NM Gun Collector Software
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Frequently Asked Questions
(FAQ)
Contents
On-line Help and Feature Reference
Feature Questions (quick answers in red)
2) Can I use NM Gun Collector Software on more than one PC (like my desktop and my notebook)? - Yes for individuals - No for Businesses!
3) Must I register NM Gun Collector Software? - No - unless you want support.
4) Does NM Gun Collector Software access the internet itself or require internet access? - No - unless you click a link to an external web site or wish to download an upgrade.
5) Does NM Gun Collector Software contain a database of gun values? - No - but you are free to enter whatever value from whatever source that you determine is the best. It then tracks the value you entered.
6) What features of NM Gun Collector Software help me manage a large firearm collection? - The Criteria button on the Statistics tab.
7) How do I store accessories in NM Gun Collector Software? - Use the "Accesory" flag and "Accessories" button.
8) What advice do you have for capturing pictures?
9) How do you Cut and Paste text in Windows? - CTRL C and CTRL V
10) How do I use DataSheets in NM Gun Collector Software? - Use the "Data Sheets" button
11) How do I migrate my data from Excel to NM Gun Collector Software? - use the built in import functionality
12) How do I share data with others? - use the built in export functionality
13) How do I backup my data? - save your pictures and the nmgcsw.mdb file to a safe location
14) How do I transfer NM Gun Collector Software to a new computer without having to reenter all of my data? - you should never have to re-enter your data!
15) How do I get ATF approval to use NM Gun Collector in place of my bound book? - request a variance. It's not hard and many collectors have done it.
16) Do you recommend your program for ATF record keeping for a commercial application? - No. Due to high volumes of commercial applications database limitations may be exceeded.
17) I already have an inventory system with nice brass tags containing an inventory number for each of my firearms. I want to upgrade to NM Gun Collector but I do not want to replace my tags. How do I use my existing Inventory Numbers in NM Gun Collector? - Use the Custom Tag field.
18) How do I make a "picture" report that will stand on its own if opened on a PC without NM Collector on it? - Use the Report Wizard to generate an HTML Report
19) How do I install NM Gun Collector Software on a removable Memory Card for maximum security and privacy? - Use these Instructions
Troubleshooting Questions2) run-time error 430 class does not support automation
3) Error 429 ... Activex component can't create object
4) CD will not start installation automatically
5) I lost a seqKey and I want it back!
6) How do I transfer NM Gun Collector and my data to a new computer?
7) How do I resolve Windows Vista Installation problems?
Answers to Feature Questions
NM Gun Collector was designed
with ease of use through flexibility and graded rigor in mind. Simple
operations are easy to accomplish without instruction. More complex
operations
may require some review of the help files. An example of a feature that
make
this software easier to use than others packages available is the
ability to
easily add values to any drop down list simply by typing the new value
in the
field. The software then remembers the field so that it will appear the
next
time the drop down list is used so you never have to type it again. The
software also allows you to edit drop down lists in case you need to
correct an
entry. On-line help is easily available for more complicated operations
and, in
addition, free email support is always available.
Back
to contents
2)
Can I use NM Gun
Collector Software on more than one PC (like my desktop and my
notebook)?
Originally, NM Gun Collector Software
was licensed per individual to use on any number of machines that they
owned.
However, as it began to be used by large companies and government
agencies, the
license agreement was changed to one license per machine.
However, as a courtesy to my fellow collectors, I give any
individual (not
business or government agency) permission to install this software on
their
desktop and their notebook computer. This facilitates their use of the
software
and I want to make life as easy for individual collectors as possible.
Back
to contents
3)
Must I register NM
Gun Collector Software?
You can use the software
without registering it. However, in order to provide the best support
possible
I must limit my support efforts to those who have registered with me.
Anybody
who purchases directly from me (through Amazon.com or my on-line store)
I have
a record of your purchase so you do not need to send in the
registration form.
I will also support those who are evaluating the software.
Back
to contents
4)
Does NM Gun
Collector Software access the internet itself or require internet
access?
NM Gun Collector
Software does
not require access to the internet nor does it access the internet. The
only
exception to this general rule is the html links that are incorporated
into the
software. If you as the user choose to click one of these links then
and only
then will NM Gun Collector Software access the internet and then only
to bring
up the page associated with the link you click. If you have doubts I
recommend
that you use Zone Alarm or some other reputable network monitoring
software to
verify this claim.
NM Gun Collector
Software does
not contain a database of gun values. Gun values are notoriously hard
to
determine and even established books of gun values can be way off.
However, you
can enter whatever value your firearm is appraised at as well as the
source of
the appraisal and it will be tracked with the firearm. Also, there is a
project
underway to put together a community market-based database of gun
values but
that project requires input from gun experts that has not yet been
obtained. If
you wish to contribute please visit the nmCollector.net On-Line
Gun
Identification and Value Database Project.
The Criteria button
on the
Statistics tab was designed for people who have large collections that
want
some way to filter and sort through them. You can use this
functionality to
sort by many different characteristics of your firearms collection.
In addition, you can use the "Filter By:" criteria to only display
certain firearms. So, for example, you could enter a "Filter By:"
criteria of "manufacturer = Colt" to display only the Colts in your
collection.
Keep in mind that while looking at items in the statistics tab, you can
easily
go to the current item's Pictures, Description, Receipt, or Disposition
by
selecting which of the tabs you want to go to (under the "Go To Item"
header) and then click the "Go" button.
As a side note, you can double click in the left-most column for the
row of the
firearm that you want to go to and the software will take you to the
tab specified
under the "Go To Item" header.
I have captured
pictures in a
variety of ways but the biggest issue (especially if the pictures will
end up
on the web) is getting enough resolution without creating too big of a
picture
file (too big of a picture file results in very slow downloads from the
web).
You can see some examples of the same picture with different levels of
resolution (thus different file sizes) at:
http://www.nmcollector.us/images/testResolution/
Therefore, I try to capture the pictures with as high of a resolution
as I can
and then use picture compression software to reduce the size of the
picture
file.
I used to use a standard video camera hooked up to a hauppenpauge WinTV
card to
capture the images. Then I would process the images through Adobe
Photoshop
Home Edition to reduce the size of the images.
Recently I purchased a 3 megapixel digital camera and set the image
capture
mode to email. This automatically captures the images at a resolution
no greater
than necessary. I then use Image Expert 2000 Premium Dell Edition
(which came
with my new computer that my old Adobe Photoshop will not run on) to
compress
the images a little farther. I have noticed that when using this
message I can
actually see a decrease in quality if I compress the image too much.
I hope this helps.
2) Press and hold CTRL then press the "c" key to copy the highlighted text.
3) Go to the Notes section of the Description tab of NMGCSW and click once. Then press and hold CTRL then press the "p" key to paste the copied text to the cursor location.
You can use this method in any Windows application (including Excel and
Word).
Please note that sometimes the copied text will not paste into the
application
that you are pasting into if that application was not running at the
time you
did the copy. I have run into this before when trying to paste things
into
Word.
Try it out and let me know what you think!
10) How can one use
DataSheets in NM Gun Collector Software?
You can use the "DataSheets" button to create
and manage data sheets as well as associating any data sheet with a
firearm.
Here is a sample Data Sheet you might wish to use (based on
Scott Duff's ... thanks to a fellow C&R Collector for providing it)
...
M1 Garand Rifle
Data Sheet
MANUFACTURER:
SERIAL NUMBER:
Date Manufactured
RECEIVER
Drawing Number:
Heat Lot:
BARREL MARKINGS
Side:
Top:
BOLT
Drawing Number:
Heat Lot:
OPERATING ROD:
TRIGGER HOUSING GROUP
Trigger Housing:
Trigger Guard:
Hammer:
Hammer Spring Guide:
Safety:
Trigger:
OPERATING PARTS
Bullet Guide:
Clip Latch:
Follower Assembly:
Follower Arm:
Follower Rod
Operating Rod Catch:
GAS SYSTEM
Gas Cylinder:
Gas Cylinder Lock:
Gas Cylinder Lock Screw:
SIGHTS
Front Sight:
Rear Sight Pinion:
Elevation Cap/Knob:
Windage Knob:
Rear Sight Nut:
STOCK & HARDWARE
Stock:
Stock Ferrule:
Lower Band:
Rear Hand Guard:
Rear Hand Guard Clip:
Top Hand Guard:
Here are the steps
required to
migrate data from Excel to NMGCSW. You may not be able to migrate all
of your
data but you should be able to get most of it.
To make life easier for those of you who have used Excel and conformed
to the
C&R formatting requirements, I created a couple of data formats to
facilitate migration to NMGCSW. One is "BoundBookFirearm" to migrate
the firearm data and the other is "BoundBookPerson" to migrate the
person data.
It has been a while since I have worked with Excel but I believe it
provides a
lot of flexibility in allowing you to export selected data using a
delimiter
(Field Separator) of your choice. If not, I allow you to select the
delimiter
from within my own software. However, you will have to make sure the
fields are
in a specified order and format.
A good way to determine the data required by NMGCSW is to export from
NMGCSW in
order to understand the fields required for import. The export will
have the
same fields and formatting that will be used for importing.
For example, when I use NMGCSW to export "BoundBookFirearm" data I
get the following result in the .txt file that I specify (I deleted all
but one
line of the actual data):
Manufacturer;Importer;Model;Serial Number;Type;Cal Or Gauge;Receipt
Date;Dispostion Date
Savage;C.A.I. St. Alb. VT.;No. IV Mk. 1;9C6749;Bolt-Action Rifle;.303
British;1/18/2000 3:04:42 PM;
You will note that NMGCSW first exports the field names and then
exports the
corresponding data. In this case, the words "Manufacturer" to
"Disposition Date" are the field names. The ; is the separator that I
used for the export. The characters "Savage" through ".303
British" are the actual data. Although not shown here, one (1) and zero
(0) correspond to TRUE and FALSE. The final ; at the end of the data
line means
that there is no value associated with the "Disposition Date" field.
Whenever data is missing, there will be no value between the field
separators
(; in this case) so you will see two or more adjacent field separators
when
there is no data for certain fields.
So, in this case, you will need to export your firearms data from Excel
in the
above format. Keep in mind that when you are actually importing data to
NMGCSW,
DO NOT INCLUDE THE FIELD NAMES. Simply start with the data.
For example, a .txt file consisting of the following data will
successfully
import into the NMGCSW database when you select import BoundBookFirearm:
New Item1;;;;;;;
New Item2;;;;;;;
New Item3;;;;;;;
New Item4;;;;;;;
New Item5;;;;;;;
New Item6;;;;;;;
New Item7;;;;;;;
New Item8;;;;;;;
New Item9;;;;;;;
In this case, no data was provided for any field other than
Manufacturer. You
will of course want to populate each data position with your actual
data from
Excel.
The same method can be used to determine the fields and format required
for
BoundBookPerson or any other NMGCSW data. Here is the list of fields
exported
under BoundBookPerson (again, using a ; as the delimiter):
Last Name;First Name;Middle Initial;Business
Name;Street1;Street2;City;State;Zip;Country;License Number;Non Licensee
ID;Non
Licensee DOB;Alien Residency Documentation
When using BoundBookFirearm and BoundBookPerson to migrate your data,
you will
still have to make the connections between the firearms and the persons
within
the software by stepping through the receipt and disposition processes.
At
least you won't have to reenter the data.
I tried to design the software to be easy to use but some things just
aren't
easy no matter how hard I try. This is one of them. Hopefully the above
explanation and examples will help.
Due
to the unique design of my software, I not only allow you to add your
own
values to the drop down lists, I allow you to share these values with
others.
Let's say you've added a whole new batch of values to the "Caliber or
Gauge"
drop down list and you want to share these values with your friend.
Here is how to do it.
1) Go to
Utilities->Database
2) Select "Export Data to a text (.txt) file"
3) Select a location and filename to store the data to. Feel free to
use the
defaults provided for you.
4) Click the "Save" button or hit return to confirm your storage
location choice.
5) Click the "Export" button to export the data.
6) Send the exported text file to your friend. Make sure to tell them
what
character you used for the delimiter (; is probably one of the best
unless it
is used in the data that you exported of course).
7) Have them go to Utilities->Database
8) Have them select "Import Data from a text (.txt) file"
3) Have them Select the file that you sent to them.
4) Have them click the "Save" button or hit return to confirm your
storage location choice.
5) Have them click the "Import" button to bring the data into their
database.
Please note, they may have to stop and restart NM Gun Collector
Software in
order to see the data updates.
Has anybody taken extensive notes (say manufacturer descriptions using
the
"List Edits" tab) that they would like to share with us? If so, now
you know how to share all of that interesting information with the rest
of us!
Backing up your
data is a
simple process of copying the nmgcsw.mdb file from the installation
directory
(the default installation directory is C:\Program Files\nmCollector)and
your
picture files (in a way that they can be restored to their original
locations)
to another (presumably safe) location. This can be another hard drive
somewhere, a CD, a zip drive, or whatever storage devices your system
uses for
backup.
NOTE: if you write
the files to CD they may be read only after you transfer
them to the new computer. This happens because CDs are read only. If
this
occurs you will get an error message () when running NM Gun Collector
on the
new computer. You must change the database files to readable as follows:
a. Using Windows
Explorer
navigate the installation directory on the new computer (Default is
C:\Program
Files\nmCollector)
b. Right click on the .mdb files and select Properties from the pop up
menu.
c. Uncheck the "Read Only" box and exit from the properties window.
I provide a database utility to facilitate the backup and recovery of
the
database for you.
You
should NEVER have to retype your data with NM Gun Collector Software.
You will
need to complete two steps to get NM Gun Collector Software up and
running on
the new machine with your data. The first step is to install the
software on
the new machine. Then you transfer your database and pictures to the
new
machine. I am assuming that you have already installed the software on
your new
machine.
Restore all of your picture files to their original locations. The
database
stores paths to the pictures not the pictures themselves.
There are two ways to do the database transfer.
1) Manually copy
the .mdb files
from the installation directory on the old computer to the installation
directory
on the new computer.
a. Using Windows
Explorer
navigate the installation directory on the old computer (Default is
C:\Program
Files\nmCollector)
b. Copy nmgcsw.mdb and auxNMGCSW.mdb to some form of transferable media
accessible to the new computer.
c. Copy nmgcsw.mdb and auxNMGCSW.mdb from the transferable media to the
installation directory of the new computer.
2) Use NM Gun Collector to "Backup" the database on the old computer
then use NM Gun Collector to "Restore" the database to the new computer.
a. Start NM Gun
Collector (on
the old machine) and select Utilities -> Database
b. Click "Backup main database ..."
c. Select a location that will be accessible to the new computer and
save the
file.
d. If you have defined custom fields, click "Backup custom fields ...
"
e. Select a location that will be accessible to the new computer and
save the
file.
f. Transfer the files that you saved in steps c and e above to the new
computer.
g. Start NM Gun Collector (on the new machine) and select Utilities
->
Database
b. Click "Restore main database ..."
c. Select the name and location that you saved the main database to on
the new
computer.
d. If you have defined custom fields, click "Restore custom fields ...
"
e. Select the name and location that you saved the custom fields
database to on
the new computer.
NOTE: if you write the files to CD they may be read only after you
transfer
them to the new computer. This happens because CDs are read only. If
this
occurs you will get an error message () when running NM Gun Collector
on the
new computer. You must change the database files to readable as follows:
a. Using Windows
Explorer
navigate the installation directory on the new computer (Default is
C:\Program
Files\nmCollector)
b. Right click on the .mdb files and select Properties from the pop up
menu.
c. Uncheck the "Read Only" box and exit from the properties window.
15) How do I get ATF
approval to use NM Gun Collector Software in place of my bound book?
You can find my detailed
analysis for ATF approval at:
http://www.nmcollector.net/nmguncollector/ATFAltRecNotes.htm
At the bottom of the page you will find a sample letter. Be sure to
note the
backup requirements and my suggestions for addressing them.
This process has been very successful for many of my customers. In
fact, as far
as I know, ATF visited only the first person who requested approval.
Everyone
else who has reported back to me said that ATF rubber stamped it
without a
visit or any questions.
Please keep me posted as to how things go for you.
16) Do you
recommend your program for ATF record keeping for a commercial
application?
I do not recommend
it for
dealers since it is possible they might reach the limit of the database
(around
32,768 objects or a maximum size of 2 Gig whichever comes first).
However,
several dealers are ignoring my advice and using it anyway. They do
this at
their own risk.
A
new Custom tag field has been added to address this requirement.
Please keep in mind that the custom tag field is not numeric (which
would be the digits 0-9 only) – instead it is alphanumeric (a-b, A-B,
0-9) because the people who originally requested this field use tag
numbers with letters in them. So, when you sort by that field it
sorts the numbers as if they were characters. Instead of
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11 they come out as 1,10,11,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9.
If you do not already have a custom tag classification system, to
aid in classification and sorting you may want to create a custom tag
based on an outline classification system. So, for example, use
something like the following outline:
I. Guns
a.
Long
guns
b.
Hand
guns
i.
Pistols
1.
Astra
a.
400
i.
1
ii.
2
iii.
3
iv.
4
v.
5
vi.
6
vii.
7
viii.
8
ix.
9
x.
10
xi.
11
xii.
12
b.
600
c.
etc.
2.
Luger
3.
etc.
ii.
Revolvers
iii.
Single
shot
II. Knives
III.
Cartridges
IV.
Books
So, in this case, your
custom tag number for your second Astra 400 would be I.b.i.1.a.ii while
the 12th Astra 400 would be
I.b.i.1.a.xii and so forth. The sort works fine and you can
decode your custom tag number to see exactly what is what.
Please use the
Report Wizard
and view the report as HTML. Be sure to click the "include pictures"
checkbox and play with the fonts and colors until you get the
combination you
like. Then simply save the report from your web browser. It will save
the html
file and the pictures in an associated folder with the same name. You
can then
copy the html and associated pictures directory wherever you want and
open it
with a web browser. It should be self-explanatory but if not please ask
more questions!
View a sample report generated in this way.
To make the above report available to others I simply copied the
resulting html
and associated folder to my web server! I could have copied it to a CD
to read
from another computer as you want to do.
Answers to
Troubleshooting Questions
Problem
Description:
Windows Installer
is required
to install NM Gun Collector Software. This comes with the latest
Windows
Operating Systems. However, it is not present in all of them. When not
present
at all, the installation will install the latest version of the Windows
Installer.
However, some Windows Systems have earlier versions of Windows
Installer. In
that case the installation knows only that Windows Installer is present
but not
that it is an out of date version. Therefore, under these
circumstances, the
above error will occur.
Solution:
The latest Windows
Installer
must be installed. Run the executable found on the CD as follows:
for Windows 95 and 98
[CD Drive:]\Win9x\InstMsiA.exe
for Microsoft Windows NT 4.0
[CD Drive:]\WinNT\InstMsiW.exe
This problem occurs
in Windows
98 and Windows 95 systems if you download the application from the web
without
first downloading and installing MDAC. Of course, if you order the CD
this is
all taken care of for you so you will not encounter this error.
Please see Download Now for detailed download and installation
instructions.
Please download and
install the
latest (at least 5.3) upgrade to NM Gun Collector Software.
These
issues tend to be more related to individual PC's eccentricities than
any sort
of drive compatibility. Some drives may be set to autostart and others
not.
Some may take longer to spin up. Some may not be released by the OS.
If you insert the CD and the installation does not start automatically
after a
long enough wait, please use the following procedure:
1) Insert the CD in
your CD
drive.
2) Open up Windows Explorer. (There are several ways to do this. One is
to
right click the Start button in the task bar and select Explore).
3) Navigate to your CD drive (Usually Drive D) and double click on it.
This
will either start the installation or open up the drive so you can see
the
files in it. If it starts the installation there is no need to continue
with
these steps. If it opens up the drive so you can see the files in it
please
continue to the next step.
4) Double-click on the file named SetupNMGCSW.exe
This is normal. If
you delete a
firearm the seqKey number deletes. The sequence key is mostly used
behind the
scenes to insure unique identification of each entry. I make them
visible in
case you have duplicate firearms that are exactly the same as each
other
(including serial number or, more accurately, no serial number).
First,
keep in mind that as with any Windows application you must install NM
Gun
Collector on the new computer in order for that system to know about
the
application. Once that is completed, you simply transfer your database
and
pictures from your old system to the new system.
Back up all of your picture files in such a way that you can restore
them to
their original locations. The database stores paths to the pictures not
the
pictures themselves.
There are two ways to do the database transfer.
1) Manually copy
the .mdb files
from the installation directory on the old computer to the installation
directory on the new computer.
a. Using Windows
Explorer
navigate the installation directory on the old computer (Default is
C:\Program
Files\nmCollector)
b. Copy nmgcsw.mdb and auxNMGCSW.mdb to some form of transferable media
accessible to the new computer.
c. Copy nmgcsw.mdb and auxNMGCSW.mdb from the transferable media to the
installation directory of the new computer.
2) Use NM Gun Collector to "Backup" the database on the old computer
then use NM Gun Collector to "Restore" the database to the new
computer.
a. Start NM Gun
Collector (on
the old machine) and select Utilities -> Database
b. Click "Backup main database ..."
c. Select a location that will be accessible to the new computer and
save the
file.
d. If you have defined custom fields, click "Backup custom fields ...
"
e. Select a location that will be accessible to the new computer and
save the
file.
f. Transfer the files that you saved in steps c and e above to the new
computer.
g. Start NM Gun Collector (on the new machine) and select Utilities
->
Database
b. Click "Restore main database ..."
c. Select the name and location that you saved the main database to on
the new
computer.
d. If you have defined custom fields, click "Restore custom fields ...
"
e. Select the name and location that you saved the custom fields
database to on
the new computer.
NOTE: if you write the files to CD they may be read only after you
transfer
them to the new computer. This happens because CDs are read only. If
this
occurs you will get an error message () when running NM Gun Collector
on the
new computer. You must change the database files to readable as follows:
a. Using Windows
Explorer
navigate the installation directory on the new computer (Default is
C:\Program
Files\nmCollector)
b. Right click on the .mdb files and select Properties from the pop up
menu.
c. Uncheck the "Read Only" box and exit from the properties window.
I hope this is clear but if it isn't please let me know.
Last Revised: May 26, 2007
Copyright © 2001, 2002, 2003,
2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 by Clayton J.
Pryor. All rights reserved.