APPENDIX D

PROBLEMS

D1	Printer Problems
D2	Power Failure
D3	Dealing With File Errors
D4	File Error Numbers
D5	Use of Backup File
D6	Known Problems

D1Printer Problems

Due to the number of types of printers available and the number of different manufacturers, the actions of any individual printer can not be guaranteed 100%. The operator should consult their printer manual should the action expected not occur.

Modern printers operating under Windows should have the correct drivers installed and the desired printer be set as the default before using the program and before use at a match.

The program has two printer related settings, the bits per character and printer name (or port). These are stored with each match file. This means an operator who does not use the defaults will have to set these settings at each meeting.

Some of the typical printer problems are listed here with solutions. This list is not exhaustive but should solve the majority of problems.

Problem: My printer does not print event results as they are entered.
Cure: Event result will only be sent to the printer when both A and B-string results have been entered after the event start time has passed.
i) Ensure both A and B results have been saved and the event time has passed.
ii) Or, select DISPLAY|Events Results to obtain a printout.
iii) Confirm the program prints by choosin Print|Printer Control|Print Test Page.

Problem: My printer does not print anything
Cure: This suggest more than one printer has been installed.
i) End the program it's running.
ii) Select Start/settings/Control panel/Printer and faxes.
iii) Click the printer to be used and "select set as default".
iv) Start the program again.
v) Select Print|Printer control|Printer Status and confirm the windows default printer is the same as the program printer.
vi) Confirm the program prints by choosin Print|Printer Control|Print Test Page.

Problem: My print still does not print even though the windows default and program printer are the same.
Cure: This suggests the there is a general print problem.
i) Check the printer has power to it and the printer cable is connected.
ii) Confirm this by printing something from your word processor or notepad.
iii) If not resolve the problem.
iv) Confirm the program prints by choosin Print|Printer Control|Print Test Page.

Problem: My printer does not print despite everything working.
Cure:
i) Choose the Print|Select Printer and choose the desired printer.
ii) Confirm the program prints by choosin Print|Printer Control|Print Test Page.

D2Power Failure

When power is restored start the program as it was started at the beginning of the meeting. The hard disk will be checked for any match that was in progress. If match(es) are found, the operator will be asked for confirmation that the program is to restart for a meeting.

Answering yes confirms that a power failure has occurred and the program restarts automatically with the appropriate match(es). When restarted for a dual or triple meeting the matches will be in the same number sequence originally used. Answering no tells the program to start for a new meeting.

D3Dealing With File Errors

File error messages occur when a disk file error has been detected. These type of messages indicate that the data saved to or read from a file is unreliable, the filename is given for further investigation.

If the filename given is that for the current match file, you are advised to exit the program WITHOUT taking any further action. Further action means attempting to enter any more results OR saving, with F2, the current meeting information.

Remember the current match file, files ending ".PF1", is only one step ahead of the back up file, ".~F1". Therefore any saving will cause the current match file, which is unreliable/corrupt, to become the back up file and create a new match file which will probably also be corrupt, this would result in two corrupt files and eliminate the chance of recovering from a file error.

D4File Error Numbers

The following list contains some file error numbers and their meaning. These are the numbers that may appear when an ERROR MESSAGE occurs.

No. Meaning
2 File not found, the file is not where expected.
3 Path not found, a drive and or path is wrong.
5 File access refused, file is probably damaged or destroyed.
32 File already in use.
100 Disk read error, file is probably corrupt and unusable.
101 Disk write error, disk is probably full.
112 Disk write error, disk is probably full.
150 The disk is write protected.
152 Drive not ready, disk is probably not in drive.
154 CRC error, disk is probably damaged.

D5Use of Backup File

In certain situations it may be necessary to rename the backup file, ".~F1", with the extension ".PF1" should the match file, ending in ".PF1", file become lost or corrupt.

Both should be the same size. The back up file, ".~F1", can become the current meeting information file by deleting the ".PF1" file and renaming the ".~F1" to ".PF1".

D6Known Problems

The following is a list of compatibility problems related to the hardware, software and operating system(s), these are NOT faults with the program.

Some virus checkers may give a low level warning relating to the program.

Under Windows some Pentium class machines the number of parallel printer ports (LPT) reported by the program may be 3 instead of 1 even though only one port actually exists and is reported. This is a machine BIOS problem not a Windows or program problem.

Under NT4/XP some details on the System configuration item may report incorrectly, this is an operating system constraint.