Frequently Asked Questions / Sales

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Nspire requires Windows XP or later 1.0 GHz or better 200MB free hard drive space 1024x768 minimum video resolution E-mail requires access to, and permission to relay over, an SMTP mail server or a MAPI compliant e-mail program like Outlook Express. PhoneTree™: Requires PhoneTree™ Plus, USB, 2100 or better telephone messaging system Nspire can be used on a MAC with Virtual PC(Power PC) or Parallels(Intel). You still need to have a Windows OS to use Nspire.

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No. The basic versions of Youth Assistant and Children's Assistant are designed for the youth minister or children’s pastor looking for the perfect tool for their ministry, the small church looking for a cost effective solution that will grow with their ministry, or the church leader needing a customizable solution for their unique ministry niche. The 'plus' versions of each include all the innovative benefits of Nspire, plus automated attendance and a bar code reader for one low price! A whole new way to enhance relationships while making time-consuming data entry a thing of the past! Simply scan in your attendance and find out who's missing. Then send out mail-merged "Missing In Action" letters, postcards, and e-mails before service is over. Nspire The Works includes all the benefits of Nspire but it includes four user-definable secure ministry zones (i.e. Adult, College, Youth, Children), attendance and contributions. This "total solution" is for the front office and ministry staff.

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On a new purchase from Nspire you get a 90-day Super Ministry Membership for free which includes an 800 number for unlimited phone-in technical support and FREE upgrades and updates. At the end of your 90-days, you may continue this membership for as low as $129 year. Visit www.nspiresoftware.com/supermembership.html or call 888.297.6495 for more information.

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No, you are only limited by the size of your computer's hard drive.

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Yes, Nspire offers a variety of security options. You can choose to limit a user's access to "read only", or you can set up Nspire to ignore security options and give everyone free access, or anywhere in between. Nspire offers two levels of security, data encryption and user level access to protect your information. However, you are ultimately responsible for the security of your data. You must limit physical access to your computer and network. Encryption Nspire's data is encrypted to prevent reading the data file with any data reader. This means that while someone may gain access to your data files they would not be able to get your passwords or sensitive data from the files. While no encryption method can completely guarantee security, it would take a concerted effort for someone to decrypt your data. User Level Access Nspire allows a system administrator to create user accounts that can limit what each user can access. Each user has a password to ensure positive identification. Each user account is assigned to a security group which defines their access. You can choose from default several default security groups or create your own custom groups. Creating a custom group allows you, for example, to set up an account for a volunteer who has access only to attendance records and another who works only with small groups or your library.

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Yes, Nspire can import data from Comma Separated Values (.csv) files into the fields designated as Import Fields. An import wizard is included to make it easy to import files. In addition to the main list of import fields listed below, you are now able to import custom fields of data too. The following is a list of data fields that can be imported into Nspire using the Import utility by default. · First Name* · Middle Name · Last Name* · Generation · Preferred Name · Gender (M,F,Male, or Female ) · Birthday (mm/dd/yyyy) · Household Name* (Household name is required if it is checked) · Household Status (A,C,FC,MC,O) · Address Line 1 · Address Line 2 · City · State · Zip Code · Home Phone · Cell Phone · Beeper · Fax · E-mail · School · Grade · Individual ID * = Required

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Yes, within each Nspire product you can keep track of unlimited ministry groups or minitry teams.

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No. You even get unlimited seat licenses (on a network) and a free 90 day SuperMinistry Membership!

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One of the most powerful benefits of Nspire is the ability to customize the data in Nspire to fit your ministry needs. While many systems give you the ability to change the name of fields, Nspire gives you unlimited capabilities without you needing to know how to program software or how it works. Another aspect of customizing Nspire is changing many of the preset descriptions on your ministries, individual status, and grades. While each of these is fairly distinct each lets you shape Nspire to serve your ministry better.

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Yes. One reward that you will receive for having a current membership is online training. You will have FullAccess Support which will give you the ability to browse through our library of training videos that will walk you through major sections of the software.

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A current Membership gives you upgrades and updates to your software FREE and immediately through FullAccess Support. All that you have to do is to click on the link for downloading andor installing the new version of the program. Up to two free CDs per year with all previous updates mailed to you on request. Unlimited Technical Support! Call us one time or a hundred times, you won't get a bill, access to special features such as online training and solutions to everyday questions. Special VIP service - Being a member puts you at the top.

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Nspire exports the information as a Comma Separated Value (.csv) file. Comma Separated Value files are used by most Windows programs such as Microsoft Excel and others. Nspire allows you to customize the information you would like to export. An export wizard is included to make it easy to create your export files.

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No, in order for the data to be converted automatically you have to have a version of NSpire between version 1.02 and 3.3x. With the Youth Assistant (red and blue) from several years ago, you can export data into a CSV file and then do an import of the data into Nspire or the Childrens or Youth Assistant depending on your new purchase. In the older Youth Assistant (YA) program: At the top left of the page choose the Comma Separated Values (*.csv) type. Choose the location that you want to save the file to: A safe one is the desktop and remember to save the file as a Comma Separated Value file. Click on UtilitiesExport Data. On the right hand side of the page choose the individuals that you want to export to a CSV file and move them to the left side of the page. And then click the Export button with the green check mark.

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Absolutely, Nspire is for the small church looking for a cost effective solution that will grow with their ministry, or the church leader needing a customizable solution for their unique ministry niche. Want it all now? As a small church, you can also take advantage of the valued priced Nspire the Works. This product will take care of all your administrative and ministry needs now, allowing your whole staff to be on the same page. In addition, it's better to enter a few hundred names now than to wait until you have thousands to enter later. Plus, when your small if you think BIG you'll get BIG!

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Yes, Nspire's Total Church Solution is designed to meet the needs of any size church. The Total Church Solution is for the front office and ministry staff. Now, you can finally have a "ministry focused" database that will keep everyone on the same page. Enter as many people as you want, you're only limited by the size of your hard drive! Unlimited network seat licenses, no hidden fee's or modules, it's a seamless database and true windows interface. It also comes with 90 days of our SuperMinistry Membership and our 30-day money back guarantee. That's right test drive the software for 30-days and if your not completely satisfied we will refund your money.

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Nspire has been around since 1999. Before 1999, Nspire was known as the Youth Assistant. Over the years, we have amassed over 10,000 users and we are committed to making your ministry a success!

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Nspire is made with ministry at heart. This means that we have specially designed this for individuals in ministry and have taken out the need to understand computer programming. With easy to use wizards, icons, and a complete help file (and User's Manual) you'll be a Nspire pro in no time. As always, the more time and data that you put into Nspire, the more complete and valuable the data will be that you can retrieve from Nspire.

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Yes,Nspire has the capability of running on a server which allows a user to have the program accessed from as many workstations as he/she may need. The individual computers or workstations need to have full control to the data folder on the server, and then they will run the client on their local workstation.

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Nspire is a customizable database that will let you add pages, tabs, email messages and pictures into the program. You can create demographics that will allow you to track more specific information such as t-shirt sizes, geographical zones and more important things like a person's allergies.

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This is a question that should be answered on a case by case basis. The Nspire program is designed to be user friendly, but as software programs go, the more that you use a program the more familiar and comfortable with it that you will be. Someone who only uses the program on Sundays and Wednesdays will not necessarily have the success as someone who uses the program on a daily basis.

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Yes. The Nspire program gives you the ability to hold not only individual pictures, but you can keep household and event pictures as well. The event pictures might include maps of a particular area or directions to a given site.

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Sure. The latest version(4.21)of the software offers a new mapping feature which has been integrated into several sections of the program to allow users to map out the route to an individual's residence or from the church to an address. Note: This feature does require an Internet Connection and that individuals in the database have an address.

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When using Nspire you can create name tags to use in your ministry. Name tags are useful as id cards, diaper bag tags, and etc. Name tags are best used with bar code equipment to make taking attendance quick and easy. You will need a laser or ink-jet printer, card stock, and possibly a laminating machine to make name tags more durable. Note: The name tags printed from Nspire are formatted to fit Avery 5390 name tag stock. You can print the name tags on card stock and cut the card out with a paper cutter to save money.

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CCD Scanner(USB)- $195 Value Portable Laser Scanner II The decoded 3" CCD Scanner is an economical yet durable hardware choice. This scanner uses visible LED light to read bar codes. With the corded scanner you get direct entry into the software, an excellent selection for check-in/check-out applications where a computer is at the attendance station. You also have the option of upgrading to a Portable Laser Scanner instead for an additional charge. This scanner can be used at the individual workstations, check-in points etc. Scanner sales do not apply to the basic software packages.

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There are several options you can utilize to print name tags. You can create a single panel, two panel or label. Single Panel: Single panel will provide a front only name tag. This prints 8 cards per page and you could preprint the backs of the cards to customize them for your group. You have the option of printing these name tags with or without a barcode. Two Panel: The two panel will print name tags with a front and a back. This prints 4 per page and includes more contact information and notes about the individual on the back of the card. You have the option of printing these name tags with or without a barcode. Label: Use this option to print an individual's name on a mailing label.

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Yes. The Scan Console window has been updated to let you see a person's picture as you scan them for attendance. You also have the option to see up to five additional fields of information for individuals that you scan.

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Nspire offers a discount to existing users that are interested in upgrading to Nspire the Works from Youth Assistant(Basic) or Children's Assistant(Basic). Please contact TCS Software at 888.297.6495 between 8:00 am - 5:00 pm (Central Standard Time) for more information.

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Yes, Nspire will allow you to track all your small groups under each of the four user-definable ministry zones (i.e. Children, Youth, College, Adult). For example, under your youth ministry zone track all of your small groups that pertain to that ministry zone. You can even share small groups across all four of the main ministry zones.

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Yes. There is a contribution report that is formatted to fit properly in a standard sized #10 windowed envelope.

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After consulting with a widely known and respected church audit company, The Foundation Group, we decided not to develop our own accounting software. With the Foundation Group's advice to "not reinvent the wheel" we decided to let the two leading companies in the accounting industry do the job for us, PeachTree and Quickbooks. Will you trust your finances with a church management software that has there own version of accounting? We hope not. If you have financial problems what are most accountants going to know? A church management software version? Or, the #1 selling accounting software in the industry?