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Entering your activation code
It's always a good idea to copy and paste each segment of the
activation code as with some fonts (used by your email program) it's quite
easy to mix up 0 (number) with O (letter), 1 (number) with I (letter), etc.
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Database creation problems
Some users of 0.3.17 Beta onward have reported problems when
trying to create a new performance after creating a new database. This is
our fault - we included the wrong Template in the installation program.
Download and unzip
WinRKv3_Template.zip and copy Template into
the 'C:\Program Files\WinRK v3' folder and all will be well.
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Replacing the Windows XP 'candy-floss' interface with the 'Classic' style
Many users of WinRK have complained about the 'candy-floss'
interface that's loaded as standard on Windows XP. It's very easy to change
it back to the 'Classic' interface used on all previous versions of Windows
and as a public service (J) we offer these
instructions.
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Using the Mouse Scroll Wheel
All spreadsheets, windows and dialogs support mouse scroll
wheels however, due to a peculiarity with the spreadsheet control we've had
to use (to give you the required flexibility) you may have to click on a
spreadsheet before the scroll wheel will work.
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Understanding Rings
Some users are having a problem understanding Rings. Download
and read Rings Explained and,
hopefully, all will become clear!
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Installing Beta Updates
Sometimes Beta updates will not install (use Help|About
WinRK... to see what version you're running). This is because some computers
won't overwrite files with a perceived lower version number. The workaround
is simple; navigate to the 'C:\Program Files\WinRK v3' folder, rename the
file WinRKv3.exe to WinRKv3.backup and reinstall the update.
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Installing Updates
When installing updates you should not
uninstall the current version. Doing so will remove all the 'glue' necessary
for WinRK to operate.
Once the update file (Install_WinRKv3.nnn_Update.exe) has
been downloaded and copied to a known folder, simply run it and all the
updated files will be installed in their required locations.
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Screen Resolution
The smallest recommended screen resolution in which to run
WinRK v3 is 1024 x 768. We tried to squeeze it down, we really did, but
unless you don't mind scrolling up and down in the wizards...
Broadband Email Problems
It has come to our notice that some people on broadband
(particularly BT customers) are experiencing problem with the WinRK email
system. The problem is this; to send an email, WinRK uses the standard
method of contacting the SMTP server provided by the users ISP (Internet
Service Provider). It turns out that some ISPs (the basic BT broadband
service is one) doesn't include and SMTP server!
We're trying to find ways around this but at the moment it
looks very much as though the only way round this is to make sure your ISP
does provide an SMTP server or to make use of an SMTP relay.
For more information see: http://esupport.gradwell.net/?_a=knowledgebase&_j=questiondetails&_i=155.
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Registration
Several people have expressed surprise that a purchased
copy of WinRK v3 has to be registered. The reason is very simple - piracy!
Once again honest citizens are being inconvenienced by those with fewer
scruples; the number of ringers using WinRK v2 to record their performances
far outweighs the number of copies sold.
By the way, the WinRK v3
activation code will only work on one installation if you want to
install your purchased copy on another computer you'll need another
activation code.
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Installation Problems
It appears we have a minor problem with the installation. A
couple of people have reported that WinRK won't start up although the
installation was apparently successful. We've narrowed down the cause to the
order in which some of the support files are loaded and registered - we're
not yet certain as to which!
The workaround is to install Con2v3 (the WinRK v2 to v3
database converter) which is available on the Downloads page or in the Con2v3 folder of the WinRK CD.
We've also been informed that (very occasionally) the files
scr56en.exe or scripten.exe have been required. These are installers for parts of
the operating system that for some reason have not been loaded. You can
download them directly from
Microsoft or from the
Downloads page. When
downloaded they must be run to install their components.
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Creating Performances
WinRKv3 uses wizards
extensively. If you've never used a wizard we strongly advise
you to look at the Wizards in WinRK
section of the help file.
To create a performance
you must first open the Performances
wizard (by pressing F5, or
selecting Show wizards | Performance
wizard from the Select Edit
menu.
It will open with the
Add new option button selected.
Click the Next button to move to
the Performance page.
You will note that most
of the text entry boxes are coloured pink. This denotes that
entries may only be selected from the associated
drop-down list, anything entered that isn't present in the
database will be rejected.
Today's
Date will be entered for you (as
will the Society,
Tower and Ring if you've selected them as the defaults using the
Select user defaults dialog which
may be accessed from the Tools
menu) and, as it's one of the white text entry boxes, you can
change it simply by entering the required date (see Using the
Drop-Down Calendar in the help file).
Assuming this is your
first entry, the text entry boxes drop-down lists will be empty.
So how do you enter a society?
It's easy, just open
the Societies wizard by clicking
the button with the green square to the right of the society
text entry box!
This may seem a long
winded way to enter data but you only have to enter a record
once and the use of wizards will help you to avoid duplications
and near duplications caused by spelling mistakes, etc. (see
Preventing Duplicate Entries in the
help file).
Once you've entered the
Society (using the
Societies wizard) you will be able
to select it from the societies drop-down on the
Performance page of the
Performances wizard.
Enter the
Tower (using the
Towers wizard) and select it into
the Tower text entry box.
Next you must enter the
Name of Ring (that's right, using
the Rings wizard!). This is a
concept new to WinRKv3 and was introduced to allow specific
rings of bells to be defined (see The
Ring entry in the
Entering Performance Data section
in the help file for more information).
By now the way of
entering the Method should be
obvious! It should be noted that methods in WinRK are made up
from three sections, the name, the type and the bells or stage.
Each section has it's own wizard and the complete method can
only be defined by selecting the required sections from the
appropriate drop-down lists.
The
Changes and Time taken may be selected from the appropriate drop-down
lists or, as the text entry boxes are white, entered directly.
Changes must be a whole number (e.g. 1234) and the time taken
must be entered in the format hh:mm (e.g. 02:53).
Choose the type of
performance (i.e. Full Peal,
Quarter Peal, etc.) and the way the
performance was conducted (i.e. Conducted,
Jointly Conducted, etc.) by
clicking the appropriate option buttons.
Complete the rest of
the page and then click the Next
button to open the Band page.
The number of ringers
shown on the band page is dependent on the number of bells
selected in the ring and the layout on the type of performance
chosen. Next to each ringer text input box there will be a
conductor selection option button (unless Silent and Non-conducted was selected on the
Performance page). If these are
circular then only one may be selected (a Conducted performance) but if they're square then any
number may be checked (a Jointly Conducted
performance).
When you've entered the
ringers (using the Ringers wizard,
what else?) press the Next button
again to open the Publication page.
Even if you don't want to enter a publication you must
go to this page because, like all wizards, the 'do-it' button is
on the last page.
Enter the publication
details (or not!). Whatever, you'll notice that the next button
now reads Create and clicking it
will write you new performance to the database.