PastPerfect Newsletter

August 2007 Newsletter

1. New Name, Same Great Service: Pastime Becomes PastPerfect!

2. Upcoming Price Change Notice

3. Introducing FAQs!

4. PastPerfect is Coming to a Conference near You!

5. Upcoming Training Opportunities for PastPerfect 4.0!

6. Free Updates for PastPerfect Museum Software

7. Tech Tip: Digital Imaging Guidelines - Part II

8. Contact Information

1. New Name, Same Great Service: Pastime Becomes PastPerfect!

Pastime Software Company, Inc., the creator of PastPerfect Museum Software, has officially become PastPerfect Software, Inc. We will continue to provide the same great products and services as we have for the past ten years. All contact information remains the same.

For those in accounting offices who require W-9's, please contact Ginger at 800-562-6080 x 106, or by fax 610-363-7845 to get the new federal EIN number or to have the appropriate forms filled out.

2. Upcoming Price Change Notice

PastPerfect Software is committed to providing affordable software products for the museum community. It has been five years since our last price change. During that time the cost of doing business has risen. As of September 1, 2007, prices for most of our products will increase slightly. However, to continue our commitment to provide affordable museum software, the price of the PastPerfect Basic program and Digital Imaging/Multimedia Upgrade will remain unchanged. The cost of Scatter/Gather will have the largest increase to reflect the evolving complexity of that feature. Please visit our website for a complete list of new prices or contact us at 800-562-6080 or sales@museumsoftware.com if you have any questions.

Mary Parr, President

3. Introducing FAQs!

We have added a Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Q.) section to the Support portion of our website. It answers some of the most common questions in the areas of Operations, Collections, System Requirements, Contact Management, Conversions, and Errors and Technical Support. Check it out! http://www.museumsoftware.com/support/faq.htm

If you have comments or suggestions for future additions to this page please e-mail betsy@museumsoftware.com.

4. 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

Mid-Atlantic Association of Museums Conference
Pittsburgh, PA
October 24, 2007 *Pre-Conference Workshop*

5. 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, to register for scheduled regional training classes, or to inquire about possibly scheduling a session in your area for 2008, please contact our support office at 800-562-6080 or by e-mail at training@museumsoftware.com.

Staten Island, NY-- August 7-9
Hosted by the Staten Island Museum
*please note: The Collections Class on the 7th is Sold Out.*

Santa Barbara, CA-- August 21-23 +Another Collections Class added for August 24th! Call Now!
At the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum Co-hosted by the Elverhoj Museum of History & Art *please note: Collections and Report classes (August 21 & 22) are Sold Out.*

Honolulu, HI-- August 28-30
Hosted by the Manoa Heritage Center at the Honolulu Academy of Arts
*please note: The Collections Class on the 28th is Sold Out.*

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

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

We thank you for your patience while the training program is being reorganized. We are working on preparing new training staff, as well as developing other training opportunities. Be sure to check out our website at www.museumsoftware.com/training.htm for additional training dates and other information!

6. 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 800-562-6080 or by e-mail at support@museumsoftware.com.

PastPerfect Version 3.5- New Service Update Available 3.5C2

While there are no new features in the version 3.5C2 update, there are service updates that have been requested by 3.5 users.

PastPerfect Version 4 - New Update Available 4.0D3

New features available in PastPerfect 4.0D3 include:

*Ability to print blank loan forms before any loan records are entered
*Expand the list for selecting campaigns and funds on the enter new donations screen so user can see more entries
*For Artefacts Canada export, allow entry of longer Province name
*Option to append or replace and add multiple entries for contacts authority files
*When adding a new member, have an option to fill the membership name with the name from the Name &Title field

7. Tech Tip: Digital Imaging Guidelines - Part II Click here to open part I

The Tech Tip from July 2007 discussed using the optional Digital Imaging (V3)/Multi-Media (V4) Upgrade as well as some of the items that need to be kept in mind when beginning your digital imaging project. Knowing your options when beginning your digital imaging project is as important as knowing what you want as your final outcome.

While we at PastPerfect Software cannot make recommendations about specific products for your digital imaging project, below are some guidelines to keep in mind when purchasing equipment. Before you purchase any product, your institution may wish to compile a list of desires, needs, and final results for your digital imaging project. These will dictate the items to be purchased and the amount of money spent. Below are a few items to consider.

Scanners:
Your scanner should be chosen based on what you are scanning as well as the resolution at which you will be scanning your items. There are a few additional factors to keep in mind when purchasing a scanner, including the amount of scanning that will be performed and the quality of the scan desired. If you are going to scan hundreds of items in one sitting, you do not want to purchase a "home use scanner" since this type of scanner is for occasional use with newer photographs that do not require much tonal range. Instead, you should consider a scanner that was designed for use within a business or professional setting. These scanners may be found in almost any office supply store and are designated by the manufacturer that they are for business or professional use.

Also, you will want the greatest amount of dynamic range that you can afford, since the dynamic range affects how your tonal range, or lightest highlights and darkest shadows, are seen in the electronic image. The dynamic range is calculated when you subtract the Dmin (dynamic minimum) from the Dmax (dynamic maximum). This information should be readily found in the product specifications. Many companies only place the Dmax on their products. If you see this, you may wish to ask the manufacturer or the store clerk what the dynamic range is for that product.

Digital Cameras:
When purchasing a digital camera, you should look at the amount of mega pixels, optical zoom, available file formatting, photography/scene modes, and file size. The amount of mega pixels indicate the amount of graphic resolution produced with the digital camera. The higher the mega pixel count, the higher the image resolution. The availability of file formatting varies. Most lower cost digital cameras only allow for JPEG formatting, while higher end digital cameras allow the user to select between JPEG, TIFF, and RAW (true digital negative) formatting. Many digital cameras contain a wide variety of photography/ scene modes. Some modes that would be of most use when taking pictures of museum objects include Macro, Indoor, and Portrait.

Computer for Image File Storage:
Based on the amount and file size of the images you will be storing, you should get a computer or server with the fastest processor and as much RAM as you can afford. If you are planning to store images on your computer, you should have at least 1GB of RAM. Some other methods of storage include servers, portable drives, CD/DVD or tape. These other methods of storage may also be considered for storing backups of your images.

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

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August 2007 Newsletter 1. New Name, Same Great Service: Pastime Becomes PastPerfect! 2. Upcoming Price Change Notice 3. Introducing FAQs! 4. PastPerfect is Coming to a Conference near You! 5. Upcoming Training Opportunities for PastPerfect 4.0! 6. Free Updates for PastPerfect Museum Software 7. Tech Tip: Digital Imaging Guidelines - Part II 8. Contact Information 1. New Name, Same Great Service: Pastime Becomes PastPerfect! Pastime Software Company, Inc., the creator of PastPerfect Museum Software, has officially become PastPerfect Software, Inc. We will continue to provide the same great products and services as we have for the past ten years. All contact information remains the same. For those in accounting offices who require W-9's, please contact Ginger at 800-562-6080 x 106, or by fax 610-363-7845 to get the new federal EIN number or to have the appropriate forms filled out. 2. Upcoming Price Change Notice PastPerfect Software is committed to providing affordable software products for the museum community. It has been five years since our last price change. During that time the cost of doing business has risen. As of September 1, 2007, prices for most of our products will increase slightly. However, to continue our commitment to provide affordable museum software, the price of the PastPerfect Basic program and Digital Imaging/Multimedia Upgrade will remain unchanged. The cost of Scatter/Gather will have the largest increase to reflect the evolving complexity of that feature. Please visit our website for a complete list of new prices or contact us at 800-562-6080 or sales@museumsoftware.com if you have any questions. Mary Parr, President 3. Introducing FAQs! We have added a Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Q.) section to the Support portion of our website. It answers some of the most common questions in the areas of Operations, Collections, System Requirements, Contact Management, Conversions, and Errors and Technical Support. Check it out! http://www.museumsoftware.com/support/faq.htm If you have comments or suggestions for future additions to this page please e-mail betsy@museumsoftware.com. 4. 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 Mid-Atlantic Association of Museums Conference Pittsburgh, PA October 24, 2007 Pre-Conference Workshop 5. 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, to register for scheduled regional training classes, or to inquire about possibly scheduling a session in your area for 2008, please contact our support office at 800-562-6080 or by e-mail at training@museumsoftware.com. Staten Island, NY-- August 7-9 Hosted by the Staten Island Museum *please note: The Collections Class on the 7th is Sold Out.* Santa Barbara, CA-- August 21-23 +Another Collections Class added for August 24th! Call Now! At the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum Co-hosted by the Elverhoj Museum of History & Art *please note: Collections and Report classes (August 21 & 22) are Sold Out.* Honolulu, HI-- August 28-30 Hosted by the Manoa Heritage Center at the Honolulu Academy of Arts *please note: The Collections Class on the 28th is Sold Out.* St. Paul, MN-- September 11-13 Hosted by the Minnesota Historical Society Lincoln City, OR-- October 23-25 Hosted by the North Lincoln County Historical Museum We thank you for your patience while the training program is being reorganized. We are working on preparing new training staff, as well as developing other training opportunities. Be sure to check out our website at www.museumsoftware.com/training.htm for additional training dates and other information! 6. 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 800-562-6080 or by e-mail at support@museumsoftware.com. *PastPerfect Version 3.5- New Service Update Available 3.5C2* While there are no new features in the version 3.5C2 update, there are service updates that have been requested by 3.5 users. *PastPerfect Version 4 - New Update Available 4.0D3* New features available in PastPerfect 4.0D3 include: Ability to print blank loan forms before any loan records are entered Expand the list for selecting campaigns and funds on the enter new donations screen so user can see more entries For Artefacts Canada export, allow entry of longer Province name Option to append or replace and add multiple entries for contacts authority files When adding a new member, have an option to fill the membership name with the name from the Name &Title field 7. Tech Tip: Digital Imaging Guidelines - Part II Click here to open part I* The Tech Tip from July 2007 discussed using the optional Digital Imaging (V3)/Multi-Media (V4) Upgrade as well as some of the items that need to be kept in mind when beginning your digital imaging project. Knowing your options when beginning your digital imaging project is as important as knowing what you want as your final outcome. While we at PastPerfect Software cannot make recommendations about specific products for your digital imaging project, below are some guidelines to keep in mind when purchasing equipment. Before you purchase any product, your institution may wish to compile a list of desires, needs, and final results for your digital imaging project. These will dictate the items to be purchased and the amount of money spent. Below are a few items to consider. Scanners: Your scanner should be chosen based on what you are scanning as well as the resolution at which you will be scanning your items. There are a few additional factors to keep in mind when purchasing a scanner, including the amount of scanning that will be performed and the quality of the scan desired. If you are going to scan hundreds of items in one sitting, you do not want to purchase a "home use scanner" since this type of scanner is for occasional use with newer photographs that do not require much tonal range. Instead, you should consider a scanner that was designed for use within a business or professional setting. These scanners may be found in almost any office supply store and are designated by the manufacturer that they are for business or professional use. Also, you will want the greatest amount of dynamic range that you can afford, since the dynamic range affects how your tonal range, or lightest highlights and darkest shadows, are seen in the electronic image. The dynamic range is calculated when you subtract the Dmin (dynamic minimum) from the Dmax (dynamic maximum). This information should be readily found in the product specifications. Many companies only place the Dmax on their products. If you see this, you may wish to ask the manufacturer or the store clerk what the dynamic range is for that product. Digital Cameras: When purchasing a digital camera, you should look at the amount of mega pixels, optical zoom, available file formatting, photography/scene modes, and file size. The amount of mega pixels indicate the amount of graphic resolution produced with the digital camera. The higher the mega pixel count, the higher the image resolution. The availability of file formatting varies. Most lower cost digital cameras only allow for JPEG formatting, while higher end digital cameras allow the user to select between JPEG, TIFF, and RAW (true digital negative) formatting. Many digital cameras contain a wide variety of photography/ scene modes. Some modes that would be of most use when taking pictures of museum objects include Macro, Indoor, and Portrait. Computer for Image File Storage: Based on the amount and file size of the images you will be storing, you should get a computer or server with the fastest processor and as much RAM as you can afford. If you are planning to store images on your computer, you should have at least 1GB of RAM. Some other methods of storage include servers, portable drives, CD/DVD or tape. These other methods of storage may also be considered for storing backups of your images. For further information or for assistance with this tech tip, please contact our support office toll free at 800-562-6080. 8. Contact information Address: 300 North Pottstown Pike, Suite 200 Exton, PA 19341 Website: http://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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