Table of Contents 

1.  Terminology / General Revision Notice

2.  Installation Errors

3.  Startup Errors

4.  File Open / Convert / Save

5.  Program Operation / Editing

6.  Printing

7.  Other Solution Sources

1.   Terminology / General Revision Notice

 Terminology

Flow3 = Flow Charting 3

Flow4 = Flow Charting 4

PDQ = Flow Charting PDQ

PDQ Folder = File folder containing Pdq32.exe (typically C:\Program Files\FlowPdq). 

Flow5 = Flow Charting 5

Flow6 = Flow Charting 6

Please check your PDQ version. Start PDQ and select “Help” from the main menu. Choose the “About Flow Charting PDQ” option to display your version information.

If you have recently upgraded Windows to Windows 2000 or XP, you need to upgrade your PDQ version to Flow Charting 6, as it fully supports these latest versions.

▲Back to top

2.   Installation Errors

Q.  I put the PDQ CD in my drive but the CD doesn’t start. How do I begin the installation?

A.  You may have the auto-run CD feature disabled. Refer to Windows Help (and/or the History below) to enable auto-run. To get PDQ installed now, browse to the CD-ROM drive with Windows Explorer and double-click on the “Autorun.exe” file.

[HISTORY] When the auto-run feature is enabled and a CD is inserted, Windows searches the CD for a program named “Autorun.exe.” If the file is found, Windows automatically runs the program. To enable the auto-run feature, go to Control Panel/ System/ Device Manager and display the properties for your CD-ROM (this path may vary between Windows versions). From the CD-ROM Settings Page, enable the “Auto insert notification” setting.

Q.  Just as the installation starts, the screen goes blank and the installation is halted / interrupted. What should I do?

A.  You are probably running an application that is protecting files that need to be used to perform the installation. This is most commonly caused by antivirus software and other TSR’s (terminate stay resident). Close all applications (including antivirus) and TSR’s and restart the installation.

Q.  I get a “Higher Authority Level Required” warning during installation. What should I do?

A.  You should cancel the installation; close all open applications, and log on to Windows using a password that has Administrator or Power-User authority rights.

[HISTORY] PDQ makes one-time writes to Windows protected sections of the registry during installation. These keys must be updated for proper program operation. If you don’t have this password or understand these instructions, refer to “authority rights” under Window’s help or contact your system administrator.

Q.  I get “File In-Use” error(s) during installation. Should I ignore the error or cancel the installation?

A.  You should cancel the installation; close all open applications, and then restart the PDQ installation. If you can’t, or won’t close all running applications, choose the ignore option. PDQ should operate properly since the applicable file does exist on your system.

[HISTORY] The Windows interface shell allows applications to share files (usually DLL’s) that contain commonly used functions. PDQ may need to update a shared file. If a file is in-use, it cannot be updated.

▲Back to top

3.   Startup Errors

Q.  PDQ won’t start. I have a “Missing Mfc42.dll” error message. How do I correct this error?

A.  Download this file from our website and place it into the PDQ Folder. Download Mfc42.dll

Q.  At startup, I get a “Spell Checker Did Not Initialize Properly” error message or the spell checker dictionaries cannot be found during operation. How do I correct this?

A.  Upgrade to Flow Charting 6.  Your version is not compatible with your current Windows version.

▲Back to top  

4.   File Open / Convert / Save

 ▲Back to top

5.  Program Operation / Editing

Q.  How do I Add / Delete a Line Bypass?

A.  IMPORTANT NOTE: Bypasses are for “square path” line styles only, not diagonal or curved lines.

To Add a bypass: select the desired line, press the Add Bypass button on the Line Manager Toolbar to display the add bypass cursor, position the cursor arrow on the desired intersection and left-click to insert the bypass.

To Delete a bypass: select the desired line, press the Delete Bypass button on the Line Manager Toolbar to display the delete bypass cursor, position the cursor arrow on the desired bypass and left-click to delete the bypass.

Q.  I am encountering display or mouse movement control difficulties. What should I do?

A.  Undesired interaction may occur between some fast graphic cards and business applications (opposed to game software). These cards usually allow the user to adjust speed settings. If you encounter display or movement control difficulties, adjust the card to a slower speed setting. Refer to the card documentation for applicable specifications.

Q.  When I try to start a new chart / file, the work window turns gray / dark and I am unable to edit. What should I do?

A.  Change your current setup in either one of two ways. Either change your default paper size (in PDQ Chart Setup) to match any paper size supported by your default printer, or change your default printer (in Windows Control Panel/Printers) to match your default paper size.

[HISTORY] PDQ creates new charts to your specified paper size in order to control pagination and display page breaks. If the Windows default printer only supports Letter size printing and you have specified new charts to be Ledger size, PDQ cannot create a new page.

▲Back to top

6.  Printing

Q.  When I print, dashed / patterned lines in my chart are printed as solid lines. How do I correct this?

A.  PDQ users have experienced some problems with various PCL6 printer drivers that do not properly support Microsoft's MFC42 protocol. If you encounter problems entering text, printing dashed lines, or cannot print at all: set the printer's resolution to 300dpi (normal quality) or use the PCL5e driver for your printer model.

▲Back to top

7.  Other Solution Sources

If your questions have not been answered, please seek solutions in the following order. Before contacting us, please record your PDQ version and serial number.

Flow Charting PDQ User’s Guide:

The User’s Guide contains a complete list of commands with detailed instructions. Complete with a cross-referenced index and extensive reference sections, the guide is your fastest and most comprehensive tool for answers.

On-Line Help / Jump Start:

PDQ’s built-in help is context sensitive and easily accessible. It is not as thorough as the User’s Guide, but it answers most basic questions. It contains an index with user defined search capabilities and a special section called “Jump Start” for users that are new to PDQ. Jump Start guides you through the operation of basic commands and procedures to get your first flowchart published quickly.

E-mail:

E-mail us at support@patton-patton.com for written responses to your questions.

Phone: (520) 888-6500
8am - 5pm MST, Monday - Friday

▲Back to top