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SchedulerLite logo (TM) Staff rostering, employee scheduling and resource booking software. SchedulerLite (TM) The easy to use rostering and scheduling solution (TM)


Frequently Asked Questions
This page provides answers to some of the more frequently asked questions about SchedulerLite.
If you have a question that isn't answered here you may like to e-mail techsupport@schedulerlite.com for an answer.
FAQs:
General

Two types of license are available, commercial and non-commercial. To purchase a commercial license go to the Support area of this site. Non-commercial licenses are free. Read the LICENSE.txt file in the directory that you have installed SchedulerLite in to see if you qualify for one. To obtain a non-commercial license e-mail techsupport@schedulerlite.com.

The version and build numbers can be found on the About screen (Help/ About menu). The version number refers to the version of the SchedulerLite software. The build number is effectively another version number but it refers to the collection of programs that make up the download file (e.g. examples database, install program, uninstall program, reports).  There can therefore be more than one build for the same version of SchedulerLite.

The version number can be found on the About screen. To see this screen, click on the Help menu and select the About option. This will open a window that states what the version number is. Note that it also gives you a build number. Please also provide this if you are contacting us with a query or problem.

The currently supported operating systems are Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT 4.0 and above, Windows Millennium, Windows 2000 and Windows XP.

Note that Microsoft have published a 'Product Lifecycle Roadmap', at http://www.microsoft.com/windows/lifecycle/default.mspx , for their operating systems. As of 31 December 2001 Windows 95 entered the 'Non-Supported Phase' and reached its "End of Life" with the end of online support. Basically there is an increasing risk that Windows 95 will not be compatible with new software. For example Windows 98 is the earliest operating system mentioned in the minimum requirements for Internet Explorer 6.

As a consequence support for SchedulerLite, on Windows 95, will be withdrawn on 31 July 2003. You will still be able to use it on this operating system and it should continue to work as long as you don't break the operating system! However new releases of SchedulerLite, after this date, will not be tested on Windows 95. So it is probably time to consider upgrading.

A brief explanation of cookies and how they are used on this site can be found here.

Listed here are some of the awards given, so far, to SchedulerLite Version 1.3 .

Version 1.3

Version 1.3 was released on www.schedulerlite.com on November 12th 2002. The primary objective of version 1.3 is to make it even easier to manage large volumes of data (i.e. rosters, employees, assets). In addition there are the usual minor enhancements and bug fixes.

New features include:

  • the ability to balance resource (e.g. employee) commitments within and between rosters;
  • improved reporting of rostering errors (e.g. resources not available, over-commitment of staff);
  • improved handling of large numbers of resources (i.e. employees and assets) and rosters.

There have also been some ease of use improvements with addition of automatic scrolling in the graphical roster view and other changes.

Full details of the Version 1.3 enhancements and fixes are given in the 'Release Notes'.

We recommend that existing SchedulerLite users upgrade to this version.  Upgrades are free.

Version 1.2 was released on www.schedulerlite.com on February 23rd 2002.  New features included the ability to record and check staff availability, and a spreadsheet style view of rosters.  You can toggle between the original pictorial view  and the new spreadsheet style view.

There were also been some ease of use improvements with addition of toolbars and other changes.

Version 1.1

If the 'Limit Hours' option is set on for a roster in the 'examples' database then the 'Limit Hours' may change arbitrarily.  This problem only occurs in the 'examples' database.  It does not occur in databases created in SchedulerLite.  To create a new database select the 'New' option under the 'File' menu.  It has also been corrected in Version 1.1 Build 102.

An old version of the database was used for the 'examples' database.  The problem results from the datatype used for the 'Limit Hours' columns.

Installation Error Messages

This error only occurs during installation if the install program detects that there are no Microsoft ODBC Drivers on the PC that SchedulerLite is being installed on.   SchedulerLite requires the 'Microsoft Data Access Components' (MDAC), which includes the Sybase ODBC Driver, to be installed prior to its installation.

This issue appears to be restricted to some PCs running the 'Windows 95' and 'Windows 98 First Edition' (i.e. Windows 98 version number 4.10.1998) operating systems.  At the time that these were Microsoft's standard PC operating systems the MDAC were part of other Microsoft products (e.g. Microsoft Office).  So if no Microsoft product containing the MDAC has been installed on the PC then the error message will be generated during installation.

Microsoft have included the MDAC software with 'Windows 98 Second Edition' and later operating systems (e.g. Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP).

The MDAC can be downloaded free from Microsoft at http://msdn.microsoft.com/data/mdac/downloads/default.aspx . To resolve this issue with 'Windows 95' and 'Windows 98 First Release' use MDAC 2.1 SP2. There are later versions but these may have additional dependencies. Please note that the use of this software is subject to the Microsoft license and the installation is at your risk.

This error only relates to installations of Version 1.3 on Windows 95, 98 and Me. It occurs during installation if the install program detects that Microsoft Windows Installer is not present or an old version is on the PC that SchedulerLite is being installed on.   SchedulerLite Version 1.3 requires Microsoft Windows Installer version 2.0 to be installed prior to its installation.

Microsoft Windows Installer can be obtained free from Microsoft. Cut and paste the following address into your browser to get the download page for Microsoft Windows Installer for Windows 95, 98 and Me:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=cebbacd8-c094-4255-b702-de3bb768148f&DisplayLang=en

To resolve this issue simply download and install Microsoft Windows Installer version 2.0 and then install SchedulerLite.

This error only relates to installations of Version 1.3 on Windows NT 4.0 and 2000. It occurs during installation if the install program detects that Microsoft Windows Installer is not present or an old version is on the PC that SchedulerLite is being installed on.   SchedulerLite Version 1.3 requires Microsoft Windows Installer version 2.0 to be installed prior to its installation.

Microsoft Windows Installer can be obtained free from Microsoft. Cut and paste the following address into your browser to get the download page for Microsoft Windows Installer for Windows NT 4.0 and 2000:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=4b6140f9-2d36-4977-8fa1-6f8a0f5dca8f&DisplayLang=en

To resolve this issue simply download and install Microsoft Windows Installer version 2.0 and then install SchedulerLite.

Runtime Error Messages

There are two reasons why this message appears. Either it is sixty days since SchedulerLite was downloaded or you are using Version 1.3 Build 136 and the date is January 12 2003 or later. You can do one of the following three things:

  1. Purchase a Commercial license. Details on how to purchase a SchedulerLite license can be found in the Support area of this site.
  2. Obtain a free Non-commercial license. To see if you qualify please read the LICENSE.txt file in the directory in which SchedulerLite is installed. If you qualify then please send an e-mail to techsupport@schedulerlite.com.
  3. If you are still evaluating SchedulerLite and it stops working before you have completed your evaluation write to techsupport@schedulerlite.com.

This error message means that either you do not have a database open or there is a mismatch between the Sybase database file ('filename'.db) that you tried to open and its corresponding log file ('filename'.log).

It typically occurs in four situations:

  1. On starting SchedulerLite for the first time you have clicked on a button or selected a menu option before you have either opened a database or created a new one. Either open a database (SchedulerLite comes with an example database) or create your own database. It's a good idea to follow the quick start guidelines.
  2. On starting SchedulerLite after uninstalling an earlier version and installing a newer version of SchedulerLite when the 'examples.log' file was not manually deleted after an uninstall of the earlier version of SchedulerLite. The 'examples.db' that is part of the install and will not match with the 'examples.log' file associated with the previous 'examples.db'.
  3. On starting SchedulerLite after uninstalling and reinstalling the same version of SchedulerLite when the 'examples.log' file is not manually deleted after the uninstall. The 'examples.db' that is part of the install and may not match with the 'examples.log' file associated with the previous 'examples.db' if you had made changes to it.
  4. On trying to open a database after you have moved it into a directory where there is a log file with the same filename.

The second and third situations are specific to SchedulerLite Version 1.0 as the uninstall program did not remove the log file. Later versions (e.g. 1.1 onwards) of the uninstall program do remove the log file. There are some exception (e.g. Windows 95)!

If the error has been provoked by the second, third or fourth situations described above then simply delete the log file to be able to open the database. When the database is opened a new log file will be created.

This error message means that you do not have a database open and you selected either the Roster or Timesheet report. Typically this occurs when starting SchedulerLite for the first time. Either open a database (SchedulerLite comes with an example database) or create your own database. It's a good idea to follow the quick start guidelines.

This error message means that the creation of a new database has failed. This was a known problem with Verion1.2. It is fixed in version 1.3 of SchedulerLite. If you experience this problem then upgrade to Version 1.3. The upgrade is free.

It is caused by the incorrect setting of a flag in Sybase. It occurs, in version 1.2 and earlier, when one of a PC's Regional Settings is set to a language other than English.

The error condition occurs in the following operating systems:

  • Windows 95 when the Regional Setting is set to a language other than English (e.g. Danish).

    To find this setting go to Control Panel > Regional Settings > Regional Settings Tab dropdown list.

  • Windows 98 when the Regional Setting is set to a language other than English (e.g. Danish).

    To find this setting go to Control Panel > Regional Settings > Regional Settings Tab dropdown list.

  • Windows 2000 when the 'default System Locale' on a PC is set to a language other than English (e.g. Danish).

    To find this setting go to Control Panel > Regional Settings > General Tab > Language settings for the system 'Set Default' button.

  • Windows XP when the option 'Language for non-Unicode Programs' is set to a language other than English (e.g. Danish).

    To find this setting go to Control Panel > Date, Time Language, and Regional Options > Regional and Language Options > Advanced Tab > Language for non-Unicode Programs dropdown list.

The work around for this problem is as follows:

  1. Temporarily change the value to English (United States) and Apply the change. Note that it will be necessary to reboot your PC at this point.
  2. Create the new databases in SchedulerLite.
  3. Change the value back to its original setting. Note that it will be necessary to reboot your PC at this point.

Missing Help

The Help is developed using the Microsoft HTML Help authoring tool.  The version we use requires:

  1. NT version 4.0 or later;
  2. Administrative privileges.

The Help is developed using the Microsoft HTML Help authoring tool.  The version we use requires:

  1. Internet Explorer version 3.02 or later.
  2. Content Advisor, in Internet Explorer 3.x, to be set to display unrated content.

A number of versions of Internet Explorer can be downloaded free from Microsoft at http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/downloads/archive/default.asp and http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/default.asp . Check your PC meets the minimum requirements of a version before installing it. Please note that the use of this software is subject to the Microsoft license and the installation is at your risk.

The Help is developed using the Microsoft HTML Help authoring tool.  The version we use requires Internet Explorer.  Internet Explorer does not have to be the default browser or be visible on the desktop.

A number of versions of Internet Explorer can be downloaded free from Microsoft at http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/downloads/archive/default.mspx and http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/default.mspx . Check your PC meets the minimum requirements of a version before installing it. Please note that the use of this software is subject to the Microsoft license and the installation is at your risk.

Databases on Network Servers

No.  Sybase Adaptive Server Anywhere (the database management system used by SchedulerLite) does not work if your database is on a Network Server.  The database must be located on the local machine (i.e. the PC with SchedulerLite installed on it).

Reports

Some Windows 98 printer drivers do not support the Roster report. If you are using this operating system and find that the slots are missing (i.e. you get the resources listed on the left but nothing on the right) or streaky then download a later version of the printer driver (e.g. Windows NT) from the printer manufacturer to fix it.

This problem is fixed in Version 1.3. If you use paper of a size other than A4 and your reports are truncated then you may like to upgrade to version 1.3. The upgrade is free to customers.

This was a known problem with SchedulerLite Version 1.2 Build Number 119.

A patch is available but must not be applied to any other version or build. If you are experiencing this problem with other versions of SchedulerLite please upgrade to Version 1.2 Build Number 119 first, then apply the patch. Alternatively upgrade to Version 1.3.

To check which version and build number you are using go to the Help Menu and select the About option. The version and build number are displayed on the About window.

This patch fixes two bugs. One preventing the scaling of reports to fit paper sizes other than A4. The other occurs in the Print Preview function and sometimes caused SchedulerLite to crash.

To obtain the patch write to techsupport@schedulerlite.com .

If your default paper size is not A4 (e.g. Letter) and you are using SchedulerLite 1.2 or earlier then see item 'Truncation of reports' above to resolve this issue.

Regional Settings (date and time formats)

There is a known problem with Windows 95 and Regional Settings, specified in the Control Panel, when user profiles are used.  See the following Microsoft page for details http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;Q175086 .  If you experience this problem then Microsoft does offer a work around on this page. They also offer a 'fix' but it is unclear whether they will charge for it.

Note also that if you change the Regional Settings, under Windows 95, whilst SchedulerLite is running then you may notice that the new date and or time formats are not consistently used.  This is purely temporary and will correct itself the next time you run SchedulerLite.

Acknowledgement

  • Thanks to Emmanuel P for his feedback and information on MDAC, Internet Explorer and Regional Settings.