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Revelation Plus Standard And Junior Tips And Tricks

Revelation Plus, Standard & Junior Topics


Win2000/XP: Revelation will not run after Pastel installed
Win98: Revelation will not run after Pastel installed
Windows XP: Setting number of Files (Config.sys)
Printing to Network printers under Windows 2000/XP/NT
Windows 2000/NT: Setting number of Files (Config.sys)
Windows Millennium: Setting number of Files (Config.sys)
Printing a different Statement message for each Aged period (RevPlus)
Use a filename extension of ".csv" when exporting data to Excel
Printing a 4-digit year on Invoices, Orders and Statements, etc
Importing standard messages to print on Invoices
How to restart the system after a crash
For whom the beep tolls…
Printing Transaction Narrations on Statements
Sharing a single Stock file between multiple companies (RevPlus only)
Reducing oversized files in Revelation Standard

 


Win2000/XP: Revelation does not run after Pastel installed
If you install a Pastel product (Payroll, etc) on a PC (running Windows 2000/XP) that has RevPlus or RevPro installed on it, you may find that Revelation will no longer run. Proceed as follows to fix this problem. Edit the CONFIG.NT file in the \Windows\System32 folder. At the bottom of this file, you should see this command: DEVICE=C:\PVSW\BIN\BTRDRVR.SYS . Delete this line and save the CONFIG.NT back to disk. Then, run Windows Explorer (right-click [Start] and select “Explore”). In the left-window pane, locate the “PVSW” folder and click the + sign next to it. Below the “PVSW”, click the yellow “BIN” folder. In the RIGHT-window pane, locate and DELETE the following files:
BTRDRVR.SYS
BTRVDD.DLL
Close Windows Explorer. Revelation should now run as usual. The Pastel product should also run without a problem.

Win98: Revelation does not run after Pastel installed
If you install a Pastel product (Payroll, etc) on a PC (running Windows 98) that has RevPlus or RevPro installed on it, you may find that Revelation will no longer run. Proceed as follows to fix this problem. Note that this involves editing the Windows Registry which controls how your PC operates. This procedure should only be attempted by competent users. Revelation accepts no responsiblilty for any problems caused by editing the Registry. On the Windows Desktop, with the left-mouse button, click [Start] and then [Run]. Type: regedit (and press [Enter]). Using the LEFT Mouse button, click the + sign to the left of: "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE". Then click the + sign to the left of "System". Click the + sign to the left of "Current Control Set". Click the + sign to the left of "Services". Click the + sign to the left of "VXD". Locate and RIGHT-Click "BtrBox95". On the popup menu, left-click "Delete". If prompted "Are you sure?", left-click "Yes". Close the Registry window and restart the PC. Revelation should now run as usual. The Pastel product should also run without a problem.

Windows XP: Setting number of Files (Config.sys)
Windows XP does not use the traditional CONFIG.SYS file to define the number of Files that programs like RevPro will use. Here is another way you can set the number of files. Note that the following is only necessary where RevPro is actually going to be run on a Windows XP machine - it is NOT necessary where the Windows XP is being used as a dedicated File Server in a Network (with no RevPro actually running on itself). On the Windows Desktop of the Windows XP machine, click "Start", then "Programs", then "Accessories", then "NotePad". In NotePad, click "File", then "Open". In the "FileName" box, type: \windows\system32\config.nt (and press [Enter]). When this file is displayed, keep pressing [Page-Down] until you get to the bottom of the file. At the bottom of the file, you should see a "files=" command (if not, then add one). Change it to read (without the quotes): "files=150". Now click on "File" again and then on "Save". Exit out of NotePad and restart the PC.

Printing to Network printers under Windows 2000/XP/NT
Windows 2000/XP/NT does not have the facility to "capture" printer ports that we are used to under Windows 95/98. This causes problems for Dos programs such as RevPlus and RevPro that might need to print to a printer attached to another PC on the network. To overcome this problem, proceed as follows. First, make the printer(s) shareable on the PC that it is attached to and make a note of the name that the printer is "shared as". Also, you need to know the Network "name" of the PC to which the shared printer is attached. Now edit the PG.BAT file that is used to load RevPlus. On the first line of the PG.BAT file (move everything else down), type the following command (without the quotes): "NET USE LPT2: \\ComputerName\PrinterName". This instructs Windows 2000 to route all traffic sent to printer port LPT2: over the network to a printer named "PrinterName" attached to the PC named "ComputerName". Put as many "net use" commands as required in the PG.BAT file to print to other network printers from RevPlus. This does NOT apply to local printers attached to the PC itself. Note that, if there are multiple shared printers on different PC's on the network, each terminal should have it's own renamed copy of the PG.BAT file (used to load RevPlus) with the appropriate "net use" commands to avoid printer conflicts.

Windows 2000/NT: Setting number of Files (Config.sys)
Windows 2000 and NT does not use the traditional CONFIG.SYS file to define the number of Files that programs like RevPlus will use. Here is another way you can set the number of files. Note that the following is only necessary where RevPlus is actually going to be run on a Windows 2000 or NT machine - it is NOT necessary where the Windows 2000/NT is being used as a dedicated File Server in a Network (with no RevPlus actually running on itself). On the Windows Desktop of the Win2000/NT machine, click "Start", then "Programs", then "Accessories", then "NotePad". In NotePad, click "File", then "Open". In the "FileName box, type: \winnt\system32\config.nt (and press [Enter]). When this file is displayed, keep pressing [Page-Down] until you get to the bottom of the file. At the bottom of the file, you should see a "files=" command (if not, then add one). Change it to read (without the quotes): "files=150". Now click on "File" again and then on "Save". Exit out of NotePad and restart the PC. RevPlus still looks for the old Config.sys file and will display a warning when it cannot find it. To disable this, right-click once on the RevPlus icon on your Windows Desktop, then left-click on the "Properties" option on the popup menu. Left-click on the "Programs" tab in the window that pops up. After the "...pg.bat" command in the Cmd Line field, type: NOCONFIGCHECK. The Cmd Line should then read something like this: C:\RV\PG.BAT NOCONFIGCHECK. Left-click on Apply and Ok.

Windows Millennium: Setting number of Files (Config.sys)
Windows Millennium has done away with the CONFIG.SYS file where you specify the number of files your various programs use. Here is another way you can set the number of files. On the Windows Desktop, click "Start", then "Run". Type: msconfig (and press [Enter]). In the window that opens, click the "System.ini" tab at the top. In the displayed list, click the "+" sign next to [386Enh]. A new list is displayed under [386Enh]. Click once, with the left-button, any entry in this new list. It will be hi-lighted. Now click the "New" button at the bottom of the window. A field will open for you to type in. Type: pervmfiles=150 (and press [Enter]). Then click "Apply" and finally "Ok". Restart the PC. This has the same effect as "Files=150" in the old Config.sys file. RevPlus still looks for the Config.sys file and will display a warning when it cannot find it. To disable this, right-click once on the RevPlus icon on your Windows Desktop, then left-click on the "Properties" option on the popup menu. Left-click on the "Programs" tab in the window that pops up. After the "...pg.bat" command in the Cmd Line field, type: NOCONFIGCHECK. The Cmd Line should then read something like this: C:\RV\PG.BAT NOCONFIGCHECK. Left-click on Apply and Ok.

Printing a different Statement message for each Aged period
REVPLUS: On Debtors Statements, you may now have a different message for each Aged period. Amounts in older aged periods take precedence - ie: if there is an amount in 30 days and in 90 days, the system will print the 90 day message. Using the method described on page 359 of the manual, create 6 lines of messages in the 'MSG.DTA' file in the RevPlus directory. Line 1 would be the 120 day message, line 2 the 90 day message and so on. Line 5 should hold the message to be printed where only a Current balance exists and line 6 contain a message for accounts with a Credit balance. When printing Statements and you are prompted to enter a Message to print on them, enter an '@' character and nothing else. The system will then use the above method to print the appropriate message on each Debtor's statement.

Use a filename extension of ".csv" when exporting data to Excel
If you export data out of Revelation for import into a Microsoft Excell spreadsheet, use an extension of ".csv" when prompted to input the filename for the export file. For example, "filename.CSV" or "export.CSV", etc. This tells Excel that it is a Comma-delimited file and stops it asking you 20 questions about what type of file it is, what the delimiters are, etc. If you export to Lotus 123, then use the extension ".prn".

Printing a 4-digit year on Invoices, Orders and Statements, etc
For those users who would prefer to print a 4-digit year on Invoices, Orders & Statements (eg: 15JAN2000), this can be set as follows. Select [U] on the Main menu followed by [Y] on the Maintenance menu. Select the required option.

Importing standard messages to print on Invoices
You can import standard messages from a message file to print in the body of an invoice. This is ideal for common messages such as "Strictly 30 Days…" or "The above goods remain the property of…", etc.

Using a text editor (such as Dos "Edit" or Windows "Notepad"), create a file in the Revelation directory called "INVMSG.DTA". On each line, type in a standard message (no longer than 68 characters). Input as many message lines as are required. Make a note of the Line Number on which each message line resides.

When next in the body of an Invoice and you want to insert one or more of your standard messages, type "=S" and press [Enter] in the Stockcode field. In the Message line that opens at the bottom of the screen, type the "#" symbol followed by the line number of the message you require (eg: #5) and press [Enter].

How to restart the system after a crash
If Revelation freezes or a Terminal running Revelation on a Network hangs or crashes, it is always wise for everone to exit out of what they are doing and shut down the PC and the entire Network (and down the File Server). Do this BEFORE running the "Fix" program or restoring from backups. This forces the Network to re-initialise itself thus preventing open file conflicts and other peculiar errors.

For whom the beep tolls…
For those of you who are driven mad by the "beep" whenever you are filling in a data field and it reaches the end of the field, there is a way to switch it off. When next loading Revelation at the Dos prompt, type: PG NOBELL and press [Enter]. If you load Revelation using a Windows95/98 Icon, you'll have to edit the Command Line box on the Program page of the Icon's Properties window. Set the command line to read: …PG.BAT NOBELL. You could also insert the "NOBELL" command directly into the PG.BAT file just after the P1 (or M1) command on the last line (eg: P1 NOBELL %1 %2.

Printing Transaction Narrations on Statements
This option allows you to print narrations (comments) on the Debtors' statements. These are the narrations that were attached to transactions during postings to accounts. Note that this will only work on statement layouts that have been set up for it. Currently the supplied TRIACC, PLAIN and REVPROS layouts cater for it. On the Main menu, select 'U' for System Maintenance followed by '6' to set language preference. Press 'E' or 'E' as prompted. You are then prompted whether you wish to print the Narrations on your statements. Press 'Y' to enable this feature.

Sharing a single Stock file between multiple companies (RevPlus only)
Should you require to use, say, Company 1's stockfile in company 2, 3, etc, proceed as follows. Using Dos' EDIT (or Windows' NOTEPAD) program, edit the PG.BAT file in the \RV (RevPlus) directory. The last line in this file usually reads: M1 %1 %2. Assuming you wish to use Company 1's stock file in ALL other companies, insert the following command between the "M1" and "%1": STOCK-1 (ie: stock minus 1). The command will then read: M1 STOCK-1 %1 %2

Reducing oversized files in Revelation Standard
If you set the number of records per file (Debtors, Stock, etc) to more than were actually necessary (often users just select the maximum size regardless), Revelation actually creates a blank file of that size. This makes the operation of the package much quicker. However, if you only use a fraction of that file, your backups will span numerous disks wasting time and disks. Here's how you can reduce your file sizes where necessary. First, calculate roughly how many you actually use in the selected file (Debtors, stock, etc) and add about 10% to that for a bit of headroom.

MAKE BACKUPS BEFORE CONTINUING! Exit to the Dos prompt and select the Revelation directory. Type: MODFSIZE and press [Enter]. Input the Company number to be modified as prompted. The number of records currently allocated to each file is displayed and you are prompted to input the file number you wish to amend. Next, type in the NEW number of records required. Beware that you do NOT reduce it too far as you will chop off live records causing data corruption

 

 

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