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This page lists many questions and answers, as well as some trouble-shooting
topics.
What does BAME mean?
BAME is short for Badges
And
More
Enterprise.
How many Shared Directories can I use?
Top
As many as you want. BAME does not limit you on the number of Shared
Directories you want to create.
How many databases can I use?
Top
As many as you want. BAME is not fixed to a single database. Most Access,
Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, or ODBC databases can be connected to by BAME.
If I increase the resolution of my photos, will my printed output be better?
Top
The answer depends on your printer resolution and the size of the photo on
your badge. The best possible printed image occurs when a photo is printed
at 100% of its actual size. If the photo is stretched or squeezed to fit the
defined size you want then quality suffers. The typical PVC printer has a
resolution of 300 DPI, and because of the dye sub process that they use, that is
about as good as they will get with current technology. On the other hand, an
ink jet or laser printer might print at 1440 DPI. What looks great on the ink
jet may suffer when printed on a PVC printer, and vice versa because of the
different resolutions of the printers. While it is possible to calculate the
ideal sizes, the math gets complicated when you start mixing pixels (image capture
units) and TWIPS (printing units, one TWIP = 1/1440 of an inch). There is no
direct ratio between a pixel and a TWIP so the conversion process will vary
depending on equipment in use. Hence the different output results for different
printers.
Error message displayed during install:
Error trying to register MyDocs.dll Top
MyDocs.dll is the Microsoft "My Documents Folder UI." If you get
this registration error, click "Ignore." Normally, no problem
results from the registration error.
My registration key does not work.
Top
When entering your registration key, be very aware of the following: Top
- You MUST type the registration name EXACTLY
as printed in your Email. It is case sensitive, so tom is not the same as
Tom.
- If you misspelled your name on the order, you cannot correct the
spelling, capitalization, or punctuation here. If you want the key
re-issued with a correctly spelled name then send an Email to tech@badgesandmore.com
explaining the problem. Do not register your program with the bad
spelling key. Once a program is registered, it cannot be undone.
- If you are sure you typed the name and the key correctly, and it still
does not work, then send an Email to tech@badgesandmore.com identifying
your order and explaining the problem. A new key will be issued
immediately if a generated key is bad.
How do I tell BAME to get a picture from
my TWAIN camera? Top
- From the Data Entry screen, click Options
- Check the TWAIN (Camera, Scanner, etc) checkbox
- Click "Select TWAIN Device"
- Pick your camera from the list
How do I capture a photo during add
mode? Top
- Click Options on the Toolbar
- Clear the checkbox for, "Skip picture acquire on add"
- Click Save
When printing to my PVC printer,
Landscape and Portrait are reversed. Top
This is not an uncommon issue for PVC printers. To fix this problem, do the
following:
- On the Data Entry screen, be sure your PVC printer is selected as the
Active printer (displayed in the status bar at the bottom of the screen)
- Click Printer | Printer Specifications
- Check the Reverse Portrait / Landscape orientation.
- Click OK
When I click on an Instruction button I
get a message, "RTF file not found" Top
This can be caused for two reasons: (1) the instruction files were not
loaded when the program was installed (a self-extracting zip at the end of the
installation), or, (2) the Common Shared directory has not been selected. If
you opted to skip the file installation, you can install them now from the CD,
or from the folder where you expanded the downloaded zip file. To select the
Common Directory, click Instructions | Select Common Directory, then
browse to where the instruction files are stored. Note: The Shared Directory
selections for the Data Entry program and the Administration program are
separate.
What is the "Common Directory"
for instruction files? Top
The Common Directory is used to store instruction files, movies, and screen
images that apply to all users of Badges & More Enterprise. If you have a
networked environment, you can use a single Common Directory for all users, so
you only need to maintain the files in one location. Also, if you installed
the instruction movies, this can reduce the total disk storage needed on
individual computers.
I get a pop-up screen titled
"Update BamBadge.mdb Table Defs." Top
The update requires that changes be made to the BAME system Database, such as
the addition of new fields. This job is automatic and needs to be run for
each Shared Directory. As is always the case, you should be sure you have
a current backup before applying any changes or updates. As long as you
backup is current, you should click the "Start" button. If you
want to end the program and do a backup, click the "Cancel" button.
Why is the crop window smaller when I
import a photo from a file instead of using my camera? Top
This is caused by the resolution of the picture file. Your camera setting is
probably for the standard 640 x 480 resolution, and the crop window (defined in
the Administration program / Badge Design / ID Specification as a pixel capture
size) is set based on the 640 x 480 size. If you try to crop a picture that has,
for example, a 1600 x 1200 resolution the crop window will be much smaller in
proportion to the picture. If you need to mix images from cameras and files, try
and get the files sent to you at a 640 x 480 resolution (or whatever your camera
uses) and everything will work fine. If that is not possible, an immediate, but
inconvenient, work-around is to create a phony badge and use a photo capture pixel
size that is proportioned for a higher resolution. For example, using the above
resolutions, if your normal (640 x 480) capture size is 300 pixel width x 350 pixel
height, then the file import (1600 x 1200) capture size would be 750 pixel width
x 875 pixel height (a 2.5 factor size difference). Note, if you do this be sure
to use the "Override Badge Design" dropdown to select the phony badge during the
picture import, then set it back when you are done. Did I mention this is an
inconvenient work-around? Another word about mixing resolutions (in any direction)
is that it can cause serious quality issues and should be done only if no
alternative is available.
Can I put more than one Microsoft Access
database in a Shared Directory? Top
Yes, you can put any number of databases in a single Shared directory.
Can I use databases that are not stored
in a Shared Directory? Top
Yes, your databases can be any where. However, if you plan to distribute
Shared Directories to others (like the sample downloads) you will want your
database and photos stored in the Shared Directory so the "soft"
links (the Shared Directory checkboxes on the database Definition and the
Screen Definition screens) to the database and photos will work.
Can I create a Shared Directory on a
network drive so that it can be accessed by different users? Top
Absolutely! Just be sure the Database Definition uses a link that works for
all users. For example, if different drive letters are assigned to the
networked drive, be sure to use the "Network Neighborhood" browse
rather than a drive letter browse.
Trouble-Shooting
Data Entry Errors Top
Most problems encountered are caused by conflicts between
the database and the Badges & More Enterprise definitions.
The most common database used is Microsoft Access, so this guild uses
Access terminology. If you use a
different database, you may need to ask your database administrator for help
in determining some of these answers, or to help you create a table link to
the database within Access.
Field does not allow nulls: For every database
field that does not allow nulls, you must include that field on any screen
definition that allows records to be added to that table, and a field entry
must be made.
Screen is not configured for maintenance and no
records exist in the table. If
a screen does not permit records to be added, and no records exist in the
table, then the screen is not usable until records are added into the table
using a different screen or from another source.
A database table is changed. If a database table is changed by adding required fields or
changing the properties of an existing field to make it required, then a
screen that was working will suddenly generate errors. You must either change the screen definition to accommodate
the changes, or make the database fields optional rather than required.
Duplicate keys are not allowed. If adding or changing a record results in a duplicate field
entry that is not allowed by the database, then the database will generate an
error blocking the change or add. If
this is the result of a manual entry (such as a paper document) check with the
person who created the document. Perhaps
the document should request a maintenance edit rather than an add, or else a
different value must be assigned to the key field.
If the error is from a Badges & More Enterprise Counter, then the
counter value must be changed within the Administration program to a number
that is higher than the highest value contained within the database.
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