Replies

1. 
   JerraldHayes | May 08, 2004 05:33am | #1

   Hmmnn, Adam if you're on OSX (10.3) it would seem to me iCal would fit the description of "simple and reasonably priced". You can create a calendar for each individual project and even serve them on the web if you have a .Mac account so you can look at them anywhere you may be so long if you have a browser handy. And the alarms and reminders are pretty neat too.

   On the other hand there is AEC FastTrack 8 which while it does cost $299 I think that is pretty reasonably priced for what it does too.

   As an outgrowth of a discussion on JLC (Grouping Documents) regarding consolidating daily job reports in one file so that the data in them could be organized and searched I started to create a Construction Managers Log book file based on my filemaker based systems to show what could be done and then a day or two later the the discussion popped up here JOBSITE LOGBOOKS? and I invited ANDYSZ2 to take a look at it too. If you like to see how it too you can follow this link to download a preview beta version of the solution.

   I haven't had the time yet to populate the program with sample data but you should play around with entering you own in the Weekly Look Ahead section of the Daily Planner in the actual Construction Managers Log file. The weekly Look Ahead plan stays the same for each daily record you view giving you a slightly bigger planning picture while also showing you the the specific Scheduled Events for that particular day. If you navigate around through the system you'll find there are other files where you can store Subcontractor (External Contractors) and Vendor information too. Etc, etc.....

   If there is something you like to see in it to meet whatever specific needs you think you may have feel free to suggest it and I see if I can work it in. It's a ragged beta right now but there is certainly enough there for you to get an idea of what going on and what it can do. I eventually want to get it so that Mac users can use it with both AEC Fastrack and iCal through at least importing and exporting data and hopefully Applescript but I don't think I be working that kind of functionality into it until a second version probably later this summer. This version I should have completely ready in 2 to 4 weeks.

   If you aren't running OS X and need an OX 9 Classic version let me know by e-mailing me and I'll cut one for you.

   Paradigm-360 Construction Managers Log

   Preview Beta

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   ParadigmProjects.com | Paradigm-360.com | Mac4Construction.com

2. 
   901Hal | May 08, 2004 02:13pm | #2

   How about MacProject II?

1. 
   JerraldHayes | May 08, 2004 04:45pm | #4

   MacProject II ???? Wow I'd never thought I would hear that one mentioned. I think MacProject was the second program I ever bought when I first started using computer back in '92 because it was a real genuine hardcore Critical Path Management (CPM) program not just a souped up Gannt chart application like MSProject or AEC's Fastrack. I actually took CPM in construction management as a grad level course years before that so it came pretty natural and easy to me and I used it right up just about a year ago when I finally switched to AEC Fasttrack and the only real reason I moved on to Fastrack was than Fasttrack runs native under OSX whereas MacProject has to unfortunately run under Classic.

   Even if you really wanted to use MacProject I'm not even sure how Adam could acquire it since unfortunately Apple dropped it from their product line shortly after I first bought it back in '92. There are two new OSX project management applications that I know of that have appeared on the scene in these last few years such as PMX and xTime Project but I think they still have a way to go before they really become very useful or powerful right off the shelf.

   I do however miss MacProject and would love to see a real CPM application possibly appear again on the scene. It's still on my machine and I do open it up every once in a while when I really to need to generate or use a network diagram.

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   ParadigmProjects.com | Paradigm-360.com | Mac4Construction.com

1. 
   901Hal | May 08, 2004 06:28pm | #5

   "I do however miss MacProject..."

   Like one of the MacAddict authors pointed out: You don't go out and buy the latest model toaster when your old one does the job well, do you?

3. 
   PeteKoski | May 08, 2004 02:47pm | #3

   Ditto on http://www.aecsoft.com/  Fast Track.  Excellent and easy to use.