Starting with version 14 of the Sage ACT diagnostics tool, ACTDIAG, you can now run some ACTDIAG commands via a command line interface. Using the server NT scheduler you can then have them set to run on a periodic basis. First off, here's a list of what you can run via command line. Note, you need to run these on the server hosting the database in question.  This data is also on the help file for ACTDIAG, something I don't thank a lot of people actually look at and should.  You can

Starting with ACT version 2012, you can now create some informative Excel pivot tables using what is called a Star schema.  The data goes after histories and opportunities. Two tables are created.  It’s a bit complicated to set up, but once done you can start to do some sophisticated drill downs in Excel to show history records.  Here’s a screen shot of one pivot table I just created. The one below is using the Opportunities table. Here’s what I was able to produce in

This situation can result from the Windows Event Log being full. Resolve this using the following steps to set the Event Log to Overwrite. Solution: 1. Close Sage ACT!. 2. To open Task Manager and press CTRL+SHIFT+ESC and locate Act.Server.Host.exe andClick End Process. 3. Right click on the My Computer icon and select Manage. 4. Expand Event Viewer. 5. Right click on Applications and select Properties. 6. Change Log File setting to Overwrite events as needed. 7. Click OK to apply the change

A customer calls me this week saying they need to create Sage ACT queries and search for up to 600 zipcodes per query. That means entering in the Zipcode query 600+ times.  Wow, that will take a while.  I told him to give me a couple of minutes to dream up something. Here's what I came up with.  I thought I'd share it with everyone in case you have to do this yourself.  It is going to sound a bit complex, but trust me, it isn't really. First off, you may not know this, but

Several years ago I attending a marketing conference and the speaker talked about Lumpy mail.  Getting your message to clients is getting harder and harder so I am rethinking this idea for my own marketing tasks. Ever get an envelope that felt like it had something other than just paper inside?  What did you do?  You opened it, right? Of course you did.  We all love surprises and an envelope that is lumpy - meaning it holds something of interest inside - spurs us to find out

I asked a question on Linkedin about whether people were moving to Windows 8. Got some interesting answers and thought I would share this link here: http://www.linkedin.com/answers/technology/information-technology/computers-software/TCH_ITS_CMP/1065938-459965

Today's blog is about using SQL commands directly in Excel.  I am going after data in Sage ACT, but you can use the same technique to go after a wide variety of data sources that are SQL based. First off, open Excel.  I am showing you screen shots from Excel 2010.  You want to click on the data tab and pick "from other data sources". After choosing From other data sources choose From Data Connection wizard which brings up the following dialog box.  Choose Other

First off, let me say that asking and ANSWERING questions on Linkedin is a very good thing. I asked a question a few days ago about whether or not people were moving to Windows 8. Got interesting and great answers. I thought I would share them with you. http://www.linkedin.com/answers/technology/information-technology/computers-software/TCH_ITS_CMP/1065938-459965