I have been playing with daylite for the last 2 weeks and I don't sem to go anywhere when building reports. I have followed the manual and movies and still seem to miss something.
When I follow the illustrations, the way they are put together, you leave out something like, what page are you starting with in the first place.

I am a single user and would like to know if there is any books written on daylite for dummies?

I have tried the manual but again, it seems like something is missing.

Do you mean a report manual or the main manual?

Here is a draft of the report engine manual - but it is meant for a technical audience.

Download it here.

Remember - this is a draft.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: AJ,

I'm agree with Darrin, I would like to have a "real" manual (main and report). I'm really frustated about this. I'm not a technician (and far from) but can understand one or two schmagamas (translate : things) and feel that everything is suggested but not explained or (certainly not) demonstrated. The time investment to understand and use DL is ... let's say heavy. Anyway DL is a great tool.

i agree with all this. no information of substance available. so unless you only want people who are programmers to understand what is going on, maybe you can provide a real manual. will that ever happen?

I thought I was the only one having this issue.
I understand this is a powerful program although if I can't figure it out easily, what good is it. Sales people, especially us who travel, just don't have the time to learn how to program.
I was an ACT user, it wasn't the best program except a single user could get up and running, run reports and link everything very easily. Also, I had reminders instantly pop up or make quick notes, etc without having to start the program.
The problem I have with your manual and video's is you know the program inside and out. You are taking for granite we know the program as well as you and you're leave out simple, basic instructions.
I don't believe you have to pay for a program and then pay another company to get it to work, train or develop reports that should be standard. If you are trying to do something out of the ordinary, that is different. To run reports on opportunities, who is linked to them, due dates, stages, etc should be standard.
Again, you gave a link for a manual for the "technical group". I want something that works right out of the box rather then an expensive address book and journal.
I'll make you a deal, I won't write and develope software if you won't sell my type of products.
Please give me or refer me to something that will help in laymen terms.
I don't mean to be so negative except I have paid a lot of money for CRM's before and I feel I just paid a lot of money for something I can't use, yet.

Yeah... same thing here Darrin... the information provided by MC for DL3 is barely useable. MC should work on this and provide something more useful--I've spent hours trying to get reports to work properly. Learning curve is very steep on this program.

We are working to make it easier. For example in 3.1 we added the 'Make Simple List Layout' option which automates a lot (you can choose to save it as report as well).

While we could improve things I wouldn't say its barely useable. Lots of people are putting out great things. Look at these
reports

Cynthia did these on her own - with the documentation and movies we have provided.

Like I said - we are working to make it easier.

AJ,
I'm sure you're working to make it easier, but as an investor in software business, I can tell that documentation, (stupid) user manuals and learning material is key to succed on a long term view. It's mandatory. It's also time consuming and a real investment. Humbly.
Patrick

Just for the record, I did not say it is barely useable.

I know this is a very powerful program. I am in sales, I travel often, I don't mind spending time learning the program. What really gets to me is when I follow the movies, forum instructions and the manual and the layout doesn't work after several attempts. I happen to be a pretty patient guy, after several attemps, I have come to the conclusion that something was left out on the instruction side.
It really lights my fire when I am refered to a partner to spend more money to get a simple list to print. I feel I should be able to do it with a good guide. If Cynthia did this on her own, why do we have to pay Blue Rock to use it? Does she work for Blue Rock?

This all started by me asking if there is a manual for people who are not programers. Example, ACT, Now Contact, Goldmine, etc have a third party writing a "down to earth" guide so you can do a few things with the program that you bought it for.
I want to learn this program so I can work smarter, not harder. If I bought this program to customize it for a sales force, that would be a different story, then I would hire a partner.
In this case I am 1 with limited funds.

This may sound really dumb.
I think we are coming to the conclusion that rather than a more detailed manual, what we really need is small tutorials on how to do certain things from start to finish. At least in terms of the report engine.

I am open for anything at this point.
Start to finish would do it. If someone from Market Circle is putting it together. Give it to somebody who is not familar with the program and see if they coild complete the lesson without help.
I will volunteer for test or beta of these tutorials.
It's a great program, I just want to be able to use to produce and track what I need it to do.

I want to echo Darrin's comments. I'm open to a detailed comprehensive manual, although, as an old professor of learning psychology, I'm aware that some folks learn better from tutorials. I will also volunteer as a "tester" for a manual if you need one.

AJ, that might be a good idea.

I would like to echo the sentiments of Darrin, I too am in sales and really do not have the time to sit down and figure out how to build what should be fairly easy/basic report & print layouts. Please could you "dumb down" the instructions and videos by about 50%. I should add that I also found it a little off that you would refer single users to a third party consultant for basic lay-outs. Many thanks, Gary

It's been about a month since we have heard anything from Daylite. Is anything going on? I still would like to use the product, unfortunatly i have been traveling for the last 4 weeks and did not have time to work with the program except put general info into it. It's an expensive journal and address book. This has a lot of potential, I would like to see a little progress and I would hope you would to. As you know, the newer computers can run windows and there are a lot of easy to use programs out there that now compete with you. It would be a shame to loose all your momentum and sales because of this issue. I look forward to your reply.