Blog Archives

Version 11.0.0.9

25/11/2014

Cloud support for group SMS messaging

We've developed a tool: [Email 2 SMS] which allows you to send group text messages (using your smartphone plan allowance) from SalesPartner-Cloud. You can see the additional option in the Send SMS interface. Reports suggest that SMS is an effective method of communication for real estate marketing. With the proliferation of All-you-can-eat TXT plans available, you could save hundreds of dollars a month in comparison with using pay-per-message SMS services. As a bonus, your message will appear to have been sent from your phone and therefore you'll receive SMS replies directly.

Send hundreds of TXTs using your plan allowance (not pay per message).

Note: SMS events are recorded as activity. Always include "Opt Out" advice - electronic messages act compliance (feature available). Cloud / Send via email support available on demand. Additional settings required. Android handset required.

Tabletization

SalesPartner uses screen resolution and multiple monitor detection to determine whether to display Tabs in addition to the main menu buttons. If you have multiple monitors, Tabs are enabled which will allow you to un-dock components and operate SalesPartner on multiple screens. If your resolution suggests that you are running SalesPartner on a Tablet, then the Tabs are hidden to afford better screen real estate economy.

Other updates:

Gallery Bedrooms filter layout adjusted.

When you edit Plain Text email templates, merge field handling has been fixed.

SalesPartner now checks your current version on launch and if a newer version is available, an [Update] button will be enabled.

The Price Filter in [Contacts] now only accepts numerical input. The scale of this screen has been enlarged to match the counterpart filter in [Gallery].

The action button panel in [Contacts] has been anchored to the right corner instead of floating. This will help target accuracy and build familiarity between core screens.

In [To-Do List] a bevel has been removed, and the date filter panel now collapses and restores correctly when you uncheck [Filter by Date].

In [Add / Edit Activity] the note panel font size has been enlarged to improve accessibility.

Icon added for [Temperature] drop down options in [Listing Entry].

Version 11.0.0.8

20/11/2014

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Unconditional and Agreement date settings

NEW: You can adjust your sale date settings to suit your preferences using the new drop down menu in More -> Settings -> INI Settings -> Gallery. If you prefer to report based on Unconditional dates, you should select [Unconditional then Agreement Date] because unconditional date field support is relatively new and some of your older sale records may not contain unconditional date data. When you change your sale date preference, SalesPartner CMA sales statistics and graphs will automatically adjust to suit. Note: All sales that have been read-in from REINZ are unconditional.

In [To Do List] when you add a new activity, the record is focused. This change is noticeable when your outstanding activities exceed the display size (guilty). Instead of your new activity potentially being hidden, it is focused so that you can identify it.

When you complete an activity, your focus point is retained instead of being discarded. Focus retention was applied for record deletion events in version 11.0.0.7.

In Contacts, the [Selected] column is unavailable, to prevent you from hiding the tick box.

When you double click into a listing from the Gallery, your mouse wheel is disassociated from the Gallery (previously, your mouse wheel would scroll listings).

[Vendor -> Online Password] merge field added for plain text email, for lab use only. The standard vendor login template remains available in [Vendor Letters].

- [Select Letter] and [Settings] do not burst into full screen.

- Duplicate [Download from Realestate.co.nz] photo option removed in Gallery -> Tools.

- New version of SalesNet Client published: label syntax enhancements, tab style updates, report editing (hold Ctrl to edit), map handling updates. Search is triggered automatically by Listing Lookup. Login and configuration screens updated. Minimization of login screen disabled. Server address display refreshes instantly.

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Version 11.0.0.7

13/11/2014

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A new interface for Contacts is included in this version. This component supports touch interaction, and is different from the old version in two main ways. Instead of selecting a contact by clicking anywhere, you select contacts using their check-box. Tip: press Ctrl+A to select All

Modify columns has moved. You can quickly show and hide your preferred columns using the new tool. Tip: Drag and drop columns to reorder them. Resize columns by dragging the column dividers. Your layout and preferences will be saved for future sessions. Do not disable the <Selected> column check-box by unticking it.

These buttons have been moved to the top of the screen so that they are easier to use.

We've added a Twitter style character counter to the Contacts / Gallery Note tools, so you can tell how much room is available for your description text.

Realestate.co.nz Page Views tool now supports all categories including Rural & Commercial. To fetch page views, open the Gallery, select All listings and in Tools --> Get Page Views --> Realestate.co.nz.. Page Views are recorded as activity so they can be published in your vendor reports.

Plus various user enhancements including: Retaining focus in To Do List, Contacts & Gallery during record deletion events. Enhanced contact looking for area columns. New version of Sales-Net with added Realestate.co.nz pricing options. Website Hits interface re-branded as Page Views. Add Note Gallery & Contacts tool updated. Tap-anywhere to add note supported in Add / Edit Activity.

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The iPod of Server Computing

13/11/2014

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In 2001, the iPod redefined how people enjoy music. The same thing is happening to server computing.

The days of running an office server in the cupboard are numbered, due to the rise in popularity of Cloud based servers such as Microsoft Azure. Instead of investing in hardware, software licensing and technical support, business owners can take advantage of Cloud server computing and lease their own private Cloud based server from around $17 USD per month.

The difference between Microsoft Azure and other Cloud service providers, is the ability to quickly create your online server in minutes. Creating a new server in Azure is not unlike setting up a new notebook PC.

Creating a new server in Microsoft Azure

The benefits of putting your server in the Cloud using Microsoft Azure:

Pay-as-you-go subscriptions include hardware, software and updates.
Security and reliability (no local router, internet outage or power failure issues).
Scalability: if faster performance is required, you can allocate more power and memory.
Mobility: work from anywhere.
Reduced IT support requirements, because your server is managed by Microsoft.

What does it mean for real estate?
For SalesPartner users who migrate to the Cloud with Microsoft Azure, the opportunities are game changing. Your Cloud based server is continuously available, and hosted in a high speed data center. This means you can reliably run advanced bolt-in applications.

Additional available features include:

Vendor Log-in: invite your vendors to review their marketing activity online.
Android Server supports anytime sync for salespeople running Pocket-SalesPartner on Android smartphones and tablets.
SalesNet lets salespeople enter activity and update their listings remotely.
SalesNet-Web: a mobile optimized listing browser for tablets & smartphones.

Your salespeople can run synchronized copies of SalesPartner if they desire, or you can create user accounts with appropriate permissions to allow salespeople to work online simultaneously alongside administration and management.

SalesPartner Cloud with Microsoft Azure presents a flexible, dynamic and cost effective solution for small to large real estate offices who are looking for reliable private Cloud software options.

Key questions:

In the event of a natural disaster, how soon could your business resume operating?
Who owns your database, and if anything unexpected were to happen to your business, do you risk being shut out of your own software?
Are your systems up to date and protected from malicious software?

Retire your server
Reduce IT costs
Upgrade your server infrastructure to Microsoft Azure

Trade Me import

10/11/2014

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Some quota errors have been reported when importing listings from Trade Me. Below is an example of the error message which may appear when you attempt to download listings from Trade Me without logging in.

To fix this, make sure you tick: <Use my Trade Me account>. Then when you click <Download> You will be prompted to log into Trade Me. You can use your personal Trade Me account, and the service is free.

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Version 11.0.0.9

Cloud support for group SMS messaging

Send hundreds of TXTs using your plan allowance (not pay per message).

Tabletization

Other updates:

Version 11.0.0.8

Unconditional and Agreement date settings

Version 11.0.0.7

The iPod of Server Computing

Trade Me import

Admin
Geoff Duncan

Archives

Categories

Version 11.0.0.9

Cloud support for group SMS messaging

Send hundreds of TXTs using your plan allowance (not pay per message).

Tabletization

Other updates:

Version 11.0.0.8

Unconditional and Agreement date settings

Version 11.0.0.7

The iPod of Server Computing

Trade Me import

AdminGeoff Duncan

Archives

Categories

Admin
Geoff Duncan