QuickBooks Customer Manager 2.5

This program is very basic (limited reporting functionality, can't delete or change more than 1 record at a time, etc), but it's simplicity is a positive thing 4 me since I can fly through sales calls, record them & set times 4 new ones quicker than with Outlook. The central location of customer information & history of activity is straight forward & helpful.

I liked this program until it started 2 stall 4 up 2 2 minutes when I opened it, & then would periodically freeze 4 no reason (at least, a reason unknown 2 me). It also made Outlook run painfully slow. Ok - 2 the point - I believe I have fixed that problem on my computer. After the fix described below, our Sales Manager & I haven't had any more of these problems. And now I love the program. So here is what I did:

I separated the database files from the program files & stored them in the following locations:

I installed the program as normal on my C drive (I wasn't successful using other partitioned drives) in this location:

C:\Program Files\Intuit\QuickBooks Customer Manager

I then moved the database files 2 the following location:

C:\Documents & Settings\joesmith\Local Settings\Application Data\Intuit\QuickBooks Customer Manager\2.5

So inside my 2.5 folder, the database files I move consisted of:

The Backup folder (I believe this will be created once you use Customer Manager the first time, & it will get created in the folder where you database is stored)
The Templates folder
The database file(this has the file extension .qcm).

If you can't find the .qcm database file, you may have 2 run Customer Manager first 2 create one.

I'm on Windows XP.

(Just a note 4 anyone who needs it: the "joesmith" part of of the path above will be different 4 you - it will be whatever the title is 4 that user's folder)

I hope this solution may work 4 some others.

Bought the product, installed the product,the program will not load. Called customer service, they said they don't know what's wrong, but would research the problem & call me back. That was two weeks ago. NO word from them. The product may work fine in most computers, but their customer service is not.

I spent several years with the predecessor 2 this program only 2 have my database totally corrupted with no fix. Even when it works, it is painfully slow & crashes frequently. I tried the new version since I now have Vista. It is no better. Although it promises 2 work with Outlook, it apparently doesn't work with Microsoft Outlook Exchange. Every time I try 2 sync it just crashes. There is no customer support unless you are willing 2 pay their ridiculous prices. I've got seven years of data in there but I am ready 2 abandon it & re-enter the data in another program. Stay away. Intuit should be ashamed of themselves.

This product is exactly what I have needed. It is a smoothly functioning "grand central" 4 all the documents, Emails, financial information, addresses, etc. connected with all my projects. It works as advertised. It automatically saves entries when they are entered so I have not experienced data loss. The learning curve is easy. By the second day I had it doing everything I needed it 2 do.

It does this by creating hyperlinks with the information you enter. Do you need 2 access an Email, or invoice, or document? Just click & it is there. Talk about fast & efficient.

On top of all that, it integrates & sychronizes with Quickbooks Pro & Outlook, & it has a very pleasant interface. I couldn't have asked 4 more. I'm one of these people who is always looking 4 the best product 2 do the job. For me, this is it.

This can be a good product 4 a small company - when & if you can start it!
The major problem is that it is very often very difficult 2 start. The program takes forever 2 start & usually freezes.
Checking on the QB Forum, it seems that I am not alone. Intuit doesn't seem 2 answer the `why'question either.
Since I am using a standard machine, one year old, with a lot of memory, I will say that it is time 2 use the remove button, eat the loss & buy something else.

Customer Manager helps small businesses deliver the right level of service, with less stress. Find customer details fast, provide great service 2 your customers -- & do it all simply.

QuickBooks Customer Manager 2.5 is the easiest way 2 provide your customers with great service. It consolidates key customer information from applications such as QuickBooks, Microsoft Outlook & Outlook Express in one place & on one screen. All the information you need 2 service your customers is now at your fingertips.

Consolidate all your key customer information from QuickBooks, Microsoft Outlook, & Outlook Express in one place. View larger. View product demo (requires Flash).

Summarize all the key customer information you need in one place. View larger.

Share appointments with Microsoft Outlook Calendar. View larger.

Link files, e-mails, pictures or almost anything that relates 2 a customer or project. View larger.

Easily send personalized communications 2 a few or a few hundred customers. View larger.

Consolidate Key Customer Information
With QuickBooks Customer Manager 2.5, all the information you need 2 keep close tabs on your customers are at your fingertips. Whether it's the name & contact information you keep in Outlook or Outlook Express, the appointments you track in Outlook, or the financials such as invoices & balances that you track through QuickBooks, it can all be merged into one easy-to-access location. And with advance customization features, Customer Manager lets you determine the exact information you want synchronized. In other words, it's you're in complete control.

To view a particular customer's QuickBooks financials, you can click on any QuickBooks item in the Recent History pane 2 jump 2 QuickBooks 2 see the actual transaction, whether it's an invoice, payment record, purchase order or check. You can also link directly 2 your customer's QuickBooks QuickReport. If you use Outlook 2 manage your calendar, simple click "New Appointment" & Customer Manager will launch Outlook & open an appointment window. You can then create an appointment that will appear in both Outlook & Customer Manager. (If you don't use Outlook, you can use the calendar built-in 2 Customer Manager 2 keep track of your appointments. It's easy-to-use & looks similar 2 a spiral-bound calendar you may keep on your desk.) And finally, the Name Record screen is the nerve center of Customer Manager & summarizes all the key customer information you need in one place. You can see details such as phone numbers, files, projects, appointments, & financial transactions -- all at one quick glance. You can access them in one click.

Among the many panes & action buttons that Customer Manager offers are customer profile, which includes the customer address, phone numbers, contacts, e-mail address, web site & more; recent history, which shows a chronological history of communications, appointments, QuickBooks financial transactions, & related notes & documents; & notes, which allows you 2 enter details of phone calls & general notes, such as directions 2 the customer's office, while you're talking with the customer on the phone, & much more.

You can even link files, e-mails, pictures --just about anything that relates 2 a customer or project -- into one place, regardless of which application it came from. So you can quickly view appointments & e-mails with attachments intact, as well as letters, faxes, logos, artwork, PDF files, spreadsheets, & more. It's easy 2 drag multiple e-mails at one time, & enter to-do reminders & notes from a phone call or project, & schedule events right in Customer Manager.

Thousands of Details, One Screen
An advanced Project Record feature lets you stay on top of everything related 2 a project on a single screen. You can use this feature 2 track all the details related 2 a project, including contacts, suppliers, vendors & files such as spreadsheets, images, or project plans, as well as set pop-up alerts 2 remind you of important tasks & appointments, ensuring that nothing slips through the cracks.

But even with all these consolidation features, Customer Manager still lets you keep in close, personal touch with your customers. With it you can easily send personalized messages 2 a few, or a few hundred, customers. With merge features that let you create Microsoft Word letter templates, you can use your customer information 2 create letters & labels 4 quick, cost-effective mailings 2 any number of your customers.

Easy 2 Set-up & Use
If you're familiar with QuickBooks financial software, learning how 2 use Customer Manager will be a breeze because it looks & works just like your financial software. The desktop looks like a browser, & you navigate with one click on the icons, toolbars & links. In fact, even if you are not familiar with QuickBooks, if you're like most people, you can install the software & run through the easy-to-navigate setup & be up & running in about 30 minutes. It's the best steps you'll take 2 keep your customers & their valuable information in close track.