Electronic Board Meeting Support

Frequently asked questions:

1. Q. I just installed the demo CD and when I run EBM, I get: Runtime Error 430. Class does not support... What do I do?
   
   A. There is a slightly different version of the program needed to run on some Windows 98 machines, related to the specific versions of windows common controls files that some programs may or may not have updated on your machine. If you are running Windows 95 or 98, please email us at: support@cogsystech.com and we'll quickly email to you a Windows 95/98 specific version of the program. It's just one file to place onto your machine, and it'll fit onto a diskette. Our most recent installer will detect your local Windows 98 status and install the specific version you need.
   
   
2. Q: I'm seeing a DCOMSCM window when running in stand-alone mode. What's this for?
   
   A. EBM versions 1.2.84 and earlier tried to make sure that MSDE (the run-time SQL Server) was running. This activated DCOMSCM. We are checking Microsoft literature for a way not to activate this program in stand-alone mode. For versions 1.2.85 and later, we've taken out the check. Once you check "Auto-start" in the SQL Server Manager, you should never have to worry about whether MSDE is running, as it will start up with your machine.
   
   
3. Q. When I try to create a board minutes or agenda document from EBM, I get an error.
   
   A. You need the file system object file called scrrun.dll, which is a file we have added to installers for versions 1.2.85 and later. Let us know if you need it and we'll email it to you.
   
   
4. Q. I'm creating agenda subitems and they don't seem to save.
   
   A. Prior to creating a new one, save the one you're editing. This same answer applies to other editing, such as for agenda items resources, or meetings. Always save your work before moving on. Versions 1.2.84 and earlier had a bug whereby the latter portion of really long subitem names didn't get saved. This has been addressed in v1.2.85 and later.
   
   
5. Q. Is there a way that staff can add agenda items remotely via the web without installing EBM?
   
   A. Yes, there is a custom programming option we offer whereby we set up your IIS web server with the web page necessary to collect agenda item data and submit it directly to your EBM database.
   
   
6. Q. Does someone need to operate the computer connected to the large display if we choose to use that in our board meetings?
   
   A. No, the computer just needs to be initially set up by your technical staff or your sales staff, and it can be configured so that it just needs about one click to be running at the start of a meeting.
   
   
7. Q. What if a board member is out of town, or even out of state. How can they retrieve board meeting contents?
   
   A. As long as they can find an Internet Service Provider - and many of them do offer 1-800 number connection options - the board member can start up EBM like they do from home. They just need to make sure to connect to the Internet Service Provider before running EBM. EBM will attempt to activate Dial-up Networking (DUN) on the board member's computer if no network connection is detected.
   
   
8. Q. When I try to create an agenda or minutes, the program reports an error. What do I do?
   
   A. Here are the three most common causes of this error: 1. Make sure you don't already have an agenda or minutes document already open that you just created. Prior to version 1.2.89, EBM will try to create a date coded document with the same name as one you just created. Close or rename (using save as...) the already-open document. 2. If you don't already have an open document, make sure you have MS Word installed on your computer and that it's from Office 97 or later. 3. Type the following into your command line (do a start->run) then type: c:\windows\system\regsvr32 c:\windows\system\scrrun.dll This will forcibly register a file which may have gotten unregistered for whatever reason.
   
   
9. Q: When I install EBM onto a Windows NT (or 2000) machine, why do I get a message that I don't have access priviledges, and to contact my network administrator?
   
   A. The EBM program, just like many other programs that may be installed onto your computer, attempts to place certain files into the \system folder. You may be logged in as someone other than the administrator, and do not have permission to alter files in that folder. Log in as a user with administrative priviledges and try again.
   
   
10. Q: Why am I getting a network error message when trying to run EBM after I've installed it?
    
    A. If you get a network error message and have not yet successfully run EBM, then you may not have had a successful install of the Microsoft data access components (MDAC).
    Before addressing this possibility, take care of some basics. Check to make sure the machine has network connectivity and that the server is running OK. The server machine should indicate a green right-pointing triangle in the lower right icon tray on your desktop. Also, check to see if other users can start the program OK, so as to eliminate the possibility that the server cannot be seen.
    
    Then, make sure you have an ODBC data source named EBMdata. Your network administrator can find this for you in the system DSN tab of the ODBC control panel.
    
    Make sure the IP address of the data server has not changed since the time of your installation. If it has, then you'll need to run EBMTools to replace the existing DSN. Your network adminstrator or tech support representative may also have a special file that can be placed onto your machine to re-point EBM to the correct server.
    
    Finally, look at the possiblity that MDAC was not correctly installed. The EBM installer attempts to install MDAC version 2.5. For whatever reason - user selects cancel, or the hard drive runs out of disk space, or machine hangs or power is interrupted during install, there could be an incomplete installation of MDAC 2.5.
    Try to install it again from your CD-ROM. Use Explorer and navigate to your CD-ROM drive. Find the \bin\ebm folder. Then double click on (run) mdac_typ.exe. This will force the installation of MDAC 2.5. Then reboot.
    
    
    If you still get the error and are running Windows 95, then you may have had an unsuccessful install of DCOM95. Install it from your CD-ROM drive, by double-clicking on: \utilities\dcom95.exe. Reboot after this install and try again. If you still get the error, then re-install MDAC as noted above, as there are known sensitivities to the order of installation of these packages.
    
    
    
11. Q. I don't seem to be able to enter votes.
    
    A. For safety reasons, EBM requires three things to be in place before an agenda item can be voted on. These are discussed in detail in the administrator's manual on page 4 of chapter 4. Briefly, they are: 1.) Set the actual date of the meeting to today., 2.) Make the item votable and released to the board, and 3.) Mark the board member(s) as being in attendance via the attendance tab.

If your question is not answered here, please send it via email to: support@cogsystech.com

We will reply within 24 hrs.