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| Frequently Asked Questions |
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On this page we will attempt to answer common questions that occur. Please feel free to send in your own questions and we will post them here along with an answer. |
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Is Compu-Blend "VISTA" compatible?
What is a Backup? What is a Backup Utility? How often should I backup? What is a backup disk used for? What would happen if I never made a backup? What is a Restore? When should I restore? How can I print a list of alarms and events from my Compu-Blend? What is the On-Line Pak, and what is it used for? What is a Front-Loadable Hard Drive? Why use a Front-Loadable Hard Drive? What are the advantages of a Front-Loadable Hard Drive? When should I replace my computer hard drive? How do I replace a Front-Loadable Hard Drive? Is Compu-Blend "VISTA" compatible? Please note that Compu-Blend software on computers running the WINDOWS VISTA operating system is not currently supported. It is anticipated that MicroSoft will be releasing updates or service paks to address issues with the post-release version of VISTA. Once VISTA has been proven to be a stable and robust operating system for process control and industrial automation, the compatibility process will begin. In the mean time, it is highly recommended to run Compu-Blend software on the WINDOWS XP PROFESSIONAL operating system. Back to Top What is a Backup? A Backup is simply a copy of the important files on your computer that you do not want to lose. Should the original files become no longer usable, the backup files can be used instead. Back to Top What is a Backup Utility? A Backup Utility is a program that creates backup files. These programs cannot make a copy of a file that is open, therefore all files to be copied must be closed. If files seem to be missing from a backup it is possible that one or more files were open at the time the backup was created. Back to Top How often should I backup? Make a backup at least once a week. Once a day is better. The rule of thumb is: Backup your files as often as you are comfortable losing information. In other words, how much information can you afford to lose? Back to Top What is a backup disk used for? Should your computer break down, the backup disk can restore your information to the repaired computer or to a replacement computer. The backup disk can only restore information up to the point the backup was made. Any information created after the backup will be lost. Back to Top What would happen if I never made a backup? If your computer ever had a problem, you could lose all the information on it. Back to Top What is a Restore? A Restore is simply copying the files from a backup to their original locations on the computer. The restored files would replace damaged or missing files so that you can continue working normally. A Restore can only recover information up to the point the backup was made. Any information created after the backup will not be available to be restored. Back to Top When should I restore? Do a Restore when your original information appears to be corrupt or unusable. Do a Restore only when you are confident that your backup has better information than the original files on the computer. Back to Top How can I print a list of alarms and events from my Compu-Blend? To print a list of Alarms and Events, follow these steps: a) When the Compu-Blend program is running, locate the top menu bar near the top of the screen. b) Click on File\Print\Alarms & Events... This will display the Print alarms and Events Panel. c) On this panel, select the Print Range desired. Select from the list of pre-configured ranges or customize by selecting Range at the bottom of the Print Range box and filling in the From and To boxes. d) In the Printouts box select Journal. e) In the Columns box select the names of the columns that will contain the information desired. f) To print to a printer, leave the Print to CSV files selection box blank. To create a CSV (comma seperated value) file of the selected information, select the Print to CSV files selection box and fill in the directory path and file name of the file to be created in the text box to the right of Journal: near the bottom of the panel. g) Click on the Filter Options... button. This will display the New Alarm Filters panel. h) In the Show box, select the information that you want to print: i) Events Only -- to print a list of only the events that occured during the Print Range. ii) Alarms Only -- to print a list of only the alarms that occured during the Print Range. iii) Alarms and Events -- to print a list of all the alarms and events that occured during the Print Range. i) Click on the New Alarm Filters panel OK button. j) Click on the Print Alarms and Events panel OK button. k) A Page Setup panel will appear. Make changes to the default settings if necessary. l) Click on the Printer button to select a printer. If no printer is selected, the Windows default printer will be used. m) Click on the Page Setup panel OK button to print the selected information. Back to Top What is the On-Line Pak, and what is it used for? The On-Line Pak (if provided) allows for a service connection between Traders Tec-Systems Controls Ltd and your mill system computer. This connection uses a telephone line to connect to your computer. The On-Line Pak is used to connect to your computer to download new features to your system, to update your system with new programs and to provide service. Should an On-Line connection be required, follow these steps: a) Connect a telephone line to the mill system computer. The desk top computer will be equipped with a modem -- a device that connects a computer to a telephone line. Locate the modem by looking at the back of the computer tower (the computer enclosure) near the bottom. The modem will have two telephone jacks. One jack will be labeled Line, the other jack will be labeled Phone. Connect a reliable telephone line to the Line jack. b) You will need to know the telephone number of the telephone line you are using for the connection. Write the number down. The Traders Tec-Systems technician will ask you for the telephone number in order to connect to your computer. c) On the computer desk top (the Windows background screen with clouds, blue sky and the Compu-Blend logo), locate a program icon labeled Symantec PCAnywhere. Double click on this icon to start the PCAnywhere program. d) When the PCAnywhere Manager window appears, click on the Hosts button near the top of the window. e) In the white area of the window, locate an icon labeled Traders Tec-Systems Controls Ltd. Double click on this icon to begin the connection procedure. f) The PCAnywhere Manager window should disappear. h) Your computer is now ready for an On-Line connection. TIPS 1. When possible, use a direct telephone line to connect to the computer. 2. If the telephone line used is also for a fax machine, be sure to disconnect the telephone line from the fax machine. 3. The integrity of a telephone line will degrade with each extension, coupling, splice and connection. Try to keep the telephone line as direct as possible between the telephone line supply and the computer. A degraded telephone line may still allow a voice connection but may not be capable of a data connection. Back to Top What is a Front-Loadable Hard Drive? A Front-Loadable Hard Drive is a computer hard drive (C:\) like most any other with one important difference. Rather than being installed inside the computer tower (enclosure) where it is relatively inaccessable, this drive is mounted inside a plastic drawer that is removable from the front of the computer tower. Back to Top Why use a Front-Loadable Hard Drive? 1. As good as computers are built these days, there is always a chance the hard drive might have a problem and will no longer function. Many computer technicians say that it is not a matter of IF but a matter of WHEN a computer hard drive might fail. 2. You will want to properly protect your valuable information from being lost. No one can afford down time while a computer sits inoperable. 3. The Front-Loadable Hard Drive makes it convenient to remove the computer hard drive from the front of the computer and replace it with a spare drive. It takes only a moment to replace a failed drive and resume operations. 4. The spare Front-Loadable Hard Drive used for replacement is supplied pre-loaded with the original drive image. When replacing a drive, simply restoring information from your regular backup will bring your system back up to current status. Back to Top What are the advantages of a Front-Loadable Hard Drive? 1. Front-Loadable means convenient and easy to replace. 2. The plastic drawer casing protects the drive from damage. 3. A spare Front-Loadable drive is kept in its wrapper in a safe place until needed. This is important for the following reasons: a) It will not be subjected to any dust that it might have encountered if it was stored inside the computer tower b) When used as a replacement it will still be a brand new drive. Some systems incorporate a second backup drive installed inside the computer tower. This backup drive mirrors the image of the original drive, and logs as much runtime as the original drive. Should the original drive wear out, the back up drive may not last much longer either. Back to Top When should I replace my computer hard drive? 1. If, when booting the computer, WINDOWS R does not start. 2. If, when booting the computer, a message on the screen indicates a hard disk failure. 3. If, when booting the computer, the computer shows no resonse. 4. If, when operating the computer, the drive starts to make loud screeching or rumbling noises. 5. If, when operating the computer, the hard drive starts to operate erratically or unreliably. 6. If, when operating the computer, the monitor displays a blue screen indicating a disk failure. 7. If, when operating the computer, the computer continually re-boots itself. Back to Top How do I replace a Front-Loadable Hard Drive? NOTE: To replace a Front-Loadable Hard Drive you will need the following items. Be sure to have these with you before you begin. 1. Key for the Front-Loadable Hard Drive case that was supplied with the system. This key is generally shipped inside the box of system disks that came with the computer. 2. Spare Front-Loadable Hard Drive 3. Backup Disk containing your regular backup information. To replace a Front-Loadable Hard Drive: 1. Power down the computer. 2. Insert the key into the Front-Loadable Hard Drive case and turn to unlock the front bar handle. 3. Flip the bar handle up to where you can grasp it firmly. Slowly pull the handle straight away from the computer tower to remove the drawer case that contains the hard drive. Set the drawer case in a clean area. 4. Remove the spare Front-Loadable Hard Drive from its storage box. Carefully slide the replacement drawer case into the space in the front of the computer tower. Push the the case carefully but firmly into position. At the end of its travel, push firmly on the left and right edges of the drawer case to ensure it is properly seated. 5. Gently push the bar handle down and turn the key to lock the drive into place. 6. Remove the key and return it to the box of disks supplied with the computer system. 7. Insert the original Front-Loadable Hard Drive case into the empty storage box. 8. Boot the computer. Log on to your Account. 9. Once WINDOWS has finished loading and the desktop is visible, use your backup disk to restore your current system information. Back to Top |
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