Overview
The COPITRAK interface program is run whenever you want to convert photocopy transactions
from the COPITRAK unit. First, the COPITRAK interface program downloads the transactions
from the COPITRAK unit via the computer's serial communications port. Next, the
COPITRAK interface program converts the downloaded photocopy data into the T3EXP.REM,
T3EXPKEY.REM, and T3EDESC1.REM files. Lastly, you import the ".REM" files into
TABS III with the "Import Data from Data Capture Devices" program (TABS III for
DOS) or with the "Merge Data Capture Trans." program (TABS III for Windows).
Either program reads the data from the ".REM" files, merges it in with the TABS
III cost files, and deletes the ".REM" files.
A problem has been discovered when using the COPITRAK interface program on a Windows 95
machine. The interface program does not download transactions from the COPITRAK unit
because Windows 95 does not allow programs to access the serial communications port.
This was not a problem with prior versions of DOS or Windows 3.x.
Local install of TABS III and Windows 95
If you have TABS III installed in a local hard drive, the solution is fairly easy to
implement. First, reboot the Windows 95 computer in DOS mode. Next, run the COPITRAK
interface program from the TABS III program directory. Lastly, reboot the Windows 95
computer in Windows mode and import the COPITRAK transactions into TABS III.
Network install of TABS III and Windows 95
If your COPITRAK interface program is on a network drive, you may not be able to access
the COPITRAK interface program after rebooting in DOS mode. The solution is to follow the
steps below:
On the computer that is attached to the COPITRAK unit:
1. While in Windows 95, open a DOS window (or use Windows Explorer if you prefer).
2. Create a dummy directory on the local drive.
3. Copy the COPITRAK.EXE, COPITRAK.PRM, and TBCUSTOM.DTA files from your TABS III program
directory into the dummy directory.
4. Edit line 2 of the TBCUSTOM.DTA file in the dummy directory in the following manner:
Example of line 2 of TBCUSTOM.DTA before editing:
F,CLIENT,82,01,f:\sti\,TIMEKEEPER,5,50,200,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y
Example of line 2 of TBCUSTOM.DTA after editing:
C,CLIENT,82,01,,TIMEKEEPER,5,50,200,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y
The first field was changed from "F" to "C" ("F" was the
network drive and "C" is the local hard drive). The data path was changed from
"f:\sti\" to blank (blank means use the current directory as the data
directory).
5. Close the DOS window (or Windows Explorer).
6. Close all open applications in Windows 95 and reboot the computer in DOS mode.
7. Change directories so that you are in the dummy directory and run the COPITRAK
interface program. Three files will be created in the dummy directory named T3EXP.REM,
T3EXPKEY.REM and T3EDESC1.REM.
8. Reboot the computer in Windows mode.
9. Open a DOS window (or Windows Explorer).
10. Copy the three ".REM" files from the dummy directory on the local drive to
the TABS III data directory on the network drive.
Note: Be sure that there aren't any ".REM" files already
present in the TABS III data directory. If there are, you will need to import the
transactions found in those files into TABS III before doing the copy in step 10.
11. After copying the ".REM" files from the dummy directory, delete the
".REM" files in the dummy directory. This will prevent you from accidently
reconverting the data in the ".REM" files the next time you convert transactions
from the COPITRAK unit.
12. Close the DOS window (or Windows Explorer).
13. Import the COPITRAK transactions into TABS III.
Note: You will have to repeat steps 6-13 each time you want to convert
your COPITRAK photocopy data.