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Dante Productions
Dante Productions


Electronic Assistant SupportFrequently Asked Questions

Version 2004
Updated: April 21, 2009

Problem: I've installed Electronic Assistant on Windows Vista and now get a "Network Initialization failed" error message.
Solution: Review this PDF for instructions here



Problem: I get an error message indicating cannot find a DLL. For example: BCBIE50.BPL
Solution: Download and install update 1 (EA2004p1) located at http://www.danteproductions.com/ea/update/EA2004p1.zip

Instructions are provided in the readme file.

Problem: I get the error message "Unknown Database. Alias: ElecAsst4P" when I try to start EA:
Solution: Try un-installing and re-installing EA. If this fails, try the following instructions


1. Start Control Panel (Start->Settings->Control Panel)
2. Double-Click BDE Administrator
3. Select Object->New from the main menu
4. Confirm that STANDARD is selected as the Database Driver Name
5. Click OK
6. This should create a database named STANDARD1 in the database pane on
the left
7. Select the new database (STANDARD1)
8. Rename STANDARD1 to ElecAsst4P by either typing the new name or
select Object 9. Rename from the menu and type the new name.
10. The following parameters should be listed in the Definition pane on
the left:

Type:        STANDARD
DEFAULT DRIVER: PARADOX
ENABLED BCD: FALSE

11. Set Path to the location where you data for EA are installed. The
default data storage location is C:\Program Files\EA2004\Data

You can type this or use the browse button to the right end of the field
to find the folder.

12. Select Object->Apply from the main menu
13. When prompted to confirm select OK.
14. Review your list of databases. If you do not have one each for
ElecAsst and EAImport, repeat this for these two databases also.

15. Select Object->Exit.

EA should run when you start it.


Version 4.1.1
Updated: November 3, 2001



Problem: Where can I find the UserManual for EA?
Solution: Here http://www.danteproductions.com/ea/support.html

Problem: I am getting a Date Format error. EA indicates that " It is not allowed format 01/01/01" or some other date is not the correct format. How can I change this format in my computer.
Solution: Start Regional Settings in the Control Panel. 
                Click the Date tab. 
                 Note the format, is it MM/dd/yyyy, dd/mm/yyyy? (Month/day/year, Day,Month,Year) Is it 

                Start Electronic Assistant 
                Select Options from the Tools menu 
                Change EA's setting to the same setting in your Regional Settings above. Example, Month/Day/Year. 
                Select Apply 
                Exit and restart Electronic Assistant. 

Problem: In the Database module, the pictogram between 'Add a new record' and 'save changes to records', what does it do?
Solution: After creating a database, you can enter records in the database. To enter records, you select "Add a new record". After entering the record, you select "Save changes to records" to save the record.

NOTE: If you have not already done so, you should download and read the
tutorial for Electronic Assistant on our website. It has a chapter on
configuring and using the database module.

Problem: In the Database module, how do I navigate to the first/last record?
Solution: EA 4.2 and later: Use the buttons on the tool bar ar the top. These are the blue and gray buttons.

Solution (EA 4.0 and 4.1): There if no button/command in EA 4.1 to go to the first/last record.However, you can scroll to the first/last or any other record in the top "Records List" window.

Problem: How do I manually add a record in the database module? 
Solution: As indicated in the User Manual, after creating a new database or loading an existing one, select the "Add a record" button, enter the desired information and select the "save changes to records" button.

Problem: In the Database module, how do I save/create/select a database? 
Solution: You only need to create a database, then save records to the database as you add them. Instruction on adding & saving records are provided in answers to the previous questions. To create a new database, select "Create/Delete Database" from the File menu, enter
a database name and select create.

Problem: The search option in the Database module, how does it work?
Solution: The search is performed based on the database sort order which is the list of fields. If the database is sorted based on a field called color, the search will be performed on that color field.

Problem: I've entered my registration code but I am still getting messages when I start EA indicating that it will expire in "X" days.
Solution: Contact Dante Productions at sales@danteproductions.com  immediately

Problem: Agenda gives a msgbox with 'could not initialize date'. The same for Schedule and for Main->Agenda.
Solution:  This is related to your date/time setting in windows versus EA. Check in the control panel under Regional Settings->Date. Make sure the Short Date Format (example MM/DD/YY) corresponds to the Date Format under Options in EA. This can be found in EA by selecting Options from the Tools menu, General Options from the Tools & Utilities List (on the left) or using the short-cut Shitf-F4. If it does not, change the EA Date format and restart EA.

Problem:  I have been trying to download EA Pro/Lite but I'm having problems. Can you please email me a copy of EA Pro/Lite.
Solution: Unfortunately, it is our policy not to send software via email. I'd suggest you try alternate download
sites if you haven't already done so. 

Problem: How do I use the Networking feature in Electronic Assistant Professional?
Solution: Detailed instructions in the use of Electronic Assistant Professional on a network are available in the help system on in a technical paper available on our web site. 

Problem: Can Electronic Assistant sync with the Palm Pilot?
Solution: Partially, Yes. Electronic Assistant Professional has 1-way palm sync support. It updates Electronic Assistant by synchronizing with the Palm Desktop software. IT DOES NOT UPDATE THE PALM DESKTOP SOFTWARE OR HANDHELD. This means that if you add or make changes to your contacts, Date Book, ToDo, etc. on your Palm or the software on your computer,  Electronic Assistant will be updated to reflect the additions and/or changes during Electronic Assistant synchronization. However, any additions/changes made in Electronic Assistant will not be reflected in the Palm and/or Palm software. 

Problem: I was unable to download your software. Can you please send it to me via email?
Solution: As policy, we do not email software to users.

Problem: I had to reinstall Electronic Assistant Lite. The previous data was saved, but now I cannot figure out how to access it.
Solution: The easiest way to access your data is to import it. If you're using version 4.0 or later, select Import from the Tools and Utilities list. If you're using an earlier version, select Import from the Options main menu command.

Problem: I tried downloading Electronic Assistant but the link is not working.
Solution: Do the following: Try the alternate link if one's available. You may also try one of the links below:
                   1. http://www.engineeringfiles.com
                   2. http://www.hotfiles.com  (and search)
                   3. http://www.simtel.net  (and search) 

Problem: After installing EA, I've received a box requesting a password. However, I haven't entered on.
Solution: Click the "X" to close the password window. If this does not work, try selecting OK without entering a password.

Problem: I would like to reinstall Electronic Assistant but I keep getting a message box 
                requesting a password.
Solution: Do the following:
               1. Uninstall your existing Electronic Assistant using "Add/Remove
               Programs" in the Control Panel.
               2. Navigate to the location where EA was installed and delete all
               remaining data files. 
              (E.g. C:\Program Files\Dante Productions\Electronic Assistant\Data)
               3. Re-Install Electronic Assistant

Problem: I have forgotten my password
Solution: Contact Dante’ Productions at info@danteprodutions.com

Problem: Cannot find" SETUP_DLL " or other file
Solution: Perhaps an error occurred during download. Try downloading 
                EA and reinstalling.

Problem: Multiple copies of ScheduleViewer in  System Tray 
Solution: You can close extra copies of ScheduleViewer by Right-Clicking 
                them and selecting “Exit”. 

Problem: Electronic Assistant is not accepting my date 
Solution: EA uses a combination of your Date format setting in the Options (Tools->Options) and your Regional Settings Short Date format to accept dates. Make sure they are both set to the same format.  The Regional Settings can be found in the Control panel.
 

Problem: ERROR: FILE NAME IS TOO LONG FOR A PARADOX 
                VERSION 5.0 TABLE.
Solution: Do the following: 
               1. Uninstall your version of Electronic Assistant
               2. Re-Install it in a non-long filename location.
               For example, instead of installing it at 
               C:\Program Files\Dante' Productions\Electronic Assistant\ 
               install it at     C:\EA30\

Problem:   I am receiving a message stating “Blob Error”. What’s going on? 
Solution:   Does the error message specify a Table or file name? 
                 Download the file indicated below and use it to repair the
                 specified table/data file. The alternative is to replace this corrupted
                  file with a new file. However, if you do this, you will 
                  loose all information stored in that file. 

                http://www.borland.com/devsupport/bde/files/dtutil32.ex
 

Problem:  "invalid filename" and closes on startup.
                  How do I fix this? 
Solution:   Install EA on a path without long filenames. 
                  For example, instead of the default location: 
                  C:\Program Files\Dante' Productions\Electronic Assistant\ 
                  install it in C:\EA\

Problem:  "Network Initialization Failed ....." and closes on startup. 
                  How do I fix this?
Solution:  (Version 1.x) 
                  Find the directory/folder in which bde is installed. This is usually 
                  C:\Program Files\Common Files\Borland\bde 
                  and run the file "bdecfg32.exe" 
                  Select the drivers tab on the lower left 
                 Select "PARADOX" under "Driver Name" and 
                  change the entry under "Parameters" for "Net Dir" 
                  to "C:\" or the drive on which Electronic Assistant is installed. 
                  Save and Exit. 
                  Run Electronic Assistant from the "Start Menu".

Solution:  (Version 2.x and above) 
                 Go to the control Panel and start "BDE Administrator"
                 (Start->Settings->Control Panel->BDE Administrator)
                 Select the "Configuration" tab
                 Click the plus (+) sign next to the "Configuration" label in the list box.
           Note: You do not need to click it if instead of a plus (+) sign, 
                 you see a minus (-) sign.
                Click the plus (+) sign next to the "Drivers" label.
           Note: You do not need to click it if instead of a plus (+) sign, 
                you see a minus (-) sign. 
                Click the plus (+) sign next to the "Native" label 
           Note: You do not need to click it if instead of a plus (+) sign, 
                you see a minus (-) sign.
               Click the "Paradox" label
                In the right hand side window, change the "Net Dir" option to C:\ or 
               the drive on which Electronic Assistant is installed.
               Select "Object" & "Exit" from the menu
               Acknowledge changes

Problem:   I am having trouble downloading the most current version of 
                  Electronic Assistant. What do I do? 
Solution:   Try one of the alternate sites closest to your geographic location. 
                  The list of alternate sites is available from the Download page of
                  the sites listed below.
           http://www.danteproductions.com/ea/download.html

                  You may also try the ZDNet Software archive
                  http://www.hotfiles.com/

Problem:   How do I install EA on a computer with a Network version of 
                  paradox installed when I do not have permission to alter the 
                  paradox files? 
Solution:   You can not.

Problem:   Is there a Win 3.x version of EA? 
Solution:   NO

Problem:   Why are my records not being stored? 
Solution:   Select "Save" after entering each record

Problem:  I've tried the dates 5/12/99 15:15 or 12/5/99 15:15 or 
                05/12/1999 15:15 but keep getting the error "invalid date".
                What do I do?
Solution: The correct format is: 5/12/99 3:30:00 PM or 12/5/99 3:30:00 PM
                or 05/12/1999 3:30:00 PM
                if the error persists, check the short date format under regional settings
                in the control panel. Make sure that the format you are using is the same as 
                the format specified in the regional settings.

Problem: How do I save the information I enter?
Solution: To save entries, make sure you click "Save" after entering each record. 
                For example: If using the Organizer module, select "Save" after entering
                all of your available information for a given record.

Problem: How do I register EA Lite?
Solution: Just send an email to register@danteproductions.com containing your 
                Name, Email Address, City, State/Country, and Site from which EA Lite 
                was downloaded or visit the Register page at 
           http://www.danteproductions.com/ea/register.html

Problem: How do I register EA Professional?
Solution: Electronic Assistant Professional can be registered by telephone, fax,
               mail or online using a credit card. To register online using a secured 
               server, visit the Register page at 
           http://www.danteproductions.com/ea/register.html

               For other methods of registering Electronic Assistant, including via 
               telephone, fax, mail, etc., also visit the Register page at 
           http://www.danteproductions.com/ea/register.html

Problem: How do I authorize EA Pro or other Dante' Productions software?
Solution: To authorize EA Pro or other Dante' Productions software, select the 
                "Authorize" button on the mainmenu window and enter the requested 
                information. In the Authorization Key textbox, enter the key, or code 
                you receive when you register the software.

Problem: I'm trying to use Electronic assistant 2.5, but I get the error message:
                ERROR: FILE NAME IS TOO LONG FOR A PARADOX 
                VERSION 5.0 TABLE.
Solution:  Do the following: 
                1. Uninstall your version of Electronic Assistant
                2. Install it again in a non-long filename location.
                For example, instead of installing it at 
                C:\Program Files\Dante' Productions\Electronic Assistant\
                install it at
                C:\EA25\

Problem: I need to copy Electronic Assistant from one computer to another.
Solution: DO the following:
                1. Visit the download page at http://www.danteproductions.com/ea/download.html
                2. For Electronic Assistant Professional, select "Yes" under more information.
                3. On the more information page, download the six individual files.
                4. Copy these files to disks. This is exactly what you would get on disks.

                You can install it at home by copying these files to your computer and extracting 
                the contents to one directory/folder using WinZip and selecting "Setup.exe".

                If you want you can copy your data files from the data directory
                C:\Program Files\Dante Productions\Electronic Assistant\
                to a disk and use it at home. You may use it by copying it over your files in your 
                home data directory.

Problem: When I want to enter date ANYWHERE in the EA, it gives me this error: 
                "12/12/1999 12:12:12 PM is not a valid date and time" What is going on?
Solution:  Check your "Regional Settings" in the control panel. Make sure the Date format
                 and time formats are compatable with what you are entering in Electronic 
                 Assistant. For example, you can change your format for the Date seperator or the 
                 kind of calander you are using.

Problem: I setup an alarm in ScheduleViewer and it didn't ring.
Solution: Try the following procedure for setting-up an alarm:
                1. In ScheduleViewer start TrayScheduler
                2. Click "New" and enter the Description and date/time. The DateTime
                must be in the format 9/28/1999 12:24:00 PM 
                3. Select "Save" to save it. You can optionally enter more information
                in the memo area.
                4. If the alarm button's titles does not read "Alarm On", click it so
                that it does.
                5. Wait for the alarm to sound.

Problem: I am having trouble starting EA Tools from Electronic Assistant.
Solution: You must first configure EA Tools to work with EA Lite.
                Do the following to accomplish this:
                Start EA Tools from the Windows Start menu
                Select the "Config" module
                Select the "File Locations" tab in the Config module
                Click the Folder button for Electronic Assistant Tools or enter the 
                location in text field.
                If you chose to use the folder button, navigate to the file "EATools.exe"
                Select it and click the "open" button.
                Now select the OK button on the buttom of the File Locations tab to 
                accept the change. 
                Your configuration is now complete.

Problem: My Mail and FTP or other module buttons are missing.
Solution: Check the Menu Format under the General Tab in the Options menu
                Make sure it's set to the most current style

Problem: I am exeriencing the error: '01/30/00 12.00AM' is not a valid date and time 
Solution: A patch now available on the patches page at 
               http://www.danteproductions.com/ea/download.html 
               fixes this problem.

Problem:  Printing of ToDo module leaves Subject, ToDo With, and Company fields
                 blank on printed form. 
Solution: A patch now available on the patches page at 
               http://www.danteproductions.com/ea/download.html 
               fixes this problem.

Problem:  Problem:  Printing of ToDo module leaves Subject, ToDo With, 
                 and Company fields blank on printed form. 
Solution: A patch now available on the patches page at 
               http://www.danteproductions.com/ea/download.html 
               fixes this problem.

Problem:  What is the maximum number of records Electronic Assistant will hold?
Solution: 2 Billion (yes, 2,000,000,000) 
 
 

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Dante' Productions
http://www.danteproductions.com/