BIDLINE WIZARD UPDATE

For a period of 15 hours over the night
of Sat 28th/Sun 29th May The SH bid
packages were uploaded and the LH bid
packages were REuploaded. Unfortunately
my colleague uploaded LAST Julys LH bid
packages. This caused some consternation
and I apologise for that.  The fix was
simple, delete July using the maintenance
procedure and redownload the correct
package. Also the system stopped those
affected from doing a bid with the 
incorrect data, so some comfort in the
fact that the system works.

LICENCES.

Some of you seem to be losing your licence
files or upgrading using the full install.
The former will result in a 'Program  
Unlicenced' message and the latter a 'Naughty
boy' message. Please use the MAINTENANCE
procedure to BACKUP ESSENTIAL files to a floppy.
Amongst other things this will back up your
licence file (BIDFLY.LIC). So, if this ever
happens to you all you need to do is to 
copy the licence file from that floppy to
your BID60 folder.., overwriting any original.
You can either use WINDOWS EXPLORER or the
RESTORE ESSENTIAL FILES from within 
MAINTENANCE. 

This also applies to setting the program
up on another computer. The licence will 
allow a second computer. Generally, use
any V7 floppies to set the program up, this
gets the system files in place, then you
can do one of two things:

1. Use the upgrade file to upgrade, or
2. Use Laplink to transfer the BID60 folder
from one computer to the other.

Then copy the licence from that floppy to
the new BID60 folder.

LOGBOOK. Once logbook is registered you can
keep the licence on a floppy, It does not
matter about the expiry date, as Logbook is
not time sensitive. So it will last you a lifetime.

Remember, every time I email you a new licence
for BIDWIZ, or send new disks to you the licence
sent IS NOT registered for LOGBOOK. So keep a separate
copy on a floppy for your logbook program. If you wish
you can downoload the setup program for logbook
and set it up in seperate folder.

Other News

It looks as though the new DIARY program will
be available for evaluation at the end of JUNE.
It is coming along nicely and will be exportable
to Microsoft Outlook as the database is in 
MS Access format.

SUMMER ARRANGEMENTS

As about half of you will already know we undertake
an annual pilgrimage to New Hampshire, from where 
I commute. This year we will be leaving over the
weekend 10/11 July and returning on Sept 3rd/4th
So the phone here in the UK will NOT be manned as
I lose my student assistant in July. So this is how 
it works:

I will be on Email as usual every day from about
midday BST. We do have a phone that you can call
on. The number is (00 1) from the UK, 603 763 2770.
Those that have been through summers with me know
that I keep my eye on the ball and response times
to Emails do not suffer badly if at all.

BIDWIZ Costs.

This came out a bit garbled in my last letter do
I will reiterate it here. IF (and it looks likely)
I become VAT registered I am propsing an increase
in the annual cost of BIDWIZ to 65GBP inclusive
of VAT. This represents less than a 6GBP increase.
This would take effect from 1st Feb 2000.. the start
of my financial year. If any of you wish to inspect
the accounts for Hands On Software they will be 
available from Companies House as of the 1st August.


Once again I thank you all for your support, I do know
you have a choice, although I was accused recently
of running a monopoly.... I was a bit hurt by that as
I have never advertised and would not abuse any
market position I have attained....

Cheers	Steve