If you have upgraded to Maximizer 11 from an earlier version and your document storage for your database is large, you may have notice that Maximizer has slowed down. This is because of the Microsoft File Streaming

Maximizer has enabled Microsoft SQL File Streaming for their SQL database to handle the database size limitation issue and even though it has increased the size capacity of their database limit, which is a good thing, it has also had the backlash effect of slowing down database response time. The larger the amount of document storage the large the response time for Maximizer to sorts through the SQL indexes to find and return the list of documents related the Maximizer entry you just selected.

Now if you had a database which was larger than 4 GBs you just had to live with this issue as we had to live with the database size restrictions in Microsoft SQL express 2008. This is no longer the case. Microsoft in March of 2012, release the latest SQL Express Engine “Microsoft SQL Server Express 2012” with a database size limit of 10GBs. IslandCRM has tested Maximizer 11 and Maximizer 12 (Entrepreneur and Group Editions) against the new Microsoft SQL Server 2012 engine and it responds faster than the Microsoft SQL 2008 engine without disabling File Streaming for the documents folder, but has increased performance with the additional step of disabling File Streaming.

So in summary, if you have a Maximizer database on the Microsoft SQL Server 2008 engine and you are experiencing slow database response times related to document access / storage and your database size is less than 10 GBs, you should be able to increase your database response time by performing 2 steps:

1. Upgrade your Microsoft SQL Server Engine to the new Microsoft SQL Express 2012 edition
2. Disable document File Streaming for all your Maximizer databases.

These steps should only be performed by a Maximizer / SQL server trained technician and all Maximizer databases should be backed up before this maintenance is performed.

The technical steps to Disable File Streaming for a Maximizer database

Prerequisite:

• Base Microsoft Operating System must be Microsoft Vista / Microsoft Server 2008 or above.
• System memory minimum requirements in 2 Gigs of RAM, 4 Gigs of RAM is recommended.
• Microsoft SQL Server Express 2005 / 2008 / 2008 R2.
• Maximizer database size less than 10 GBs (This is the database size limit for Microsoft SQL Server Express 2012 Edition).

STEP 1 (Upgrade Microsoft SQL Server Express Engine):

1. Perform a Backup of all your Maximizer databases before performing this SQL maintenance. I would suggesting downloading and installing MaxBackup from our IslandCRM downloads page, to backup your Maximizer database before performing this maintenance and to automate future Maximizer backups.
2. Download the Microsoft SQL Server Express 2012 engine WT (with tools) from Microsoft, 64-bit version or 32-bit version depending on your operating system.
3. Upgrade the existing Microsoft SQL Express instance and install the SQL Express management studio.

STEP 2 (Disable SQL File Streaming for your Maximizer database):

1. Perform another Backup of all Maximizer databases before performing this SQL maintenance. Again I would suggesting downloading and installing MaxBackup from our IslandCRM downloads page, to backup your Maximizer database before performing this maintenance and to automate future Maximizer backups.
2. Disable File Streaming for the Maximizer SQL instance / server in Microsoft SQL Management Studio.
3. Open Maximizer and create a new Maximizer database for each database you need to disable File Streaming on. Please remember that you will have to recreate all the Maximizer User IDs that exist in the old database in the new database and perform and synchronize function in the Maximizer Administrator program. (This database will be set to not file stream files and will store all documents and files in the MDF and LDF SQL files, which respond much faster than the File Stream SQL folder)
4. Enable File Streaming for the Maximizer SQL instance / server in Microsoft Management Studio. This is so you can access the original File Streaming database again.
5. Open Maximizer and login to the file streaming database and perform a transfer for all Maximizer entries to the new NON File Streaming Maximizer database.
6. Remove the file streaming database from the list of available database to log into for Maximizer.
7. Disable file streaming for the Maximizer SQL instance / server in Microsoft Management Studio.
8. Use this newly created Maximizer database as your Maximizer database going forward.

Note: Any personal tasks and appointment (Tasks and Appointment not assigned to Maximizer entries, will not be transferred, so personal tasks and appointments should be assigned to a Maximizer Entry before the transfer process is performed.

Cheers,

Shannon Porter (The Maximizer Guy)

Sometimes when you upgrade from Maximizer 10.x to Maximizer 11 file streaming isn’t enabled. Here’s how to enable it.

Step 1: Enable File Streaming for the “SQL Server Services”

Select the “SQL Server Services” then right click “SQL Server (MAXIMIZER)” and select Properties.

Click on the “FileStream” tab and put a check mark in the “Enable FILESTREAM for Transact-SQL access” option.

Step 2: Enable the “Protocols for MAXIMIZER”

Select the “Protocols for MAXIMIZER” and then right click on the Protocols and select Properties.

Click on the “Enabled” option and change the “No” option to “Yes” for the “Shared Memory”, “Named Pipes” and “TCP/IP” protocols.

Step 3: Enable the “Client Protocols”

Under “SQL Native Client 10.0 Configuration” select the “Client Protocols” and then right click on the Protocols and select Properties.

Click on the “Enabled” option and change the “No” option to “Yes” for the “Shared Memory”, “Named Pipes” and “TCP/IP” protocols.

Step 4: Switching to “Mixed Mode Authentication”

In the “Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio” right click on the “Maximizer“ SQL instance and select Properties.

Click on the “Security” option and change the Server Authentication to the “SQL Server and Windows Authentication mode” option.

Click on the “Advanced” option and change the Filestream Access Level to “Transact-SQL access enabled” option or higher.

Open up Computer Management and Restart the “SQL Server (MAXIMIZER)” service.

Step 5: Enable the “SA” SQL windows login.

In the “Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio” under the “Security” and then “Logins” folder then right click on the “SA“ Account and select Properties.

Click on the “Status” section and select the “Enabled” option under the “Login” section.

Test your “SA” account by logging in to the Maximizer instance and make sure you can access your Maximizer database.

Now open up Maximizer and make sure you can login and access your Maximizer data without any errors.

Cheers,

Shannon Porter (The Maximizer Guy)

Maximizer fails to install when you select SQL Management Studios or when you do a manual install of SQL Express, you get the error: “Another version of Microsoft Visual studio 2008 has been detected that must be updated to sp1”, but Visual Studio is not installed.

Issue:

Chances are you have a Toshiba laptop with Windows 7 and what you’re getting is a false positive message from the Toshiba tools installed with the Toshiba Windows 7 installation CD.

Solution:
Open “Regedit” and update the following keys’ value from “0″ to “1″. Please make sure that the SP and SPIndex values are 1 and that the SPName is SP1.

For 32-bit, check the following registry keys:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\DevDiv\VC\Servicing\9.0
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\DevDiv\VC\Servicing\9.0\RED\1033

For 64-bit, check the following registry keys:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\DevDiv\VS\Servicing\9.0
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\DevDiv\VS\Servicing\9.0\VSR\1033

Before you change the key, please back up ‘Registry’ first.
More information, Please reference: Back up the registry http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Back-up-the-registry

Cheers,

Shannon Porter (The Maximizer Guy)

Maximizer 11 Entrepreneur & Group editions are not supported on Microsoft’s 2008 Small Business Server. Microsoft 2008 Small Business Server comes installed with an SQL Express engine, which is used by the built-in management tools. The default Maximizer install trips over the already installed SQL express engine and the Maximizer SQL components installed with Maximizer entrepreneur and Group edition only get partly installed and will not run Maximizer CRM. Normally, how you would fix a Maximizer install with this type of setup failure would be to un-install SQL express completely. This of course breaks the Microsoft built-in management suite which comes with 2008 Small Business Server, which is why Maximizer has decided to remove Microsoft Small Business Server as a support operating system.

IslandCRM has successfully installed and does support Maximizer 11 Entrepreneur and Group editions on Microsoft’s 2008 Small Business Server.

Here is how we do it:

Scenario 1: Start with a fresh install of Microsoft Small Business Server 2008 and do a manual install of SQL server express 2008 R2 with the management tools.

When it gets to the instance name (The default being “Express”) change it to “MAXIMIZER” and continue with the install.

Make sure to pick Mix authentication and add the administrator as a SQL administrator. (No just because the administrator in the administrator doesn’t make it the SQL administrator.)

Once the install is complete, you will have to enable “Filestreaming” for the Maximizer protocol and the Maximizer SQL server Instance. In addition, you will have to enable and test the SQL “SA” account.

Once you have confirmed that the Maximizer instance is running and you can login to it with SQL Management studio, then and only then should you start the Maximizer installation. The install will see that there is a Maximizer SQL instance and use it and will not try to install a different one.

Scenario 2: The Maximizer default install has already failed and you’re trying to recover.

If possible, format and start again following the instructions in scenario 1.

If that is not possible, then you can try to uninstall the Microsoft SQL Server 2008 “Maximizer” instance (AND NO OTHER SQL INSTANCE). Do not remove any other of the SQL component either. If you’re lucky, none of the other SQL components where damaged in the first and half failed Maximizer installation and the Microsoft SQL Server 2008 “Maximizer” instance is removed successfully.

Then restart the Microsoft Small Business Server and use the instructions in Scenario 1.

Please Note: the reasons the finer detailed steps are not listed in these instructions are because should have a skilled Database / Maximizer technician do this for you. You can damage your Microsoft Small Business Server’s built-in tools to the point where they will not work and only a complete operating system reinstall will fix it. This is why Maximizer does not support this configuration and you have been warned.

Cheers,

Shannon Porter (The Maximizer Guy)

This SOHO (Small Office Home Office) backup recommendation for MaxBackup, is based on the size of the databases selected for backup being 4GBs or less and the size of the directories selected for backup being 80GBs or less. This will give you a great SOHO backup solution with 5 years of backup retention for under $500 dollars.

1. Purchase two (2 terabyte) external hard drives (Selling for about a $100 dollars at the creation date of this document) to become your onsite and offsite backup drives.

2. Purchase MaxBackup (Sells for $199 dollars per Maximizer server license and downloadable from here) which you can schedule to backup all your databases and company directory shares automatically.

3. Configure your new backup drives as simple drive that show up as the same drive letter when you swap one for the other.

4. Install MaxBackup and select the “Standard” option for the “Backup Configuration” with “Backup Notifications” enabled. Then set your new terabyte external backup drives as the backup location.

5. Configure MaxBackup’s “Cleanup Settings” to the following:

• • Reduce to 1 Weekly backup older than “1 Month”
  • Reduce to 1 Monthly backup older than “3 Month”
  • Reduce to 1 Quarterly backup older than “1 Year”
  • Remove all backup older than “5 Years”

6. Then set yourself a schedule to swap your backup drives on Friday, from onsite to offsite. This will give you the greatest backup history retention, while still maintaining optimum backup drive space for future data growth.

These options, over the span of 5 years, will give you 12 backups (Monday Wednesday and Friday) for last month’s backups; 8 backups retained (Friday’s) in the next 2 oldest months; 9 backups retained (last Friday of the month) for the remaining year of backups; and 12 backups (last Friday of the quarter) until MaxBackup deletes them from your backup drives. The total number of backups at any given time will be no more than 41, which will be shared between your offsite and your onsite backup drives.

In laymen terms, if you have a Maximizer database of about 4GBs (which for a small company is large) then your total database backup size will not grow beyond about 164GBs or 82GBs per backup drive. This leaves 1900GBs for assigning directory backups. If the network shares you are backing up are not larger than 80GBs then your total directory backup size will not grow beyond about 3280GBs or 1640GBs per backup drive. This will utilize about 3500GBs of your combined backup drive space, which leaves another 500GBs of drive capacity free for your business growth to continue.

Please Note: If you select different “Backup Configuration” or different “Cleanup Settings” options, this will change how much space your backups will consume. If your backup space requirements are larger then you can adjust your retention settings or purchase larger backup drives.

Cheers,

Shannon Porter (The Maximizer Guy)

These are the settings you will need to enable on your Maximizer Entrepreneur workstation to connect over a Hamachi VPN connection from a remote location. Please note you will need to have your Hamachi VPN set up for both your Maximizer database server and Maximizer remote workstation.

Maximizer database Server settings:

First, the Maximizer Entrepreneur database server needs to listen for network TCP connections.

Launch the SQL Server Configuration Manager and go to Network Connections > Protocols.

Double Click TCP/IP and make sure your TCP/IP connection method is Enabled.

Enable the server to listen on the Hamachi IP address.

The server can now be accessed via the Hamachi interface. The last step is to ensure the client(s) can connect on the Hamachi address.

Go to Network Connections > Advanced > Advanced Settings and ensure Hamachi is the first adapter in the list.

Maximizer Workstation Settings:

Now on the Maximizer Entrepreneur workstation connecting over the VPN, open the Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio and edit the top 200 rows of the “dbo.MaConfig” table of the “MaConfig” database.

Then replace the server NetBIOS name with the Maximizer server’s Hamachi VPN IP Address.

Now you will be able to connect your Maximizer Entrepreneur workstation to the Maximizer Entrepreneur server database of the Hamachi VPN.

If you still can’t connect make sure there is no firewall blocking the connection and that you can browse an open network share from the workstation to the server.

Thank you,

Shannon Porter (The Maximizer Guy)

If you have every struggled with;

• Setting up an automatic backup (It just runs and you don’t have to worry that you forget to doing a Quick Backup!)
• Managing your backup archive & backup retention (Cleaning up unneeded backups and reclaiming important disk space!)
• Manging your offsite backup (Getting your backup out of the building in case of meteorite strikes!)
• You simply don’t fully understand the importance of a good Maximizer backup (Until you need it that is!)

Then IslandCRM has a simple, but useful Maximizer add-on  for you! We are planning to release MaxBackup September 2011.

Features MaxBackup has that you don’t get from Maximizer’s built-in native backup:

1. Scheduled automated backups (Easily setup and test a backup schedule, which works for you in your business and the data lose risk you are comfortable with)
2. Backup notifications (Receive email notification from MaxBackup informing you when you have a successfully backup or when it has failed, so you can fixed it before it’s too late)
3. Automated Backup Historical grooming (You may start out with 5 backups a week, but 6 months down the road you most likely only need 1 backup from every month not 20. Let MaxBackup manage that cleanup for you, so you don’t run out of valuable disk space for your latest and current  database backup.)
4. Easy access to your existing database backups for quick management or recovery (View all your backups from a simply and easy to manage window organized by date)
5. Easy database recovery (Overwrite your existing corrupt database or date snapshot recovery of a database, so you can recover single damaged customer records or missing records, without losing health existing customer records.)

MaxBackup is designed for Maximizer, but it is a SQL database backup tool and has the ability to backup any SQL instance on your local computer system. Its design focus has been small to medium size database backup solutions (Entrepreneur level businesses), but has been tested against large databases installations (Enterprise level businesses) and has successfully provided reliable backup and recovery.

MaxBackup is simply “A set it and forget it!“, database backup solution.

Thank you,

Shannon Porter (The Maximizer Guy)

MaxNotify, a new Maximizer add-on from IslandCRM. It is a simple Maximizer add-on which monitors additions, modifications, and Deletions for the Maximizer address book records and emails these changes to your email address. Who would install MaxNotify?

One side of the coin is a company with a department that does not have Maximizer installed (Accounting for example). This Maximizerless department needs to know when new client information is added and changed for their record tracking and invoicing. This way invoices still get mail to the right location.

On the other side of the coin is a business owner who doesn’t complete trust his staff with his client records. This business owner has to give full access to his employees or they will not have the ability to do their jobs. MaxNotify will inform this business owner when records are changed and if the business owner needs to undue these changes he has the information to do so.

MaxNotify Email Format

MaxNotify will send an email for every Maximizer address book entry that has been created, modify, or deleted.

New Record:

MaxNotify will send an email to the configured email address with the following format.

From: MaxNotify for Maximizer [mailto:sporter@islandcrm.com]
Sent: June-18-11 12:31 PM
To: sporter@islandcrm.com
Subject: Address Book (Escona Tutorial) – New – MaxNotify, Test (Individual)

Record Added
Type: Individual
Mr/Ms: Mr
First Name: Test
Middle Name: IslandCRM
Last Name: MaxNotify
Company: IslandCRM R&D
Position: Test Position
Salutation: Test Salution
Department: Test Department
Division: Test Division
Address 1: 1073 Colville Rd
Address 2: Suite 1
City: Victoria
State / Province: BC
Country: Canada
Zip / Postal Code: V9A 4P9
OFF1: 1-866-960-9831 ext: 703
Fax: 1-866-960-9831 ext: fax
Cell: 250-661-6510 ext: cell
OFF2: 778-433-9873 ext: home office
Email: sporter@islandcrm.com
Email 2: shannon@islandcrm.com
Email 3: service@islandcrm.com
Website: www.islandcrm.com

Action performed by User: MASTER
On Date: 18/06/2011 12:27:03 PM
Address Book: Escona Tutorial

Modified Record:

MaxNotify will send an email to the configured email address with the following format.

From: MaxNotify for Maximizer [mailto:sporter@islandcrm.com]
Sent: June-18-11 1:03 PM
To: sporter@islandcrm.com
Subject: Address Book (Escona Tutorial) – Modify – MaxNotify, Test (Individual)

Old Record
Type: Individual
Mr/Ms: Mr
First Name: Test
Middle Name: IslandCRM
Last Name: MaxNotify
Company: IslandCRM R&D
Position: Test Position
Salutation: Test Salution
Department: Test Department
Division: Test Division
Address 1: 1073 Colville Rd
Address 2: Suite 1
City: Victoria
State / Province: BC
Country: Canada
Zip / Postal Code: V9A 4P9
OFF1: 1-866-960-9831 ext: 703
Fax: 1-866-960-9831 ext: fax
Cell: 250-661-6510 ext: cell
OFF2: 778-433-9873 ext: home office
Email: sporter@islandcrm.com
Email 2: shannon@islandcrm.com
Email 3: service@islandcrm.com
Website: www.islandcrm.com

New Record
Type: Individual
Mr/Ms: Mr
First Name: Test
Middle Name: IslandCRM
Last Name: MaxNotify
Company: IslandCRM R&D
Position: Test Position
Salutation: Test Salution
Department: Test Department
Division: Test Division
Address 1: 1073 Colville Rd
Address 2:
City: Victoria
State / Province: BC
Country: Canada
Zip / Postal Code: V9A 4P9
OFF1: 1-866-960-9831 ext: 703
Fax: 1-866-960-9831 ext: fax
Cell: 250-661-6510 ext: cell
OFF2: 778-433-9873 ext: home office
Email: sporter@islandcrm.com
Email 2: shannon@islandcrm.com
Email 3: service@islandcrm.com
Website: www.islandcrm.com

Action performed by User: MASTER
On Date: 18/06/2011 1:02:40 PM
Address Book: Escona Tutorial

Deleted Record:

MaxNotify will send an email to the configured email address with the following format.

From: MaxNotify for Maximizer [mailto:sporter@islandcrm.com]
Sent: June-18-11 1:07 PM
To: sporter@islandcrm.com
Subject: Address Book (Escona Tutorial) – Delete – MaxNotify, Test (Individual)

Record Deleted
Type: Individual
Mr/Ms: Mr
First Name: Test
Middle Name: IslandCRM
Last Name: MaxNotify
Company: IslandCRM R&D
Position: Test Position
Salutation: Test Salution
Department: Test Department
Division: Test Division
Address 1: 1073 Colville Rd
Address 2:
City: Victoria
State / Province: BC
Country: Canada
Zip / Postal Code: V9A 4P9
OFF1: 1-866-960-9831 ext: 703
Fax: 1-866-960-9831 ext: fax
Cell: 250-661-6510 ext: cell
OFF2: 778-433-9873 ext: home office
Email: sporter@islandcrm.com
Email 2: shannon@islandcrm.com
Email 3: service@islandcrm.com
Website: www.islandcrm.com

Action performed by User: MASTER
On Date: 18/06/2011 1:06:30 PM
Address Book: Escona Tutorial

MaxNotify Supported Versions & Editions

MaxNotify will work with Maximizer versions 10, 10.5 and 11 and will work with Maximizer editions Entrepreneur, Team, Group, Professional, and Enterprise. MaxNotify will install on Windows 98 (All Editions), Windows XP (All Editions), Windows 2000 (All Editions), Windows 2003 (All Editions), Windows Vista (All Editions), and Windows 7 (All Editions).

Cheers,

Shannon Porter (The Maximizer Guy)

P.S. (MergeCRM the iPhone app for Maximizer is in the iTunes store. Just search “MergeCRM” from your “App Store” icon on the home screen of your iPhone, iPad, iPod, or iTouch mobile apple device)

A very useful feature in Maximizer V11 is the Colouring Rule. This feature allows you to link User-Defined Fields and/or other information to Address Book entries, Opportunities, Customer Service Cases and Hotlists. Depending on the value the text will change colour.

An example would be the category of client or even the product they buy from you. To access this feature:

• Select ADDRESS BOOK from the left navigation bar and SETUP on the V11 top menu bar and click on the Colouring Rule Option.
• Select ADD and type in the name and description of the rule in the space provided.
• Under the ‘full access’ drop-down menu, select who should have access to the rule.
• SELECT the User-Defined Fields that should apply for this rule.
• Click on ADD and select a VALUE and the colour of the text and/or background you would like to appear for the rule and click on ADD.

Cheers,

Shannon Porter (The Maximizer Guy)

P.S. (MergeCRM the iPhone app for Maximizer is in the iTunes store. Just search “MergeCRM” from your “App Store” icon on the home screen of your iPhone, iPad, iPod, or iTouch mobile apple device)

If you are in South Africa and would like more information from CamSoft Solutions please visit their website http://www.maximizercrm.co.za/ or Email Michelle.

Thank you Camsoft Solutions.



Maximizer  Weekly Tip – Upgrading to V11

Dear Shannon

The following are some pointers as to why it makes sense to upgrade to Maximizer V11 if you haven’t done so already:

1. Get optimised usability through the new Microsoft Office-style interface with visual colour prioritisation of clients, tasks, appointments and customer information.
2. The Sales Quota Management provides real-time insight into team, territory or individual performances.
3. A Sales Opportunity Monitoring feature alerts sales people and managers of changes in a deal’s status.
4. The wizard-driven Dashboards allow a click-through to detailed information for managers to easily create and visualise key performance indicators.
5. The Web Access platform is now enhanced with full marketing campaign functionality, tracking & reporting, plus Action Plans and a Document Library.
6. You can now use formulae in User-Defined Fields to do calculations from multiple fields for more robust profiling and reporting.
7. New Mobile CRM multi-user support allows collaboration on opportunities, assignment of tasks and escalation of cases. You can now also view, edit and create new documents, improving remote productivity.
8. There’s now Mobile CRM support for capturing voice, image & video for saving to customer records.
9. Quick sales email templates let you merge customer information for efficient communication and follow-ups.
10. Support for SharePoint now allows these users to seamlessly look up Maximizer CRM data.

Do you want to be a Maximizer Hero? We offer Maximizer Training every Tuesday at our Training Academy. For more info or to book please call +27 11 803 2316 or e-mail Training.

Cheers,

Shannon Porter (The Maximizer Guy)

P.S. (MergeCRM the iPhone app for Maximizer is in the iTunes store. Just search “MergeCRM” from your “App Store” icon on the home screen of your iPhone, iPad, iPod, or iTouch mobile apple device)