I totally understand and I'm so appreciative of the blog and the support. I'm a multiyear, multi version ACT junkie through all of it's various owners.
So far I'm bit disappointed in Sage but I'll wait and see.
I used Companion Link demo and found it to be useful. I need to compare Act Link.
TransAct still leads the pack!
TR
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I wanted to use transact, but it wouldn't work on my ppc for some reason. Neither would companion link. That's strange, because act link is a simplified version of companion link. I would've happily paid the money for transact, but even with their service helping me we couldn't get it working.
I use act link, and I also use Pocket Informant on my pocket pc. Pocket Informant makes it very helpful to view all the info. The only big weakness is that the categories don't work on the Axim. Also, taking notes on the axim doesn't transfer to the desktop either. you have to take notes on pocket word, then copy and paste on the desktop. Also, you can't make appointments on the axim, so those are the weaknesses with this system. It's more of a read only thing.
...... I use act link, and I also use Pocket Informant on my pocket pc. Pocket Informant makes it very helpful to view all the info. The only big weakness is that the categories don't work on the Axim. Also, taking notes on the axim doesn't transfer to the desktop either. you have to take notes on pocket word, then copy and paste on the desktop. Also, you can't make appointments on the axim, so those are the weaknesses with this system. It's more of a read only thing.
email me a reminder and I'll get it to you.
Hi Steve --- What you state above is partially true. AS you know, I use ACT 6.0 on the desktop, and Pocket Informant on my axim; and use ACTlink to sync the two.
Notes -- you can enter a note for a contact in the notes section of PI, and YES IT WILL transfer approrpriately. In your ACT database -- the date and time will be posted at the sync time.
Appointments -- If you make an appointment for a contact -- it will show up as an appointment in ACT for "my record" and not the contact. This is a PIA, but I work around it by just making an appt/to do on my axim noting the contact name in the subject. Then, after sync, I change the appointment/task to the appropriate contact.
My 2 cents!
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Thanks for the information on Pocket Informant. I'm going to download it to study it's interface. I will know more when I receive the ActLink software from Stevenator.
TR
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Thanks for the information on Pocket Informant. I'm going to download it to study it's interface. I will know more when I receive the ActLink software from Stevenator.
TR
No problem TempeRon. If Steve cannot rustle up the link, I probably have it. Let me know through here or pm.
I have been told by others though that the Companion link is superior to Actlink. I just didn't want to pony up the dough at the time. Actlink was free then. I think they charge for it now.
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I recently converted from Palm (Sony TJ-37) to my new Axim and stumbled upon this thread after debating contact managers.
Like most people in this thread, I'm in sales. I currently use Outlook on my desktop computer as my contact database and keep notes in the "notes" section (i.e. 1/3/007-met w/ Joe, talked about the new x widget, will call back next Wednesday). I make most of my notes in the fied, when I get out of the customer's office. When I sync to my Axim, all of the info transfers just fine.
Concerning ACT; my company uses ACT 6.0, but I have never installed it, for fear of change to be honest. I'm assuming installing Act would be benificial, otherwise everyone here wouldn't use it. What else do I need to sync to my Axim? I currently sync w/ Activesync 4.5. What would Companionlink do? Why do some people use Pocket Informant? What does the Act Link do?
I know that I have posed a lot of questions and the answers will come more in the form of opinions. Being new to Windows Mobile, I'm a little confused by all of the 3rd party apps. and am trying to figure out the best solution(s).
Concerning ACT; my company uses ACT 6.0, but I have never installed it, for fear of change to be honest. I'm assuming installing Act would be benificial, otherwise everyone here wouldn't use it. What else do I need to sync to my Axim?
ACT is WAY more powerful than Outlook. If all you want is a basic address book and a notes section, than Outlook is just fine. ACT (I use 6.0) is a contact MANAGER -- as are Goldmine and others. You can create all the fields necessary to manage your accounts. All the fields are sortable. You can create sales pipelines, etc. I rely heavily everday on ACT. I have a record for every customer of EVERYTHING we have ever met about, talked about, or corresponded via e-mail about. Individual records can be exported to text files if needed (for instance, turning an account over to someone else -- just export the contact and e-mail). I literally have NO paper files.
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I currently sync w/ Activesync 4.5. What would Companionlink do? Why do some people use Pocket Informant? What does the Act Link do?
Your ppc uses pocket outlook as the address book. If you use ACT, you have no way of syncing the additional fields and notes/events unless you use a third party conduit like ACTlink, CompanionLink, etc. These work through Activesync to ensure you are syncing the correct data.
Pocket Informant is a MUCH more powerful task manager for your PPC than the stock outlook. You don't have to use it, but in my opinion, it offers so much more versatility, it's priceless.
Quote:
I know that I have posed a lot of questions and the answers will come more in the form of opinions. Being new to Windows Mobile, I'm a little confused by all of the 3rd party apps. and am trying to figure out the best solution(s).
Thank you Rob. I'll definitely install and start utilizing Act soon. I guess I'll have some learning to do.
I'm still confused about Pocket Informant, Actlink and Companionlink. I'm thinking that Companionlink and Actlink are similar, or at least used for the same purpose. This chart on Companionlink's website states that Actlink won't let you modify existing notes, is this true? I definitely need to modify notes in the field.
What does Pocket Informant do that the other mentioned softwares don't, ie, if you have Comp.link or Actlink, why do you use (or like to) PI?
Sorry for the dumb questions. I suppose the best thing to do is to download the trial versions and learn myself, but everyone here is so helpful!
No problem perkinscl! It's awful confusing, I agree. Okay here we go ....
The chart on Companionlink compares to Actlink 2007. I went to Act web site (now owned by Sage) and cannot even find a dowload Actlink for ACT 6.0. Anyway, as far as the chart is concerned ... you can ADD new notes and they will sync and time/date stamp in your ACT notes. They state you cannot modify existing notes and histories, and that may be true -- I've never tried to change an existing note, but now my interest is piqued! I will try and report back maybe tomorrow.
As far as adding new contacts, I thought you could, but I always add them on the desktop -- much easier typing the fields I need. Again, I'll try this.
Multiple databases are not supported on the ACTlink, but I only need one, so no biggie.
Now, as I stated a few posts up, I have heard that Companion Link is far superior as to a TRUE seamless 2-way sync. It's $80, and I just do not have the need to pony up that cash. ACTlink was free for me when I got it -- no idea if they charge now - best I could see is that it is bundled with ACT now.
Okay, as far as PI --- it's ALL about the features. How you can display data, etc. Take a look at the screenshots on their site and compare that to what you are used to seeing with pocket outlook. It's all personal preference really. For me, I love the seven day calendar view which is not available on pocket outlook. It is just so feature rich and customizable.
AND to confuse you a bit more ... I love Pocket Breeze so I have quick visibility on the today screen of my days appts or to-do's! They all work seamlessly together. Download the demo's and play.
Have fun!!! :approve:
EDIT --- read my posts above about adding new appointments or to-do's. They do NOT sync back to your database under the correct contact. They show up under your "my record" instead. Definitely a weakness, but I can work around. Companion link should do all of this properly. If you really use your ppc for lots of data entry in the field, then you should probably give their link a demo. The vast majority of my ppc usage for my ACT database is for viewing and referencing while on site with a customer. I do make notes, though.
Thanks again Rob. I think the best thing to do at this point is dive in. I've been reluctant to this point to even switch to Act. I had done it several years ago and it really corrupted my Outlook database, so I deleted it. I'll have to be more careful when installing and mapping the fields.
You're welcome. Hope some of this info helps. As an addendum, I did a couple of things today and here are the results:
1. Added contact on PPC -- synced back just fine.
2. Cleared activity (meeting) on PPC --- actually the way to do this is to delete the activity. Interesting -- it actually deleted the meeting in ACT when syncing back. I know I have done this before .... but it did not work this time. I generally don't clear important tasks on the PPC anyway ... I do it on ACT. I guess I do this because of problems I had with correct syncing.
3. Added note to contact on PPC -- synced back to ACT just fine with the date and time stamp.
4. Edited contact on PPC -- changed phone number and it synced back just fine.
5. Created task for contact on PPC -- it syncs back under "my record" on ACT -- Not under the appropriate contact. I knew this as stated a few posts above, and I just work around it.
So, the ACTlink is not a seamless 2-way sync. But .. it may be good enough for you. If you truly need a seamless 2-way sync, then companionlink or something else would work best.
When you use Actlink on your Axim, is Actlink a seperate database from Outlook, or do they share the same database?
The reason I ask is, I imported my Outlook database to Act and am deleting a lot of the contacts in Act that I had in Outlook. I was lazy with my Outlook list, I had personal, business, etc. together. When I sync. my Act database with my Axim, I want to keep the Outlook contacts (for the personal entries) but use Act exclusively for work.
I too have used Act since the dos days. I now use Act for workgroups 8 and have to sync to a network not residing at our company. On the top of the menu bar I have Synchronization button for easy synching. I would like to have the refresh button there as well. So far I can't find the way to do this. Can you or someone here post a solution. Thanks,
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