This page provides information for users of earlier versions converting to V8
New Functionality in V8
- Modernized User Interface
- Working with multiple collections simultaneously
- Integrated search window displays all items from all collections meeting the criteria
- Full print preview functionality
- User control over major colors used throughout interface
- Enhanced Collection Listing Grid supporting both sorting and grouping with enhanced summary options
- Guide to Common Actions contains all controls normally used to work with collections
- PDF user manual
- SubItem feature now allows display of parents with child items
- Export goes to a file with user specified delimiter and ability to append for cross collection exports
- Availability of simplified 1-tab interface
- Designed to exploit newer Windows versions such as Windows 7 and Vista as well as 64-bit computing
- PacknGo facility eases move to a new computer
Conversion of Data from Earlier Versions
This article describes important aspects of the conversion of data from earlier versions of the Collector's Assistant.
Automatic conversion of data from V5, V6 or V7
The Collector's Assistant will attempt automated conversion of data from earlier versions (if installed on the same computer). Data from versions 5, 6 and 7 may be automatically converted. Data from earlier versions (V1 to V4) must be sent to Carlisle Development for conversion. The automated conversion should bring over all of your data as well as customized data entry screens, report formats, and modified choice lists. If the conversion is unsuccessful or you are installing V8 on a different computer you may e-mail your data to support@carlisledevelopment.com and we will convert it for you at no charge.
Use of our standard data entry screens and choice lists.
The initial conversion process uses the data entry screens, report formats and choice lists from the earlier version since some users have customized these. However, you may wish to use our standard data entry screens, choice lists and formats as many of these have been enhanced. If you would like to do so, you may download the standard versions at the links provided on this page.
Data conversion - other considerations.
The installation of Version 8 does not affect the older version which will remain operational. We recommend that you do not delete the older version until you have confirmed the successful migration of all of your data. We also recommend that you archive the entire old version onto a CD or DVD before deleting it. Use the backup facility provided with your CD/DVD writer and copy the entire folder CollectAsst.
User Interface Differences for Creating Collections and Adding Items to a Collection
Creating a new collection
As in earlier versions, your items are grouped into collection names which are now listed along the left hand side under the "Collections" group. Adding a collection, as was the case in earlier versions consists of selecting the collectible type, entering a name for the new collection and clicking on Create a new Collection button. All of these controls are located in the Guide to Common Actions located on the upper right portion of the Collector's Assistant window. One change is that if you have a single collectible version of the Collector's Assistant such as Coin Collector's Assistant, the collectible type selector does not appear as the collectible type is automatically set.
Adding items to a collection
All of the controls for adding items to a collection are located in the Guide to Common Actions. Most important is the button Add Item to Collection and the check boxes below it. Normally for collectibles such as coins and paper money, clicking on the Add Item.. button will display a database selector from which items may be copied. If the Manual Entry checkbox is checked, clicking on the Add Item to Collection button will add a new item based on the contents of the tabbed folders. If there is no database for a collectible (such as books, autographs, etc manual entry mode is always used
The version 8 Database selector is different from earlier versions in that it presents a more comprehensive view of the items in the database. The listings are customizable and pictures and values may also be displayed. Selection is done by expanding a tree and then clicking on the specific type.
Uninstallation of Earlier Versions of the Collector's Assistant
Archival Backup
It is recommended that all customers use their CD write utility to copy the entire C:\CollectAsst\ folder to permanent media such as a CD or DVD.
After you have generated an archival backup and also confirmed your data transfered successfully, you may uninstall earlier versions of the Collector's Assistant. The uninstallation process only removes data installed by our CD's. So after uninstallation, your user data will still be present in C:\CollectAsst\. You may delete this folder, once you have made an archival backup and confirmed complete conversion to V8.
Special Considerations for users with scanned images and or RTF documents that were attached to items in the Collector's Assistant.
When your earlier data was converted, picture attachments were treated one of two ways. If the picture was located outside of the CollectAsst folder structure, the path was left alone during the V8 conversion assuming that the pictures will remain in their current location. If, however the pictures were stored in a subfolder to C:\CollectAsst\MyData\, the path was changed to c:\CollectorAssistant\MyData\ and the folders containing the pictures must be moved to this location.
If you did have attached scans or RTF documents located in the C:\CollectAsst\ folder structure it is recommended that you move these to their corresponding location in c:\CollectorAssistant\ and verify their functioning before deleting the folder c:\CollectAsst\.
V8 Defects
