May I know what is the software / script most of the small web hosting companies using to manage their subscribers, in addition to the standard control panel like Plesk and Cpanel?

Notepad

akaize,

There isn't a well-defined standard, partially because hosts themselves run different platforms. Some use a text file, others might record e-mails in standalone Access databases, and more advanced hosts probably have scripts integrated with MySQL or Microsoft SQL Server databases.

We use an ACT!2000 database. I don't know if it would be safe to store stuff in a MySQL or similar database that's connected to the internet... It's never good to have sensitive data online.

Originally posted by Avail
We use an ACT!2000 database. I don't know if it would be safe to store stuff in a MySQL or similar database that's connected to the internet... It's never good to have sensitive data online.

I agree completely. I would never keep customer information somewhere that it could be accessed by the wrong people. Even if it is a one in a million chance, I wouldn't take that risk with my customers. However a MySQL database could be good for storing new signups of the day or something like that, if the information is downloaded and removed at least every day. This would of corse need to be running under tight security as well.

Agreed, ACT! is an excellent contact program. I do not have the latest version but I believe it integrates with quickbooks now which would allow you keep the contact and accounting info completely synchronized.

This ACT software sounds pretty good.. How can I get ahold of this? Is there a free demo I can try out? Do they have a website?

act.com

If you are going to use ACT2000, make sure that you back up your files frequently. My version of ACT has a nasty habit of losing data. No other program on my computer does it.

Get whisper for your passwords

In my reply to this, i am a software designer. I work at home on the side coding things for fun. I would be willing to write a software unit, and distribute it for free. I could start working on it soon, and have it complete in about a month (including debug, revisions etc)... What would be the options you would like to see incorporated into a program. Please describe to me your IDEAL program for handling billing. And ill design it

Originally posted by vigor
In my reply to this, i am a software designer. I work at home on the side coding things for fun. I would be willing to write a software unit, and distribute it for free. I could start working on it soon, and have it complete in about a month (including debug, revisions etc)... What would be the options you would like to see incorporated into a program. Please describe to me your IDEAL program for handling billing. And ill design it

For free? Wow.

I can help spec it out for you, if you want. :)

If you use notepad, it's best to encrypt your files. Don't store them plain text. Bad things can happen.

Originally posted by appletreats
If you use notepad, it's best to encrypt your files. Don't store them plain text. Bad things can happen.

And even with encryption, it's always best not to name your files "CREDIT CARD NUMBERS OF MY CLIENTS.txt"

:D