Support
If you have any support queries that are not covered in the online support please
contact support@sabirding.co.za..
The Version 2 program contains help as follows;
- a Readme.txt on the disc. This has been updated below.
- a TUTOR in the Introduction module.
- a HELP function available from the Menu - Help option, or directly off the F1 key.
Please use the Tutor and Help options to gain a better understanding of how the
program is designed to work.
Here are some of the known "problems" encountered by users. They are listed
under headings. Click on the heading to jump to the explanation of how to solve
your problem. Most problems involve setting up your computer configuration to run
the program.
Installation & Configuration
The cd-drive cannot read the disc and the program does not install. The CD-Rom installs
but will not run.
- You get a general "Program Error" message.
- You get an error message "CD-Rom in drive does not appear to be Roberts' Multimedia
Birds of Southern Africa".
- The program runs, but there are no pictures and sounds.
Screen Settings
The pictures and text on the screen are all out of position.
Picture Quality
The picture quality is poor and 'blocky'.
Sound
The sound does not play, even though your music CDs play.
CD-Rom Problems
The CD-Rom reads very slowly, and seems to 'stick' on a file.
Video Playback
The videos do not play.
The videos play poorly or not at all.
Birding Spots
The full bird list option gives the wrong list.
Bird Lists
The bird lists are not updating.
USER Setup & Bird Lists
The program will not open a new user directory.
Report
The bird lists are not printing from the Report page.
Importing Lists & Notes
Users of version 1 can import old lists.
Identification Module
Afrikaans screens for Profile option
Installation & Configuration
The most important factor is that the Roberts Multimedia
v2.1 program must be installed and run from the first CD-Rom drive. If you
have a CD-Rom and a CD-writer or DVD, check the CD-Rom is the first drive or use
the other drive to run the program.
1. When installing please use just the recommended installation
(20MB system files). This should be a quick install and the program should run perfectly
thereafter.
2. Once installed from the first CD-Rom drive please check
the configuration has been setup correctly. On the Title page, go to Menu
Configuration and check the directory paths. Assuming the
D is your CD-Rom drive and C is your hard drive, the paths should read as follows:
Data (CD-Rom) path D:\data\
Program path C:\Roberts2\system\
3. If you wish to have all the data on your hard drive,
you will need to manually copy the Data folder from the disc to the Roberts2 folder
on your hard drive. Once this is done the directory paths must read as follows:
Data (CD-Rom) path C:\ Roberts2\data\
Program path C:\Roberts2\system\
USER Setup & Bird Lists
The program will not open a new user directory. This may occur if you are working
on a network. You need to run the program (Roberts.exe) directly off the drive you
wish to install users on, as the user directories are created within the Roberts2
directory.
Screen Settings
The pictures and text on the screen are all out of position.
Set your screen display to SMALL FONTS. Right click on your desktop and select properties.
Then click on the "Settings" tab. Click the "Advanced" button
and change the font size. You will need to reboot for the new setting to take effect.
Adjusting the Configuration to 800x600 or 640x480 does not do anything.
You need to Accept the new configuration so that the program reboots, and then use
the windows maximize button (middle button top right of the program window).
Picture Quality
The picture quality is poor and 'blocky'.
Set your screen display to HIGH COLOUR.
Right click on your desktop and select properties. Then click on the "Settings" tab. The colour settings should now be visible.
Sound
The sound does not play, even though your music CDs play.
The Cd-Rom uses wave files which are NOT THE SAME as CD-audio. Check that your speakers
are plugged in and switched on, that the sound card is selected for multimedia playback
and that the checkbox for wave files is not on mute. Your computer should have a
little yellow speaker on the bottom right, which when double-clicked brings up a
sound control box.
A good indication that your Windows sound drivers are installed is the Windows signature
tune on startup. If Roberts' sound does not work and you do not hear the signature
tune on startup, please contact your computer supplier.
CD-Rom Problems.
The Cd-Rom reads very slowly, and seems to 'stick' on a file.
Try having the CD-Rom drive heads cleaned. You can purchase commercial cleaning
kits for Cd-players.
Video Playback
The videos do not play.
Make sure you are selecting the video by clicking on the MOVIE thumbnail in the
list next to the pictures.
Video options.
Most of the bird videos do not have sync sound, that is,
sound embedded in the video. Therefore, when using the In-line option, the program
asks Windows to play both the video file and the sound file simultaneously. This
works for most computers, but some computers multimedia capabilities are not able
to do this, hence the grey/blank video screen.
Secondly, the introduction of Windows XP which uses DirectX8
for video playback, would appear to be a backward step in terms of compatibility
with many existing programs, and it is not clear why a more advanced program should
place limitations on multiple media playback.
We have provided an option to play the video externally
to the program, using windows media player. Beneath the distribution map on the
individual bird page is a text button that says In-line. Click on this and it will
change to External. This setting will remain and the videos will play using your
Windows Media player. If you want to hear the sound while the video plays, click
the sound button and then the video icon. NB. Remember to close the media player
down before playing another video.
Birding Spots
The full bird list option gives the wrong list.
This sometimes occurs when you use the portal. Select the spot from the map.
Bird Lists
The bird lists are not updating.
Please do the following;
- Create and select a User.
- Select
and
options.
- Under Personal Lists, select a folder under which to enter a list (create a new
list or load an existing list).
- Enter a Date and other details for the bird/birds to be added.
- Select the birds to be added and
or double-click to add.
- Check or edit the details by selecting the bird name under Personal Lists.
- Press
when you have finished entering your list (this updates the list hierarchy and your
Life List with the new records).
Report
The bird lists are not printing from the Report page.
- Make sure you are looking at the "List Mode option
- Load a SOURCE LIST or PERSONAL LIST.
- There are two
buttons. Select
on either the left SOURCE LIST side or the right PERSONAL LIST side.
- In the
module, go to
. Make sure you have selected items to appear on the report. These should be listed
in the right hand column "Items on Report".
Importing Lists & Notes
Version 2 is a completely new program in a more advanced programming language that
allows far more user integration. Unfortunately it was not possible to integrate
lists and notes directly. These will have to be imported and copied from Version
1.
Importing Lists: Users of version 1.0 with existing bird lists can locate them on
version 1 under C:\ROBERT32\maps. These files can be imported using the In/Out option
in version 2.1. Select "English Family" as the import filter.
Notes: Version 1.0 notes will be available under C:\ROBERT32\edit, but will have
to be individually copied and pasted to the new program. The bird number used is
the SAM no, not Roberts, so note the SAM-Roberts nos beneath the map in version
1, before accessing the notes. I suggest you manually make a list of all your birds
with notes by utilising the "User" function to view only those birds with
notes.
Identification Module
Afrikaans screens for Profile option.
The file names for the Afrikaans screens were corrupted by the disc mastering process.
These are copied to your hard drive and can be edited. Go to C:\Roberts2\system\sysdata
and change the following;
profil~1.png = profile1a.png
profil~2.png = profile2a.png
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