ad tracking software [OT]

[angela deangelo]

Chris,

We experience much the same with Total Ad. My Manager asked if we got  
a bad Sun Server. Not knowing much about Unix, I told her I didn't  
think there was such a thing - Unix is supposed to be very stable.  
Now physically, who knows if we did get a bad Sun box.

We are running the latest version of ALS and the Classic version of  
CLS (I think version 3). MEI told us that all this time we have been  
paying for the light version of the CLS software, and that we have  
been getting extra features with that software that we should never  
have gotten in the first place??!!?? But the bottom line is, we need  
to keep getting the same services we do now from CLS, whether it be  
the light version or not. What they want us to do is antiquated (cut,  
copy and paste headers into pages where classified categories share 2  
pages), and there is no reason for us to move to the newest version  
if we can't get done what we need to get done.

How is the Planning Software from Miles33?? In your opinion, better  
than ALS and CLS??

Thanks,
Ang



On Oct 5, 2007, at 5:09 PM, Chris Denesha wrote:

> Angela,
>
> We had issues with Total Ad in several ways.  It was indeed quite  
> slow, especially with many users on it.  We upgraded hardware ($$$)  
> which only helped somewhat.  Their database structure/software is  
> quite ancient in my opinion, which could be much of it.  We  
> replaced it this past February with FutureProof from Miles33, which  
> has its own Planning software to replace ALS and CLS.  They also  
> have a Production module, but it is years behind Roundhouse.
>
> Frankly I like Roundhouse from MEI, it has been very solid for us  
> (I've been the administrator for 4 1/2 years). Their upgrade from  
> 2.5 to 3.5 implemented multiple production sites (which we do not  
> use), multiple zone groups that can handle multiple zones (which we  
> don't use), and multiple front-end interface support (which was a  
> life-saver being able to retain a live Total Ad system while  
> building out and testing the FutureProof system).
>
> IMO MEI Roundhouse support has gone downhill since a key person  
> left for another company.  I didn't utilize ALS/CLS support much  
> because we were running in a very simple way with older software  
> (only up to ALS 3 and CLS 3 when we switched to Miles33).  Out of  
> curiosity, what version of CLS are you having trouble with?
>
> It is indeed Very Nice to have all parts associated with a job when  
> you need to 'pick it up' and copy it to the new ad number.  Of  
> course, this still means your users will need to retrain themselves  
> to place ALL art in the parts field for the job and not Import  
> directly from the Desktop etc.  Also be aware that it can be tough  
> to keep the parts clean, i.e. how do you remove the parts from a  
> job when you aren't using them anymore because you have changed to  
> a new season with new art?  The parts folder can get bigger and  
> bigger each time the job is copied, taking up server space etc.   
> Probably would be a good question to ask the various vendors if  
> they have a good way to handle it.
>
> -- 
>
> chris denesha
> Advertising & Telephone Systems Support, IT
> The Day Publishing Company
> (860)701-4485; OR (800)542-3354, X4485
> c.denesha at theday dot com - Work email
> chris-list at denesha dot org - List email