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Ilium Software's Recordian 2.0T

Clinton Fitch | Chief Reviews Editor
July 7, 2003

When I got my first car (a 1973 Dodge Charger if you care to know!) back in 1985, one of the first things I bought for myself was a maintenance logbook. This, I assumed, would make my life easier by allowing me to keep track of all of the work that I had done on the car. My assumption was correct but I found that keeping my logbook up-to-date was time consuming and not very convenient.

Now fast-forward nearly twenty years. A wife, two kids and several cars later, I still keep the maintenance logbook on my cars but in a simply and comprehensive application named Recordian from Ilium Software. Recordian does far more than keep car maintenance logs as it is completely customizable to allow users to keep records on virtually anything. Plus, with a small footprint and outstanding customer support, this application will quickly become a standard issue for HPC users.

The installation of Recordian is straight-forward and is customizable to install either in main memory or on a storage card. The install size is less than 300K so in either location, it will not cost much. In addition, a Windows desktop version of the application is installed as well, allowing users to edit and maintain their records from both their HPC and desktop system.

Once Recordian is installed, creating a record is completely menu driven and easy to follow. The first question users are asked is if the file will be to trace vehicle maintenance. If you choose yes, you will then be prompted to enter the date when the vehicles odometer was at zero. It is important to get this date correct as all of the future schedule will be based on this date. I found that having your vehicle information when initially setting up the file to be handy in eliminating guess-work. For my example, I will be using my car.

If users choose no to this question, Recordian goes into an almost limitless mode. From here you can track anything that you need to keep records on.

Additionally, Recordian enables a reminder process that runs on users Windows-based PCs that will enable reminders to be set. This is very handy for regularly schedule events (such as an automobiles oil change) as it will inform users at a user-defined interval of an upcoming event.

First, answer some simple question on the type of information you will be entering

 

If you are entering vehicle registration details Recordian has some special menus

Once the odometer date is set, activities need to be added. To add an activity, tap the A icon or use the File menu. From here, enter in the information related to activity. In my example, I have added an Oil Change (which is the activity) under the category of Schedule Maintenance. Note that the category field is completely customizable so users can enter any data here and Recordian will then create that Category. Finally, an interval needs to be added for your activity. In my example, my car requires an oil change every 10,000 miles.

Depending on your use, users can also set up the activity to be Trip-Oriented. This is a great way to keep track of how many stops users make on a trip or the amount of fuel used (Recordian can even compute your fuel mileage).

Add an activity

Once the activity is added, the main display will show the name of the activity and italicize the category that it resides under. Also note that the Interval and Next Date are set as well. Remember that Recordian uses the odometer date as its reference point. So, like my example, if you bought a car a year ago, then you will need to add an event for each oil change you have done since you bought the car. Again, have your car maintenance records at hand!

The main records display

To add an event, click the E icon or use the file menu. Use the pull-down menu to select the Activity then the date in which it was done and enter the cost and odometer reading of your car. Click OK to add the event.

Add event dialogue

From this entry, Recordian will automatically calculate the next approximate date and odometer reading that you will need to perform this activity again. Users can also see a complete schedule of events in an activity by using the pull-down menu on the toolbar and select that activity. So, for example, I can see all of the oil changes that I have done on my car and the dates that they were performed.

Event filtering

Recordian does an excellent job of keeping automobile records; it is equally as talented when creating non-automobile related activity lists. Like the automobile-based records, users can set up a regular event in an activity to remind them of when things are due to be done. In my example below, I have created an activity to change my air conditioning filter every three months. Further, by using the notes tab, I can put in my filters dimensions and the brand of filter that I want to use.

Event filtering

 

Adding a new activity

 

Data Transfer. Import and Export

 

Once records are entered into Recordian, users can also export them out of the application for others to see. By using the Data Transfer function off of the File menu, users can export their activity or events into a text file.

The two examples I've outline here are really just the tip-of-the-iceberg. Recordian is highly customizable which allows for a limitless scope of what it can track for users. For the business world, tracking of meetings and assignments, mileage, employee history and client history could easily be kept. On a more personal note, medical records, trip logs, home maintenance and other services (such as landscaping and lawn care) can be tracked.

With the install, Recordian also includes several templates for users to access as well as sample files. These sample files are well done and should be viewed so as to provide a good basis of direction on creating your own data files.

Simply put, Recordian could quickly become one of the more important software purchases one makes for their HPC.

As I've stated in other reviews of their products, Ilium's customer support is second-to-none. They are always prompt in getting answers back to questions and resolving any issues you may have.

Ilium Software sells Recordian Professional 2.0T for $19.95 USD (£12.87 GBP, €17.55 EUD est). This includes the PC-based version as well. Additionally, they offer a 30 trial version of the application. Like all of Ilium's product I've reviewed, the "bang-for-the-buck" ratio is excellent.

You can get Ilium Software's Recordian at their website

System Requirements

Windows CE 2.11 (HPC Pro) and above
SH3, SH4, StrongARM, MIPS

More information on Ilium Software Recordian 2.0T can be found at
http://www.iliumsoft.com/

Ratings

Cost: 5- Star Rating
Usability: 5- Star Rating
Built-in Help: 4- Star Rating
Customer Service: 5- Star Rating
Overall: 5- Star Rating