Automatically transfer client info to my PDA

[#1]

I've booked an appointment in ACT!

I send the info to Outlook

NO CLIENT PHONE #

NO CLIENT ADDRESS, CITY, STATE OR ZIP

This seems almost stupid to have to ask for.  All the data is there, but your programming does not port it to the Outlook calendar.

HELP!!!!  Thanks so much for listening.

[#2]

The other thing I'd add is that so many of us are using our PDA's and PIM's to track our lives, this seems like a cutting edge Sage should be actively pursuing.  With the proliferation of Palm's, etc., will Sage want to have this same discussion with a broadening marketplace?

As a salesman, I'm not enthused about constantly referring to a laptop for my calendar--- if I'm out in the field, I either need a printout that is a single page (haven't found that, either, by the way) or a sync to my PDA. This lack of being able to mine out the info to my salespeople really is a huge problem for me.

[#3]

Actually, if ACT compiled the basic address/phone information when an activity was created and put it somewhere in the activity as text it could automatically be transferred to Outlook when you copy the ACT! Calendar. That same information would then be synchronized with any PDA that could sync with Outlook.

The PDA user would not have a complete list of ACT! Contacts, but they would at least have address details for the ones scheduled in the calendar.

Could be a significant gain for little effort.

Jeff

[#4]

But, how would that work if you scheduled an activity with multiple contacts?

Remember, any code in the system has to handle the the different ways ACT! can do it.

[#5]

I would think you could supply all of that info for multiple contacts.  The bonus of that is that it would create a quick call list.  My Smartphone calls right out of the text, like most.  You could just page down in the same text info and call anyone in your entire list in seconds.  That would rock.

[#6]

Remember you can add MANY contacts to an activity...Home much data can fit in Outlook or the phone?

Also, replicating the contacts for each activity would make the activity table become VERY large over time, making both ACT! and Outlook very cumbersome and slow.

[#7]

OK, now I'm angry and frustrated.

This is not a dialog.  This is you telling me why something cannot be done.  It can.  But it isn't and it probably won't be done.

My remaining option is to evaluate my continued financial support of Sage.

Our dialog is now ended.

Message Edited by anymajordude on 07-17-2009 02:55 PM

[#8]

I'm sorry you feel that way. Please bear in mind that I don't work for Sage and I'm just pointing out my opinion that it's not a simple fix as you seem to think.

While this solution may suit you, for many user it would blow out the size of the databases making them unusable. Additionally, there would be other considerations. For example, if those details are edited in outlook or on the PDA, does ACT! try to modify the linked contacts? What if the data isn't formatted to fit the fields?

For a product that has millions of users, it's important that a function added to the product doesn't cause massive problems for other users. So while, as you say, it might be possible, it would require significant planning and development to do it in a way that didn't make the product unusable for many users and their scenarios or cause complex support issues.

I possibly understated the Outlook link... it's main purpose (in my opinion) is so you can share your calendar with corporate users in your office who are not ACT! users. at least that was the reason most users gave for requesting it before it was added. Also, this integration with Outlook has grown and improved with each version of ACT, driven by market demands and the improved functionality of the Outlook API by Microsoft that allowed better links to be created.

The problem is actually Outlook's in that, as it's a PIM rather than a CRM, it doesn't link activities to contacts. This is why most users who want PDA support would use one of the two solutions mentioned... both provide a range of options that allow each user to pick the solution that best suits their needs.

Regards,

Mike Lazarus

[#9]

Mike

Whilst I agree with all the points you make I think the idea has still got legs if we don't take it to the Nth degree.

Keep it simple. Just recording the phone and address details of the first contact with whom an activity is scheduled would me a major step forward, and would probably be enough for the vast majority of ACT! users who will only ever schedule an activity with one person.

That little software tweak would be a major benefit to ACT! users straight out of the box. If you need more functionality buy one of the add-ons.

Jeff

[#10]

I agree, Jeff. I think the benefit of a forum like this is that it allows people to examine the different scenarios and suggestions. Then we might end up with an idea that's workable for Sage to look at implementing.

I'm pretty sure that, as you're an ACC, you wouldn't want them to add a half-baked idea that causes a multitude of support issues.

Many of the features I've requested in the past have made it into the product... I would like to think that this is partially because I try to think of the different scenarious and modify the suggestion so it fits.

Let me ask you these:

Should those details also be stored in the ACT! details? If so, what happens if you have info there?

But the biggest performance issues in ACT! are when the activity table gets huge... so maybe don't replicate in ACT!, but add the info to Outlook...

But then - If you don't replicate the info in ACT! and just send to Outlook... What happens if you have Details?

How about the Location field in the ACT! activity?

What would be nice is, if Outlook had the ability to add a couple of custom fields to it's tables ... I'd like that for other reasons - my Blackberry syncs via a BES and Exchange, but can't sync the Contact photos or custom BB fields like Messenger and Facebook IDs.

 BTW: as to buying an add-on, have you seen the new releases from Handheld Contact? If you only want Contacts, it's free (only Mobile Windows or Pocket PC so far, but others coming)

Mike

[#11]

You're not the only person to raise this feature request and we're definitely listening.  I've got your suggestion as a peer to peer Activity sync Outlook - ACT!  including any relevant contact information.   I believe I understand your request but if anyone would like to expand on what additional Activity data they'd like to see with an Outlook Activity sync please do so here..