Video Manuals (click here to choose a video)
Please post your comments
here
Tcal - Version 1.3.3 - FAQ
TcalServer
Q: Why Tcal ?
A: we made this calendar because every FileMaker Pro calendar shows the limits of the FileMaker or Access interface. With Tcal you can now have a functional graphic calendar to connect and modify your databases.
Q: Why not just a plug-in ?
A: A Plug-in usually records calendar data to the database, but does not allow flowing of data in the other direction: on the calendar we needed to show job and resource lists, so to be able to create events linked to them.
Q: When I start TcalServer, it launches FileMaker Pro 6 instead of the version 8
A: Tcalserver cannot detect if on your Mac you have both version of the FMP application (6 and 8). Just launch FMP8 before starting TcalServer.
Q: I’m having problems using FileMaker Pro 8 installed, with Tcalserver, on Mac OSX 10.5.5
A: Under OSX 10.5 you need to use FileMaker Pro v. 8.5 or superior (the problem is not of Tcalserver).
Q: I use TcalServer with FileMaker Pro under Windows, but I cannot make the two to work.
A: Tcalserver, as of now, cannot connect to FileMaker Pro under Windows. You must use a Macintosh or use Microsoft Access (in the Office package) or MySQL
Q: When I start TcalServer, there always is a window saying "database error".
A: One or more database field name is wrong. Compare field names and change the database accordingly.
Q: When I start Tcalserver, I get a message saying "the...xxx..file is not correct".
A: One or more then one database field name is wrong or is of the wrong type. Compare field names and change the database accordingly.
Q: When I start the demo databases, FileMaker Pro starts a script that modify the "events" file records.
A: This script is only used to update the records to the current date, in order to show events on the current week: You can delete the script.
Q: On the "events" database there is a "TheUpDate" field. What's his use for ?
A: When a user certifies a week, from the Tcal menu, all the week events created by the user get recorded on the Event_Register DB. This field is used to mark, in the Events DB, the registered events that have been added to the Event_Register DB: This field is used to mark, on the Events DB, the activities that have already been certified (added to the Events_register DB). 0= not certifiable (private events), 1= certifiable, 2= certified.
Q: What is that meaning, on the lower left of TcalServer, of the “Server Time Zone GMT +02:00”?
A: Tcal and Tcalserver can be installed on computers operating on different countries, with different Time Zones (You need of course to use a public IP number, fixed).
GMT +02:00 for example, means that TcalServer operates with a Date and Time difference of +2 hours and 00 minutes over the Greenwich Median Time. You can check the Tcal Time zone on the “Info” menu.
Q: Can I use, on FileMaker or Access or MySQL, a table name or fields name in the Events and Events_register database, different frome those of the Demo ?
A: NO. The data that Tcal records on the database are pretty much essential: dates, resources, categories,ecc. I don’t think there is a need to use different names.
For what concern the “List” table, it is a name like others. No need to change it (do not do it).
Tcal
Q: I have Tcal on the wrong language.
A: There is only one Tcal and Tcalserver version that, automatically switch to the system language and date and time format of the computer where they are installed (Italian and English only). If you need to change language or formats, you have to go to your system “Control panel” or “System preferences” and act accordingly.
Q: How can I export a weekly view over a HTML page ?
A: You cannot. You only can export monthly views (max 12 months). We did not think to be usefull the weekly export.
Q: How can I create a new Activity Event, starting from an hour already covered by another Event?
A: Command-click (Control on Windows) on the starting hour
Q: What is the difference between the 1,2 and 3 access levels?
A: At this time, 1 and 2 levels are equals (once implemented, the 1 level will allow TcalServer remote management). Levels 1 and 2, but not level 3, allow the creation of Events for different Tcal calendars or to modify the Event of another resource. With these levels you can see the complete log, too.
Q: What really happens when I certify a week on Tcal ?
A: first of all, you need to know that Tcal certify only activities with a related Job name and with the check mark “Certifiable”. So, no deadline or private events.
Beside locking the week, Tcal records on the Events_register database only the activities created by the user doing the certification. One record for each team member. On the Events database, there is a simple update of the “TheUpDate” field, from “1” to “2”.
Remember that you cannot certify an activity following the current day.
Q: How do I de-certify a week ?
A: The level 3 user cannot do it. Level 1 and 2 can just click on the “Certified” stamp. On this case, all the records of that week get erased from the Events_register database.
Connection and Tcal
Q: I started Tcalserver but the Tcal calendar cannot connect to it.
A: Check Tcal preferences: the IP number and port must be the IP number and port of the PC where you installed TcalServer. Check Tcalserver preferences for correct user data: name, password, IP number (where you installed Tcal) and access level. Check the Port number (TcalServer general preferences): must be available and not used by other application. Check the connection (Intranet or Internet)
Q: On the invitation and answer lists I do not see every recorded event
A: If the event is antecedent to today's date, event invitation will not be listed
Q: How do I add resources to an event ?
A: Tcal supports "drag and drop". Drag the resource over the event rectangle. Or double-click on the event and click on each resource you want to add (the "?" sign means that the resource has not yet confirmed)
Q: How do I modify a resource access level ?
A: On this version, to modify or add resources, you must do it on the TcalServer preferences.
Version history
Tcal Version 1.3.3 (october 2009)
- You can now use TcalServer with MySQL
- Certification now takes in account the fact that you may have activities spanning more then one day.
- While TcalServer is started, you can now add a resource while keeping all connected Tcal calendars up to date.
- The HTML export page takes now less screen space. There is no more a “subtitle” field.
Tcal Version 1.3.2 (october 2009)
- Activities (like deadlines) can span several days
- Both the creation and the editing of activities can now be done dragging the mouse up and down, left and right from the starting point
- We have solved the Time Zone bug, where calendars on different Time Zone were not synchronizing properly.IMPORTANT NOTE: for simplicity reasons, the different Time Zone is ignored for "Deadline" (all day events).
- Tcal now support the YYYY/MM/GG date format (as in French Canada...2009/9/25)
- On the Tcal preferences you can now chose wich text is shown on the rect of the events
- It is now possible to export any month view on a HTML page. This page can be exported on your disk or, trough FTP, to your web server.
- In order to create an activity on an hour covered by another activity, you can now command-click to create a new one
- Bugs clean-up