STUDIO MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE AVAILABLE
Dick Reuben
Retail Merchandise Systems publishes three studio managment programs
covering all types of photography. All run under Windows or DOS.
The ViewFinder handles Assignment (Advertising) work, Stock
Photography, and Wedding/Portrait Work. The StockFinder handles Stock
Photography only, and The PortraitFinder is for Wedding/Portrait work.
They are priced at $595, $295, and $395 respectively
The following is an overview of The ViewFinder, and the functions it
describes for Stock and Portrait work are available in the other
programs. Full Demos (not Crippleware) of all three are available.
If you would be interested in seeing hard copy examples of documents,
reports, and data entry screens, Email me your mailing address:
Thanks, Dick
THE VIEWFINDER
________________
SOFTWARE FOR COMMERCIAL PHOTOGRAPHY STUDIOS
DESIGNED BY ND FOR PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS
OVERVIEW:
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THE VIEWFINDER is IBM-based studio software covering all functions of
commercial photography. It runs under either DOS or Windows.
It's user-friendly and extremely easy to learn, even for those with
minimal computer experience. An unusual combination of tiered menus
with function descriptors and the display of on-screen instructions
for all data e ntry work make that happen!
It supports all of the studio's existing numbering systems. For
example, use ours or your own Expense Accounts and numbers, and your
existing Image Numbering system, including up to 12 letters, numbers,
or other characters.
Here's what you and THE VIEWFINDER can do:
MAINTAIN A CLIENT DATABASE
--------------------------
Ever make a typo when you addressed an Estimate, Invoice, or mailing
piece? You won't be able to do that any more!
* Insert client names and addresses, plus Agency and Art Director name
if needed, into Estimates, Invoices, and Delivery Memos with one
keystroke.
* Print Client Lists or Two-Across Mailing Labels for all clients;
agencies only; or only Non-Agency clients as well as Selected
Clients---even export MailMerge files for your Word Processor.
* No limit to the number of Clients, Agencies, or Art Directors that
can be maintained.
* Query your "Comments" for each client to gather lists of clients
with the same word or phrase in their "Comment". (i.e.---use the
words "Prospect" or "Catalogue Publisher" and query for all
prospective or publisher clients.)
MANAGE A STOCK IMAGE LIBRARY
----------------------------
No more hours of searching to find related images when selecting them
for a Delivery Memo---The ViewFinder's quick query makes it a breeze.
Do you know if images are out beyond the rights expiration date? It
even checks for those. And label-printing is totally hassle-free.
* Collects groups of Images by Subject, Location, Category, or
description for use in preparing Delivery Memos. There's even a
special "SEARCHWORD" field into which you can record words or
phrases to search on.
* Collected images can be immediately inserted into NEW or EXISTING
Delivery Memos, and these are then immediately available for editing.
No limit to the number of insertions that can be made.
* Creates label data for Images when they are added to the Library,
and any number of multiple records for an image can be created with
one keystroke.
* Labels are created in pairs for top and bottom of each Image.
* Default (Pre-determined) entries for name and copyright date may be
set up and printed automatically on each upper label.
* Records earnings for Images; tracks Images retained by clients
beyond rights expiration dates.
* ASMP-type Legal Terms And Conditions can be printed on Delivery
Memos and their Invoices.
PREPARE ESTIMATES
-----------------
Ever send an Estimate to a client, and then realize that you left out
one or two charges? That's almost impossible to do when you use The
ViewFinder. And you don't even have to bother typing Client names and
addresses, or even Art Director names--all are inserted automatically.
* Use a List of Item Charge Descriptions which can be automatically
inserted into an Estimate---it's almost impossible to forget to
include a charge, and the Item Charge Descriptions are totally
customizable by the user.
* Use "Cost Lists". These are listings of your costs for film and
other commonly used items which you can prepare, and use while
preparing an Estimate (or Invoice). You enter cost, packing, and a
Markup Percentage,and the appropriate Charge appears. Two keystrokes
insert the items into the document, and there's a "quantity
multiplier" to extend the charge into the Charge Amount. Use that
figure or whatever you want as the Actual Charge---you're not tied to
charging every customer the same amount for the same service. OR, you
can type all Charge Descriptions and Amounts, if you wish.
*Documents can be pre-viewed on-screen, printed, or sent to a special
directory for handling by fax software.
* Place Headers for Studio Name, Address, Phone Number on Estimates to
print them on plain paper; print without Headers on letterhead
stationery; or send them to ASCII files for graphic enhancement.
USE STREAMLINED INVOICING AND ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE
-------------------------------------------------
You can't make a mistake copying from an Estimate to an Invoice---the
program converts Estimates to Invoices, but lets you make any
necessary changes as you go. And you won't waste time updating client
records or Accounts Receivable either---it's all automatic.
* Create Invoices from both Estimates and Delivery Memos, or "from
scratch". New Invoices automatically set up records in Accounts
Receivable and Research JobFile---no extra work.
* A default Sales Tax percentage can be defined to be used in Invoices
but in some areas it's necessary to charge a rate based on the
client's location, rather than yours. The program lets you set a
custom tax percentage for any Invoice or Estimate.
* Include customized Terms and messages in a footnote on Delivery
Memos, Invoices and Statements.
* Aging Report includes age of each Invoice. Check for Invoices from
1 to 999 days old. Print Total Receivables, with subtotals for each
client.
MAINTAIN COMPLETE CONTROL OVER WEDDING/PORTRAIT WORK
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You can't forget anything! Wedding and Portrait Proposal formats
provide for every kind of detail including location and AM or PM time
designations for events such as Start, Ceremony and Reception (even
the photographer's agreed "departure time"---and there are two areas
in which to enter "Comments"!
* Creating Proposals automatically updates Work Calendar, Customer
DataBase, and if a deposit is taken, Accounts Receivable is updated
also.
* Charge Amounts can be either imported or typed, and there's a
multiplier to perform "quantity * price" calculations.
* Prepare Mailing Labels and Lists or Mailmerge files from Customer
DataBase.
OPERATE CONCISE ACCOUNTS PAYABLE
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Ever forget to pay an invoice on time and miss a discount that you
could have taken? That won't happen because The ViewFinder reminds
you when invoices are due to be paid.
* Allocates dollars from expense checks to Expense Accounts. Use
supplied Expense Accounts or yours.
* Tracks Invoices, and reminds you when to pay them!
* Produces detailed expense reports and check registers for each month
and for year-to-date.
* Prints checks (2 dot matrix formats; 1 laser) and combines input
from both manual and printed checks for expense and other reports.
MAINTAIN A RESEARCH JOBFILE
-----------------------------------------------------
Want a fast, easy way to review previous jobs done for a client,
agency, or AD before starting a new Estimate? Would it help to be
able to review all jobs relating to Christmas Catalogues, corporate
portraits, or fashions? The ViewFinder gives you the ability to do
that quickly and easily.
* Tremendous "Query" ability for Research. Collect and view or print
groups of previously completed jobs for planning and review. THE
VIEWFINDER queries for all jobs:
- Done for a specific Client, Agency, or Art Director
- Which have a common word or phrase in Job Description
(i.e. Christmas Decoration", Glassware", etc.)
- Dated during a specific Month, Year, or Period.
- Priced over a specified dollar figure.
- Sold by a specific Sales Rep during a specified period,
- Displays Average Charge for all Jobs on record.
MAINTAIN A STUDIO ASSET INVENTORY
---------------------------------
Are you saving on insurance premiums by listing equipment that goes on
location separately from the things that stay in the studio, for your
insurance company? The ViewFinder makes that easy to do.
* Maintains Inventory by user-definable Category. Queryable for total
content and value of any Category and Total Inventory.
* Identifies and lists "traveling" and "non-traveling" items for
insurance purposes--- it may cut your premium costs. Use it for all
assets!
MISCELLANEOUS FUNCTIONS AND FEATURES
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
* "Shell-To-DOS" menu option to enable running graphics, financial, or
other programs.
* Built-in text editor to create notes, memos, and special forms.
* Supports eight printers or specify your own printer and its setup
strings if it is not supported.
* Supports all printer ports; enables switching ports to print with
different printers.
* All key reports are both "printable" and "viewable". Many can also
be printed to ASCII files for importing into other programs.
* Full instructions on every screen when entering data.
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS AND PRICING
-------------------------------
The ViewFinder requires an IBM-compatible computer with 525k of RAM
available after booting. It will need approximately 4 megs of
available disk space, and another meg of disk space should be
available for data storage. It is written in Paradox, Borland's
superlative database program, and is distributed under Paradox
Runtime---it's not necessary to own Paradox.
The ViewFinder is priced at $595 with Paradox Runtime. The price
includes a registered copy and bound Documentation, plus unlimited,
free technical support (no annual service contracts or other
additional expense) via dedicated telephone number, CompuServe, or
Email.
A full-featured DemoVersion is available for a deposit of $25.
DemoVersion contains all functions of the full program---it's not a
"self-running slide show". You can do everything in the DemoVersion
that can be done in The ViewFinder itself.
At the end of 30 days the DemoVersion may be returned for a refund, or
the deposit can be applied to the purchase price, or, if necessary,
the evaluation period can be extended.
NOTE: All data entered into the Client DataBase or other modules will
be retained for regular use when you decide to buy.
Unlike other programs, the price of The ViewFinder includes
everything---there are no expensive "add-on" modules to buy and no
extra charges for Technical Support!
For additional information; hard-copy examples of documents, reports,
and data entry screens or to order THE VIEWFINDER or the DemoVersion,
contact Dick Reuben at:
RETAIL MERCHANDISE SYSTEMS
8122 S.W. 83rd Street
Miami, FL 33143
PHONE: (305) 271-8941
FAX: (305) 274-6220
CIS ID# 73767,3655
EMAIL: di...@shadow.net
Regards,
Dick