We’ve just added Boolean searching to Heap CRM. Now don’t worry you can still do a simple search or search by sound. But now you can be even more specific with your searches (if you choose).

Let’s say I want to find all messages with the word design; simple enough, just type it in.

Alright now let’s say I want to find all messages with design but not the word direction. Ok just put the - operator in front of the word.

Ok, now what if you just want the messages with direction to be lowly ranked and but not be eliminated entirely. Just use the ~ operator.

Other operators include (operators are placed in front of words):

• + Indicates that the word must be present
• - Indicates the word can not be present
• ~ Indicates the word should decrease the rank of the result
• < Indicates the word is important, but not as important as other words
• > Indicates the word is more important than other words

You can also search using a wild-card. So if you want to find all variations of apple you could search for apple* and you would find apple, apples, applesauce, etc.

If you want to search for a specific phrase just put it in double quotes (e.g. “search phrase”).

We’re pleased to announce our latest product, Torch, is nearing completion. Within just a few weeks, you will be able to bid, manage and invoice your projects in a simple, seamless process.

What is it:

Torch is an application to fix a “work-flow” problem. Professionals of all kinds bid, work on, then bill their work. This is such a common scenario you would think it would be a “fluid” process, but it’s not. Torch fixes that.

Torch accomplishes four tasks that would be traditionally completed by independent applications:

1. Bidding
2. Project Management
3. Time Tracking
4. Invoicing

But theses aren’t independent components. Each part of the process flows into the next. Items on a bid turn into tasks in a project. Time you spend on tasks turn into items on the invoice. In other words, you never reenter information.

Key Features:

1. Calculate bids and send them to potential clients
2. Track project progress and collaborate with messages (including e-mails), files, events and tasks.
3. Track time and associate it with events and tasks
4. Bill your clients

How much will it cost:

$9 for the first internal user, $5 for each additional internal user. External users (your clients, suppliers, etc.) are free.

Just like Heap CRM, you are not limited in any other way. Invoices, bids, projects and files are all unlimited.

I want to know more:

Stay tuned to this blog. Over the next few weeks we’ll show you in detail what Torch is all about. If you would like, you can sign-up to be emailed when Torch is released (as always, we will not sell, rent or otherwise abuse your e-mail address).