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Author Topic: Need for Pinball Management software?  (Read 19017 times)

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ed12

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Re: Need for Pinball Management software?
« Reply #40 on: July 26, 2011, 07:09:01 pm »
if the truth b told i have already started a data base using it
and for more then pinball's
inculded is videogame's and now electronic pool table's
and redempition machine's
plus if u care to dig into it more u can find a out for repair sub section
ie a monitior's/driver-board's/harddrive's
u get the point
it is very handy to have when a coustmer call's u

ed
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lilshawn

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Re: Need for Pinball Management software?
« Reply #41 on: July 26, 2011, 07:41:46 pm »
speaking of which, if you click on the "price" column to sort by highest to lowest price... it will place the least digit before more digits.
It's actually sorting like it was a string (text), so low to high on the first character. Normally it's not supposed to sort by clicking on the column title, so I disabled that now.

GAH! your right!  :banghead:

EDIT: also, can you put a version or revision number on your site or the download file so we know when/if the software has been updated?  :cheers:
« Last Edit: July 26, 2011, 07:44:31 pm by lilshawn »

Pinball Wizard

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Re: Need for Pinball Management software?
« Reply #42 on: July 26, 2011, 09:16:53 pm »
Any chance of an iOS app that can sync back to the computer?
Where's my gold star :P

Cenobyte

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Re: Need for Pinball Management software?
« Reply #43 on: July 27, 2011, 03:18:13 am »
I couldn"t care less how probibly is spelled..... Three guys taking care of 30 pins on a route, doesnt require a streamlined database. 1 girl/guy
should be able to do them all. It would be almost be a insult to expect less. But supposing you need 3, a notebook, or comment section in the servce manual should suffice.
As I already said: there will be more people around that will NOT need my program, but some people asked for it, so I thought it would be a nice thing to make. I will not hold it against you if you will not use it  ;)

Any chance of an iOS app that can sync back to the computer?

Not in the near future. I am not developing in Xcode for the iOS platform so I'm not set up to make such an app at the moment.

EDIT: also, can you put a version or revision number on your site or the download file so we know when/if the software has been updated?  :cheers:
Changed that and updated the newest beta!

if the truth b told i have already started a data base using it
and for more then pinball's
Pinhead can be used for anything to want: pinball machines, arcades, redemption machines, I even created a record "Game Room" for things that can't be connected to one specific machine (i.e. "hang up Neon" or "buy new glasses for bar").

http://www.cenobyte.nl/pinhead/

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Re: Need for Pinball Management software?
« Reply #44 on: July 27, 2011, 11:05:18 am »
Beta28 uploaded, fixed a whole bunch of small issues and introduced margins for the printed output.
 :cheers:

Finding machines now got itself a separate window.

Pinball Wizard

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Re: Need for Pinball Management software?
« Reply #45 on: July 27, 2011, 10:54:25 pm »
If you have interest in having a version for iOS, especially one that can sync back to the computer and all, pm me, and we can discuss some stuff.
Where's my gold star :P

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Re: Need for Pinball Management software?
« Reply #46 on: July 28, 2011, 03:33:06 pm »
I could apply, but it would be a hell of a commute :laugh2:

Beta30 has just been uploaded: http://www.cenobyte.nl/pinhead/

Next to a bunch of bugfixes there are some new things:

- New report in Details screen shows the details of a machine

- Storing prices/cost has now been improved: amounts are stored with 2 decimals to get a better alignment in the lists

- frequently asked: the main (Details) screen now shows total cost of ownership of a machine: buying price + cost of parts and repairs are shown.

- repairs and parts list show costs

Enjoy  ;D

« Last Edit: July 28, 2011, 03:35:54 pm by Cenobyte »

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Re: Need for Pinball Management software?
« Reply #47 on: July 28, 2011, 03:34:23 pm »

I'll get it installed at home and give it a shot.  If nothing else it'll be a good way for my son to log issues with our games and me to track small parts inventory I can never seem to get right.   ;D

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Re: Need for Pinball Management software?
« Reply #48 on: July 29, 2011, 01:16:07 pm »
Just upped Beta31 with some small changes and fixes.

- Deleting a machine left it's repairs, parts, high scores and reminders behind. Fixed this
- added total repair costs and total parts costs in their listboxes
- listboxes now have custom width columns, so you can change the column width
- fixed a nasty bug that prevented you from adding a new contact and immediately adding the contact as owner/seller/etc. You'd have to open the contact screen twice and select the newly added contact again
- fixed same bug for parts

Cenobyte

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Re: Need for Pinball Management software?
« Reply #49 on: July 30, 2011, 05:25:51 pm »
Upped a new Beta and did some serious streamlining concerning inputting info. That is now a lot clearer  ;D

I think I'm reaching the point of a bug free release version here  :cheers:

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Re: Need for Pinball Management software?
« Reply #50 on: July 30, 2011, 05:39:50 pm »
Finally got to install this.  I'm poking around it now.   ;D

So far a quick couple items:

I'd change "Arcade" to "Video game" in the type pulldown in the grey area.  Here "Arcade" can refer to anything found in the arcade regardless of type.

In the Contacts there should be a column for State if possible.  In the US contacts generally have a city, state, and zip.  This only has the city and zip.

In the Find machine screen the sorting doesn't do anything.

Nice touch on the "do you want to save the unsaved data" dialog before changing screens.  If it's not retaining that when you switch off that would be a major headache.  :)
« Last Edit: July 30, 2011, 05:51:07 pm by ChadTower »

Cenobyte

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Re: Need for Pinball Management software?
« Reply #51 on: July 30, 2011, 07:05:28 pm »
I uploaded a short user manual as well, to get a quicker start  ;D


I'd change "Arcade" to "Video game" in the type pulldown in the grey area.  Here "Arcade" can refer to anything found in the arcade regardless of type.
Good point, changed that!

Quote
In the Contacts there should be a column for State if possible.  In the US contacts generally have a city, state, and zip.  This only has the city and zip.
Is it possible to put that in the address 2 line? I'm trying to keep the database fixed at this moment in time since lots of people are already inputting data and changing the database tables would require to rebuild the database.

Quote
In the Find machine screen the sorting doesn't do anything.
You're right, I switched that off because the window sorted the date and price column wrong. But I will switch it back on, since that's a minor issue.

ed12

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Re: Need for Pinball Management software?
« Reply #52 on: July 30, 2011, 08:52:53 pm »
maybe its just me ?
but when i add multi item's repaired on 1 machine
olny 1 will show up repaired ?
ie
pga
video card
power-supply
roller-ball
olny the oringal problem >video< will show ??
even when i go to edit it,it will not show the other effected repair's ?
did i mis something ?
great app btw and thk-u

ed
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Cenobyte

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Re: Need for Pinball Management software?
« Reply #53 on: July 31, 2011, 06:12:25 am »
maybe its just me ?
but when i add multi item's repaired on 1 machine
olny 1 will show up repaired ?
ie
pga
video card
power-supply
roller-ball
olny the oringal problem >video< will show ??
even when i go to edit it,it will not show the other effected repair's ?
did i mis something ?
great app btw and thk-u
Do you mean only 1 item will show in the listbox on the main screen? Because that is a small bug in the Windows version I just fixed yesterday (both in Repairs and in Parts). Should be solved with the current version you can download now.

If you mean showing the solution: that's not shown in the listbox, only the problem description.

Hopes this helps you?

ChadTower

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Re: Need for Pinball Management software?
« Reply #54 on: July 31, 2011, 09:01:32 am »
Is it possible to put that in the address 2 line? I'm trying to keep the database fixed at this moment in time since lots of people are already inputting data and changing the database tables would require to rebuild the database.


Here people will often group contacts by state rather than city.  Once the sorting works it may be common for users to want to sort their contacts by state.  Throw it in the "once I have a bunch of schema changes" list.  :)

Jim, it's probably the business people who are limiting what they can do.  I've had to make a few decisions like that based on budget more than anything else.  You just can't do what is best when you only have 75 total manhours of budget to use on a task.

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Re: Need for Pinball Management software?
« Reply #55 on: August 04, 2011, 12:15:41 pm »
Uploaded latest version (Beta49), which also provides a better filtering solution for contacts  ;D


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Re: Need for Pinball Management software?
« Reply #56 on: August 04, 2011, 01:03:33 pm »

Nice.  How should I go about installing that without touching the data?

lilshawn

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Re: Need for Pinball Management software?
« Reply #57 on: August 04, 2011, 01:47:07 pm »

Nice.  How should I go about installing that without touching the data?

right overtop of the old files.... the database is hidden away in another part of the computer... no worries!

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Re: Need for Pinball Management software?
« Reply #58 on: August 04, 2011, 03:54:18 pm »
Yep, copy all files in the ZIP over the old files. The database is in another place:


Windows 7: YourUserName > AppData > Roaming > Pinhead
Windows XP: \Documents and Settings\YourUserName\Application Data\Pinhead
Mac OS X: Users > YourHomeFolder > Library > Application Support > Pinhead

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Re: Need for Pinball Management software?
« Reply #59 on: August 04, 2011, 04:16:30 pm »

Sweet, thanks.  I won't be able to do that until mid next week.  I'll give any feedback then.   :cheers:

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Re: Need for Pinball Management software?
« Reply #60 on: August 11, 2011, 03:21:44 am »
Beta51 is uploaded to http://www.cenobyte.nl/pinhead/

This latest version has some small bugfixes, but also two new features per request:

1. User can now choose a database location if he/she wants to. This way you can store the Pinhead database on a network location or in a Dropbox folder so you can access it with multiple computers and/or have a backup of your database. Set this in the Configuration screen.

2. The Machine Type pull down ("Pinball", "Arcade", etc.) now can be user defined in the Configuration screen.

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Re: Need for Pinball Management software?
« Reply #61 on: August 11, 2011, 09:03:37 am »

Those are two nice additions.  Both add quite a bit.

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Re: Need for Pinball Management software?
« Reply #62 on: August 12, 2011, 12:54:56 pm »
Beta51 is uploaded to http://www.cenobyte.nl/pinhead/

This latest version has some small bugfixes, but also two new features per request:

1. User can now choose a database location if he/she wants to. This way you can store the Pinhead database on a network location or in a Dropbox folder so you can access it with multiple computers and/or have a backup of your database. Set this in the Configuration screen.

2. The Machine Type pull down ("Pinball", "Arcade", etc.) now can be user defined in the Configuration screen.


right on  :cheers:... i'm still playing with the software. i'll let you know if any issues come up

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Re: Need for Pinball Management software?
« Reply #63 on: August 14, 2011, 06:20:10 pm »

Have been using the new version for a couple of days.  Pretty good.

We need to be able to change the fixer on an existing ticket.  It's very common for that to change in a trouble ticket.  Also, my son is entering tickets as he sees game issues, and he always seems to forget to assign me as the fixer at that time.

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Re: Need for Pinball Management software?
« Reply #64 on: August 15, 2011, 09:28:51 am »

The ticket system has motivated me to get working on my games again after months of barely touching them.  You would think I would know that would happen given that I design corporate workflows as part of my job.   :laugh2:

Over the weekend I got my Red Baron working again and completed three small tasks on Dragonfist just so I could close the tickets.  Having my son enter tickets has been a good idea.  He has a sharp eye for game problems and it removes the "if I enter another ticket I have to do the work" from my end.

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Re: Need for Pinball Management software?
« Reply #65 on: August 17, 2011, 05:06:21 pm »

Have been using the new version for a couple of days.  Pretty good.

We need to be able to change the fixer on an existing ticket.  It's very common for that to change in a trouble ticket.  Also, my son is entering tickets as he sees game issues, and he always seems to forget to assign me as the fixer at that time.

Changing the fixer is working correctly, isn't it? In the new version it's also possible to remove a buyer/seller/fixer, because that wasn't possible. If a person/company was assigned, it could only be changed, not removed. Fixed that too, another ticket off my list  ;D

Portable mode
Another small new option I am going to add in the final version will be to run the program in "Portable" mode. This will force the program to look for the database in the folder where the program itself is. This way, you can put the program, language files and the database in one folder on a USB stick and take it with you & plug it in and run it from the stick. It should even work this way on Mac & Windows, because the database is universal. So you can plug the stick in a Windows machine, work on it. Shut it down and take it home and plug it into your Mac and work with the same database.
 

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Re: Need for Pinball Management software?
« Reply #66 on: August 18, 2011, 07:37:11 am »
Changing the fixer is working correctly, isn't it?


I found it eventually.  Doing it by opening a contacts dialog via a pulldown is an unusual way to do it but it is working.   ;D

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Re: Need for Pinball Management software?
« Reply #67 on: August 21, 2011, 04:47:04 am »
Beta 60 is ready for download.

This new version has a new functionality: you can now put Pinhead and all it's data on a USB stick and take it with you. This way, you can plug in your stick in a Mac or a PC and run the software and it's database from the stick.

I also fixed some small bugs and made the Contact buttons (Seller/Buyer/Supplier) a little bit more clear.  ;D

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Re: Need for Pinball Management software?
« Reply #68 on: August 24, 2011, 04:45:05 pm »
I found it eventually.  Doing it by opening a contacts dialog via a pulldown is an unusual way to do it but it is working.   ;D 

You're correct. After a long thought, I changed all the buttons and pull down menu's linking info together. Now a search icon (a magnifying glass) links the info and an "X" icon allows you to delete the link.

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Re: Need for Pinball Management software?
« Reply #69 on: August 29, 2011, 12:17:29 pm »
Been messing around with the software a little bit and had a few ideas.

1. Is it possible to show the serial numbers of the machines on the machine list page?

2. Can you gray out every other line on the machine list page so it is easier to view for large collections?

3. Can there be an option to enter start and stop time of a repair on a ticket?

TIA

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Re: Need for Pinball Management software?
« Reply #70 on: August 29, 2011, 02:45:46 pm »

      OMG...... How I wish, I knew who worked on this Tron, 30 years ago.

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Re: Need for Pinball Management software?
« Reply #71 on: August 29, 2011, 03:43:09 pm »
OMG...... How I wish, I knew who worked on this Tron, 30 years ago.

I hear your sarcasm  :lol

And BTW: it's not interesting to know WHO worked on it, but it can be interesting to know that certain parts have been replaced already or what was fixed last year.

Been messing around with the software a little bit and had a few ideas.

1. Is it possible to show the serial numbers of the machines on the machine list page?

2. Can you gray out every other line on the machine list page so it is easier to view for large collections?

3. Can there be an option to enter start and stop time of a repair on a ticket?

1. I added the serial numbers in the search routine, so you can now search on serial numbers.

2. Done (in the next Beta)

3. That should be done in the Note field, I guess. There aren't any specific fields for this, only a date field for when the malfunction was reported. Adding new fields in this stage of development would take me back to the start of the beta stage (and I want to release the program soon)

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Re: Need for Pinball Management software?
« Reply #72 on: August 30, 2011, 01:57:01 pm »

      OMG...... How I wish, I knew who worked on this Tron, 30 years ago.

ya, so i can punch him in the head for just twisting wires together and taping them instead of soldering them properly.  :angry:

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Re: Need for Pinball Management software?
« Reply #73 on: August 30, 2011, 07:59:12 pm »
Heard that...  LOUD and CLEAR!   :cheers:

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Re: Need for Pinball Management software?
« Reply #74 on: August 31, 2011, 11:48:13 am »
No more Beta, Pinhead v1.0 is definitive!

I've updated the website with better screenshots, so check it out at:
http://www.cenobyte.nl/pinhead/index.html

Have fun  ;D

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Re: Need for Pinball Management software?
« Reply #75 on: December 06, 2012, 10:41:15 am »

FYI... my son and I are still using this.  Repair tickets and high scores.   ;D

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Re: Need for Pinball Management software?
« Reply #76 on: August 06, 2013, 06:25:19 am »
Hi there!

I'm taking inventory for a small update. Anybody still using this software? ;)

I had a small glitch the last few weeks: when closing the program a popup came up telling me the database can't be found. I had to click "OK" for at least 20 times for the program to end. No data lost, just annoying.  ;D

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Re: Need for Pinball Management software?
« Reply #77 on: August 06, 2013, 11:05:10 am »

Yes!  My son and I still use it.  Granted, we're talking about managing a collection of about 20 games, but it's in use.