Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Is PatchPro available for purchase?
A. No. PatchPro is scheduled for release shortly. Please check to our website for details. Also, if you will send us an email with your contact information, you will be contacted directly with purchase information when the program is available.
Q. What operating systems is PatchPro compatible with?
A. PatchPro is currently compatible with all 32-bit versions of Microsoft Windows (95, 98, Me, NT, 2000, and XP) and Apple Macintosh OS (8.1 or later) and OS X (10.0.4 or later). The system was developed on a Windows platform. Future features will include compatibility with Palm OS (for PDAs) and Linux.
Q. What are the minimum system requirements?
A. Beyond the operating system compatibility shown above, PatchPro will run on legacy Windows computers such as a Pentium I with at least 32Mb of RAM. Screen layouts were created for displays of 800x600 resolution or higher. The minimum requirements for Macintosh OS is a Power Macintosh (or later) with 32Mb of RAM. Macintosh OS X requires an Apple G3 or higher with at least 128Mb of RAM. Obviously, your actual performance will improve with faster equipment with greater memory.
Q. What are the differences between the Collector and Dealer editions of PatchPro?
A. The essential features of both editions are the same. The Dealer Edition will also feature modules for Invoicing and Accounts Receivable, as well as additional fields and screens in Contacts. The Dealer Edition will include reports for publishing sales lists (both printed and Web). The Dealer Edition is intended for users that not only collect, but also buy and sell items, and want to maintain control over those transactions. Users of the Collector Edition can upgrade to the Dealer Edition at any time by paying the difference between the 2 editions. All data from the Collector Edition will be imported into the Dealer Edition.
Q. Can I use my PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) with PatchPro?
A. As mentioned above, support for synchronization with PDAs running Palm OS is under development. As of this time, Windows CE (also known as Windows Pocket PC) is under development with our database publisher, and hopefully will be compatible by next year.
Q. Can PatchPro be used on a network?
A. Yes, the software will run from a remote location, such a file server or NAS (Network Attached Storage), but the program is single user (meaning only one user at a time). With sufficient demand, a multi-user version of PatchPro will be made available.
Q. Why can't I use AOL with PatchPro?
A. The problem is with AOL (America On-Line). We are not aware of any other Internet provider that is as proprietary and closed as AOL. Standard Internet providers support POP email from within applications (such as PatchPro). PatchPro is also capable of launching your Microsoft Internet Explorer or NetScape browsers to directly connect with web sites. AOL users will find that many of the Internet features of PatchPro are non-functional.
Q. Can I import my existing data into PatchPro?
A. Yes, PatchPro can import from other programs. PatchPro can import from programs such as Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Access (through ODBC), Lotus 1-2-3, dBase (and other .dbf file format databases), and other programs supporting DIF or SYLK file formats. PatchPro can also import comma or tab delimited text files.
Q. On the same track, can I export PatchPro data into other programs?
A. Yes, PatchPro can also export to other programs. The exportable files type are those listed above, with the addition of HTML tables.
Q. What type of graphic files can I use with PatchPro?
A. PatchPro supports a wide variety of bitmap file types, the most common being JPG, GIF, TIF, and BMP. We scan images at 150 dpi and use the JPG format.
Q. Will PatchPro come with any existing data?
A. Yes, PatchPro will ship with Order of the Arrow data from the 2002 Edition of The Blue Book. The following modules will include pre-loaded data: Councils, OA Lodges, Jamborees, and NOACs.