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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the Current Software Versions?

Our current versions of GMS Software are listed below. If you are using a version older than these, contact us for information on upgrades or refer to the information provided on this website.

Upgrades for Registered Users:
As a registered user of GMS, you are entitled to a discounted upgrade to our latest release. Click  and print the GMS Software Upgrade Form . Complete this form and then mail or fax it to us to order your upgrade.

Pricing:
Product pricing is available from our  GMS Software Price List .

What are the minimum operating system / hardware requirements?

All software is supported under Windows XP, 2003, 7 - 32 bit. Minimum hardware requirements are 100mb free disk space, ram requirements of your OS, mouse, printer, video card and monitor at 800 x 600 resolution and 256 colors.

How Do I Reset User Count?

Occasionally a power failure or improper shut down may cause GMS for Windows not allow you access by indicating that your licensed user limit has been reached. This is due to the user count that is maintained by GMS for Windows being rendered incorrect because of the improper shutdown. 

For users of GMS for Windows v4.0.1 and greater, a utility is provided as part of the update that automates Reset. Just double click on RESET.EXE from Explorer or from your Start Menu. All users are automatically cleared. This utility is safe for use with all versions (3, 4, and 5). Download it from our Updates page.

If you do not wish to use RESET, correct it as follows:

1. Start Explorer.
2. Locate the Windows folder in the left pane of the explorer window (usually labeled "All Folders").
3. Click the + sign immediately to the left of the folder icon to expand the folder list in the pane to show folders in the Windows folder.
4. Locate the Start Menu folder on the folders list and click the + sign beside it to expand the folders list again.
5. Locate the Programs folder on the folders list and click the + sign beside it to expand the folders list again.
6. Locate the GMS for Windows folder and left click it to select it.
7. Now in the right hand pane of the Explorer window, right click GMS for Windows. Select Properties from the menu that appears.
8. The properties page for GMS for Windows is displayed. Select the Shortcut tab at the top of the window.
9. Add RESET to the end of the Target line. The Target line should look like this with 3, 4 or 5 (corresponding to your version of GMS) substituted for x : C:\GMSWx\GMSWx.EXE -T RESET.
10. Click Apply and then OK. Close Explorer and start GMS for Windows from the Start Menu.
11. Go to the Admin Menu once GMS for Windows starts and select User Data. On that screen review each user and place a "N" in the field for LogOn if a "Y" appears in it. You must do this for every user.
12. Close GMS for Windows. Repeat steps 1 through 10 above this time removing the "RESET" you added before.
13. You are done.
    

How do I Recover from System File Damage in GMS for Windows?

The message you received is a message generated to indicate that some damage has occurred to the program. This is usually an indication that the file GMSW.EXE or one of the system data files has been damaged usually due to a power outage or other similar reason.

To resolve in GMS for Windows v3.0 and earlier

1. Your data files are stored in the C:\GMSW3\DATA directory and they are probably safe. Make a new directory such as C:\SAFE and move or copy the files in C:\GMSW3\DATA to the new directory that begin with the letter "D". Do not copy or move files beginning with the letter "S". The files that begin with the letter "S" will be replaced along with others in the following steps.
2. Delete the \GMSW3 directory including all files and subdirectories.
3. Reinstall GMS for Windows from your diskettes.
4. Copy all files in the C:\SAFE directory back to your C:\GMSW3\DATA overwriting the newly installed data files.
5. Start GMS for Windows and from the File menu select Reindex. On the Reindex screen press the "Select All" button to select all files. Press "OK" to reindex them.
6. Start and use GMS for Windows. If you have enabled security features, you will need to redefine users and security groups.

To resolve in GMS for Windows v4 and v5.

1. Your data files are stored in the C:\GMSW (4 or 5 ) \DATA directory and they are probably safe. Make a backup into another directory such as C:\SAFE.
2. Reinstall GMS for Windows from your CD-ROM. Be sure to remove the check mark beside Data Files and Reports (if you have modified any reports) on the install components screen.
3. Start GMS for Windows and from the File menu select Reindex. On the Reindex screen press the "Select All" button to select all files. Press "OK" to reindex them.
4. Start and use GMS for Windows. If you have enabled security features, you will need to redefine users and security groups.

Can I use Multiple Data Sets - Multiple Directories?

1. Create an additional data directory for the new data file set. The directory you create for this purpose must NOT be a subdirectory of \GMSW5. Into the directory you have created, copy a set of all files beginning with "D" found in your \GMSW5\DATA directory. It is critical that you copy all files with the letter "D". DO NOT copy any files beginning with the letter "S". Delete all files beginning with the letter "D" from your original \GMSW5\DATA directory.
2. Using the Explorer, create a separate menu item for each set of directories you created. Do this by right mouse clicking on the "Start" button. From the context menu that appears, click on "Explore". Explorer will open with the Start menu directory displayed in the left hand window. Click the "+" beside the Programs folder and it will be expanded to show the items in your Programs folder. Click on the GMS for Windows folder and the items it contains are displayed in the right window. Right click on the "GMS for Windows 5.0" item and, from the context menu that appears, click "Copy". Then right click on a clear area of the same window. From the context menu that appears, click "Paste". Your copy of the "GMS for Windows 5.0" icon will appear.
3. For each menu item you have created, individually right click on each item and from the context menu that appears select "Properties". Click the "Short Cut" tab. On the Target line add a space followed by the full DOS path including Drive Letter to the end of the existing command line. If your initial directory is named FIRST, it will look something like this prior to the change, C:\GMSW5\GMSW.EXE -T , and like this after the change, C:\GMSW5\GMSW.EXE -T C:\FIRST . Close the Properties dialog by clicking "OK".
4. Revise the menu short cut name to make it easy for you to recognize the new set from the old.
5. Repeat the process from step 1 to 4 for Data Set you need to create.
6. When you start GMS for Windows, make sure that the entries in the Directories dialog always show the directories where the System files are located.

Can I Communicate with my Gages? & Import Gage Data?

We are often asked about the abilities of our software to support data input automatically from measurement devices. We have designed the various software packages to accept input in the following ways:

1. We are aware of several software packages that provide RS232 communications with measurement devices and provide string modifications to the input so that it can be loaded to the keyboard buffer as if it were typed through the keyboard. These generally work well. Some trouble may be encountered with the setup of such software to properly clean the input string from the device. The string must be free of any control characters. An ASCII equivalent of a the "ENTER" key must be appended to the string to accomplish movement from field to field.

   We do not recommend, warranty, or support any software in this regard. We do not provide any technical support to a user attempting to accomplish this.

2. We provide a batch input capability in the GMS Pro and GMS for Windows packages that allow measurement data to be appended to our data files and create the necessary skeleton records to allow normal operation of the software. This is explained in detail in the User Guide supplied with your software. Import can be accomplished if you have the ability to format either a Comma Delimited ASCII file or DBF file into the structure explained in the manual. Many options exist as to what can be included in this file. Several gage OEMs have prepared export features with their software to accomplish this. See Batch Data Import Below

3. We have provided custom import routines for several large gage OEMs to allow import of data directly into our software. These include Pratt & Whitney and American SIP. If you have these types of equipment, contact these OEMs directly for information.

Batch Data Import (Out take from our Windows Manual)

This utility allows you to import external calibration data into GMS for Windows. Often you will have a need for a lab or calibration contractor to perform work for you. If this is done in large quantity, the amount of entry of data into GMS for Windows to keep your data current can be extreme. This utility provides a means for import of data in two different industry standard formats allowing you avoid all the typing.

As the data is first imported into a temporary file, you may also be asked to help locate needed files if GMS for Windows cannot find them.

You need to take a few precautions when using this utility. Please make a good backup of your GMS for Windows data before you begin. Make sure that no other users are working in GMS for Windows, all devices to be updated are returned from checkout, and that the file to be imported is located in your current (default) directory.

As the data is imported GMS for Windows displays the record being added in the upper right hand corner of your screen. When all data has been added, the import window will close.

Usage in the table above indicates the form of the data to be imported. 'A' indicates a device that is to be imported with actual measurement data. 'B' indicates a device that is to be imported with results of calibration only. 'Opt' indicates a bit of information that is optional in the import file.

Style A:

The first record for a device in the import file must contain data marked with A above. Optional fields may be unfilled but must exist in the file. The second and succeeding records for the same device with additional measured features must have these fields as a minimum: Gage Number, Feature Description, Nominal, Upper Limit, Lower Limit, Received Value, Post Adjustment Value.

Style B:

The first record for a device in the import file must contain data marked with B above. Optional fields may be unfilled but must exist in the file. There can be no second or succeeding records for the same device using this style of import.

I have lost or forgotten my passwords in GMS for Windows; What do I do?

If you have enabled system password security at any level, you have enabled one of the most sound security systems in existence. There is no backdoor. To return your data to use, you must carefully reinstall your software as follows below.

To Resolve:

Refer to the directions given in How do I Recover from System File Damage in GMS for Windows?  

Can I use Bar Code Devices & Print Bar Codes?

We are often asked about the abilities of our software to support bar code devices and the printing of bar codes in general.

Bar Code Readers:

We have designed our various software packages to accept input from bar code devices of almost any manufacturer. Bar code devices are generally of two types. The first is the type that plugs between the keyboard and the computer. The second type plugs into the RS232 serial port or USB port on a computer. GMS works with either type if the software that enables the device uses the normal keyboard buffer stuffing technique. This technique takes the data from the bar code device and places it into the keyboard buffer of the computer, so that the computer sees it as if it had been typed using the keyboard. This is the most common technique used and is widely supported by virtually all bar code readers.

Bar Code Printing:

We have designed our software packages to print bar codes on any report, label, or form you wish. To do so you must obtain the bar code font for the particular bar code you wish to print. With that code then installed on the computer with GMS, you can modify any report, label, or form to print the bar code just by changing the font of a field or text block to the bar code font. Some bar codes require special characters to be used in conjunction with the font such as Code 3 of 9 (39) which requires the addition of a leading and trailing asterisk for each code. Your bar code font supplier can help you with the particulars of any font you wish to use.

We do not recommend, warranty, or support any specific brand software or hardware in this regard. Since this is a matter of hardware and font installation not supplied by PCI, we do not provide any technical support to a user attempting to accomplish this.

What Gage R&R Study equations are used by GMS

We are often asked about the equations used in the various Gage Study modules of the GMS packages. The answer is a simple one. We use the equations directly from AIAG's Measurement Systems Analysis manual.

Our GMS for Windows performs the Bias, Repeatability & Reproducibility, Linearity, and Stability studies. Additionally it performs the GM version of Gage R&R. For the Gage R&R we use the average and range method equations. We perform all control testing and point exclusion just as is required by MSA. There is no need to list the equations here, we suggest that you refer to your copy of the MSA.

Please be aware that if you have attempted to duplicate the AIAG Gage R&R using a spreadsheet as have many of our customers, it is difficult if not impossible to perform the control tests and recalculations using macros. Consequently, we have never seen results from spreadsheets that are fully correct in this regard.

GMS for Windows also supports the direct conversion of GM to AIAG R&R studies and AIAG to GM R&R studies. This allows you the freedom to use either as you needs dictate.

What do I do if the message "Duplicate Primary Key" appears?

Note: Users of GMS for Windows v4.04 and greater can resolve these issues by simply running Reindex. Users of all older versions should refer to the following.

Occasionally this message will occur while attempting to save a record in one or more of the database screens in GMS for Windows. This message tells you that you already have a record in the database with that same unique identifier. GMS for Windows does not allow you to same two records that have the same unique identifier and that is obviously the reason for the message. You wonder what do I do now? We need to look at each database individually for the answers.

Device Inventory: You cannot enter two devices with the SAME device id. This is the primary key for this table. You will need to change the device id (for the record you are trying to enter) to something else before you can save the record.

Calibration Info: The primary key is the Cert Number. You do not enter this number directly. It is done by GMS for Windows each time you add or copy a record. What has happened is that your internal table that stores the last used Cert Number info has been altered. To fix the problem you must:

1. Exit the attempt to enter the current record using Escape.
2. Using the A to Z icon to set order, set the index to "Cert No". Go to the end of the database using the End (Last) Button. Record the Cert Number for the record displayed. It should be the largest Cert No. in your system.
3. Close the Calibration Info window.
4. Open the Admin / Misc Options window. Click Edit. In the field for Calibration Cert Number, enter a number that is the largest Cert No in the step above plus 10.
5. Save and close the Misc Options window.
6. You're done.

PM Records: The primary key is the PM Report Number. You do not enter this number directly. It is done by GMS for Windows each time you add or copy a record. What has happened is that your internal table that stores the last used PM Report Number info has been altered. To fix the problem you must:

1. Exit the attempt to enter the current record using Escape.
2. Using the A to Z icon to set order, set the index to "PM Report No". Go to the end of the database using the End (Last) Button. Record the PM Report Number for the record displayed. It should be the largest PM Report No. in your system.
3. Close the PM Record window.
4. Open the Admin / Misc Options window. Click Edit.
5. In the field for PM Report Number, enter a number that is the largest PM Report No in the step above plus 10.
6. Save and close the Misc Options window.
7. You're done.

All other databases in GMS for Windows provides protection similar to Device Inventory. The explanation for Device Inventory will be applicable for each of them.

Note: Users of GMS for Windows v4.04 and greater can resolve these issues by simply running Reindex.

  How can I send data from my gages to GMS?

This is a common question. For gages with serial output, we recommend a package from Tal Technologies, Inc called SoftwareWedge. It is probably the best of its type. It is moderately priced and provides an easy way to get your data into any application. Call 215-763-7900 for information. Their web site is www.taltech.com .

This package also works with many devices such as GagePorts, PLCs, and computers. Its a great utility to have for many reasons!

  Where can I get info about calculating Measurement Uncertainty?

We are often asked about measurement uncertainty and its calculation. We recommend a package from Integrated Sciences Group called Uncertainty Analyzer. It is probably the best of its type. It is moderately priced and provides an exceptional interface for otherwise confusing calculations. Best of all, you do not have to be a statistics major to use it! Call Howard Castrup at 800-400-7866 for information. Those of you familiar with the NCSL may recognize his name. Their web site is www.isgmax.com . We feel you will find it both powerful and easy to use!

  My Graphs do not display properly - Only a White screen. What do I do?

This is a problem caused by conflicts between some video drivers, video hardware, and Windows GDI. Down load the Gserver.EXE patch to solve the problem from our Updates Page. The file is a self extracting executable named GServer.EXE. To install it, copy it to your \Windows\System directory after downloading. Then in Explorer, double click on it and start the self extraction process. When asked if you wish to overwrite existing files, always answer "Yes". Four files will be placed into your directory. Shut down your computer and restart. All will be ready for use. 

This update is included in v3.0.5 and greater of GMS for Windows.

  Why can't I delete some devices from Device Inventory ?

GMS protects you from problems caused by deleting Device Inventory records for devices which are either issued through the Crib or are recorded as being out for repair. In order to delete these devices, be sure to first return any devices through the Crib and delete any repair records for the device. GMS will then allow the deletion of the device. 

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