PastPerfect User Guides

The digital User Guides are equipped with a search that allows you to type in the word or phrase you are looking for. We recommend using the digital copies when available as the PDFs might not have the latest information. Bookmarking a digital User Guide as a favorite in your web browser will allow you to have easy access to it when you need it.

Additional resources can be found in our Knowledge Base, including answers to frequently asked questions and resources that may assist with technical support. If you have difficulty finding the answers you seek, please contact our support office at 1‑800‑562‑6080 or support@museumsoftware.com.

Web Edition

The Web Edition User Guide is available in an easily‑searchable, digital format.

Access the Web Edition digital User Guide

Version 5.0

The PastPerfect 5.0 User Guide is available online in an easily‑searchable, digital format and as downloadable PDFs of individual chapters.

Access the PastPerfect 5.0 digital User Guide

User Guide Chapter PDF Download Page Numbers
Table of Contents and Introduction PP5-Introduction.pdf 1-10
Chapter 1: Installation and Upgrade PP5-1.pdf 11-24
Chapter 2: The Basics PP5-2.pdf 25-38
Chapter 3: Getting Started PP5-3.pdf 39-74
Chapter 4: Temporary Custody PP5-4.pdf 75-84
Chapter 5: The Accession Process PP5-5.pdf 85-108
Chapter 6: The Objects Catalog PP5-6.pdf 109-148
Chapter 7: The Photos Catalog PP5-7.pdf 149-168
Chapter 8: The Archives Catalog PP5-8.pdf 169-198
Chapter 9: The Library Catalog PP5-9.pdf 199-208
Chapter 10: The Lexicon (Revised Nomenclature 2.0) PP5-10.pdf 209-220
Chapter 10: The Lexicon (All New Nomenclature 3.0) PP5-10lex3.pdf 209-226
Chapter 11: Incoming Loans PP5-11.pdf 227-240
Chapter 12: Outgoing Loans PP5-12.pdf 241-250
Chapter 13: Exhibits PP5-13.pdf 251-262
Chapter 14: Research PP5-14.pdf 263-284
Chapter 15: Catalog Lists PP5-15.pdf 285-300
Chapter 16: People & Sites PP5-16.pdf 301-316
Chapter 17: Reports PP5-17.pdf 317-330
Chapter 18: Report Maker PP5-18.pdf 331-352
Chapter 19: Advanced Report Modifications PP5-19.pdf 353-382
Chapter 20: Contacts PP5-20.pdf 383-436
Chapter 21: Contact Lists PP5-21.pdf 437-458
Chapter 22: Letters, Labels & Email PP5-22.pdf 459-502
Chapter 23: Campaigns and Pledges PP5-23.pdf 503-512
Chapter 24: Processing Receipts PP5-24.pdf 513-526
Chapter 25: Utilities PP5-25.pdf 527-550
Chapter 26: Multimedia PP5-26.pdf 551-576
Chapter 27: Barcode Printing PP5-27.pdf 577-584
Chapter 28: Virtual Exhibit PP5-28.pdf 585-612
Chapter 29: PastPerfect Software Support PP5-29.pdf 613-616
Chapter 30: Inventory Manager PP5-30.pdf 617-624
Bibliography & Index PP5-Bibliography 625-643

Version 4.0

The PastPerfect 4.0 User Guide is available online as downloadable PDFs of individual chapters.

User Guide Chapter PDF Download Page Numbers
Table of Contents and Introduction pp4-introduction.pdf 1-8
Chapter 1: Installation and Update pp4-1.pdf 9-22
Chapter 2: The Basics pp4-2.pdf 23-32
Chapter 3: Getting Started pp4-3.pdf 33-56
Chapter 4: Temporary Custody pp4-4.pdf 57-64
Chapter 5: The Accession Process pp4-5.pdf 65-82
Chapter 6: The Objects Catalog pp4-6.pdf 83-112
Chapter 7: The Photos Catalog pp4-7.pdf 113-128
Chapter 8: The Archives Catalog pp4-8.pdf 129-152
Chapter 9: The Library Catalog pp4-9.pdf 153-160
Chapter 10: The Lexicon pp4-10.pdf 161-170
Chapter 11: Incoming Loans pp4-11.pdf 171-178
Chapter 12: Outgoing Loans pp4-12.pdf 179-186
Chapter 13: Exhibits pp4-13.pdf 187-196
Chapter 14: Research pp4-14.pdf 197-210
Chapter 15: Reports pp4-15.pdf 211-246
Chapter 16: Contacts pp4-16.pdf 247-284
Chapter 17: WordRite pp4-17.pdf 285-298
Chapter 18: Utilities pp4-18.pdf 299-312
Chapter 19: MultiMedia pp4-19.pdf 313-330
Chapter 20: Scatter/Gather pp4-20.pdf 331-342
Chapter 21: Barcode Printing pp4-21.pdf 343-348
Chapter 22: ezMARC pp4-22.pdf 349-360
Chapter 23: Virtual Exhibit pp4-23.pdf 361-402
Chapter 24: PastPerfect Software Support pp4-24.pdf 403-406
Bibliography & Index pp4-index.pdf 409-424

PastPerfect Online

The current User Guide is available online in an easily‑searchable, digital format and as a single PDF download.

Access the PastPerfect Online digital User Guide

Download the PastPerfect Online PDF User Guide