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VTECS Connect 2 FAQs:

Installation Questions

1. What are the system requirements to install Connect?

2. How do I install VTECS Connect 2 in a server configuration?

3. Why can't I complete the installation process?

4. During installation, a System Administrator Password is requested; what is the password?

5. How can I reinstall VTECS Connect after uninstalling the Connect application and MSDE (Microsoft SQL Desktop Engine)?

6. What if I upgrade to Windows Vista?

General Questions

1. Where do I find supporting information on using VTECS Connect_2.1?

2. How do I backup the records that I have entered into Connect ?

3. How can I move the information in Connect 2 from my old computer to my new computer?

4. I have a version of VTECS Connect older than Connect 2, can I move my data into Connect v. 2.1?

Problem-solving Questions

1. What do I need to enter in the Server name dialog box when I start Connect?

2. Why do I keep seeing the Server name dialog box at program startup?

3. I cannot connect to the database. Is it running/installed?

4. Why do I get the splash screen and nothing else when I start Connect?

5. Why is my computer running more slowly after installing VTECS Connect 2?

6. When I try to print, I receive the error, "Application defined or object defined error." What do I need to do?

7. When I save a report as a Word file, the report formatting is not maintained. How can this be fixed?

Q:  What are the system requirements to install Connect?

A:  VTECS Connect™ 2.2 operates on computers running Intel or compatible Pentium IV or greater processors. The processor must be running at a minimum of 1.2 GHZ.

VTECS Connect 2 runs stand-alone or on a local area network.

Supported operating systems (OS): Windows® XP, Windows® 2000, and Windows® 2000 Server

Memory (RAM) requirements:-
Windows® 2000 -  256 MB minimum, 1 GB recommended
Windows® XP - 512 MB minimum, 1 GB recommended

VTECS Connect™ 2.2 has the following hard drive requirements, depending on the components and setup option selected:
Database Server 80 MB
Client Software 40 MB

VTECS Connect™ 2.2 requires a monitor with a minimum of SVGA resolution; 800x600 resolution or higher, a Microsoft Mouse or compatible pointing device, and Internet Explorer 5.5 or later.

NOTE - WINDOWS VISTA - The VTECS Connect 2.2 database will stop functioning if a Windows Vista upgrade is performed!
VTECS Connect 2.2 client software runs under Windows Vista but Microsoft SQL Server does NOT (the database that stores Connect information)! You can install Microsoft SQL Server on server machine (Windows 2000 or XP) and install the client portion of VTECS Connect on a Windows Vista machine.

Q:  How do I install VTECS Connect 2 in a server configuration?

A:  In short, here is how you install VTECS Connect 2 in a server configuration. This assumes you will be using the MSDE SQL server supplied on the VTECS Connect 2 program CD as the database server and not an enterprise version of MS SQL server.

Install VTECS Connect 2 in typical fashion on the Windows computer designated as the "server". Then install the Connect software in custom mode and do a "Client Only" install on all of the client machines that will be connecting to the "server".

Run Connect on the server and create at least one Term and several Users.

Now launch Connect on one of the client machines. The software will attempt to connect to a database on the local machine but after about 60 seconds will fail and display a dialog box asking for the location of the database server. Use the following info:

Server Name: "server" (actual network name of your server) Database: VTECS_DATA

User: vtecs

Password: C0nn3ct (capital "C", zero and a three)

This should attach the client to the "server". Log in as one of the users you previously created and you are set.

Q: Why can't I complete the installation process?

A:  Users on Windows 2000 or Windows XP must be logged in as Administrators. If, during installation of the SQL server, the progress bar progresses about half way and then backs off, giving an error, you are probably not logged in, in Administrator mode.

The installation of VTECS Connect™ 2 requires the modification of the Windows registry and configuration of services for the database server. These modifications to Windows require Administrative access to the system.

Q:  How can I reinstall VTECS Connect after uninstalling the Connect application and MSDE (Microsoft SQL Desktop Engine)?

A:  Never uninstall MSDE on Windows XP. However, if it has been already been uninstalled, refer to this bulletin: Support bulletin VTECS20060816.txt 

Once you successfully completed the steps in the Support bulletin, run the typical Connect installation.

Q:  What if I upgrade to Windows Vista?

A: Do not install VTECS Connect 2 under Windows Vista! The VTECS Connect 2 database will stop functioning if a Windows Vista upgrade is performed!

VTECS Connect 2.2 client software runs under Windows Vista but Microsoft SQL Server does NOT (the database that stores Connect information)! You can install the Microsoft SQL Server portion of the software on server machine (Windows 2000 or XP) and install the client portion of VTECS Connect on a Windows Vista machine.

Q: Where do I find supporting information on using VTECS Connect 2?

A: Software updates, current Release Notes, the Connect Manual and other information is available here on the VTECS website on the Connect Support page.  The VTECS Connect 2 program CD contains the Manual (Quick Reference) and Release Notes.

Q:  How do I backup the records that I have entered into Connect?

A: 

1. Go to Tools, Database Maintenance, Click <Export> (Procedure)

2. Click on the icon to the right of the blank field (File).

3. In the small window that pops up, select a folder for the exported data file to be stored in by double clicking on the folder name then key in a File Name (Note: Initially the field contains "*.mdb", .mdb must be the file extension.)

4. Click <OK>

5. From the Table drop down list, click on the data table to export  (select "all" to get all of your records) The table's contents is displayed.

6. Select Record Restriction "All Records" or "Specific Records" (default is "All Records") If  "Specific Records" is selected, the user checks the desired items to export.

7. Click <Begin Transfer>

8. When the export is complete, a message to that effect is displayed.

Q: What do I need to enter in the Server name dialog box when I start Connect?

A: Here is the information to enter for server, database, user and password:

(local)
VTECS_DATA
vtecs
C0nn3ct (be sure that you enter a capital letter C the number 0 then nn3ct)

Also, refer to the Connect 2 Release Notes available at http://www.vtecs.org/connect2files.htm; this issue is addressed in detail in section 4.3.

Q: Why do I keep seeing the Server name dialog box at program startup?

A: The Server Name dialog box appears at program startup when the software cannot connect to the database server. Usually this means that the database server is not running. You can use the SQL Server Manager icon in the taskbar to start and stop the SQL server.

If the database server regularly does not start at system boot up, use the SQL Server Manager icon in the taskbar to set the Auto-Start option.

If the database is not installed on the same machine as the client that is unable to connect to the database, then the server name property is incorrect. Please verify that the server name is the name of the computer running the Connect 2 database.

Q: I cannot connect to the database. Is it running/installed?

A:  Press Alt-Ctrl-Delete and see if you can find the entry "sqlservr.exe" in the list under the Processes tab. If so, that means the database is running. If it is not in the list, it needs to be started. Run the following program and hit the green arrow to start the database.

C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\80\Tools\Binn\sqlmangr.exe

You can also check the "Add Remove Programs" from the Windows Control Panel, to see if "Microsoft SQL Server Desktop Engine" is installed. If it is not, then rerun the install from the VTECS Connect 2 program CD.

Q: How can I move the information in Connect 2 from my old computer to my new computer?

A: To export your data, go to the "old" computer and follow these directions.

1. Go to Tools, Database Maintenance, Click <Export> (Procedure)

2. Click on the icon to the right of the blank field (File).

3. In the small window that pops up, select a folder for the exported data file to be stored in by double clicking on the folder name then key in a File Name (Note: Initially the field contains "*.mdb", .mdb must be the file extension.)

4. Click <OK>

5. From the Table drop down list, click on the data table to export  (select "all" to get all of your records) The table's contents is displayed.

6. Select Record Restriction "All Records" or "Specific Records" (default is "All Records") If  "Specific Records" is selected, the user checks the desired items to export.

7. Click <Begin Transfer>

8. When the export is complete, a message to that effect is displayed.

9. On the other pc, import the file that was created (in step 2 above) by using the Import function in Connect.

Q:  I have a version of VTECS Connect older that VTECS Connect 2.0, how can I get my data into VTECS Connect v. 2.1?

A:  VTECS Connect v. 2.1 does not import data from versions prior to VTECS Connect 2.0. So, you must import records from v. 1.60 to VTECS Connect 2.0 before upgrading to Connect 2.1.

Q:  Why do I get the splash screen and nothing else when I start Connect?

A:  It appears that one of the upgrades supplied by Microsoft for protecting against one of the many Worm viruses, creates an issue with Connect running and attaching to the database.

Please follow the instructions below to resolve this issue:

1. Download and install the latest MDAC upgrade from Microsoft, found at: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=6c050fe3-c795-4b7d-b037-185d0506396c&DisplayLang=en then restart your computer.

2. Download and install the latest Connect 2 update from the VTECS website: http://www.vtecs.org/connect2files.htm.

Run the Connect update file on both the client and the database.

Q:  Why is my computer running more slowly after installing VTECS Connect™ 2?

A:  VTECS Connect 2 uses the Microsoft technology: SQL Server 2000. The version used is  Microsoft SQL Desktop Engine. Use of this technology can cause slow-downs on slower computers or computers with the minimum RAM requirement.

Users can use the SQL Server Manager icon in the taskbar to start and stop the SQL server when they are not using the VTECS Connect 2 system. NOTE: If users receive a dialog box asking for the server name, database, user and password, then they have not restarted SQL server after turning it off.

Q:  When I try to print, I receive the error, "Application defined or object defined error." What do I need to do?

This compressed batch file registers the reports used by Connect 2.1. Save this file on your computer then run it. Reg_ActiveRpts1.exe

Q:  When I save a report as a Word file, the report formatting is not maintained. How can this be fixed?  

Download and install the newest version of VTECS Connect 2, click here.

Q.  During installation, a System Administrator Password is requested; what is the password?

VTECS Connect does not require a password. If a System Administrator password is requested, download this file, MSDE_Auth_Mode.exe, run it on your computer, then restart installation. 

Basically SQL can be installed in two login modes, Windows and Mixed.  VTECS Connect 2 requires Mixed.  This program allows a user to change the preinstalled SQL server login mode so the software can be installed.  Do not run the MSDE Auth Mode program on a server.