If after you have read these FAQs and checked your books and the Access online Help, you do not find the answer to your question, submit a Support Request by going to the Support Request page and filling it out as completely as possible.

D C AL CODA will only be able to correct problems (or offer solutions and workarounds) if those problems are reproducible on our computers, so your clear explanation will be very helpful. We want to hear about any problems that you have. However, those problems that are reproducible by performing the same steps or operations are going to be more easily solved.

The main thing to remember is that some information has to entered into each of the main forms, Client, Piano and Service Notes. Client form: Make sure the Tuning Date is entered, Piano form: something has to be entered here, sometimes not much is known about a new piano, but something (Manufacturer, Type) has to be entered (sometimes if nothing is know about the piano, enter Home in the Location field). Service Notes: The Tuning Date MUST be entered here. Other information can be entered also, such as what you plan to do in the Next field. But the Tuning Date MUST be entered.

A. Hit the View Appointments button on the Main Menu.

This will bring up the Enter Parameter Value dialog asking for "Enter First Date". Type in the date which you want to start viewing your appointments. Type it in as 08/08/1999 or 8-8-99 (until the Year 2000 when you will have to specify the complete 4 digit year, so you might as well get used to it now:-). Hit the OK button or the Enter Key.

This will bring up the next Enter Parameter Value dialog asking for "Enter Last Date". Follow the same procedure as above, entering the last date of your desired time period. If it is a day, enter the same day as above. If a two day period (or any time period), enter the last date of that period, for example 08/10/1999.

This will bring up the third and last Enter Parameter Value dialog asking for "Enter Starting Date". Hitting the OK button or Enter Key will tell PianoDB to view all Client Appointments within the selected period and ALL the Service Notes associated with those Client's Pianos.

Hit the Print button or Print menu item will print these Appointments. Or you may go through them individually and choose which pages to print.

No, you do not have to print or take all the Service Notes for all your Client's Pianos. Yes, there is a way to limit the number of pages you take with you to the Appointment.

Perhaps the most obvious way to limit would be to go through the Appointments Preview and choose the page numbers to print, using the Print dialog to select these pages.

However, a more general way is to specify a Starting Date in that last dialog.

When you get to the third and last Enter Parameter Value dialog asking for "Enter Starting Date" mentioned in the above FAQ, you can type in a date. PianoDB will then display ALL your Appointments for that period. However, only the Service Notes from the date you entered into the third dialog to the current date range you are requesting. In the example above, that range is 08/08/1999 to 08/10/1999.

If you have Clients which have Service Notes dating back 10 or 15 years and you only want to take out the last two years of appointments, you would enter a date of two years ago. If you are viewing Appointments during the period of 08/08/1999 to 08/10/1999 and only want the last two years, you would enter something like 08/08/1997, and PianoDB would display only the Service Notes between 08/08/1997 and 08/08/1999.

Yes, you can import data into PianoDB. It is written in MS Access which allows you to import data from several different database formats. Some applications require you to save your existing data in a comma-delimited (for example) format and then import that into PianoDB.

The process is sometimes difficult and time consuming. You have to match up whatever field in your current database that contains the client's name (as an example) with the PianoDB field for that information. This difficulty is not limited to nor caused by PianoDB. It is inherent in importing data from one format to another. I have talked to technicians who have had more than one database in the last 15 or so years and the process of moving from one to another always requires work.

All versions of PianoDB consist of two separate databases. One contains all the forms and the other contains all the tables which have the actual data. You must open the data database before you can import your existing data.

The data databases have unique names in the different PianoDB versions and are located in the PianoDB home folder.

PianoDB: C:\PianoDB\Pnodbdta.mdb
PianoDB95: C:\PianoDB95\Pndb95dt.mdb
PianoDB97: C:\PianoDB97\Pndb97dt.mdb

To gain access to the data database, open MSAccess, open the appropriate .mdb file and then proceed with your work.

Note: Make backup copies of the original PianoDB data file, located in the PianoDB home folder/directory, as you proceed with the import process. Should you make a mistake during the process, the incremental backup copies will allow you to go back to a previous copy.

Many older databases or contact managers are what can be called "flat file" database formats, which can be compared to a 3x5 card file. All the Client-Piano-Service Note information is contained on the same 3x5 card or several 3x5 cards stapled together.

PianoDB is a relational database, which can be compared to two different sets of 3x5 card files. The "Client 3x5 card" contains only Client related information and refers to "#xxx Piano 3x5 card", which contains only Piano information. Of course, with PianoDB all this is being performed behind the scenes and you never know there are different "sets of 3x5 cards".

So, the more difficult part in any import operation, from any database into any other database, is maintaining the relationship between client and piano. Meaning linking the correct piano with the correct client. And then correctly linking the service notes for that piano. This is true, regardless if you are importing data from a flat file database or from another relational database.

Something that I suggest to people is that they maintain two sets of data for awhile. Keep your old database around for reference and enter clients into PianoDB as you make contact with, either for tuning, calling, reminding, etc. Or perhaps set aside a few hours a week and enter clients. Or combine some parts of importing and manually data entry. Import the data that you can and then complete the transfer by manually typing the information that was harder to correctly link.

The Manual which is shipped with each copy of PianoDB contains much basic information and helpful hints. Read this along with having PianoDB open and you can learn more about PianoDB.

On most forms there is a Help button (with a question mark), which opens a Help Form with some limited information about the form in which you are working.

Almost every field displays a hint in the MSAccess Statusbar, that area at the bottom of the MSAccess window. For example, put your mouse cursor in the Date field, in the Client Form. You will see " Date of Tuning Appointment, 5/19/1994, entered as 05091994" in the Statusbar.

Also, there are Tooltips that appear when you let your mouse cursor hover over most of the buttons. Let your mouse cursor hover the Calls Log button (the button with a picture of a telephone) on the Client Form. You will see "Open Calls Log (Alt + L)", which tells you what the button does (Opens up the Calls Log form) and also gives you the keyboard shortcut key (push and hold down the Alt key and the L key).

Additionally, here are a couple most helpful hints or suggestions.

 1. Buy a book on MSAccess, such as one from the "Dummies" series, making sure it is the correct one for the version of MSAccess that you have on your computer or are planning to buy.

 2. If you are new to Windows, you will find it helpful to buy a beginners Windows book. PianoDB, being written in MSAccess, adheres to the many Windows standards of interface and conventions of operation. So, if you learn more about Windows, you will know more about using PianoDB.

The Table, tblArea, Input Mask is correctly set to 15 characters, but the Form, frmListArea, has the Text Box's Input Mask incorrectly set to 10 characters.

There is a mistake in this report's Total_Charges calculation. Follow these directions to correct the mistake.

1. Open the Database Window

2. Go to the Reports Tab

3. Highlight rptActivityReport

4. Click the Design button

5. Find the TextBox, Total_Charges, in the lower right (yes, I double checked this time:-) corner of the report, in the Report Footer. The Total_Charges TextBox is the control to the right of the Grand Total label.

6. Right click on that TextBox and choose Properties

7. In the Properties Sheet, select the Data tab

8. In the Control Source edit field, change Amount to Charge, like below

Change:
=Sum([Amount])

To read:
=Sum([Charge])

The following is the initial installed size, plus any Clients - Pianos - Service Notes and other information that you enter.

PianoDB = about 5.4 MB
PianoDB95 = about 9.2 MB
PianoDB97 = about 7.8 MB

There are different versions of PianoDB because there are different versions of Microsoft Access that people have and are using. PianoDB runs in Access and therefore the versions have to correlate.

PianoDB95, PianoDB97 and PianoDB2K essentially have the same features; they are converted to run with the appropriate MSAccess.

All versions of PianoDB will run in Windows 95/98/NT/ME/2K/XP, but PianoDB must be matched to the version of Access you have on your computer.

Further, each version of Access will run in Windows 95/98/NT/ME/2K/XP. However PianoDB (requiring Access 2.0) will only run in Windows 3.x. PianoDB 95 and 97 (requiring Access 95 and 97) will run in any 32 bit Windows, Windows 95/98/NT//ME/2K/XP.

Therefore, when purchasing PianoDB, you need to know which version of Access you currently have and match the PianoDB version to that Access version.

Yes, the main tip is to install all options by using the Custom Installation.

You can add manufacturers to the Mfg; Combobox with the following steps, which are general and will essentially cover PianoDB (Access 2.0), PianoDB95 (Access 95) and PianoDB97 (Access 97).

You can add instrument type to the Type; Combobox with the following steps, which are general and will essentially cover PianoDB (Access 2.0), PianoDB95 (Access 95) and PianoDB97 (Access 97).

Basically, yes, all versions of PianoDB are Year 2000 Compliant.

All versions of PianoDB are written in Microsoft Access and therefore rely on Access and your computer for their Year 2000 compliancy.

Further, there are no date critical functions within PianoDB. The dates involved are tuning and servicing dates, which are manually entered by you.

There are a couple ways to add a new piano.

1. When you are viewing the #1 piano, click the Right Arrow button (in the toolbar at the top of the Piano/Service Notes form), as if you are moving to the next piano, this will set you up to enter the #2 piano.

2. At the bottom of the Piano/Service Notes form are the Access Record Navigation arrows and also the edit box displaying which Piano (for example: 1 of 1) you are currently viewing.

Change the Sate abbreviations to three letters using the following steps:

1. Open Client Form in Design View

2. Right click on the Open Schedule Viewer button, cmdRunSchedulePlus

3. Select Properties

4. click the Event Tab

5. You will see the On Click event, which has [Event Procedure]

6.Put your cursor in the field and you will see an Ellipsis Button, with 3 periods (...)

7. Click that button, which will bring up that Procedure in Edit mode

8. You will see this in the code:

'Call Shell("NOTEPAD.EXE", 1)
Call Shell("C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\Outlook.exe", 1)
'C:\MSOffice\Schedule\SCHDPL32.EXE

Edit the middle line to the exact path to your Outlook. It might just need the C changed to a D, but verify the exact path to your Outlook

9. Save the changes

10. Put the Client form into Form View and test to see if you made the correct edit

References to PianoDB97 should read PianoDB2K and Windows 97 should read Windows 95/98/NT/ME/2K/XP.

The basic information is correct if you substitute the correct version of PianoDB and Windows.

1. open the Private Info form in Design View
2. find the RecallDate Text Box
3. right click on it and choose Properties
4. click the All Tab
5. find the Format Field and change it from mm/yy to mm/yyyy
6. find the Input Mask Field and change it from !99/00;0;_ to !99/0000;0;_
7. then do the same for the More Institutional Info form
8. also make the same changes on the Since field on both forms

2. one with the actual Data Tables Database, with a name like pndb97dt.mdb or pndb2Kdt.mdb

The major problem of moving PianoDB97 into Access 2002 (in Office XP) seem to lie in the Graphical User Interface database, and not in the Data Tables database. Access 2002 is reporting problems when attempting to convert PianoDB97's Graphical User Interface, with the name PianoDByy(ZZZxZZZ).mdb, as explained in FAQ #21.

Our testing shows that the Data Tables can be Imported from the PianoDB97 Data Table Database
(and PianoDB95) into PianoDB2K Data Table Database. The basic process is to delete the Data Tables that come with PianoDB2K and Import the Data Tables from your existing PianoDB97 or PianoDB95, which contain all of your existing Client and Piano data.
 

The Solution:
The solution is to purchase a new PianoDB2K and follow the Step-by-Step directions given here.

Step-by-Step Directions:
The following is a Step-by-Step Process for moving your data from PianoDB97 into PianoDB2K (in Access 2002-XP), using PianoDB97 as the example:

1. Save copies of your existing PianoDB97, either in a separate folder, burn a backup CD, ZIP them up and put them in a separate folder or the same folder. You can never back up too much, so do all of these suggestion or more than one.

2. Ensure you have backed up your existing data. Yes, this is a repeat of #1 because it is so important. You are working with a computer and the computer will usually do exactly what you tell it to do. The process of moving into , if you make a mistake in this conversion process, you will have adequate backups to start over again.

3. After you have satisfied yourself that you have adequate backups, open the new PianoDB2K Data Tables database, pndb2kdt.mdb

4. Delete the tables. Delete only the tables that have names that start with 'tbl', like tblBusinessContacts and tlbClients. Select the Table and hit the Delete Key until there are not any tables that begin with'tbl'.

5. Keep pndb2kdt.mdb open and go to File | Get External Data | Import... Find your existing PianoDB97 Data Tables database, pndb97dt.mdb, and click the Import button

6. The Import Objects dialog will come up. Select all of the PianoDB Data Tables, with names starting with 'tbl' and hit the OK button, which will Import all the Tables into the PianoDB2K Data database

7. Close the PianoDB2K Data Tables Database

8. Open your desired PianoDB2K Graphical User Interface Database, such as PianoDB2K(800x600).mdb

9. You are now finished and should see all of your data.

Converting PianoDB2k into either Access 2002 or 2003 is pretty straightforward, using the Convert Database Utility, under the Tools menu.

After you have installed PianoDB2K, determine which monitor resolution you are using, 1024x768 or higher, 800x600 or 640x480.

Using Windows Explorer, navigate to the PianoDB2K home folder, C:\PianoDB2K

1. Rename the file, pndb2Kdt.mdb, to pndb2Kdt-OLD.mdb

2. Rename the file, PianoDB2K(ZZZxZZZ).mdb, based on your monitor resolution, to PianoDB2K(ZZZxZZZ)-OLD.mdb

3. Then open Access and go to the Tools menu

4. Go to database Utilities | Convert Database | To Access 2002 - 2003 File Format...

5. Navigate to the PianoDB2K home folder, C:\PianoDB2K

6. Choose the file, pndb2Kdt-OLD.mdb and convert, renaming it by removing the -OLD, to pndb2kdt,mdb (because Access will not let you convert a file to the same name.)

7. Choose one of the other files PianoDB2K(ZZZxZZZ)-OLD, based on which resolution your monitor is running, 1024x768, 800x600 or 640x480. Convert that file and rename by removing the -OLD.

8. After converting these 2 files, you will have full use of PianoDB2K in Access 2002 or 2003.

There are no dangerous macros in PianoDB2K.

 The workaround is to change the Macro Security Level:

1. Going to the Tools menu and click on Macro | Security to open the Security dialog

2. Click the Low Security Level selection

3. Please note that it does say "(not recommended). You are not protected from potentially unsafe macros. Use this setting only if you have virus scanning software or you have checked the safety of all documents you open.

In compiling the list, a couple errors and conflicts were found that have corrected for this list. They are notated by "Changed from".

To change the shortcut keys, you will need to put the form into Design View, open the Properties for the button, All Tab and edit the following values:

1. Caption: remove the existing "&" and place it before the changed letter

2. Status Bar Text (if present): Delete the old letter and enter the new letter

3. ControlTip Text (if present): Delete the old letter and enter the new letter

In some cases, the Caption value is merely an ampersand "&" and one letter. In this case, just change the letter to the new one.

Having said all this, the changes may be to buttons that you will not use, so you wouldn't need to change them.

PianoDB Shortcut Keys 

Main Menu:

Reminder Call = ALT +  R

View Appointments = ALT +  V

Print Appointments = ALT +  N (Changed from P)

View Regular Recall in Datasheet View = ALT + I

Open Regular Recall Form = ALT +  G

View Priority Recall in Datasheet View = ALT + E

Open Priority Recall Form = ALT + O

Open Forms Menu = ALT + F

Open Print Menu = ALT +  P

Open Queries Menu = ALT + U (Changed from Q)

Schedule Viewer = ALT +  S

About = ALT + A

Help = ALT + H  

Close = ALT +  L

Client Form = ALT +  C

Quit Access = ALT +  Q (Changed from T)

Close PianoDB = ALT + L 

 Client Form:

Main Menu = ALT + A (Changed from T)  

Toggle to Main = ALT + M

To Forms Menu = ALT + F  

Open Piano Form = ALT +  I

Close Piano Form = ALT +  O

Print Invoice = ALT +  C

Calls Log = ALT +  L

Private More Information Form = ALT +  V

Institutional More Information Form = ALT +  U

Go to Previous Client = ALT +  P

Go to Next Client = ALT +  N

Page Up = ALT + 1  

Page Down = ALT + 2  

Open Schedule Viewer = ALT +  S

Help = ALT + H  

Close Form = ALT +  X

 Piano Form:

Toggle to Client Form = ALT +  C

Open Service Notes = ALT +  R

Go To Previous Piano = ALT + P  

Go to Next Piano = ALT +  N

Help = ALT + H  

Close Form = ALT +  X

 Forms Menu:

New Calls = ALT +  N

Business Contacts = ALT +  B

Suppliers = ALT +  S

Technicians = ALT +  T

Personal Data = ALT +  D

Help = ALT + H  

Close Form = ALT +  X

Main Menu = ALT + TM

Quit Access = ALT + Q  (Changed from U)

Close PianoDB = ALT + L

 Print Menu:

Help = ALT + H  

Close Form = ALT +  X

 Queries Menu:

Help = ALT + H  

Close Form = ALT +  X

 New Calls Form:

To Forms Menu = ALT + T  

Toggle to Main Menu = ALT + M

Toggle To Forms Menu = ALT + F  

Help = ALT + H  

Close Form = ALT +  X

 Business Contacts Form:

To Forms Menu = ALT + T  

Toggle to Main Menu = ALT + M

Toggle To Forms Menu = ALT + F  

Help = ALT + H  

Close Form = ALT +  X

 Suppliers Form:

To Forms Menu = ALT + T  

Toggle to Main Menu = ALT + M

Toggle To Forms Menu = ALT + F  

Preview Supplies List = ALT + I (Changed from T)

Print Supply List = ALT + L

Supplies List, Most Often Ordered, Quantity Marks for Order = ALT + P

Opens Working List for Ordered Items for Review or Phone Order = ALT + W  (Changed from O)

Open Order Report to Preview or Print = ALT +  R

View Ordered Items by Last Ordered Date = ALT +  S

Help = ALT + H  

Close Form = ALT +  X

 Technicians Form:

To Forms Menu = ALT + T  

Toggle to Main Menu = ALT + M

Toggle To Forms Menu = ALT + F  

Help = ALT + H  

Close Form = ALT +  X

 Personal Data Form:

Help = ALT + H  

Page Up = ALT + 1  

Page Down = ALT + 2  

You can use the AutoCorrect feature of Access 95's Spell Checker to make "boilerplate" data entries. Access95 shares the Spelling Checker with the other MS Office programs, so a bonus is that you can also use them when writing letters in MSWord.

This tip involves using AutoCorrect, found under the TOOLS menu to create one or two character "codes" that will insert longer entries in PianoDB.

Examples are:

3r = °F (The degree sign is ALT +0176)

4r = ¢ (That is the cents sign, ALT+0162)

5r = %RH (for Percent Relative Humidity)

So when you hit the number "3", followed by an "r" and a Spacebar, Access95 will automatically write °F.

One I use often is:

tt = Tune to Bs Tn Mid Sop Treb

Then when I enter tt and hit the space bar, the above is inserted ready for me to enter the pitch to which I tuned the piano, where the other sections were that day. It helps track changes. This little line is also pretty easy to navigate, using the Arrow keys or the CTRL + Left Arrow or CTRL + Right Arrow. Using CTRL and the Arrow keys moves the cursor to the end of the next or previous word, in this case, Bs Tn Mid Sop Treb.

So the entry would be: Tune to 0, Bs -1, Tn -1, Mid +1, Sop +3, Treb 0

Others are:

aa = A0 A1 A2 A3 A4 A5 A6 A7

Used: A0 -5, A1 -4, A2 +6, A3 -10, A4 +5, A5 -1, A6 +15, A7 +30

(Not a fun piano to tune.:-)

== = +/- (that's two equal signs in a row)

cc = Change Pads (Humidifier pads, not hammers:-)

vc = Vacuum and Change Pads

vcs = Vacuum Soundboard and Change Pads

nv = Never Again ;-}

It seems that by default Windows displays the date in a 01/01/99 format. PianoDB can display the date in the 01/01/1999 format and here is how you can configure Windows to do that.

Go to Start Button | Settings | Control Panel | Regional Settings | Date Tab and you will see the Short Date settings.

Change the Short Date Style to MM/dd/yyyy and restart your computer if prompted.

We cannot actually recommend any one book, because all of us respond to different teaching and learning approaches. 

Glance through the book to see if you can find the answer to a couple of your questions, see if you like the writing style and buy it. One book should suffice for someone who wants to learn more about using Access and PianoDB, however a person who is thinking about modifying PianoDB will probably get more than one book.

Send us your Questions
Send in your questions and help build the FAQ. The Questions and Tips that are submitted will soon appear on this PianoDB FAQ page, so come here for the latest in FAQ and Tips.

Go to the General Feedback and submit your question to us. We will reply to you on an individual basis and if your question/answer is one that might others, it will be published in our FAQs.

Tell us which PianoDB version and operating system you are using and describe your question in detail.

Send us your Hints and Tips
We would also like to hear about any tips that you might have on the use of our applications. If you have any tips or bits of information to offer, send them to:

Go to the General Feedback and submit your tip to us.

Just tell us which PianoDB version you are using and describe your tip.