Some common problems and solutions:
Here are some common problems you may run
into and suggested solutions. If you
run into problems, please inform us of them so that we can pass on the solutions
to others and/or update PSS2001 to
correct the problem.
1. Problem: "I can't see the whole
data entry form."
Solution: You may not be using the
minimum display resolution of 800x600. See your Windows documentation on how to
determine your current settings or how to change them.
2. Problem: "I can't exit the data
entry form I tried pressing "Enter" and the "Done" button,
but it doesn't do anything. The only way I can exit is to press "Cancel,
" but then I lose all the information I've entered."
Solution: You have not yet entered some
of the "required" information for the preproposal. Each time that you
try to exit the form, the cursor automatically lands in the first missing
required field, allowing you to make an entry. When you have entered information
into all the required fields, you will be able to exit and save the record.
3. Problem: "I can't enter
information such as the funding amount -- instead, I bounce back to the first
data entry tab."
Solution: You may be hitting the Enter
key instead of the Tab key to move between fields. You bounce back to one of the
data entry tabs because a required field has not been completed.
4. Problem: "Before I finish
entering all the information for a preproposal, I suddenly exit the data entry
window and find myself back at the "Browse Preproposals" window."
Solution: You may be hitting the
"Enter" key instead of the "Tab" key to move between fields
or you may be hitting the "Enter" key to move to the next data entry
form panel. If you have already entered data in the required fields, pressing
the "Enter" key is the same as pressing the "Done" button.
6. Problem: "I can't enter all of
the information I need to in a field."
Solution: There are limits on the amount
and type of information that can be entered for some fields. If you are
exceeding the limit, try to shorten or abbreviate the information so that it
fits within the available limits. For data fields with vertical scroll bars on
the right side, the fields will hold more information than is displayed on the
screen at one time -- the window will scroll as you enter information. However,
these fields have limits, too.
7. Problem: "I have much of my
preproposal information already in another document. Is there a way that I can
save re-typing it?"
Solution: You can use the Windows
clipboard to cut, copy and paste information between a Windows text document and
PSS2001 or within PSS2001 itself.
To do this, select the text you wish to copy and choose
"Edit->Copy" from the main window menu of your program. Now switch
to PSS2001, place your cursor (click)
in the field you wish to paste the information, and choose
"Edit->Paste" from the main PSS2001 window
menu. Caution: Some
Windows software embeds non-printing formatting codes that you can't see on the
screen, but which might get included in the text you are trying to copy to PSS2001.
This may cause PSS2001 to crash. To
be safe, copy and paste information only from a simple ASCII text editor such as
Notepad (which comes with Windows). If you already have the information in
another program, such as a word-processor, you can save the text as an ASCII
text file, then open it in Notepad and copy it from there into the appropriate
fields in PSS2001.
8. Problem: "I enter the required
information, but when I leave the field to go to another, the field reverts to
what it was before I entered the information."
Solution: This sometimes happens if you
are entering the data in the wrong format, e.g., if you enter 11 digits for the
phone number, or you try to enter a 9-digit ZIP Code. Try again, making sure to
follow the format of the required data.
9. Problem: "PSS2001
crashes when I try to print out my preproposals."
Solution: Some Windows software embeds
non-printing formatting codes that you can't see on the screen, but which might
get included in the text you are trying to copy to PSS2001.
This may cause PSS2001 to crash. To
be safe, copy and paste information only from a simple ASCII text editor such as
Notepad (which comes with Windows). If you already have the information in
another program, such as a word-processor, you can save the text as an ASCII
text file, then open it in Notepad and copy it from there into the appropriate
fields in PSS2001.
Another cause may be that your data file, APL2001.TPS does not yet contain any
preproposals yet because you have not yet entered, imported, or added any
preproposals.
10. Problem: "I prepared
preproposals on my office computer and my home computer and have two different APL2001.TPS
data files. Is there a way to combine these into one file, or do I have to
retype the information?"
Solution: You do not have to retype the
information, see the section above entitled "Merging Multiple Preproposals
into a Single Data File" for information on how to combine data files
created using PSS2001.
11. Problem: "I prepared
preproposals in previous years using PSS1 or PSS2 software. Since much of the
information for this year's preproposal is similar to the previous submission,
is there a way for me to use that information as a starting point for this
year's, or do I have to retype the information?"
Solution: You do not have to retype the
information, see the section above entitled "Importing Preproposals from
PSS1 / PSS2 Data Files" for information on how to combine data files
created using PSS2001.
