atlanta, GA
September 5-8
September 5 *Pre-Conference Workshop*

Tribal Archives, Libraries, and Museums Conference
Oklahoma City, OK
October 23-25, 2007


3. Upcoming Training Opportunities for PastPerfect 4.0!

PastPerfect training classes for 2007 are well under way! Current training locations and dates are listed below. For more information or to register for scheduled regional training classes, please contact our support office at 1-800-562-6080 or by email at training@museumsoftware.com.

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 e-mail at training@museumsoftware.com.

State College, PA -- June 5-7
Hosted by the Earth and Mineral Sciences Museum & Art Gallery at Pennsylvania State University

York, PA -- June 19-21
Hosted by the Hanover Area Historical Society at the Offices of Stambaugh Ness P.C.

Springfield, IL -- June 26-28
Hosted by the Philip and Mary Kathryn Trutter Museum at the Lincoln Land Community College's Capitol City Center

East Lansing, MI-- July 17-19
Hosted by the Historical Society of Michigan

Staten Island, NY-- August 7-9
Hosted by the Staten Island Museum

Indianapolis, IN-- August 14-16
Hosted by the Indiana Historical Society

Santa Barbara, CA-- August 21-23
At the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum Co-hosted by the Elverhoj Museum of History & Art

St. Paul, MN-- September 11-13
Hosted by the Minnesota Historical Society

Norfolk, NE-- September 18-20
Hosted by the Elkhorn Valley Museum & Research Center at the Lifelong Learning Center

Madison, WI -- October 9-11
Co-Sponsored by the Wisconsin Historical Society and the Wisconsin Heritage Online at the Pyle Center

Lincoln City, OR --October 23-25
Hosted by the North Lincoln County Historical Museum

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


4. Free Updates for PastPerfect Museum Software

Did you know updates are available from our website for your PastPerfect Museum Software versions 3.5 and 4.0? These free updates are released approximately every two months and are available for download by going to www.museumsoftware.com/software_updates.htm.

If you would rather receive a free update CD, please contact our Support Office toll free at
1-800-562-6080 or by e-mail at support@museumsoftware.com.

PastPerfect Version 3.5- Current Update Available 3.5C1

New features available in PastPerfect 3.5C1 include:

* Ability to include "Notes" and "Inmemory" fields to the Donations- Money Report

PastPerfect Version 4 - New Update Available 4.0D2

New features available in PastPerfect 4.0D2 include:

* Ability to restore images and multimedia files from removable drive backup
* Add command button to PastPerfect-Online wizard screens that skips to the create files screen
* Add field "Returned" in incoming loans returned items report
* New Archives query field "Container list text"
* New security settings for Enter Donation, Enter Dues, and Enter Pledges
* Separate functions for backup to floppy and backup to removable drive
* When adding a new accession starting from the catalog screen, provide option to create new accession with data from contacts
* When creating large image files, name them the same as the discovery image file with
"-Large" added to the end of the name
* When using Browse to select an item to add to an exhibit or outgoing loan, display Title as a non-memo field


5. Look Who's Using PastPerfect: Gibbes Museum of Art, Charleston, SC

Originally established as the Carolina Art Association in 1858, the Gibbes Museum of Art is recognized as one of the oldest arts organizations in the South. Located in Charleston's historic district, the Gibbes houses a premier collection of fine art, principally American works with a Charleston or Southern connection. The Gibbes presents 12-15 special exhibitions annually and offers a variety of public programs and educational outreach initiatives that engage art enthusiasts and artists of all ages.

The Gibbes converted its collection management system to PastPerfect 4.0 in 2005. Utilizing PastPerfect software the museum catalogs its fine art collection comprised of over 7000 paintings, works on paper, and sculpture and its archival collection consisting of nearly 3000 historical prints and photographs. Additionally, the museum tracks its busy exhibition schedule using the exhibits database in PastPerfect.

In June 2007, the Gibbes will launch its first online catalog as a component of its new interactive website. Visitors to the PastPerfect-Online website will be able to search for over 2000 objects and images of the Gibbes collection

For more information about the Gibbes Museum of Art, please visit their website at http://www.gibbesmuseum.org.


6. Tech Tip: Change Your Catalog View in PastPerfect 4.0!

With over 5,400 institutions using PastPerfect, the variety of items entered into catalog records is outstanding. With this diversity of collections and institutions, it is important to have priority information shown upon first examining the catalog record.

In PastPerfect 4.0, you can select the screen view for items in your Objects or Archive catalogs, so that the appropriate content is always displayed when you first view the catalog record. For example, records for artwork can display the Artist, Medium, and Maker's Mark information, while minerals can have their Formation, Rock Type, and Chemical Composition shown. The Oral History view can show the Narrator and Interviewer information, while the Map view will show the Publisher, Latitude, and Longitude.

To change the screen view of your catalog record, select the radio button of your choice while in Edit or Add mode on your catalog record. When the record is saved, the screen view will appear on your catalog screen in white text on the left hand side of your screen. Any screen views that have additional information about the item will highlight the buttons in green.

Using the Fill with Default data option will enable you to pre-select the screen view of choice for your institution so that all future records will have the same view.

For further information, or for assistance with this tech tip, please contact our support office toll free at 1-800-562-6080.


7. Contact Information

Address: 300 North 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: 800-562-6080 or training@museumsoftware.com
Data Conversions: 800-562-6080 or conversions@museumsoftware.com

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