BTW, we also run this on SBS Std and Premium servers for clients as well. Ours is on a Virtual Server, but we have installed it in most any environment. Express will only address 1 gig of memory which we found started hurting performance when everyone was in the system. We moved ours to SQL Std and a huge performance increase. Also your Office 2007 and BCM tend to hang everynow and then for a few seconds in Outlook as it exchanges data. Just something we have gotten used to.
We also have it running on TS 2003, which it does not support. BCM will only run in cached mode. The trick to getting around this is to login to the TS as mstsc /console, log in as the user and configure your Outlook in cached. Next time they login normally they can access BCM through Outlook. User has to be in local admin group to console in, but then just remove them afterwards. There is a slight performance hit, but it works very well. Everynow and then they lose the Cache settings, but we just login and check the box again through the console. May not work for everyone, but its been working for 6 mos for us with nero zero problems after moving to Std. Express works well for most all of our other clients. Greg From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, February 08, 2008 6:00 PM To: NT System Admin Issues Subject: RE: Small Office Collaboration Using Action Pack Software Sorry I just got in. There is a tool for installing BCM as a standalone SQL 2005 DB, most commonly done on express, doing it on STD requires a bit of tweaking and manual permission giving. http://www.microsoft.com/Downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=b8e7aa0f-f593-4 fb4-b822-dd662af1a6cb&displaylang=en Very straight forward. Install express as default instance or named, Create the DB to your instance, share it, assign the domain users and their roles. (All done in the tool itself) Goto the client workstation, install BCM 2007 with or without Office Accounting, and advanced setup, Server and DB selection. If you are going to do Accounting there is a DB merge process which migrates both individual databases into one for a singular Accounts and Business Contacts. Everything time tracking is primarily done through BCM in Outlook, although you have the ability to create in accounting as well and the accountants or bookkeepers work in Accounting. You have to have accounting installed on the local workstations to integrate the Time Tracking and Accounting into the backend. Feel free to shoot with questions, I have been playing with it for a year now and there are some quirks, but we bill 5 techs at 25 - 30 hours + per week and one accounting person on the backend to handle all the invoicing. If you are used to QB, Accounting 2007 takes some retraining and there are lots of take for granted with QB that's not there in 2007, but they add some very nice features. To clarify the Action pack gives you one server license of each and 10 cals for each product in the grouping. I think you also get a cold server license but don't quote me on that. You definitely don't have front/end back end and multiple server rights, unless they revamped it with the latest Jan TOS. At least that's what my local partner manager has informed us as, I guess I need to go read the specifics for myself. Greg From: Jim Majorowicz [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, February 08, 2008 2:17 PM To: NT System Admin Issues Subject: RE: Small Office Collaboration Using Action Pack Software Greg do you have time to explain how you've configured BCM for multiple users? I know it can be done, but I thought the database had to run on a workstation. From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, February 08, 2008 6:00 AM To: NT System Admin Issues Subject: RE: Small Office Collaboration Using Action Pack Software We are using BCM 2007 on a SQL backend. We get everything but the link to the website. All of our schedules/calendar etc on a central public calendar. Our dispatcher assigns events to individuals through Outlook and when they are done they update the event with the Billable information. BCM link directly tied in. The guys/gals create time entries, assign the work they did and the billable code(or not) and submit the time. The accounting backend converts those time entries to invoices(Very easy) and then they are sent out as statements or Emails. Outlook integration for Accounts and Contacts, not to mention a nice front end in Outlook for snapshot views on Financial status, client status, etc. The next step to this is CRM, since it essentially the baby version of it. You get a 10 license version of this with the AP. The only real drawback is you have to use Office Accounting 2007 which is not as refined as QB, Peachtree, etc. (No batch sending of invoices via Email, is one for example) The 2008 version is much nicer, did the beta for it; although it has not been released to the Action Pack yet. Greg From: Joseph L. Casale [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, February 07, 2008 11:03 PM To: NT System Admin Issues Subject: RE: Small Office Collaboration Using Action Pack Software Define integration between "exchange, outlook"? I used the MAP ages ago at a company I worked at but I think they give you the MS apps. Are you limited to a Windows application? jlc From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, February 07, 2008 8:15 PM To: NT System Admin Issues Subject: Small Office Collaboration Using Action Pack Software Hi all, We have a small IT consulting company that is on the growth and bogged down. I need to implement some sort of solution for collaboration and synchronization with the software that come with the Action Pack. We are currently testing Exchange 2003, and will probably end up using it, but also need a web based solution to: Keep track of companywide calendar including where techs are when for the coordinator. Keep track of leads that come in. Follow up with customers. Be reminded to create invoices for customers. Be reminded to follow up with customers due for checkups. Be expandable. Ideally, all this would tie between exchange, outlook, web, and the magical solution. CRM come to mind but I know it's near impossible to setup and since not many use it, limited user support. Anyone have any ideas?! Dave =================================== Beach Computers Affordable Hosting Solutions http://www.beachcomp.com =================================== Cheap Domain Warehouse Get Your Own Dot! http://www.cheapdomainwarehouse.com ------------------------------------ Disclaimer and confidentiality note: The contents of this communication are intended/meant only for addressee(s) and may contain information that is privileged or otherwise confidential. If you are not the intended recipient you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or taking any action in reliance on the contents of this information is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. The contents of this e-mail shall not be forwarded to any third party. 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