FAQ

Is Event Manager a Web-based application?

No, although it makes use of the Web. The software is installed locally, on each user's computer. But Event Manager does allow for online registration. Registration information from your attendees is sent from a Web page, received as email in a standard format, and moved directly into the event database. Web-page templates are provided to simplify the process of building your registration pages.

Is there a version of Event Manager for SQL Server?

No. All of our software is based on Microsoft Access.

Will Event Manager and Summit Central run on a Macintosh?

"The good news for Mac users is that they can finally run Windows natively on their machines if they have an Intel processor. Microsoft Access was never a part of the Mac version of MS Office, but any Mac using Windows can now run the PC version of Office, including Access. Since Event Manager is an Access application, it now runs smoothly on a Mac, as one California user attests.

What are the advantages Summit software offers over Web-based applications?

Lower cost is the largest advantage for most people. After setup charges, most online services will charge enough per attendee to equal or surpass the purchase price of software such as ours. We recently attended a presentation by one of the largest companies in the field and found that they charged $5 per attendee at a medium-sized non-profit event (presumably more to a smaller or commercial event). And they charged this for each event the client put on; they even assessed penalties for an inaccurate estimate of attendees.
    For an office-based application such as Event Manager, there is no charge after the initial purchase.

Accessibility to your event data is another advantage. If all of your work is done in an environment where you have high-speed Internet, this may not be a factor, but if you want to work while travelling or be free of the need for connectivity at your event, it's a deal-breaker for Web-based software.

Speed — Even with a fast connection, speed on the Web cannot equal that of a hard disk or even a wireless LAN. This is especially true when using functions that require rapid updating or feedback, such as name-badge design, managing tabling and seating, catering requirements, even registration.

Security and privacy of your data and the flexibility that comes from having it all locally stored are paramount to some clients, particularly when they consider the direction the recent news at Google seems to point.

Customizability and extensibility  Being able to work with the code means you're free to take the application in directions that a Web app can't go—complete freedom in designing your own queries and reports, re-designing forms, even building new functions.

This is not to say that an office application suits everyone's needs. Particularly where staff is widely dispersed and needs to work directly with the event data, Web access can be helpful, although we have clients who prefer using a VPN; one client keeps a current copy of one of their event files on their own Web server so that a staff member can download it by ftp.

Do I have to own Microsoft Access in order to use your software?

Absolutely not. However, Access will give you the advantages of working with the design of forms and reports and making other modifications. It can sometimes be helpful in going directly into your data tables for troubleshooting purposes or for bulk editing of many records (not that we recommend this except for Access mavens anyway!). But if you do not own Access and have no other reason to purchase it, you can use Microsoft's free "Access Runtime 2003" to run any application based on the program. Details are in the sidebar here.

 

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