Category Archives: Business Software
PayPal CSV to QIF Invoice Converter (PP2QIFInoices) Script Updated
I had written earlier (in “Mobile Invoicing Disappointments & Solution, Part 2”) about a Perl script, PP2QIFInvoices, I created that will convert a PayPal invoice data file delimited with commas, known as a comma separated values (CSV) file, into Quicken format, QIF. This allows you the freedom to invoice customers at their location, and thus gaining geek points in your invoicing solution, and yet still be able to use the other accounting functions of Quicken. This provides a low cost alternative to using one of Intuit’s money sucking online schemes.
I’ve updated the script because I was manually parsing through the fields to separate out the values. “How hard can it be?” I had asked myself. Well, it actually worked pretty well except for the fact that any unexpected comma contained within quotes would throw the entire record off. That’s when it dawned on me that I really need to download and use existing libraries for parsing the values, else I’ll just end up patching it over and over again.
So, I downloaded Text::CSV_XS from CPAN and re-wrote the beginning parsing routine to use it instead. This new version I labeled “0.8” because I believe it to be a lot further along as “ready to go” except perhaps for a couple of items. I’m now making available PP2QIFInvoices.0.8.zip as a free download. Keep in mind that my liability in you using or abusing the script is limited to the amount you paid for it. 
Review: Microsoft OneNote for iPhone
Well, this review is long overdue, but I’ve been putting Microsoft’s latest addition to the OneNote family through its paces. Overall, I’m fairly pleased with how well I was able to reorganize my notebooks, including some older ones from when I had a Windows smartphone but never had the incentive to do anything with until the iPhone app came out.
However, I should make sure to stress the word "fairly".
Mobile Invoicing Disappointments & Solution, Part 3
So far, I covered some of the most disappointing parts of getting a mobile invoicing and payment solution working in conjunction with Quicken and one workaround to get beyond Intuit’s lack of openness. Using PayPal and a Perl script to import in the data is a reasonable solution in the interim.
However, using the regular PayPal site on an iPhone is less than ideal. It’s not impossible by any means (and there are websites where it’s pretty laughable trying to use on an iPhone), but it can be a bit of a struggle to zoom in, zoom out and pan around, etc. At least, it is more error prone, and that’s always a concern.
Well, maybe, just maybe, it will one day be available as an app on the iPhone. I stumbled across “Mobile Invoice” on the PayPal Labs website. There is no guarantee when, or even if, it will see the light of day, but it is hopeful. I’m just hoping that it doesn’t get sidelined with the PayPal Here and similar initiatives.
If they push out Mobile Invoice, then the only thing I would be missing would be a service ticket system. At very least, this is a system that will work for now, at least until Quicken Home and Business gets some real competition.
Mobile Invoicing Disappointments & Solution, Part 2
NOTE: The script mentioned in this article, PP2QIFInvoices, has been updated. See latest article here.
In Part 1, I ended with my trials and travails with importing invoices into Quicken with:
So, I almost get there with PayPal invoicing. So, life is good, right? I just enter the data into PayPal, download it and import it into Quicken, right?
Er, not quite. It turns out to not be so easy to import a CSV into Quicken, in spite of the claims, implied or otherwise, of a few of these invoicing applications.
There actually will be a part 3, because it turns out PayPal may in the future be an even better choice. Unfortunately, this will do nothing to keep Quicken and QuickBooks from sucking.
I’m serious. TurboTax is about the only product that Intuit makes that does not really suck, but even it was designed by someone one straw short of any common sense when it comes to being user friendly or even remotely unfrustrating. Most of their products are really overpriced sales gimmicks pushing you to buy even more proprietary products that will only interface in a closed system and only if Intuit thinks it can charge you an arm and a leg for. I haven’t stopped looking at alternatives, but for now I will deal with kludges to get by. Meanwhile, I still have to get invoices into this closed system.
Mobile Invoicing Disappointments & Solution, Part 1
OK, my search for invoicing on the road has led to a myriad of disappointments. I use Quicken Home & Business by choice. However, since Intuit in its infinite wisdom killed Quicken Online, they really don’t offer anything sensible to use on the road. Even when they did, there was a monthly charge that negated any advantages. There must be a solution for this, right?
So, here’s the unvarnished truth:
Geek Friday: Accessing Support Ticket Systems While on the Road
I have had an interesting week. However, it was a week that got me thinking. It also ties in with my increasing disappointment in Intuit in just about every area. To boil it down: How do I create invoices while on the road without breaking the bank?
I hope to look at some of these in the future. For now, I’m listing some of the more interesting. While I am specifically looking at support ticket systems, there’s a lot of overlap with any contractor that travels to customer sites, I’m sure.
Having Quicken on my laptop is nice, but there are times when whipping it out and emailing an invoice isn’t always all that convenient or cheap. The 3G stick is dead slow, but it will work … sometimes … when the signal is good. Furthermore, Quicken isn’t exactly a ticket system.
Ninite Releases New LifeHacker Pack
Recently, Ninite released the 2011 “Lifehacker Pack for Windows: Our List of the Best Windows Downloads”. With one installer, you can download and install all of the recommended free applications that LifeHacker recommends.
Personally, I prefer to tailor things a lot more. There are things on the list I would never use, and there are others I prefer other programs for. However, if you’re unfamiliar with many of them, this is certainly one way to get familiar with what’s available out there.
Microsoft, Facebook Announcements
The pre- and post- July 4th announcements from Microsoft and Facebook certainly have created some buzz.
Geek Friday: Mapping Directions for Outlook Calendar Meetings
Microsoft saw fit to put a Map It function into Outlook Contacts, but not in Calendar events. Not that the Map It works all that great, as it turns out, but at least they thought of it. This is just one of those head scratchers.
Well, I’m not about to put all of my customers into Outlook. Not only is my contact list unwieldy enough after all these years, but I have Google Voice Chat set up to deal with people in my Contacts differently than those who are not. The assumption is that if a caller ID isn’t in the contact list already, then it is probably a potential business contact, and I want the caller to get the appropriate business greeting.
On top of that, I don’t understand why they wouldn’t have this. Even some smartphones can do this!
Is This Book Worth $23,000,000?
One of the oddest bits of news I’ve seen recently was about “Amazon Lists Book At $23M — Plus Shipping”. The article’s subtitle, “Math Error Drove Price Way up”, is a bit misleading, though. It is not a “math error”, but rather it is an algorithmic error. Simply put, computers are setting the price and competing against one another. One raises the price, so does the other one, and back and forth it goes.
Computers are great devices to get work done. Because of technology, one person can often do the work that used to take a handful. However, computers can also help you screw up on a higher scale as well. Machines, in spite of all of our strides, cannot think. They can only follow rules built into them.
In the past, I have often been a huge advocate of thorough testing. One Agile development technique is to develop test cases before even putting down a single line of code.
By the same token, systems need to be audited and monitored after the fact. I have little doubt that the algorithm was thoroughly tested before being released. However, there needs to be monitoring and checks put into place even after deployment. That means a human will have to eyeball something, even if it is only a report. Outliers like this book need to be identified and flagged somehow.
Granted, this isn’t a national security threat or anything along that level, but aren’t you glad that this isn’t your child’s required textbook?
