Support page last updated August 21, 2005

Current Version Release:
MyBookCollection 1v5
MySignatureCollection 1.0
Book Collecting for Beginners First Edition

Supported Platforms:
We support Windows (95, 98, ME, 2000 or XP) and Macintosh with OS 8.5 to 9.2.2 and Mac OSX.

Requesting Support:
When reporting software problems please provide us with the product name, your name, e-mail address, specific problem and the platform you are using. We will attend to your needs as soon as possible. E-mail support to info@elmspub.net

TIPS:

Avoid unnecessary data loss. Adding the My Book Collection data files (MyBooks.MBC and MySignatures.MBC) to your normal back up procedures may save your hard work. Crashes, force quits and power outages during the use of the software can cause corruption of your data. Be safe and back up your files today!

Question: How do I print a report?

Answer: Select the "Report" Button located to the upper right of the "List View" or "Detail View" layout.

Once in the "Report" layout choose a report to run by selecting it's "Run Report" button. Choose the option for the report that best fits your needs.

The report will appear.

To edit your page set up go to the "File" menu located at the top left of your screen and choose "Page Setup" from the drop down. From there choose from the options your printer allows you. If not already the default, choose 8.5X11 for the page size and set the orientation to vertical.

Then choose from the same "File" menu and select the "Print" option

.NOTE: If you are printing a list of multiple items but only one is printing, you will need to look for an option while in the "Print" dialog that allows you to choose from either "Records Being Browsed" or "Current Record". Choose "Records Being Browsed".

Question: How do I delete a record?

Answer: NOTE: To be safe it is best to make a back up of your data file in case of an accident. To do so simply choose the "Save a Copy As" option under the "File" menu located at the top left of your screen. Save the file as "MyBooks-Back Up" in a folder on your hard drive or other storage devise in case something happens to your working file.

To delete a record.
1. Go to the record you wish to delete by clicking on it's line in the List View or going to it's Detail View.
2. Next select the "Records" drop down located at the top of your screen. Once in that menu choose the "Delete Record" option.
3. Select "Yes" when asked if you are sure you want to permanently delete this record.

Question: Can I add more than one price for a book?

Answer: Currently we do not support multiple costs per book record. To do this create separate records for the differences in cost. Example. Create two records for Book A, each will be the same book just documenting the difference in cost.

Question: How do I do a custom sort?

Answer: To do a custom sort by any field, choose the "Records" drop down from top menu bar and select "Sort". An interface will appear that allows you to choose the fields and setting to sort by. Make your selecting and select the "Sort" button.

Question: Is there a way to have custom sorted reports?

Answer: Yes. Some of the reports support custom sorting. You can either use the sort feature in the "List View" layout by selecting the bullet in front of the column header or use the custom sort feature. See "How do I do a custom sort?" above.


Question: Can I create custom reports?

Answer: Yes you can create your own reports in Excel or your web browser by using the export feature.

To do so.

1. Find the records you want to report on, if it is all then click the "Show All" button.
2. Go to "File" / "Export Records".
3. When the first dialog appears, type the name of the new file (i.e. BookReport.html), choose the location it will be saved and choose HTML for the file type.
4. Then when the field dialog box appears, choose the fields you want on your new report.
5. Click the "Export" button.
6. Finally open the exported file in Excel or your web browser and print.

Question: How do I import an Excel file to this software?

Answer: To Import data from an Excel file...

1. Save a copy of your Excel file as "Text (Tab Delimited)" format.
2. Launch MyBookCollection and choose the File/ Import option.
3. Use the field mapping feature to map your data to the available fields.
4. Leave the default setting of "Add New Record" in the "Import Action" section as is.
5. Click the Import Button.
6. An "Import Options" Dialog Box will appear. Leave all options unchecked and Click OK.

Your data will be imported.

Question: How many book records will the software hold?

Answer: This depends on if you will include images or not and how you choose to include the images. If you do not include images you should be able to hold millions of book records. If you include images at a low resolution (72dpi) then you should be able to hold 10 to 20 thousand book records. If you include images but choose to save only a reference to the image (it is an option when importing images) you will be able to hold again millions of records.