Overture FAQ

General Questions
Q.  I’ve got a Mac, can I still run Overture?
A.  Overture was written for the Microsoft Windows operating system. It is possible to run Overture on a Mac, using third party emulation software products such as VMWare’s Fusion and Sun Microsystems VirtualBox, however you will need a Windows license. 

Q. Sometimes my organisation produces a series of performances or festivals in conjunction with other similar organizations. Would I be able to manage the ticket and seating requirements all of these organisations centrally?
A. Yes. Overture allows User controlled design and creation of multiple venues across multiple organizations and provides integrated Management Information across them all.

Q.  My organisation uses more than one venue. Can I create multiple seating plans?
A.  Yes. Overture allows User controlled design and creation of multiple venues across multiple organizations and provides integrated Management Information across them all.

Q. I’ve heard really good things about Overture Version 2. When is it being released?
A. Overture Version 2 is still in development and a firm release date has not yet been set. There may be minor updates to Version 1 from time to time via our web site. The more significant types of upgrades are announced and priced when available. Keep an eye on our News Blog for further information and updates on availability.

Q: What are the restrictions of the trial version?
A: The trial version will only work for 60 days. Other than that, there are no restrictions and you’ll have full functionality for the entire trial period.

Q. My 60 day trial period has expired, but we’ve decided to purchase Overture. What happens to all the data we’ve entered so far?
A. It is possible to reactivate Overture and retrieve data already entered, but this requires a special reactivation disc that we can supply if required.

Q. My 60 day trial period has expired and I’ve entered my Key Code, but Overture will still not run. What is wrong?
A. Once the trail period expires, Overture disables itself completely, and therefore Key Codes that are purchased near the end of the trial period need to be entered quickly. It is possible to reactivate Overture and retrieve data already entered, but this requires a special reactivation disc that we can supply if required.

Q. How does the licensing work for Overture?
A.  Very simply! One license is required for each copy of Overture being used.

Q. Isn’t £900 a lot of money for a printer? Isn’t there a cheaper option?
A. We agree that the better part of a thousand pounds for a printer seems rather a daunting prospect, which is one of the reasons why we are unique in providing support for inkjet printers, through both software features and the provision of proprietary ticket stock. However, the BOCA printers we also supply are globally used professional commercial printers that are very reliable, resilient and in the long run are a more viable proposition than buying multiple replacement domestic inkjet printers.

Q. What is the maximum seating capacity that Overture can handle?
A. The current maximum number of seats that Overture Version 1 can currently manage is 2,000.

Q: Does the program handle credit card processing?
A: No, credit card transaction processing is not available in Overture.

Q: Theatres and venues often make changes to their seating plans. Is it possible to create different seating plans to cope with this?
A: Yes, you can create as many as you want.

Q. Will it be necessary to have a Network with all the associated costs?
A. No. This is a stand alone product designed for a PC or Laptop

Q. Can you have a Remote Box Office?
A. Yes, remote functionality is available. Any Show can be transferred to another PC or Laptop. Using a USB memory stick one can simply transfer to the remote computer or return the updates to the Host computer.

Q. Can you have multiple seat pricing and associated concessions?
A. Yes. You could have every row in the Venue with different seat pricing or areas such as Stalls, Rear Stalls, Circle, etc. with different seat prices. Concessions can easily be changed using the Concession Dialogue window. 

Q. Can I get Help Information?
A. Yes. Help is available at any time by pressing the F1 key on the keyboard. A complete Video Tour and Tutorial as well as a full Users Guide are provided on the distribution CD.

Q. Can I have more than one Venue?
A. Yes. You can have as many as you like. You can create the Seating Plans for any Venue or Venues. An individual or several Societies (Clubs) can share the same Copy of the program or it can be used at a Theatre where there will be Shows for several different Societies. It is very flexible.

Functional Questions
Q. I have installed Overture, how do I get started?
A. Start Overture either from the Windows Start Up menu or a Desktop shortcut that you have created.The Box Office Menu Interface will display. Pressing F1 at this point will display the Getting Started Help screen. Follow the step by step instructions to create Seating Plans for your Venue and a Show using the Show Wizard.

Q. There are two different ways of creating a Show which should I use?
A. In most situations you will use the Show Wizard which is intuitive and easy to use. Remember, always have a hardcopy of the seating plan you are creating to hand – this will make the process much easier!

Q. Am I limited to the default Payment names?
A. No you can change the defaults at any time or add new ones. The same applies to Concessions.

Q. How do I enter data into the various databases?
A.  Refer to the Help sections Adding and Editing Data and also Navigation buttons. To move from one record to the next you use the TAB key and to go backwards use ALT-TAB. As you enter data into the fields the database is automatically updated. Some fields, such as telephone numbers, have auto formatting.

Q. Am I limited to the number of Venues I can create?
A. No. You can create as many as you need at any time. The same applies to Shows and Performances where you can create as many as you need. There is a practical limit based on your PC hardware but most users will never reach this limit.

Q. How long does it take to process a sale?
A. The interactive Seating Plan is the focal point and of the sales process and tickets will print immediately after completing the Sale. A few minutes and the tickets are available complete with the address “ticket” to facilitate mailing.

Q. How does Save Backup work?
A. An automatic Backup of your data takes place each time you Exit Overture. In addition you can select Save Backup at any time and/or on a scheduled basis if you want. Your data will be saved and a report is displayed that provides details of all the transactions that occurred from the beginning of the session until the time you select Save Backup. This feature provides security In the event that you have a PC catastrophe by providing the details to restore the required data.

Q. If a customer wants to change their mind can they get a refund?
A. Yes. You can UNDO a seat assignment but the premise is that once a Sale is made there will be No Refunds. You can have a Seats Reserved but not SOLD until the date of the Performance

Ticketing Questions
Q: Can the program use thermal printers?
A: Yes. Overture is designed to also work with Boca thermal ticket and Star thermal receipt printers.
We can provide the ticket stock for you, or you can use your own preferred supplier.
 
Q: Does the program support Internet Ticketing?
A: No. Overture is not designed for Internet use, rather it is designed to provide a complete self contained ticket and seat management system for small to medium sized venues equipped with only a Personal Computer and printer.
 
Q: How long does it take to print a ticket?
A: This depends completely on your printer. Thermal ticket printers take about 1 second to print 1 ticket. Inkjet printers, however, are slower and can take as long as 20 - -30 seconds to print a 5 ticket sheet of our own proprietary ticket stock. You may find yourself waiting for tickets to finish printing if your customer pays cash. However, if you are doing a credit card transaction, the tickets will likely be ready before you finish the transaction.

Q. Can you Print the House
A. Yes. You can Print the House for a given Performance at any time if this is the preferred approach to printing at the time of Sale. The tickets can have the seating detail, such as A1, Stalls, or can be Unreserved.

Q. Do I need to manually create Tickets?
A. No. All ticket information is obtained from the selected Performance and various databases that have been created during the setup of a Show.


If you need the answer to a question you cannot find here, please Contact Us.