This is the fourth in a series of short blog posts that will each very briefly cover one of the many, many new features of the upcoming ContaxCRM Version 3. They are presented in no particular order. Today we are looking at Data Tools.

All database based software should come with tools to enable the owner of the data to make changes, perform updates, do housekeeping tasks, examine the database structure etc. After all, it’s your data, not ours.

The images below give you a preview of some of the Data Tools available within ContaxCRM Version 3. All these tools are available within a single window which is opened from the Utilities menu.

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Tags: ContaXCRM, V3, ContaXCRM V3, New Feature, Software Development, Software Release, Software Update

This is the third in a series of short blog posts that will each very briefly cover one of the many, many new features of the upcoming ContaxCRM Version 3. They are presented in no particular order. Today we are looking at Email Snippets and Text Substitution Variables.

The pictures below should enable you to understand the use of Email Snippets and Variables and to appreciate just how useful they can be. Templates are good !

Of course, as with any other email sent from ContaxCRM, the full details of the email is recorded against the recipients contact record.

Steven Cholerton
Arten Science
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Tags: ContaXCRM, V3, ContaXCRM V3, New Feature, Software Development, Software Release, Software Update

This is the second in a series of short blog posts that will each very briefly cover one of the many, many new features of the upcoming ContaxCRM Version 3. They are presented in no particular order. Today we show the ability to change the window background to a more exciting colour than grey, and introduce a gradient effect for good measure

Steven Cholerton
Arten Science
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Tags: ContaXCRM, V3, ContaXCRM V3, New Feature, Software Development, Software Release, Software Update

This is the first of a series of short blog posts that will each very briefly cover one of the many, many new features of the upcoming ContaxCRM Version 3. They are presented in no particular order. To start we have a feature that is far simpler to use than it is to explain … See the images below, the second image is the text area zoomed so you can read the explanation.






Steven Cholerton
Arten Science
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Tags: ContaXCRM, V3, ContaXCRM V3, New Feature, Software Development, Software Release, Software Update

ContaxCRM 2.4.0 was released yesterday and is a significant upgrade. As usual this upgrade is available free of charge to existing users. I have highlighted a few of the significant enhancements below:

Financials Tab

There is now an additional tab called Financials. Against the contact you can now store a lot of additional financial related information. See the image below:

Contact Query Builder

The new Query Builder allows you to create, save and then use database queries without any knowledge of SQL. This tool will become even more powerful in future revisions of ContaxCRM. See below:

Wherever you see this icon ...

You can select it to load any previously created and saved query.

Data Dictionary

The Data Dictionary will be of use to advanced users of ContaxCRM who are producing sophisticated reports or queries.

Mail Merge

This facility allows you to create a file that you can then use to create a Mail Merge with the Word Processor of your choice, Word, Open Office, Pages etc.

Categorised Document Management

As previously you can drag and drop documents of any kind into ContaxCRM where they will be stored with the relevant contact. Now however you can also put these documents into user defined categories and apply a name and descriptive notes to each document.

In addition you can now choose to either MOVE or COPY *INTO* Document Management and MOVE (Delete) or COPY *OUT* of Document Management. See the image below.

Geographical Information

The Geographical tab has been removed and the information can now be accessed by clicking the ‘World’ icon on the Address section of the Detail tab. In addition you can now view many of your contacts on the same map giving a useful ‘geographical proximity’ view.

Enhanced Searching

When typing into a contact search box the following fields are now automatically searched:

User ID - Integer, Exact Match Only
First Name
Last Name
Company Name
Email Addresses
Type
Town
Post Code
Country
Tags
Reference 1
Reference 2
Free Text
Industry
Position
Telephone Numbers
Nickname

There are many other small enhancements in this update as well as a few bug fixes. It’s a big release, we have worked hard on it, and we hope you like it.

Steven Cholerton
Arten Science
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Tags: ContaXCRM, Software Update, Software Release

ContaxCRM 2.3.0 was released earlier today. The changes in this release are described below:

•Name field no longer converts to Titlecase
•Position and Industry now converts automatically to UPPERCASE
•Direct Messages can now be sent via Twitter directly from the Overview. Mac OSX Only.
•Your Twitter Status can be updated from within ContaxCRM. Mac OSX Only.
•The current Contact is now displayed in the Main window Titlebar
•The ‘Email Fetch’ interval is no user definable in seconds from the Preferences window
•The Preferences have been updated to allow configuration of SMSRelay with a new SMSRelay tab
•If SMSRelay is installed and Configured, SMS Text Messages can now be sent and recorded by ContaxCRM
(http://www.smsrelaysuite.com)
•New financials table setup
•New Data Tools scripts to clear Last Year / This Year or Next Years Turnover Figures
•New Data Tools scripts to copy This Year to Next Year (Budgeting) and This Year to Last Year (Actuals, New Year)
•The 21 different Status Icons have been re-rendered for both the screen and the maps

The theme of this update is communications, how to make it faster and easier to keep in touch. With ContaxCRM 2.3.0 you can send a direct message via Twitter or via SMS to the contacts mobile phone. You don’t need a mobile phone yourself and you don’t even need to have internet access.

We have also re-rendered all Status icons for a higher quality look and feel.

This is a recommended update for all users and is of course provided free of charge. Enjoy



Steven Cholerton
Arten Science
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Tags: Contact Relationship Management, ContaXCRM, Software Update

The following Arten Science applications have been updated today:

R10Cipher
Award Winning Encryption and Security Solution
Version: 4.4.3
http://www.r10cipher.com/


R10BatchMail
Bulk Email Marketing and Contact Communication
Version: 2.4.2
http://www.r10batchmail.com/

ooSooMpro
Tasks and Secure Document Management
Version: 1.2.4
http://www.oosoom.co.uk/

• The applications are all Cross Platform, running equally well on Mac OSX as well as Microsoft Windows •

This round of updates is all about windows, not Microsoft Windows, but program windows All the applications have had a new Preferences option to specify whether or not you want the application to remember the window size and position the next time the program runs.

In addition each application can now fit properly on the screen of the new 11 inch Apple Macbook. Window drawing and sizing on Microsoft Windows is now much slicker than previously.

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Tags: Software Update, Software News, Arten Science Limited

We released version 2.1.5 of ContaxCRM today. Details from the Press Release are shown below. The full press release can be viewed here: http://prmac.com/release-id-19644.htm

__________

Derbyshire, United Kingdom - Arten Science today announced an update to their popular Contact Management Solution for Mac OSX and Windows, ContaxCRM Version 2.1.5. ContaxCRM allows Individuals and Companies to better manage their day-to-day contacts and relationships, and build a detailed contact history for customers, suppliers, prospects, members and other contacts. Available as a Single-User or Multi-User solution ContaxCRM is suitable for the Individual or Department, through to the Small / Medium Enterprise.

To celebrate this release and the festive season we are offering the coupon code XMAS25 which will give a 25% discount on any purchases made from the Arten Science store.

This latest version is a significant upgrade of the popular Cross Platform Contact Management Solution, ContaxCRM Suite. ContaxCRM Suite focuses on ease of use and accessibility - Mixed Windows and Macintosh Network? No Problem - Single User? Multi User? No Problem. Rather than an overkill of 'never-used' features cluttering the interface ContaxCRM retains a simple, clean and functional design that appeals to users of all levels.

ContaxCRM goes beyond Single-User desktop solutions and gives you a true shared Multi-User Contact Management solution, without becoming huge and unwieldly and without having to operate via a potentially slow and limited browser interface .

Tight Integration with Mail and iCal on Mac OSX and Outlook on Windows removes much of the administration around contact management. Mail can automatically or selectively save both sent and received emails to an individual contact record held within ContaxCRM. Calendar events can also be entered and viewed from within ContaxCRM, attached to a particular contact.

Some of the enhancements and updates in this 2.1.5 release are:
* The Mac OSX and Windows feature sets have now been syncronised
* Email can be automatically processed into ContaxCRM from Outlook on Windows
* Calendar entries can be automatically made in Outlook on Windows from ContaxCRM
* Outlook Calendar is now viewable from within ContaxCRM on Windows
* AutoSearch is now an individual Preferences option
* Enhanced User Setup window
* Bug Fixed when creating a contact from a Template
* The Delimited Import window has been enhanced and now supports TAB and CSV
* Both References are now shown on the Contact Overview window
* ooSooMpro Tasks can now be completed from within ContaxCRM
* New easier to use and better looking Calendar window
* Slicker screen redraws on Windows
* Live Resize of the Main window has returned on both Mac OSX and Windows

iPhone and iPad integration with ContaxCRM Suite will be available Spring 2011. This will be available as a free upgrade to all existing customers. ContaxCRM Suite consists of 4 powerful and flexible modules, which can be used individually or together as a fully functional Contact Relationship Management Solution.

* ContaxCRM Contact Management
* ooSooMpro Tasks and Secure Digital Document Management
* R10Cipher for Award Winning Cross Platform Encryption
* R10BatchMail for Managing and Sending Email to Multiple Recipients

System Features:
* Supplied as a Universal Binary for Mac OSX including Snow Leopard
* Windows Version supports XP, Vista, 2003 and 7
* Easy to use, Clean, Fast, Modern Interface
* Requires no Installation process
* No Modifications made to your computer outside of the ContaxCRM Suite folder
* To 'uninstall' - Just delete the ContaxCRM Suite folder
* Requires no additional Runtime installation
* Can be run from a USB drive
* Online Help System
* One Click Support
* Single-User: Sync the Database with iDisk, DropBox or Similar
* Multi-User: MySQL

Support:
* Online Manual
* Tutorial Movies
* Forum
* Email the Developer
* Telephone Support can be quoted for separately

System Compatibility:

ContaxCRM Suite 2.0 requires 1.5 GHz Intel based Mac and Mac OS X 10.4 or Higher.

Pricing and Availability:

ContaxCRM is available to buy now. There are no monthly rental fees and no additional costs. Priced from 94 GBP for a Single User we believe we have the best value Contact Management product around. Our 30 Day Trial can be downloaded immediately. The boxed product will be available Christmas 2010 / January 2011 in the UK, Europe and North America.

Trial Version:

A Single User Trial Version of ContaxCRM can be downloaded and used for 30 Days, it also features a nag screen which can be removed with a single keypress. The 30 Day restriction can be removed by purchasing a license from our website. Data entered into the Trial Version is kept when purchasing a Full Version. Data entered into the Single-User version can be transferred to the Multi-User version at the click of a single button using the Utility module supplied with the Multi-User licence.

Arten Science: http://www.artenscience.com/artenscience/Home.html
ContaxCRM Suite 2.1.5: http://www.artenscience.com/contaxcrmsuite/Home.html
Download ContaxCRM Suite: http://www.artenscience.com/downloads/contaxcrmsuite/mac/ContaxCRM.dmg
Purchase: https://sites.fastspring.com/artenscience/product/r10office
Screenshot: http://www.artenscience.com/images/contaxcrm215.png
Application Icon: http://www.artenscience.com/images/ico_contax.png

###

Steven Cholerton
Arten Science
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Tags: Contact Relationship Management, ContaXCRM, Software News, Software Update

Today we released Version 2.1.0 of our Premium Contact Relationship Management software, ContaxCRM. 2.1 has many additional features as well as overall speed increases and a few bug fixes. The list of updates can be seen below:

Significant enhancements to the Main window

• 2 Halves - Contact Specific / Non Contact Specific
• New ooSooMpro Tasks & Calendar Overview tab
• The Charts tab has been relocated
• Text Buttons now Graphical Buttons
• New Navigation Menu

Our Windows and Mac OSX Task Management and Secure Document Filing System software, ooSooMpro, has just been updated to Version 1.2.0. ooSooMpro is available to purchase for just £10. A 30 Day Trial Version is also available.

There have been significant User Interface improvements as well as additional functionality and bug fixes:

• User Interface Enhancements, particularly for Windows 7
• Vault and Task lists - now ‘Middle Wheel’ scrollable
• Vault and Tasks lists - Faster
• Vault and Tasks lists - Item Count shown
• Documents can now be directly attached to Task Items
• Clear Buttons Removed
• Vault Link text button replaced with a graphical icon button
• Properties window no longer opens at startup
• Quick Entry window - modified and Hotkey Save option.

We have recently released an upgrade to our Cross Platform Encryption software for Mac OSX, Windows and Linux. R10Cipher 4.4.x has the ability to integrate with the new R10Cipher_G program which allows for Centralised and Syncronised Key Management across Departments, Sites, Campus, Labs, Companies etc.

To explain that better, and what it means to existing R10Cipher users, let’s review how R10Cipher allows you to send and receive information privately. Basically you and the recipient(s) agree a Shared Secret in advance. The Shared Secret is generally a collection of letters and/or numbers between 4 and 16 characters, an example would be: 5te123321

This Shared Secret is used along with the existing document to create an encrypted document that cannot be opened or read by anyone without access to the Shared Secret. The recipient(s) uses this same Shared Secret to Decrypt the document and convert it back to the original.

So far so good. Now imagine you have fifty people who you wish to communicate with securely. To ensure security each of their Shared Secrets should be different. Any Shared Secret worth using cannot be remembered easily, not along with forty nine others ! The in-build R10Cipher Key Management database copes with this scenario easily, allowing you to use one Master Password in order to retrieve any of the fifty individual Shared Secrets. You can see the following documents for more information.

Step by Step Guide to Key Management
http://www.artenscience.com/autoupdate/documentation/Key%20Management%20with%20R10Cipher.pdf

Introduction to Key Management
http://www.artenscience.com/artenscience/Blog/files/r10ckm1.php

An explanation of the use of Passwords and Shared Secrets
http://www.artenscience.com/artenscience/Blog/files/r10cssp.php

Key Creation and Administration
http://www.artenscience.com/artenscience/Blog/files/kcar103.php

Key Retrieval
http://www.artenscience.com/artenscience/Blog/files/r10kr.php

So the next stage is this: What if you and fifty, or even five hundred of your best friends / colleagues need to communicate securely with each other as well as a client base of several thousand ? This is where you need R10Cipher 4.4.x which is a free upgrade and the Centralised Key Management Database Utility, which is an optional purchase. Contact steve@artenscience.com for Pricing and Availability Information.

The Centralised Key Management Database Utility (known as GOD-Mode or G-Mode during development - try saying or typing Centralised Key Management Database utility a few times ...) is launched and pointed at an R10Cipher database nominated as a Master Key Database, ie: one setup and managed by the Company / Department or Individual responsible for your secure communications. G-Mode then populates a MySQL Database with the contents of the Master Key Database, and a text file is edited and incremented, for example from 5 to 6.

The next time any of the users who have had their R10Cipher software configured for G-Mode, load R10Cipher, R10Cipher compares the local database version number with the remote database version number and if necessary syncronises it’s local database with the remote MySQL Key Management database.

The syncronisation is one way only, ensuring that the individuals Key Database is reset as per the nominated Master Key Database. It’s simple, easy to setup, slick and fast. R10Cipher can now scale very easily in a controlled fashion, with the benefit and added security of distributed and easily backed up information.

Note: You can also setup R10Cipher with your own personal Key Management Database as well which is not designated to sync with the remote database. Perfect for keeping the Shared Secrets for your personal contacts.

R10Cipher Site Licenses are available for Corporations, Educational Facilities and others. Contact steve@artenscience.com for Pricing and Availability Information.

Steven Cholerton
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Tags: R10Cipher, Encryption, Cross Platform, Software Update, Software News, Key Management

I’ve been working today on enhancements to the ContaxCRM Overview screen. Some of the features include immediate access to the default phone number and one click access to additional phone numbers, one click to send an email and one click to view the website, blog or Facebook page.

Just as important is trying to maintain a spacious, clear and uncluttered view of the contacts primary information. The image below shows you what we’ve got so far. The first two pictures are taken from the Mac OSX edition and the last picture from the Windows 7 Edition.







Steven Cholerton
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Tags: ContaXCRM, 2.0.2, Software Update

Our US Distributors yesterday launched ContaxCRM Suite Version 2.0. We expect a boxed version of the product to appear in selected stores shortly.

Press Release
Application Systems North America Website
ContaxCRM Suite UK Website



Steven Cholerton
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Tags: Software News, Software Release, Software Update, R10BatchMail, R10Cipher, OoSoMpro, ContaXCRM

Note: Apologies for the ‘nerd speak’ in the title, but I was running out of room UX = User Experience. For example using an abbreviation like UX is a good example of what not to do when trying to create a good user experience ...

Several new releases from Arten Science today.

R10Cipher 2.3.3
R10BatchMail 4.3.0
ooSooMpro 2.0.1

The biggest release was ContaxCRM 2.0 and the ContaxCRM Suite, but I’ll talk about them in a different post.

The three products listed above have all been updated to make the trial procedure better for the potential customer and more profitable for Arten Science

When the 30 Day Trial period is over and the potential customer trys to run the program, two things happen. Firstly, the browser is opened pointing to our online store for the appropriate product, encouraging the potential customer to purchase.

The second thing that happens is that a screen similar to the one below is shown, thanking the potential customer for trying our product and allowing them to enter a serial number and user id when they have purchased one

Like everything else in life, make it easy and straightforward and people are more inclined to use it. An easy and smooth experience should be experienced from the first look at the website to the everyday use of the purchased product.

A major project for Arten Science going forward involves looking at every facet of our business and trying to improve the user experience. I am convinced the time invested will pay dividends.

Another improvement to these three products in the latest releases is to do with downloading the trial version and also upgrading an existing version of our software.

From today onwards the download from our site and those of our distributors will include the complete version of the product, needing only a user id and serial number to change the product from Trial to Full. When upgrading to the latest version from within the application though, only the files that need updating are downloaded for you. These files can then be dragged and dropped into the product folder, after making sure you quit the program first. These small changes will make living with our products simpler and more straightforward than previously.

All of these updates are of course free of charge.

Steven Cholerton
Arten Science
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Tags: Software News, Software Release, Software Update, R10BatchMail, R10Cipher, OoSoMpro, ContaXCRM

Over the weekend we released ooSooMpro 1.1.2.

The main reason for the release is a new feature we have added which allows you to link a Task to a Vault Item and it’s associated documents. This was a feature asked for by existing customers and with a little imagination can be very useful.

To link a Vault Item to a Task, first select the Task and then select the appropriate option from the Options menu. See the image below:

Once the link has been established you can access the association easily. See the image below:

ooSooMpro 1.1.2 is a free update for existing customers.

Steven Cholerton
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Three updates today. Nothing serious, in general we have changed the trial version to a standard 30 Day Trial and also implemented ContaxCRM Suite licensing so you only need the one serial number for the whole suite. In addition the ooSooMpro update includes a bug fix to the Unicode handling.

The new releases are as follows:

ooSooMpro 1.1.1
R10Cipher IV 4.2.3
R10BatchMail 2.3.2

Steven Cholerton
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Tags: Software Update, Software News, R10BatchMail, R10CipherIV, OoSooM

Updates have been released to both R10Cipher and cuteCipher today. Both products now have the option to ‘Delete Original File after Successful Encryption’. This update is in response to user feedback, and will please many people

In addition as mentioned in the recent Press Release, R10CIpher and cuteCipher have been ‘de-bundled’ (Have I invented a new word ?) and are now available separately at £9.99 each, making them ever better value.



Steven Cholerton
Arten Science
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Tags: R10CipherIV, CuteCipher, Software News, Software Release, Software Update, Encryption, Security Software

One of the upcoming features of ContaxCRM is integration into your email software to ensure a complete record of conversations and interactions are stored within ContaxCRM. At the moment in the current release of ContaxCRM you can send an email by clicking the button on the client record screen and filling in the email form. This will automatically save this email to history as well as send it via your currently configured email client.

Email received at the moment has to be manually dragged and dropped into ContaxCRM. In the next release however that will not be the case.

Within your email rules you need to add a rule similar to that shown in the following screenshot:

Once that rule is active it will copy all incoming mail to the ContaxCRM Mail Handling software which will match the ‘From’ address to the email addresses in the ContaxCRM system and save the email into the history of the appropriate contact. All done transparently.

Of course by doing it this way and using the mail rules as the starting point allows you, the individual user, to specify the criteria for which email gets transferred to ContaxCRM. Maybe you want to restrict it to one account, or maybe base it on keywords ? The choice is yours.

What is undeniable is that this has got to be the simplest and most effective way of automatically recording your incoming email against the appropriate contact in your ContaxCRM system.

As always I welcome comments and feedback.

Steven Cholerton
Arten Science
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Tags: ContaXCRM, Software News, Software Update

Today I released updates to both cuteCipher and ContaxCRM.

cuteCipher Version 1.1.0

Redesigned Graphics
40 Trials Allowed Now
Speed Increases Throughout
Utilities Menu, View Window Settings

ContaxCRM Version 1.9.5

The Modules Menu has a Link to other CRM Suite programs.
Trial Limitations Relaxed: 40 Logons now Allowed with the Trial Version
Trial Limitations Relaxed: 1000 Contacts now allowed with the Trial Version
Bug in the Compose Email window - Fixed
Some Menu Items re-arranged for better consistency and user experience

Steven Cholerton
Arten Science
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Tags: ContaXCRM, CuteCipher, Software News, Software Release, Software Update

I have been asked why I often go through a patch of frequent updates to a product, for example ContaxCRM has had four updates in the last week or so.

The reason is quite simple. From a customers perspective they can choose when to update based upon the features that have been added, they are not forced to update every time I upload a new version. For those customers however who are waiting for a particular feature they can have it immediately with no waiting around for a particular ‘scheduled update’.

From my point of view it allows me to do several weeks or months on a product and see the results of my work ‘out in the wild’ where customers and prospects can give me immediate feedback.

Another reason is, because I can. I think the fast development, immediate distribution model is where we need to be nowadays to stay relevant and current and to give our customers value for money. This is where a small company like mine can add value over the larger companies, our ship can be turned on a dime, their ship has a lot more inertia and finds it difficult to turn quickly to react to changing market and customer needs.

Steven Cholerton
Arten Science
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Tags: ContaXCRM, Update Frequency, Software Release, Software Update