Changes in ver. 4.4.17

It always seems to be around this time of year that I release a new version of the Wessex Pricing Program. This year is no different - so here's version 4.4.17.

Lets see what's new.

1. When you look at the worktickets list - at the top of the form is a figure which is all the jobs on that list added up. The idea being that you could look at that figure and see how much money would be owed to you once all those jobs were completed. However, most framers take deposits, so that grand total figure does not really represent what we want to see. Now the figure displayed is the amount owed to you after the deposits. Much more useful.                                                       

                                         

    2. There are always little tweaks and bugs to sort out, and this year was no exception. They are the "if I press this and click that, and then try to go back - this happens" variety. They were mainly in the "WorkTickets > Views > List by Item" area. So you should now find things a bit less frustrating if you use those tools.                                                                                                                                                                                     

 

3. The last update probably doesn't affect most users. It's to do with where some of the data files are stored. By default the XML data files are stored in "C/ProgramData/WessexPictures/wpp4". This suits most framers, the program takes care of things like importing and exporting those files. But, if  you are operating on a larger computer network it's better if these files are stored in your personal space. 

      So, introducing "yourname/AppData/Roaming".

To use this go to "Setup >  Options" and choose the Netwk/BkUp tab. At the bottom you can select the location for those XML files. 

Though I'd suggest to leave things in their default location unless you have a reason to change.

You can download the new version by going to Free Trial Form on the Wessex website (remember to sign in). Don't worry that it says "Free 30 day trial" the program knows you have paid for it!

If you have problems with the download have a look at Picture Frame Pricing Programs: Download woes 

Enjoy!

Do it NOW!

All computers will, at some point, fail.
They won't start, they won't recognize the hard drive, they get infected with a virus to name just three scenarios. Often it's simply age - the components start to fail.
Think of your computer like your car, there comes a time when it's not worthwhile trying to keep the car going and it's time to get a new one. Of course you knew this and planned for it, so the change over is reasonably smooth.
It always surprises me how many people do not plan for their computers failing and leave their data at risk.

The Wessex Pricing Program has been around long enough for a number of computers that it is installed on to have failed. So, what happens?
In an ideal world you download the program from the Wessex website onto your new computer, get a new enabling code from Wessex Bournemouth branch, and import the 2 data files that you've backed up from your old system. About 10 minutes including the phone call.

The real problem comes when those 2 data files ("V3.mdb" & "user.xml") have not been backed up.
Is it possible to rescue the situation?
If you can access the old hard drive then you will find the 2 files in C:/ProgramData/WessexPictures/wpp4.
Copy them onto a usb stick and import them into your new set up.
If you can't get into the old hard drive then you are faced with starting all over again with a fresh database and trying to remember all the labels and their associated values you had - not good.

So how do you plan for your computer failing?
Simply by making sure there is a copy of your data somewhere other than on the computer.
One way of doing this is to keep a portable hard drive plugged into your computer and schedule a backup frequently.
Another way is to use cloud storage such as Dropbox, Onedrive or Google Drive.

So far as the Pricing Program is concerned I have tried to make it as simple as possible to create copies (backups) those all important two files, "V3.mdb" which contains the database of your mouldings, customers and worktickets, and "user.xml " which contains your labels and the values that go with them.
Ideally you will set an automatic backup, so everytime the program is shut down the two files are copied to your backup location (I have a usb stick always plugged in).
To set this go to "Setup" > "Options" and choose the "Netwk/BkUp" tab. Tick "Use automatic backup" and then set where you want to backup to.

Alternatively you can manually copy the two files. ("File" > "Export Database", and "Setup" > "Values" and click the "Export" button).

But whichever way you do it - DO IT NOW!

Can we fix it? - Yes, we can!

Just recently updates to the Windows and Android operating systems have caused "issues" with the Wessex Pricing Program and The Framers Pricing App. These have now been resolved, so now (and you guessed it) it's the turn of Apple.
Around Christmas there was a big update to the Mac operating system and also an update to Crossover for Mac. Together (and I'm not sure which one is to blame) it meant that if you were running the Wessex Pricing Program on your Mac using Crossover - it would no longer start (with an error message helpfully saying "Unknown error"!).
My solution is fairly drastic - delete the program and re-install it (it works, honest!).
"Ah!"I hear you say "If I can't start the program how can I make a copy of those 2 important data files (V3.mdb, & User.xml) which configure the program to my business?"
Fear not, the next paragraph will show you how to get to these, and so preserve your data.

Open Crossover and highlight the "Wessex Pr..." bottle (on the left hand side). Then click the little cog at the bottom left of the Crossover screen. This will bring up some options. Select "Open C: Drive" (see first screenshot).

Now you will see a screen with some folders (this is Crossover's emulation of Windows).

Open "ProgramData", then "Wessex Pictures", then "wpp4". Now the screen will show files including "V3.mdb", & "User.xml". Copy these and your data is safe!

(NB. Be sure to open the ProgramData folder NOT the Program Files folder.)

Now we can delete the program and re-install it.

Select "Wessex P.." again, and Right-click it (alien to Mac I know, but I could do it with the touchpad). This time click "Delete Wessex Pricing 4.x" and confirm.

The next job is to download the latest version of the program from Wessex Pictures to your Downloads folder.

When you've done that (back in Crossover) click "Install a Windows Application" and Type "Wessex Pricing 4.x" in the box, and click "Continue". Crossover will then install the necessary extra files. There will be various Licence agreements to accept. Finally the Wessex Pricing Program will be installed and you're good to go.

At the first run of the program you'll need to re-insert the Enabling code (get it from Wessex 01590 681681).

Now you can import the database ("File> Import Database") and the values ("Setup > Values" & click "Import).

All done, phew!

(NB. You can avoid the problem of finding your data files by using the automatic backup option ("Setup > Options" & select the "NtWk/BkUp" tab) which will make a copy of the two files each time the program is shut down).

Gotcha!

As with many things to do with computers the Wessex Pricing Program has a few things that are not immediately obvious. Our transatlantic cousins call these "Gotchas". I thought I'd list the most frequent together with the solutions.

1. Trying to update the moulding records by clicking "Import Database" - Be careful! "Import Database" will (if you ignore the warnings) overwrite the whole of your existing database. Make sure you click "Update Mouldings" instead.
2. Running a moulding update correctly, but the records have stayed the same. - When you download the update file from Wessex it is saved in Downloads as "WessexMouldings" (or "FrintonMouldings"), If you download a new update file it is saved as "WessexMouldings(1)", "WessexMouldings(2)" and so on. However the moulding update process will only allow you to import "WessexMouldings" ie. the original one. The answer - delete all but the most recent update file and Rename that to "WessexMouldings" (or "FrintonMouldings").
3. An error message "......You don't have permission to access this file......." when the program tries to read the database. - The easy solution is to run the program as administrator. Right-click the shortcut and choose "Run as administrator". Note the program does not normally need administrator rights to run, the problem seems to occur when the User Account Type is changed.
4. An error message on startup ".....Root element is missing ......" - Make sure you have upgraded the program to version 4.4.2 or higher.

Easy really?

Updating Mouldings - Do it right!

I'll let you all into a secret - I get more questions and problems concerning updating Mouldings than anything else. So, this post is about doing things the right way.

First a few definitions -

• Database - this is where the data is stored. It consists of (in our case) 4 interlinked "tables" These "tables" all contain "records". The "Customers", "MountBoard" and "Mouldings" tables all feed into the WorkTickets table. For instance, if a customer changes their address then you only need change it in the "Customers" table and all the associated WorkTicket records use that new address. Clever eh?                                                                                                               NB. The Basic version of Wessex Professional has the same database file, it just only uses the "Mouldings" table.
• Database file - because our database is relatively small everything is stored in a single file ("v3.mdb"). The file is a Microsoft Access database file and can also be opened by Word or Excel.
• Update file, contains data for the records in the Mouldings table - this is an Excel file (.xls) and is used to update a supplier in the Mouldings table.

The idea is to update the Mouldings table with the update file, bearing in mind that the mouldings table may have other data in that you want to preserve. So, it's not as simple as wiping the old data and replacing it with new data.

The program has always had in "File" -  "Import Database" and "Export Database" this is to allow the complete database to be copied & backed up, and to allow a backed up database to be re-installed. Unless you are doing either of those actions do not choose those options! If you do and don't heed the warning messages - you're on your own!

The up to date versions of the program also have under "File" - "Update Mouldings...". If you want to update your Wessex or Frinton records this is the option to go for.
(note - in older versions the same screen can be reached by going to "Setup" > "Options" choosing the database tab and clicking on "Bulk update from file".)

Now we just need to make a few decisions

1. Which supplier we want to update, ie. Wessex or Frinton (or A N Other). Click the appropriate logo.
2. Whether we just want to update the existing moulding records in the table or add all of the suppliers records to our own. (in my database I have all the Wessex records, because I can order any unstocked mouldings with my weekly delivery, but I only keep records of the Frinton mouldings I have in stock).
3. Whether to add VAT to the wholesale cost of each moulding record (for those who are not VAT registered).

Click "OK" and you'll be asked to locate the update file (you did remember where you downloaded it to, didn't you?).
Once you've selected the correct file the bar at the bottom of the form will show you the progress. This is relatively sedate because the program first of all selects the existing mouldings and updates them individually. Then (if you've selected that option) it adds any new records that are in the fie but are not in your records. Finally, it looks to see if your records contain any mouldings that are not in the update file (if there are then they are marked, in the Notes section, "discontinued" with the date).

Note - any new records added are not marked as "Current". If you do stock them then you'll need to edit the individual record.
For some extra reading - have a look at this link , enjoy!

"You will be upgraded!"

It's the New Year and Spring Fair time again, and in keeping with previous years a new version of Wessex Professional will be released (ver. 4.3.0). As usual, it will be free for existing users to download from the Wessex website and for prospective users to try out.
Of course there are improvements and additions to the program, and I'll go through these in another posting. This time I thought it would be useful to do through the upgrade procedure.

The scenario is - you've already got a previous version of Wessex Professional (WPP4) on your computer and you've either downloaded the latest version or have it on CD. Before you click that "Install" button there are a couple of things to do, just to be safe.

Firstly - to check that you will actually upgrade your program. Go to "Help" > "About" to see the existing version that you have and to make sure you're going to install a newer version.

Secondly - there are 2 important files which store your data and settings/values - "V3.mdb" (the database file) and "User.xml" (the settings/values file). These are not over-written when you install the upgrade, but they are just too important not to have a backup of.
So, run your existing program and click "File" > ""Export Database". A standard Windows dialog box prompts you to specify where the database file should be copied to (I'd go for a USB stick for preference). That's "V3.mdb" taken care of. Now go to "Setup" > "Values" and click the "Backup" button. You'll again be asked where the file should go. That was "User.xml" copied. Now, even if the unthinkable happened and the installation of the new version goes t**s up your important data is safe (my database contain work ticket records back to 2008).

Now, shut down your existing version and install the new version of the program. After installation check that all your records and labels/values are there. If they aren't, but everything else seems ok "Import" the copy you made of the database or "Restore" the copy of the settings/values.

The only problem that I have actually come across after an upgrade is that, at work I have the program start automatically when I start the computer. Sometimes the shortcut in the Windows Startup folder needs renewing. (A bit of Googling comes in handy here, as I always forget how to set it up).

Easy really?!