DOS Inventory Program Frequently Asked Questions

The following is a list of things to look for in case of trouble. Please look at this section before contacting technical support.

1. Problem: The information on the screen doesn't make sense, or a part that you know is there but can't be found.

Remedy: Use the “Reset Database” in the utilities menu. This will do a reset and hopefully your information will be corrected. You may need to use your backup disk, so that is why backups are so important. Follow the instructions on “restoring your backup”. A backup is your only insurance policy on all of your data.

2. Problem: The part you are looking for cannot be located.

Remedy: Look to see if the filter is set. If it was, cancel it and try again. Make sure you are entering the part number correctly.

Remedy: The part may have been deleted. If so, you will have to enter the information on that part again.

Remedy: Make sure the vendor has been chosen correctly. If you are on vendor #1 enter a part number from vendor #1.

3. Problem: The reports are printing the entire database.

Remedy: The scope needs to be set. Setting the scope, tells the printer where to start, and where to end.

4.Problem: The labels are not printing correctly.

Remedy: You can only print labels on dot matrix printers. Laser/Ink-Jet printers print 3 across labels and this is not available.

Remedy: You can only use 15/16 X 3-1/2” labels.

Remedy: Print 1 label at a time until you have the printer aligned. You do this by setting the scope to “ONLY” that record.

5.Problem: The Rolodex cards are not printing correctly.

Remedy You can only print 3 X 5 continuous feed Rolodex cards.

Remedy: Print 1 card at a time until you have the printer aligned. You do this by setting the scope to “ONLY” that record.

6.Problem: The backup/restore utilities are not working correctly.

Remedy: Check the floppy disk by running CHKDISK

Remedy: The floppy disk must already be formatted. Use the DOS command FORMAT A: or FORMAT B:. Never type FORMAT C: as this will destroy all of the information on the hard drive.

Remedy: In the directory C:\INVNTORY, the file PCHECK.EXE must exist. You cannot use any other PCHECK.EXE than the one from the disk we sent you. Copy that file from the floppy to C:\INVNTORY and try again.

Remedy: The full working program is protected. If you try to beat it or modify it, it will give you this error. There is also 1 file that must reside in your root directory. It is called INV.SYS. If it is modified or moved, then you will receive this error. This file is a hidden file and can not be seen unless you have a file manager for viewing hidden files.

Remedy: The program needs about 540K of free conventional memory. Check to see if there is enough memory. Run MEM at the DOS prompt. Consult your DOS book for more ways to increase memory.

8. Problem: You want to run this program on more than 1 computer.

Remedy: The program you are using is protected from duplication, modification, and pirating. This means you can only use the program on 1 computer at a time. You can install it to more than 1 computer, however it can only run on 1 at a time. This can be done if the program has already been installed onto that 2^nd computer. Follow the original install directions if you need to do the install on the second computer. The install only has to be done once per computer.

In summary, make sure you did the install on both computers. To do this, Type INSTALL C: \INVNTORY on the first computer. Now type REMOVE C: on this first computer. Go to the second computer and type INSTALL C: \INVNTORY. Now the program is on both computers.

Now switching between both computers. The last computer you were working with is the computer that has the authorization file on it. To move the authorization file, type REMOVE C: This will move the authorization file onto the floppy disk we sent you. Go to the other computer now and type EVMOVE $: C: This will move the authorization file from the floppy to the hard drive C. All of these commands must be made from the floppy we sent you. There is no other way.

If you run into any problems, don't try to install it again. You only use install once. There are files on the disk that will be placed in the root directory and in a sub directory called \INVNTORY.

9. Problem: The program doesn't work at all.

Files that should be in the root directory (C:\) are called:

INV.SYS --Authorization file (Not on demo's) (This is a hidden, read only, system file) DO NOT delete it. If you delete this file, we can not help you and you will have to purchase another program.

 Files that should be in C:\INVNTORY are called:

CORRECT.EXE               Main Program

G_COLORS.MEM           Colors

G_HELP.DBF                  On-line help

G_HELP.DBT                  On-line help

INFO.DBF                       Your center's information

INVDOCS.DOC                Instruction manual

INVNTORY.DBF               Inventory data file

PCHECK.EXE                  Authorization file (Not on demo's)

README.1ST                  Copyright notice

USAGE.DBF                    Parts usage database

PASSWORD.EXE            Password modification program.

10. Problem: The program gives you an error indicating that the program has expired.

Remedy: If you have not paid for the program, it may have expired.

Remedy: Check the date in your computer. Make sure it is correct. The date must be today’s date.

11.Problem: The mouse does not work.

Remedy: You must load the driver that came with your mouse. Follow the instructions that came with the mouse. It has to be installed prior to running the program.

Remedy: The mouse can only be used on VGA or SVGA monitors. If you are using a CGA or EGA monitor, then the mouse will not appear. The program will work normally.

12.Problem: Your reports are not in alignment or it skips pages.

Remedy: Look at which printer you have loaded into the program. Go to D on the main menu. Choose your center information. Look at the bottom and choose which type of printer you have. If this was correct, make sure your printer is Epson compatible if it is Dot Matrix. If it is a laser or Ink-Jet printer, make sure it is HP compatible. Printers hooked up through serial ports will not work correctly.

13. Problem: You get the error “Open error DOS error 4”

Remedy: You must have a line in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file that reads   SET CLIPPER = F99

Remedy: You also need a line in your CONFIG.SYS file that reads     Files = 99

Remedy: See your DOS book on how to use EDIT, to edit these files for the above changes.

14.Problem: Your reports print red to the screen or the program exits while printing.

Remedy: Somewhere in your program you have added a part that has a ZERO in the package quantity or a price of $0.00. There must be a price greater than ZERO, and, the package quantity must be at least 1. Some of the reports will show individual unit cost for a part, so therefore if the package was set to zero, the law of mathematics say you cannot divide by zero. Hint: Look at the report that was printing before it crashed. Find the last part number that the program printed. This will be the part number that has the problem.

15.Problem: Bar-codes are not printing correctly.

Remedy: Make sure you have chosen the correct printer from the main menu option “D”. Your printer must be EPSON compatible. It must follow the industry standards. Only dot matrix printers can print labels. This is because of the limitations of printing more than 1 across at a time.

16. Problem: You get the error “Open error DOS error 2”

Remedy: The program is trying to open a file that does not exist in the directory C:\INVNTORY

17. Problem: You get an error during the first installation.

Remedy: From the floppy disk we sent you, log onto that drive. Type ERRCODE and push enter. Type in the error code you received during the installation. Then, you will receive the message that corresponds to the error number. It should give you an idea of what went wrong. Most of these errors are from trying to install the program again, or the program has expired. The program will only expire if you were sent the program directly from A-2 Technologies directly and you have not paid for the software. The software comes with a 45 day grace period.

Remedy: Contact A-2 Technologies for assistance.

18. Problem: You get an error that says “Error 7155-XXXX-XXXX”

Remedy: Make a boot disk. Do this by typing putting a floppy disk in drive A and type FORMAT A: /S. You need to reboot the computer with the boot disk you just made. Put that floppy disk in drive A and reboot the computer. When the computer is done, log onto drive A and try our install program again.

19. Problem: You have no directory called \INVNTORY, and DOS won’t let you make it either.

Remedy: During the first install, you typed INSTALL C: INVNTORY. You forgot the backslash before INVNTORY. It should have been typed in like this: INSTALL C: \INVNTORY. To fix this, at the C:\ DOS prompt, type CD\ and press enter.

Now type DEL INVNTORY. Try the install again and type it just like this: INSTALL    C:    \INVNTORY

20. Problem: You receive the error “Base Error 1010”

Remedy: Something happened to your hard drive while trying to write to it. The first thing you should do is run scan disk. Scan disk is a program that comes with later versions of DOS. After you have run scan disk and fixed your hard drive, move to your \INVNTORY directory. Delete all files that end with an extension of PCB. To do this, type    DEL *.PCB at the C:\INVNTORY DOS prompt. Now you can run the inventory program again. It will create all new indexes for you automatically.