Support page last updated December 27, 2007

Current Version Release:
MyArtCollection 1.0v6
Art Collecting for Beginners First Edition

Supported Platforms:
We support Windows (95, 98, ME, 2000, XP, Vista) and Macintosh with OS 8.5 to 9.2.2 and OSX 10.2 and up.

Windows Vista users: So far we have not had an reports of issues using Vista. If you have an issue please let us know.

Requesting Support:
PLEASE READ THE FAQ's FIRST. Many of your common questions can be answered there.
When reporting software problems please provide us with the product name, your name, e-mail address, specific problem and the platform you are using. We will attend to your needs as soon as possible. E-mail support to info@elmspub.net

Avoid unnecessary data loss. Adding the My Art Collection data file (MyArt.MA1) to your normal back up procedures may save your hard work. Crashes, force quits and power outages during the use of the software can cause corruption of your data. Be safe and back up your files today!

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I edit the Currency of the application?
How do I print a report?
When I print a report only one record will print, what do I do?
How do I share data between two copies of My Art Collection?
How do I delete a record?
How do I do a custom sort?
How do I import an Excel file to this software?
How many art records will the software hold?
If the Artist Information changes for an artists, how do I update all of the records that share the same artist information at once?

Question: Can I edit the Currency of the application?

Answer: Yes. To do so go to the "Tools" menu located next to "Window" on the top menu bar and select the "Edit Currency" option from the drop down. Once the dialog box displays, type the symbol for the currency you wish to use.

Question: How do I print a report?

Answer: Select the "Report" Button located to the upper right of the "Art List " or "Art Detail" layouts.

Once in the "Report" layout choose a report to run by selecting it's "Run Report" button. Choose the option for the report that best fits your needs.

A message will appear. " To print, choose the "Print" option from the "File' menu above...."

Choose "OK"

The report will appear.

To edit your page set up go to the "File" menu located at the top left of your screen and choose "Page Setup" from the drop down. From there choose from the options your printer allows you. If not already the default, choose 8.5X11 for the page size and set the orientation to vertical.

Then choose from the same "File" menu and select the "Print" option

Question: When I print a report only one record will print, what do I do?

Answer: If you are printing a list of multiple items but only one is printing, you will need to look for an option while in the "Print" dialog that allows you to choose from either "Records Being Browsed" or "Current Record". Choose "Records Being Browsed".

Print Dialog for Mac OSX:

Print Dialog Windows:

Question: How do I share data between two copies of My Art Collection?

Click here for a PDF of instructions on how to share your data between two copies of the software.

Question: How do I delete a record?

Answer: To be safe it is best to make a back up of your data file in case of an accident. To do so simply choose the "Save a Copy As" option under the "File" menu located at the top left of your screen. Save the file as "MyArt-Back Up" in a folder on your hard drive or other storage devise in case something happens to your working file.

To delete a record.
1. Go to the record you wish to delete by clicking on it's line in the Art List or going to it's Art Detail view.
2. Next select the "Records" drop down located at the top of your screen. Once in that menu choose the "Delete Record" option.
3. Select "Yes" when asked if you are sure you want to permanently delete this record.

Question: How do I do a custom sort?

Answer: To do a custom sort by any field, choose the "Records" drop down from top menu bar and select"Sort". An interface will appear that allows you to choose the fields and setting to sort by. Make your selecting and select the "Sort" button.

Question: How do I import an Excel file to this software?

Answer: To Import data from an Excel file...

1. Save a copy of your Excel file as "Text (Tab Delimited)" format.
2. Launch MyArtCollection and choose the File/ Import option.
3. Use the field mapping feature to map your data to the available fields.
4. Leave the default setting of "Add New Record" in the "Import Action" section as is.
5. Click the Import Button.
6. An "Import Options" Dialog Box will appear. Leave all options unchecked and Click OK.

Your data will be imported.

Question: How many art records will the software hold?

Answer: This depends on if you will include images or not and how you choose to include the images. If you do not include images you should be able to hold millions of art records. If you include images at a low resolution (72dpi) then you should be able to hold 10 to 20 thousand art records. If you include images but choose to save only a reference to the image (it is an option when importing images) you will be able to hold again millions of records.

Question: If the Artist Information changes for an artists, how do I update all of the records that share the same artist information at once?

In this version we have a feature that looks up the first record that exists for an artist and pulls that artist data into the next artist record you create.  Thus if the first artist record is not the latest it will pull older data into the new record. The first record is defined by the first record in your Art List for that artist at that time.  
 
 When you have a group of records that have the same artist and you need to edit the artist data for all records you will want to perform the following.
 

1. Do a find for the artist that you want to change/edit the artist data. (Enter the find mode, type the name of the artist in the artist field and click the “continue” button.)
2. When the list of records are displayed go to the first record in the list and go to the artist section if not already there.
3. Edit the artist data for the artist in the first record.
4. Put your curser in the “Artist” field and and go to Records/Relookup Contents.
5. You will be asked if you want to replace all data in the records you are viewing.
6. Click OK.
    
    You can do this for the artist, sales history, and the appraisal/authentication section. As all of the information in these sections looks up data based on the name of the person assigned to that section.