IntelliMerge - 5.0

I hesitate to rate IntelliMerge until I can compare it to something else. But the point is, I will compare it to something else because of these events. I have used it for 12 Bulk Emails

Pleasures
>Entering custom HTML or Plain text is cut and paste simple.
>Easy to follow navigation. Took fear out of the process. (Note, I have someone else do my HTML programming. I just cut and paste out of BBEdit Lite.)
> Failed emails are clearly identified
> It works; with the following caveats.

Irritants (in order of appearance):
> Import maps to the wrong fields when the address has a paragraph mark for two address lines. This can put the email in the wrong field.
> This software cannot be programmed to deliver a specific number of recipients per hour. IntelliMerge admits this in their documentation. This means dividing larger databases into smaller ones. This is tedious.
> Large databases cannot be split into smaller ones inside Intellimerge; dividing must be done in Filemaker, Excel, Now, or other program.
> The "Send Later" function cannot be programmed to handle more than one database at a time. You can tell it to send one db at 6 AM central (for 7AM east coast delivery), but you cannot ALSO set the batch to go at 7, 8, 9, etc. It can only send the one at 6 - you'll have to wake up to send the one at 7. This reduced the program from an automated helper to a program that had to be babysat. After the first batch, it's a one-at-a-time manual program.
> If you type a "7" into the "Send Later" date, it will default to "17." You have to type "07."
> When you tab to the default 10PM setting, no matter what number you type, it simply will not change the first time. You have to cancel, re-enter, and then it will change.
> Documentation, while logical and infomative, does not get into detail. I could not find, for example, whether to use the "set it" function to change the "import" status to "ready." It doesn't explain what "set it" really is, and the differences between the many options in it.

Bottom Line: It works, I bought it, I can create work-arounds. But I will look for something that allows me to time my sending rather go through the tedious process of breaking databases up.

Friends,

We've recently released IntelliMerge 5, and in doing so addressed the criticisms most of you have had in reading your comments -- that we don't have release notes, nor do we have solid documentation.

I'm pleased to report we've resolved both of these issues with the most recent release.

Here's the release notes:

http://www.intellisw.com/intellimerge/whatsnew.html

Here's the documentation:

http://www.intellisw.com/intellimerge/documentation/documentation.pdf

Please don't hesitate to contact us directly if we can assist you in any way with the IntelliMerge software. Our tech department is always happy to help.

- Paul Scandariato, Intelli Innovations