Creating an ACT Link to a Client Folder

dog tricks
As most of you know, I’m probably one of the biggest ACT! cheerleaders around.  However, sometimes I run across an ACT! feature that makes me slap my head and wonder “what were they thinking??”  A case in point is the Documents tab.  I love the ability to create shortcuts to my documents so that I can easily access them from the contact’s Document tab rather than grappling around searching...

ACT! 2011 COOKBOOKS GO “R.A.W.”

act 2011
I am thrilled to announce that my two latest books have been selected by Packt  Publishing for inclusion in their R.A.W. (Read As We Write) program.  The two books, ACT! by Sage 2011 Cookbook and ACT! by Sage Reports and Dashboards Cookbook, are designed to provide step-by-step instructions so that you can master ACT as quickly and efficiently as possible. The RAW program is an innovative publishing...

ACT! Goes R.A.W.

ACT 2011 Books
The publishing industry, like so many other industries these days, has undergone radical changes.  I’ve written for a traditional publisher since 2002; I recently made the switch to a newer, less traditional one. In traditional publishing, it takes at least 9 months for a new book to arrive on the shelves of your local book store.  The writing process takes less than half the time; editing, typesetting,...

Top 10 Reasons to Upgrade to ACT 2011

ACT 2011
I know what you’re thinking.  Another year, another upgrade.  And with new versions of ACT rolling out on a yearly basis you might not feel the need to upgrade.  After all as the saying goes, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. If you’ve been sitting in the Stone Age and are still clinging to your tried and true version of ACT 6, you might want to take a look at the features that you missed...

Four Hidden ACT Software Easter Eggs

act tips
This being Easter weekend I thought I’d share a couple of my favorite ACT Easter eggs.  In case you’re not familiar with the term, a software Easter egg refers to a bit of hidden code in the software.  Although these Easter eggs are all represented by fields and aren’t necessarily hidden, they do tie into other parts of ACT which you might not be aware of. ID/Status: Although I hate the name,...

Saying Good-Bye to the E-mail Blues

act email
People very rarely call me when everything is going well. As much as I’d like to hear from one of my clients that all systems are go, I’m more likely to hear from the frazzled person who took a wrong turn in the maze of technology – and is looking for my help to bail him or her out! A rather large cruise ship company recently needed just such a lifesaver. The CEO decided to embark on a journey...

Help with ACT Installation

help with act installation
So, you’ve purchased ACT and you’re ready to install it. Sounds easy, right? Sure it is – if you’ve got your ACT together! Here’s a few hints that will help speed you on your way: Uninstall your current version of ACT if you’re using Versions 2005-2010. You’ll also want to remove SQL as well. I recommend using the ACT Uninstaller Utility which you can find...