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| Q. |
Only £64? Isn't this too cheap to be any good?
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| A. |
You must be joking. Have you seen the features which this product has got?
But it certainly is cheap when you compare it with other software products. Here's why we've priced it at this level.
We recognise that the job of managing training requirements doesn't always get great priority, and
often gets handed to someone who already has a lot else to do. It's not always appreciated just
how much work is involved, and may not come that high up on the priority list for budgets either.
We created TrainReq to make the job easier, and we've tried to hold the price down to a level where
a hard-pressed training manager can get this help without having to fight too hard for the budget.
If it turns out that we've set that level too low, then we may look at it again in the future. For
the time being, this is the price we've set - so take advantage of it before we change our minds!
(You might want to bear this in mind if you're trying to decide between an Unlimited or an Annual licence.)
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| Q. |
How much information will it handle?
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| A. |
As much as you care to throw at it. Really. We routinely test TrainReq with a database containing
hundreds of activities, thousands of individuals, and millions of training records. And that's the
very same version of TrainReq that's available for download on this site - not some special hotrodded version
that we wheel out to impress people with. It comes as standard. There are no inbuilt limits.
It's perfectly realistic to think of managing the training requirements of a large organisation with
hundreds of people across dozens of departments, with this version of TrainReq running on a single PC.
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| Q. |
I suppose I need a super-duper state-of-the-art PC to run this?
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| A. |
Not at all. We build TrainReq on state-of-the art workstations, and we test on those too (of course),
but we also test on wheezing old crocks that that we’ve fished out of dumpsters or rescued from being used as
doorstops.
In fact we probably have one of the most extensive museums of sorry-looking clapped-out wrecks of PCs
still in use. All for one reason: we recognise that some people have to make do with what they can get
or have been given. So we make sure that TrainReq doesn’t require the latest or hottest machine,
but will run OK on any computer on which it’s possible to install TrainReq. And that generally means,
any PC built within the last 5-10 years running any flavour of Microsoft Windows from Windows98 onwards.
Like any other application, TrainReq will run better on faster machines with more memory, so if you're
thinking of managing the needs of an entire organisation, you'd be advised to use a relatively modern PC.
But that doesn't mean spending big bucks.
Anything with a specification equal to the kind of cheap desktop that you'd find today in a high-street
electrical store
should be able to run our million-record database without trouble. That's how undemanding TrainReq is.
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| Q. |
What about other software? Do I need Microsoft Office?
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| A. |
The only software you need in order to run TrainReq is a Microsoft Windows operating system,
from Windows98 onwards. Nothing else. Anything that TrainReq needs in order to perform all its
various functions, it brings with it. You don't need Microsoft Office. It doesn't matter if you have
Office installed or not - and if you do have Office, it doesn't matter which version that is. TrainReq
does make use of some bits of Office, but it brings those with it as well. We test TrainReq on PCs which
have had a fresh install of Windows and nothing else. We also test on PCs which have different versions
of Office installed - and all kinds of other stuff as well.
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| Q. |
I've heard that databases need a lot of maintenance. How much of that will I have to do?
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| A. |
None at all. The TrainReq database is self-maintaining. It gets installed on your PC as part of
the normal software installation process, and from then on it looks after itself. Like any other
store of important information, you should back it up regularly - but this doesn't require any
special procedures beyond whatever you're currently using to do backups. You just have to make
sure that those procedures include the folder containing the TrainReq database.
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| Q. |
We have lots of training data stored in spreadsheets. What do we do about that?
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| A. |
It's up to you. If you want to leave the old data where it is and start afresh with TrainReq,
you can. The TrainReq database comes with a small amount of essential data pre-loaded but
otherwise empty. However if you'd prefer to load at least some if not all of your existing
data into TrainReq - and most people do - then we've provided a couple of data "import" functions
to allow information to be uploaded en masse from other applications like spreadsheets or even
other databases. You can also export data out of TrainReq and back into spreadsheets or other
databases. We try to make it as easy to communicate information to & from TrainReq as it is to
manage information within TrainReq.
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| Q. |
What level of support is there if I get a problem?
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| A. |
If you get stuck with a problem, and the program Help isn't enough to fix it, then your first
port of call should be the Support page on this site. We're planning to
compile a list of FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) covering the issues that arise most often,
and the Support page
is where you would go to consult this. If your particular issue isn't included in the FAQs, then you
should use the form on that page to send us details of your problem. We will normally attempt to respond
to all support requests within 24 hours of receipt, though there will inevitably be some times when
response is slower than at others. If we know in advance that a delay is likely at certain times,
we will endeavour to post a note to that effect on the Support page.
There is also an 0870 telephone number which you can
use to contact our support team; however this is not manned continuously - and in most cases you will
anyway be asked to provide details of your problem via email - so in practice you will generally get
a faster response by submitting an email form
than using the phone. A reasonable level of support is included in your purchase price, and in the
normal way we do not charge for it - however we do reserve the right to levy a charge if we feel that
excessive use is being made of the support system.
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| Q. |
What kind of warranty does this product come with?
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| A. |
TrainReq is supplied with exactly the same kind of warranty or guarantee that you'd get from any other
reputable software manufacturer for one of their products. Which is another way of saying: none at all.
Don't panic. You know those slabs of legalese
that scroll up the screen when you're trying to install some piece of software
- that you never read but which you
have to assent to before you can continue? They all say the same thing - and so do we.
The software is provided "as is" -
meaning that the supplier takes no responsibility for anything that happens as a consequence of
your decision to install it. This is not a conspiracy on the part of the software manufacturers
- it's just common sense. We can't see the computer on which you're proposing to install our software,
and we have no control over what you do with it. We take pride in our software, and we take trouble to
ensure that it's of the highest quality - we wouldn't be in this business if we didn't. And if you
find something wrong with it, we'll endeavour to fix that and supply you with a replacement copy
free of charge as part of the normal updating process. But once our software leaves our hands,
it's out of our control, and we can't be held liable for the consequences of what you do with it, any
more than the manufacturer of the hammer which you use to put a nail through a water pipe is liable
for the resulting flood damage.
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| Q. |
What about updates to the product that come along after I've bought mine?
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| A. |
These are included in your purchase price. We're continually developing all our software products,
including TrainReq, both to add more features and to make improvements in response to feedback from
users. Every so often we'll be releasing an improved version of the software - and when we do,
it will go onto the Downloads page of this site. If you've already bought
a licence for the product,
then that licence will continue to work with the updated version. We will email you when a new version
becomes available. You will have only to download and
re-install the latest version of the software, and then carry on as before. There is no extra cost for this.
The contents of your TrainReq database will be unaffected by the upgrade.
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| Q. |
I live somewhere you've never even heard of. What problems will that pose for TrainReq?
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| A. |
There shouldn't be any problems. Provided that the same laws of space, time and logic hold good in your
locality as in
the rest of the known Universe, TrainReq should work just the same there as it does here.
If in doubt, why not download a copy and give it a try?
As far as language is concerned, at the moment TrainReq is available only in English - though we do
have plans to
release it in a number of other major languages as well. Which ones, and how soon, will largely be a
matter of demand from customers, so if this is likely to be an issue for you, please
let us know.
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| Q. |
Your prices are quoted in GBP. Can I pay in other currencies?
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| A. |
Yes. Payments can be made through this website using any major credit card e.g. Visa or Mastercard. It does not
matter what currency your credit card account is in: we will charge you in GBP, and the payment
will go onto your card in whatever the currency of that card account is. If that is not GBP then
at some point in the process, someone will levy a charge for converting between currencies, which
will be added to the final amount that you pay. We don't add that charge - it will be either your
card provider or the people handling the payment. Payments made through this site are
processed by PayPal, whom you may know of in connection with the auction site Ebay. You do not
have to open a PayPal account in order to make a payment (though they will encourage you to do so.)
It is a reputable and secure means of payment, provided that you follow the rules (which are fairly
straightforward.) There is no charge to you for making payments by this method.
If you prefer not to pay by this route, you can make a direct transfer into our bank account instead.
This will have to be made in GBP, and if this involves a currency conversion then you may have to
pay additional charges (not to us - to your bank.)
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| Q. |
The Downloads page doesn't show a Windows98 version. Where do I get this?
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| A. |
The installation process for Windows98 and NT is more complicated than for later versions,
so for the time being we're only offering a version for download onto systems running Windows 2000, XP and Vista.
The reason for this is that the TrainReq database makes use of features which are built in to those
later operating systems, so you can copy it straight down onto those systems and know that it'll work.
However those
features may or may not be present on PCs running earlier versions of Windows, depending on what else
has been installed, so the installation process has to be slightly more complicated to take account of
that. We will be putting a Windows98 version of TrainReq on the Downloads
page in due course. In the
meantime, if you want a Windows98 version, then send us an email
and we will make a copy available for
you together with all the instructions for installing it. (Don't worry, it's not nearly so hard
as it sounds.)
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| Q. |
Does it work on Vista?
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| A. |
Yes. The version of TrainReq for download from this site is certified
to work on Windows 2000, XP and Vista.
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| Q. |
Can I try before I buy?
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| A. |
Of course you can. We encourage you to (you may have noticed.) Every copy of TrainReq comes
with a built-in 15-day free
trial period. Download a copy now by going to this page. If, after
trying it out, you decide that you want to carry on with it
- and we're confident that you will - then go here
to purchase a licence from our range of low-price options. If 15 days isn't enough for you to
make a decision, then for the pitiful price of £2.50 you can extend the trial period for a further 15 days.
We want you to be happy with your decision to purchase TrainReq, and we try to make it as easy
as possible for you to reach the right decision for you.
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| Q. |
I've got more questions. Where can I get answers?
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| A. |
We've tried to put as much information as we can - both here, and on the
Products page, and throughout the rest of the site - to give you an idea of how
TrainReq works and what it can do for you.
If, having looked at all this material, you still have questions which you would like answered
before you download the product and try it out, then
our support team will be glad to answer them. You can send your questions to us by clicking
here.
Your questions will be answered by a member of our development team, who know what they're
talking about and will give you frank and honest information - occasionally even maybe a bit
too frank and honest
- but certainly not some smooth salesman who's
only interested in signing you up for something regardless of whether or not it's suitable for you.
We don't actually employ any salesmen. We believe that our software and our services sell themselves.
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| Q. |
I'm still not sure. What are some reasons for NOT buying TrainReq?
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| A. |
Here's how helpful we are. We've even put together a page of reasons why you might feel that
TrainReq isn't for you. You can read it by clicking here.
Of course we've put a bit of our own gloss on it - but we hope it helps to convince you what
a great product TrainReq is - or at least, enough to give it a try.
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