PastPerfect Museum Software Newsletter, November
2004
1. PastPerfect Version 4.0 is here!
2. Regional Training Sessions
3. New Updates Available…4.0A5 & 3.5B5
4. User List
5. Tip of the Month
6. Look Who’s Using PastPerfect…
7. Contact us!
1. PastPerfect Version 4.0 is here!
Pastime Software Company, Inc. is proud to release the newest version of PastPerfect,
the world leader in Collections/Membership Management Software! Here are just
a few of the new features you will notice in PP4.
New fields and screens for archeology, art, geology, music,
natural history, and oral history collections
More custom fields
Integrated Campaigns and Fundraising modules
Bulk email sending for newsletters and correspondence
WordRite, a full function word processor for writing letters
New Multi-media upgrade lets you attach and display audio, video, digital
images, Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, PDF’s, and URL web links
to each catalog record. It also lets you watermark your images!
Backup directly to CD without the need for formatting or other software
To Do list to help with time management
View Dublin Core elements in XML from catalog screens and directly access
AAT and ULAN online!
And so much more!
The 4.0 upgrade is $310 regular price or $248 for AASLH members
plus a $5 shipping fee. To receive a free evaluation copy of Version 4.0 on
CD, or to order your copy of PastPerfect version 4.0, please contact our sales
office toll free at 800-562-6080 or visit our online store at www.museumsoftware.com!
2. Upcoming Regional Training Sessions
Lake Geneva, WI: Geneva Lake Museum
November 9, 10 & 11
Warner, NH: Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum
November 15, 16 & 17
Contact training@museumsoftware.com
for more information!
3. PastPerfect Version 4.0 - Current Update Available 4.0A5…
The latest update now available from www.MuseumSoftware.com is 4.0A5. New
Features found in the 4.0A5 update include…
* Improved ezMARC export
* Double click on research results record opens the catalog to that record
* Allow numbers and characters – and _ in mailing list names exported
to Excel
Don’t forget, if you have suggestions for PastPerfect improvements 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.
PastPerfect Version 3.5 - Current Update Available 3.5B5…
The latest update now available from www.museumsoftware.com is 3.5B5. New
Features found in the 3.5B5 update include…
* Allow editing of Description on Image Management Screen
* Added Estate to Appraisal Reason List
* Allow fields: printsize, studio & photographer to be used on Collections
List with Descriptions Report
* Allow numbers & characters - & _ in mailing list names file exported
to Excel
* Archives | Container List report when sorted by Folder has a secondary sort
by Title
* Change Greeting to Name & Title on field description reports
* Condition reports on catalog screens are listed from newest to oldest
* Membership Renewal Letter selection from Renewal Lists & Letters
* Network Performance Test on Setup | Network screen
* Option to clear Maintenance Cycle field
* Option to print image on Exhibit Labels
4. User List… http://www.museumsoftware.com/client_list.htm
We are updating our list of PastPerfect users at 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.
5. Tip of the Month- New WordRite software for your letters!
For all of you who have already upgraded to version 4.0 of PastPerfect, you’ve
probably noticed a new tool for writing your letters! This new tool is called
WordRite, and it has some great new features that help enhance the look and
feel of your letters.
WordRite provides greater flexibility in your letter writing than in previous versions of PastPerfect. For example, you can now have selected phrases and words in the letter be italicized, bolded, underlined and change the font, size, and color as well. To do this click on the Setup button off the main menu. Then click on Contacts, next click on Mail Merge Letters, select your letter, and click Compose Letter. This will bring you into the letter writing wizard. Simply highlight the portion of text you want to modify and click the appropriate button. For example, you can click the B button to bold, click the color palette button to change the color of the selected text, or click the I button to italicize! You can make changes like this to one word or an entire phrase.
With WordRite, you can also import letters into PastPerfect that were written in MS-Word. Please note that this only imports letters that are saved as Rich Text Files (.RTF). To do this click on the Setup button off the main menu. Then click on Contacts, next click on Mail Merge Letters, and then click the Add button. In the field that appears, type in the name of the letter, for example “Annual Appeal 2004,” and then click ok. Now click the Compose Letter, which should bring you into the letter writing screen. In the upper left corner is a button that looks like an open folder, click on this. Then find your letter and click Ok. This should bring your letter into PastPerfect. Another thing that is different about WordRite is that you must remember to click Save before you exit!
6. Look Who’s Using PastPerfect…The Mandarin
Museum & Historical Society
Located in Jacksonville, FL, the Mandarin Museum & Historical Society
began in 1991 and exists to preserve the history of the residents of Mandarin.
The area’s center, the Mandarin Museum in the Walter Jones Historical
Park, is now the main museum which exhibits artifacts and tells the history
of the area. Al’s, the old General Store and Post Office, has been restored
offering the visitor a unique look into Mandarin’s diverse past. A small
farming community, Mandarin was known for exporting citrus such as oranges,
lemons and grapefruits to Jacksonville in the 1800s, and also for being a
winter home for author, Harriet Beecher Stowe.
The Mandarin Museum & Historical Society is currently using PastPerfect to manage their membership and collections information, and find it is working well for them. To learn more about the Mandarin Museum & Historical Society, visit their website at http://www.mandarinmuseum.org.
7. 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