F.A.Q. Frequently asked questions

This page contains answers to common questions handled by our support staff, along with some tips and tricks that we have found useful and presented here as questions.

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Can this membership software database integrate with other databases?

Yes. There is ODBC support available. Other backend database engines are also available. We support MS-SQL, Oracle, mySQL, Pervasive, IBM-DB2, Dataflex. You can also to use the import/export functionality.

Further information on the database capabilities see http://www.dataaccess.com

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How can we go about designing our own reports?

A report query tool is integrated which allows you to design and save reports as queries. These reports can then be output as text, html etc.

Crystal report writer is supported. This gives you unlimited reporting capabilities. Crystal Reports is a product from Crystal decisions (Seagate software), and needs to be purchased separately. See http://www.crystaldecisions.com

The alternative is to have us write your unique report.
Note. It is unlikely you will need any other reporting

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I would like the Mouse wheel to scroll. How do I turn this on?

If the Wheel does not work then I would install a free Mouse Driver from:

http://lists.gpick.com/pages/Mouse~Keyboard_Tools.htm

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Can I have a copy of this database at home as well as work?

Yes. As long as it is the same database. i.e. contains the same records.

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How much do you charge for enhancements?

We hope there is no need for enhancements! Depending on the specifications, we may quote a fixed price or quote on time and materials. Generally any enhancements will go into the next version.

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Can I get telephone support?

Yes. We also provide a free Skype telephone service.

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Can I become a distributor?

If you have purchased a copy of this product and are confident in its use, have good communication skills and can offer support, email us for a distributor agreement.

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Is there integration with MYOB accounting?

Yes. The query tool or the export function will produce an ascii (text) file that can be read into MYOB. We also believe running a report on say subscriptions paid or just looking at the amount received in the activity screen, would give you enough information to manually post the accounting entry. Notice that an account code is available for use against an activity.

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What is the best way to incorporate multiple team types in one event?

If you wish to have two types of events incorporated together, lets say, a twelve hour event and a six hour event; when enrolling the teams into the activity just give them both an appropriate Team Status code. Set up the team Status codes first, for example, "6 hour" and "12 hour". All teams must then contain a valid Team Status code. When reporting the teams, choose the Status code to filter out the records, or leave blank to include both types of teams on the day.

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We need to keep track of committees and sub-committees, should we use Activities or Teams?

Either will do the job. I would set up the Activity (committee). Then set up the sub-committees and put in the Parent code of the committee. Now you can enrol the members of the main committee, and the sub-committee. When reporting, you can choose to select by Parent code to get all the committees associated with the main committee.

Another quicker method is to use the "other" checkbox and rename the label to "Committee". Then you can report out the commitee via the Committee option in the Member report.

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Can we make redesign data entry screens?

Yes. Most screens can be modified to suit the layout required for your organization. When first time installing choose the system settings that best describe your requirements. This can be changed at any time by the system administrator

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Is the source code for MASS available to purchase?

Yes. If a non-disclosure license is signed, along with a sum of money - price on application.

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How do we change the date format?

This is achieved through Windows Control Panel. MASS uses these settings.

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In the Activities Screen when I press the recalculator button (after importing the data) the number of concessions does not correspond to the actual number of concessional members in that activity.

The "recalculate" compares the amount in the enrolment screen with the full fee amount in the Activity Screen. If a match with a full fee is obtained the number of full fee enrolments is incremented, otherwise, if no match the concessional number will increase.

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In the Team Members Grid, after I changed (and saved) the amount of a team member, the change did not filter through to the enrolment screen.

This is the way it works. If an amount already exists in the enrolment screen it does not get updated with the team members amount. This allows you to keep two sets of records with different amounts.

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Mail merging to an email - how do I do this in Word 2003?"

Instructions for email to Work
1. Run the MASS Member reports/mail merge
2. Select the Document to merge as an Email document. eg. Member - Notice Email document. This example document has been set up with the email field as the email address for emailing.
3. When the Word document opens select from the Word (version 2003) Menu Tools-Letter & Mailing > Mail Merge
4. In the right hand panel in the Mail Merge wizard:
a. Click next. The document type should be email messages
b. Click next. Use the current document (Default)
c. Click next. Use an existing list (default)
d. Click next. Write your email message (it already exists, edit if neccessary)
e. Click next. Preview
f. Click on (Merge) Electronic Mail
g. Select the mail format. eg. Attachment, plain text, html, then click on OK
This send all the emails.

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When merging a document, sometimes I get an error "The server raised exception"

Make sure before you merge with Word, it is not already running. Some older versions of Word can cause this.

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How can we use the same merge document for merging with data from both enrolments and teams?

The Word merge document has a merge data file attached to it, which describes the fields it expects to see. You cannot mix and match documents. Make another copy of the document and set up the other data source.

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When I use Mail Merge to fax, it prints, instead of faxes. How can I overcome this problem?

Make sure the document has been set up to fax. Word must recognize the fax number, and it must exist. Use a naming convention for documents that reflect the documents usage.

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Why is the age in the Team members different than the Members age?

The age in the Team members is based on the Activity/event start date, if a start date was supplied, not today's date.

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Is there a WEB version of MASS?

A WEB version of MASS is available and can integrate directly with the Windows MASS database. 2 solutions are available. Use MASS on-line as is or we can supply a customized Web version.The cost of the Web application Server and the tailoring to integrate this into your WEB site adds acost. Price on application.

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We are an Orienteering and Rogaining club. Do you support team entries and scores?

Yes we do. We have a purpose build Team module that handles that. This has been extensively tested and used by the Victorian Rogaining Association.

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We require to print out Barcodes on our membership cards. How do we go about that?

A Barcode font is required to be installed in Windows. This barcode can then be chosen in say a Word document. A free barcode font, Barcode39, can be obtained from http://www.idautomation.com/fonts/free/. Use our template Cards.doc in the Docs folder as an example. Alternatively, we can customize our inbuilt membership cards to include a barcode. If using the Barcode39 font it must be begin and end with a “*” (either side of the member number).

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We require to print out Member Cards. How do we go about that?

We have 2 options for printing Member cards. The professional version has an in-build member card facility, which prints to a pre-defined format. Alternatively you can do a mail merge to Word to any designed Member card. We provide templates for this.
Card printers can be purchased to suit your requirements, or the merge list of members can be sent to a 3rd party for printing. Some card printers are Zebra P110, P211. These print plasic cards with photos.

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We are a large organisation with 50 operators, what is the best configuration to purchase?

For that configuration we would suggest purchasing either the client-server for Pervasive-SQL, Microsoft SQL or mySQL. We will need to get the latest pricing for you, as it involves purchasing licenses from Pervasive or Microsoft; unless you already own a license.