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Q. Do I have the latest version of Floor Schedule?
The most recent version is 3.1.0, published on 12/28/2011.
The program version is displayed in the initial splash screen and also under the Help | About menu.
Downloading the latest version will update your program. It will not overwrite your existing data or license. However, for added peace of mind, we recommend that you
backup your data to a USB drive using the 'File | Export (Backup)' menu option prior to installing the latest version. For more help on how to backup see the main help document under Help.
Select Download to get the latest version.
Q. How do I make a fair schedule so my agents are happy?
How can you make the fairest possible schedule? By fair, we mean balanced among all agents, with good spacing and even distribution. To accomplish this, keep agent requests OFF to a minimum. If a large number of agents have specific requests not to work, other agents will have to fill these empty shifts, sometimes resulting in a less then ideal schedule. This is especially true if you have a small number of agents and a large number of shifts. You can test the inherent fairness of Floor Schedule by generating a schedule with no requests off. Of course requests off are inevitable and expected; and a reasonable number will have no effect on fairness.
If you have a large number of agents who have a large number of specific requests you may want to use Manual Fine Tuning. You set the program to use Manual Fine Tuning by selecting the ‘Settings | Fine Tuning’ menu option and uncheck ‘Automatic Fine Tuning’. This is a very strict method and will not allow any shifts to be scheduled outside of what you instruct the program to do [example – no closer together then one day before or one day after a scheduled shift and/or no more than once per week] but because these settings are strictly enforced you may end up with blank shifts that you will need to fill yourself. You may edit any generated schedule day directly by double clicking on the day.
If you are still having problems producing a fair schedule, let us help. Send us the file named FSData.mdb. If you are using version 2.3 or later then use the File | Export
menu and check the 'copy database...' box, then press OK. The database file will
be placed on your desktop in a folder name 'Floor Schedule Database'. Email the
file you find in that folder to us at support@crswebsite.com. We can then run your schedule here and come up with suggestions for you.
If you are using a version before 2.3, the database can be found in the 'C:\Documents and Settings\your user name\Application Data\Floor Schedule\Data' directory. It is about 144KB in size (this will help you identify it). To send us this file: Right click on the Floor.mdb file, and select the 'Send To' pop up menu option to email it to support@crswebsite.com; or, just copy and paste the file into an email to support@crswebsite.com.
Q. I don't see all my agent names on the schedule [printed or on the screen]!
A. Double click on the calendar date to see all names. If some are not showing on the screen or the printout then you
need to increase your day height under the Settings | Calendar Settings menu. The schedule day height is adjustable
for both the screen and the printed copy, so be sure and adjust the one you want to. You can also adjust the font size.
We recommend a font size of '8' to fit all the names comfortably in each calendar day.
Q. Trouble installing.
A. You should be logged in as yourself when you install. The program installs for each user separately. If you do not have installation privileges
You will need to enter the admin password when asked. If the installation file download stops because of a
copy problem, select a different directory to copy to.
Examples: 'YOUR NAME\Downloads' OR 'C:\Documents and Settings\Your Name\Desktop'
Q. Can I use a networked or public database location?
A. Yes. Change your database location by selecting 'Database Location...' under the Settings menu.
Q. My hard drive crashed and I lost my license.
A. Re-install Floor Schedule. You can find it at www.FloorSchedule.com.
If you performed a backup [File | Export], you can then import your data and license using File | Import.
If you do not then contact us with the email used on the order
and we will send you your license balance.
Q. Do I need a license?
A. No. You can run the program without an active license. But an active
license is needed to generate future schedules. When you install the program the first time, a complimentary license for the upcoming month is installed.
Q. How do I print?
A. There are two ways to print. You set the way you want to print under the
Settings menu. You can print normally, meaning directly to your printer, or you
can print to a PDF file. Printing to a PDF file is the default. To print directly
to your printer select the Settings menu then 'Print/PDF Settings' then 'Print directly
to printer'. Printing to a PDF file saves what you are printing as a PDF file and
displays it in your default PDF reader (like adobe acrobat). You print the PDF using
the print command in your PDF viewer. The advantage of using PDF is that you have
an automatically saved copy (in the FS_PDF folder on your desktop) and you can email
the PDF file to your agents.
Q. How do I print in Landscape?
Here’s how you can print your calendar in landscape:
1. Press the PRINT button.
2. In the print dialogue box, select PROPERTIES.
3. Select the PAGE tab.
4. Select LANDSCAPE.
5. Press OK.
6. Press OK again.
Here's how you can set your FS PDF printer driver to print in landscape mode
by default:
1. Select your Window’s START BUTTON (lower left).
2. Select PRINTERS AND FAXES (directly or CONTROL PANEL first).
3. RIGHT CLICK on FS PDF.
4. Select PRINTING PREFERENCES.
5. Select PAGE tab then LANDSCAPE.
6. Press OK.
The next time you print your Floor Schedule it will print in Landscape.
Q. Time Format Error when I select the CSV button?
A. The message 'Time Format Errors' means that one or more times you entered under the menu
'Settings | Times...' are not in the proper time format such that external
calendars can understand them. You may edit your schedule times directly on the schedule by double
clicking the days where editing is needed, and when finished, create a new CSV file
by selecting the CSV button OR you may fix the times using the
'Settings | Times...' menu, then generate a new schedule, then select the
CSV button again. The proper time formats are:
9am
9:00am
9am-10am
9:30am-1:30pm
See HELP for more information on how to import your schedule into a Google, Outlook or
other external Calendars.
Q. How do I enter partial holidays or partial days closed?
A. For a partial day holiday or partial day closed
- Create an agent named 'CLOSED'. Enter the site number and shifts that you want
closed as his ON shifts at the bottom of his agent screen. Change his MAX TIMES
field to match the number of closed shifts you've assigned him. When the schedule
is generated, these closed shifts will be labeled "CLOSED" and no one will be assigned
to them.
Q. It won't accept my credit card, but I know its good.
A. Please check that the name, address and phone number are correct for the card you are using. The transaction will not go through unless these match the card.
Q. Can I install Floor Schedule on more then one computer?
A. Licensing is by physical office. You may have as many copies on
different computers as you like using one license, as long as they are for
the same physical office. If one person prepares schedules for office A
and another for office B, then they would need two licenses. If two
users take turns creating the schedule for the same office(s), or if a
user wants a copy for home on his laptop and one at the office,
then they will only need one license.
Q. How do I move Floor Schedule to a new computer?
A. This will be easy for you. Use the backup feature. This will copy your data files and your license file to a USB memory drive for you, or wherever you want it.
Then, download and install the Free Trial on your new computer. Now use the import feature to copy the data and license in. You will find these features under the File menu, top left.
Note: Both computers should have the same version of Floor Schedule; 2008 or 2011. If you currently are using version 2008, we recommend first upgrading to 2011 (free at www.floorschedule.com) and then continue with the detailed instructions.
In Detail:
1. Start Floor Schedule on old machine.
2. Insert a USB memory drive
3. Select File | Export (backup) and backup to the USB drive.
4. On New Machine, go to our web site and install the Free Trial (www.floorschedule.com)
5. Start, then close Floor Schedule on the new machine.
6. Start Floor Schedule again on new machine.
7. Insert USB drive from old machine into new machine.
8. Select File | Import.
9. Exit and restart Floor Schedule on new machine.
10 Done!
Q. Can I share data and license between computers on a network? [version 2.5.3 or later]
A. Yes. This will work as long as they both have access to the same public directory. Install the Free Trial on the new computer(s), and then instead of manually copying data from the existing computer to the new computer using the 'Export | Import' process, you can point both to a public directory.
IMPORTANT: First point * the original computer to your newly created public directory. Pointing to a newly created EMPTY public directory causes the program to copy its existing data and license to this directory. AFTER you've done this with the original computer, point the new computer to this public directory. It will use the data and license that it finds there, and not copy its own data over
* How to change the database location:
By default, Floor Schedule points to a private data location for each user of the program. This allows multiple users on the same computer to each keep their own schedule and calendar data private. If you'd like to have users share the same data, set each user's database location as public.
To set the location as public, use the 'Settings | Database Location...' menu. Click
the 'Set Public..' button to set a public database location and then select the
Public Location option to point to the public data location. Each user must
have read/write permissions to the public folder in order to use it. Remember that the
first Floor Schedule copy to point to an empty public directory is the one whose
data and license is copied to that directory. This occurs only if the directory
is empty.
Q. My Computer Crashed. How do I get Floor Schedule back?
A. Go to www.Floorschedule.com and download the Floor Schedule program.
Unfortunately, unless you backed up your license and data (File | Export) previously, you will need to reenter your site and agent data. If you did back it up then once you get the
program installed you can use the import (File | Import) to bring your backed up data back in.
Q. I have a license Code / I have a coupon code. I don't see a License Menu.
A. The license menu is found in the latest version of Floor Schedule. Floor Schedule 2011. You can tell you have this version when you see '2011' displayed on the start up screen. The license menu is found at the top of the main window, next to 'Help'.
If you don't have the latest version for Floor Schedule you may freely download it at www.FloorSchedule.com.
Q. My License Key or Coupon Code is saying that it has expired. But I just got it today!
A. Check that your machine's date is correct and try again. Contact us for additional help.
Q. Calendar / Schedule is printing on two pages.
A. Use the Settings | Calendar Settings menu to check your print day height. Too big and the
schedule will print on multiple pages, too small and you might cut off your later shifts from view.
Fonts also effect how many shifts fit in a day. Large fonts push the next shift down. Try to use a size 8 font.
Q. I want to print landscape on one page - not two pages.
A. After you select 'Print', select the 'Properties...' button in the Print Dialogue box, then select 'Landscape'.
Note that because landscape shortens the length of the page, it may require two pages to print the schedule while
'Portrait' is usually able to print on one page. See '..on two pages' above.
Q. I want to print landscape every time.
A. Find your computer's printers [see control panel or programs menu], and right click on the printer you want to set.
Find the printing preferences tab or button that contains Orientation. Select 'Landscape'. For the built in
Floor Schedule PDF printer, the printer name is 'FS_PDF'. Right click on the name and select Printing Preferences
and then 'Landscape'.
Q. How do I print the PDF schedule on my printer.
A. After you select the 'Print' button, and then the 'OK' button on the print dialogue box (leave printer name as FS_PDF), select the File | Print
menu option in your PDF viewer that shows your schedule. The select the printer you want to print to in the drop
down print listbox, the press OK.
Q. Install error. Windows installer message says 'Another version of this product is already installed". What do I do?
A. This means you have the very latest version already installed. If you are trying to reinstall the program, you will need to uninstall it first. You will not lose
any of your data, license or settings by uninstalling and reinstalling - on the SAME computer.
Q. I can't find my data and/or setting files. Where are they?
A. In Windows XP you will find them here:
'C:\Documents and Settings\YOUR NAME\Application Data\Floor Schedule'.
In Windows 7 & and Vista you will find them here:
'Computer\YOUR NAME\AppData\Roaming\Floor Schedule'.
There may be a problem though... by default windows hides the Application [AppData]
folder.
To see this folder do this:
In Windows XP select:
'My Computer | Tools | Folder Options | View | Show Hidden files and folders'.
In Windows 7 and Vista select:
'Computer | Organize | Folder and Search Options | View | Show Hidden files and
folders'.
How can you tell what operating system you have?
Right Click on 'My Computer' [or Computer] | select 'Properties'.
Q. I want to upgrade to version 2011 but I want it to use my existing data and license!
A. The first time you run Floor Schedule 2011, it looks to see if you have
an existing copy of Floor Schedule 2008 installed (2011 is not an upgrade of 2008
but a separate installation). If you have 2008 intalled, 2011 will offer to import
(copy) the data from the 2008 version to itself. It will also copy the license over for you.
Q. I was using Floor Schedule 2008. I installed the 2011
version, but I don't see my agent names!
A. The first time you run Floor Schedule 2011, it looks to see if you have
an existing copy of Floor Schedule 2008 installed (2011 is not an upgrade of 2008
but a separate installation). If you have 2008 intalled, 2011 will offer to import
(copy) the data from the 2008 version to itself. If you say no, it will not import
the data. If later you decide you would like to import your data from 2008, delete
the file named 'SkipExists_08.txt', then run Floor Schedule 2011. It will offer
to import your data once again:
In XP, 'SkipExists_08.txt' is found in the following directory:
'C:\Documents and Settings\YOUR NAME\Application Data\Floor Schedule\Settings'.
In Windows 7 & and Vista, you will find it here:
'Computer\YOUR NAME\AppData\Roaming\Floor Schedule\Settings'.
There may be a problem though... by default windows hides the Application [AppData]
folder.
To see this folder do this:
In Windows XP select:
'My Computer | Tools | Folder Options | View | Show Hidden files and folders'.
In Windows 7 and Vista select:
'Computer | Organize | Folder and Search Options | View | Show Hidden files and
folders'.
How can you tell what operating system you have?
Right Click on 'My Computer' [or Computer] | select 'Properties'.
Q. I was using Floor Schedule 1.7.2. I installed the 2011
version, but I don't see my agent names!
A. Since 2011 looks to the most recent version (2008) for data, we
need to move your data and license file from your old 1.7.2 version to where the
2011 version can find it. 2011 looks for a folder named 'C:\FSWin08'. If this folder
does not exist, create it. Copy these two files from your version 1.7.2 folder (C:\FSWin02)
to the 'C:\FSWin08' folder. The files are 'Floor.mdb' and 'FSLic.lic'.
If you can't see one of these files, or you can't see their extensions, use 'Tools | Folder Options | View' menu and select 'Show hidden files and folders' and uncheck 'hide extensions for known file types'.
After you copy these two files to 'C:\FSWin08' run Floor Schedule 2011. It will offer to import your data for you, and your license, if the license is newer than the 2011 license.
Q. Error: Agent is being schedule on days I entered him to be off!
A. Problem: You enter the agent to be off on a certain day/shift, but he still gets scheduled there!
First check that the agent is not manually scheduled as 'ON'. See the AGENT screen and check that the shift has not been entered under "SCHEDULE AGENT AS ON". Any
manually scheduled shifts will override any off requests.
If this is not the problem, check for this bug:
If you enter an agent as off like this '1-3', and in the same field also enter them as off like this, '11-30' '11-31' '1-30' '1-31', then the program will
miss the second OFF span. Solution: Do not use '1-3'. Use '1 2 3' instead.
This bug was identified by Lisa M. on 9/28/2011.
Thank you Lisa. Agent bug was fixed in version 3.0.0.
Select Download to get the latest version.
Q. Error: Either BOF or EOF is True,... requires a current record.
A. Problem: You delete the very last Agent or Site name, but then can no longer enter Site or agent information. This happens when the user deletes the
last Site or Agent name, and then hits the Enter Key or the Close Window button with the name still blank, causing a blank record in the database.
Solution: We will fix your database for you. Please contact us through the contact page, OR, you can delete the database and reinstall. The database
can be found here: C:\Documents and Settings\YOUR USER NAME\Application Data\Floor Schedule\Data\FSData.mdb.
This bug was identified by Leesa. on 5/12/2011.
Thank you Leesa. Agent bug was fixed in version 2.2 and the Site bug in 2.3.
Select Download to get the latest version.
Q. Error: Error 9 check each agents off and on entries.
A. Problem: When you generate a schedule, you get this error.
Here is what to check for:
The problem: '0' is being used as a date off as in '0-12'.
Solution: '0' is not a recognized day of the month. Remove '0' and replace with '1'.
The problem is a dash in incorrectly entered without a number on both sides as in '12-'
Solution: Place a number on both sides of the dash.
The problem is a larger date is followed by a smaller date as in '31-20'
Solution: Check that the smaller date preceeds the larger date when using a dash.
The problem is a bad Day of the Week entry such at 'TU'.
Solution: Check that the day of the week entries are restricted to 'Su, M, T, W,
Th, F, S'
Bugs were identified by Claire N. and others.
Thank you Claire. Fixed in version 3.1.
Select Download to get the latest version.
Q. Calendar appearance issue: Names and Times are all misaligned. Calendar suddenly doesn't appear right.
A. Problem: After installing the latest version of Floor Schedule 2011 (3.0 +) the generated calendar does not look right.
Solution: Reenter your times using the 'Settings | Times' menu.
The problem was caused by our making the time field longer in order to be compatible with Google Calendar. See Help Menu for video link on how to enter times.
This bug was identified by Leslie and Louis.
Q. xxxxxx.
A. xxxx.
Q. Print Problem: I selected 'print directly to printer', but the program is still printing as a PDF file.
A. The PDF printer has been assigned as your 'default' printer. Find your printers and change the default printer back the one you would like it to be.
In XP: 'Start | Printers and Faxes | Right Click on printer you want | Select as default'.
In Windows 7: 'Start | Control Panel | Hardware and Sound | Printers | Double Click the printer you want | Set as default under Printer menu'.
Q. xxxxxx.
A. xxxx.