Common Problems

I can't download the software

This is normally due to temporary Internet congestion or server problems. Please try again later, preferably at a less-busy time of day. If the problem persists, contact IMSL Software to check on the server status.

I downloaded the software, but I don't know how to install it

Run the installation program xlw1627.exe (16-bit version) or xlw3228.exe (32-bit version) and follow the standard installation and setup directions.

You will be prompted to select your organizer model during installation. You can change it afterwards under Settings/Organizer Model. See the note below if you need to change between Casio and Sharp.

My software says that it is not registered - how do I register?

If you do not have a valid registration number from IMSL Software, then your software is an unregistered trial version for which you must pay the registration fee to register (yes, even if it came in a Brand X kit which didn't mention that the software was a trial version copied from the Internet).

To register your copy of XLink/Win or CASIF/Win, see How to Register.

My new registration number doesn't work!

This would be due to one of these three reasons:

1. You didn't enter your name EXACTLY as shown in the registration. You must use the same capitalization, punctuation marks, and spacing in your name. Copy it directly from the registration message if you aren't sure you are typing it correctly. If for some reason the name on your registration isn't really what you wanted (maybe you hate your middle name, or you wanted to give this registration to someone else as a gift), you can ask us to change the name on the registration.
2. The program version you are using doesn't match the option you selected on your registration order, for example if you are trying to use a 32-bit registration number with the 16-bit version of the program or vice-versa. The 32-bit version of the program is named Xlinkw32.exe. The 16-bit version is named Xlinkw.exe, and shows "16-bit" in the About box and the startup splash screen. If this is the problem, you can either download and install the correct version of the program, or request a different registration number from IMSL Software.
3. You are using an old version of the program. Registration numbers issued by RegSoft or ShareIt will not work with XLink/Win versions earlier than 2.5d. Registration numbers for recent versions of XLink/Win will not work with versions earlier than 2.3, or older versions of CASIF/Win. If this is the problem, you can either download an updated version, or request a different registration number from IMSL Software.

I lost my registration number

Send us a message with your name and original email address. We'll look it up.

My old registration number doesn't work the latest version

Verify that you are entering your name correctly - remember that your registration number is tied to your exact name.

If you are using the same name and number as before, then probably the new version of the software requires a different registration number than your previous version. IMSL Software changes the registration numbering scheme from time to time to distinguish OEM versions of the software and to combat piracy.

You may be entitled to a free upgrade if you have registered a previous version of the software recently, so contact IMSL Software to ask. Even if you are required to pay for an upgrade which is multiple releases beyond your old version, registered users can upgrade for half the price of a new registration.

I want to un-install the software

The 16-bit version adds an UnInstall entry in the Xlinkw folder and on the Start menu under XLink Win. Click on this entry to un-install the software completely.

The 32-bit version adds an entry to the UnInstall list under Add/Remove Programs on the Windows Control Panel. Locate the XLink Win entry and click Add/Remove to un-install the software completely.

You do not have to un-install the software before you upgrade to a new version or re-install.

I get a File Access Error or Permission Denied error when I run XLink/Win with Windows 7 or Vista

Update to XLink/Win 2.8 - it fixes these problems without the need to turn off UAC or make manual modifications to your installation.

I can't find my model in the list of models supported

We try to list all the supported models, but there are a lot of them - if you can't find yours on the list then select the closest supported model (and send us a note!).

There are 5 families of Casio diaries which are generally compatible within a family. The first 3 are supported:

1. The standard SF-series (SF-4300/4400/4600/4900/5300/5500 etc)
2. The Illuminator series (SF-5x80/5x90SY/6x00SY/7x00SY)
3. The SF-Axx series (SF-A10/A20/A30/C-300)

and the last 2 are not supported:

1. BN and PV models
2. SF-4990/6990/7990 series

There are at least 9 families of Sharp organizers which are generally compatible within a family (detailed table).

The first 5 Sharp organizer families are supported:

1. Standard YO/ZQ/EL/OZ-series (YO-300/400/500, EL-6690 etc)
2. YO-170 series (YO/ZQ-150/170/470)
3. YO-180 series (YO/ZQ-180/190/480, EL-6790/6890)
4. Newer OZ series (OZ/ZQ-570/650/7xx, also TM-20)
5. YO/ZQ-270/290 and EL-6990 series

and the last 4 are not supported:

1. Most older IQ models
2. YO/ZQ-515/520/540 series
3. SharpOZ-290 (ZQ-290 Mk II) series (pen-pad models)
4. P10/P20 series (pen-pad models)

Communications will work if you select the right family. However there are some significant differences between models within families, so it's always best to select the closest model.

Versions prior to 2.4: If you have a Sharp organizer and see only Casio models, then you have not correctly selected your model during installation. You can either re-install, or just edit the Xlinkw.ini file with a text editor and change the line which reads:

DDMODEL=Casio something.
to
DDMODEL=Sharp

(no trailing period). You will then see Sharp models under Settings/Organizer Model.

I don't have a free COM port, or I have an IRQ conflict

If you don't have a free COM port, then you must free one up, at least temporarily - the Casio and Sharp organizers require a free COM to connect to the PC. If you have only one COM port, and it's being used for a serial mouse, then re-boot Windows temporarily without the mouse (you can run XLink/Win using the keyboard). Or get a PS/2 mouse instead. If you have only USB ports, then you must buy a USB serial adaptor (such as http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.5859).

If your COM port has an IRQ conflict, then you probably need to re-arrange your ports. Try this:

COM1 (IRQ4) - free for organizer connection or other serial devices
COM2 (IRQ3) - serial mouse (if any), or internal modem (if any)
COM3 (can share IRQ4) - internal modem (if any)

Do not leave gaps in your COM port numbering (e.g. using COM4 without having a COM3). Do not try to share the same IRQ between two COM ports which must be active at the same time (a serial mouse is always active in Windows).

You can check your system IRQ usage in Win9x/NT/XP under System Properties/Device Manager/Computer Properties.

You can check on COM port availability in XLink/Win under Settings/Port Settings - click the Test button.

If the COM port you want to use has the wrong type of connector (9 pin vs. 23-pin), then you can either buy an external adaptor, or try swapping the internal cables connecting the COM ports to the system motherboard.

My USB-serial adapter doesn't work

This problem is almost always due to an incorrect driver. Many USB-serial adapters are sold with drivers than only work on WinXP. The driver may appear to install correctly on Win7, and be reported as working, when in fact it is not working properly. Check the internet or contact the manufacturer for an updated driver.

It doesn't work - I get an error on the organizer when I try to send data to the PC, and nothing appears on the PC

If no message appears in XLink/Win when you try to send data from the organizer, then the program is receiving nothing on the COM port. First make sure that you are putting XLink/Win into Receive mode before you transmit data from the organizer. If you still see no reaction, it probably means that either you have the wrong COM port, or the COM port is not working, or the cable is not connected properly. You should check for each of these possible problems systematically, following the directions under Communications Troubleshooting in the XLink/Win Help file.

On the other hand, if an error message does appear, then it means something different.

I get an error message in XLink/Win when I try to communicate

XLink/Win tries to describe correctly any error it sees on the COM port, in the communications protocol, or in the data format. All errors are shown in the on-screen log (under Show More), and are recorded to the file Receive.log, Transmit.log, or Synch.log depending on which operation you are running.

Sometimes random errors are caused by problems such as low batteries on the organizer (watch for display flickering and dimming when you try to communicate), or a loose cable (make sure that you have pushed it into the socket firmly and securely at both ends).

If you have a persistent error which you don't understand, and you have tried the suggestions under Communications Troubleshooting in the Help file, it would probably be best to send us a message and ask for advice rather than struggling with the problem.

My data is not received or displayed correctly in XLink/Win

Make sure that you have the correct model selected in XLink/Win, and that you are following the proper communications procedure for your organizer as described in the manual.

If your problem is to do with TEL or BCD free fields, Memo title lines, or file numbers for the models which support multiple files for Telephone or other data types, please read the sections on these topics in the XLink/Win Help file.

If you can't figure out the problem from the Help, then please contact IMSL Software .

We'll normally want the following information to diagnose the problem, so you can save some time by including it:

1. A good description of the problem and what procedure you followed to cause it.
2. The exact text of any error messages you received (it may be in the log file if you forgot to record it)
3. The log file (Receive.log, Transmit.log, or Synch.log) from the operation which cause the error. Please be aware that any subsequent operation you try will overwrite the original log file showing the error, so please save it right away, or re-create it if you can repeat the error.
4. The .CAS file or .YOL file containing the binary data received from or sent to the organizer which demonstrates the problem. Please be aware that any subsequent operation you try will overwrite the original binary data file showing the error, so please save it right away, or re-create it if you can repeat the error. Take a look at your file before you send it - if it shows 0 length, then don't bother sending it - it's empty.
5. The text record which contains an error or caused an error (if any).
6. Your Xlinkw.ini file, containing the program settings you are using.
7. The version number and "modified" date of your xlinkw.exe or xlinkw32.exe file.

Please don't send huge email attachments containing uncompressed screen shots or complete copies of your program directory.

I can receive, but I can't send data sucessfully to the organizer

Transferring data in either direction requires bi-directional communication, so if you can send or receive, the link is working in both directions. (The one exception to this is the Casio Illuminator models. They send the first record before requiring a bi-directional exchange at the end of the record, so if communication stops after successfully sending the first record, it may mean that your link is only working in one direction.)

Make sure that you have selected the correct model number in XLink/Win. Sometimes different models are compatible when receiving data, but not when sending data. The binary data file (.CAS or .YOL) is generally not compatible between different models, and must be re-generated from text data if you change models.

Both the Casio and Sharp organizers are very sensitive to exact communications timing. XLink/Win attempts to adapt to all models with any speed of PC. You should first verify that you have the correct model number selected to be sure that XLink/Win is using the right timing (for example, the protocol is compatible between the SF-5990SY and the SF-6900SY, but the timing is not). There are rare occasions when a timing error may occur anyway with a particular combination of organizer, PC, and data content. If possible with your model, try a slower baud rate. If you can identify a particular record which is causing the problem, try deleting it. You may also want to try varying the parameter RELAXFACTOR in the Xlinkw.ini file, or the Quick Init setting on the Settings menu for Sharp YO/ZQ models (read about these parameters in the XLink/Win Help file). Please let IMSL Software know about any such problems in any case.

I get an "Out of memory" error when I try to connect to an Access/dbIV database (32-bit version only)

This happens when your system has more than about 750 Mbytes of RAM. Unfortunately this is a known bug in Microsoft's DAO libraries which cannot be fixed without extensive modification of XLink/Win. Some idiot amateur programmer at Microsoft didn't allow for more than 512 Mbytes of free memory at the time they first wrote these libraries, and later versions are not backwards-compatible. Ironically it works fine in the 16-bit version of the code. The only solution is to temporarily modify your boot parameters to boot Windows with less than 750 Mbytes of RAM (see maxmem parameter in the Boot.ini file for WinXP, or BCDEdit for Vista). It does not work to dynamically reduce your free memory to less than 512 Mbytes by running other applications.

I can't find Vbrun300.dll (16-bit version only)

Vbrun300.dll is a standard Microsoft system file, the Visual Basic 3 run-time library. It is not included in the installation package because most systems have it already. If you don't have it on your system already, a quick web search will turn up hundreds of download sites, but this is the official Microsoft download page for Vbrun300.dll.

Changes to my xlinkw.ini file are not recognized (version 2.8)

Users of previous versions should note that the xlinkw.ini parameter file is no longer stored in the program directory in version 2.8. It is now stored in the users's application data directory, and can most easily be accessed using the new Edit INI File function on the Settings menu. You may still find a file named xlinkw.ini in the program directory which is left over from the previous version, but this copy is no longer used by version 2.8.

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