Mile Tracker - Moonlight Labs
 

Moonlight Labs and Flyer Talk

As part of my consolidation into Hilton (Lifetime 370,000 +) and Continental (425,000 and growing) I have made the following transfers:

UAL to Hilton Honors 20,000, a second UAL transfer to Hilton Honors. Starwood to UAL, Mariott to Delta, Creation of Hilton Honors Mutual Fund, Transfer of wife's Delta points to Hilton Honors, Redeemed three round trips from my Delta account, building residual balance on Delta to 5,000 to transfer to Hilton, Accuing Safeway and Idine to round up my United account back to 5000 . . .

Consolidate Consolidate Consolidate

Needless to say keeping track of balances crossing between the programs would be a nightmare without a product like MileTracker.

What I like about Miletracker is that all of your password and account information is stored on your PC and not a Web server.

After receiving a personal e-mail regarding the changes required when Hilton added a last name prompt I visited the web site and noticed the support prompt.

I sent a donation equall to the anual fee for a server based product

Here is the response I received from Mr. Mike Hoeffner.

Obviously Mr. Hoeffner is far too humble to aggressively request support, however the challenge of maintaining an application that can access 34 different web sites (not including the links to the individual FT threads) and track you progress needs financial support. No matter how good of job Mr. Hoeffner does with his open source program, he must stay current with changes made to 34 websites causing continual updates.

Let’s show our support for his efforts and help the cause

In case you haven't visited the website lately since you can get the updates with a single click here's the link:

http://www.moonlightlabs.com/support.html

To go directly to the donation processed through Amazon:

http://s1.amazon.com/exec/varzea/pay...816433-7048053

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"A Southwest line never gets longer, It only gets wider"

[This message has been edited by dcwcce (edited 04-21-2002).]

TO: dcwcce

Thanks for doing this. I just sent Mike H a donation that I wouldn't have done without your handy dandy info. I use his website almost daily. It's very, very convenient to see everything at a glance for 4 family members and a growing list of programs for each of us. They don't call me T Q (travel queen) for nothing.

Once again, thanks for making it convenient!

Colleen

Just sent a donation in. Thanks for the great work, Mike!

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- Sameer
"Didn't we just leave this party?"
www.liningup.net


[This message has been edited by Grasshopper (edited 04-21-2002).]

I just checked out the Moonlight labs website and it knew my first name! Kind of spooky. I guess Amazon shares info with them.

Used Excel for many years. Switched to MileTracker a couple of months ago after learning about it here. It rocks, will never go back. In addition to fixing the Hilton and AA problems, he has added account numbers to the screen display. It is the best.

It rocks!
Just sent him $$

Wow! I received several emails from Amazon the last 2 days concerning donations, and I just figured that they had goofed something up in their system. I ran across this thread this afternoon which explained it though, and it sure was a pleasant surprise. In the last two days, I have received 7 donations totalling $130 after having received only $13 through 3 donations in the entire previous 6 months.

I have a lot of other travel projects in my mind or in the works (including getting FareBrowser back up), and support like this at least allows me to not have to personally pay for web hosting (and it may even buy a pizza or a 6-pack for some late night coding sessions). Progress has been a little slow recently because I've started a new job that requires a commute halfway across Texas twice a week. I also find myself having to sneak coding in while my girlfriend's sleeping so that I don't have to defend myself for being on the computer so much... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Thanks again,
Mike Hoeffner

P.S. If you do make a donation, please don't do it anonymously (Amazon provides a choice) as I'd like to know who's helping out.

[This message has been edited by jimbob (edited 04-21-2002).]

I've been using Mile Tracker for several months, and it runs as well as (or better than) any software I've ever paid for. So my contribution is in.

Just sent my contribution. Keep up the good works.

AndrewM

Thanks for the reminder -- just sent a donation.

I hope that maybe if enough people send donations, we can get together enough funds to help Mike bring back his other really great idea, FareBrowser? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Although of course that's a different story from MileTracker -- it takes a lot of database crunching power to run something like FareBrowser, and hence it would work best on a pretty expensive ($250+ per month?) dedicated-server website hosting account. Mike, have you thought of offering FareBrowser as a subscription service? I think there would be a substantial market for it.

Anyway, thanks and keep up the good work!

As the owner of a UK based ISP, with quite a bit of unused crunchpower, perhaps I could offer some of that crunchpower to the good of FT users ?

Oh and that would be on a complimentary basis.

e:[email protected]

[This message has been edited by Cris L (edited 04-22-2002).]

Don't be spooked, the link you follwoed is an Amazon Link.

Great Idea to use a "legitimate" partner to handle credit card information.



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"A Southwest line never gets longer, It only gets wider"
Follow this link to find out how to earn UAL Miles:
http://www.epoll.com/signupform-b.asp?ARP=1727

Sorry Wrong Thread

[This message has been edited by dcwcce (edited 04-24-2002).]

Mile Tracker is my new favorite program. I just send you some money. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Thanks Mike. Another donation is on the way.

Freeware doesn't have to be free.

Saw the thread, checked the software out, was very impressed, donation sent. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif


[This message has been edited by skofarrell (edited 04-28-2002).]

Actually, you don't even need to click on the link to see your name appear. If you have Amazon cookies on your PC, the Amazon banner ad will show your name. As explained on the Amazon site, however, the site owner (Moonlight Labs) doesn't have access to this information.

Thanks for the clarification

I tried installing this some time ago, no go. I just tried again, I get an error msg some .dll file is missing or something like that...I am glad you are all enjoying it, I 'll just keep on doing what I 've been doing...too bad it really sounds neat if I could get it to work.

I am on Win 95 on my desktop by the way, I sense that may be the problem http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

George

His web site Requirements section does say:
"Windows 98 or later (may work with Windows 95 or later). "

If you have not done so, drop him a line. Maybe he can help.

BTW, I added a link to MileTracker on my site as well. I hope this helps.

------------------
Michael Steinberg
Editor
BizTrip
http://www.biztrip.com

I have just dl'd this program... but the tab for checking balances is greyed out for me.

Does it take a while for it to check your information before it gives you totals?

Send Mike an E-Mail he is very responsive.

Was your internet connection open when you opened the MileTracker ?

Thanks....a great program, I was going CRAZY trying to keep track of accounts for a family of 4.

Thanks dcwcce... yes, the net connection was open. I even rebooted still doesn't work.

I have now sent a quick note off to support help and hopefully it can be worked out. It would be wonderful to have such a program to use.

Up to 18 donations worth $300. You guys are great! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

I just wanted to provide a brief update of what my current priorities for MileTracker are:

1) Automatic updates - At a minimum, MileTracker needs to alert a user that updates are available to be downloaded. Since I support so many different sites and those sites change pretty frequently, I really need a better way to get updates out to users.

2) Full activity/transaction details - I'd like to be able to show all of the actual activities/transactions that occurred (i.e. 500 miles for hotel A, 1200 miles for flight B, etc.). Odds are that I will not format this data but I will just grab it from the provider's website and display it the exact same way that they do.

3) More Excel-like features that will make more people want to switch from Excel, such as balance histories (maybe even with charts), notes, etc.

4) Improved promotion tracking and registration. I have not heard much feedback from users on this functionality, but I think that if I improved it and it covered more programs that it would be really useful.

Thanks,
Mike

[This message has been edited by jimbob (edited 05-05-2002).]

For anyone else who has emailed me, I apologize if I don't immediately get back to you. There's some days where I'll reply within minutes. Then there are others where I don't get a chance and those emails pile up in inbox limbo for weeks or even months. Don't hesitate to send me multiple emails if you don't get a quick response. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

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gpapadop,

I'm not sure what DLL it said was missing, but it's probably an easy fix. Check the bottom of the following link and see if the error message that I list matches yours:

http://www.moonlightlabs.com/miletra...oc/README.html

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nobody-elite,

Do you mean that the button on the bottom right that says "Check All Balances" is greyed out or that the tab on the top left that says "Balances" is greyed out? If the button is greyed out, it might be because your computer's clock is set to the wrong time (versions of MileTracker automatically expire on certain dates). If that's not the case and you know how to take a screenshot, please send me one.


[This message has been edited by jimbob (edited 05-05-2002).]

[This message has been edited by jimbob (edited 05-05-2002).]

jimbob: thanks again for your wonderful work on this product.

One question for your about the promos... where do you find them. I'm pretty much on top of all the CO promos, and most people in the CO forum are too, but you had one on there for using AMEX to purchase Int'l tickets that no one had ever seen before.

Do you post the promos that are found via word of mouth (or type), or do you have any dialogue w/ carriers such as NW/CO for that info? I assume it is a post-as-you-find-'em kind of thing.

Also, what do you think of the new AA "user agreement" that effectively admonishes the use of a tool like yours... do you think that is because they realize that they're losing "impressions?" In other words, are they mad because users don't have to go to their site and view their ads and promos to get their mileage, but can use a tool like yours... or worse, go to some other "for fee" service and view ads from travel sites, other carrier's promos, etc...

thanks again!

jimbob...thanks for the reply.

It is the bottom rhs button that is greyed out.

I have both tabs at the top... balances and promotions... The page that is showing up has a grid of my accts that I filled in...but over to the right where it says BALANCE at the top of that page ...under that heading and in the column it says "Never checked"

But I can't check... as the balance check button is greyed out.

my computer is fairly new so the date/time is working fine on it.

Since today MILETRACKER does not work, I get an error like: "Miletracker Version Expired!"

I have the newest release (0.9994b) running.
Anybody else having trouble?

I found this on the website. This explains everything:

Argh. I foolishly forgot that I had set the expiration date on the latest version of MileTracker (0.9994b) to May 15. I also temporarily don't have access to the computer that I develop MileTracker on. Therefore I'm in a bind and I can't get the MileTracker install updated at the moment. I will get a MileTracker update out late on Thursday night or Friday morning that will resolve this issue, but until then if you need to run MileTracker, just set your computer's clock back to anytime before May 15, 2002. I truly apologize for the inconvenience.

From the MileTracker website:

I am having a problem also. I emailed Mike and got a response yesterday that he accidently set it to expire on the 15th. He won't have access to the computer that the program is on until tonight or tomorrow at which time he will fix the glitch. Hope this helps all of us mileage junkies out there for our daily fix of miletracker.

Not to whine, but is there really a reason for putting those expiry dates in the software? Its such a hassle for everyone.

When you're dealing with beta software, such as MileTracker, it makes some sense to assure that someone's not using a seriously outdated beta version of the software.

Great Info.

I also have enjoyed superb (personal) service from Mike and his system. Happy to make a small donation and hoping that I can encourage others to do the same. Easy with the one click method contained in the link above.

Lurker http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

It's not a hassle. It's as inexcusable as a virus. I WANT MY MONEY BACK!

Your implied accusation is an inexusable as a vius. That being said, unless you donated some large amount of money, for instance, larger than I (which I know you didn't), then I wouldn't be complaining. Not having access to this incredibly usefull FREE tool for 48 hours will not ruin your life. Furthermore, as part of ANY software development cycle worth it's beans, you will find a way to kill older copies of software to prevent a variety of items, from people mis-interpreting the software because they have a bad beta copy, to simply making the user experiance better, to comabatting piracy. Please, show some respect to someone who hasn't charged anything, nor made much money off of this great product.

I think the "I WANT MY MONEY BACK" comment was tongue in cheek. The software is FREE!

I posted an upgrade earlier this morning that should resolve everyone's expiration issues.

I still do include an expiration date (currently July 31) because the software is still very much in progress. If there's vastly improved versions available, I want people using those instead. There's also the small chance of MileTracker becoming shareware in which case I'd need the free version to phase out. (Please note that if I did this, I'd either return all donations or treat donaters specially.)

I promise that I have some major updates to MT in the works, but it may be a month or two before they are available (darn full-time job http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif ).

Thanks,
Mike (not Jim or Bob)

[This message has been edited by jimbob (edited 05-18-2002).]

Guys - I think you need to lighten up or learn to understand irony / sarcasm.
Regards,
Alex

P.S. For those who still don't get it - xbrace (from what I know of his humour) was joking.


[This message has been edited by alexwuk (edited 05-18-2002).]