ShoWorks Apeiron has arrived for 2009!

Welcome to the place for news and insights about the new ShoWorks 2009 - named "Apeiron".

A running document that discusses more features in depth is located on our blog here.

The quick facts:

• Will be officially released on December 15th 2008 at the IAFE Convention, Las Vegas, Paris Hotel.
• Is the largest, most significant update to ShoWorks since the first version in 1996.
• Over 1,000 enhancements and features over the former ShoWorks 2006.
• Is based on the Access 2007 platform (yeah!) but as always, Access is not required and only for gurus who like to customize ShoWorks.
• Reads/imports data from prior versions of ShoWorks.
• Focuses heavily on usability (user friendliness).

Interface Features:

• Scalable interface to take advantage of larger, more popular monitors (yet still work on most smaller ones).  Minimum display size is now 1024x768 (as opposed to the former 800x600).  Basically, the larger screen size you have, the more ShoWorks will adapt.
• Customizable interface.  That's right!
  • We mean the ability to rename fields on your menus (don't like the term "Class", no problem, rename it to "Lot" with ease). 
  • We mean the ability to fully customize your own menus (add, remove, re-arrange the form with the fields you want - no more padlocks).
  • We mean dragging, resizing, and arranging columns in spreadsheet view and ShoWorks remembering your arrangement.
• Hybrid menus - that show the traditional menu with fields (one record per screen) plus a spreadsheet type view on the bottom of the menu that has all records as a list for fast/easy management.  Very nice - one of our favorite features!
• Active menus (move among menus and keep your place).  For example, you may be working on a particular record in the Divisions menu, then need to flip to the Exhibitors menu.  When you go back to the Divisions menu, your cursor on the same record is right where you left it to pick up where you left off.
• Intelligent searching.  Now, a generic search box where as you type, ShoWorks narrows down the records on "every" field.  For example, start typing "Cal" and ShoWorks narrows records down to those including Calvin as a first name, Calhoun as a last name, Calgary as a city, Callamazoo High School as a school...  Just keep typing and the more you type, the narrower the results get.  Type in 307 and records are narrowed down with 307 as an Entry Number, 307 as an Exhibitor Number, 307 as an area code...and you get the idea.

Data Features:

• Lots of User Defined fields (71 new fields to be exact).
• Online automated data file backups.

Functional Features:

• True Sliding Scale Premium Scheduling.  This will save lots of time on premium management.  The former method of points and premiums is still available and can be used cooperatively with the new method.
• E-blast manager.
• Paperless buyer billing and payments (e-blast their bills and they click a link to pay online with a check or credit card).
• Report grouping (organize your custom reports).