The following questions are the most often asked on our technical support line.  Many of the answers are also documented in the Help file. They are listed here in a question and answer format for your convenience – for greater detail check the Help file folder.

Q:  What size labels do I need for AUTO LIBRARIAN VER. SE/4.0?

A:  bar code labels, book pocket labels and borrower address labels: AVERY 5160 (1” X 2-5/8”) 30 to a sheet (available at office supply stores or HIGHSMITH #36594). Spine Labels: HIGHSMITH order #26440W (1” x 1-1/2”) 49 to a sheet. Card catalog cards: HIGHSMITH order #44420 (order from HIGHSMITH CO. (800)558-2110).  These are all laser labels. 

Q:  What numbering system do I use for the booknum (bar code labels) and where do I start labeling and entering books into AUTO LIBRARIAN?

A:  Simply start with the number 1 and begin with the books which circulate most often, or start with a bookshelf nearest the computer working your way down the shelves and across the room(s).  First print a quantity of labels (say, 1500 or 50 sheets of the Avery 5160 label).  Have the labels in front of you at the computer.  Peel off the first label and place it on the upper right hand corner of the back of the book and add the book with that book number.  Peel off the next label and place it on the next book and add the book into the system with that book number, etc., until all of the labels are used.  Print a new quantity of labels (#1501 – 3000) and continue until all of the books are added to the Auto Librarian™ book database.  As soon as a book is added it can be circulated. 

Q:  How do I reindex the database, how often?

A:  Auto Librarian Library Server Version SE reindexes automatically every 5 days.  Should you need to reindex otherwise and for Auto Librarian V.4 the reindex utility is located by closing Auto Librarian™ and clicking the Auto Librarian folder (on the C drive).  Double-click the Reindex icon (a wheel).  Click the Reindex databases button.  View the Indexlog after Reindex has finished in the folder by double clicking on the Indexlog icon (a stenopad).  Reindex should be run weekly. Two additional utilities will keep your database "tuned-up".  They are Memoverify and Subverify located in the System folder which is located in the Auto Librarian folder. Run these two utilities monthly as well.

Q:  Where is the Microsoft Windows 95/98/Me/NT/2000 backup program located? What do I backup, how often?  If my hard drive crashes how do I restore AUTO LIBRARIAN?

A:  To backup click My Computer, Right click on the C drive, click Properties, Tools, Backup Now.  (If Backup Now is not an option the Backup Option was not installed from the Windows  installation CD/disks.  It must be installed from the original CD/disks – check your Microsoft Windows documentation for installation and usage instructions.  Choose the Tables folder within the Auto Librarian folder only to backup onto floppy disks (usually the A drive). Backup daily rotating floppy disks set A and set B.  To restore in the event of a hard drive problem – restore the Tables folder.  If necessary to install on a new computer/hard drive install the Auto Librarian™ Server Ver. 4.0 from the CD then restore the Tables folder from the latest backup set.

Q: What do I do if Overdue Notices won’t print (report says NO RECORDS) even though Overdue List shows overdue books?

A:  Go to the Utilities file folder, Setup, Information Editor, Fine Rate Selection button.  If your fines are set to Single click the set fine rate Button and set the fine rate to an amount greater than $0.00.  If you do not wish to charge a fine rate set the fines to Manual.  The Overdue Notices will print properly only if the fine rate is greater than $0.00.

Q:  How and when do I run SCANDISK and DEFRAG?

A:  Click My Computer, right click on the C drive, click Check Now for scandisk and Defragment Now for Defrag.  Run these utilities weekly for best performance or after an error is reported.  Then run the reindex utility.  Make sure that there is a recent backup of the Auto Librarian Tables folder (located in the Auto Librarian 4 folder) before running these utilities.  

Q: How can I modify the Spine Label report to adjust the labels to align properly on my printer or change the font size?

If the spine labels do not print properly with your laser printer in Auto Librarian™ Library Server V.4 (for example: call numbers run off the labels after the first few labels printing left to right or if the font size is too small) modify the report using the following directions:

IMPORTANT: Make a copy of the original report spinelabel.srw (rename it spinelabeloriginal.srw so that the original file can be replaced if needed in case another printer is used. Click Reports, Custom, Custom Report Wizard. Open File - C drive, Auto Librarian, spinelabel.srw

At the Layout Page tab click on the design tool icon (with designer’s triangle). Note that font size is also located on the Layout Page tab - change the font size here. Click Report Setup button. Label file tab. Look at the dimensions of the label. Adjust the Horizontal Gap - this is the gap between the labels left to right - (the current setting is .125).

Changing this setting just a bit will increase the margin on the left of each label therefore a small change will be quite noticeable. Click Preview Report tab. View and/or print 1 page of the report (on paper first - holding the spine labels underneath the paper up to the light to judge whether or not the change is adequate). After a desirable compromise is reached save that setting by saving the report (spinelabel.srw) and make a note or print screen the desirable settings for future reference.  To print screen: press Alt key and Print Screen Key. Click Start, Programs, Accessories, Paint, Edit, Paste, File, Print.)

Q:  What are the system requirements for running Auto Librarian™ V.4?

A:  In general, for the Auto Librarian™ Library Server V.4 alone, 24 MB of RAM with a Pentium 100 or higher processor and 30-50 MB for the program files, approximately 60 MB for the data, and 100 MB free hard drive space minimum and Windows 95/98/Me/NT/2000/XP are the minimum system requirements.  Additional RAM and hard drive space will allow faster and better performance of not only Auto Librarian™ Library Server V.4 but also of Windows.  Add a networked Remote Card Catalog  or Remote Circulation computer and the RAM of the server should be increased to at least 32 MB minimum.  Free hard drive space is required for swap files.  As your hard drive space nears critical levels, begin searching for a new, larger hard drive.

Q: Is there a limit to the number of books and/or borrowers that can be entered into AUTO LIBRARIAN?

A:  No, the only limiting factor is the size of your hard drive.  The database can handle an unlimited number of records (theoretically 2 billion records).

Q: Is there a limit to the number of subjects that can be used in AUTO LIBRARIAN?

A:  No, there are four subject fields in each book/item record.  Each of these can be filled.  Subjects can be chosen from a prebuilt subject listing however these do not have to be used. 

Q: Can the AUTO LIBRARIAN book/item database be searched at a remote computer?

A:  Yes, in two ways.  1)Install a Remote Card Catalog searching station (one machine per licensed copy).  Auto Librarian™ Remote Card Catalog is purchased and installed on the remote computer (networked to the Library Server computer).  The book/item database can be searched and books checked out can be placed on reserve from the Remote Card Catalog.  2)If you purchase the Auto Librarian™ Ver. 4.0 Internet Catalog the AUTO LIBRARIAN book/item database can be searched by any of your patrons having Internet Access from their home and/or office computer!  Check it out at: www.autolib.com/elibrary and view the demo. This is the "view only" version of the new Auto Librarian.net™ software for the Internet. 

Q:  Is bar coding equipment essential or is it optional?

A: Bar coding equipment is not essential to the functioning of Auto Librarian™ however bar coding equipment can help to reduce errors in keying in book and borrower numbers when checking out and checking in library materials.  Also, the Tricoder portable bar code unit allows for desk use during the year in addition to portable inventory at year’s end.  There are several non-portable models available to fit your library’s budget.  It is important to label all library materials with a bar code label when setting up the library even if bar coding equipment isn’t ordered immediately.  The library will be set up for bar coding in case equipment is ordered in the future and the readable number on the label will be used until that time.  See our website for pictures and extensive bar code unit information as well as information on all MC² SYSTEMS’ products. 

Q:  Is there a charge for technical support or an annual service fee?

A:  No, Auto Librarian™ has no annual service fees.  Also, technical support questions are answered through our toll free line. If your installation requires a longer support call because of a unique situation to your location, for example, problems with your hardware as it relates to Auto Librarian™, you will be asked to call back at a specified time for tech support on a different line which is not toll-free.  Although there will be a charge for the telephone call the technical support will continue to be free of charge.  Many companies charge an hourly fee in addition to the phone charges – we do not.  (See Technical Support page for details).

Q:  How can I be sure that I have the latest changes to Ver. 4.0?

A:  Click Start, Programs, Auto Librarian 4, Auto Librarian 4 folder.  Right click on the Auto Librarian icon (opened book).  Click Properties.  If date created is 1/10/00 you have the latest files.  If not, simply download service packs at: www.autolib.com/updates or order a free service pack.  Include $10.00 for shipping and handling.  Install the service pack floppy disk according to the enclosed instructions.  It is important to have the latest files - download or order  the service pack if you need to.  Important Notes:  latest filedate is posted on the download page.  Do not download service packs if you are running the Remote Circulation version of Auto Librarian™ V.4 - it requires a different service pack which will be mailed to you as needed.

Q:  Is Auto Librarian™ V.4 Y2K (year 2000) compliant?

A:  Yes, all MC² SYSTEMS software (including all versions of Auto Librarian™) is year 2000 compliant.  

Q: What are MARC records and how do they relate to AUTO LIBRARIAN Ver. 4.0?

A:  MARC records are machine readable book records which can be imported into AUTO LIBRARIAN with the MARC/AL Interface Utility Ver. 4.0.  This utility will import MARC records (in USMARC or MICROLIF format) from disks sent with newly purchased books or other sources for the MARC record.  After filling in the input form with the source for the booknumber, callnumber, and price the MARC records are converted to AUTO LIBRARIAN records.  These converted records can be then viewed and sent to the AUTO LIBRARIAN book database.  Usually major book vendors will ship the MARC records on disk with the purchase of books at little or no additional cost to the buyer.  Large book orders can be imported in a matter of minutes.  NOTE:  AUTO LIBRARIAN does not export MARC records however the MARC records remain intact and can be kept for safekeeping on floppy disks.  To download MARC records from the Internet - use MARCExplorer or MARC LOC.  These utilities allow users to search the Internet for book records and save them.  Once the MARC records are downloaded and saved use MARC/AL Interface import them into Auto Librarian Ver. 4.0. 

Q:  Can books be entered from a remote computer for instance from my home and/or office computer?

A: Yes,  using the Remote Data Entry Ver. 4.0 program can be inputted at any computer with Windows 95/98/Me/NT/2000/XP, saved to disk and brought to the Library Server for downloading.  With this feature volunteers can input books in their spare time and get the book database built in no time!

Q:  I have been using Auto Librarian™ Version 2.0, 2.5 or 3.0 on an older computer and tried to upgrade to a Pentium II processor.  When I run the program I get a runtime 200 error.  What can I do?

A: You need to: 1) upgrade to Auto Librarian™ Library Server V.4.  The Pentium II/200 Mhz processor speed to too fast for the MSDOS versions of Auto Librarian™ or 2) find a computer below a Pentium II/200 Mhz which can run the older version until you can upgrade. Don't worry about your Auto Librarian™ data - an easy-to-use conversion program ships with the software which will convert the older format to the windows format.  

Q:  Can technical support questions be asked via email?

A:  Of course, ask away!  Email your questions to: techsupport@autolib.com you’ll get a timely response, guaranteed!  See also Technical Support  for further contact information.