HELIOS Users Beware - tanTALK

Andy · 07-03-2002, 12:53 PM

HELIOS USERS BEWARE - before "upgrading" to Helios V10 you should consider the following:

Helios have, in their words, made V10 "proprietary". They have encrypted at least two data fields within "YOUR" Helios Databases.

The Client Address Line and the EFT Account Number have been encrypted.

If you currently or in the future wish to export Name and Address fields from "YOUR" Helios Database to create your own Mail Merge documents and/or use an independant service such as MailLink - with the encrypted Address Line, in V10 this would not be possible.

If you currently or in the future wish to export from Helios your EFT data to process independantly your monthly EFT drafts - with the encrypted EFT Account Number, in V10 this would not be possible.

If you currently have or in the future wish to have created any custom reports from your Helios Databases, outside of Helios - the data displayed for the Client Address Line and EFT Account Number would be encrypted.

If at any time in the future you decided for whatever reason to convert from Helios to another application, be it SunTouch, SunLync, Breeze, Salon Works or whatever. The data in the encrypted Helios fields would have to be re-entered into the new application. Yes, you would have to re-key all of your Client Address Lines and EFT Account Numbers.

and the one that concerns me the most - if in the future Helios adopts an operating approach with which you disagree (ie: storing all of your information on a "Central Server" at a location of their chosing) your ability to migrate away from Helios will have been greatly impeded once and when you "upgrade" to Version 10.

Also be aware of two VERY significant changes to the main Client Profile Screen.

The "Photo" display area has been moved off of the primary Client Profile Screen. You have to go to a secondary screen to view and/or take a client photo. If you use a Camera and Client Photos - this will be very inconvenient (may sell more thumbprint readers though).

NOTE: if the Check In TAB does not display on your system. Go into the System Defaults - there is a check box on the first tab middle row "Display Clients" - 7th item is CheckIn Tab.

The User Defined fields (including Skin Type) have been moved to a secondary (More Info) screen. So, as you add EVERY new client and wish to record this important informatiion you must go to a secondary screen. It is also not immediately viewable when you bring up a client for a future tan.

_________________

Andy Thompson
ACT Business Solutions
Toll-Free 877-777-6717
andy@atso.ca
ACT Help Center [ This Message was edited by: Andy @ ATSO.ca on 2002-07-04 06:14 ]

Chippp · 07-03-2002, 03:59 PM

I will be holding off any upgrade.

My data is my data, its not property of helios.

I will be looking at other software.

It may be best to keep the ver 9 you now have and to keep your computer operating system. You should be able to run the current setup for years and years.
Unless helios does away wit the dongle, and yours gets screwed....I bet they change the dongle!
What did you hear ANDY?

Andy · 07-03-2002, 04:23 PM

Tony at Helios told me in March that there would be a new dongle with Version 10.

He also told me that there would be a fee, "deposit" to receive it and that the "deposit" would be refunded when the Version 9 dongle was received by them from you.

He did not state the amount of the "deposit" at that time.

Andy · 07-04-2002, 08:35 AM

Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words.

I truly believe that the encrypted Address line is a major problem for Helios Users if you use or wish to use MailLink or a similar service.

Below is a link to a Screen Shot that shows the data that you would export from the Helios Access Database to send to MailLink and below it in the Screen Shot is the way one of the records appears inside the Helios Application.

The postman may have a problem.

A secondary issue here is that the SmartMail extract module within Helios is also gone. You would need MS-Access 2000 (or another compatible program) to export the data from the Helios Access Database, selecting the records you wish to include in your Marketing distribution.

Now that point is mute, because how are you going to use the exported data anyway with the encrypted address line?

Screen Shot of Helios Client Profile and Data stored in Access Database

Chippp · 07-04-2002, 10:14 AM

Helios users need to speak up now.
Do you want these changes?
If you send your dongle back you will forever be locked out of using ver 9 ever again.
What best for helios my not be best for you.

If the software is "FREE" and the dongle is "FREE" hold off and don't upgrade, wate till you have if ever a big problem with helios 9, then and only then have helios send you the free ver 10 and free dongle.

Each major ver upgrade had data base convertion changes, this one is a humdinnger, it looks like it is to put a crimp in chunns solarsoft software amd make it unusable with verion 10 of helios, or am I wrong?
Whats the whole story???

Teresa · 07-05-2002, 07:21 AM

Well we tried to look at helios v10 yesterday and tried to install it on my owners home computer. He has windows 98, it did complete the install but would not open. After that he could not get back online either. I reluctantly installed it on my home computer, which is running windows me and it
Didn't have alot of time to look at it but I definately don't like the daily report not being able to do a period of time and only able to do one day.....I use it to run a summary of the week and month.
Also don't like how the most recent transaction drops to the bottom of the list rather than top.
My eyes also had a hard time zeroing in on how many minutes, sessions or days a client has left because it is in such a different location than previous versions, but I guess I am retrainable and that will come with time.
So far the only positive thing I found was the option to suspend a sale, and wait on another client.
I'll keep you posted on my opinions as I spend more time playing with the demo.

Chippp · 07-05-2002, 08:46 AM

won't work on windows 98!!! say it isn't so!!!

That would totally pee me off !!!!!!!!!

Tell us more about wat happened and could he uninstall and reture his computer to how it was before.

was helios 9 on that system?

How did you get your copy of 10?

I have yet to be sent one. and I was not notified it was released.

Chippp · 07-05-2002, 08:49 AM

"Also don't like how the most recent transaction drops to the bottom of the list rather than top" {quote}

that would drive me crazy!!!!!!!!

Andy · 07-05-2002, 09:03 AM

Chippp - as with many past Helios releases the initial distribution of same is at a trade show - in this case the Vegas show last week.

In the past Helios have then mailed out a postcard (with a non-encrypted address line) advising Users that a New Release was available and what the procedure is to acquire it.

In the past this postcard followed the trade show by a few weeks.

TANtalize · 07-05-2002, 06:49 PM

I have version 9, running on Windows 98. I will not be upgrading to 10 from all I've read here.

I agree, my data is my data and the ability to import it into other programs so that I may utilite it fully is an asset that should not be taken from us.

They say you get what you pay for... but it looks like the opposite is true here! Paying more, getting less and receiving headaches to boot.

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07-03-2002, 12:53 PM	#1 (permalink)
Andy Join Date: Jan 25 2000 Location: CT Posts: 1,768 Rep Power: 25	HELIOS USERS BEWARE - before "upgrading" to Helios V10 you should consider the following: Helios have, in their words, made V10 "proprietary". They have encrypted at least two data fields within "YOUR" Helios Databases. The Client Address Line and the EFT Account Number have been encrypted. If you currently or in the future wish to export Name and Address fields from "YOUR" Helios Database to create your own Mail Merge documents and/or use an independant service such as MailLink - with the encrypted Address Line, in V10 this would not be possible. If you currently or in the future wish to export from Helios your EFT data to process independantly your monthly EFT drafts - with the encrypted EFT Account Number, in V10 this would not be possible. If you currently have or in the future wish to have created any custom reports from your Helios Databases, outside of Helios - the data displayed for the Client Address Line and EFT Account Number would be encrypted. If at any time in the future you decided for whatever reason to convert from Helios to another application, be it SunTouch, SunLync, Breeze, Salon Works or whatever. The data in the encrypted Helios fields would have to be re-entered into the new application. Yes, you would have to re-key all of your Client Address Lines and EFT Account Numbers. and the one that concerns me the most - if in the future Helios adopts an operating approach with which you disagree (ie: storing all of your information on a "Central Server" at a location of their chosing) your ability to migrate away from Helios will have been greatly impeded once and when you "upgrade" to Version 10. Also be aware of two VERY significant changes to the main Client Profile Screen. The "Photo" display area has been moved off of the primary Client Profile Screen. You have to go to a secondary screen to view and/or take a client photo. If you use a Camera and Client Photos - this will be very inconvenient (may sell more thumbprint readers though). NOTE: if the Check In TAB does not display on your system. Go into the System Defaults - there is a check box on the first tab middle row "Display Clients" - 7th item is CheckIn Tab. The User Defined fields (including Skin Type) have been moved to a secondary (More Info) screen. So, as you add EVERY new client and wish to record this important informatiion you must go to a secondary screen. It is also not immediately viewable when you bring up a client for a future tan. _________________ Andy Thompson ACT Business Solutions Toll-Free 877-777-6717 andy@atso.ca ACT Help Center [ This Message was edited by: Andy @ ATSO.ca on 2002-07-04 06:14 ]

07-03-2002, 03:59 PM	#2 (permalink)
Chippp Join Date: Apr 19 2001 Posts: 2,262 Rep Power: 24	I will be holding off any upgrade. My data is my data, its not property of helios. I will be looking at other software. It may be best to keep the ver 9 you now have and to keep your computer operating system. You should be able to run the current setup for years and years. Unless helios does away wit the dongle, and yours gets screwed....I bet they change the dongle! What did you hear ANDY?

07-03-2002, 04:23 PM	#3 (permalink)
Andy Join Date: Jan 25 2000 Location: CT Posts: 1,768 Rep Power: 25	Tony at Helios told me in March that there would be a new dongle with Version 10. He also told me that there would be a fee, "deposit" to receive it and that the "deposit" would be refunded when the Version 9 dongle was received by them from you. He did not state the amount of the "deposit" at that time.

07-04-2002, 08:35 AM	#4 (permalink)
Andy Join Date: Jan 25 2000 Location: CT Posts: 1,768 Rep Power: 25	Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words. I truly believe that the encrypted Address line is a major problem for Helios Users if you use or wish to use MailLink or a similar service. Below is a link to a Screen Shot that shows the data that you would export from the Helios Access Database to send to MailLink and below it in the Screen Shot is the way one of the records appears inside the Helios Application. The postman may have a problem. A secondary issue here is that the SmartMail extract module within Helios is also gone. You would need MS-Access 2000 (or another compatible program) to export the data from the Helios Access Database, selecting the records you wish to include in your Marketing distribution. Now that point is mute, because how are you going to use the exported data anyway with the encrypted address line? Screen Shot of Helios Client Profile and Data stored in Access Database

07-04-2002, 10:14 AM	#5 (permalink)
Chippp Join Date: Apr 19 2001 Posts: 2,262 Rep Power: 24	Helios users need to speak up now. Do you want these changes? If you send your dongle back you will forever be locked out of using ver 9 ever again. What best for helios my not be best for you. If the software is "FREE" and the dongle is "FREE" hold off and don't upgrade, wate till you have if ever a big problem with helios 9, then and only then have helios send you the free ver 10 and free dongle. Each major ver upgrade had data base convertion changes, this one is a humdinnger, it looks like it is to put a crimp in chunns solarsoft software amd make it unusable with verion 10 of helios, or am I wrong? Whats the whole story???

07-05-2002, 07:21 AM	#6 (permalink)
Teresa Join Date: Dec 29 2001 Location: Davenport, IA Age: 60 Posts: 2,432 Rep Power: 25	Well we tried to look at helios v10 yesterday and tried to install it on my owners home computer. He has windows 98, it did complete the install but would not open. After that he could not get back online either. I reluctantly installed it on my home computer, which is running windows me and it Didn't have alot of time to look at it but I definately don't like the daily report not being able to do a period of time and only able to do one day.....I use it to run a summary of the week and month. Also don't like how the most recent transaction drops to the bottom of the list rather than top. My eyes also had a hard time zeroing in on how many minutes, sessions or days a client has left because it is in such a different location than previous versions, but I guess I am retrainable and that will come with time. So far the only positive thing I found was the option to suspend a sale, and wait on another client. I'll keep you posted on my opinions as I spend more time playing with the demo.

07-05-2002, 08:46 AM	#7 (permalink)
Chippp Join Date: Apr 19 2001 Posts: 2,262 Rep Power: 24	won't work on windows 98!!! say it isn't so!!! That would totally pee me off !!!!!!!!! Tell us more about wat happened and could he uninstall and reture his computer to how it was before. was helios 9 on that system? How did you get your copy of 10? I have yet to be sent one. and I was not notified it was released.

07-05-2002, 08:49 AM	#8 (permalink)
Chippp Join Date: Apr 19 2001 Posts: 2,262 Rep Power: 24	"Also don't like how the most recent transaction drops to the bottom of the list rather than top" {quote} that would drive me crazy!!!!!!!!

07-05-2002, 09:03 AM	#9 (permalink)
Andy Join Date: Jan 25 2000 Location: CT Posts: 1,768 Rep Power: 25	Chippp - as with many past Helios releases the initial distribution of same is at a trade show - in this case the Vegas show last week. In the past Helios have then mailed out a postcard (with a non-encrypted address line) advising Users that a New Release was available and what the procedure is to acquire it. In the past this postcard followed the trade show by a few weeks.

07-05-2002, 06:49 PM	#10 (permalink)
TANtalize Join Date: Jul 4 2001 Location: San Antonio Posts: 193 Rep Power: 24	I have version 9, running on Windows 98. I will not be upgrading to 10 from all I've read here. I agree, my data is my data and the ability to import it into other programs so that I may utilite it fully is an asset that should not be taken from us. They say you get what you pay for... but it looks like the opposite is true here! Paying more, getting less and receiving headaches to boot.

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