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3/07/2010 3:12:50 PM
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topic:
Version 1.0.6 Released July 2 2010
WhistlingFish
Posts 40
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Improvements:
Automated the check for newer versions so that a background check is made whenever the program starts.
Minor changes to the graphics displayed when the program starts, and on the "About" screen.
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29/05/2010 11:43:54 AM
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topic:
Keeping Mac Users Happy
WhistlingFish
Posts 40
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In the short time Luthier's Journal and Luthier's Workbench have been on the market, I've had several enquiries regarding versions suitable for the Mac. My response to those enquiries has been to suggest a look at some software products that allow Windows applications to be run on the Mac operating system (Parallels Desktop 5 for example), however, I always knew I was delaying the inevitable and would eventually be faced with having to develop a separate version in order to satisfy the world's Mac users!
Although industry statistics show that the Mac has a relatively small market share, reliable sources tell me that usage within the lutherie community tends to be a little higher than that - why I don't know. With that in mind, I've taken the first steps towards development of a cross-platform version of my products. What this means is that they will be designed to run on any operating system: Windows, Mac, Linux - or anything else for that matter. The advantage with this approach is that I won't have to maintain separate versions for each operating system, and there'll be no requirement to ensure that changes are implemented identically in any number of separate software projects.
Progress is likely to be slow initially, but I'll post updates as I reach major milestones. As always, I'm keen to hear your suggestions and comments as I work towards this goal.
Cheers
Pete
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15/05/2010 4:21:51 PM
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topic:
Version 1.0.4, 1.0.5 Released May 15 2010
WhistlingFish
Posts 40
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Version 1.0.5
Fixes:
Notes text on Maintain Build and Maintain Repair screens not wrapping correctly.
Version 1.0.4
Fixes:
Repair services not loaded when repair was edited via Customers screen.
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14/05/2010 4:43:32 PM
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topic:
Version 1.3.0 Released May 14 2010
WhistlingFish
Posts 40
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New features and improvements:
- Modified pricing controls on Maintain Build screen.
- Added default tax percentage to Preferences screen
- Added data backup functions
- Added base price, options total and tax amount columns to main screen
- Added link to online help pages from Help menu
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13/05/2010 4:40:00 PM
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topic:
Version 1.0.3 Released May 13 2010
WhistlingFish
Posts 40
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Improved handling of changes made to tax percentage on Maintain Build and Maintain Repair screens (there were problems when fractional percentages were entered).
Cheers
Pete
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11/05/2010 8:20:09 PM
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topic:
Version 1.0.2 Released May 11 2010
WhistlingFish
Posts 40
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After several weeks of intense effort, I'm pleased to announce the release of Luthier's Workbench, a major upgrade to its sister product Luthier's Journal.
Please visit the product web page for a closer look, or to download a fully-functional 30-day trial version.
Special thanks to Todd Sams who floated the idea of additional features geared towards the repair shop.
Cheers
Pete
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11/05/2010 12:15:56 PM
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topic:
Repair Shop Features
WhistlingFish
Posts 40
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Just a reminder that recent suggestions have resulted in improvements to Luthier's Journal to cater for the needs of repair shops. This has resulted in the release of a brand new product. You can keep track of progress in the Luthier's Workbench section of the forum.
Cheers
Pete
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7/05/2010 5:17:39 PM
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topic:
Work in Progress - Friday May 7 2010
WhistlingFish
Posts 40
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As a long time software developer, I should know better than to make iron-clad predictions where the completion date of a software development project like Luthier's Workbench is concerned. There are always distractions and unforeseen circumstances which delay completion! All in all though, I won't exceed my original estimate by too much, and I'm guessing that by the middle of next week - May 12 2010 - the first release of this new product will be available for download.
Like Luthier's Journal, a fully-functional trial version will be made available, allowing a 30 day period in which you can evaluate its usefulness. As you do so, remember that your input is important to the success of this venture, and that omissions on my part, or any other suggestion you may wish to advise me of will be seriously considered. Note that as the application evolves, new improved versions will always be free to licensed users.
Cheers
Pete
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5/05/2010 11:46:14 PM
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topic:
Reports
WhistlingFish
Posts 40
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Hi Leo,
Thanks for the positive feedback. I guess an advantage of operating as a one-man outfit is that I can provide the personalised service you've commented on.
I'll make the changes you've requested over the coming days and let you know when a new version is available for download.
Best wishes
Pete
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3/05/2010 1:23:15 AM
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topic:
Reports
ledlund
Posts 1
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I have been using Project Monitor for the last year and have found it to be an excellent tool. I would also like to thank you for the assistance you rendered when my computer would only print one page of the report. Your service was outstanding.
Would it be possible to modify the "Work Detail Report"? I would like to delete the Client Code, Project Code and Activity Code columns, and replace them with the Comment Field. I am a one man company and do not use codes for my work. I do comment each activity for each customer and it would be very helpful to have the comments in the report. I use the "Work Detail" report as detail when I invoice my customers.
Thanks for the support and keep up the good work.
Leo
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26/04/2010 6:27:00 PM
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topic:
Work in Progress - Monday April 26 2010
WhistlingFish
Posts 40
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Development of new features relating to instrument repair shops continues. The usual pattern seems to be that I feel close to the end of the process, only to suddenly feel the need to introduce some new function or feature which has sprung to mind. Nevertheless, I've made good progress over the past week, and after a final tidy up, the boring but necessary chore of thoroughly testing every aspect of the application will begin.
The Outstandings report, which I completed earlier today, shows a breakdown of outstanding invoices categorized according to the length of time the invoice has been outstanding. For the pro luthier - especially those running busy repair shops - this should greatly simplify the task of identifying unpaid invoices requiring follow-up. The production of printed quotes, invoices and receipts is finished, and I feel I'm on track to have this new product available for download by the end of the coming week.
Soon, perhaps, I can resume my own neglected guitar-building projects!
Cheers
Pete
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16/04/2010 7:14:05 PM
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topic:
A Sneak Peek!
WhistlingFish
Posts 40
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With a probable release date towards the end of April 2010, things have moved far enough ahead that I can at least provide a preview of the features to be offered by Luthier's Workbench.
You can view screenshots and a description of what's on offer at my new Luthier's Workbench web page.
Although I can detect a dim glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel, construction of Luthier's Workbench is incomplete; additional features may be added, or existing ones changed a little prior to release.
Cheers
Pete
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16/04/2010 2:45:58 PM
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topic:
Work in Progress - Saturday April 10 2010
WhistlingFish
Posts 40
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As Luthier's Journal has now morphed into a new product, further updates on this current crop of changes will appear in the Luthier's Workbench section of the forum.
The good news is that the changes are coming along nicely - I think you'll like what you see. The bad news is that I haven't spent time in my own workshop for weeks, and the guitars I'm building are gathering dust!
Cheers
Pete
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13/04/2010 10:53:08 AM
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topic:
Lost Data with upgrade?
WhistlingFish
Posts 40
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A final word on backups: I'm implementing the means to perform automated backups in the soon-to-be-released version of Luthier's Workbench. Once you've nominated a destination folder, the application will automatically copy your data file to it when exiting. Should you wish to create a backup more regularly, there will also be a menu option on the main screen which will allow you to create a backup copy immediately.
Cheers
Pete
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13/04/2010 10:37:01 AM
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topic:
Work in Progress - Saturday April 10 2010
WhistlingFish
Posts 40
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Hi Todd
Yes, a calendar-based "to-do" list of sorts might be a good idea at some point - thanks for the suggestion. I have implemented something similar in an earlier piece of software so I have a bit of a head start when the time comes to consider it.
However, as the changes I'm currently working on will form the core of the new product and satisfy (I hope!) the majority of users, I'm inclined to put that one on my own "to-do" list for the time being. I'll always be looking for feedback and making improvements, so your idea will almost certainly see the light of day in some form in a future version. There's no such thing as a "final version"!
Thanks, and keep those ideas coming in!
Regards
Pete
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13/04/2010 5:46:58 AM
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topic:
Work in Progress - Saturday April 10 2010
tsams
Posts 4
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Hi Pete,
Another idea hit me this weekend for a possible useful addition. Would it be possible to have a calander tied in so that you could allocate certain days and blocks of time each day for specific building and repair tasks. I have so many projects going building and repairing along with playing in a band and spending time with the wife and kids and doing yard and house repairs that I have to give myself lists to stay on task. I thought it might be a good addition to be able to bring up each calander day at will and allocate what you want to work on hour in half hour increments and maybe be able to tie each task in to the specific instrument. Example: I may glue top braces on two guitars then move on to a fret job while the glue dries and simultaneously have a bridge heater warming to remove a bad bridge. It's just way more effecient for me to have a daily list to work from rather than have to remember each instrument and step on the go.
Thanks for the special thanks, I'm really excited to give it a whirl
Todd
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10/04/2010 11:00:51 AM
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topic:
Work in Progress - Saturday April 10 2010
WhistlingFish
Posts 40
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With thoughts of some simple additions focused on repair shops rather than individual builders, I figured a week would see these changes finished, or at least ready to undergo some rigorous testing.
As I've worked on these improvements, however, new features continually spring to mind, and it became apparent as the week progressed that Luthier's Journal was growing into a substantial piece of software. The result of that realisation is that Luthier's Workbench was born. I'll offer it as a separate product, but will of course continue to improve and support Luthier's Journal. Luthier's Workbench will essentially be the "pro" version and will provide greater choice for purchasers.
Some of the new functions and features to be provided by Luthier's Workbench:
* Generation of quotes, invoices, repair job sheets (basically an unpriced quote) and receipts.
* Auto-numbering of the above to ensure sequential numbering (and no duplicates).
* A new Revenue and Expenses tab on the main screen to track customer payments as well as outgoings. You can also record the tax component of these transactions; totals will be displayed at the bottom of the screen.
* Filtering of Revenue and/or Expenses by date or date range.
* Generation of appropriate reports displaying revenue and expenses. I haven't considered their design at this point, but it's flagged for my attention.
* Automated backup of the data file to a location nominated by the user. A backup can also be performed manually via a menu option on the main screen.
* Filtering of repairs displayed on the main screen to allow the option of showing only those repair jobs currently active, i.e., hide completed jobs.
* Option to hide completed builds on the main screen
* Redesign of the Customers screen to display a history of builds, repairs and payments for the selected customer.
There are several significant and not-so-significant changes to screen designs, some of which I'll also incorporate into Luthier's Journal as time permits.
As always, I'm open to suggestions - please let me know if there are other features you'd like to see. Stay tuned for progress reports and news of availability.
Cheer
Pete
PS: A special thanks to Todd Sams for volunteering to cast an unbiased eye over Luthier's Workbench prior to its release.
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9/04/2010 10:46:20 AM
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topic:
Lost Data with upgrade?
WhistlingFish
Posts 40
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Although jmann's data was not lost, this does highlight the need to implement a backup strategy for all of your important files. Having recently dealt with a distressed daughter who lost a 30 page university assignment, I would urge everyone to take regular backups of important files, including the data file used by Luthier's Journal. I was able to recover my daughter's assignment - you may not be so lucky!
Cheers
Pete
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9/04/2010 10:31:13 AM
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topic:
Lost Data with upgrade?
WhistlingFish
Posts 40
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Hi jmann,
Your data has not been lost, but this does highlight a bug in the application setup.
The setup process always checks for an existing database before installing a blank one, however, I just repeated the upgrade process and experienced the same problem.
It seems the later version is installed in a folder named Luthiers Journal while the original version was installed in a folder named Luthier's Journal. Note the apostrophe in the word "Luthier's". The end result is that the setup process didn't find an existing database so installed a new one. It links to this new, empty one when first started.
The solution is to:
1. Select the Preferences option from the Tools menu
2. Click the button next to the Database Path box
3. Navigate to the folder C:\Program Files\Luthier's Journal\Data (note the apostrophe!)
4. Select the file luthiersjournal.dat and click the Open button
5. Click the Save button on the Preferences screen
6. Restart the application to ensure that database changes are performed.
The display on the main screen should now show whatever you'd previously entered.
Thank you for bringing this to my attention.
Cheers
Pete
edited by WhistlingFish on 9/04/2010
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9/04/2010 2:51:24 AM
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topic:
Lost Data with upgrade?
Manndolins
Posts 1
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Hello, great software idea...I've been trying it for a couple weeks and think it might be just what I need to help me stay organized...but ....I just updated to new version and lost all my data...is this because it was still a trial or did I do something wrong?
jmann
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