New Features in the Studio Organizer 6

Here are the changes that have been made since Version 5v23.

Please read these notes carefully prior to upgrading.

To transfer your data from Version 5 to Version 6
please follow these Upgrading Instructions. 

Please note Windows XP and Vista are no longer supported.

 

The Big Stuff

Registration Codes are all electronic. You'll never have to enter a Registration Code again. An internet connection is required to purchase and register the software. After you've registered, use the new, faster Transfer Data Wizard to move your data to a computer that doesn't have an internet connection.

Updating the Studio Organizer 6 is now faster and easier!
Check out the new Updating instructions.

The Support Wizard now sends your message directly from the Studio Organizer 6. No email software is required, just an internet connection.

The Student Photos folder is now optional. Keep using it if you like, or insert your photos directly into the software.

You create your own Master password.

The Version # is no longer in the Studio Organizer folder name. This means duplicate software installations (the #1 tech support headache) is a thing of the past.

All new Attendance Wizards. See the built in Help for details.

Trial users not longer need a password to open the software.

 

Built Using FileMaker Pro 13

The Studio Organizer 6 was built using FileMaker Pro 13. In order to run this software on a network or with your iPad, FileMaker Pro 13 software is required.


New Interface

The Studio Organizer 6 has an entirely new interface designed for optimal network and performance.

 

Find & Print Menus

On many screens the Find and Print drop down menus have been replaced with easier to use pop up windows that display buttons and additional options.

 

Quick Find Fields

In the top right corner of most screens you'll find a Quick Find field. Enter what you're looking for then click the magnify glass button and ALL fields displayed on the current screen.

Some Quick Find fields have drop down menus that contain lists relevant to what you're viewing on the screen.
Use this feature for finding duplicate records, check to see if a new customer is in the database before creating a new record, or reducing selection lists to only the items you want to see.

Student Info Screens

The Dup Check feature has been removed from the Student Info screen.
Use the QuickFind field in the top right corner to search ALL fields.

Phone numbers, email addresses and web site links have been combined into a Contact Info window.

All of the descriptive fields on the right, such as Gender, Hair, Race are now customizable.
Use the purple field labels above each field to label the field.
There are 3 date fields, 8 text fields, and 6 number fields.

Styles of Instruction can now be viewed by going to the Student Info or Instruction screens and clicking the Edit button. The Style Details screen now has a large Active checkbox so you can easily makes styles inactive, the ability to add a Membership Plan, select how expiration is determined.
Click the new Show Replace Buttons button to display the Replace arrows that allow you to quickly update many records. Use the Replace button by the Expiration Date field to adjust expiration dates by a set number of days. For example, if you close for the Christmas holiday, you can add 14 (or any number you wish) days to everyone's Expiration Date.

Enrolled Classes are displayed on the Classes screen.
Select "Any classes" or "Only Enrolled Classes" and this option will be used during Attendance Checkin.
The Location field has been renamed Classroom and appears on this screen. Use this if a student regularly attends class in a particular location.

Tasks students have completed (curriculum) is recorded on the Points screen.
Use the Display drop down menu to display Completed or Uncompleted.

The Attendance screen displays all attendance recorded and let's you assign an Attendance Checkin Passcord as well as attendance recording preferences unique for this student.
Use the Replace Arrows to apply the same setting to many records.
Select the Birthday Song preferences and enter a special checkin message for this student.
Click the large + button or Record Attendance with Wizards to add attendance.

Special Teams are now displayed on the Teams screen and include a Title and Date.

Go to the Invoices screen to view or create an Invoice.

Follow ups and Notes can be created on the Notes screen.
The students Calendar can be viewed by clicking the button at the bottom of the screen.

To go the Documents screen to create emails, letter, certificates, Student ID cards, address labels and bar code labels. Create Documents for the Found Set of students by clicking the button at the bottom.

The Custom Fields screen let's you assign 6 text, 6 date and 6 file fields to any purpose you wish. Use the label fields above the field to assign each field a name.
Assign a Rating, and record Previous Training and Medial History notes.

School Info Screens

Registration Codes are no longer used. The software is registered automatically after completing the Purchase screens. (Internet connection required.)
The school name and address are now automatically entered when the software is registered.
Changing your school name or address is now done electronically. Just click the Change School Info button.
All the details about updates and renewing appear in the top right corner of the screen.

Create Styles of Instruction on the Styles screen.
Ranks are now optional, which is great for yoga or dance instruction.

The all new Memberships feature is perfect for setting up 10 class "punch cards" or a one year package deal.
Create a Membership Plan and select the number of classes a student can attend, expiration warnings, checkin's allowed, payment terms, and inventory items, such as uniform that are included.
These plans can then be assigned to a students Style of Instruction and attendance can be tracked for each plan.

Classes now allow you to select up to 10 Styles of Instruction associated with a class.

Classes Lists are very easy to create. Just enter a name and select Classes from the pick list. Students can be enrolled in individual classes, or every class in a List.

On the Curriculum screen you'll enter the tasks students need to perform, then assign them to a Class, Style or student. Once a curriculum record has been added to a student, it's called a Point, and Points can be set as an eligibility to test requirement.

Special Teams are now called Teams and now include a Category and Comments field.

The Staff screen no longer has the Create Passwords button. This now done on...

The Passwords screen let you create unique passwords for everyone in your organization.
Passwords can now be changed.
Access to any screen can be restricted.
Access to student Passcodes and editing Time Cards can also be restricted.

Templates are your letters, contracts and certificates with Merge Fields inserted into the text as placeholders. There are now 140 Merge Fields, including the new Membership Plan fields.

Inventory has a new Bar Code Label Wizard. (See below.)

Expenses hasn't changed.

Wizards

Attendance Check In has an all new look and more features. The keyboard shortcut for viewing this screen is under the Script menu. (PCs: Control 1. Macs: Command 1)
Choose from 5 automated checkin options that can use a student Passcode, bar code scanner or a touch screen.
3 manual recording options let you record attendance using checklists, or a pick list.
The Edit Attendance Wizard let's you review and change existing records.
The Replace buttons let's quickly change the contents of a field in all records.
Records can be duplicated, deleted or Omitted (removed from the Found Set) and Found Sets can be reversed.
Transferring Attendance data is now done by exporting and importing attendance data files.

 

There's an all new Record Payments Wizard on the Wizards -> Invoices screen and the revised Deposit Slip includes a count of items and an Omit button that allows you to remove items from a deposit without deleting them.
The new command (also available under the Wizards menu where you'll find the keyboard shortcut) quickly creates an invoice either by selecting a name from a pick list, entering a student number, or scanning a bar code.
If you have invoices set to duplicate, click Create Duplicate Invoices if you'd like to control this process manually.
Click Delete Empty Invoices to do just that.

The Students Wizards include powerful new Wizard that guides you through the process of creating Student ID card and printing.
Added two new merge fields to the Student ID cards:
Rank or Level
Last Test Passed Date
Plastic Student ID card printers using CR8030 credit card size blanks are now supported.
The Avery 2951 ID cards have been removed.

Also Wizards have been created that guides you through the process of creating address labels and bar code labels. Both 8.5" x 11" and A4 page sizes are supported. You can purchase labels from any manufacturer, just be sure to buy 30 labels per page.
Repositioning labels has been improved and is now more precise. You'll want to test and reset your label positioning before printing labels for the first time in Version 6.
To save label paper, you can create test printouts on a blank page, then place a label page on top and hold the two pages up to a good light source to check alignment.

Use the button on the Data screen to Backup or Restore your data. (These can also be done from the Scripts menu. Or Zero the database and start from scratch.

The Computers screen displays each computer or mobile device that uses the Studio Organizer and let's you review the Settings.

The History screen displays a history of actions performed on the computer.

Settings

SettingsClick the icon in the top right corner of the screen to view Settings.


Software

The fields in purple are unique to this computer. Other settings are shared by the entire School.

To properly maximize a window, select Largest from the Window Size drop down menu then click Apply. This fixes the annoying screen resizing on PC's when the Maximum Window Size preference was selected. PC users, it's okay to maximize the Studio Organizer main window, but do not maximize individual windows.

New Settings:
School type (School, Studio, Dojo, Gym)
Check for Updates (Now, At Startup, Weekly, Monthly, Never)
New Zoom Level preference (100% or 150%)

 

Students

Select defaults that are applied with a new student record is created.

 

Attendance

These settings for attendance recording are unique to each computer.
Click Edit Attendance Check In Message and use Merge Fields to customize the message students see when they check it, and set the number of seconds the message will display.
Also create a message that appears while Waiting for the next scan.

 

Email

Select your email sending preference.
Users can now send email directly from the Studio Organizer by entering the STMP settings of their email service provider. If your email is provided by your web site host, contact them and request the information below. Most web based email services (Google, Yahoo, Hotmail) will provide this information but charge a small fee. You will need to know:

Outgoing SMTP Server address
Port
Connection Encryption (None or SSL)
Authentication (None or Plain Password)
User Name
Password

 

Invoices

Select default settings for invoice creation, duplication and late fees.

 

Interface

Users can add, rename and delete background images.
Each school can have unique background selections, if using the multiple school feature of the Studio Organizer.

Questions?

Any time you have a question, please search the built in Help or click the ? button and use the Support Wizard.

No email software is required to send questions. Messages are now sent automatically from the Studio Organizer, however an internet connection is required to send Support emails.