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Buzz Tools Plus Support Frequently Asked
Questions
The information in this FAQ is not updated and therefore does not
contain all the information available in the new Find
Answer page. However, we continue to provide this information
for users who are unable to use the new answers database:
- How do I change the on-the-fly settings
General
- I need step by step directions
on using the "Select Files" dialog.
- How can I use Buzz Tools Plus to organize
my designs?
- What about organizing designs stored
on diskettes?
- We have a small computer network
in our home. How can I view designs that are on a drive
on that network?
Displaying
- Why does my catalog have lots of pages,
with only one design per page?
- I can't seem to open my
catalog. I keep getting an error even though I have checked
off boxes on the Select Files dialog box.
- Some of my PES files are flagged
with the message Bad Card Data. What does this mean?
- When I display my catalog the
bottom row does not display any graphics. How can this be fixed?
- Why don't some of my designs display
the "correct" colors?
- I do not want to see my
Hidden or System files - how do I do this?
Printing
- The designs in my catalog
are printing with the wrong colors. How can this be fixed?
- I am trying to print my catalog
and Buzz-Catalog freezes and my catalog doesn't print. Can
this be fixed?
- Why can't
I print in landscape after
installation of HP 970C printer?
Converting Designs
- I need step by step directions on how to
convert designs using Buzz Tools Plus.
- I am trying to use the on-the-fly
design conversion. I double-click on a design and when my embroidery
software is opened, I receive an error saying the file is unreadable.
What is wrong?
- What file types can
I convert to and from?
- What about the GNC file format?
Zip File Support
- How do I unzip designs using Buzz Tools Plus?
- Why does my catalog have lots of pages,
with only one design per page?
Updates
- I have tried to download the update
listed on your site but nothing happens. What is the problem?
- When installing the free update,
I get an error message -623. How do I install the update so
as not to get this error?
PES Fit Hoop
- Sometimes
the PES Fit Hoop function will not work on a specific design
- what is going on?
General FAQ's
Problem not here? Contact
Us.
Buzz Tools displays your designs
in the directory structure you have and by showing you what you
have can help you in organizing your designs. I would suggest
you catalog your entire drive of designs and work through it one
directory at a time. I use Buzz Tools along side of Explorer (both
showing the same directory and each displayed on half of my screen).
When I can see my designs it is easy to decide what design to
drag and drop with Explorer. You can use Explorer to add directories
for your different categories and even rename your design files.
I usually set up subjects like Flowers, Animals and may even set
up directories under these to refine the categories even more.
When you are finished moving the contents of a directory, click
on your Buzz-Catalog display to activate it and press Ctrl + R
to refresh your catalog. Since you originally cataloged the entire
disk, all directories and designs are updated to reflect the changes
you just made.
This actually goes very fast. When you are all done, you may want
to print your catalog although I usually just use my catalog online
and double click on designs to start my embroidery program.
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It is a little harder to
organize your designs when all your designs are kept on floppies.
Buzz Tools displays your designs in the directory structure you
have and by showing you what you have can help you in organizing
your designs. I use Buzz Tools along side of Explorer (both on
the same directory). When I see the designs, it is easy to decide
what design to drag and drop with Explorer.
If your designs are a real mess (i.e. not sorted) you have some
work ahead of you. I would suggest you make yourself a stack of
blank diskettes, labeled as you wee your future collection labeled.
Maybe as you suggest an "Animal 1", "Flowers 1",
etc... Also, put a volume label on each diskette to match the
exterior label on the diskette.
Take your current diskettes, one at a time and move them to a
temporary directory on your hard drive. Use Buzz Tools to catalog
this directory only and open explorer to the same directory location.
Using the catalog image to decide on the new location, drag and
drop your designs to their new homes on the new diskettes. Since
it is to a different drive, you will have to delete the copy from
your hard drive after you move a copy of it. (If you want to convert
designs do so before this step). When you are done with the first
diskette, use Explorer to copy the next diskette to the same directory
location as the first diskette. Click on the Buzz-Catalog screen
to activate this page and refresh your catalog. No need to exit
and enter again. (Refresh is a Ctrl + R).
This actually goes very fast. When you are finished. Save your
original disks someplace safe or make backups of your new disks.
Diskettes have a high failure rate and I wouldn't want you
to loose your valuable designs.
When you are all done, you may want to create a catalog for your
A: drive (if that is your floppy) and one by one print a catalog
for each floppy. Since you put a volume label on each diskette,
this information will print on your catalog and will tell you
which diskette your catalog is for. Again, you only need to replace
the diskette and refresh your catalog for the design information
to be displayed in your Buzz-Catalog.
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Buzz Tools will view designs on networked drives as long as they
are "mapped" as a drive letter on your computer. Here
are some instructions on how to do this, for more detailed information,
go to Start, Help, and type in Mapping Networked Drives.
1. Go to Windows Explorer
2. Go to Tools > Map Network Drive.
3. In the window that opens, you will see displayed a drive letter
in the top drop down menu. This will
be the assigned letter for the network drive.
4. Under Path, choose the drive that you want to assign to that
letter - that is the networked drive that contains your embroidery
designs. If the box is checked next to reconnect at logon, your
settings will be permanent until you change them.
5. Click OK.
Go into Buzz Tools and from the Select Files Dialog box, click
on the Drives drop down menu and you
will now see that networked drive listed. To map another drive,
follow the steps above again - the next available drive letter
will now be displayed in the map drive window that opens from
Explorer.
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CHANGING SPECIFIC ON-THE-FLY
SETTINGS
========================================
1) Go to the File, Settings menu
2) Highlight the file type you want to change.
3) Click on EDIT (Not the Edit All button this time)
4) Check the box in front of Convert Design file type to... and
set the file type to the one of your choice (must be supported
by the embroidery program you are using to open it). Probably
your best choice here is the PES file format as it contains the
most design information and the largest design area.
5) In the Open With Program box, select OTHER
6) Use the browse keys to locate the correct file path of your
Artista program. Usually it will be location c:\Program files\Artista\bin\be.exe
7) Click OK
On-the-fly settings are discussed in more detail in the Buzz Tools
User's manual. Please refer to it for more details.
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SELECTING DESIGN FILES:
STEP BY STEP
=====================================
LESSON ONE:
When you first start Buzz-Catalog you will see a page of bees
in the background and then another window will open up that has
the title "Select Files". For now, we are not going
to worry about file types, I just want you to look in the main
window area of this dialog box. There is a listing of the directories
on your computers c: drive.
In front of each directory name is a little red box. I want you
to use the scroll in this box (using the bar on the right) and
find the very first item on this list. This will be display a
red box and a picture of a file folder, and the name of your C:
drive next to that. Position your cursor over the red box and
click on it. There will be a delay as the program counts up your
design files on your C: drive. When the hour glass disappears,
click on OK. If you have any designs on your C: drive they will
now display in the catalog.
If you don't have any designs on your C: drive, you will receive
an error message and will need to go on to the next lesson.
LESSON TWO:
Next time you start Buzz-Catalog, you might want to do a different
drive. If you look closely at the "Select Files" dialog
box you will notice two more small windows. The small window on
the top left of the dialog box has a label DRIVES above it, a
small window that will display the name of the current drive and
a small button with a down arrow on it. If you position your cursor
over the small arrow and click on it, a box will open up that
displays all of your current drives. Position your cursor over
the drive you want to catalog and click on it. The large window
area below will now display the directory tree for the current
drive. Again... don't do anything fancy, just find the very
top folder of this directory tree and click on the red box in
front of it. When the hour glass disappears, click on OK. If you
have any designs on this drive they will now display.
Try paging up and down using your PgUp and PgDn keys. Look at
the menu items and try doing some easy printing. Try double clicking
on a design (must be
done fast enough for your computer to register it as a double
click).
LESSON THREE:
Next time you start Buzz-Catalog, you might want to do a different
directory. If you look closely at the list of directories (in
the large window that displays your directory tree), you will
notice that some of the directory names have a + sign in front
of them. If you click on one of these + signs, the tree will open
up a level and sub directories and files will display in the list.
Try clicking on some individual files to select them or on sub-directories
to select them. Clicking on them a second time will de-select
them and they will no longer be included in the new catalog. Using
this list and these little boxes will give you complete control
over what appears in
your catalog. At the very top right of this "select Files"
dialog box is a counter that keeps track of the number of designs
that you have selected. It is possible to click on a red box in
front of a directory and to have this number 0. This would happen
if there were no design files in the selected directory. When
you are done selecting and deselecting, and when the hour glass
disappears, click on OK. If you have selected any designs they
will now display. If you receive an error, you will notice
that the file count is 0.
LESSON FOUR:
Finally, if you want, you can change the file types that you want
displayed in your catalog. This time when you start Buzz-Catalog,
notice the top center of the "Select Files" dialog box.
There are the words Files of Type and a small window below it
that lists file types. This little window also has a small button
with an arrow on it. Click on the arrow and more file type combinations
are listed. You can click on one of these to select them or you
can position your cursor in the little window and type in your
own. You need to follow the same general format as they appear
in the drop down box. This is a more advanced thing to do and
you really don't need to worry about it at all if you don't
mind having all file types displayed in your catalog (which is
the default).
At any time, you can click on the SAVE STARTING DIRECTORY button
in this "Select Files" dialog box. This will save the
drive, file type information and will open your directory tree
to the same level as it was set before.
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It probably relates
to your printer and the manner in which Buzz Tools prints. Try
using the "Fastest" print option, as this sends your
designs to the printer in a slightly different manner and usually
solves this problem. You'll see this option in the Print dialog
box that comes up after you choose one of the Print commands from
the Buzz Tools menu.
You may also be
able to solve the printing color problems by obtaining the most
current printer drivers available for your printer. You will need
to contact your printers vendor to obtain this. The fastest option
is very close in quality though, and you may find it an acceptable
option.
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The problem you describe has only
been reported with a specific video card/driver ( ATI 3D Rage
II+ graphics adapter) . We have been unable to reproduce the problem
and are unfortunately unable to correct it. You may be able to
display your catalog by specifying a different View percentage...
try Fit Window or 100%.
You may be able to resolve the problem my obtaining the most current
video driver for your video card. You can do this by contacting
the manufacturer of your video card or by going to their web site
and looking for driver updates. If your video card is an ATI video
card you can find them at http://support.atitech.ca/ From here
you can download new drivers and report the problem to their technical
support team.
I am sorry for the inconvenience this may be causing you. Please
let us know if you resolve this problem or if your video driver
is not an ATI video card so we can further track this problem.
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Check First: If
you are trying to convert on-the-fly to the HUS file format and
open your design in the Husqvarna Customizing software,
you should be sure that your Buzz-Catalog is at the 2.11 level
or greater. You can check your version number by selecting the
Help, About menu. If you are not running at least
the 2.11 version, you should update your Buzz Tools Plus.
If you are running
2.11 or greater, then something isn't set up correctly. If
you want all design file types converted to the same design file
type and opened into the same embroidery program, do the
following.
- Go to the
File,
Settings menu. The Double-Click Action
tab will display
- Click on EDIT ALL button.
Another dialog box will open.
- Check the box in front of Convert
All File Types To...field and set the file type to
a type supported by your embroidery software.
- Find and select the embroidery
software from the Open With box.
- Using the Find It or
Browse button, fill in the Executable
Path Name field.
- Click OK to save your changes.
This will make all stitched based
designs convert to the same design file type and open with the
same embroidery program.
If you want to change how one design
type is handled you would do the following:
- Go to the File,
Settings menu. The Double-Click Action
tab will display
- Click on EDIT (not
the Edit All) button. Another dialog box will
open.
- Check the box in front of Convert
XXX File Types To...field and set the file type to
a type supported by your embroidery software.
- Find and select the embroidery
software from the Open With box.
- Using the Find It or
Browse button, fill in the Executable
Path Name field. When you are using Browse, you will
have to navigate to the correct directory location.
- Click OK to save your changes.
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Do
you by chance have a printer switch or other devices sharing the
same parallel port? We have seen this occasionally with folks
who are trying to use a zip drive that is attached to the same
parallel port as their printer. This is a problem with this type
of configuration as several devices are trying to talk to the
computer as exactly the same time.
If your problem is due
to a parallel attached ZIP drive, you will need to move your designs
off of your ZIP in order to print your catalog.
If you are using a printer
switch, try directly attaching your printer to see if your catalog
will print this way.
Also, you might want to
contact the manufacturer of your printer switch or Iomega (zip)
to see if they have any suggestions.
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This can be fixed by downloading
and installing the newest HP Printer Driver for your specific
printer. The HP Technical support page can be found at www.hp.com/cposupport/eschome.html
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There was probably too
much activity on the Buzz Tools web site. Please try again and
if possible, at a different time of day.
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- Turn your computer off
and wait a minute or so to clear the memory buffers.
- Turn the computer back
on and allow it to boot up completely. NOTE: Windows XP
users, you must logon as an Admin
User.
- Close any memory resident
programs that are running in the background like virus checkers
or disk managers. Usually, icons for memory
resident programs are located in the lower right corner of your
Windows Desktop by the system clock. You can often close
these programs by right clicking on the icon and choosing an
option such as Close or Exit from the list.
- Run the update and follow
the onscreen instructions.
If you still
receive the error, please do the following:
- Go
to the Buzz Tools Plus Update
Center and click the link to the desired update version.
- The next screen
asks you if you are going to install the update on a computer
with or without internet access. Choose the option "Buzz
Tools Plus is installed on another computer that does NOT have
Internet access" even if this is not the case.
- Scroll
down to Option Two and download the zipped version of
the update. Unzip this file and run the setup.exe file that
is located in the Disk 1 folder. Alternately,
you can follow the instructions on the web page and install
the update using floppy diskettes.
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This message indicates that the
card data contained in the file does not match the information
in the header. This can be caused by a header that is missing
or the card data that extends beyond the coordinates of the design
as specified in the header. If you always bring your designs into
Layout & Editing to write to an embroidery card, you will
probably never see any stitching problems with these files as
Layout & Editing corrects them. If you write to a card via
the File Utility, you could have problems with outlines matching
up or sections of the design stitching in incorrect locations.
To correct the problem with the
files, just select "Fix Card Data" from the Buzz-Catalogs
"Tools" menu. Buzz-Catalog will examine each of your
designs and if it suspects there is a problem with the file, it
will fix it for you.
If you are converting these
designs to another file format, you do not need to be concerned
about this error flag. Buzz-Catalog will correctly convert these
designs for you.
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Several file types, for example
DST and EXP files, do not contain any color information in them.
They do have color breaks, i.e. markers in the file to let the
machines know to stop sewing but no color values. Therefore, when
these are displayed in a catalog, such as Buzz Tools, the color
stops are assigned a color value so that you can get an idea of
what the design will look like. If you will notice, all DST and
EXP files display in Buzz Tools with the same color sequence and
there is a line displayed for each color stop rather than a color
value. This is so you can write in your color choices on a printed
catalog if you like.
When these designs are converted to another file format that requires
the color value in them, Buzz Tools does not know what color the
digitizer intended for the color breaks. Should color break one
be green (for a tree) or blue (for sky). Therefore, when the file
is converted, Buzz Tools assigns its color choices to the file.
These of course, do not relate to an actual color value but represent
the color break present in the original file.
I hope this explanation makes sense but basically we cannot assign
the "correct" color value to the color breaks as we
have no way of knowing what those are.
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In the Select Files dialog box,
select to view All Supported File Types from the Files of Type
pull down menu.
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The key here is that each ZIP or
directory causes Buzz-Catalog to insert a page break. If you are
cataloging a directory
filled with ZIP files, (that contain one design per page) than
you will have a catalog with lots of pages. We are planning on
improving this for ZIP files but for the present this is the way
things work.
You can test to see if it is ZIP files causing your difficulties
by unchecking the box "Include ZIP'd Designs" on
the Select Files Dialog box.
You can extract (or unzip) them using the extract tool which will
in effect move the designs from the ZIP file to the directory
that contains it.
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- Create a catalog of the ZIP files
you want to extract or unzip. This catalog will insert a page
break after each ZIP file or directory you include.
- Extract your designs using the
TOOLS, EXTRACT wizard. Your designs will be unzipped and placed
into the directory that contains the ZIP file they were extracted
from. Since you are probably looking at a catalog page for designs
INSIDE a ZIP, you will need to do the following to display the
ZIP'd designs.
a) You may be able to refresh
your catalog to add your new files (Ctrl + R) However, if
your original catalog did not include the directory that contained
the ZIP files, you will need to open a new catalog that will
include it.
b) Open your Table of Contents
(Ctrl + T) and move back to the directory that contains the
ZIP file. This is where the unzipped files are placed.
We do not currently offer an option
to delete the ZIP file after the files have been extracted because
Buzz Tools Plus will only extract those files that are included
in the catalog. You can delete the files from the zips one at
a time from within Buzz Tools Plus and the ZIP file itself will
be removed only if it is empty. If you had, say a TXT file in
it that was not extracted, the ZIP file would remain. Personally,
I just remove the ZIP files from my hard drive and use them as
a back up.
At this time you can convert your designs and delete your original
designs if you want. OR you can make your future catalogs not
include the ZIP files (uncheck the box at the bottom of the Select
Trees dialog box).
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Step By Step: How to Convert Designs
Using Buzz Tools Plus
==========================================================
- Start Buzz-Catalog+
- Using the "Select Trees"
dialog, choose the file type you want to convert from and the
directories you want to convert files in. If you do not want
to convert an entire directory of files, this is where you would
need to select and deselect the files for your conversions.
You may convert multiple file types at the same time. Also,
you don't need to worry if your catalog contains designs
of the type you are converting to - these files will simply
be skipped.
Click OK to display your catalog.
- Once your catalog is displayed,
select the TOOLS, CONVERT option. This will display the "Convert
Design Files" dialog box. Choose the file type you want
your designs converted to.
You will also have a few other options on this screen that you
may want to change. Please see page 21 of your user's manual
for more information about these options.
- Click Next to continue with the
conversion process.
- The last conversion screen displays.
For this exercise, choose to display both the original and the
converted design in the updated catalog.
- Press Finish to finish the conversion.
The conversion options are discussed
in more detail in the Buzz Tools User's manual. Please refer
to it for more details.
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Buzz Tools Plus will not mass convert
GNC files. We have based this decision on the fact that GNC files
are included on disks of many different file formats and we feel
that folks who have purchased the Amazing Designs will already
have the designs in a format supported by Buzz Tools Plus.
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The problem is that none of the
directories you have selected contain any of the file types you
have requested. Even though the boxes turn blue, your file count
(located in the upper right corner of the select files box) is
still 0. For example, if you are trying to convert or unzip HUS
files, you need to include this file type in your available list.
You can say .PES;.HUS although I usually just display all the
file types available (there will be a very long option in the
file types box that will include all the file types supported).
Be sure you check your file count if you receive the error message!
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The PES Fit Hoop function
will not work on any PES file that contain objects other than
stitch objects. If a design has been edited in Layout and Editing
and contains Text or any shape that are still editable in Layout
and Editing, the PES Fit Hoop function will skip over the design.
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