Author: danielle

ERROR: “RESOLUTION OF THE DEPENDENCY FAILED” OR “EXCEPTION HAS BEEN THROWN BY THE TARGET OF AN INVOCATION.” WHEN LAUNCHING ACT!

Symptom:
I am attempting to launch Act! when I receive one of the following Errors: “Resolution of the dependency failed.” Or “Exception has been thrown by the target of an invocation.”

Product:
Product Family: Act!
Product: Act! Pro, Act! Premium

Cause:
This error can occur if you have Windows User Account Control (UAC) turned on, damaged preferences, a conflict with an add-on or if you upgraded to Act v16 from a previous version and the shortcut failed to update.

Solution:

Note: If you are using Sage ACT! 2012, this issue can been resolved by applying the latest cumulative hot fix for Sage ACT! 2012 SP1. Please see the following Knowledgebase article for more information and download instructions for this hot fix:

How To Download and Apply the Latest Hot Fix for Sage ACT! 2012 SP1
Answer ID: 28810

If the applying the hot fix does not resolve the issue, please try the alternate solutions listed below, one at a time and in the order listed.

Run As Administrator:

  1. Right-click the Act! icon on your desktop and choose Properties
  2. Click the Compatibility tab
  3. Under Privilege Level, check the box next to Run this program as an administrator
  4. Click Apply, then click OK
  5. Attempt to open Act! again to test

Note: If running the program as an administrator does not work, it may be necessary to disable UAC. For information on disabling UAC, refer to the following Knowledgebase article:

How to Change or Disable User Account Control (UAC) in Windows® 7 & Windows Server® 2008
Answer ID: 25665

Damaged Preference File
This issue may be caused by a damaged preferences file. Follow the steps below to delete this file.

  1. Close Act!
  2. Click your Windows Start button, either click Run or go to the Search box on your Start Menu, and type %appdata%.
  3. Open the ACT! folder, then either ACT! Data or ACT! for Windows (version#), depending on your version of Act!.
  4. Open the Preferences folder.
  5. Locate the file CustomMacros.ser and delete it.
  6. Locate the file CustomCommands.ser and delete it.
  7. Reopen Act!

If the above steps did not resolve your issue, please refer to the following knowledgebase answer for more help:

How To Rebuild the Act! Preferences File
Answer ID: 14770

Delete the DependentDlls.xml File
If the above suggestions do not resolve the issue, then deleting the following file and allowing it to be rebuilt have resolved this issue in some cases. Please use the following steps:

  1. Close Act!
  2. Click on Windows Start button.
  3. Windows XP®: Select RUN.
  4. Windows Vista/Windows 7: Use Search field.
  5. Type in the command %appdata% and press the Enter key on your keyboard.
  6. Browse to the following location:
  7. Windows XP: ACT\ACT for Windows {version #}
  8. Windows Vista/Windows 7: ACT\ACT for Windows {version #}

Locations for Sage ACT! 2011 & Sage ACT! 2012 Installations:

    • Windows XP: C:\Documents and Settings\{User_Name}\Application Data\ACT\ACT Data
    • Windows Vista/Windows 7: C:\Users\{User_Name}\AppData\Roaming\ACT\ACT Data
  1. Right-click the DependentDlls.xml file, and then click Delete from the shortcut menu.
  2. Click Yes to confirm the deletion and then exit Windows Explorer (or My Computer).
  3. Open Act! and test

Add-on Conflict
To determine if there is a conflict with add-ons:

  1. Close Act!
  2. Browse to the Act! installation location
        Default locations:
    • 32-bit Operating System: C:/Program Files/ACT/Act for Windows
    • 64-bit Operating System: C:/Program Files (x86)/ACT/Act for Windows
  3. Rename folder Plugins (ex: add ‘-old’ to end of name)
  4. Attempt to open Act!

If you are able to successfully open the database, close Act!, rename the Plugins folder to original name. Open the Plugins folder and rename individual plugin files and test opening Act! to determine which plugin is at fault.

Damaged or Missing Tahoma Font:
This error has been reported to occur if the Tahoma font is either corrupt on your computer or missing from the Windows® Font folder (C:\Windows\Fonts).

You can attempt to resolve this issue by replacing the missing Tahoma fonts.

Please use the following steps:

  1. Go the bottom of this article and click on the tahoma.ttf file under File Attachments, and choose Save. Save to Desktop. Repeat this step also for the tahomabd.ttf file.
  2. Launch Windows® Explorer and navigate to the C:\Windows\Fonts directory.
  3. Copy or drag and drop both Tahoma font files from the Windows Desktop into the Fonts directory. There will be a quick dialog box that appears as each font is installed.
  4. Attempt to launch Sage ACT!.

Missing Microsoft .Net 3.0 Registry Key

  1. Close Act!
  2. Click on Windows Start button.
  3. Windows XP®: Select RUN.
  4. Windows Vista/Windows 7: Use Search field.
  5. Type in regedit and click OK.
  6. Locate the following registry key:
    • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\NET Framework Setup\NDP\v3.0\Setup\Windows Presentation Foundation

If the key is not present, follow these steps to add it:

  1. Backup the windows registry per the instructions in the following Knowledgebase article:
    How to Back Up the Windows Registry
    Answer ID: 11568
  2. Download the file 25865.reg from the bottom of this document.
  3. Double-click on 25865.reg
  4. Click Yes when prompted to the registry editor confirmation.
  5. Launch Act!.

Recreate Act! shortcut

  1. Find the Act! shortcut on your desktop, right-click it, and choose Delete
  2. When prompted with the confirmation, click Yes
  3. Click Start > Computer
  4. Browse to the following location based on your operating system:32-bit: C:\Program Files\ACT\ACT for Windows
    64-bit: C:\Program Files (x86)\ACT\ACT for Windows
  5. In the ACT for Windows folder, look for Act!.exe
  6. Right-click Act!.exe and choose Send to > Desktop (create shortcut)
  7. Go back to the desktop and attempt to launch Act! again to test
    If you would like to discuss the content of this article with other Act! users, please visit the Act! Online Community. The Act! Online Community is moderated by Swiftpage and provides the opportunity to give and receive feedback from other Act! users. To find posts on a specific topic, you can use the Community’s built-in search feature.

How to Manually Create the Microsoft® SQL Server® 2008 R2 (Express Edition) ACT7 Instance

You have Act! and would like to install on one of the supported Windows® Operating Systems. You would prefer to install the Microsoft SQL Server 2008 (Express Edition) instance for Act! manually. 

This document will provide detailed steps on how to create a Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 Express instance for Act! and the installation process for Act!:Notes:

  • The following information is provided as a convenience. Swiftpage does not provide support for Microsoft Products. For more information on this topic go to Microsoft.com
  • To avoid additional steps, it is recommended that Act! be uninstalled before creating the ACT7 instance of SQL Server. If you do not wish to uninstall Act!, additional instructions can be found after the section on installing the ACT7 instance.
  • We recommended that any other instances of SQL Server are stopped while manually installing the ACT7 instance. It is also recommended that if using Windows Server 2008 (any edition), that you also disable User Account Control (requires rebooting the server). Instructions to disable UAC are in the following Knowledgebase article:
    How to Change or Disable User Account Control (UAC) in Windows® 7 & Windows Server® 2008
    Answer ID: 25665

Before attempting to install to SQL Server 2008 R2, do the following:

  1. Go to Microsoft.com and review to ensure your system meets the requirements for SQL Server 2008 R2:
    • Installation requirements.
    • System configuration checks.
    • Security considerations.
  2. Apply latest Windows Updates for your installed version of Windows.
  3. You must be logged in as an Administrator for installation.

Creating a Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 instance for Act!:

SQL Server 2008 R2 requires .NET Framework 3.5 Service Pack 1 and Windows Installer 4.5.

  1. Insert the Act! installation DVD
    Note: If you do have your Act! installation DVD, you can download the Express package directly from Microsoft HERE and execute the file. Skip to Step 5 (In addition, you may be manually required to install any prerequisites before the install will start).
  1. Use Windows Explorer and browse to the following location: {CD Drive}:DependenciesSQL Express 2008 R2

Update: Sage ACT! 2013 uses the following locations and files:

  • Sage ACT! 2013 Pro:
  • 32 bit: C:ACT_Pro_2013ACTSTDISSetupPrerequisitesSQL2008R2x86SQLEXPR_x86_ENU.exe
  • 64 bit: C:ACT_Pro_2013ACTSTDISSetupPrerequisitesSQL2008R2x64SQLEXPR_x64_ENU.exe
  • Sage ACT! 2013 Premium:
  • 32 bit: C:ACT_Premium_2013ACTWGISSetupPrerequisitesSQL2008R2x86SQLEXPR_x86_ENU.exe
  • 64 bit: C:ACT_Premium_2013ACTWGISSetupPrerequisitesSQL2008R2x64SQLEXPR_x64_ENU.exe
  • Sage ACT! 2013 Premium (access via web):
  • 32 bit: C:ACT_Premium_Web_2013ACTForWebISSetupPrerequisitesSQL2008R2x86SQLEXPR_x86_ENU.exe
  • 64 bit: C:ACT_Premium_Web_2013ACTForWebISSetupPrerequisitesSQL2008R2x64SQLEXPR_x64_ENU.exe
  • In this location are two folders x32 (32-bit computers) and x64 (64-bit computers). Open the correct folder and double-click on setup.exe to launch the SQL Server 2008 R2 installer.
  • If the Microsoft SQL Server Setup dialog box appears, click OK to install the required components.
    1. At the .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 dialog box, select to accept the License Agreement. Click Install to start the install of this component.
    2. When the .NET Framework installation is complete, click Finish.
    3. If you do not have Windows Installer 4.5, the setup installs it. If you prompted to restart your computer, do so and invoke the installation process again.
  • After installing prerequisites, the SQL Server Installation Center dialog box appears. Under Installation, click on New SQL Server stand-alone installation or add features to an existing installation.
  • After the Setup Support Rules checks for any potential system issues, click OK.
  • When the License Terms dialog box appears, ensure that I accept the license terms is checked and click Next.
  • The Setup Support Files dialog box will continue automatically to the Feature Selection screen, if all requirements are met.
  • Once the Setup Support Rules has finished the system check, click Next to continue.
  • When the Feature Selection dialog box appears, check the Database Engine Services box and click Next.
  • Enable the Named instance option, type ACT7 in the Instance name field, and then click Next.
  • The Disk Space Requirements dialog box appears and will continue automatically if requirements met.
  • From the Server Configuration page, do the following:
    1. On the Service Accounts tab, for Database Engine select NT AuthoritySystem from the Account Name drop-down box. Then ensure the Startup Type is set to Automatic for the Database Engine and SQL Server Browser.
    2. On the Collation tab, select Customize for Database Engine and ensure that ensure the Collation designator and sort order option is enabled andLatin1_General option appears in the field below. Only enable the Accent sensitive option for Sort order and press OK.
    3. After the settings have been made on both tabs, click Next to continue. The Database Engine Configuration dialog box appears.
  • On the Account Provisioning Tab, do the following:
    1. Ensure the Mixed Mode (Windows Authentication and SQL Server Authentication) is enabled.
    2. Type ActbySage1! in the Enter password and the Confirm password fields.
    3. Under Specify SQL Server administrators, click Add Current User to add the current user account to the administrators list (you can also click Add orRemove to select specific user accounts) and then click Next.
  • On the Error Reporting page, you can choose to automatically send error reports to Microsoft or to your corporate error-reporting server. You can also choose to send data about feature usage for SQL Server 2008 to Microsoft. Click Next to continue.
  • Click Install and the Installation Progress will begin.
  • When complete click Next. The Complete dialog box will appear.
  • Click Close to finalize the installation
  • Restart your computer.
  • Ensure that the SQL Server Browser service is running. Use the following steps:
    1. Click the Windows Start button, and then click Run. The Run dialog box appears.
    2. Type services.msc in the Open field, and then click OK. The Services panel launches.
    3. Locate the SQL Server Browser entry from the Name column. If the Status column does not display Started right-click that entry, and then click Start from the shortcut menu, otherwise close the Services panel.
  • Ensure that the Named Pipes and TCP/IP Protocols are enabled. Use the following Steps:
    1. Click the Windows Start button, point to All Programs (or Programs), point to Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2, point to Configuration Tools, and then click theSQL Server Configuration Manager option. The SQL Server Configuration Manager dialog box appears.
    2. Expand the SQL Server Network Configuration entry in the left panel, and then click the Protocols for ACT7.
    3. Locate the Named Pipes entry from the Protocols Name column in the right-pane. If the Status column does not display Enabled, right-click the entry, and then click Enable from the shortcut menu.
    4. Locate the TCP/IP entry from the Protocols Name column in the right-pane. If the Status column does not display Enabled, right-click the entry, and then clickEnable from the shortcut menu, otherwise close the SQL Server Configuration Manager dialog box.


STOP:
If Act! is already installed, please follow the steps below. Otherwise, please proceed to the section labeled Installing Act!.

Run SecurityCmdLnApp.exe with the new “SA” password

  1. Click the Windows Start button and select Run.
  2. The Run dialog box will appear. In the Open field type cmd and click OK. Windows Vista/7/Server 2008 users will type this command in the “Search” box on the Start menu.
  3. The Command Prompt window will appear. Type one of the following commands, depending on your version of Act! and your operating system:If you have a 32-bit Operating System:
    • Act! and Act! Premium: cd c:Program FilesACTACT for Windows
    • Act! Premium (access via web)cd c:Program FilesACTACT for Web

    If you have a 64-bit Operating System:

    • Act! and Act! Premium: cd c:Program Files (x86)ACTACT for Windows
    • Act! Premium (access via web): cd c:Program Files (x86)ACTACT for Web

    …and press Enter.

  4. Type SecurityCmdLnApp.exe “xxxx” (include the quotes), where xxxx is the SA password you used in Step 14 when creating the ACT7 instance of SQL Server. PressEnter.
  5. After a few moments, the Command Prompt will return the C: prompt, indicating you have successfully connected to SQL. Close the Command Prompt.
  6. Ensure that the Named Pipes and TCP/IP Protocols are enabled. Use the following Steps:
    1. Click the Windows Start button, point to All Programs (or Programs), point to Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2, point to Configuration Tools, and then click theSQL Server Configuration Manager option. The SQL Server Configuration Manager dialog box appears.
    2. Expand the SQL Server Network Configuration entry in the left panel, and then click the Protocols for ACT7.
    3. Locate the Named Pipes entry from the Protocols Name column in the right-pane. If the Status column does not display Enabled, right-click the entry, and then click Enable from the shortcut menu.
    4. Locate the TCP/IP entry from the Protocols Name column in the right-pane. If the Status column does not display Enabled, right-click the entry, and then clickEnable from the shortcut menu, otherwise close the SQL Server Configuration Manager dialog box.
  7. Launch Act!


Installing Act!

Note: The following screen shots are from Sage ACT! Premium 2011; your version of Act! (example: Pro or 2012) may differ.

  1. Place the installation disc into your CD-ROM drive. The main installation menu appears.
  2. The InstallShield Wizard appears.
  3. If Internet Explorer® 7 or higher is not detected on the computer, you will be prompted with the following dialog box to install the prerequisite before the Act! installation will continue.
  4. When the InstallShield Wizard is complete, the System Check will process:
  5. Enter the sa password from Step 14 above when prompted with the following dialog box and press OK.
  6. Next, the Regional Version dialog box will appear:
  7. Select the appropriate country, and then click Next. The License Agreement dialog box appears:
  8. Read through the License Agreement. Enable the I accept the terms and conditions as stated above option, and then click Next. The Type of Install dialog box appears:
  9. If you select Typical, Act! will install with the default settings most commonly used and you can skip down to Step 15. If you choose Custom, then proceed to the next step to customize your installation.
  10. Click Next to accept the default directory. You may click the Browse button to install Act! into a different location if desired, however, this is not recommended. The Who Can Use Act! dialog box appears:
  11. Enable the appropriate Specify who can use Act! on the computer option:
    • Anyone who uses this computer – all users that log onto the computer will be able to use Act! (recommended).
    • Only me – only the current user logged into Windows will be able to use Act!. The Select Program Folder dialog box appears.

    Click Next. The Start Menu dialog box appears.

  12. Take note the Program Folder name. Although you can enter a different folder name or choose from a list of Existing Folders, it is recommended that you simply note the default folder and click Next.
  13. The Act! Icons dialog box appears:
  14. Enable the options that are best for you (defaults are recommended) and then click Next.
  15. The following progress indicator will appear and the Act! portion of the installation will proceed:
  16. When the installation is near completion, the following message appears:
  17. When the installation is completed, the Act! Install Complete dialog box appears:
  18. Check the desired options and click Finish to complete the installation process. When the installation menu reappears, you can choose to install other Act! applications or click Exit to close the installation menu.

How to Back Up and Restore Act! Database

It is always good practice to make sure that you have backups of your data.  Quite a few clients have backup programs that run on a weekly or nightly basis but sometimes that just isn’t enough and they like to make manual backups.

In some cases you may find yourself in need of restoring from a backup that you made.

The following instructions are based on the SwiftPage kb article ID 19211.

If you find that you need technical assistance beyond what is included here, please let us know and we would be happy to assist.  We KNOW how important your ACT! data is and are here to help!

The following steps will assist you in creating and then restoring a backup. Please note that Act! has security features which apply to backup and restore functions. Only Administrator and Manager level users have access to the database backup and restore functions. If you are unable to access these functions, please contact your Act! Administrator.

General Guidelines:

  • It is recommended that you send the backup (.ZIP) file directly to your local hard drive.
  • If desired, backing up your Act! database to a network drive requires that your Windows® user profile has adequate permissions to read and write to the network path destination. Please refer to your Windows documentation or Network Administrator for assistance.
  • When saving a backup over a network, a best practice is to use the UNC (Universal Naming Convention) path instead of the mapped drive location. Typically, mapped drives start with a similar formatting as a hard drive such as h:. The UNC formatting is machinenamefoldername. Example: Server1My ACT Databases
  • The Act! backup (.ZIP) file cannot be sent directly to a CD or tape backup system through the Act! backup process. If you need to create your backup on CD or use a tape backup system, refer to the section below for creating a backup to these devices.
  • If you have any difficulty directing the backup (.ZIP) file to a location other than your local hard drive, you can use a Windows file manager utility such as Windows Explorer or My Computer to copy the backup file from your local hard drive, and then paste this file to a network location or removable media.
  • To backup your database automatically at specified intervals, you can use the Act! Scheduler.
  • Note: The Act! Scheduler is only available in the Premium versions of Act! by Sage 2006, Act! by Sage 2007 and Act! by Sage 2008. The Act! Scheduler is available in both the Standard and Premium versions of Act! by Sage 2009 and later.

What files are included in an Act! backup?

  • Database
  • Attached Documents
  • Layouts
  • Document Templates
  • Report Templates
  • Saved Queries

Special Note for Act! by Sage 2009 (11.0) and later users: Act! 2009 and later now has the option to reduce the size of backup files by excluding attachments from Act! database backups, allow backups to complete more quickly, particularly if you have a large number of attached documents. This option can be done by un-checking the Include Attachments box on the Back Up Database dialog box.

Special Note for Sage ACT! 2011: On the Preferences screen a new Admin tab has been added. On this tab are options to enable/disable file and e-mail attachments to the database. If these options are disabled, there will be no attachments to include in the backup. They are Enabled by default and the options are only available to an Administrator of the database.

Personal Files may also be backed up. The ability to back up Personal Files is not limited to only Administrator and Manager level users. StandardRestricted and Browse level users all have access to this function.

Personal Files include:

  • Documents that you have saved
  • Internet links
  • Spell check Dictionaries
  • Menus and Toolbars

Important Note Regarding Remote Databases:
The database backup function is only available to Administrator and Manager level database users. However, with a remote database, a Standard level user can backup their remote if they have Remote Administration as an added permission in their user profile.

Database Backup

Note: If you are creating a backup of a shared database, you no longer need to log out all users while the backup is created.

Follow the steps below to create a backup of your database.

  1. Click the File menu, point to Backup, and then click Database. The Back Up Database dialog box appears:
    BackupDatabase
  2. Verify the location for the backup (.ZIP) file. In most cases, this backup file may go to a removable drive (such as a zip drive), to a network drive or to your local hard drive.
  3. For added security, you may password protect your backup file by enabling the Password protect file option.Note: Once you have set a password for this backup file, the file can not be restored and there will be no way to retrieve the data without the password.
  4. Click OK to start the backup. A Back Up progress indicator appears as the database backup is created:
    Back up Progress
  5. When finished the following Backup messages appears.
    Backup Completed
  6. Click Ok to return to Act!.

Creating a Backup on CD

Note: If you are creating a backup of a shared database, you no longer need to log out all users while the backup is created.

You will not be able to send the Act! backup (.ZIP) file directly to a CD or use an automated backup system to work through the Act! program to back up the Act! database. You will need to create the backup file separately, and then use your CD burning software to store the backup file on the CD or direct your automated backup system to your backup (.ZIP) file.

  1. Click the File menu, point to Backup, and then click Database. The Back Up Database dialog box appears.
  2. Click the Browse button. A Save As dialog appears:
    Save as dialog
  3. Click the Desktop button or change the Save In field to an alternate location on your hard drive for this backup. (the Windows Desktop is suggested), enter a new File name (if desired) and then click Save. The Backup Database dialog box re-appears.Hint: Including the date in the File Name will help organize your backup files and prevent overwriting of your previous backup.
  4. At this point, you have the option to set a password for your backup. A password is not required. A password ensures that only an administrative user of that database who knows the password will be able to restore the backup.Note: Once you have set a password for this backup file, the file can not be restored and there will be no way to retrieve the data without the password.
  5. Click OK to start the backup. A progress indicator appears as your database is backed up.
  6. Use your CD Burning software, provided with your CD Recorder, to safely store the file on CD, or use your automated backup system to back the file up to tape. If you need assistance with these products, please contact the software vendor. Sage does not provide support for these products.

Restoring a Database

It is recommended that you restore the backup (.ZIP) file directly from your local hard drive, a network drive or from a removable drive such as a Zip drive through the Act! restore process. If you have any difficulty restoring the backup (.ZIP) file from a location other than your local hard drive, you can use a Windows File Manager utility such as Windows Explorer or My Computer to copy the backup file from the network or removable medium, and then paste this file onto your local hard drive for restoration.

Use the following steps to restore an Act! database:

  1. Click the File menu, point to Restore, and then click Database. The current database closes as the Restore Database dialog box appears:
    Restore database Options
  2. In the Select type section, enable one of the following options:

Restore:

This option is normally used when you do not need to change the name or location of the database or unpack and restore a remote database,

  1. Enable the Restore option, and then click OK. The following Act! dialog box appears
  2. Click the Browse button. An Open dialog box appears. Browse to (if necessary) and Open the backup (*.zip) file, and then click OK. The following Act! dialog box appears:
  3. Enter your User name and (if necessary) Password, and then click OK. The following Act! warning appears.

    Important Note: Files which were included in the backup and modified later will be overwritten. Click No, restart the process, and enable the Restore As option (described below) if you do not wish to overwrite files.

  4. Click Yes to continue restoring the database. A Restore Database progress indicator appears as the database files are restored
  5. When the Restoration is successful, the following Act! dialog box appears:
  6. Click OK to complete the process.
  7. To open this database, click the File menu, and then click Open Database, or click the Open Databasebutton. An Open dialog box appears.
  8. Navigate to (if necessary) and Open the database (.pad) file.
  9. Restore As:

    1. Enable the Restore As option if you need to change the name or location (to avoid overwriting an existing database with the same name as the backup file) or if you are restoring the backup on a different machine than the one the backup was created on. Click OK. The following Act! dialog box appears
    2. Click the Browse button. An Open dialog box appears. Browse to (if necessary) and then Open the backup (*.zip) file, and then click OK. After selecting thedatabase file to restore, the following Act! dialog box appears:
    3. Type in a unique name for the restored database in the New database name (no spaces or punctuation) field, and then click the Browse button at the To location:field. A Browse for folder dialog box appears
    4. Navigate to (if necessary), click the folder that you would like to restore the database to, (or create a New Folder) and then click OK.
    5. Type in your User name, and (if necessary) Password for this database, enable the Share this database with other users option here (if necessary), and then click OK. The following progress indicator appears as the database is restored:
    6. When the Restoration is successful, the following Act! message appears:
    7. Click OK to complete the process.
    8. To open this database, click the File menu, and then click Open Database, or click the Open Database button. An Open dialog box appears.
    9. Navigate to (if necessary) and Open the database (.pad) file.
    10. Unpack and Restore Remote Database:

      Enable the Unpack and Restore Remote Database option if you would like to unpack and restore a remote database package to a remote user’s computer (for the purpose of synchronization), and then click OK. The Restore an Act! remote Database dialog box appears

      Browse to and open the (.rdb file) remote database in the Select the remote database file to restore field, and then (if necessary) browse to the directory that you wish to restore the database to, for the Database Location field. You may enable the Share this database with other users option here, if necessary.

      Click OK. A Restore Database progress indicator appears as your remote database is restored:

      The following Act! dialog box appears when the restoration has successfully completed:

      Click OK to complete the process.

      To open this database, click the File menu, and then click Open Database, or click the Open Database button. An Open dialog box appears.

      Navigate to (if necessary) and Open the database (.pad) file.

How to Change the Default Location for Universal Search Index Files in Sage ACT!

Since ACT! 2012 added the Universal Search feature, there have been a few instances when the ACT! Index files have grown very large on the C: drive and needed to be moved to a different drive.

As a Best Practice on servers we tend to try to limit what gets installed to the C: drive so that we can keep it clean and tidy and keep the server running as optimal efficientcy.  Sometimes Microsoft overrides our best efforts and likes to store things on the C: drive anyway.  Such is the case with SQL.  SQL has a lot of moving parts and we have to make some manual configuration changes to keep everything neat and tidy.  When installing ACT! and SQL on a drive other than C:, you can point the index files to another drive as well.

The directions below come from the ACT Knowledgebase article number 28454 and they are specific to the version of ACT that you have installed.  Take note of the version you have installed and follow the instructions for that section:

Sage ACT! 2012 (V14)

  1. Close Sage ACT!
  2. Through Windows® Services, stop ACT! Service Host and ACT! Smart Task Service Host
  3. Delete existing Indices folder Default location:
    • Windows® XP, Windows Server® 2003: C:Documents and SettingsAll UsersApplication DataACTACT DataIndices
    • Windows Vista®, Windows® 7, Windows Server 2008: C:ProgramDataActACT DataIndices
  4. Locate the Act.Server.Host.exe.config file within the Sage ACT! installation folder Default location:
    • 32-bit Operating system: C:Program FilesActAct for Windows
    • 64-bit Operating system: C:Program Files (x86)ActAct for Windows
  5. Right click on file, select Open With, select Notepad
  6. Locate the section configSections:
    • Remove the beginning and ending comment characters
    • Update baseIndexFolder to desired location (Example: D:ACTIndex Files)
  7. Save changes, close file
  8. Through Windows Services, start ACT! Service Host and ACT! Smart Task Service Host
  9. Opening the database will trigger the creation of the new Indices folder in the designated location

Sage ACT! 2013 (V15.0)

  1. Close Sage ACT!
  2. Through Windows® Services, stop ACT! Service Host and ACT! Smart Task Service Host
  3. Delete existing Indices folder. Default location:
    • Windows® XP, Windows Server® 2003: C:Documents and SettingsAll UsersApplication DataACTACT DataIndices
    • Windows Vista®, Windows® 7, Windows Server 2008: C:ProgramDataActACT DataIndices
  4. Locate the Act.Server.Host.exe.config file within the Sage ACT! installation folder Default location:
    • 32-bit Operating system: C:Program FilesActAct for Windows
    • 64-bit Operating system: C:Program Files (x86)ActAct for Windows
  5. Right click on file, select Open With, select Notepad
  6. Locate line: <searchSettings databaseIndexBatchSize=”20″/>
  7. Update the line to read:

                          <searchSettings databaseIndexBatchSize=”20″ baseIndexFolder=”.”/>

  1. Update baseIndexFolder to desired location (Example: baseIndexFolder=”D:ACTIndex Files”)
  2. Save changes, close file
  3. Through Windows Services, start ACT! Service Host and ACT! Smart Task Service Host
  4. Opening the database will trigger the creation of the new Indices folder in the designated location

Sage ACT! 2013 Service Pack 1 (V15.1)

  1. Close Sage ACT!
  2. Through Windows® Services, stop ACT! Service Host and ACT! Smart Task Service Host
  3. Delete existing Indices folder. Default location:
    • Windows® XP, Windows Server® 2003: C:Documents and SettingsAll UsersApplication DataACTACT DataIndices
    • Windows Vista®, Windows® 7, Windows Server 2008: C:ProgramDataActACT DataIndices
  4. Locate the Act.Server.Host.exe.config file within the Sage ACT! installation folder Default location:
    • 32-bit Operating system: C:Program FilesActAct for Windows
    • 64-bit Operating system: C:Program Files (x86)ActAct for Windows
  5. Right click on file, select Open With, select Notepad
  6. Locate line: <baseIndexFolder=”.”/>
  7. Update baseIndexFolder to desired location (Example: baseIndexFolder=”D:ACTIndex Files”)
  8. Save changes, close file
  9. Through Windows Services, start ACT! Service Host and ACT! Smart Task Service Host
  10. Opening the database will trigger the creation of the new Indices folder in the designated location

ACT! and iPad

A few months ago I was asked to present to my fellow ACT! Consultants information on ACT! on the iPad.

Since there is no actual App for that (yet) I needed to provide them with ways to show their clients how to get to the ACT! data via the iPad.

I had already been through the paces of every App that I could find to find the easiest and most user-friendly solutions possible.

Here are some of the questions that need to be answered first:

Do you just need to have the Contacts and Calendar sync to your iPad, or do you need access to the ACT! Data?

If you *need* access to the ACT! Data, how much of it do you *need* access to?  Contact geographic information?  Histories and Activities?  Sales Opportunities?

There are different solutions for what you want to accomplish.  This is, by no means, a complete listing of every possible solution, but I did exhaustive research trying several different options to save my clients time, energy and money on wasted Apps.

“I just need to see my contacts and calendar on my iPad”.

Short, simple…  to the point.

This option sends the Contact data fields (name, address, phone, fax, email address, website, etc.) to the Contacts icon on your iPad and send the Calendar information to the Calendar icon on your iPad.  Some of the options can even include a few history items along with the data but it isn’t sortable and you can’t add histories or clear activities.

  1. 123 Synchronizer – For a contact and calendar sync via Outlook with Exchange my favorite option is 123 Synchronizer.  They have done a fabulous job of providing an environment that cuts down on those duplicates and triplicates.
  2.  Companionlink – Companionlink will sync your data from ACT! to Outlook, ACT! to Google or they have a wireless subscription that will send your ACT! data to the cloud and wirelessly to your device (for a monthly subscription fee).
  3. Handheld Contact – Handheld Contact has a Basic subscription plan that will sync  your ACT! data to the cloud and wirelessly to your device.  Click here for a free trial.
  4. Sage Connected Services- With an annual subscription, your ACT! data is sync’d with the cloud and you can open the browser on your iPad and log into the site and see your contact data and your calendar.

“I would like to have Contact information, Calendar, Activities and Histories”

                There’s an App for that!  – Handheld Contact Professional Edition

Handheld Contact Professional Edition actually puts an “app” on your iPad that you can open and it gives you a slimmed down version of your database.  You can see a the basic contact fields.  You can show some custom fields (there is a limit to the number of custom fields) .  Your calendar and Activities are available.  It even shows your Histories!

You are able to clear and add activities, add history items, and it can even track your outgoing emails, depending on your setup.

You do not have access to the Opportunities with this method.

All in all, it is a great choice and one of my favorites.

“I need to have access to EVERYTHING”

There’s an App for that too!

When you need access to the entire ACT! program, you will need to remote into your desktop/laptop.  Remote Desktop allows you to take control of your entire computer and use every program just like you are sitting in front of it.  There are many programs on the market that allow you to do this but they are not all created equal.  Some of the free ones work ok, but in this case, you get what you pay for and most have quirks. 

My favorite is Logmein Ignition.  It costs $29 from the App Store.  It has the most bells and whistles and has the best handling in my opinion.  You can use any program on your desktop including ACT!, Outlook, QuickBooks, or any other program just like you are sitting there.  It is incredibly easy to set up and doesn’t require you to “open an ports” or mess with your firewall.

Some of the others that are available:  VNC, RealVNC, Screens, Mocha VNC Lite, iTelport, and Pocket Cloud.  Some of these programs require configuration of ports or firewalls.  (we can help you with that!)

So that should get you started with your iPad endeavors.   Of course we are always here to help you to decide which solution is a best fit for your organization and assist you with the setup as we work with all of these programs on a daily basis.

Thank you for your time,

Danielle

ACT! by Sage and Microsoft Outlook Tips and Tricks

The ACT!/Outlook integration has come a long way in the last fews years and I am pretty happy with it.  There are a few tweaks I’d like, but overall it’s easy to use for both recording outgoing e-mail messages as well as selectively attaching incoming messages.

If you’re familiar with the Quick Attach feature, you know that it allows you to choose one or more messages and then click the Quick Attach button and it runs throught the process of attaching each message where it finds a matching address in the database.   Somewhat of an (understandable) frustration is that you don’t have any quick indication of whether or not the sender’s e-mail address is in your ACT! database.  If there is no match, the message just drops off into an imaginary bit bucket and is not attached to any record.

Here’s what I do when in doubt as to whether someone’s address is in ACT! or not:

  1. I select the message
  2. Click the “Create ACT! Activity” icon (looks like a handshake)
  3. If the activity window comes up and shows the sender, I know the address is in ACT! (because ACT! uses the e-mail address to make the match)
  4. If it shows my own record, I know that e-mail address does not exist.

You can also check by using the “Attach to ACT! Contacts” button to do this, but I find that it takes longer to load, especially if you have a large database.

Banish 3 Common BI Myths

Business Intelligence (BI) has become a major aspect of business, as such, companies large and small are adopting implementing BI projects. The problem is, this can cause concern regarding job safety among other things. These “myths” can quickly spiral out of control and demoralize a whole office or company. In order for this not to happen, you should be aware of the common myths related to BI.

Myth #1: BI will replace experienced judgment Managers and users often perceive that a BI solution may replace or override their knowledge and experience for business decisions that affect their area of responsibility. The reality is that BI empowers decision making and leverages experience by providing supporting detail often otherwise missing. Critical to the success of any BI implementation is a common vision of how BI is going to improve business decisions.

Debunk Myth#1 with clear expectations and assurances that the value your employees experience will only be augmented with better information.

Myth #2: Users prefer to figure it out rather than receive training Even the simplest BI tool takes time and practice to help users make the most of the solution. Companies that don’t invest in training often end up wondering why no one uses the tool. The entire organization from top to bottom should receive some level of formal training to get full value from the BI solution. Allowing users to focus time and attention on learning how to use the BI solution will help with user adoption and acceptance.

Avoid Myth #2 by scheduling formal training – away from their regular job – that provides users with hands-on training. (But don’t make them work overtime to “penalize” them for training.)

Myth #3: Once the implementation is done, it’s done A BI project is not over simply because the application has been deployed. BI is an evolution that supports the change and growth of an organization. Start with highly visible and easy-to-implement projects so that people build confidence in its value and in using it. The more complex projects should be scheduled for implementation after familiarity and confidence have been sufficiently built.

The whole point is to leverage the organization’s information assets to new levels of utility and value, so that decision-making across the entire organization, from top to bottom, and with the organization’s external partners, is more effective and productive. Revisiting the uses of BI on a regular basis will ensure that the organization is making the most of their investment.

Debunk Myth #3 by incorporating BI as a strategic component of all business planning activities.

Let’s talk about what BI solution is right for your business. Call us today.

Windows 8 is near. Can it handle the competition?

Windows 8 will be released at the end of this month (October 2012) and that is causing quite a commotion. Why? Because the hybrid OS will be a game changer or a massive flop!

Realistically, the shelf life of business computers ranges between three to five years; our laptops are three years old while our desktops are more than five. These old computers are slowing down and are starting to get in the way, but will Windows 8 be the right OS choice?

Is Windows 8 the next best thing?

Until recently, everything I had heard about Windows 8 indicated it might be a terrific OS for tablets and phones –  but a disaster for laptop and desktop users. Instead of relying on hearsay I installed the preview release of Windows 8 into a virtual machine and tested it for myself.

The verdict? Anyone who still accesses their applications with a keyboard and mouse (rather than a tablet) and expects to have multiple tiled windows open to multiple applications  will be challenged by this new OS. Even Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen has some problems with how Windows 8 works on his desktop.

Although It was not tested on a tablet or touchscreen device, I could easily imagine how the Windows 8 design would make sense on those devices. But when it came to doing work on a desktop it was awkward, Counterintuitive and – in some cases – incapable of simple task.  I like learning new things. Yet the appeal of gaining knowledge is greatly diminished when at the end I have an absurd system that makes me less, rather than more, productive.

My Initial fears were that it would be difficult or impossible to purchase a new computer with Windows 7 after the end of the month. After some research i’ve  read that Microsoft will continue to support Windows 7 for some time. You can read the details on ZDnet but the summary is:

  • Microsoft will still support XP SP3 until April of 2014 and Windows 7 until January of 2020.
  • Microsoft will allow OEMs to sell computers pre-configured with Windows 7 until October 2013.
  • Microsoft will also sell Windows 7 software for installation on a computer until October 2013.
  • If you buy a new computer with Windows 8, you will have downgrade rights to Windows 7.

 Is Windows OS 8 another Vista?

When Vista was released it was possible to purchase a computer with a downgrade to XP. It should be noted that in general, this option wasn’t available on consumer computers and the options to do this for business use quickly narrowed (unless buying a large number of machines).

A similar option might be available where you have your choice of Windows versions for awhile. That sounds great in theory but who knows how long that will work in practice. If Windows 8 turns out to be a disaster of Vista proportions for business users, then fasten your seat belt, because we’re in for a bumpy ride.

I got to thinking that, if forced to get a new OS as part of our computer upgrade, maybe it is time to consider getting an Apple, with an OS that will be a pleasure to learn. My impression of Apple’s newest OS X release (Mountain Lion) is that Apple still recognizes that a laptop or desktop computer is different from a tablet or phone. Microsoft’s Windows 8 seems unclear on that concept. Are they so focused on dominating the tablet market that they’re blind to the impact Windows 8 will have on computer users?

Although Apple borrowed many features first released in the iOS operating systems for iPads and iPhones, they have not succumbed to the same problems. The interaction with software and files on a Mac is more intuitive than on Windows 8. In fact it seems less a transition to move from Windows 7 to OS X than it does to move to Windows 8.

 

The Verdict?

Microsoft seems to be pushing business users to reconsider whether they need Windows on the desktop if most of their work is in the cloud. If so, that’s a strategy that could backfire, as you may decide you just need an iPad. But if you are a power user at work(which most of you are), you’re not going to be happy with a new Windows 8 laptop or desktop until they figure out how to support multiple, simultaneous application access and a few other bugs.

Achieving Nirvana in the Workplace – Office Yoga

It’s four o’clock in the afternoon, and you find yourself nodding off at your desk. You muster up what little energy you have left and make your way to the break room in search of an antidote. Your mind and body on auto pilot, directing you towards “something sweet” and a cup of coffee.

Or perhaps you’ve been working at the computer for hours when suddenly your vision begins to blur. Realizing you’re on the verge of a tension headache, you down three Tylenol® (the recommended dose stopped working a few months ago) and get back to work.

Don’t feel too bad if either of these scenarios seems familiar; it probably means you’ve been working very hard. The real issue lies in your choice of solutions. Next time you find yourself without energy, or on the verge of a headache, try doing a little office yoga.

Yoga, a practice which combines exercise with relaxation and breathing, is something that can be done in the privacy of your own office, often while sitting in your chair. Here are a few simple stretches that are sure to help:

For low energy and fatigue – Sit near the edge of your chair, holding onto the sides of your seat. Gently stretch your chest forward and up. Tilt your head back, and breathe deeply in and out through your nose. Relax into the stretch while allowing oxygen to pass through your body.

While standing, raise both arms above your head and grab your left wrist with your right hand. Gently stretch to the right while breathing through your nose. Switch sides and repeat.

For headaches and eye strain – Place your index fingers directly above the middle of your eyebrows. Press with your fingers and hold. Close your eyes and breathe deeply through your nose.

If you’re working at the computer, try to refocus your eyes every ten minutes by looking out the window. Once an hour, take a moment to close your eyes and allow your face to soften. Slowly roll your eyes in a circle. Take a few breaths and return to action.

Practice these techniques, and before long you’ll be replacing caffeine and acetaminophen with good ol’ oxygen and streching.

Apples latest Kitty released to the wild!

In the animal kingdom cats all share the same family, Felidae. All cats are characterized similarly  and are recognizable as felines. It may be for this reason that Apple has taken to applying code names from the Felidae family to different versions of their popular operating system OS X. Regardless of the name, the latest version is here with some interesting new features.

OS X 10.8, or Mountain Lion as it’s commonly known, was released into the wild on July 25, 2012 and will come standard on all new Macs purchased thereafter, or can be bought and downloaded from the Apple store for USD$19.99. Six features of Mountain Lion that you and your employees will definitely find really useful are:.

•              AirPlay Mirroring. Want to project your Mac’s screen onto a TV or larger screen? If you have an Apple TV you can mirror your display and audio to a TV or projector screen in HD. If your office uses Apple computers this could be a great way to give presentations, by simply setting up an HD projector to an Apple TV. Employees can then give presentations from their Macs at the press of a button, no wires required.

•              Power Nap. This is a great feature that allows newer Macs (models released after mid 2011) to receive emails, download and install updates while the computer is ‘asleep’. This should help IT install updates during non-business hours. It will also allow employees to start their day right away, with no waiting for the computer and programs to start up.

•              Gatekeeper. Gatekeeper gives the administrators of the new OS the chance to set which apps can be downloaded and installed. This should make management of systems easier, as IT departments can control what’s installed, and it should minimize malware and viruses.

•              Notification Center. Taking a page from iOS – Apple’s mobile OS – Mountain Lion now includes notifications. Available updates, upcoming calendar events, and messages, etc., will show up as a notice in the top right of the desktop and slide away in five seconds. They can be viewed again by hitting the Notification button on the top right of the screen.

•              iCloud. iCloud was introduced a few months before the release of Mountain Lion and is Apple’s answer to integrating all their different devices. With the update, documents stored on iCloud can now be accessed and modified by all devices, with changes showing up in the docs. stored on your Mac.

•              Reminders. If your employees are involved in one or more projects, or need a way to manage their tasks, Reminders can help. Essentially a to-do list that is integrated across all Apple devices that will pop up when a scheduled task needs to be done, or provide a reminder about meetings or whatever.

There are a number of other features that users may find useful, and we encourage you to explore the new OS.

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