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TeleMagic for DOS has been a powerhouse among sales-oriented contact managers for some time. Despite a few wrinkles, this first Windows version of TeleMagic shows a lot of promise.
TeleMagic for Windows, from Carlsbad, Calif.-based TeleMagic Inc., is available in both single-user and networked versions. The program's extensive contact-tracking capabilities and solid set of scheduling and telephone features instantly place the product among the strongest of the Windows contact managers.
The program is also highly customizable and targeted to high-end users who plan to create a custom contact management application to be used across their organization. You can customize almost all aspects of the program's contact database and reporting utilities, which means your users won't have to continually skip over unneeded fields. They can track, search, and report on just the contact data that is important to the organization.
TeleMagic is also especially noteworthy for its workgroup features. Multiple users can access the program on a network server, and can access each other's calendars. Users can delegate tasks and schedule activities for each other.
Ironically, it is TeleMagic's impressive customizability that can make the product less than ideal for individual users with simple contact management needs. Unlike Symantec Corp.'s Act for Windows 1.01, TeleMagic is not particularly powerful right out of the box, nor is it straightforward enough for low-end contact management. Even though the sample database design is adequate for tracking certain types of sales information, you will probably want to make changes. TeleMagic's database design tools are powerful, but learning your way around the product in order to design changes may take you some time. But once you do learn, you can configure the database to reflect your specific work style.
TeleMagic's strong contact-management and scheduling features and its LAN capabilities make the package an attractive option for networked offices that want to share contact information.
PERFORMANCE:
Record management: If you're looking for flexibility and power in tracking contact information, TeleMagic can't be beat. The program is thoroughly customizable.
TeleMagic stores data in records at three levels, among which data are shared. For example, in the sample database that comes with TeleMagic, company, contacts, and sales contracts represent the three levels. The company records are primary--you can't create a contact record without...