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Univers FAQ File

1. I added a new workstation to the network, and I duplicated the Univers shortcut and user folder from another
workstation exactly. I checked all of my DATA and EXE paths, and they are correct, but when I try to start Univers,
I get a message that says: "No U000V000 found."
What am I doing wrong?

You don't have enough available "Low" or "Conventional" memory free for use by DOS. For a detailed explanation
of how to increase your DOS "Environment" space, see the answer to question 6, or click HERE.

2. When I try to start Univers on one of our network stations, the logo screen comes up normally,
but before the program starts, I get an error message that says: "VERSION IS MISSING."
What's wrong?

This message indicates that the Univers directory on the network server is not properly "mapped" to the workstation.
Using Windows Explorer, click on "Tools" at the top of the screen and select "Map Network Drive." Set the drive
letter to "I:" and point the path to the folder where Univers is installed on the network server. Be sure to check the box
that says "Re-Connect at Log-on." ( Note: ANY drive letter may be used, so long as the Data and Executable paths
defined in the "univers.ini" and "splash.ini" files within the local Univers users folder are changed to match. These paths must
be uniform for ALL users on the network, i.e.: ALL drives mapped on ALL machines must utilize the SAME LETTER
as the drive letter assigned within ALL of the "splash.ini" and "univers.ini." files on the network.
Click HERE to see typical examples of these .INI files

3. When I try to start Univers on one of our network stations, the logo screen comes up normally, but before the
program starts, I get an error message that says: "SPLASH.INI file is missing." Why?

There are two possible scenarios that could lead to this error message being displayed. The first would be that
the shortcut used to start Univers is not configured with the correct "Start In" parameter. Right-click the shortcut,
select "Properties" from the drop-down menu, and be sure the second line labeled "Start In" is pathed to the user
folder for Univers, typically c:\univers or c:\75_User. The second possibility is that one or more files are missing
from this folder. There are three files that must be present in the Univers user folder on the local workstation.
These files are named "SPLASH.INI" , "UNIVERS.INI" and "PRINTER.DEF." The files may be found
in the folder on the network server that is named for the current project. Copy all three files into the Univers user
folder of each workstation on the network that will be used to access the Univers database. If any of them are
missing, you will get an error message stating that the file is missing.

4. Sometimes when I'm entering data into the program, it just stops taking information
and I can't do anything anymore. What's going on?

Although this complaint could be the result of many different conditions, one of the most common causes is the
presence of a "hidden" window. This situation can happen if you accidentally hit the "Enter" key or click on the
"Query" button before the program is ready for your input. What is happening here is that there is a pop-up
window behind the screen that you are currently entering data into asking: "Save Parcel, Yes / No?" Click and
hold the bar at the top of the main Univers window and drag it down toward the task bar so that you can see
the hidden window that is behind it. Click one of the buttons in the pop-up window, either "Yes" to save the
current parcel's data or "No" if you don't want to save it. Program operation should then continue normally.

5. We have Landisc® installed and some of the photos loaded in, so why doesn't the photograph of the
dwelling come up when I go into the "Profile" screen?

Assuming that a corresponding photo is known to exist within the Landisc® database, and it has been correctly
imported to a record with the identical primary key (typically the Parcel ID number), then check the data path.
There is a file named "SYSTEM.INI" in the folder named "EXE_74B" (Note: may be named "EXE_74c"
or "75c_EXE" or something similar, depending on your particular version of Univers.) This folder is located
within the main folder on the network server that is named for the current project. Open this file with a text editor
such as the Windows Notepad or WordPad program. Look for the section that reads:

[PROFILE]
PHOTO_INDEX=
PHOTO_DIR=
PHOTO_DBASE=

PHOTO_INDEX should be set to the item number on Card 1 that you wish to sort the Landisc® photos by.
This is typically Item 2 ( Parcel ID ), Item 19 ( Routing Number ) or Item 26 ( Account Number).

Example: PHOTO_INDEX=2

PHOTO_DIR should point out the path to the sub folder on the mapped network drive that contains the
Landisc photo database.

Example: PHOTO_DIR=P:\PROJECT_NAME\

NOTE: The trailing backslash after the project folder MUST BE PRESENT
or else the photo pop-up will not work.

PHOTO_DBASE should point to the actual filename of the Landisc database.

Example: PHOTO_DBASE=PROJECT_NAME.DBF

6. We added another Windows workstation to our network.
How do we set it up so that Univers will run on it?

The first thing you should do is ensure that the machine has as much free conventional DOS memory
as possible, since only the first 640K of your system's total memory is usable by DOS. With DOS
Version 5.0 or later, memory usage may be displayed by entering the command MEM /C|MORE
from a DOS command prompt. (The character between C and MORE is a "pipe" or elongated colon,
usually found above the backslash key on most keyboards.)

Modify your CONFIG.SYS file to load DOS into high memory using the command DOS=HIGH.
Eliminate any non-essential programs or devices from the configuration, and if possible, load any
remaining devices into the high memory area by utilizing the DEVICEHIGH command. See your
DOS manual for more details on freeing up low or "conventional" memory.

INCREASING THE DOS ENVIRONMENT SPACE

In order to successfully operate Univers, on many PC's it may be necessary to expand the system's
DOS environment space by invoking the "shell" command. The method for doing this varies, and
depends on your version of Windows. Refer to the appropriate section below.

For Windows 3.x, 95, 98, this is done by adding a few lines of code to the CONFIG.SYS
startup file, which is located in the root of C: drive. The syntax is:
shell=c:\command.com /e:2048 /p
device=c:\windows\himem.sys
device=c:\windows\emm386.exe noems

For Windows NT, the shell command is invoked from within the "CONFIG.NT" file.
This file is located in the WINNT\SYSTEM32 folder. The syntax is:
shell=%SystemRoot%\System32\command.com /e:2048 /p

Next, create a directory or folder located in the root of the c: drive named Univers or User.

Using Windows Explorer, select "Map Network Drive" from the "Tools" menu at the top
of the screen and map a drive with the letter I: to the folder on the network server that contains
the sub-folder which is named for the current project. ( Note: ANY drive letter may be used,
so long as the Data and Executable paths defined in the "univers.ini" and "splash.ini" files within the
local Univers users folder are changed to match. These paths must be uniform for ALL users
on the network, i.e.: ALL drives mapped on ALL machines must utilize the SAME LETTER
as the drive letter assigned within ALL of the "splash.ini" and "univers.ini." files on the network.

If you are also using Visual Landisc and wish to use the Profile photo pop-up feature, map
a second drive to the folder on the network server that contains the Landisc project database.

Click on your newly-mapped I: drive and open the folder within it that is named for the current project.
Here you will find three files named SPLASH.INI , UNIVERS.INI and PRINTER.DEF.
Copy these three files into the UNIVERS or USER folder on the new workstation.
(Note: the DATA and EXE paths within these files must agree with the location of the Univers DAT
and EXE folders on the server, and with all of the other Univers workstations on the network. Below is
an example of a typical "univers.ini" file and a typical "splash.ini" file. The portions shown in blue must
agree with the data path to your server where Univers is installed.

Contents of typical UNIVERS.INI file:

*****************************************
UNIVERS.INI
*****************************************

[SYSTEM]
VERSION=7.40

[GENERAL]
USER_NAME=Carbon, PA
USER_EXT=.USR
EXE_PATH=I:\CARBON\EXE_74B\ <-- ( Path must point to your server's EXE folder)
DATA_PATH=I:\CARBON\DAT\ <-- (Path must point to your server's DAT or USER folder)
INIT_UPPER_CASE=YES
SYSTEM_TYPE=GUI
IPTE_SKETCH_TYPE=GUI
IPTE_ESC_KEY=YES
VERSION=7.40

[COLOR]
DEFAULT_SET=STANDARD

[DEBUG]
USER_PATH_DISPLAY=YES
TRACE=OFF

****************************************

Contents of typical SPLASH.INI file:

****************************************
SPLASH.INI
****************************************

EPATH=I:\CARBON\EXE_74B\ <-- (Path must point to your server's EXE folder)

****************************************

Lastly, make a shortcut on your desktop pointing to the file named SPLASH.EXE, which is located in
the folder on your server that contains the Universe .EXE files. When the shortcut is done, right-click
on it and select "Properties." In the window that opens, look for the window-slot labeled "Start In:"
and type in the path to the Univers folder on the new workstation, usually C:\UNIVERS or C:\USER.

7. Our printer is a stand-alone network printer with a built-in print server (such as the Hewlett-Packard
Jet-Direct series). It is capable of stand-alone operation on a network without being connected to a
computer at all. I can print fine from any of our Windows applications but Univers will not print anything.
Why?

Some stand-alone network printers are not capable of interpreting DOS print commands over a network.
If possible, locate the printer near your server or one of the workstations and connect it to the parallel port
with a parallel printer cable. Then share the printer on the network through that workstation. For Windows
95/98, you must also go into the "Details" section of the printer "Properties" at each workstation and
"Capture" the printer port. Univers should then print documents normally.

The Windows NT operating system does not use printer port "capturing" for DOS applications. To assign
LPT1 to a shared or network printer, you must invoke the NET USE command, which is typically done
from within the "autoexec.nt" file, located in the WINNT\SYSTEM32 folder. For a shared printer attached
directly to a parallel port of a network workstation, the syntax is:

NET USE LPT1 \\SERVER_NAME\PRINTER_NAME /PERSISTENT:YES

Where SERVER_NAME is the network identifier for the computer to which the shared printer is directly
attached, and PRINTER_NAME is the network share name of the printer attached to that computer.

For an independent stand-alone network printer (such as an HP 4M; HP 4L; or HP 8100) the syntax is:

NET USE LPT1 \\PRINTER_NAME /PERSISTENT:YES

Should it become necessary to release the port from control by NET USE, the syntax is:

NET USE LPT1 /DEL

8. Sometimes when I'm in the middle of running off a batch of property record cards, the printer will all
of a sudden just start printing things sideways or printing PRC's on 2 separate pages instead of one.
If I stop the batch and start again where it messed up, everything is fine for awhile, then it messes up again.
What's going on?

When running off a batch of documents that must be sorted from the database through a Selection Filter,
there can sometimes be a considerable time lag in sending the data for individual records to the printer.
Since the Univers program only sends print formatting instructions to the printer once for a given batch of
documents, in large databases the time between finding records may exceed the default "time-out" setting for the
printer, and the printer is reverting back to it's default document configuration. Right-click the printer's icon
and go into the device properties for the printer. Increase the "not selected" time-out setting on the "details"
tab in one minute increments until the problem no longer occurs.

9. When we enter a Vacant parcel, the next time we call up that parcel from the database, all of the data
entered on the land screen is gone. What happened to it?

If you enter the land data and then immediately assign a Routing Number to the parcel without first going
to any other screen, the land data will indeed be lost. You must first change to another screen, such as the
Owner / Values screen before you assign a routing number to the parcel. The program will then "register"
that data has been entered on that screen and save it along with the other parcel info when you assign the
Routing Number.

10. If we enter a Mobile Home, the next time we call up that parcel from the database, all of the data entered
on the Outbuildings screen is gone. Where did it go?

Like the previous question regarding Vacant parcels, if you enter data into the Outbuildings screen and
proceed directly to assigning a Routing Number without first going to any other screen, the Outbuilding
data will be lost. You must first switch to another screen such as the Owner / Values screen before you
assign the Routing Number so that the program "registers" the new data and saves it along with the other
parcel data.

11. I changed a dwelling's Story Height from 1 to 1.5 on a parcel and re-calculated it, but the Building Value
didn't change. What's going on?

Because of the way Univers is structured, you must enter the "Sketch" screen and click the "Re-Draw" button
after changing the Story Height data so that the increase in Total Living Area is recognized by the program,
and subsequently reflected in the new Building Value after recalculation.

12. Sometimes when I am drawing a sketch with the mouse, I find that I can no longer draw anything and I get
an error message that says: "I/O Error 32 - List Index Out Of Bounds." Is there a way to recover from this?

When this occurs, click on the Vector string data twice so that only the text is highlighted, not the entire text slot.
Then hit the delete key to remove the vector information from the screen. Do the same for each description code
to the right of the vector string, if present. You should then be able to change to one of the other Univers screens
and then return to the sketch screen to resume drawing.