Frequently asked question related to TimeCalc

Installation and Databases

How can I reinstall a new empty database or a demo database?

When working with TimeCalc it may happen that you want to reinstall the base state of the database like it was after the first installation of TimeCalc. To do so remove first all the database files from the database directory (default: "DB" in the directory "TimeCalc"). When restarting TimeCalc the installation wizard will be launched because the database directory does not lead to a valid T@imeCalc database. In the wizard you have the possibility to choose a new empty database or the demo database..

What to do if the error message "Directory is controlled by another .NET file" appears when starting TimeCalc?

If the error occurs for the first time after TimeCalc has already been started several times with the same database settings, it is it is likely that TimeCalc was not terminated properly the last time. In this case delete the following files manually after TimeCalc has been terminated. In network mode, TimeCalc must be terminated on all workstations:

  • PDOXUSRS.NET
  • PDOXUSRS.LCK
  • PARADOX.LCK

On the one hand, these files are located in the database directory (in the default case C:\Programs\SSE\TimeCalc\DB). When deleting these files your user data is not endangered.

If the error occurs for the first time after installing a network database, please note the following information: Installation network database

General Operation

How can I append new cost units/projects or cost unit/project directories to previous ones in the cost unit book?

The Cost Unit Book can be compared with Microsoft's Windows Explorer. The book has a hierarchical structure, where each cost unit directory can contain a certain number of cost units or other cost unit directories, the same way as the file directories can contain different files or other directories. With the menu "Edit" or the buttons in the toolbar you can construct or change the cost unit tree. When appending new cost units or new cost unit directories you must first select the directory at which you want to append the new one. The single steps are described in the Help, in the chapter of the tab sheet "Costs".

How can I shift or copy journal entries in the calendar?

TimeCalc does not have an entry repetition feature yet, i.e. the journal entries must be filled in one by one. There is however the possibility to shift or duplicate existing journal entries with drags & drops. In the calendar select the week or month view, size the correspondent journal entry with the mouse pointer and shift or copy (CTRL-key) it when moving the entry to its destination. Note that you can only shift or copy entries if you have the necessary user right.

How can I create a new journal entry directly attached to the previous one without having to know the end-time of the previous entry?

There is no need to look up the end-time of the last journal entry when appending a new one directly to the previous one. In the journal entry dialog move the curser to the "from"-field and press the SHIFT-key. The end-time of the previous journal entry will appear in the field.

Printing, Import and Export

How can I provide more space (more lines) for the printout in the reports?

As per default the reports are set to one line per record. If you enter text that is longer than one line it will be cut off. You can extend the number of lines for each record to three. Open the settings dialog (menu extras/settings) and select the register card "Print". Then increase the number of lines in the correspondent field.

How can I delete the Schneider Infosystems Logo on the reports and replace it with my own logo?

You can overwrite the Schneider Infosystems logo with your own one or with an empty picture file. Open the settings dialog which you can find in the menu Extras/Settings. Select afterwards the register card "Print" and browse your file system until you find your logo file. The optimal size of the picture file is 140 (width) and 35 (height) pixels - ratio 1:4. If the ratio of your picture is not 1:4 the picture will be stretched. TimeCalc accepts the most common picture file formats (*.gif, *.jpg, *.bmp, *.ico, *.emf, *. wmf).

How can I avoid the other collaborators printing or exporting my own journal entries?

The right to export or print out the journal entries of other collaborators can be withdrawn in the individual user right profile. Double click the correspondent user (collaborator) in the register card "User" and within the dialog select the register card "Extras". Then switch off the checkbox "Function Export/Print of all collaborators" if you want the correspondent user to export or print only his own journal entries, and vice versa.

User Management

Where can I switch off the right to see the journal entries of other collaborators?

If you don't want collaborators to see each other's journal entries, the super user can switch off the correspondent user right in the user right profiles of the different collaborators. Double click the correspondent user (collaborator) in the register card "User" and within the dialog select the register card "Journal/Calendar". You can assign or withdraw these user rights in the checkbox "Calendar View of all Collaborator Entries" and "Journal View of all Collaborator Entries".

Can TimeCalc be used from different users in the network simultaneously or is it a one-workstation application?

Ist TimeCalc nur auf einem lokalen Rechner verwendbar oder ist es netzwerkfähig?

TimeCalc is a networking application. It was designed for parallel processing of all the involved collaborators at their workstations. Whereas the program must be installed at every single workstation, the shared database is located either on a workstation too or on a server machine. Database settings can be made in the dialog "Settings" (Menu Extras/Settings) in the register card "Database".

What must be considered when installing the database on a network directory?

We recommend following the checklist below:

  • Terminate TimeCalc so that the database files are no longer accessed.
  • Create a directory on your network server which can be accessed by all workstation PCs. Please note that all users must have read and write permissions!
  • Copy the contents of your local database directory (in the default case C:\Programs\SSE\TimeCalc\DB) to the server and remove the following files in it - if any: PDOXUSRS.NET, PDOXUSRS.LCK, PARADOX.LCK.
  • Start TimeCalc on all workstations one after the other and make the following changes in the Tools/Settings/Database menu:
    1) Change the Paradox database directory to the path of the newly created network directory. Preferably use UNC notation (\\Server\ShareName\Path) instead of network drives (e.g. Z:\Path). If you still use network drive paths, make sure that the drive mapping used is identical on all workstations!
    2) Turn on the "Network directory used" option in the database setting.
  • Terminate TimeCalc. The next time you start, the network database will be used. Repeat the change of the database setting for all workstations. Afterwards, also test parallel access from several workstations at the same time.
How can I accelerate the start of T@imeCalc if I use Windows Server?

When using the Windows Server software for database storage, performance problems may occur, for which there are two solutions:

  • Disable Windows Server opportunistic locking by making the following change in the registry entry \HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrenControlSet\Services\LanmanServer\Parameters: Entry Enable Oplocks must be set to the value 0. Issues: Quick fix, but may impact the performance of other applications.
  • Create a new FAT partition on the server for the TimeCalc DB with a minimum size of approx. 512 MB. Copy the database directory to this partition. Problems: Somewhat more complex than the first variant. Note that the DB paths of all TimeCalc clients must be adjusted afterwards. Always use the UNC notation \\Server\Share name instead of a virtual drive (X:, Z:)
  • Miscellaneous

    How can I have incorrectly displayed special characters displayed correctly?

    If problems come up with special characters (e.g. ä, ö, ü, è and so on) switch on the BDE special character conversion. You can find this setting in the dialog "settings" (Menu Extra/Settings) on the register card "Database".