Time and Materials Accounting .NET

Help Index

What is TMA.NET?
About TMA (Copyright Notice)
Installation and Setup
New Users Start Here
Technical Support
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is TMA.NET?

Time and Materials Accounting has been running 24/7 for over 20 years. This system is suitable for nurses, building and health inspectors, maintenance crews, lawyers, and others who need to record activities, observations, and materials for billing and/or to meet government regulations or standards.

TMA-dot-NET is a version of the program that runs on a single server computer. Any computer that supports a browser such as Netscape, Microsoft, or Opera (Linux/Unix) can connect to your server and use the program with no installation.

Installation and Setup

For the most simple installation, just create a TMA directory on your C: drive. If you change the directory or install on another computer or disk drive, your license is not transferable, so select a directory you plan to keep for at least the first year. (Note: You may create a directory tree such as "C:\Program Files\TMA", but this is not recommended because it places data files in your Program Files path. Modern security practices use a "bin" directory as discussed later.)

From the Downloads page, select the TMA Application Server program. (The file name is Install-TMA.exe). If you plan to install TMA on some other computer not connected to the internet, save the Install-TMA.exe file somewhere on your local disk, otherwise, just open it to start the installation. Install the program in the TMA directory you just created.

The Install-TMA.exe program will create supporting files and subdirectories in your TMA directory. It will then automatically start the Setup.exe program. It is recommended that you install the TMA.NET program in the TMA directory you created. Advanced users may want to use the TMA\bin directory (or if local policy dictates, you may use the Program Files directory), but if you do, you will have to manually change the shortcut on your Start menu to 'Start in' the TMA directory, not in bin or Program Files.

When installation and setup are complete, you can launch the server program from your Start->Programs menu. (Double-clicking on TMA.NET.exe program only works when it is installed in the TMA directory where the support files were installed.). Upon first run, the Language Selection and Setup windows will be displayed.

You can click on Demo to try out the program. A message about registering your program will appear at random until you are registered. When you are ready to go live, click Setup then Register.

After registering, you will receive a registration code and expiration date. Enter these on the Setup screen to get out of Demo mode.

The 'Network Status Monitor' shows you the Address (URL) of your installation.

New Users Start Here

TMA.NET is a browser-based program. To use it, all you need is a browser such as Netscape, Microsoft, or Opera.

Start your browser on any computer on the same network with your server and enter the Address (URL) of your installation as shown on the 'Network Status Monitor'. It will look something like this: http://MyServer/index.htm. Bookmark this location.

The Home Page of your program will be displayed in your browser. Links to Help pages will appear as needed.

Technical Support:

Click here to view the TMA Technical Manual.

David Wethe authored the Time and Materials Accounting program in 1981, and still supports it 24/7 at 1-800-345-6531. If not at that number, try David's cell phone 1-858-518-0001, or email to support@statusboard.com. Technical support is billed monthly at $2/min for licensed users.

Other Computer Professionals:

The following computer professionals may be able to help with Windows and Network problems:

David Stone, Net Plus Computer Systems, San Diego, CA, 760-727-8741, david@netpluscomp.com
David Brasure, Arden Wood, San Francisco, CA, 415-379-2180, dbrasure@ardenwood.org
Ross Bratton, Canterbury Crest, Tigerd, OR, 503-639-7661 x333, ross@principia.edu
Steve Van Wie (helps Daystar in Florida) 954-587-6547, baroque@aol.com

• The application server program shows the rwong Computer Name: (This only applies to computers running Windows 98) Right-click on MyComputer and go to Properties. The Network ID must match the 'Registered To' name.
• Object doesn't support property/method: (This only applies to older browser versions: Go to Tools -> Options -> Advanced and uncheck the box "Display a notification about every script error."
• The charting program works from all but one workstation: You may have a network error. Also, the Charting program may just blink and disappear when you try to start it. - or - The program stops at the copyright screen with "unable to locate the tmacore.hlp file".
• How can I test to see if I have a network error? Open "My Computer" and look for the name of the file server (the 'main' computer). It should have a drive letter from D to Z like this [F:]. If it is not there, or if you cannot open it, you will need to 'map' it (see next items).
• What causes a network map error? Each time a computer starts, it tries to map its network drives. If the server computer is not running yet, you will be asked "Do you want to restore this connection the next time you log on?" If you don't say "yes", the drive map is lost.
• How do I fix a network error? Open 'Network Neighborhood' and look for the name of the file server (the 'main' computer). It may be inside 'Entire Network' and in a workgroup. Open the file server and select the [C:] drive. On the File menu, select Map Network Drive. Now leave that window, and open C:\TMA\Config.tma using Notepad. If you see DATADRIVE=F:\TMA\DAYDATA\ then map your network drive to F. Be sure to check 'Reconnect at login'. Note: If you see DATADRIVE=F:\DAYDATA\ in your Config.tma file, then do not map the C: drive directly. Instead, open the C: drive on the server and map the TMA directory.
• I just restored my files from a CD backup and I get 'read only' errors. All CD files are marked 'read only' even if ther were 'read/write' originally. After restoring files from a CD, select all the files (you can do this as a group) and on the File menu, go to Properties. You may have to click the 'read only' box twice to clear the check mark.
• I got the message: Abort, Retry, Ignore: Abort means to shut down the whole program. Use this as a last resort. Retry is handy if you are trying to print or save something to disk and the device is not ready. You can insert the floppy disk, and click on Retry. Ignore is the most common choice. But before you select any choice, please write down the error message so your supervisor or computer help-desk can understand more about the problem. Then be alert and check your work. Some errors result in loss of data. You may have to restart your computer to get the program fully reset.
• All the charted entries after a certain time of day are suddenly missing: This is almost sure to be an index error (see How do I fix an Index Error)
• How do I fix an Index Error: First, exit the TMA program from all other computers. Then, on the Office Menu, select Reindex. You will be prompted to enter the file name in this format: 05jan01 Note: because of a bug in the program, you cannot use the backspace key when entering this file name. If you make a typing error, press the escape key and try again.
• I corrected a chart, but the Summary Report doesn't show the change. The summary information is generated (or in this case, updated) when the chart is printed. If you edit a chart, but don't reprint that chart, the summary information is unchanged. To avoid wasting paper when reprinting a chart, type a file name (you could even call it 'junk') when the program asks "Where shall the report be sent? The default is the printer."
• I can't reprogram one of my scanners: When the system asks you to enter the serial number of the scanner, just use the last four digits. Actually you can assign your own numbers to your scanners if the original numbers wear off. But the program has trouble with big numbers, so please keep them to four digits.
• How is Daylight Savings Time handled in TMA: There is a nifty system in TMA that distinguishes between 1:30st (standard time - before the time change) and 1:30am (after the time change). Unfortunately, most Windows users have their systems set to automatically adjust the computer's clock thus defeating the TMA system. If you want to use the TMA system, click here to download and print the dstnote document.
• I leave for a few minutes and when I come back, I am logged out: This is a safety feature which you can adjust or disable differently on each computer. If you leave the terminal before logging out, any person can use the system as if they were you. This can even happen by accident. To adjust the number of minutes, use any text editor to edit the TIMEOUT= line in the Config.tma file in the C:\TMA directory. To disable this feature, delete or 'rem' out the line.
• Disk, Network, Printer problems?; Don't forget the extensive Help system right on the Start Menu, or try the Windows 98 Hardware Help file, or for Windows NT or Windows 200, Windows NT/2000 Hardware Help 

Ownership: All software programs relating to Time and Materials Accounting, remain the property of New Century Products. Only the right to use the software is granted, and only for a limited time. For more info, call 858-518-0001.

Disclaimer: New Century Products makes no warranty as to suitability of this software for any particular purpose and accepts no liability for direct or consequential damages relating to the performance of this software. Check with your dealer regarding trial period and return policy.