This
page contains answers to common questions handled by our support staff,
along with some tips and tricks that we have found useful.
Installing and updating software ...
Importing data ...
Making Backups ...
Printing trouble ...
Barcode questions ...
Networking issues...
Installing and updating software
I installed an updated version of Textbook Librarian, and all
my data seems to have disappeared. What happened?
The install program will not replace an existing version of your data
file, called TBdata.mdb, so relax! If you choose to do a standard install,
and the TBdata.mdb file had been moved from the default installation
folder, c:\trac-it, then an empty version of tbdata.mdb will be installed
in c:\trac-it. The new version of the application file, TBLibrarian.mde,
automatically links to the data file in c:\trac-it until you tell it
where your data actually is stored. So go to Housekeeping - Set Data
Path, and establish the correct link to your own data.
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Importing data
I imported a few new students into Textbook Librarian, and all the
rest of my students are now marked as Withdrawn. What happened?
The program is designed to work this way: the import routine expects
to import a complete list of active students, not a partial list. So
if a student is not on the new list, it is assumed that they are no
longer enrolled, and their status is updated to Withdrawn. Import a
complete list, and their status will be restored to Active.
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Backing up your Data
Do I really need to backup the application part of the program,
tbl2002.mde?
The application can be reinstalled using the Custom Install choice,
from the most recent install disk or CD. The only reason you might wish
to backup your working version is if you have had to adjust margin settings
for reports.
Does Textbook Librarian have a backup routine?
Yes. From Housekeeping, choose Archive Data. A copy of
your current data, TBData.mdb, will be made. Multiple copies are
important. Don't replace a good backup with bad data.
Backing up your data is extremely important! There are many ways to
backup important data, and hopefully your school is already using one of
them. If your data
is on a network, your network administrator should be backing up your
data on a daily basis. Check to be sure!
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Printing trouble
My printer doesn't print the last row of barcodes, or every other
page is blank. Why?
Some printer installations don't accept the margin settings of the
reports that accompany Textbook Librarian. Sometimes a printer's margins
cannot be reduced to the settings in the reports. The barcode reports
need to have a top and bottom margin of 0.5 inches, and a left and right
margin of 0.25 inches.
Use the File - Page Setup menu choice to examine your margin settings.
Try to correct them if needed. If your changes won't stick, the problem
is with the printer. Hopefully the barcodes will not be so far off center
that they can't be used, and you will have to live with wasting the
last row of labels. We would like to know which printers give this problem,
and how widespread this problem is. So please e-mail us at support@trac-it.com
if this applies to you.
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Barcode questions
My barcodes can't be read by my barcode scanner. I am using 80
label / page label stock.
When you peel off a label, is there any ink or toner left between
the labels? There could be a registration problem with the label stock,
or you are trying to print more digits than the small labels can handle
with the fonts provided. Try printing the labels 30/page. (You don't
need to use label stock for these tests of course - plain paper will
do.) If they read correctly, then chances are you are trying to print
too many digits on the smaller labels. Six digits is about all you can
expect with the smaller Code 3of9 font.
Remember, textbook barcodes (but not student ID# barcodes) are padded
with zeros to give a constant length barcode. Go to Housekeeping - Adjust
Local Parameters, and look at the series of zeros in the box labeled
Textbook Barcode Length. Try reducing the number of zeroes in that box.
Textbook barcodes can be up to nine digits in length, but will not print
successfully using the small (80/page) labels and the supplied fonts.
The only real purpose of padding a barcode with zeroes is cosmetic -
it causes the barcodes to have the same width and appearance regardless
of the actual size of the number being printed.
See also: Printing Trouble.
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Networking Issues
No issues identified at this time.
