Certificate Software. What do you use?

Discuss Certificate Software. What do you use? in the Business Related area at ElectriciansForums.net

B

BlueToBits

I thought it was about time I dragged myself kicking and screaming into the 21st Century so I've been looking at Certificate form filling software.
Castline are doing an entry level domestic installer version as a bait to get you hooked, but it's not really enough without committing to another £300 for a usable version. Being a stingy *******, I don't want to pay the earth for something that I will have to replace when the 17th ammendment comes into force later this year. Amtech also want £300 + £320 for the update and the £255 NICEIC offering (without the certificate numbers) includes 12 months of updates but it has no smartphone support.
Would anyone who uses form fill software like to share their experiences?
 
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i use similar. bought off ebay, mine need open office to run, but that's free and filling in is easy peasy
 
you must have got the wrong ones. i've no probs with mine. everything needed is on them. what was wrong with the ones you got?
 
We use Castline Formfill 9, the full version-after about 50 updates, it's pretty near perfect!

You get what you pay for with software, 70% of our business is PIR's and they have to look the business and have the features that save you hours on large reports-DB schedules at the press of a button, watermarks for draft/original/copy, .PDF production etc.
 
I recently bought the NIC software for use for domestic installations. It seems to work generally, however if you find the plain paper use attractive, you will need to find buying printer cartridges fun also. Don't expect to much of the verification of test results, it's buggy, although we shouldn't be depending on that anyway, before I get reminded of that........Phone support works well and will confirm bugs as you find them. That said, some sort of software does produce better certs and save time, although you might find yourself wanting to take a laptop and printer to work and maybe an inverter etc etc. There's a £10 min order charge on the cert no's too, so if you only want one batch it's dearer than you think.

Hope this helps, but bear in mind I've only been using it for a couple of weeks.
 
I used to use the rubbish ebay ones too, which almost drove me bonkers. Love the tysoft eastcert product. Bit pricey, but fair enough, it is specialised software, and the guy who is developing it has to make a living too. It runs perfectly and does exactly what I want it to, and excellent support aswell. Once you've gotten over the original license fee, the £60 a year maintenance ain't too bad..
 
I have used Amtech when working as a QS. Good software but pricey. They were slow to update their Emergency lighting certs when it changed to 17th Edition and I got a bo***cking from NIC.
When I started up on my own did not want to go back to paper certs so bought some ebay ones, the layout was poor and some did not even conform to the 17th Edition. So ended up making my own using NIC certs as a guide. On my assesment the NIC inspector was happy with them and remarked how much they looked like NIC certs.

Im selling them on Ebay now, not saying there as professional as Amtech or Easy cert but for £5.99 I think their a good alternative for those on a low budget. If any one does find a mistake with them Ill correct it and replace for free.

17th Edition Electrical Certificate Software on eBay (end time 09-Feb-11 20:56:24 GMT)
 
Pride, your listing says they are complient. That should be compliant, mate. I spotted those the other day, but have been wary of certs on ebay since buying the NationalCerts ones a while back. They had several errors - I spent time telling them about it, had to get others real quick for a job I had, and they promised to update them but i never got the updates. Their EL certs were not to current BS5266 and they had their company name still listed on some of the certs. They were not a bad effort (apart from the out of date ones), just did not have the attention to detail I am used to applying in my work.
 
DurhamSparky said:
them EBAY certs are flaming rubbish!! i left some nice feedback for the seller!! hahahaha!

use Easy Cert as simple and clean!
Click to expand...

I read your comments, Steve. I actually gave them positive feedback, but this was before I clocked some certs were out of date, and they had their own company name still embedded in others. Tried giving them feedback about what was wrong, but never got the promised updates. Wasted my money (and time) in the end.

By the way, what's the three-hole balaclava for? Planning a bank job?
 
Can someone explain how you go about using this software please.I'm guessing you take a laptop or somekind of hand held device to the job,use this to enter your test results and then print off cert and give to customer? Is this the case because it sounds a bit much to me. thanks
 
pritch said:
Can someone explain how you go about using this software please.I'm guessing you take a laptop or somekind of hand held device to the job,use this to enter your test results and then print off cert and give to customer? Is this the case because it sounds a bit much to me. thanks
Click to expand...

With the Easycert software I usually start by printing out a blank form (called a site survey form), or with some of the information already added into a new cert, such as client details etc, then take that onsite and fill in the blanks as I go. Then back home enter the remaining details into the form and print it out. The software checks I haven't missed anything, and does some checking of the values entered. It also keeps track of all my certs, and includes an online backup facility so all those I've issued are safe even if I lose my laptop. There is a PDA option if you want to enter the info onsite with one of these devices but I don't use that as I find a pencil much easier to carry around!
 
Jimmyb said:
I bought some of ebay for £7.99, not quite as easy to use as the above but they are fully editable so you can update them your self when you want and save & add images if required.

ELECTRICAL TEST CERTIFICATES 17th EDITION SOFTWARE DISC on eBay (end time 06-Feb-11 13:46:02 GMT)
Click to expand...

i use the same sort of software, pretty decent been using it 3 years now. had to edit columns on test result page quite alot though to fit in numbers better.

i would like to use tysoft easy cert but its a bit pricey for me at the moment. (tried the trial and it looks really good)
 
I use Hollycroft software. I think it was £295 for the full package and i'm sure they do a simpler package for £195 ish. More than just cert's tho it has office, admin, estimating(lame) and lots of other handy stuff i dont use..yet. I'm pleased but have never used anything else
 
I use a mixture of programs for different things have castline formfill level 2 full version and cable calc use these for niceic overprint certs then use hollycroft contractor pack for certs like fire alarms and em lighting both of these cost in round 95 + vat but that is for updates and support as cant remember initial outlay for the programs
 
Only reason is force of habit lol always have etc and the way i sort of keep programs are niceic certs printed on castline and eveything else on hollycroft but in theory the both programs are the same hollycroft has slightly more features but castline to me is a quicker program and for example filling in periodic reports castline provide a drop down list and you just select a fault if it matchs ones on list click the button and its all on cert complete with coding which is handy
 
We moved from Amtech to Castline Formfill for all certification and I must say, after many updates, that package is now excellent and very good value!
 
Anyone that buys Hollycroft software is paying well over the odds.
It amazes me that they call it software, because it isn't stand alone, if you don't have word and excel, you're pretty much stuffed. For the money they ask I'd expect stand alone software. All it is is a collection of templates some of which are pretty lame, especially as has already been pointed out the estimating section.
 
Maybe a daft question but these prices for software are "One off prices" right?

Theres no annual subscription or any other fee's?

anyone help me out on which software to go for for all emergency lights and fire alarm certs aswell as BS7671 certs?
 
ebay. all certs on a cdrom for a few quid, inc. fire and em lighting. some, though require open office to run, but that's free anyway. the one's i use are called national certs.
 
got to be worth it at that price, even if find out its no good...

I can see it doing the job though.. Seems very much the same as hollycroft software..

I really like the look of Home - PIRform for elecsa certs... But £75 every year for basic version...??

are all the rest yearly subscriptions.. (excluding ebay certs)
 
This all depends on what your requirements are, if you do many PIR's, EIC's a week then a good software package is far more professional and can save you and your chaps many hours with multi users and master databases etc.

If on the other hand, you knock out a handful a month then it would be pointless.
 
the link i've posted is the ones i use. you can't run from the disc, you have to download into your pc. runs with open office. takes a bit of playing with to get used to it, but i find it excellent. does different clours for nic, napit, elecsa as well.
 
So if you run a buisness with a handfull of blokes working for you you would recommend buying a decent software package? amtech.. easycert etc...

and if your a one man band then the ebay certs are a good choice?

I dont mind paying a one off fee for the software and an unlimted licence key that never expires.... but im not prepared to pay £££ subscription fee's
 
He has 100% positive feedback.... there is no neg?

So what didnt you like about the certificates? I'd be interested in seeing a printed out finished cert for myself
 
i am a one man band (actually 2 man band if you count Patrick who does work for me)

i use easy cert as its professional and yes i have to renew the customer care package once a year but its £60 and if i ever have problems or suggestions on the software they get looked into.!! i would not use any thing other from now on as its a brilliant system that logs all your certs in a safe place as well on a internet server should your pc crash!!

plus that £60 quid is a tax write off so im not fussed!
 
So you have to buy the customer care package each year otherwise the software is unusable?

What version of easycert do you have..? you have all fire and eme forms?
 
i found them to be misaligned and a put together very poor. some fonts were different and in general they were nasty!

i used a trial version of easy cert at same time and i found that a much better system.!

eBay Feedback profile for nationalcerts

2nd off top!! i was tempted to go around and smash his face in with his comments he made via email when i asked for a refund!
 
I use easycert

You need the package to get support or updates,if your program is working fine then it works without updates

I need to renew my package, but I will wait until the 17th update is released then renew then (you get a year from when you renew, not when the renewal lapsed)

That way it's an extra few months between upgrades

I must admit their software is good and they listen to feedback

I phoned up and complained that the EIC forms don't let you put in an X (unsatisfactory) in the boxes.
The guy said everything should be ticked OK after the job is finished. My point is that I will do a EIC after a CU change and if I find something wrong (outwith the CU, such as loss of earth continuity on a lighting circuit) I can't put down a cross

They said they would change it on their next update - it was done

Good customer service- you actually get to talk to somoene who knows what their company is doing

In have had their software for a few years and find it good
;)
 
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im thinking about buy test soft wear at the moment got a big job to do pir 290 propertys cant make my mind up on the niceic own make or ametech any info on both would be great.
 
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