It’s worth checking out!

The tool came about when Graham, from the Brandstar and pctoolbox team, noticed that many people want a simple tool that can be used for storing information such as; people’s contact details so they can print off labels at Christmas or email address’s for email newsletters.

The database has many features:

• Easily store Friends, Family, Customers, Subscribers or Supporters Contact Details: Name, Address, Phone, Email, Website etc.
• Sort users by first/last name
• Easily add/edit/delete records from a simple user friendly interface
• Print individual records
• Print labels of those registered to receive a newsletter
• Email direct from the system those who you have registered to receive an email newsletter
  • These emails are sent BBC (Blind Carbon Copy) so that you are not spreading everyone’s email address
• Search Contacts
• The latest version (1.2 standard) comes with a new style user interface, just as easy to use as before, but a bit more … interesting!
• And most importantly….it’s free!!

Now you know what it is, I better tell you how to use it……

How to add a contact:

Adding a contact is extremely simple, firstly open your database. You will then see a similar screen to the one below, (To make the picture larger click on the image)

Then click the ‘Add New Contact’ button.

Then just add the contact details of the new contact. If you wish for the contact to be added to the newsletter and/or email newsletter just tick the box.

It’s so easy it’s scary!

Edit Contact Details:

If you thought adding a contact was easy you’ll be shocked how easy it is to edit a contact. All you do is click on one piece of the contacts information from the list of All Contacts, for example their first name, so that the information appears in the boxes above.

Then just change the information that you wish to change, done, it will automatically save those changes when you move away from the contacts details to do something else, or when you close the program.

Delete Contact Details:

Click on the contact like above so the details are shown in the main form.

Then simply click ‘Delete Contact’.

To confirm you wish to delete the record click yes on the small window that appears.

Print Record:

Click on the contact so that their details appear on the information boxes, e.g. First Name, Last Name, Address 1 etc. Then click ‘Print Record’.

Print Labels:

By clicking ‘Print Labels’ you will be able to print off all the name/addresses of all those that have had the newsletter box ticked. The program is set to use Avery Label layout L7160.

Email Newsletter:

If you click ‘Email Newsletter’ the application will open up a window with the addresses all added and ready to send to. All you’ll need to do is type the newsletter! (Unfortunately this will not work with web based email systems like Gmail, Yahoo or Hotmail)

Sort:

You can sort your contacts by first or last name by clicking on the drop down and selecting.

Close Program:

To close the program safely click ‘Close Program’.

Please let us know what you think of the Address Book and How we can make it even better!

The more observent reader will notice the “search” feature in some of the screenshots, this didn’t quite make it into the 1.2 release but is a sign of more to come

Download the latest Address Book Database v1.2standard here

Please let us know if you have any thoughts!

You don’t even need to own Microsoft Access to use this tool, you can simple download and install the free Runtime environment and the Access database will run!

Well worth checking out: Brandstar Address Book Tool : Standard Edition

Utter Access – A fantastic support forum for any Microsoft Access Database queries. A very active forum that we have used a number of times when developing Access Applications.

DevShed – This site initially started as a support site for developers working with amongst others: PHP, ASP, C, C++ and Java, but has grown significantly over the last 4-5 years. You can now find virtually any technical answer on the Devshed site or across their network which includes ASPFree, DevHardware, SEO Chat and more. They also all have forums which are very active with some very talented members willing to help.

SmallBizServer – A support site dedicated to helping users having problems with their Small Business Server. A free site although there is a subscription option to get access to some of the premium tutorials which are well worth having access to if you are running a Small Business Server yourself.

Experts Exchange – A support forum that covers virtually everything to do with computers, networks, operating systems, software applications etc! It is free to register but if you want to ask a question you need to have points to give the expert who helps. To get these points you either need to pay for a Premium Membership or be an Expert yourself and earn these points. You can have a 30 day trial so certainly worth checking out.

SurFTP.com – A Web Based FTP site. So if you can’t get access to your FTP program for some reason then this is an alternative. Upload and Download files freely! Also useful if you are demonstrating a website for a client on site and they don’t have a FTP package installed (well why would they!) and you need to make a change! Easy, SurFTP’it !

WAMPServer – Getting a little bit more technical. For those wanting to develop PHP & MySQL on their local machine you can use WAMPServer which will install the Apache WebServer, PHP and MySql easily so that you can test these dynamic database driven websites without having to constantly upload the changes! Very useful.

Mod_ReWrite Tool – Getting even more technical then! With dynamic URL’s not being liked by google for SEO it is becoming common practise to develop sites with SEO friendly URL’s. How to do that with a dynamic site? Use a Mod ReWrite rule in the .htaccess file. For newbies writing these the task can be daunting but this website writes them for you! Fantastic!

Nilpo.com – The name of this site doesn’t mean much! But it is the blog of a self proclaimed Windows Guru! But I have to agree he is pretty good A number of great posts covering Windows, Office and some Other Microsoft technologies.

Google Adwords Keyword Tool - Anyone managing a Google Adwords account will know that knowing what best keywords to use are can be difficult and really make you think. Google Adwords Keyword Tool is an excellent tool to help! Worth checking out

We might add to this as we come across other sites worth putting here. If we added every site we liked it would take a really long time to write! So we will just add the best of the lot!

Any suggestions just shout and we will consider adding it to the list.

Thanks, Graham.