Jupiter software

Re: Jupiter software

Andrew Mellor — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 11:39:09 GMT

I apologise for the huge type in my previous entry- I honestly have no idea how or why that happened - obviously the gremlins in our system took offence to my remarks !!

Re: Jupiter software

Anthony Todd — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 00:16:43 GMT

[quote user="amanda nicholls"]t prints the labels ok for a while then for no reason misses some of the information,[/quote]

but prints labels from Word accurately and consistently????

Re: Jupiter software

Anthony Todd — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 00:14:34 GMT

[quote user="Martin Atkinson"]a pain in the proverbial but I put up with it because its not expensive, gets the job done (most of the time) and I don't honestly believe anything else will be significantly better as I don't need/want any bells and whistles.[/quote]

Good advice, practice software is very much like wives or girlfriends.....

Re: Jupiter software

Anthony Todd — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 23:59:51 GMT

[quote user="Alex Allen"]All have given numerous headaches[/quote]

My two pennysworth, although most will be awfully familiar to many.

We started with the early NVS DOS system; software bulletproof, basic basic and limited functionality. Cheap and utterly reliable [that's the program software]. the hardware, on the other hand, also supplied by NVS was another story and there was a downtime whilst their support questioned the staff, asked if the light was on, decided to send a part or a system etc. etc. At least the hardware supplier didn't blame the network who blamed the software who blamed the hardware who.... All with long waits on phones and accusations all round.

On advice we changed to Clientrax, one of the top rated American systems. Cheap and without the expensive add-ons, software servicing or upgrades. Updates [we are now on 6.0d8f] always gave minor but obvious glitches fixed by the next "upgrade". They have a very good user forum, the programmer is a vet, and he is very receptive, honest and sensible. We've got used to the $ sign.

We are on the last version of version 6.0 and they have produced version 7.0 and already are on version 7.0c1a....We still only use half 6.0's functionality and I'm still learning new bits I didn't know existed.

Version 7 has improvements which means we can use a range of labels and MS Word but, and it's a big but, it will mean upgrading the operating system [CTrax uses Omnis for the datafiles] and will be follows by literally months of minor glitches and operator training and errors.

So we will not upgrade until (a) the software is mature and (b) we really really have to.

Things I have learned:

1. "Hardware support" is a waste of time and money. Apart from being questioned insultingly, "Is the light on etc." a "4 hour response time" is no good, and even if it was a "4 hour fix time" which it isn't, as it's actually a "the XYZ thingy needs replacing we will order it and it should be here by Thursday" response.

We carry spare systems, printers, label printers, modems,cables etc. and can get up again in less than an hour. The offending hardware can then be fixed or dumped at leisure. Spare hardware costs much less than "support" and saves soooo much time and aggro. Software support is now really unnecessary in our, now mature, software version.

I feel that software actually remains a beta version and the users are the developers......

2. "When it does that, I turn the FAQer off" is the basis and cornerstone of software support, as noted by our frank head nurse.

3. Backups should be restored on another system as often as the backup itself. ["70% of companies suffering major data loss go broke within 12 months"] Backups should be stored securely and off site.

4. There is simple software which enables anyone, [support, managers etc.] to operate any computer totally and remotely over the internet so that banking errors can be resolved before the whole accounting package is trashed by desperate round-and-round refunds, cancels and reentries. A lifesaver and timesaver. Need consent at both ends, I hasten to reassure you. Before we started using it we once had 18 refunds and reentries for the same transaction!

It's scary to watch the pointer moving round the screen on its own!

5. Do you really, desperately, need all the new bells and whistles, particularly when in a new version?

6. Peripheral failure [printers etc.] is most often physical ie leads or foreign bodies. Printers making grinding noises should be disconnected, turn upside down and shaken before you call support.... Don't remind me of dogs' nails and dot-matrix printers....

Oh, and Pledge or Mr Sheen dissolves label adhesive without damage to plastic.

7. Failures and problems diminish over time as operators get familiar and experience the system. And I think computers etc. are getting more reliable anyway.

8. Computers, once installed, rule your practice and your life.

9. Dodgy unauthorised downloads are banned.

10. Moving data to a new system is very expensive and prone to error. A mate did it only to find the clients and patients were one field out.....Mrs A Jones's dog was now with Mrs B Jones, £1500 pounds and a long time later.

Run both systems side by side for a year or so, you can even get a switching gizmo so you only have one screen, mouse and keyboard.

11. If you must change or install software do it on one machine first, near to home. Most of the drama will recur!

12. Most problems can be diagnosed yourself and fixed by turning it off and rebooting or changing hardware. Learn to do it, you'll need to next Saturday arvo......

Oh, and all the above applies to PDQ machines but in spades, except they are not getting more reliable and so-called "support" is an 087 waste of time.

Re: Jupiter software

Amanda Nicholls — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 18:41:55 GMT

yes we also have problems with this version, not with screens freezing but a debugging error occurs when trying to print accounts from the reception pc - very frustrating. The label printer is also a frequent cause of irritation, it prints the labels ok for a while then for no reason misses some of the information, they don't seem able to permanently fix the problem.

Re: Jupiter software

Alex Allen — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 18:36:05 GMT

Computers, software and accessories universally give everyone headaches no matter which profession they are in! Our CRM system is a pain in the ****.

To give Jupiter the benefit of doubt the freezing of the screen could be any number of problems and some digging into the individual computer's logs may reveal an issue. Firstly make sure no one has added a daft screensaver, software or played with the general settings. A new machine may solve the problem for relatively little expense and save your neck from pyschotic staff.

Before any talk of changing companies make sure your back up is perfect. Some years ago I was in a practice using tape back ups which we discovered were incomplete....bit of a disaster given the reason we checked them was because the server had been fried by a lightening strike!!!!

I've used a variety of systems over the years ranging from UNIX based systems, Jupiter's MS Access system (JupVet) and SQL Server systems - NONE have been perfect in every way. All have given numerous headaches

I have come across vets that have written their own but integration with wholesaler pricelists and SAGE accounting aren't so straightforward. Given BSAVA is soon I'd start asking around and have a chat with various companies in the exhibition. You might find little advantage in changing and end up with a huge amount of stress.....

Just don't leave sharp implements near those receptionists in the meantime

Re: Jupiter software

Martin Atkinson — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 18:08:20 GMT

What everything appears in a large font? Seriously though, if everyone is honest and doesn't feel a need to justify their expensive 'mistake' to themselves; is there a system which is truly, completely reliable and user-friendly? We use Vetcom Open and it's a pain in the proverbial but I put up with it because its not expensive, gets the job done (most of the time) and I don't honestly believe anything else will be significantly better as I don't need/want any bells and whistles.

Re: Jupiter software

Andrew Mellor — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 18:03:19 GMT

This happens every time we have a "downgrade" as we call it from RX works, pay them a fortune for support and we just go round and round in circles, generally they blame the hardware, when we say that the hardware was recomended and purchased from rx works they say " ah but it is redundent, obsolete technology now so you need to upgrade that too at X THOUSAND POUNDS EACH ! "

It will take a few weeks or so to settle down and then things run ok for a month or so until the next upgrade! Bring back Databasics!