 The magazine of the Melbourne PC User Group Symantec ACT! 4.0 for Windows 95 Bob Burt bobburt@melbpc.org.au |
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Flipping through past copies of PC Update, I find that I reviewed an earlier version of this Contact Manager in June 1996. That was version 2. As this new review deals with version 4.0, you might ask - what happened to version 3.0?
Well, that question entered my mind before I opened the package and I had some, but not all of the answers after checking its contents.
Version 2.0 was designed to operate with Win 3.1 or later, and did, in fact run perfectly well under Win 95, even though the yellow box did not contain the Win 95 design emblem.
Strangely, at first sight, version 3.0 is included in the present package. It must be used if you are still operating with Win 3.1, although it was designed mainly for the 32-bit platforms of Win 95 and Win NT.
Version 4.0, therefore, which does carry the Win NT/95 emblem is not compatible with Windows 3.1. I would expect it to be upward compatible with Windows 98, as the version was released so close to the release of the new Windows platform, but I have not tested this.
The package
ACT! v4.0 is presented in the familiar shrink-wrapped yellow box now so clearly associated with Symantec.
The new User's Guide is a substantial volume of more than 560 pages and is augmented by a 60+ page guide to the new features in ACT! and a card-like folder explaining installation procedures and the basics of adding and finding contacts in your database.
Some people will find the main manual difficult to read due to the lightweight print used throughout. It is much the same size as the print you are reading now in this article, but much less dense.
The software is presented on two CD-ROMs. The first of these contains version 4.0 for installing to a Win 95/NT system and version 3.0 for Win 3.1.
Other material includes the Adobe Acrobat Reader and documentation covering the ReadMe file, the complete User's Guide and an Administrator's Guide for networks. While these can be invoked independently, they can also be reached via the Help file while running ACT!, provided the CD-ROM has been inserted in its drive. The Help file also gives access to a comprehensive multi-media training program. This gives excellent step-by-step demonstrations of all the major functions of ACT!
There are also 30-day trial versions of other Symantec products, such as pcAnywhere, Visual Page, Eudora Pro and WinFax.
The second CD-ROM holds 41 readymade business database templates, suitable
for professions ranging from accountants to veterinarians. Many of these customised screen designs and styles
have been prepared specifically to suit Australian practices. Additionally, the second disc holds ACT! 3.0
installation/settings files for Win 95/NT.
Running ACT!
Thre first time you run ACT!, the Quick-Start Wizard springs to your assistance. This guides you through creation of a database - in which you will store all your contact information. It also helps you set options for faxing, wordprocessing and sending e-mail via ACT!
A demo database is available, containing 70 preset contact fields, which you can use to familiarise yourself with the handling of contacts. You can also modify the demo database to suit your requirements.
Of course, you may also call up one of the more specialised databases and layouts provided if one of these better suits your needs. You can also modify these to suit your profession or business if you prefer.
The interface for ACT! has been completely re-designed since version 2.0.5 and the databases are presented rather differently also.
First, the problem I experienced with displaying ACT! screens in 800 x 600 format has been overcome. In this version any contact database window displayed occupies all the available space left on the screen, instead of filling only 80% or so. A 640 x 480 display is also satisfactory.
Second, the contact record is displayed differently. In v2.0.5, two contact screens were required to display all the information on each contact. In v4.0, the window for each contact is split into two panels horizontally. The top panel, two thirds of the area, contains the major details, whereas the bottom third is controlled by a set of seven switches. You can change the position of the divider with the mouse to expand or contract this area:
- Notes/History
- Activities
- Groups
- User Fields (the default)
- Phone/Home
- All contacts.
- Alternate
- Classic contact 1 (like ACT! 2.0 Contact 1)
- Classic contact 2 (like ACT! 2.0 Contact 2)
- Contact layout (16-colour)
- Contact layout 3.0 (like ACT! 3.0)
- Contact layout 4.0 (ACT! 4.0)
- Large font
- Modern.
- View contacts
- View contact list
- View groups
- View day
- View week
- View month
- View task list
- View e-mail.
Each type of window displayed has its own toolbar, containing tools for the most frequently performed tasks associated with that window. You can change the tools available, if you wish. The right mouse button brings up a shortcut menu which also gives you quick access to much-used tasks in the particular window.
You can open multiple windows and drag-and-drop from one window to another, for example you can drag a contact record and drop it on a set time in a calendar window.
You would need a little time to become familiar with the actual details of
each task, but you will find it to be a comfortable learning process. It is not a question of finding the way
to perform each task. For most operations there are several ways of achieving the desired result. You may
learn to successfully complete a task in a way that seems most logical to you, then, after you become more
familiar with the program, you may find a quicker or more convenient way of operating, perhaps by using some
of the newer keyboard commands or shortcut menus.
SideACT!
This is a new application. You can use it to make a quick note or two, say for example, "Things to do", instead of keeping a notebook on hand to write reminders. Of course, there is no reason why you should not use it to remind yourself of tasks completely unconnected with ACT! or a contact database. If, for example, you are working in ACT! and you answer a telephone call which leads you to jot down some important notes, you can use SideACT! to do so, since this electronic notepad is quickly accessible from an icon on the toolbar.
Conclusion
This is a very slick and powerful program with quick response. It's easy to learn and use. I note that the RRP has come down dramatically, due, no doubt, to healthy competition and an expanding market.
According to Symantec, ACT! has over 1.3 million users and claims 70% market share. Its main competitors appear to be Goldmine (see PC Update for June 97 and October 98 for articles), Maximiser and Janna Contact.
Reprinted from the February 1999 issue of PC Update, the magazine of Melbourne PC User Group, Australia
