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Allow Microsoft to check your version of Windows for any
current updates, by clicking on the following picture or hyperlink:
Check for Windows Product
Updates
Please apply all updates with administrative rights on your computer.
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If you are upgrading from an older version of ALEX then make sure you have a
recent backup copy for each of your
existing Alex2.mdb databases.
Note: The name of your
first database (Alex2.mdb) can be changed after
installation. However, the name must start with "Alex2"
and end with ".mdb". Only letters, numbers and
underscores (_) should be used in the name. Avoid using spaces.
For example, the following names are all valid:
"Alex2_Chattooga.mdb"; "Alex2_Jan23.mdb";
"Alex2_FY200_Backup.mdb"
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Once you click on one of the Download links, at
the top of the page.
The following window will appear:
Click the "Open" button.
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Depending on your version of Windows, the following box with be displayed while
Windows downloads the setup file:
The installation program will display a Welcome
screen.
Click the "OK" button.
Then the installation will display the
following screen:
Click the large picture button. Do NOT click "Change
Directory" or "Exit Setup" buttons.
The next screen will be:
Click the "Continue" button.
The installation will create 2 files: Alex0.mde
and Alex1.mde into the default folder C:\Program
Files\ALEX.
Alex2.mdb will be
created later when you start ALEX.
Warning: If this is an
upgrade to an existing installation of ALEX then Windows may recommend that
you keep all files for your current version of ALEX. Don't keep any
files.
Windows makes this incorrect assumption based on the date ALEX was last
used. The following window is displayed and you must click the "No
to All" button for ALEX to be installed correctly.
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Once all files have been installed then the following window
is displayed:
You have successfully installed ALEX. Click "OK".
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There are several ways to run ALEX. You can run ALEX by clicking the Start
button, selecting
Programs and
then ALEX. You can also start Access and open the Alex1.mde database from within Access.
Note: For the quickest
start up you may want to create a shortcut to ALEX on your desktop.
Click the Start button, selecting
Programs, then right-click ALEX and select Send
To and then Desktop.
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The
first time ALEX is started you will need to
contact Cymations by email or phone to get a KEY code to unlock the
database. A message will appear on your screen with a LOCK
number.
Please provide the LOCK number, your name and billing address when you contact Cymations in order to
receive the matching KEY code. Once the KEY code has been entered you will not have
to enter it again for the same version. You can use ALEX up to 10 times
without a KEY code.
A KEY code is required for data entry. If a KEY code
is not provided after 10 free trials ALEX will become a Read Only
application. Users will be able to use ALEX to Connect to other
databases and run Reports only. No data entry will be allowed after
the free trials have expired. There will be no charge for
a Read Only installation.
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The first time ALEX is started it will create a new empty
database named Alex2.mdb. Alex2.mdb database requires information
about its location. ALEX will display a window to capture the name of your district or office, your
Region and Forest name. You can also enter any contact information for
the location. You can enter and manage as many locations as needed in
one database. A location can be a Ranger District, Supervisors Office or
Resource Area. ALEX requires at least one location in each database.
If you enter more than one location then you can click "Set as Default
Location" to record the most used location for this installation.
Each installation of ALEX can have a different default Location. The
default location will be displayed on
the Main window and can be changed later by selected the
Locations
button.
The Main window is
displayed.
Verify the path to
Alex2.mdb database. The path is displayed in the Status
bar at the bottom of the Access window. You can also verify or change
the path to
Alex2.mdb by clicking the
Connection button.
If you plan to use the default path then it should be C:\Program
Files\ALEX\Alex2.mdb.
If this installation is an upgrade then ALEX will attempt to reconnect using
the last path used.
Note: A local copy of Alex2.mdb
on your C: drive runs much faster than a copy on a network
drive but it usually can't be shared with other users. Alex2.mdb
can be placed anywhere on your network drives, in order to be shared.
Warning: Make sure that you
have plenty of free space available in the folder containing Alex2.mdb.
If ALEX runs out of space then errors will occur. Users will be locked
out and it may corrupt existing data. Always check the available free
space on a regular basis. The amount of space needed depends on the
amount of data entered and how many copies you may want to keep. A
good start would be 10 megabytes (10000K) per database.
All Program codes, Job codes, Site codes, Employees, etc.
must be setup in the Maintenance screen
before any Transactions can be
entered.
If Microsoft Graph has
not been installed on your PC then please
click
here for additional instructions.
Download
ALEX 2004 D
There will be a
$375 charge for each KEY code. Payment
can now be made by PayPal or VISA credit card. If you would like the convenience
of paying using your VISA card then please click on PayPal now or fax the request with your LOCK number, name, credit card
number and expiration date.
