COMPUTER LOCK-UPS
It is usually the computer

Computers produced by some major manufacturers do not use conventional hardware configurations, and do not use the standard version of Microsoft Windows. Instead they use custom "branded" versions of Windows modified to compliment their own hardware configurations. 

These computers can be unreliable when running software dependent on conventional com port processing. Toye Corporation software relies on documented com port conventions, and may not run properly on computers that do not observe these conventions. 

Computers know to have reliability issues are: Compaq, HP, and Dell. Other PC's running a "branded" version of Windows may also be problematic. 

We have been told, but have not verified it, that the problem can often be corrected by erasing the hard drive and installing the standard Microsoft version of Windows. 

For new systems, we strongly recommend using a generic PC that uses the standard version of Windows. We have tested one such machine (ETOWER 600ID) for a large Toye dealer having lock up problems with name brand PC's. Using a special bus of Command Modules, we transmitted card, alarm, and space count events at the rate of 36 per second around the clock for 5 days, or a total of more than 15 million transactions with no problems. The full version of Access Central and the Real-Time Transaction window was also running. 

Compaq Serial Port Problems
For some inexplicable reason, all new Compaq computers come with a PS/2 mouse, but have Logitech mouse software configured for com 1.  Toye Corporation software will not run on com 1 if other software is already registered to it. To solve the problem, uninstall the Logitech software and use the built-in Windows Mouse software. 

REPORT MANAGER REFRESH PROBLEMS
We have also been informed by Microsoft's Developer Unit that Access 2000 has been modified so that it will not import files using the extension DTA.  This modification was made because it is possible to hide a virus using a DTA extension, so now any imported text file must use a TXT extension. Our log file uses a DTA extension, so we've modified it to import as a TXT file. 

If you are having a "refresh" problem with Report Manager, and you are using Access 2000, you need to download a new Report Manager which has been modified to conform to the NEW Access 2000 import rules. 

CLICK BELOW TO GO TO OUR CATALOGS PAGE, AND SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM. UNZIP THE FILE IN YOUR TC85DIR SUB DIRECTORY. 

CLICK HERE: http://www.toyecorp.com/toye/catalogs.html 

AOL USERS CLICK HERE:  <A HREF="http://www.toyecorp.com/toye/catalogs.html">Data Sheet Page</A> 
 

Optimizing your PC

You can take steps to optimize your PC forcing it to behave in favor of your access control program so that sufficient resources are available at all times to insure stable operation. 

To optimize your PC for Access Control, go thorough all the steps below remembering to to hit the "apply" and OK buttons as you make the changes. 

1. Interaction With Other Programs
Disable screen savers, active virus scan programs, and all other background programs. 

2. Power Management
Make sure all Power Management schemes are turned off. Check the setting not only in Windows, but in the computers CMOS settings. 

3.  Device Manager
Make sure no other programs known to Windows are configured to use Com 1 
Change the default setting to match those illustrated below. 

Be sure the Receive Buffer is high and the send buffer is lower. 

4. Background Program
A: If you have the Task Tray background program that runs with a small icon in your Task Tray (not your Task Bar), download the zip file below, unzip it,  and place it in your c:\tc85dir sub directory: start.zip
B: If you are using the DOS Shell Program ACCESS-Online that appears on your Windows Task Bar, you must change the properties by right mouse clicking pc.bat shortcut icon (not the pc.bat DOS batchfile). 

If your computer loads ACCESS-ONLINE automatically when booted, you need to change the pc.bat shortcut located in your Windows StartUp sub directory 
C:\WINDOWS\Start Menu\Programs\StartUp 
If you might be launching ACCESS-ONLINE from pc.bat shortcut located on your Desktop, or in your TC85Dir Sub directory, change them too. 
 

Right click the PC.Bat shortcut , and make sure your settings match the graphic below. 

Be sure to uncheck the Alt shortcut keys and Always suspend. These only affect this program, and will not affect other Windows programs. 

Use these settings 

Be sure to uncheck Dynamic memory allocation. 

5. Config.sys file
Run sysedit to edit the config.sys file. Add the command line: 

stacks= 64,512 

6.  High Traffic Times
It is always a good idea to turn off all programs you are not currently using (Except the Access-ONLINE background program) at night or during extremely high traffic periods. 

7. Windows xp Settings
The following are the optimal configuration settings when using the Windows XP operating system with Access Central:

 The Toye software is started with a batch file called PC.BAT.  When running DOS programs (including batch files) in Windows, all the configuration options for how Windows will run a DOS program are set in a program initialization file (i.e.. a PIF file).
 

One setting that impacts the Toye software the most is the “Idle Sensitivity”.  This is set in Windows XP on the “Misc” tab of the Properties window of the PIF file.  There are 2 situations to consider:
1)       The “Idle Sensitivity” should be set to the lowest setting for a network connected XP computer that is dedicated to only running the Toye software and the Toye Access Central software is running on a different computer connected to the same network.

2)       If the XP computer is to be used to also run other programs (Word, Excel, etc.) OR if the XP computer is to be used to also run the Toye Access Central software (MS Access based) then the “Idle Sensitivity” should be set to almost the highest setting, but not the very highest.  Usually somewhere in the 2,3, or 4 notches of the slider from the highest setting will work well.

3)  It is recommended that other programs not be run on the PC running the access control system, since some programs, have been shown to run slowly and be unstable when Toye software is running concurrently on a Windows XP machine. If the PC must be used for other purposes besides the access control system, a Network Controller should be added to the system.