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FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Sacramental Register 1.5
Q.I have just downloaded and installed the demo program from version 1.x of Sacramental Register. Why won't it print correctly?
A. The old version 1.x demo was not updated to repair the Y2K problem. It was also not updated with a number of other minor bugs that had been discovered since it was made. To really get an idea of where the Sacramental Register program is going and what it can do to save you time and hassle, please download the demo for version 2 instead.Q.I have installed version 1.5, but how do I get the program to use the old data files?
A. 1. Back up the old data files onto diskettes, or another computer, or a zip drive, or tape, or whatever media for backup available. If no backup program is available, the files can be located with the Windows Explorer and copied with the explorer. The old files are in the same folder that the old program was installed into, usually C:\REGISTER. There are twelve data files that need to be backed up Six end with .MDB and six end with .LDB. Here is the list of data files:- REGISTR1.MDB REGISTR1.LDB
- REGISTR2.MDB REGISTR2.LDB
- REGISTR3.MDB REGISTR3.LDB
- REGISTR4.MDB REGISTR4.LDB
- REGISTR5.MDB REGISTR5.LDB
- REGISTR6.MDB REGISTR6.LDB
3. Using Windows explorer, copy the twelve files from (1) so that they replace the twelve files with the same names in c:\Program Files\Sacramental Register\. You should find that when you open the program it now uses the existing data files. Be sure you actually copy the files from the C:\Register folder to the C:\Program Files\Sacramental Register folder. The way I do it, with Windows Explorer, is I first navigate to the target folder (C:\Program Files\Sacramental Register) and click on it so that its contents are displayed in the file window. I usually navigate down to where I can actually see the twelve files, just to be sure I am in the right place. Then I navigate on the C:\ drive to the C:\Register folder, and click on the little folder so that its content files are displayed in the file window. Then I navigate down to the twelve files that have to be copied. Now, I carefully navigate the left (folder) window so that the C:\Program Files\Sacramental Register folder is visible (but I DO NOT click on it). The files showing in the file window are still the files from the C:\Register folder, which, if it happens to be still visible in your folder window, will show an open folder rather than a closed folder. Now I highlight the twelve files to copy by clicking once on the first file, and then, with the shift key pressed, click on the twelfth one. Then I hold the control key down and click and drag the twelve files over to the C:\Program Files\Sacramental Register folder.
Q. Why do my certificates print with year 200 instead of year 2000?
A. The first (earlier) version of Sacramental Register did have this problem. This is/was our version of the Y2K problem. To solve it, we had to develop a new version of the Sacramental Register Program (Version 1.5 - 32) and we distributed it to all customers who had previously been sent the earlier version.The new version was sent out in October 1999 on a CD-ROM, and it was intended to replace the earlier version.
See another faq on how to associate the old data files with the new program once you have the new program installed.
Now, what has happened to many users is this. They had the old version of the program installed, and they installed the new version of the program as well. The new program did not overwrite the old program and so it is entirely possible to have both versions installed on the same computer. It is also entirely possible that even though the new program was installed, a user has continued to run the old version of the program, from force of habit, or because he or she might not have known how to launch the new version. It is also possible that even though they were shipped a copy of the CD with the new version of the program, they may not have installed it at all yet, and so are working exclusively with the old program version.
To check which version you have running, launch the program, click on Search for a Baptism, go to the help menu, and click on About Sacramental Register. The version number listed should say Version 1.5 - 32. If it does not, then you are running the old program, and that is why you are getting the year 200 instead of 2000 on your certificates. The fix is to install the new program from the CD, associate the data files with the new program (see separate instructions), and try the certificate again.
Q. When I try to print a certificate in the year 2000, all I get is blanks?
A. This is a Windows Settings problem. Go to Start | Settings | Control Panel and click on the icon for Regional Settings. Select the tab on the top right that reads "Date."There is a short date setting box in the center of the screen. Click on the down arrow in the edit box labelled short date style. Select the style that says MM/dd/yyyy. Then select Apply and close out the control panel.
On all the systems we have tried it on, this setting change enables the certificates to print with the information correct. Why Microsoft makes each customer figure this out on the fly is not clear at this time.
Q. How do I back up and restore SR 1.5 data files?
A. All versions of Sacramental Register up through 1.5 - 32 work from a single set of data files which are kept in the same folder with the program itself. (Windows 95 users will find the program at C:\Program Files\Sacramental Register\, and Windows 3.1 users will find the program at C:\REGISTER, assuming the installation was done with the recommended folder names). The data files are the twelve files named thus:- REGISTR1.MDB REGISTR1.LDB
- REGISTR2.MDB REGISTR2.LDB
- REGISTR3.MDB REGISTR3.LDB
- REGISTR4.MDB REGISTR4.LDB
- REGISTR5.MDB REGISTR5.LDB
- REGISTR6.MDB REGISTR6.LDB
To back up the files, open the Windows explorer and use it to open the folder that the Sacramental Register program is in (see above). Scroll down to the twelve files named above, and highlight them. One way to highlight them is to hold the Ctrl key down and click once on each file name. You should see the highlight on the files.
Now move the left window until the folder or drive is showing where you want to place the backup copies. Then hold the control key down and click and drag the twelve highlighted files to the target folder or drive until it is highlighted. Release the mouse and then release the control key. The files should all copy to the new folder or drive. Keep the backup files in a safe place.
If you have to restore the files, you will simply reverse this process. The files will not need to be restored unless one of them becomes corrupted, or unless you happen to re-install the Sacramental Register program.
Note that this process will permit you to have more than one version of the Sacramental Register program active, provided you have designated one of the programs as the master file maintenance system, and all data is added on that system. Then you can use backups from the master system to restore current copies of the data files to additional systems (in the same parish) which are only used for looking up data and printing certificates.
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