TechSoup

Do you have a data warehouse?

BeckyW — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 20:58:07 GMT

This week, TechSoup will be featuring a new article from Idealware about data warehousing and the questions to ask about whether your organization needs one or not.

What are your experiences on data warehousing? Are you using a single system and process to combine all of your data sets into one place? What tools have worked for you? Is it worth the effort to create a data warehouse from your experiences?

Share your thoughts here. Once the article is live, I'll update the thread with a link.

Causes Leaves MySpace: Should We Care?

elliotharmon — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 22:26:24 GMT

Today on the TechSoup Blog, we discussed Causes' decision to leave MySpace and become a Facebook-only application.

What do you think of the news?

Cheers,
Elliot

Comments, Questions and Thoughts on Windows 7

MeganKeane — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 20:39:48 GMT

Windows 7 is here. There's been lots of talk through the web about Windows 7 and now that we have this on TechSoup, we want to hear from you. Post any comments, questions, or musings you have about Windows 7 here!

Best,

Megan

Create New Folder via desktop shortcut Windows XP?

Hay_Wire — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:26:50 GMT

Hello,

I am working on a new profile for our public Internet machines and I have used Group Policy to lock these user accounts down pretty heavily. At present there is no easy way for the user to create a new folder, as right click on the desktop and windows explorer has been disabled as well as most keyboard shortcuts.

However, I was thinking it might be possible to create a shortcut on the desktop that would allow the user to double-click and create a new folder. I've made similar shortcuts in the past that could be used to eject flash drives safely, and I've found articles about using keyboard shortcuts to make new folders, but I have not been able to find anything about creating a shortcut that sits on the desktop that would create a new folder on the desktop when the user double-clicks it.

Any ideas?

Online Contest Software

msetter — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:28:07 GMT

I'm looking for a low cost software package to use for online contests. We would like the ability to sell say 100 tickets at $10. and no more.

I've found one package DMX or something, but it requires ASP and our server doesn't do asp pages.

Any ideas would be much appreciated.

Marcy Setter

PBRC

Operating System

Kahlo — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:27:15 GMT

Good afternoon,

The non-profit school that I volunteer at recieved computers from the military, however these have no operating system. The OS available are upgrades. Are there any that can be fully installed. We are currently using the XP on other computers that we want to take out of commission, but can not install into the donated computers because our license does not cover that many.

Thank you for your assistance.

Holy Truth Non-Profit

HolyTruth — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 02:15:52 GMT

Hi. My Name is Amy. I am the Computer Tech of Holy Truth Temple of Deliverence. I came Across TechSoup in my search for Computer Donations for the Church and the Kids for the up coming Holidays. We also have a Veterans Housing Program and Adult Daycare that are going to starting up in the next few months.

Can somebody Out There Help?

paajaf — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:26:28 GMT

I am Philip K. Appiah, the Director of Paajaf Foundation in Ghana (www.paajaf.org). We are initiating a project - 21st Century Leadership Training for Gender Equality and Technology in our community- Gbawe, Accra, Ghana.

100 participants are to take free online leadership course to become community leaders. We are in need for computers for our lab. Can someone help us? We used computers,laptops and printers? Or do you know an organisation that can help?

Always.

Greeting's

sjonkhoff — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:00:28 GMT

Hello, my name is Scott and I found your site while surfing for software. We are Next Step of West Michigan located in Grand Rapids.. a grass roots organization that provides job's to men in need of help. The men we employ are looking for a chance to prove themselves and make a fresh start, most are coming from jails or rehab. We put them to work in the construction trades, as well as encourage and live life with them. some talented friends want to help share our story and have suggested Contribute software to help build a website. Hoping to obtain it soon, can you help us? Best, Scott

Upgrading to Windows 7 Professional from Vista or Windows 7 Home

autumnt — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:24:08 GMT

This question has come up a number of times in the forums so I thought it would be best to address it separately. The question of upgrading any Home editions to Professional editions is a legal licensing one. The Home editions and Professional / Business / Enterprise are two different product lines. In order to upgrade to a Professional edition, you must already have a legal license for another professional edition. The Windows 7 product page states: "This is an upgrade product. To install this operating system, you must have a licensed installation of one of the following operating systems on the device where you are installing the upgrade: Windows Vista Enterprise, Business, or Ultimate; Windows XP Professional or Tablet PC; Windows 2000 Professional; Windows NT Workstation 4.0; or Windows 98. You cannot upgrade from the Home editions of Windows XP or Windows Vista."

At this time, there is no legal upgrade path from Home editions to the professional products that Microsoft has made available through TechSoup Stock. Your best options are to either upgrade to Windows 7 Home, or find a full licensed version of Windows 7 Professional through a Charity Reseller.

Autumn

Windows 7... we want to know what you want to know!

Susan_Tenby — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 00:06:35 GMT

Windows 7 is being touted as the simplest version of Windows yet.

TechSoup is starting to prepare all the information that nonprofits will need to know about Windows 7 when it launches on our site, on October 22^nd (available through TechSoup Stock on November 1^st). We want to gather any and all questions that the nonprofit community has on the product. We are wondering what your concerns may be about the product, for example, Why you would want to upgrade, if upgrading would interact with your existing data, what the hardware specs are that would be needed for this upgrade, what the different and enhanced features are with Windows &, etc.

Let us know what you are thinking about Windows 7. Reply to this thread, and let us know what you are wondering about Win 7.

Suggestions for Software to Analyze Program Participants

reginaferrin — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:07:57 GMT

Hello everyone,

We are a nonprofit based in New Orleans, LA. Our organization has several programs that focus on youth such as, an after school tutoring program, a college prep course, and more. We are currently researching software programs that will allow us to track and analyze our programs and the program participants. We are looking for something similar to Efforts to Outcome. Does anyone know if TechSoup offers a similar program or maybe one that we might be able to adapt to fit our needs? Thanks!

Upgrade to Win 7 from Vista Home

halfloop — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:36:59 GMT

Being a very small non profit we bought our laptops from Staples. They came stock with Vista 64 Home Premium. Is there an upgrade path for Win7 Pro?

TriangleSpecialHockey.org

Google Apps vs. Microsoft Business Productivity Online Suite

brady@accessfund.org — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 22:06:31 GMT

We are a small (staff of 9) national non-profit. I am looking to get rid of our expensive to maintain, crash prone server and move to the cloud. We currently live in Exchange 2003. I am considering Google Apps (we already have the free educational edition) and Microsoft Business Productivity Online Suite. The BPOS costs $15 per user per month (30% discount if we buy before the end of the year) and comes with online exchange, sharepoint and a few other goodies. I personally want to go to Google Apps, but I have a few users who are recalcitrant to change over. I need our solution to work perfectly with Outlook so that I'm not wasting my time answering complaints. I have heard that the Google Outlook Sync doesn’t work perfectly and requires more time to set up and maintain whereas the BPOS is seamless and very easy to administer.

Does anyone have any experience with both systems? Would we be foolish to pay $2000 a year when we can get Google Apps for free? I’d pay $2000 a year to avoid headaches and user backlash if that’s what it takes.

Thank you.

Point of sale system for nonprofit retail

thfashions — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 19:59:13 GMT

I'm looking for a point of sale system for a small nonprofit resale shop. Is anyone using one or do you have any suggestions?

Free Advertising Worth Less Than Nothing?

elliotharmon — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:58:05 GMT

Today on the TechSoup Blog, we discussed a new article by Jeff Brooks and the possible pitfalls of working with ad agencies.

What's your favorite or least favorite example of nonprofit advertising? What's your organization's advertising success (or failure) story?

Cheers,
Elliot

Database/Software

lee1hi — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:25:39 GMT

Hello,

My name is Leanne Rocha and I work for North Star Council on Aging Senior Center. I'm writing to you today in asking you about your computer database. I have heard about you through other sources and I wanted to contact you.

I'm looking for a database/software program for my Senior Center to use, but I'm looking for more of a complex database but user friendly. I'm looking for a database that can scan in information from a paper and a pamphlet that can be put into the database system in recognizing that there's a title, list, picture, etc. The database will be able to be edited when things change in the information from the companies, as well as the image that they add can be editable. The using of the database will look like a screen with a search bar were you type in the name of the origination, or category as well as a scroll search engine with categories. I'm looking for a Share Point Service software system as well as a software that can do more systems to help my Seniors.

An example of the final outcome would be a simple, blank page with a search engine; you type in the category of abuse, then the next page will have all the different kinds of abuse that Fairbanks offers. I will be able to narrow it down and down until I can get the right origination for the Senior. When I reach the right origination, it will have everything that the pamphlet has but on the computer. Also say there is a application that needs to be filled out, I can click on the link to retrieve the application that is on the page and fill it out on the computer. Then I will have the choice to print out the application, e-mail, fax or mail the application to the origination before the Senior hang up the phone with me or leave my office.

This database will be able to have all the Senior Information around Fairbanks into it and help the Seniors out in every possible way in order for them to leave with their questions being asked. This database will be mostly internal base, but able to make web base as time goes on. Any other features that you might be able to add for the database we will be able to process over time and put out for the Senior to use would be great.

If you can please contact me with your information on your Database, in order to help me find the right database, I will greatly appreciate it.

Feel free to e-mail or call me back. Thank you for your time in reading this e-mail.

Fab Lab and Do-It-Yourself Infrastructure Building

elliotharmon — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:54:33 GMT

Today on the TechSoup Blog, we discussed Fab Lab Jalalabad and Beer for Data, two examples of creative strategies for dealing with infrastructural challenges in Afghanistan.

If you have the time to watch it, I highly recommend this interview that Vinay Gupta conducted with Smari McCarthy. McCarthy's on-the-ground view of NGO work in Afghanistan is great. In the end, the discussion branches off into broader questions about the changing face of the NGO sector and government's role in society.

Cheers,
Elliot

Tracking United Way gifts from individuals

cbuncher — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 18:23:13 GMT

Hello All,

Management and tracking of donors who give to my organization through the United Way has been a struggle for quite some time.

Tracking the gift amounts that are pledged during the campaign and then often paid out over the following year seems to be a challenge for tracking within a donor database program.

Does anyone have the same struggle? How do you handle these gifts that are essentially pledges and come through in multiple checks throughout the year with a processing fee removed?

Any insight would be very helpful!

By the way, my organization is using Raiser's Edge to manage our donor records. United Way designated giving is fairly new for our organization.

Thanks!

Adobe

Partners1920 — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:31:18 GMT

I am trying to order the Adobe CS4 for mac and one for Windows but when I check one the other one unchecks? Any suggestions?

What software solutions do you wish were on TechSoup?

MeganKeane — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 21:19:00 GMT

Ever said to yourself, “I Wish TechSoup Carried [insert product name]?" Well, TechSoup would like to hear from you! What would you like to see on TechSoup?What kind of software solutions is your organization is looking for that aren't currently on TechSoup? Are their specific types of products that we carry, but not the specific product that you are looking for?

Let us know! Consider this topic your TechSoup Technology Wishlist and post your suggestions here.

Best,

Megan

Looking for an open source support help disk with tickets

newp — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 06:20:22 GMT

Hi,

I work as a technical support, i really look for an open source tool to organize all cases .

The clients mostly will use emails ...

What you suggest on me to use???

Thanks

Nada

Problems with intermittent connection to shared drive

cyberfish — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:53:09 GMT

I recently changed out the router on a SBS 2003 network for a non-profit I work for. I ended up needing to remap the shared drive on the server. Ever since then, there has been intermittent loss of connectivity to the drive from all or a couple of the computers on the network. Sometimes this loss of connectivity lasts a few minutes and somtimes a couple of hours. There is no rhyme or reason to it. Can anyone point me in the right direction? Thanks.

TechSoup release: Accessibility enhancements

subamerica — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 01:03:05 GMT

Greetings,

I wanted to let you all know about the changes to TechSoup.org that will be released this evening:

Bug#	Description
3911	When pages utilize scripting languages to display content, or to create interface elements, the information provided by the script shall be identified with functional text that can be read by assistive technology.
3912	Link and Text colors need to be updated to meet accessibility standards
3914	Use appropriate font-size and text-scaling.
3918	Check that the text formatting does not result in illegibly small text. Ensure the text content is legible.
3923	Provide navigation assistance (site map) on every page.
3927	label change: What's New to Know How

These changes will enhance the accessibility of the site for all our users, including people with disabilities.

Please let us know if you have any questions!

Cheers,

Colleen

When should nonprofits or libraries consider using server virtualization software?

jimlynch — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:17:36 GMT

What are some criteria you recommend for nonprofits or libraries on when they should consider using server virtualization software like VMWare, Citrix XenServer, FreeVPS or Microsoft Windows Server 2008 with Hyper V?