Backing Up VSS
A: There are a lot of answers to this question so we will keep it brief. Your best bet is to get a storage device such as another hard drive or a removable storage device. 3.5" disks will work, but you will be using more than one disk for 1 backup. You also risk damaging or losing one or more disks - whereas with a larger backup device you have one disk for 1 backup. Your backups are easier to work with and more reliable, plus most backup devices have utility software to make the job easier.
A: The answer is every day. You are most likely using VSS every day to make transactions, add customers, and/or inventory. You should develop a schedule to back up - for example: always in the mornings or at closing. Remember, if your hard drive fails and you have decided just to back up once per week, you can expect to lose a week's worth of late fees, transactions and inventory.
General
A: The latest VSS Plus version is 10.2, released February 16, 2003. To obtain the current release, log in to the support download page (you'll need to enter your license number in order to log in) - or contact us. You can check the version you have in either of the two following ways:
- At the Main Menu press CTRL + F to view your version number and release date will be displayed.
or
- Exit the Main Menu. At the DOS prompt (C:\VSS > ) type VERSION and press enter. The version and release date will be displayed along with other system information.
A: Contact the sales department at 1-801-476-9077.
A: Yes, VSS Plus does operate under Windows 3.1, 95, 98, ME, NT, 2000 and XP. Because VSS Plus is a DOS application there are some special consideration when using Windows particularly Windows NT, 2000 and XP . The most common problem encounter using Windows is to start VSS Plus multiple times on the same computer. This can be avoided by using the VSS.PIF (a predefined shortcut) to start the software from Windows.
A: It is possible that you have not specified a level of access for the "Edit Employee" option located in
EMPLOYEE PASSWORDS MENU -> PASSWORD LEVEL SETTINGS.
A: You will need to attempt to access the password level settings logged in as EMPLOYEE #1 and change the incorrect setting(s) back to zero. If you don't have access to EMPLOYEE #1, you will need to contact VSS support at
1-801-476-9077.
A: Each item in the grid will have a # next to it on the far left side. In the field where you normally enter the movie number, enter a "-" and the number of the item you wish to remove (for example, to remove the third item, type "-3"), and press Enter.
A: By editing the movie and viewing page 2 of 2, you can see who has the movie (if it is out) and who the last 3 renters were. Note: the customer # listed is not equal to the customer id.
A: With VSS Plus versions 9.7 and higher you should only need to re-index once. This is true provided that you never encounter a power outage, lock up, or system crashes. The reality is, re-indexing will be necessary from time to time. For a typical store with stable computers and networks, we recommend re-indexing once a month as a maintenance procedure. Because re-indexing does not affect stored data and is considered to be 'safe', re-indexing can be done as frequently as one likes.
Because versions 9.6 and lower use a different indexing scheme from version 9.7 and new, the need to re-index will occur more often as more customers and inventory is added to their system. Additionally, re-indexing these older versions is often slow. By upgrading to version 9.7 or higher, you should see the need to re-index reduced as well has decrease the time it takes to re-index.
A: If you are running VSS on a network, you will need to:
- Shut down all workstations except Terminal #1.
- It is normally a good idea to restart Terminal #1 (reboot)
- For VSS Plus versions 9.7 and lower:
- Starting from the MAIN MENU:
-> Press '6' for the UTILITIES MENU
-> Press '4' for the RE-INDEX DATA FILES MENU
-> Press '7' to RE-INDEX ALL FILES
- For VSS Plus versions 9.9 and higher:
- Start from the SYSTEMS MENU:
-> Press 'U' for the UTILITIES MENU (enter the correct terminal number if prompted)
-> Press '4' for the RE-INDEX DATA FILES MENU
-> Press '7' to RE-INDEX ALL FILES
A: Yes. See the VSS Plus Reference Manual, Chapter 9 - Reports, Movie Labels or VSS Plus Reference Manual, Chapter 9 - Reports, Generic Bar Code Labels.
A: If there is more than one store file opened in VSS, it will prompt you to enter the number of the file that your customers are stored in. Call our support line if you would like to close a store file.
A: You can access this information from either DOS or Windows:
- DOS - At the Main Menu press CTRL + F. A system menu is displayed and the hard drive summary is listed here.
- Windows 95/98/ME - Go to the desktop and open My Computer. Right-click the hard drive that has VSS installed, and click on Properties. A detailed drive summary will be displayed.
VSS and Networks
Note: You must have a multi-user version of VSS in order to run VSS on a network.
A: The following problems will generally cause this type of windows error:
- Your network drive has not been specified on that workstation.
Solution: You will need to map a network drive using Network Neighborhood. If you are not familiar with this, you may want to consult your network technician for assistance.
- Your network drive letter has changed or has not been set correctly. For example (old drive letter= F: new letter= J:)
Solution: From the windows desktop, right click the VSS shortcut and select Properties. Select the Program tab and look at the "Working" line. This should have a path specified (for example, F:\VSS). If this drive letter is incorrect, change it to the appropriate letter.
- The workstation may not be connected to the network or has lost its network connection.
Solution: You may need to simply reboot the network. Starting with the workstation, exit all programs including VSS plus. Select
Start -> Shutdown -> Shutdown the Computer.
Once the Computer has shut down, repeat the same process for other workstations and then the Server. Turn the server back on and enter VSS plus (note: Make sure you are at the MAIN MENU). Turn the other workstations on and attempt to run VSS again. If the same error occurs, you may have a hardware problem or the network has not been set up properly. You may need to consult your network technician for assistance.
A: Yes, however we don't recommend using more than 3 terminals at one to do transactions. If you have a need for more than 3 terminals, we recommend that you dedicate a machine as a server.
A: There are a couple of options:
- Novell NetWare
- LANtastic for DOS. (Artisoft)
Please consult your computer technician to find out which system will best suit your needs.
VSS and Networks
Q: How do I register the VSS Software?
A: Two forms are required, which must be originals (no copies) and must be mailed to Unique Business Systems:
- End User Agreement Form (located at the back of Reference Manual)
- Store Address and Registration Form. This form is located in your System Information Menu. You must fill out, print, and mail this form to UBS.
There are no exceptions for any of the registration requirements above. Please refer to your VSS Manual (2-21) for more details.
A: The program has not been registered yet or has not been registered correctly. Contact our sales department at 1-801-476-9077.
A: The program has not been registered yet or has not been registered correctly. Contact our sales department at 1-801-476-9077.
