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The Dawn of a New Age of Publishing Business Software . . .
The AnyBook Professional Series
Frequently Asked Questions . . .
If you are thinking about using
AnyBook for your business, you may find the following helpful as you
compare and evaluate the features of the program.
(Note: If you are already an AnyBook user and are
looking for frequently asked questions on the inner workings of the
program, you'll find them incorporated in the help documentation that
comes with the program. We've done that to keep all of the help
documentation in one central location so you don't have to go searching
here and there for answers to your questions.)
You say AnyBook is shareware. What exactly is shareware?
What sort of features are found in AnyBook?
What do other people think about AnyBook? Has it been reviewed by others? Has it won any awards?
How easy is AnyBook to learn?
I know AnyBook is used by publishers, can it be used by music publishers?
I'd like to download and evaluate a copy of AnyBook. How do you do that?
I hear that you need to be careful about downloading programs. Are your download files safe?
Do you need other accounting software (like QuickBooks) to use with AnyBook?
Can you export to QuickBooks or other accounting programs?
I don't have a lot of time. What's the quickest way learn some of the basics?
I like the program, but I need one
or two special features and a customized report for my business.
Can you do customized work?
What sort of support do you provide with the program?
You say AnyBook is shareware. What exactly is shareware?
Shareware is software that
can be downloaded for free. There is no expiration date.
You can take all the time you need to evaluate the program. If
you find that the program is useful in your business, then you are
asked to register the program. (For specifics on AnyBook's
registration fees, see costs.) On the other hand, if you don't
find the program useful, you can easily un-install it.
The nice thing about shareware is that there are no middle men, nor is
there a retail or wholesale mark-up. That makes shareware
very cost
effective. In the case of AnyBook and all true shareware
programs, you will be downloading the actual program. It's not a
watered-down, "evaluation" version; rather it is the full
program. Yes, it does have a few features turned off because of
piracy concerns, but if you'd like to evaluate those
features as well, just drop us a line and we'll provide you with a
temporary registration code.
With shareware, there is no guess work involved. You don't to
have to rely on promises or advertising slogans. The proof is the
program itself.
Do we get a number of people who download the program and then decide
they need something else? Sure. We think that's good.
That's the purpose of shareware. We want people to find the software
program that's just right for them. As you'll see from our
website, we go out of our way to make it as easy as possible for people
to make a careful and informed decision.
What sort of features are found in AnyBook?
To help answer that question, we've put together three different ways
in which you can learn about the features found in AnyBook.
1.
If you'd like just a short and sweet explanation of the differences
between each of the levels and what features are available, see AnyBook Levels
2. If you'd like a detailed narrative of the differences and features available in each of the levels, see Detailed Narrative
3. Finally, we've put together comprehensive comparison charts which lists all of the features of the program. See charts
What do other people think about AnyBook? Has it been reviewed by others? Has it won any awards?
We're
glad you asked! We're pretty proud of our work, and we're happy to
report that AnyBook has garnered its share of software awards. In
fact, it's received more editor choice awards than any other publishing
business software.
It was recently highly praised and prominently featured in a 5-page
review in the Publisher's Marketing Association
(PMA) journal. The review was by Diane Tinney. Ms. Tinney is a CPA (Certified Public Accountant), a
computer book author and the owner of a publishing business,
exceptional qualifications to accurately and objectively evaluate business software.
Other authorities have agreed with Ms. Tinney's assessment. After first trying AnyBook, Tom Person, a
computer expert and the long-time editor of a newsletter for small
presses wrote to tell us: "I downloaded your software and it is
incredible. There's nothing like it I've ever seen!"
Over the past year alone, AnyBook received another eight five-star ratings from
Internet software suppliers. Moreover, it is ranked in the top 100 business and
accounting programs by Softbase, a software ranking service. For more
information on awards, reviews, and commentary by AnyBook users, see: awards and reviews.
How easy is AnyBook to learn?
This is where AnyBook really stands out. After you use AnyBook for
a couple of days, you'll find that it has a natural, comfortable feel
to it. That's not accidental. We've spent quite a bit of
time studying how people work naturally in a business situation and we
tried to build AnyBook around those natural patterns. (Some
information on this effort is found in our background and philosophy
page.)
For example, when you think of using software in a business, what sort
of software tasks occupy most of your time? If you were to log your time, you would find that making and
recording sales is the most frequently used part of any business software program.
In other words, it's the
invoicing part of the process. Since that's where you'll spend
most of your time, wouldn't it make sense for a software program to
open with the invoicing functions?
And, in fact, that's how AnyBook is constructed. When you first
start the program, the Main Invoice screen appears. But you are
not restricted to the invoice screen. From there, you can move
easily on to any other business tasks. You can do billings, run
an inventory, enter products, produce sales reports, and so on.
Starting with invoices is a logic and natural beginning. That's
what we mean by the program's natural feel. It just feels right.
I know AnyBook is used by print publishers; can it be used by music publishers?
Yes,
but try it out first. We've been gradually working with
individuals in the music industry and adding special features.
The music industry has a complex and variable royalty system, and
you'll want to check out the royalty part of the program to make sure
it will handle the way you do royalties. We do customized work
and if there's something we can add to make AnyBook work for your
situation, drop us a line.
I'd like to download and evaluate a copy of AnyBook. How do you do that?
If you downloaded and installed shareware before, you'll know what to do. The download links are found here: download links.
However, if you haven't ever downloaded and installed a program, we've
put together a step by step procedure to help you out. Here's
where you can go to get more information: downloading & installing - step by step.
I hear that you need to be careful about downloading programs. Are your download files safe?
Oh yes!. We go out
of our way to make sure that our download files are safe. Moreover,
our download files have tested by over a dozen independent testers.
They've all shown that our programs are 100% free of viruses and adware
and are safe to install. More information.
Do you need other accounting software (like QuickBooks) to use with AnyBook?
Yes and no. If you have
a small operation, you can get by with AnyBook and no other specialized
software. But for larger business, you'll want to combine AnyBook
with other accounting software. We've put together a special
section which explains this in more detail here: Accounting Software
Can you export to QuickBooks or other accounting programs?
Yes, but it's really not necessary. Here why: Exporting to Accounting Programs
I don't have a lot of time. What's the quickest way learn some of the basics?
We've put together a very
simple "getting started" manual. It's very simple, mind you, but
it will get you started on the right foot. There are also some short guides to selected topics. Plus, AnyBook comes
with sample invoices, products and customers. That allows you to
try out the different functions of the programs. And, finally, we
also have a guided tour that's built in the program to help guide you
through some of the key parts of the program.
I like the program, but I need one
or two special features and a customized report for my business.
Can you do customized work?
Yes. We do customized work. If there's a special feature
that you need, describe it to us and we'll provide you with a cost
estimate. You'll find our rates very reasonable and affordable.
What sort of support do you provide with the program?
With AnyBook there's an intimate connection between
developer and user. Support is one of the reasons why AnyBook has
received as many software awards as it has. When you need
support, you don't need to wade through a phone tree, or fill out
on-line forms, or talk to someone overseas who has only rudimentary
knowledge of the program. You'll be able to talk directly to the
programmers themselves, and get accurate, in depth and helpful
information.
We have a special page on our website devoted to support. You find more information here: AnyBook Support.
AnyBook
Keywords: Small Publishers, Mid-size Publishers, Publishing
Business Software, Publishing Software, Music Industry Software, Book Publishers, Book Publishing Software
AnyBook is another carefully crafted software program from:
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Great Rift Software
Innovation, Excellence and Service
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