NOVAN6 [SMALLPOINTS]     at 15:24 EST
 
Hello...my name is Michael Donovan of Portland Maine. My entry to Genie is
recent.  Slowly I am learning about its nuances.  Here in Portland I operate a
firm that advises small business owners throughout Maine, as well as cooperate
closely with an associate who owns a mergers and acquisition firm. We share
space in downtown Portland. My firm is called Small Point Management Services.
In business for 4 years, I have served 30 clients from various industries.
Before the practice started, I worked in banking, manufacturing, and sales.  I
have an MBA from Columbia University, a BA from Bowdoin College.  I am also a
Certified Management Accountant. Would like to hear from people who have
studied the structure of small business closely, including its history and
culture.
 ------------
Category 1,  Topic 2
Message 132       Sat Dec 08, 1990
J-V-K [Joni]                 at 18:33 EST
 
Hi Ann...

Hmmmm if you lived up in our neck of the woods I'd add you to my "temp"
force... but the salary you command (assuming) would probably be too low for
you... we live in the boonies... at the foothills of the Adirondack Mtns.  Do
you know where JOhnstown, NY is?

Ann... with reference to marketing... if you do NOTHING else, join your
Chamber of Commerce and get on a committee that interests you, you will find
the very best marketing here, networking with small and some large businesses -
- great networking.  The other advertising tool I use is --- yellow pages ---
and be sure to say what you do in the ad there, you might want to list your
business under 2 or 3 different headings.

I have been in business for over 16 years doing exactly what you are
initiating.  Also... get business cards made and hand them out to anyone and
everyone who you think might want to use your services. Make appointments and
personal calls with purchasing agents.

Take a look around here and in the library it is chock full of great resource
material for you.  :)

And... GOOD LUCK!  (Sorry I didn't answer this yesterday, but with the
holidays approaching, I never made it online to read messages, am playing
catch up now!  If you have more questions, just post them!

= Joni =
 ------------
Category 1,  Topic 2
Message 133       Sat Dec 08, 1990
J.ANDERSON89 [Jerry]         at 19:03 EST
 
Hi!

I'm new (3 weeks) to GEnie, and enjoying the opportunity.

I live in Homer Alaska, and the only # for this Area Code is in Anchorage.  I
place my calls thru Seattle at 1/2 the price, but a late-nite call is still
$6+/hr!

I am a professional Land Surveyor, registered in the states of Alaska,
Arizona, Colorado, Florida, New Mexico & Utah.

I have operated a private consulting practice, mostly in Alaska for 17 years. 
The work I enjoy most is as an expert witness in court cases that involve
survey or boundary law.

(Have Transit, Computer, & Blacks Law Dictionary - will travel!)
             +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=
 Joanne:  The IBMPC R/T on Cad Programs seems to be pretty generic. I'm a long
time AUTOCAD user (started with V2.18) and wonder how we ever did w/o it! Do
you use any other programs inside Autocad? (DCA, Visible Cogo, QuickSurf,
etc?)
 ------------
Category 1,  Topic 2
Message 134       Sat Dec 08, 1990
A.RICHARDS10                 at 23:00 EST
 
Joni,

For data entry which is my expertise I get between $8.00-$9.00/hr.  For word
processing since they consider my experience intermediate between $10.00-
$12.00/hr.  What is happening in this area is that the small to moderate size
businesses that just needed someone for maternity leaves, vacations, or
special projects are folding like a house of cards.  The big insurance
companies in the city have found a way around the expense of temporary
agencies they have started their own temp forces through the personel office. 
It saves them big bucks.  They pay my wage that I want but they don't have to
pay an agency fee or benefits that they do to their permanment employees.  Now
I happened to be working for The Hartford Insurance Group which does have
their own temp force called Hart Temps.  But they are licensing agents
nationwide for a nationwide dealer-broker and their pool of temps didn't have
enough data entry operators to fill their needs.

About starting my own business and the suggestions you gave, I never thought
of the business sector to get into.  I just thought about the amount of
college students in the immediate area.  Now I'm sorry I foregot who gave me
the advice to look into if the college had a temp pool of their own.  That was
good advice and I will look into it.

Thanks to everyone for their advice.

Ann

P. sS.  Sorry Joni I don't know where Johnstown NY is.  Where is it?

 ------------
Category 1,  Topic 2
Message 135       Sun Dec 09, 1990
P.ROSS14                     at 04:14 EST
 
 Joni, just thought I'd let it be known that I'm interested in this
 Bulletin Board, and recognized your name from the Writers' Group.
 I think I'm here because I hate to work for someone else, and I 
 quit almost every "real job" I have because I hate mornings,
 rushed showers, and wearing suits. If you are familiar with my name,
 you'll remenber that I am a writer and a lawyer, with extreme
 emphasis on the former. I have too many loves that I would like to 
 translate into a home-office business: calligraphy, freelance
 editing (which I am doing now), direct mail copywriting, etc.
 I'll just lurk for awhile, and learn what other talented souls
 are doing out there with their skills.
 By the way, I'm sure I'm not the first person to mention this, but
 I really love reading HOME OFFICE COMPUTING. It's professionally
 packaged, yet reader-friendly! Does anyone else read this
 fantastic publication? (This is my first time on this BB, so I don't
 >know what topics are covered and what people are writing about..YET!

 Pamela Beth Ross (the aspiring Everything, but a Writer first and foremost)
 ------------
Category 1,  Topic 2
Message 136       Sun Dec 09, 1990
J.ATTARD [Janet(sysop)]      at 09:29 EST
 
Michael, Jerry and Pamela, welcome! I think you'll all find people here in the
HOSB doing work similar to what you do, and find it a good place to exchange
ideas.

Jerry, if you use and IBM or ATari, and aren't using Aladdin, you should look
into it.. it will greatly reduce the time you spend online, hence cut way back
on your phone bills. --Janet
 ------------
Category 1,  Topic 2
Message 137       Sun Dec 09, 1990
A.ROSENBALM                  at 10:35 EST
 
Ann, As for marketing yourself, make flyers for bulletin boards that have pull
off tabs at the bottom with your phone number on them too. These seem to be
very effective on campuses. Stick with the grad schools all you can. Their
requirements are much more extensive and they are therefore willing to pay
much more. WHere I went to Law School, the going rate was $2.50 - 4.00 per
page. I would also suggest that you get an APA manual and configure a style
sheet to match it, most A&S departments require graduate level papers to be in
APA format. Finally, before the big moment find a source in your area for acid
free 100% cotton paper. Most departments require final copies of theses and
dissertations to be printed on such. (Contrary to popular belief, laser
printers love the stuff) If you have a lot of colleges in the area and pursue
this, you'll probably have more work than you can keep up with soon.

j.
 ------------
Category 1,  Topic 2
Message 138       Sun Dec 09, 1990
J-V-K [Joni]                 at 14:22 EST
 
Ann... I think you will find that there IS a definite need in the business
sector and the college community for your services. Businesses are trimming
their personnel VERY lean these days, as you already know.  It is much easier
for them to pay your fee with no strings attached than to hire a temporary
employee of their own - too many additional costs for this route.  I'm sure if
you start networking in the business community (Chamber), you will find work.
Once they know you, word of mouth is excellent advertising.  Ask for referrals
too!

BTW, Johnstown, NY is 50 mi. slightly north and west of Albany, NY, just 4
miles from Exit 28 on the NYS Thruway and about 6 miles from where the bridge
collapsed, killing 10 people (you do remember that one don't you).

= Joni =
 ------------
Category 1,  Topic 2
Message 139       Sun Dec 09, 1990
J-V-K [Joni]                 at 14:47 EST
 
Hi Pamela and WELCOME to HOSBurger land... I sure do remember you from Writers
where I * lurk * now and then.  I would like to have time to write more, but
my primary focus is full office support services with concentration in DTP,
Temp Personnel and providing basic office support (in-house) to those needing
it all!  * IF * I were to have * more * time, I would write more.  I also like
to knit and some crocheting.

I wonder why, but I find myself attached to the keyboard the better part of
the day... I DO love it!

Take a look around here, I am sure you will find a wealth of information here
and in the library.  Why don't you stop into the RTC tonight....

= Joni =
 ------------
Category 1,  Topic 2
Message 140       Sun Dec 09, 1990
CHEESEBOX [Bill S.]          at 15:04 EST
 
Hi! A belated thanks to Janet for the welcome e-mail. My name is Bill Smith,
(yes, my REAL name - if I had $1 for every time I was asked I could retire)
and I have recently entered the computer consulting business and related home
business ventures (DTP, information brokering).

This will be my 2nd attempt at 'being my own boss'. I owned and operated a
charter bus service and commuter bus service in the mid 80's.

My current venture will be home based although my first major client (my last
regular employer) prefers that I maintain at least a minor presence on his
property.

I have considerable experience in all phases of the bus transportation
industry as well as data processing on micro platforms such as MS-DOS,
Macintosh, and BTOS (Burroughs B20 - now Unisys). In addition, I have been
involved in micro-to-mainframe- and vise vera communications. Currently, I
consider my forte to be in DBMS solutions using DBASE IV, Paradox, etc. In
addition, I have a promising niche in a newsletter publishing business (not
data processing related subjects). I hope to gain hints, tips, and moral
support from members of the HOSB RT. In return, I will offer the same. Til
next time,
    ----   CheeseBox ----
 ------------
Category 1,  Topic 2
Message 141       Sun Dec 09, 1990
P.ROSS14                     at 16:58 EST
 
 Joni, thanks for the warm welcome. I like the name of this place:
 Hosburger-land! (I'll take mine with cheese, please.) I should have
 remembered reading somewhere in the Writers' RT that you specialized
 in desktop publishing; sorry for the loss of memory there...especially
 because one of my goals for 1991 is to figure out how to use this
 machine in front of me for desktop publishing. I have 2 basic
 software programs for this venture, neitherof which I have
 dared use yet: First Publisher, and Express Publisher (on loan to me).
 I know these 2 are not in the same "league" as Ventura, Pagemaker,
 Adobe, etc., but I wanted to grasp the fundamentals before I went
 out to buy these big-ticket items. I hope, from getting to know you
 and the rest of the HOSB group, I can supplement my education via
 the telephone lines.
 Like I said earlier, there are TOO many things I want to do.
 For instance, this RTC tonight! I haven't the slightest idea how
 to access it, read it, join in, communicate, etc. Maybe some
 sweet soul out there will read this message before 10:00 tonight
 and help this lady cross the street.
 I'll be waiting..................................
 Pamela Beth Ross
 ------------
Category 1,  Topic 2
Message 142       Sun Dec 09, 1990
A.RICHARDS10                 at 20:06 EST
 
Thanks to everyone for your advice and encouragement.  I have one  question
concerning the temp pools on college campuses.  What dept. would I get in
touch with to be a part of the pool? With the grad schools (we have two near
us UCONN Law and Med Schools) are they still reached by a common Student Union
Hall where I could leave flyers?  Also do I need anyones' permission to
advertise on campus?  From what you have all said to me I better look into the
one piece of electronic equipment I love to hate, the answering machine.

Ann
 ------------
Category 1,  Topic 2
Message 143       Sun Dec 09, 1990
R.GOYER [DICK]               at 20:50 EST
 
Express Publisher arrived in my mail box one week ago, and after many hours I
am turning out material that with a little polish will be professional enough
for me.  Most of my time was actually spent finding a printer driver that
would work on my panasonic 24 pin dot matrix and print at 360 DPI.  One call
to technical service solved the problem and I am quite happy with it.  BTW,
I'm not using Ventura or Aldus because I never buy software if the manual is
over 3/4 inch thick.  I just plain don't want to know that much about
anything!
 ------------
Category 1,  Topic 2
Message 144       Sun Dec 09, 1990
P.MORGAN6 [Paul]             at 21:02 EST
 
Hello!  I'm a Senior Programmer Analyst at the Price Company.  Been reading a
few messages on this BB about the Price Club.  Glad we have such a good
reputation.  I program an AS/400 supporting our buyers and warehouse
operations.  Hopefully I could answer questions about the details of the
buying process or inventory control. I also have contact with our office
supplies buyers.  They are always interested in hearing about new merchandise
our members may need. I am also trying to develop for MS Windows.  If I get
something wrote I'll be trying to start my own business on the side.
 ------------
Category 1,  Topic 2
Message 145       Sun Dec 09, 1990
MACLEE                       at 21:24 EST
 
Hi Paul - I absolutely love our Price Club.  Our manager Rob Leuke goes out of
his way to make me feel special there.  I am interested in the almost 
coincidental inventories at the Price Club and at PACE - why is that?
 ------------
Category 1,  Topic 2
Message 146       Sun Dec 09, 1990
P.MORGAN6 [Paul]             at 22:20 EST
 
MACLEE:

PACE is always copying our merchandise mix!  We have the highest sales per
warehouse in the industry so they flatter us with their imitations. Actually,
the buyers and warehouse managers from both organizations are constantly
checking the competitions inventories.  If one company sees product that's
moving well they try the merchandise out in their own clubs.  Also, the
vendors sell to both companies at the same time.  And we both serve the same
markets.  The markets drive what merchandise we carry. It takes a lot of work
to differentiate us from the 'other' clubs.  Rob is a good example of the
great people I get to work with.
 ------------
Category 1,  Topic 2
Message 147       Mon Dec 10, 1990
A.ROSENBALM                  at 00:43 EST
 
Ann, Generally, law and med schools have their own lounges, bulletin boards
etc, because they are generally located in a separate building(s)  so you will
probably want to go to the schools thamselves and take a look around. Usually,
if you have to have someone's permission to post, there will be a notice
telling you who's permission you have to have and where to find them. Do post
in the Student Center and classroom building bulletin boards too. The more
people that see your message...

j.
 ------------
Category 1,  Topic 2
Message 148       Mon Dec 10, 1990
K.LONG6 [Kathy]              at 07:11 EST
 
Hi... I've been doing word processing from home for about 3 years now, but
seem to have a consistent problem finding clients.  According to  everything
I' (oops!) I've heard, there are people crying out for support services like
mine (I can do editing as well), but I can't figure out for the life of me how
to plug in.  This area has lots of companies that get government contracts,
and my last full-time job (8 years ago) was one for one of these companies, so
I know the business.
  Also, I'm in the process of contacting SBA about getting government
contracts myself.  I have a couple of friends in the same business that I am,
and we would like to get a big enough one that it would keep us  all busy for
an extended period of time, since we have the same struggle to stay busy.
  I also do medical transcription, but am presently working a couple of nights
a week at a clinic.  I would like to quit doing this, since it takes me away
from my family.  So my other question would be how to  plug into transcription
that I could do at home.  I have even tried going through the yellow pages and
calling doctors' offices, but go  no results at all from that!
   My other interest is writing, but I have a feeling that the writer's
bulletin board would be a more appropriate place to find out about that!
 ------------
Category 1,  Topic 2
Message 149       Mon Dec 10, 1990
T.TYLER4 [TIM]               at 08:21 EST
 
I read more and more about Express Publisher, and satisfied customers;
however, I vote for Timeworks Publish It! Great support, great program......

[I know we're not voting here, but I had to get in a plug for my favorite
program. Thanks!]
 ------------
Category 1,  Topic 2
Message 150       Mon Dec 10, 1990
SEITZINGER [Kent]            at 10:31 EST
 
Well, you miss a day and it takes forever to read thru the messages :-).
Welcome from the left coast to all of our new members (and to those who have
been around but have just receently joined our dialogue. As is always the
case, we're gld you've decided to participate and look forward to your con-
tinued contributions. =Kent=
 ------------
Category 1,  Topic 2
Message 151       Mon Dec 10, 1990
DANTECH [Katie / PSRT]       at 15:59 EST
 
Paul, I was just in Price Club the day before yesterday. Part of the monthly
shopping ;-( which I hate, and this month there'll probably be one more trip.
(Nothing against PC; I just hate shopping. PC makes it a bit easier, in fact.)
I get a lot of my office supplies there, to the point where I get irritated
when I *can't* get them there! The big lack, for me, is printer ribbons. I
know the problem is that there are too many different ones, but if you could
put in a word for at least a few more?

Katie

 ------------
REPly to topic,   QUIt reading
STArt new topic,  #,#-# read prior
PERmanently ignore this topic
or <RETURN> to continue ?

[M}Dt9Eq] is an invalid response

REPly to topic,   QUIt reading
STArt new topic,  #,#-# read prior
PERmanently ignore this topic
or <RETURN> to continue ?
 ************
Topic 6         Tue Aug 09, 1988
J.ATTARD                     (Forwarded) 
Sub: Upcoming RTCs                          

Watch this space for news about upcoming RTCs.
4 new messages.
 ************
 ------------
Category 1,  Topic 6
Message 6         Fri Nov 30, 1990
J.WILLIAM120 [Johnny]        at 00:20 EST
 
Janet:

You have "PUBLICLY" stated (:>}) that there is no such thing as a 'dumb'
question, so here goes (I had a math teacher of the same frame of mind, and
ended up a Math m,ajor, for a while -whether the same thing will happen here
is a tad more problematical!)

I'm pushing a MAC. .ZIP is, as I understand it, a DOS arrangement. (As opposed
to the MAC .SIT, from Stuffit. I understand that there are the text versions
of the files, and I can download them (if I can find them), but, for future
<RETURN>, <S>croll, <Q>uit ?s
reference, is there a way that a MACer can undo a .ZIP (A mAC.Zipper, as 'twer
Sorry about the typing, but as you also pointed out, an expert I am not.

                            Regards - Johnny >L
 ------------
Category 1,  Topic 6
Message 7         Fri Nov 30, 1990
J.ATTARD [Janet(sysop)]      at 09:52 EST
 
Johnny, that's a good question.. and there's a good answer.... <grin>.... yes,
there is a file that unzips most text files that have been archived on DOS
machines using PKZIP.  It's called Unzip (what else!) and it's in the HOSB
library. If you can't quickly find it using the  library search option, let me
know and I"ll look up the file  number. (quickly find it means under a
minute).

To use it, make sure you do NOT turn off MacBinary, and you do NOT have your
software set to strip line feeds on incoming text.  (Those are the things that
show up as little square boxes at the beginning of lines for any Mac users who
don't know...umm.. way I know is I asked someone a "dumb" question once to
find out what the boxes were <grin>).

Make sure the zipped file is a TEXT file before you download it and not a
program file. Download the file, open the unzip program and then choose open
from the file menu and open the archived file. You'll see a list of files in 
the archive. If there's more than one text file, you can select it then look
in the menu bar until you find a menu to that says to extract files. The file
you selected will be  extracted. I think (and haven't used the program for a
while) if there is only one file in the archive, it select doesn't do
anything.. you just choose extract from the pull down menu.

The important thing to remember is the file can't be change in any way during
the download and has to be downloaded with MacBinary turned on. Every once in
a while I have gotten a file unzip won't unzip on the mac... but I suspect I
might have either had my software set to strip linefeeds, or had macbinary
turned off. Usually, though the program works. --Janet
 ------------
Category 1,  Topic 6
Message 8         Sun Dec 09, 1990
J.ATTARD [Janet(sysop)]      at 15:16 EST
 
If you're looking for a job, or for employees, come to the conference room
tonight at 10 pm EST and get tips from executive recruiter Lee Duer.
 ------------
Category 1,  Topic 6
Message 9         Sun Dec 09, 1990
S.KRAMER5 [***STAN***]       at 23:19 EST
 
For us dumb (and lazy) Mac users, could you please tell us how to locate the
HOSB library as well as the UNZIP program?  Sometimes you give us new GEnie
users too much credit (or then again, maybe you don't) for knowing how to get
around. 

Thanks Janet.  Regards, Stan
 ------------
REPly to topic,   QUIt reading
STArt new topic,  #,#-# read prior
PERmanently ignore this topic
or <RETURN> to continue ?
 ************
Topic 9         Fri Dec 07, 1990
E.LEEK1                      at 23:21 EST
Sub: democratic party                       

As a long time Democrat, I'm wooried we'll have no one decent running for Pre 
President in 1992.  Any body have any good ideas?*s
2 new messages.
 ************
 ------------
Category 1,  Topic 9
Message 1         Sat Dec 08, 1990
PHOTOBASE2 [John Crane]      at 00:17 EST
 
Hmmm... trying to rememeber when the Democrats last ran anyone decent for
President. Stevenson, maybe? :-)
 ------------
Category 1,  Topic 9
Message 2         Sat Dec 08, 1990
J.ATTARD [Janet(sysop)]      at 01:24 EST
 
E.Leek: This one is a topic for the Public Forum, (also Star*Service.. type
*PF to get there).
<RETURN>, <S>croll, <Q>uit ?s
 ------------

Topic 9 has been closed.  No replies allowed

 ************
Topic 10        Sat Oct 06, 1990
J.ATTARD [Janet(sysop)]      at 13:10 EDT
Sub: Where to find the HOSB library & RTCs..

There's lots more to the HOSB than just this bulletin board.  Here's how to
find it....
3 new messages.
 ************
 ------------
Category 1,  Topic 10
Message 7         Sat Dec 08, 1990
E.EKLUND                     at 03:12 EST
 
So how do you find the HOSB library, I think that is an excellent  question,
and I would really like to know the answer.
 ------------
Category 1,  Topic 10
Message 8         Sat Dec 08, 1990
HOLLY2                       at 10:46 EST
 
At any prompt, type  M371   and you are in the HOSB Library :)
 ------------
REPly to topic,   QUIt reading
STArt new topic,  #,#-# read prior
PERmanently ignore this topic
or <RETURN> to continue ?
 ************
Topic 11        Sat Aug 19, 1989
J.ATTARD [Janet(sysop)]      at 23:42 EDT
Sub: uploading messages to the bbs          

Save money by writing your bulletin board messages off line and  uploading
them to the bulletin board.  Here's how:
5 new messages.
 ************
 ------------
Category 1,  Topic 11
Message 18        Fri Nov 30, 1990
J.WILLIAM120 [Johnny]        at 00:36 EST
 
Janet:

Getting bold, in my old age. RE: Mac formating for GEnie.  There is a
Shareware DA called miniWRITER, which will do two important things:
    1. It will remove the Smart Quotes
    2. It will insert the <CR> at the number of characters the user specifies.
    3. It also will REMOVE <CR.s which may be in something which one would
       admire to include, from another source, for uploading.

<RETURN>, <S>croll, <Q>uit ?s
I have not had the nerve to look at the program libraries, but if it is not 
there, it should be.

                            Regards - Johnny
 ------------
Category 1,  Topic 11
Message 19        Fri Nov 30, 1990
J.ATTARD [Janet(sysop)]      at 09:57 EST
 
Hmmm, sounds like the've made some improvements to miniwriter since I last
looked at it.  It used to always remove smart quotes, but  I didn't know it
inserted carriage returns or removed linefeeds. (Haven't looked at in in quite
a while!). Do you know if it still lets  you have only one file open at a
time? I remember that being one reason I never used it much.

Another text DA a lot of people like is McSink (also shareware).  It will do
things like strip linefeeds from text, add them, add or strip prefix or suffix
strings, and do a lot of other neat tricks. But I don't think it automatically
word wraps. In the last version I saw, if you typed a line, instead of
wrapping to the next line the text kept going in one long string until you hit
a carriage return, or chose an optio nfrom the menu to make the text fit in
the window.

If we don't have those two programs here in the HOSB library, I'm sure they
are both in the Macintosh library. --Janet
 ------------
Category 1,  Topic 11
Message 20        Fri Nov 30, 1990
J.WILLIAM120 [Johnny]        at 20:05 EST
 
Janet:

miniWriter does not (at least the version I have) allow more than one window,
but that can be solved; I merely operated on a COPY with ResEdit,  calling it
mimiWriter TOO, and, in a nonce, two windows. Granted, a 19" TPD is useful
when playing with GEnie at the same time. However, till I operated, I just
used MacWrite II as an 'enhanced 'clipboard', as 'twer.
                            Regards - Johnny
 ------------
Category 1,  Topic 11
Message 21        Sat Dec 01, 1990
J.ATTARD [Janet(sysop)]      at 01:49 EST
 
I kind of use Word as an enhanced clip board ...Multifinder and HandOffII make
it easy to jump back and forth between my comm program and  word processor
when I have to. Most of the time I just type messages directly on line,
though, which is why there's usually so many typos :(
 ------------
Category 1,  Topic 11
Message 22        Sun Dec 09, 1990
S.KRAMER5 [***STAN***]       at 23:24 EST
 
Does Macify do the same thing as miniWriter?
 ------------
REPly to topic,   QUIt reading
STArt new topic,  #,#-# read prior
PERmanently ignore this topic
or <RETURN> to continue ?
 ************
Topic 13        Sat Dec 08, 1990
F.ANGEL1                     at 12:39 EST
Sub: Bulk Mail Preperation Software         

We use a database to sort zip codes, but still have to hand-sort all the  sub-
catagories necessary tprepair mailing to qualify for Bulk Rate. Is there any
software out there that will do the whole job?
5 new messages.
 ************
 ------------
Category 1,  Topic 13
Message 1         Sat Dec 08, 1990
F.ANGEL1                     at 13:07 EST
 
We're a small business that uses a database to sort a small mailing list by
zip code when we do Bulk Mailings (US Post Office).  Unfortunately, the Post
Office specifications to qualify quantities of mail for the  bulk rate are
myriad and complicated, to say the least.  So far, we  only been able to get
our database to sort the 5 digit zip, but not the further, more complicated 3
digit sort and the bundling by pieces and  weight.  Certainly there must be
other folks out there who have the  ssame problems and, like us are looking
for a complete Mailing  Software module that would use our existing databases
<RETURN>, <S>croll, <Q>uit ?s
so that information  wouldn't have to be re-entered, and could then do a
mailing from top to bottom,sorting by 5 digit, 3 digit, mixed city, zip plus
4, and then by piece, demarcating the exact pieces that go in each bundle, its
 POticker and then by bag.  Such a program would ask for the weight of  each
piece and thenigure the total cost anproduce a report that  would allow the
user to correctly fill out the post office form.

This is a very complicated process (and frought with many places to err only
one of which can disqualify an entire mailing for the lower rate I had to do
it when two of our workers were out at the same time, and  I don't consider
myself illiterate, but that's how I felt when I tried to comprehend the
specification book that the PO suppli for  enlightenment.  Surely a computer
program could handle this better than having workers try an conform a raw
straight zip into the c catagories required by the PO.

Anyone know of a solution here?



 ------------
Category 1,  Topic 13
Message 2         Sat Dec 08, 1990
J.ATTARD [Janet(sysop)]      at 14:16 EST
 
That's a pretty complete description of what you need, but there are two
things you left out that anyone will need if they do know of  programs that
might help: The type of machine you are using and the name of your existing
database.  If you know what formats your existing database exports in (eg: tab
delimited, comma delimited, etc.) it would help too. --Janet
 ------------
Category 1,  Topic 13
Message 3         Sat Dec 08, 1990
J-V-K [Joni]                 at 18:34 EST
 
F. Angel... I'm not sure which database you are using, but the one I have used
forever will sort down several fields... I never did any hand sorting... File
Express is the one I use and it is shareware.

= JOni =
 ------------
Category 1,  Topic 13
Message 4         Sat Dec 08, 1990
J-V-K [Joni]                 at 20:32 EST
 
Hi again F.Angel...

I had mentioned in an earlier post today that I have used File Express.  This
database will let you actually *specify* how deep you want to sort on each
field, so you could actually sort down 3 instead of 5 (being the whole zip#). 
This is a flat management program, not relational, but it has served my
applications (tons of them over the years) * VERY WELL *!  Let me take a look
around and see if I can find it for you... will let you know.  Better yet, if
I can, will upload it.

Yep, Janet did mention we need to know your platform, I was assuming -- IBM ---
please let us know.  Thanks!

= Joni =

 ------------
Category 1,  Topic 13
Message 5         Sun Dec 09, 1990
DANTECH [Katie / PSRT]       at 03:17 EST
 
If you are willing to do a tiny bit of work, any of the programmable databases
or db languages should handle this in a snap! In fact, I'm surprised there
aren't a dozen set just to do that. Hmmmm... may be a program idea here for
me! ;-> Clarion or dBase or Paradox or any of them should work nicely; in
fact, with Clarion you wouldn't even need the whole package! Just the Report
Writer could do it handily.

The ones I've mentioned are DOS based, because that's what I use. But in my
checkered past <g> I did some contract work on Macs for a community college,
so I *know* there are Mac programs that would work equally well. Double Helix
springs to mind for starters.

Katie
 ------------
REPly to topic,   QUIt reading
STArt new topic,  #,#-# read prior
PERmanently ignore this topic
or <RETURN> to continue ?