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INFORMATION

Casio Electronic Diaries

Sharp Electronic Organizers

XLink/Win and CASIF/Win Software

Brasil

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Our support commitment

We will try to answer all questions and provide fixes or work-arounds for any bugs or problems as promptly as possible. Registered users get priority, but we will also help users who have not yet registered their software. We promise that you'll never be ignored or receive a useless canned response when you send email or post a question to IMSL Software.

English is the preferred language of communication, but if you don't write in English well enough to describe your problem, please write in your native language and we'll refer your question for translation by one of the helpful user group if we don't understand it.

Please read the information below on Common Problems and search the Message Board and the XLink/Win Help file before you send a message to be sure that your question is not a routine one which could be answered more quickly from these sources.

This page provides support information and links for XLink/Win, CASIF/Win, and Zeus software. If your question is not related to software, please see one of the information topics at the left.

Common Problems

I can't download the software

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

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

My new registration number doesn't work!

I lost my registration number

My old registration number doesn't work with the latest version

I want to un-install the software

I get a File Access Error when I run XLink/Win with Windows Vista

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

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

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

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

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

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

I can't find Vbrun300.dll

Reported problems in version 2.7a, corrected by 2.7b

Free File text is lost when editing or saving FRE table contents

This is due to a bug introduced in version 2.7b. An update is available from IMSL Software to fix this problem. Version 2.6a and earlier works correctly.

Data files cannot be opened by file type association in WinXP

A change introduced in WinXP prevents this feature from working correctly with XLink/Win. An update is available from IMSL Software to fix this problem.

Program may get stuck in a communications loop when receiving from EL-6990/YO-270

This can happen when the organizer contains no data records for one of the data types. An update is available from IMSL Software to fix this problem.

Radio Shack EL-699x models may not be compatible

It has been reported by some users that the Radio Shack versions of the Sharp EL-699x model with more memory than the base EL-6990 may not be compatible with XLink/Win. This problem has not been confirmed.

Program reports error response 82 5 from Sharp OZ-7xx when sending data to organizer

This can happen when the organizer contains no data file for one of the data types being sent. Create at least one record of that data type on the organizer to ensure that the data file exists.

Need more information?

You will find answers to many common questions about our software and about Casio and Sharp organizers in general on the Message Board.

You may also find these hints and tips on how to use the software and the organizers helpful.

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 Xlinkwin.exe (16-bit version) or Xlinkw32.exe (32-bit version) and follow the standard installation and setup directions.

If you have downloaded Xlw32exe.zip (the 32-bit update version), first make sure that you are updating an existing installed copy of XLink/Win 32-bit version. Then you must first un-zip the compressed archive to a temporary directory, then run Setup.exe. You must have an un-zip utility installed on your system to do this, for example WinZip or PKUNZIP (DOS). If you don't have an un-zip utility already, you can easily find one on the Internet.

You will be prompted to select your organizer model during installation. You can change it afterwards under Settings/Diary 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).

My new registration number doesn't work!

I lost my registration number

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 when I run XLink/Win with Windows Vista

By default Windows Vista is configured to not allow programs to store data files in the program directory, which will produce a file access error when the program tries to save its settings in the xlinkw.ini file. In this case you must move the xlinkw.ini file from the program directory (usually C:\Program Files\Xlinkw) to a folder where you are allowed to write files, such as your My Documents folder. Then you must configure the program startup shortcut to start the program in that directory. The program startup shortcut you use may be on your Windows Start menu, or on your desktop. To change the data folder, right-click the XLink/Win startup shortcut, select Properties, and change the "Start in:" field to the path of the folder where you have put the xlinkw.ini file. All organizer data files created by the program will put placed in that folder by default as well.

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 3 families of Casio diaries which are generally compatible within a family:

There are 4 families of Sharp organizers which are generally compatible within a family:

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:

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

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 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.

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:

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 can't find Vbrun300.dll

Vbrun300.dll is a standard Microsoft system file, the Visual Basic 3 run-time library. 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.