Virus Warning in Download

We came across a Virus Warning in Norton Anti Virus/ Internet Security, when downloading updates and installations from our websites.

The software that you are trying to download will be cautioned as a virus with a description of

WS.Reputation-1

This is not a Virus within the Pibspeex and Compindex Update and Installation Setups. This is a programming Bug within Norton Anti Virus.

For more information regarding this please click on the link below to visit the Norton website regarding this issue.

http://community.norton.com/t5/Norton-Internet-Security-Norton/What-is-WS-Reputation-1/m-p/228308

Import/Export records

Records can be transferred from one database to another using the Import /Export functionality in PibSpeex/Compindex.

Step 1. Create a folder in your C-Drive called “Data-Export” In the Address bar of your window copy the location name of that folder – it should read C:\Data-Export

Step2. Open PibSpeex/CompIndex go to People Import/Export, click on Export records.

Step3. Choose all the records your want to export to the other computer. If you want to Export ALL your records simply click on “Select All’

Step4. Paste the location of the folder you created in Step 1 into the space provided – click on Start

Step5. When this is done, copy the folder you have created to a memory stick or network drive.

Step6. This should be done on the Computer you want to Export to (Import from) Copy the location name of your folder again by using your address bar.

Step7. Open PibSpeex/CompIndex on the New Computer, again go to People-Import/Export, Select “Import from an external source”

Step8. Paste the location name of the folder in the space provided. Click on Start

Your records should have been copied to the new database. When the target folder location is not specified correctly PibSpeex will not perform this action.

PibSpeex Version 26.02

Installation and Update Procedures

We have taken an extensive look at the update and installation process of PibSpeex and Compindex. During this time we found that there are core System tables which are Updated and effected on a regular basis.

The problem we faced:

With each and very update being release minor work was done on one or two of these core system tables, with a next update some other work was done on other tables. When updating was not done in the correct sequence (As updates was released) we found that some clients were getting odd problems with databases because of this chaotic way of updating system tables.

The Solution.

We have decided on 13 Core System Tables – these include Norm -, Dimension list -, Dimension Description -, test definition -, Test registry - , Norm group – and the Formula tables. With each and every Update or Installation these tables will be deleted from your database, created again and populated with all default information. This will ensure that each time an update or new installation of PibSpeex is done, that the user has the correct system information at hand!

Data Loss

When doing an Update the setup will automatically create a backup of your database in its current state before any modifications will be done. We can simply repopulate your database with your user-defined data.

Installation and Update Procedures

When performing an update on your system and then replacing the modified database with a database that you have backed-up previously, you will find that some reports and User documentation cannot open from within PibSpeex/CompIndex.

The Update setup is designed in such a way that a backup of your database in its current state will be made before the setup enters the database modifications. Thus there is no reason to back-up your database yourself before performing an update!

However, if you have new computer and want to install PibSpeex/CompIndex on it, a default installation must be done first. This will install a blank database on this machine. Your old populated database can then manually be transferred from the old PC to the new one.

Please note:

If the above course of action is taken, the latest corresponding update to the Installation setup needs to be performed on the database, to make it suitable for the use with new documentation. When performing this task please contact Psi Systems for assistance

Export a Report but cannot open it in Word 2007

With all the changes and added security Microsoft has introduced into Office 2007, we receive a lot of support calls regarding compatibility issues. Luckily most of these issues can be solve within Windows itself.

One of the latest issues regarding Pibspeex, Compindex and Office 2007 is Exporting a Report in .rtf (Rich text Format) –preferred or .doc (Word Document) to edit the report later on.

When you try to open the report in Word 2007, to can get an error message stating you cannot open this file because of file restrictions or security reasons. (Error 922849)

There are three possible solutions to this problem. The proffered solutions appear below.

Disable the restriction on opening documents of certain types Word 2003

Word 2007
To disable this restriction in Word 2007, change the value of the FileOpenBlock subkey. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Exit Word.
2. Click Start, click Run, type regedit in the Open box, and then click OK.
3. Locate and then click the following registry subkey:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\
Software\
Policies\
Microsoft\
Office\12.0\
Word\Security\FileOpenBlock
If the FileOpenBlock subkey does not exist, you must create it.
To do this,follow these steps:
a. Select the Security subkey.
b. On the Edit menu, point to New, and then click Key.
c. Type FileOpenBlock, and then press ENTER.
4. After you select the subkey that is specified in step 3,
locate the DWORD value.

Note If this value does not exist, you must create it. To do this, follow these steps:
. On the Edit menu, point to New, and then click DWORD Value.
a. Type the DWORD value for which you want to disable the restriction,
and then press ENTER. For example, type FilesBeforeVersion.
You may check for the different DWORD values in the "More Information"
section of this article based on the version of Word that you are running.

For example, if the opening of files that were saved in earlier file formats is restricted, locate the "FilesBeforeVersion" DWORD value in the registry for the FileOpenBlock subkey. When you change the value of "FilesBeforeVersion" from 1 to 0, you can open files that were saved in earlier file formats.

5. Right-click the DWORD value that you want, and then click Modify.
6. In the Value data box, type 0, and then click OK.
7. On the File menu, click Exit to exit Registry Editor.

Pibspeex and Microsoft Access 2007

We have come across a problem when a Pibspeex or Compindex Databases is opened with Microsoft Access 2007.

When you have Office 2007 installed and you open a Pibspeex (or CompIndex) Database, Access will ask you if you want to convert the database to a Access 2007 format. When this is done the database is converted to Access 2007 format but the conversion has a bug and thus introduces errors into the Database. This leave that database unstable and unusable.

Unfortunately you can not reverse the problem by simply re-formating the database back to a earlier type. Data that went lost in the previous conversion will still be lost.

We therefore ask our clients NOT to Convert their databases into Access 2007 format. (There is no need to ever open the system databases with any system other than the supplied software anyway.)

Version 25.00

With version 25.00 we have decided to redo all the system tables of Compindex and Pibspeex to capture the latest and correct information of the system(s). These are the tables within Compindex and Pibspeex that contain information like dimension definitions, formulas which calculate scores, dimension names, scales, test definitions, norm tables etc. When running version 25.00 Update the system will delete these tables, recreate them and enter all the default data again. This will happen each time an update application is run on a system.

SQL server compatibility issues were also solved and one Update can now be used for SQL Server or Microsoft Access databases.

The Installation or Update Process
Normally separate applications would have been downloaded and run. Now with one downloaded package you can either update your existing installation or do a complete new installation.

Compindex & PibSpeex 22.11

The Latest version of Compindex and Pibspeex is out and available! We have worked on some reports -Narrative Report, Ranking Report, Performance Indicator Report and some Graphical Reports. After the Redesigning of the reports some fields were missing or the data on the reports was in a wrong format! Thank you to all the parties who reported these "Bugs".

Also some work was done on the Test Specification files where definitions and/or descriptions of dimensions were ill or inadequately described! Some major work was done on the Social Style (1900 & 1900B) Test specification file and also 2300 & 2300B and 2400 & 2400B!

Now the latter two dimensions can be used properly and without any hassles! The descriptions of the different areas in the dimension should also align.

Tests that gave a general error in Compindex were the 2501 Dimension. This was corrected and should now longer just give you a percentage of 13% with a scale of 5.

When running a ranking report, some dimensions where repeated, which - needless to say caused allot of confusion and was very untidy! This was corrected with the Latest Update 22.11. If your System still as duplicates after running the Update please contact us as soon as possible!

PibSpEEx \ CompIndex 2300

If you experience inconsistent results while entering scores into this dimension please keep the following in mind :

The candidates has to make two choices on this test.
1. Choose most preferred option
2. Choose least preferred option

All choices are made by selecting between options A, B and C.

Here's how you should score :
When the candidate chose, say, C (as most) and A (as least) you have to enter the odd one out (B in this case) as a third response and not a full stop as you would do with blank answers. By sticking to this rule, you should not have any inconsistant results when running reports.

SQL server 2000 (and later editions)

Issue :

Our systems require that every user is registered as an administrator on SQL server. This works fine if you have SQL 7 (or earlier) and are able to add any user name and assign permissions to that user. With certain installations of SQL 2000 (or later editions), only users that are on the same network as the server are allowed to be added as users on the database. This causes our system to malfunction during reporting, since the user needs to be a database owner and have tables created within the database with 'dbo' prefix (or be a dbo owner of the database) and not the 'username' prefix.

Resolution :

In the security properties of the user, enable the 'Database Creators' security option of the user and also enable 'db_Owner', 'db_DataReader', 'db_DataWriter' access options. This should enable the user to create our temporary reporting tables as a 'dbo' owner and not a 'username' owner.

Switching from Dongle to Internet verification

If you would like to switch from using a dongle to the internet verification method :

• Locate the PibSpEEx \ CompIndex installation folder : Right-click on the JP Expert shortcut on your desktop and click on 'Properties'. The installation folder will be specified in the 'Target' line.
• Locate the security file : In the installation folder is a file 'SPEEX_XXII.sec'. (or 'SPEEX_XXII' - specified as a 'SEC File' if your explorer is not set up to view the file extensions)
  
• Rename \ Relocate the security file : Rename this file to 'SPEEX_XXII.old' (or 'SPEEX_XXII_OLD' - if your explorer is not set up to view the file extensions), or 'cut and paste' this file to a diffirent location. The file is renamed \ moved so you are always able to restore this file should the internet verification method fail... (which it won't, but you can never be sure with technology !)
• Update your system : Be sure that have the latest version of PibSpEEx \ CompIndex installed !
• Run PibSpEEx \ CompIndex : When you run PibSpEEx \ CompIndex you will be prompted to 'Use internet verification - YES' or 'Use a dongle - NO'. Click yes and follow the instructions described below.

If you require any assistance, please do not hesitate to contact PSI Systems support !

New server ?

If PibSpEEx \ CompIndex is installed on a client-server network, but a new server is required, please follow these rules to prevent your system from any misfunctions :
(Users with stand-alone installations can follow steps 2 - 7)

1. Folder structure : ALL client-server installations should use mapped drives. ALL work stations should have the same drive letter mapped to the installation folder on the server. To check where the existing installation resides, right-click on the JP Expert shortcut and click on 'Properties'. The "Target" line will start with the drive letter of the mapped drive (example : "X:\CompIndex\jpe32.exe"). Ensure that the new server has exactly the same folder structure as the 'old' one and that the folder is shared to the relavent users. The workstations should have the drive re-mapped to the new server (as the original drive letter).
   
2. Copy the system : The complete existing folder content can be copied to the new server. Create a folder on the server's C-drive called "PRIVATE".
   
3. Install the Adobe Acrobat runtime on the server : This installation is supplied on your installation cd but can also be downloaded from Adobe.
4. ODBC Connection (MS Access Database users) : Go to 'Control panel -> Administrative Tools -> Data Sources (ODBC)'. Click on the 'System DSN' tab. PibSpEEx users highlight 'Psi_PibSpEEx_Access'. CompIndex users highlight 'PSI_CI'. Click 'Configure'. Select the correct drive letter of the installed\copied system. Select the 'Data' folder. Select the '.mdb' file in the left window and click OK.
5. ODBC Connection (MS SQL) : Ensure that the Database Administrators has created a user on the database with 'administrative' rights. Go to 'Control panel -> Administrative Tools -> Data Sources (ODBC)'. Click on the 'System DSN' tab. Highlight the PibSpEEx \ CompIndex connection and click 'Configure'. If you have administrative rights you should be able to select the server. On the next screen ensure that you select NT Authentication and that you are able to advance to the next screen. Select the PibSpEEx \ CompIndex and on the next screen test the connection. Ensure that the test is successful.
6. Dongle users : Client-server setups should have a red dongle. Install the HASP driver supplied on the cd located in \\Components\HASPDRV\NetHasp\Imsetup.exe and reboot the server after installation. Stand-alone users should have a white dongle. Install the HASP driver sopplied on the cd located in \\Components\HASPDRV\hdd32.exe and reboot the pc after installation.
7. Internet verification users : Follow the Internet Verification method described in the section below.
8. Still unsure : If you are unsure, please contact PSI Systems support !
   

Remote access to client computers

Occasionally we get technical support calls that take unduly long to resolve because the user experiencing the difficulty is not very computer literate, and/or not that familiar with the system. Or the issue may be more technical (as for instance when a SQL database connection seems to be at fault), and there are no IT support people available to assist our support engineer.

We are planning to experiment with remote access software that will allow us to "take over" a client's computer, during these more challenging technical suport calls. All that will be required is that the end-user's computer is connected on the internet, and permission is given to the Psi Systems support person to access the computer. The remote access software will then enable us to directly access the computer as though we were physically logged into the computer.

Edgar will post some stats on the average time savings that this new approach will result in (comparing time spent on fixing things remotely with previous support calls where he was helping users to fix similar problems over the phone).

All users with current support contracts may be helped in this way (when appropriate) at no additional charge.

Internet Verification

Your CompIndex \ PibSpEEx system will require you to register from time to time. Typically if you have downloaded a new update or if you added a new user. To get the return code, log on to HR4ALL and click on the LOGON option then select logon to HR4ALL. Enter your username and password provided to you by PSI Systems and click on the Logon button. A successful logon will take you to the HR4ALL main page. At the bottom of this main page is a link that will take you to the SEED Code - Return Code page. Enter the SEED code (provided by the system) and click to generate return code. Copy the complete return code and paste it in the space provided by the system.

You will only be allowed to get this return code if your maintance fees are paid up to date.

What this blog is intended for

I will offer support to various technical issues that our SPEEX and CompIndex users encounter and so doing, create a support database.