Having trouble keeping up with Pre-Orders?

[lcummins]

I know a lot of you pre-order product from a lot of different places and if you're like me, I have a hard time keeping up with them sometimes. Some people use Excel, some write them down, others just wait for the charges to occur.

So, since I was having a hard time keeping up with my pre-orders and when things were supposed to arrive and be charged, I created a quick little program to help. This was only done in Microsoft Access, and if I had more time and energy, I would probably write it in VB.NET and make it a real, full-featured software. As it is, it does the job nicely (for me anyway) and I thought some of you might like to use it as well.

It uses Microsoft Access 2003 and was created while running Windows XP Professional. I have not tested it with other operating systems or versions of Access, but it should work under Access XP (2002), Windows 2000, and about any other combination of the above... but I make no guarantees.

There is a version of the program for people who already have Access 2003, and a version that includes the Runtime version of Access 2003 (which I have a license to distribute, so it is legal).

You can view and print your pre-orders in several ways and reports will subtotal by Retailer and Month.

Here are some screen shots...

Main Switchboard...

Orders form...

Sample Report...

You are welcome to use it if you like, and even make suggestions for improvements or additions, but I can't guarantee I would have the time to get to all suggestions. If you do decide to try it, please let me know of any bugs, errors or just plain annoyances you encounter.

You can download it from my web site. A Microsoft Word "install and user guide" (very basic) is included in both downloads. You can get a free Word Viewer from Microsoft's site if you don't own Word.

Microsoft Word 2003 Viewer...

https://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=95E24C87-8732-48D5-8689-AB826E7B8FDF&displaylang=en



Here is the basic program files if you ALREADY own Access 2003...

https://www.non-sport-cards.com/PreOrders/PreOrders.zip 1.54MB

Here is the version which includes the Access Runtime files, and has a complete setup routine; you can also use this version even if you have Access 2003...

https://www.non-sport-cards.com/PreOrders/PreOrders_Setup.zip 35.4MB


One last, very important thing... this is a pretty simple program, and I have tested it fairly well for the basic tasks it is supposed to do. It is safe to use and shouldn't cause you any problems, especially on XP systems, but I make no guarantees or take any responsibility for the use of this program. I will try to help if you run into any issues, but I'm not a support specialist, so I may not be able to help you.

Let me know what you think if you decide to try it.

 

[Cocoboloboy]

Great idea!

 

[DarthNeil]

Awesome work--- I might take you up on that especially with the deluge that'll be coming over the summer months.

 

[TheObsoleteMan]

I just write down my orders in a little notebook.

 

[JABBATHERIDGE]

I may well use this down the road, at the moment I've only got three preorders as I'm scaling back for other priorities.

Great idea though

 

[Bannister]

I just sign in to my Sideshow account.

 

[Mudshark]

Great idea, unfortunately Windows won't work for me! I've also been keeping all my preorders in notebooks and WP docs for the past few years and it works okay, but it would be great to have a management tool like this! Oh well....

 

[Memnoch]

I will def be putting this on my desk top when I get home. I know that Im a good one for forgetting what I have on order where. Its always a suprise when I see a package I hadn't thought about or a charge appear out of nowhere (Entertainment Earth, Im lookin at you).

 

[Darklord Dave]

I used to double order stuff all the time when I was buying action figures. But now I prevent that from ordering different stuff from different sources. SSC gets my Sideshow orders, AlterEgo my DCD and Bob my Gentle Giant. Haven't had a double order in months!

But this looks like a great solution for pre-order tracking.

 

[lcummins]

Great idea, unfortunately Windows won't work for me! I've also been keeping all my preorders in notebooks and WP docs for the past few years and it works okay, but it would be great to have a management tool like this! Oh well....

Sorry... I only do Windows!

 

[lcummins]

If anyone wants to review the Word document before downloading or installing, you can find it here...

Quick Guide

 

[tylerd]

I know a lot of you pre-order product from a lot of different places and if you're like me, I have a hard time keeping up with them sometimes. Some people use Excel, some write them down, others just wait for the charges to occur.

So, since I was having a hard time keeping up with my pre-orders and when things were supposed to arrive and be charged, I created a quick little program to help. This was only done in Microsoft Access, and if I had more time and energy, I would probably write it in VB.NET and make it a real, full-featured software. As it is, it does the job nicely (for me anyway) and I thought some of you might like to use it as well.

It uses Microsoft Access 2003 and was created while running Windows XP Professional. I have not tested it with other operating systems or versions of Access, but it should work under Access XP (2002), Windows 2000, and about any other combination of the above... but I make no guarantees.

There is a version of the program for people who already have Access 2003, and a version that includes the Runtime version of Access 2003 (which I have a license to distribute, so it is legal).

You can view and print your pre-orders in several ways and reports will subtotal by Retailer and Month.

Here are some screen shots...

Main Switchboard...

Orders form...

Sample Report...

You are welcome to use it if you like, and even make suggestions for improvements or additions, but I can't guarantee I would have the time to get to all suggestions. If you do decide to try it, please let me know of any bugs, errors or just plain annoyances you encounter.

You can download it from my web site. A Microsoft Word "install and user guide" (very basic) is included in both downloads. You can get a free Word Viewer from Microsoft's site if you don't own Word.

Microsoft Word 2003 Viewer...

https://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=95E24C87-8732-48D5-8689-AB826E7B8FDF&displaylang=en



Here is the basic program files if you ALREADY own Access 2003...

https://www.non-sport-cards.com/PreOrders/PreOrders.zip 1.54MB

Here is the version which includes the Access Runtime files, and has a complete setup routine; you can also use this version even if you have Access 2003...

https://www.non-sport-cards.com/PreOrders/PreOrders_Setup.zip 35.4MB


One last, very important thing... this is a pretty simple program, and I have tested it fairly well for the basic tasks it is supposed to do. It is safe to use and shouldn't cause you any problems, especially on XP systems, but I make no guarantees or take any responsibility for the use of this program. I will try to help if you run into any issues, but I'm not a support specialist, so I may not be able to help you.

Let me know what you think if you decide to try it.

AWESOME program lonnie. thanks. will the basic program work if you only have access xp, which i think was the previous version?

 

[lcummins]

AWESOME program lonnie. thanks. will the basic program work if you only have access xp, which i think was the previous version?

It should... although I haven't tested it. The database is in Access 2002-2003 format and I know that it will open in Access XP (2002). I don't think I used any functions or code specific to 2003, so it should work. I'll try to test it out and see... I'll post in a bit once I know.

 

[The ill Jedi]

That is Awesome Lonnie, I keep track of ordered thru my email, but I'd love to have something with more detail like this and helps me figure out how I'm paying for this stuff!

 

[lcummins]

Hey tylerd, I just tried it using Access XP (2002) and it worked fined, so you should have no trouble.


For anyone who is going to try the program or use it...

I just thought of something however... if on first opening the program, you receive a Microsoft warning dialog box about "unsafe expressions", you will have a choice about enabling or disabling functions, etc. This is a Microsoft security setting they was introduced in Access 2003, making some database functions no longer work. If this is the only Access database/program you will be using, it is safe to enable the functions. If you are using other third-party Access databases/programs, then it will be up to you to decide. I have a Word document that goes into a lot more detail about the issue if anyone wants it... just PM me. You may not get the warning at all... if you don't, then nevermind!

 

[RoboDad]

Looks like a great program Lonnie, but I have a slight problem. I tried to install the program to a drive other than c:, and it won't run. I get an error that C:\Program Files\PreOrders\PreOrders_be.mdb is not a valid path.

 

[lcummins]

Looks like a great program Lonnie, but I have a slight problem. I tried to install the program to a drive other than c:, and it won't run. I get an error that C:\Program Files\PreOrders\PreOrders_be.mdb is not a valid path.

Yeah, that is the "linked" tables problem. I'll send you a PM...


If anyone else encounters this, it is covered in the Word document. If you can't get it corrected, just shoot me a PM and I will help you out.

See... I told you it wasn't "real" software.

 

[Darth Loki]

Very kick ass. Thanks Lonnie. I'm gonna try to set this up this weekend.

Kinda makes my Excel spreadsheet look silly


Would it be possible to create something like this for products you currently own as well (kinda for insurance purposes)?

 

[Kabukiman]

Great idea, unfortunately Windows won't work for me!

This could be very simple to make in Filemaker Pro or Appleworks. I don't do enough preorders to require such an application, but if enough freaks requested it, I could make something up in Filemaker Pro or Appleworks.

I could make the Filemaker app a runtime so you wouldn't need Filemaker to use it, plus it would be compatible with Windows and Mac. But only if there's a demand, and lonnie doesn't mind me blatantly ripping off his app.

 

[lcummins]

This could be very simple to make in Filemaker Pro or Appleworks. I don't do enough preorders to require such an application, but if enough freaks requested it, I could make something up in Filemaker Pro or Appleworks.

I could make the Filemaker app a runtime so you wouldn't need Filemaker to use it, plus it would be compatible with Windows and Mac. But only if there's a demand, and lonnie doesn't mind me blatantly ripping off his app.

Well, mine was originally done just for me, so I wouldn't go so far as calling it an "app"! But by all means, go for it if enough people want it. I've only had limited experience with Macs, so I wouldn't have a clue if this could be ported over to Office for the Mac (is Access in Mac Office?).