Database programme

[clairemackaness]

I'm looking for a very simple and preferably free database to store all my contacts on, with a way of keeping a record of conversations I've had (something like Goldmine but no where near as fiddly).

Has anyone got a source of something like this?

[clairemackaness]

It also needs to be able to mailmerge to labels and letters by the way

[autolycus]

Claire,

Presumably this is just to run on your PC as a standalone application, rather than to integrate into a website?

If so, take a look on www.tucows.net. It's a catalogue of freeware and shareware so you should be able to find something that does the job and is either free or very cheaply priced.

Dave.

[creospace]

Probably an excel spreadsheet would suit you fine.

[autolycus]

with a way of keeping a record of conversations I've had (something like Goldmine but no where near as fiddly).



Just re-read and seen the above bit.

Sounds more like you need a CRM package (customer relationshop management).

Again, Tucows should have shareware/freeware versions.

Alternatively, see if one of the free online offerings does what you want. The advantage of that is you can access your database from any PC with a web browser. See http://www.appshore.com/?op=home.base.start as an exmaple of such a system.

[annethedonn]

Try Microsoft's template page - they have lots of databases. I currently use one for my sales leads & ordering processing.

Outlook does this sort of thing if you utilise it correctly and you can import your contacts to Word for the mail merges....

[rtBizopo]

Clare,

Try a new service at http://www.bizopo.com/crm

Incidently, we've just launched it and feedback so far is positive. Let me know if this helps and any comments you may have.

Regards,
Richard

[welshnoonoo]

I was gonna say MS Outlook is comprehensive if you utilise it fully, but if you need something bigger and more powerful (and Outlook is pretty powerful), then vTiger is supposed to be pretty good, but you may need some help setting it up - and it is free! Wey Hey!

[Richard Conyard]

Claire if you have Outlook check out Business Contact Manager: http://www.microsoft.com/office/outlook/contactmanager/prodinfo/default.mspx

We've adopted it over here and it's fantastic. Sounds perfect for what you require, and best of all if you have Outlook / Office it's free.

[clairemackaness]

That looks great Richard, thanks

[crus]

Hi Claire,

the contacts manager I have on the Mac works well and syncs with my phone perfetly so that contacts and calendar worth in unison.

Might be worth having a look ;-)

D