Introduction
This document describes the features of ACT!Diag--The ACT! Data Diagnostic Tool. ACT!Diag is included with every ACT! installation. ACT!Diag can be used to help diagnose and repair issues with ACT! The following list includes several of the functions you can perform using ACT!Diag:
- Quick diagnosis of the database structure.
- Back up the ACT! registry keys.
- Remove index files, synchronization packets, and temporary files.
- Reset program options to default values.
- Obtain system configuration information.
- Undelete contact records.
- Repair some database problems.
- Disable opportunistic locking
Note: ACT!Diag is included with ACT! only as a support tool. It is not part of the ACT! product. Interact Commerce Corporation does not provide technical support for ACT!Diag.
Update to ACT!Diag 6.0.3.953
We recommend checking to be sure you have the most current version of ACT!Diag before using any of its functions. The current version of ACT!Diag on the Updates and Documents webpage is 6.0.3.953. To determine your version of ACT!Diag, start ACT!Diag using the instructions in the Starting ACT!Diag section below. From the ACT! Data Diagnostic Tool, click the Help menu, then click About. If the version is prior to 6.0.3.953 you can download the latest version of ACT!Diag --> http://software4advisors.com/download/ACTDiag603.exe
Note: If you have not already done so, you will be required to create a user profile on the ACT! Web site before you will be able to download this update.
Changes made to the 6.0.2 and 6.0.3 builds of ACT!Diag
ACT!Diag builds 6.0.2 and 6.0.3 now use the Current User's desktop instead of the All Users' desktop for NT users. This corrects issues with creating log files in areas such as Scan & Repair that would cause it to halt.
The Record Update option (click the Reset menu, then click Advanced Options) allows you to set how often ACT! checks for updates made to a database that is being shared by multiple users. This option was temporarily removed with the release of ACT! 6. It has been added back into ACT!.
Changes made to ACT!Diag version 6.0.3.953
The update to the ACT!Diag tool includes support for disabling Opportunistic Locking on Windows 2003 Server Editions.
Using the ACT!Diag Tool
To start ACT!Diag:
1. Close ACT!
2. From the Windows Start menu, choose Run.
3. Type actdiag and click OK. The ACT! Data Diagnostic Tool should appear.
The main screen provides:
- Menus to access the various functions and tools of ACT!Diag.
- Icons on the left side to access three of the frequently used functions and to exit the program.
- The ACT! Install Directory, as recorded in the system registry.
Note: If the ACT! Install Directory is shown in red, ACT!Diag did not find the ACT.EXE file in the install directory. To fix this reinstall ACT!
Options Menu
The Options menu provides access to functions that are used for file management tasks:
Database Quick Check
Database Quick Check displays record counts for all of the files that make up the ACT! database you specify. If the general structure of the database is correct, the record counts and sizes are displayed. If any item shows a red error message, choose the Help menu, and click Error Messages for additional information.
Remove Index Files
Remove Index Files lets you quickly delete index files from any database. After the index files are removed ACT! will open and display a messages stating "the index files are either missing or they are corrupt." Click Yes and ACT! will rebuild the index files. Removing the index files will not result in a loss of data. This function will often remove corruption from the database.
Remove Unapplied Sync Packets
Remove Unapplied Sync Packets removes unapplied synchronization packets from the default synchronization, Briefcase, Outbox, and Temp folders.
Remove Temp Files
Remove Temp Files deletes unnecessary .TMP files from the Windows temporary folder.
Failed Conversion Check
Failed Conversion Check helps you to troubleshoot a failed database conversion when you are attempting to convert a database from a previous version of ACT!. This option creates a temporary folder called TCAnnnn.tmp where "nnnn" is a random number. Open the database in that folder and you will see the last contact that ACT! tried to convert. You can then open the database in the previous version of ACT! and check the contact information for problems.
Back Up ACT! Registry
Back Up ACT! Registry allows you to back up the ACT!-related keys in the Windows registry. You can back up all of the ACT!-related keys or check just the keys you want to back up. The registry backup makes it possible to transfer preferences from one workstation to another.
Opportunistic Locking on NT/2000/XP
Opportunistic Locking on NT/2000/XP will disable opportunistic locking.
- Opportunistic locking, if enabled, will corrupt any database shared over a network from a server running Windows NT, 2000, or XP.
- Opportunistic locking is enabled, by default, when Windows NT, 2000, or XP is installed.
- Opportunistic locking is re-enabled whenever a Service Pack is applied to Windows NT, 2000, or XP.
- The "Opportunistic Locking on NT/2000/XP" function is greyed out on Windows 95, 98, and ME, because opportunistic locking does not exist on those versions of Windows.
Undelete Records
Undelete Records makes it possible to retrieve inadvertently deleted records. Contact and associated activity records are retrieved; notes, histories, and attachments are not.
Exit
Exit closes the ACT! Data Diagnostic Tool.
Maintenance Menu
The Maintenance menu provides access to functions that are used to test and, in many cases, repair internal database problems.
Scan Database Integrity
Scan Database Integrity tests the internal links of the selected database to determine if problems exist.
Scan and Repair Database
- Scan and Repair Database both scans the database for integrity and corrects or removes invalid internal database links.
- If an error is found it creates an ACT!Diag record in the database which contains information about the error.
- Scan and Repair makes a backup of the database before starting the scan and repair process. The backup file is created in the same folder as the database. The filename of the backup will be a combination of the database name and a data/time stamp.
- After the Scan and Repair has completed and the database has been reopened, it is strongly suggested that you Compress and reindex the database. Follow the steps below to compress and reindex your database:
1. Open the database you wish to compress and reindex in ACT!
2. From the File menu, choose Administration and select Database Maintenance.
3. Be sure Compress Database is checked.
4. Click the Reindex button.
Backup Database
Backup Database makes a backup of the database. The backup file is created in the same folder as the database. The filename of the backup will be a combination of the database name and a date/time stamp.
Reset Menu
The Reset menu provides access to functions that reset ACT! to program defaults. It also provides access to some advanced options.
Options and Window Positions
Options and Window Positions will open a dialog where you can enable items you want to reset to their default settings. Click the reset button to set the checked items to default.
Advanced Options
Advanced Options opens a dialog that provides access to special settings including settings sometimes required to improve e-mail or network performance.
Reports Menu
The Reports menu includes four reports that are useful for system or database troubleshooting.
System Configuration Report
The System Configuration Report is used to troubleshoot the system environment ACT! is operating in. It lists information for the following :
- Operating system and machine information
- Network information
- File information including version and release dates for key files
- Free drive space
- Modem, default printer, and video information
- ACT! startup information
- Word processor information
- Startup information about installed programs from all sources
Database Structure to Report format
The Database Structure Report is a comprehensive listing of the fields from both the contact and group table in the selected database. It includes the following:
- Record and field counts for both the contact and group tables
- Name and ID number for all fields
- Field size and configuration
- Any entry or exit triggers
- (Optional) Listing of the drop-down entries for the field
Database Structure to Excel format
The Database Structure to Excel format report gives the same data as the Database Structure to Report format report but the report is generated as an Excel spreadsheet. This report will only work in Excel is properly installed on the system.
Database Fields Report
The Database Fields Report lists the fields from both the contact and group table in the selected database. It includes the following:
- Record and field counts for both the Contact and Group tables
- Name and ID number for all fields
User's Report
The User's Report lists all the users for the selected database. Multi-user databases require that you log in as an administrator to run the report. It lists all the defined users along with their security level, logon and synchronization status.
Registry Permissions for current user
The Registry Permissions for current user report displays the current user's access rights to certain registry keys that are critical to successfully running ACT!. |