Panorama Database Software - Frequently Asked Questions

How do I subscribe/unsubscribe to the Panorama QNA list?

2007-11-22T11:49:17.845-08:00

The Panorama QNA (questions and answers) list is an e-mail based community discussion forum. It's a great place to share ideas and find solutions to problems. Or just lurk in the background and pick up valuable tips and tricks. This list is monitored by everyone at ProVUE, including the programmers and even the company president! See the QNA Email Forum page to subscribe or unsubscribe from this list.

Can I distribute Panorama databases royalty free?

2007-11-15T23:17:49.711-08:00

Yes. If your database application doesn't involve saving or printing, or is less than 250 records, you can freely distribute your databases. Your users/customers can download the free Panorama demo and use your database on their computer at no charge to you or them.
If your database doesn't meet the above requirements you can still pay a one-time fee and distribute your databases royalty free. Once the fee is paid we'll insert a special tag in your database that identifies it as royalty free. A database that contains this tag can be used with the free Panorama demo at no additional charge, including saving and printing with no limitations. The exact charge depends on the complexity of your databases, and in the case of freely distributed shareware and freeware is almost zero. See Royalty Free Panorama Engine for more information.

What is the Zip/Spell pack?

2007-11-15T23:16:53.761-08:00

The Zip/Spell Dictionary Pack contains two dictionary files - US Zip Codes and US English. With these dictionaries you can spell check forms and data, and look up the city, state, and county for any US Zip Code. For more information see Zip/Spell Dictionary Pack. To purchase this optional package please use the on-line order form.

What is the Enhanced Image Pack?

2007-11-15T23:16:14.324-08:00

The Enhanced Image Pack extends the ability of Panorama to display images. Without this pack Panorama can only display Apple PICT format (and BMP format on Panorama for Windows). The Enhanced Image Pack adds the ability to display JPEG, TIFF, GIF, PhotoShop and other formats. For more information see Panorama Enhanced Image Pack. To order the Enhanced Image Pack use the on-line order form.

What is the difference between Panorama and Panorama Direct?

2007-11-15T23:15:28.370-08:00

Panorama is a fully functional copy of Panorama that includes all of the capabilities for creating and maintaining databases. Panorama Direct is a limited “run-time” version that is primarily intended for data entry and simple data query applications. See Panorama Direct for more information.

How do I contact technical support?

2007-11-15T16:57:13.370-08:00

See the Support page.

How can I meet other Panorama programmers?

2007-11-15T16:55:55.908-08:00

The Panorama QNA (questions and answers) list is an e-mail based community discussion forum. It's a great place to share ideas and find solutions to problems. Much of the discussion on this list revolves around programming tips and techniques, and members of our list are very generous with newcomers. Come and join the discussion! See the QNA Email Forum page to subscribe or unsubscribe from this list.

Can Panorama be used to generate dynamic web content?

2007-11-15T16:54:19.953-08:00

Yes, this is one of the features of the Panorama Enterprise Server.

Can Panorama send e-mails?

2007-11-15T16:52:58.677-08:00

Yes. Panorama for Mac OS includes several “plug-in” modules (called channels) for sending e-mail from Panorama. (Most of these modules requires a 3rd party e-mail software that you may have already or can acquire for free or at low cost — you select the module you want to use depending on which e-mail program you want to use.) Once a module is configured for your e-mail server you can send e-mail automatically from any database, including “bulk e-mail” (please use responsibly and do not spam). You can build e-mail functionality into any database and Panorama includes a built-in wizard for managing bulk e-mail.

Can Panorama dial the phone?

2007-11-15T16:52:34.054-08:00

Yes. Panorama V for Mac OS includes four “plug-in” modules (called channels) for phone dialing.

Tone: This channel generates touch tones using the computer's speaker. Hold the phone up to the speaker to dial (it really works!).
Jon's Phone Tool: This channel uses a shareware program that can dial using a modem, bluetooth cellphone, or via a number of VOIP phone systems.

ABDialer: This channel uses a shareware program that can dial using a modem or via a bluetooth cellphone.

Vonage: This channel directly accesses the internet to dial your Vonage Internet phone.

Can Panorama import/export VCards with other applications (Address Book, Entourage, MYOB, etc.)?

2007-11-15T16:51:52.767-08:00

VCards are an industry standard for “electronic business cards” (see “VCards take guesswork out of sharing contact info”). If your Panorama database contains contact information (name, address, phone, etc.) it can be set up to work with VCards. If you create your database with Panorama's New Database Wizard most of this setup is done for you, otherwise you'll need to configure the VCard connection with the Generic Fields wizard. You can use the VCard Wizard to exchange either single or multiple VCards at time, or you can add a few lines of code to your database to build this capability directly into your applications.

How do I contact technical support?

2007-11-15T16:50:24.904-08:00

See the Support page.

Are example databases available?

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Yes, over 100 example databases are included in the deluxe download version of Panorama. These examples can be quickly accessed with the Example Launcher wizard in the Demo submenu of the Wizard menu.

Another good source for example databases is the Panorama QNA e-mail discussion list. Users frequently post databases they have created as examples. You can find out more information about the QNA list on the Support page.

What documentation and training material is available for Panorama?

2007-11-15T16:49:04.361-08:00

There is a wide variety of documentation and training material available for Panorama, including over 3000 pages of PDF documentation (see Why so many pages?), an on-line programming reference wizard, and over 3 hours of training videos (Quicktime). For Panorama V and 5.5 the PDF documentation and Programming Reference wizard are included in the main Panorama download. For Panorama 4 these items must be downloaded separately.

Can I use the same database on Macintosh and PC (Windows) systems?

2007-11-15T13:51:16.692-08:00

Yes. When using Panorama 4.0 or later databases can be copied back and forth between Macintosh and PC systems. It is even possible to keep the databases on a server that is used by both Mac and Windows clients (however at this time the database may only be accessed by a single client at a time, see Can multiple users access a database across a network? for more information).

Panorama V tells me I need CarbonLib 1.6. Where do I get that?

2007-11-15T13:50:06.180-08:00

To run on OS 9 Panorama V relies on an Apple package called CarbonLib. This package allows properly written OS X programs to run on OS 9. Panorama requires Carbonlib 1.6, which can be downloaded from Apple's web site. For additional information about CarbonLib see versiontracker.com. (Note: Panorama 5.5 is not supported on OS 9, whether you have CarbonLib or not.)

Why do I have to click on the blue letters when I have already purchased the software?

2007-11-15T13:49:32.869-08:00

If you are using a personal use license it could mean that your personal use license has expired. To check, open the Registration window (in the File or Setup menu). The window will indicate if your license has expired. If so you can renew your personal use license for only $9.95 for several years.

If the problem is not an expired personal use license then either the software was not ever activated correctly or the activation has been damaged. (For example, some versions of Tech Tool Pro and Carbon Copy Cloner have been known to damage Panorama's activation.) In either case the solution is the same, you must reactivate the software from scratch following the instructions above. If you've lost your serial number please see How do I find my serial number.

How do I transfer Panorama to a different computer?

2007-11-15T13:47:54.741-08:00

To transfer your Panorama license to a different computer, first deactivate Panorama from the computer it is currently installed on.

Open the Registration window (from the File or Setup menu).
Scroll down to the bottom of the window and press the De-Activate Software button.
Panorama will ask you to confirm that you really want to de-activate Panorama on this machine. Press the Deactivate Now button ton continue.
If your computer is connected to the Internet the process will be completed after a final confirmation. If the computer is not connected to the Internet you must submit the deactivation code that is displayed to the Deactivation page on this web site.

Once the deactivation process is complete you can install and activate Panorama normally on your new computer (see above).

How do I activate a new copy of Panorama?

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When you purchase Panorama our server will automatically send you an e-mail with your serial number and product code(s). When the Panorama V installer is complete it will automatically open the activation window and prompt you to enter the serial number. If your computer is connected to the Internet just enter the serial number and press Submit — Panorama will take care of the rest of the process in a few seconds. If the computer is not connected to the Internet simply follow the on-screen instructions (you'll either need internet access on another computer or a telephone during ProVUE's business hours.

I just downloaded and expanded the Panorama V installer. Why doesn't it open when I double click on it it?

2007-11-15T13:47:19.630-08:00

You probably have Stuffit Deluxe installed on your system. If you have Stuffit Deluxe installed on your system, don't use it to expand the Panorama installer. This installer contains invisible files that Stuffit Deluxe doesn't expand properly. To expand the installer, either let your browser expand it automatically or drop it on Stuffit Expander.
This problem does not occur with Panorama 5.5, since we no longer distribute Panorama using the Stuffit (.sit) format (Panorama 5.5 and later is distributed using the .dmg format).

How do I find my serial number so I can order an upgrade?

2007-11-15T13:46:31.661-08:00

If you don't know your serial number we can locate it for you (if you have registered the program or purchased it directly from ProVUE). Please visit the Registration Search page to locate this information.

What is the quickest way to learn to use the new features in my new upgrade?

2007-11-15T13:46:09.838-08:00

If you just upgraded to Panorama 5.5, open the Help command in the Panorama menu) and double click on Release Notes.pdf. These notes give detailed information on all of the new features in each release, along with links to even more detailed information in the main Panorama Handbook. If you haven't upgraded yet you can view these notes online, see the Documentation page.

What is the price to upgrade to the latest version of Panorama?

2007-11-15T13:45:00.523-08:00

See the on-line order form for the latest pricing information. Select the upgrade you need using the pop-up menus about half way down the form.

Can I use Panorama on multiple computers? What is a personal use license?

2007-11-15T13:42:59.901-08:00

Panorama is normally licensed for use on a single computer per serial number. (If a computer is replaced with a new computer you can transfer the license to the new computer, see Product Deactivation.) A personal use license allows a single Panorama serial number to be used by a single person on multiple computers. The terms of the personal use license require that all of the computers be owned by the person purchasing the license, and that he or she will be the only person using Panorama on these computers. A typical example would be a person that owns both a desktop and a laptop computer. There is no limit to the number of computers covered under this license, as long as all of the computers are owned by the licensor and the licensor is the only person using the software. The personal use license is available only to individuals, and may not be purchased by an organization. To learn more and possibly purchase this license see Personal Use License.

Is printed documentation available?

2007-11-15T13:34:22.559-08:00

The Panorama documentation is in PDF (Adobe Acrobat) format and is available on-line (see Downloads) and on the Panorama CD for an extra charge (see question above). The documentation was optimized for use on your computer screen — we used very readable 14 point text, full size screen shots, and there are literally thousands of active cross-reference links that allow you to quickly navigate to a related topic. You can also print out sections of the documentation as needed. Although we recommend using the documentation on the screen, some Panorama books are available in printed form via on-demand publishin. You can purchase these books thru lulu.com.

I have a slow Internet connection. Is Panorama available on a CD?

2007-11-15T13:31:03.407-08:00

Panorama is normally supplied as a web download from this web server (see Downloads). It is also available on CD for an additional charge of $19.95 plus shipping (see the on-line order form).

How much does Panorama cost?

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See the on-line order form for the most up-to-date pricing information.

How do I find my serial number so I can order an upgrade?

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What information do I need to place an order?

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The on-line order form automatically prompts you for all the information needed to place an order. If you are ordering by e-mail or phone please have the following information available.

The platform you want to use (Macintosh or Windows).
Whether you are ordering a full copy of Panorama or Panorama Direct (see below).
Your name, organization, address and phone number.
Your e-mail address (we will send a copy of the invoice and activation information to this address).
Credit card number and expiration date. (Terms are available to Fortune 500 companies, government organizations, and educational institutions. A written purchase order on an official form is required, and the minimum order amount is $250. Please contact the sales department by e-mail or phone to place a net order.)

If you are ordering an upgrade or sidegrade from a previous version of Panorama we'll also need your serial number (see below).

How can I place an order?

2007-11-15T13:29:07.672-08:00

The best way to place most orders is through our on-line order form. You can also order by telephone, see the Contacts page for the latest information.

How does Panorama compare with FileMaker?

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See the Panorama vs. FileMaker comparison page.

Is Panorama easy to learn and use?

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Yes, but don't take our word for it. MacWorld says “FileMaker Pro may be lauded for its easy database-form creation, but that program's results have nothing on Panorama's user-friendly databases.” TidBITs.com says “Panorama is the best general database program I've ever used. ... Have I communicated just what I find so wonderful about this program? It's the fact that my data feels safe and is easy to check on. It's the ingenious anticipation of all my needs. It's how the workings of my databases are easy to track down. It's the generosity of the supplied examples. It's the fact that easy things are easy and hard things are not that hard.” Danny Grizzle of Media Mogul Productions says “It is extremely approachable, useful to newbies in minutes, but also tremendously capable with depth few are ever likely to outgrow.” Read more testimonials here.

Why is Panorama RAM based instead of disk based?

2007-11-09T12:10:05.969-08:00

The fundamental, overriding difference between Panorama and all other database programs is that Panorama is RAM instead of disk based. When you open a Panorama database the entire database, including all of the data, is loaded from the disk into the computer's RAM. From then on Panorama doesn't use the disk at all (until you use the Save command). All searching, sorting, editing, and everything else occurs directly in your computer's high speed RAM.

Other database programs are disk based. Every time you edit a field, sort, search, or perform any other operation it must access the disk. Unlike RAM, the disk is a mechanical device with parts that actually move each time you access the disk. This makes disk access thousands of times slower than RAM access.

Why does Panorama crash frequently on my computer?

2007-10-18T06:27:05.808-07:00

Most users find that Panorama is a very stable application that rarely, if ever crashes. If you are experiencing frequent crashes or unusual behavior then there is most likely something wrong with your system. Here are some items to look for:

Faulty RAM: Because Panorama is RAM based it can be more sensitive to RAM problems than many other programs. In some cases RAM may appear to work ok most of the time but be flaky because it doesn't quite meet the specs for your computer. It's almost impossible to reliably test memory in an OS X or Windows system. The best technique for tracking down memory problems is either to temporarily replace the memory modules or to temporarily remove as much memory as possible to see if the symptoms are improved. To learn more about this topic see MacFixIt - Troubleshooting Tools: Memtest and Rember and MacInTouch - Bad RAM: The Effect of Memory Defects.

Permission Errors: UNIX permission errors can cause all kinds of problems on OS X systems (see Permission Repair: The Full Story). Fortunately these errors are easily fixed with Apple's Disk Utility program, which is included with OS X (see How to Repair Permissions). Panorama 5.5 also includes a File Permissions wizard that can repair the permissions of Panorama itself, as well as Panorama databases.

Neglected System Maintenance Tasks: Mac OS X requires certain regular maintenance tasks to be performed in order to keep the system running smoothly. Some of these will run automatically on Macs that are turned on 24 hours per day, while others require the user to initiate the maintenance. These maintenance tasks include normal Unix-style maintenance as well as Mac OS X-style tasks. The Unix-style maintenance tasks are normally scheduled to run in the middle of the night. If your Mac is not on at the scheduled time, the task won't run. Mac OS X does not wake from sleep to perform these tasks. If you don't leave your system on all night you may want to consider purchasing a utility like Macaroni, which will make sure that these tasks run automatically, keeping your Mac in tip-top shape (we have no connection with Atomic Bird software). Macaroni also repairs disk permissions on a regular basis (see above).

Bad Font: Believe it or not, a corrupted font can cause Panorama (and other programs) to crash, and this has actually happened to a handful of Panorama users. This Apple tech note doesn't mention Panorama but has been helpful in fixing Panorama problems caused by a bad font. Another useful resource is Font Management in Mac OS X. Tools that you can use to diagnose and repair font problems include Smasher (Insider Software) and FontDoctor (Morrison Software Design).

Other Problems: Some other web sites that include useful information for tracking down Macintosh system problems include MacinTouch and MacFixit. You can also find many useful utility programs on VersionTracker.

Why does the message "Corrupted permanent variable" sometimes appear when opening a database?

2007-10-18T06:24:23.857-07:00

Each time it opens a database Panorama V checks the validity of any permanent variable in that database. (Even if you haven't set up a variable yourself many Panorama wizards do set up permanent variables in your databases to store configuration information, including the Live Clairvoyance wizard, Generic Fields, Text Export, Text Import, Speech Wizard, and Hotkey Manager.) If a variable is corrupted, Panorama displays an error message and fixes the variable (any value stored in the variable is lost, however). Previous versions of Panorama would not check for corruption and would sometimes crash if there was a problem with a variable.

General troubleshooting questions

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Can I program Panorama using Perl? Ruby? Python? PHP?

2007-10-18T06:05:30.520-07:00

Yes, Panorama 5.5 supports embedding programs written in any of these languages inside a Panorama procedure.

Can Panorama access the OS X UNIX shell?

2007-10-18T06:04:22.680-07:00

Yes. The ExecuteUnix statement, included in Panorama's programming language, allows Panorama programs to use any UNIX command. The output of the command (stdout) is automatically placed in a Panorama variable.

Is Panorama AppleScript compatible?

2007-10-18T06:03:54.401-07:00

Yes. AppleScript extends the power of Panorama’s programming language to other programs on your computer. Using AppleScript you can control the Finder, web browsers, e-mail clients, FTP software, or any other application that supports AppleScript. There are two ways to use AppleScript from within Panorama — you can launch a script that you have pre-defined using Apple’s Script Editor, or you can include AppleScript’s directly within your Panorama procedures. (You can even build and execute an AppleScript on-the-fly). Panorama is also scriptable itself, so other applications can control Panorama. For more information see Chapter 27 of the Panorama Handbook.

What text parsing tools does Panorama have?

2007-10-18T06:03:18.799-07:00

Panorama has dozens of functions to assist with any text parsing job, including special functions for parsing HTML and XML tags. Panorama does not include any GREP functions, but almost any task that you might perform with GREP can be performed with combinations of Panorama functions. For more information see Chapter 24 of the Panorama Handbook and the Programming Reference wizard.

How does Panorama's programming language compare with other languages like C, Basic, etc.?

2007-10-18T06:02:43.097-07:00

If you have used Basic, C, Pascal or JavaScript you should quickly be comfortable with Panorama's built in programming language. Of these languages Panorama is probably closest to Basic, but it incorporates ideas from a number of sources. Panorama's programming language is tightly integrated with the database. You'll find dozens of statements for manipulating database information, as well as user interface elements like windows, menus and dialogs.

One thing you'll immediately notice about Panorama's programming language is that it is very free format. Unlike C and Pascal it does not require a separator semicolon (or any other character) between statements. Unlike most Basic implementations it allows multiple statements per line, and it also allows a statement to be split across multiple lines (as long as you don't split a token in the middle). For example you can put three statements on one line, like this:

statement1 statement2 statement3

Like Basic, Panorama's programming language does not use program blocks, but has special statements (else, endif, endcase) to indicate the end of a block.

if this=that
     statement1
     statement2
     statement3 
endif

Like most programming languages (but unlike some versions of Basic) Panorama requires that you declare variables before you use them (with the local, global or fileglobal statements). However, Panorama has very loose variable typing. Not only do you not have to define the type of a variable when you declare it, you can change the type of data held in a variable at any time. This program fragment is perfectly legal:

local myVariable /* declare the variable */ myVariable=3 /* assign a number */ myVariable="hello world" /* assign text */ myVariable=93.45 /* back to a number */

When using variables Panorama takes care of all memory allocation, and there are no pointers or pointer arithmetic. This example also shows that Panorama supports C++ style comments (you can also use // to comment to the end of the line). Unlike C, /* */ comments may be nesting, making this a good way to temporarily “comment out” sections of code.

Panorama uses the + operator for both addition and text concatenation. The statement below will display 7:

message 3+4

while this statement will display 34:

message "3"+"4"

Panorama generally does not implicitly convert data types, so this statement will display an error message:

message 3+"4"

You can use the str( or pattern( function to explicitly convert numbers to text, and the val( function to convert text to numbers.

Like Basic, Panorama uses the = symbol for both assignment and equality comparison. The meaning depends on the context. In this example a value (3) is being assigned into a field or variable named x:

x=3

In this example the field or variable named x is being tested to see if it contains the value 3:

if x=3

Unlike C you cannot embed special characters in a string constant using backslash notation (for example "first line\nsecond line"). You must build a line like this by appending together the individual components

("first line"+chr(13)+"second line")

You can also use the ¶ and ¬ symbols to represent carriage return and tab characters, for example

"first line"+¶+"second line"

Unlike C, subroutines are not handled as functions, but must be explicitly called with the call statement (similar to Basic's gosub statement). You can also pass parameters to a subroutine, like this:

call NewOrder,"Mark","Wilson"

Panorama's programming language, which has roots back to 1986, is not object oriented. However, it is extensible, meaning that you can add your own statements and functions which are syntactically indistinguishable from Panorama's built in statements and functions.

For more information on Panorama's programming capabilities see Chapter 24, 25 and 26 of the Panorama Handbook and the Programming Reference wizard.

Do I have to learn programming to use Panorama?

2007-10-18T05:45:18.114-07:00

Absolutely not. In fact many customers have been using Panorama on a daily basis for years without ever writing a single line of code. You can set up databases, enter data, sort, select, summarize, calculate, create graphic layouts and reports, even charts without learning any programming.

On the other hand it's easy to write simple programs in Panorama, and even a simple program can save time by automating tasks you perform regularly. For beginning users Panorama even includes a “program recorder” feature. This feature watches and records your actions for later playback. You can use your recordings as is, or customize them after they have been recorded with Panorama's built-in program editor. The recorder is a great way to “ease into” acquiring basic programming skills.

Is Panorama programmable?

2007-10-18T05:44:18.282-07:00

Yes, Panorama has a complete program development environment. Like Basic, C or Java your programs are text based and may be editing using Panorama's built-in text editor or your favorite text editing program. If you have programming experience you'll find all of the standard constructs you are familiar with, including:

Structured control flow (if/else/endif, case, loops)
Subroutines (with parameter passing and local variables)
Local, global and permanent variables
Text, numeric, date and array data
Built-in debugger (with breakpoints and single stepping)
Cross reference tool for managing large projects
GUI tools for assisting in the design of windows, dialogs and menus

Panorama programs can be triggered by buttons, menus, or automatically triggered by various user actions (opening and closing files, etc.) Your programs can completely manage control of the user experience, including full customization of windows, dialogs and menus.

Questions about programmability

2007-10-17T23:08:01.351-07:00

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Can I use Panorama with my Palm/PocketPC?

2007-10-17T23:07:48.806-07:00

Panorama does not directly support export or synchronizing with Palm/PocketPC handhelds, but many Panorama users have successfully transferred data to their handheld devices by exporting the data as tab or comma delimited text.

Is Panorama ODBC or JDBC compliant?

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No. We are investigating the possibility of including this feature in a future release.

Can Panorama export to HTML?

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Yes. The Text Export wizard makes it easy to export the contents of any database as an HTML table. This wizard gives you complete control over the table appearance, including the font, size, column widths, and row shading. Panorama's programming language can be used for further customization, even allowing you to include JavaScript in the generated HTML.

Can web content be integrated with my database?

2007-10-17T23:06:16.852-07:00

Yes. Panorama V can fetch and download data from any web server, including tables, images, maps, directories, rates, catalogs, news stories — anything you can see with a web browser can be automatically loaded and used with Panorama. You can use this information directly or in combination with your existing data.

Can Panorama export data to other database or spreadsheet software?

2007-10-17T23:03:37.836-07:00

Yes, but not directly. Panorama can easily export tab and comma delimited (CSV) text files. Consult the documentation for your database or spreadsheet to learn how to import data in these universal formats. The one exception is Excel — Panorama 5.5 can export directly to Excel using the Excel wizard in the Import-Export submenu of the Wizard menu.

Can Panorama import data from my existing databases and spreadsheets (FileMaker, Excel, etc.)?

2007-10-17T23:03:25.421-07:00

Yes, but usually not directly. Panorama can easily import tab and comma delimited (CSV) text files. Consult the documentation for your database or spreadsheet to learn how to export your data in these universal formats. Panorama 5.5 can also directly import and export from Excel spreadsheets using the Excel wizard in the Import-Export submenu of the Wizard menu.

Questions about working with other software (import/export/web/email)

2007-10-17T22:59:33.096-07:00

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Can I include pictures and movies in a database?

2007-10-17T22:59:17.063-07:00

Pictures and movies are not included in the database itself, but can be linked by reference (location and name) and displayed on any form.

Can I use multiple fonts/sizes/styles within a cell?

2007-10-17T22:58:55.979-07:00

Panorama normally allows only a single font/size/style within a database cell. However, if you use Panorama's built-in word processor you can include not only multiple fonts, sizes and styles, but also tab stops, colors, indentation, left/right center justification and adjustable leading (vertical spacing). You can include the word processor in any database you create or you can use our ready-to-use Mini Correspondence wizard, with built-in VCard support.

Can Panorama print labels?

2007-10-17T22:58:23.261-07:00

Yes. You can set up the label format yourself or choose from about two dozen ready-to-use Avery label templates. Panorama can automatically print labels in 1-up, 2-up, 3-up, 4-up or more columns, and can print labels across each row or down each column.

Can I lay out forms and reports the way I want?

2007-10-17T22:58:03.603-07:00

Yes. Panorama's graphic editor uses standard object drawing techniques and includes tools for about two dozen types of objects, including shapes, text, images, movies, buttons, lists, pop-up menus, matrixes, even a complete word processor. There are also extensive tools to help you design your form and get everything lined up perfectly.

Questions about Forms, Graphics & Reports

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I belong to the QNA list, so why can't I post a question?

2007-10-17T22:57:21.386-07:00

You can only post a question from the exact e-mail account that you used to sign up to the list. If you have more than one e-mail account make sure that you are using the one that you gave when you signed up.

What is the Programming Reference wizard?

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Panorama 5.5 includes over 1,500 statements and functions that can be used in procedures and formulas. Even for the programmer's here at ProVUE that is a lot to remember and keep track of, so we created the Programmer's Reference wizard to help keep track of it for you. This wizard provides almost instantaneous access to documentation for every statement and function available.

Panorama V and 5.5 users can always access this window instantaneously by pressing Control-R (this combination can be changed with the Hotkey wizard).

Why doesn't the Help menu item work (Windows version)?

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Since Panorama already includes over 3,000 pages of on-line documentation we decided that a separate Help window was a bit redundant. Please use the PDF documentation instead.

Why does the documentation have so many pages?

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You may have been surprised and a bit intimidated to learn that Panorama's PDF documentation contains so many pages. Don't worry, there’s really both more and less than meets the eye. The primary reason why there are so many pages is because Panorama's PDF documentation was designed primarily for on-screen use, not for printing. When writing a printed book the author always has the final page count in mind. Each page costs money! So as he or she writes the author is constantly thinking — do I really need a more detailed explanation here? Can I eliminate some or all of these screen shots? Check out the Adobe Photoshop manual — this is a very visual program and yet there is only one small screen shot every few pages. Keeping the number of pages affordable (both for printing and shipping) often becomes more important than clarity or comprehension.

When we decided to switch to PDF documentation in 1999 we made a conscious decision not to think that way. Extra pages in a PDF file are essentially free, so we took full advantage of this new opportunity. There are literally thousands of screen shots, all full size for maximum clarity. This probably doubles the page count compared to a typical printed manual. We also used an extra large (14 point) font size for maximum readability, which also increases the page count. Every topic is covered in depth, often with more than one approach discussed. We’ve included a 900 page reference and a 200 page tutorial. We think the end result is a better experience for you, the end user.

Questions about documentation, examples. training and support

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How do I open the PDF documentation?

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If you are using Panorama 5.5 you can access the documentation from the Help item in the Panorama menu, or the Help & Documentation wizard (in the Documentation submenu).

With this wizard open you can use the Reader menu to choose which PDF reader you want to use (Acrobat or Preview on OS X), then double click to open the specific documentation item you want to access (Handbook, Tutorial, Release Notes, etc.).

Why does Panorama refuse to open (or crash) when I open a database e-mailed from the Mac to the PC or the PC to the Mac?

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Unfortunately, many e-mail programs don't transfer attachments exactly, and Panorama is very picky about the exact content and length database files. If you are having difficulty opening a database originally saved on a different platform then the file was probably modified slightly by the e-mail program at one end or the other. We've found that the best solution is to compress the database with Stuffit, Winzip or a similar program and then uncompress at the other end. Another solution is to use a different method for transferring the file, for example a CD-ROM, USB drive, or network transfer.

Why doesn't Panorama recognize a database copied from the PC to the Mac?

2007-10-17T22:34:20.784-07:00

The Macintosh uses special hidden tags (called type/creator codes) to identify the usage of each type of file. Panorama cannot recognize a database unless these tags are present. Since the PC (Windows) does not use these tags, the tags are not present when a file is copied from the PC to the Mac. You can use the Platform Converter wizard to add these tags to files copied from a Windows PC system. See Chapter 26 of the Panorama Handbook for more information about this wizard and setting up cross platform databases.

Why doesn't Panorama open when I double click on a database copied from the Mac to the PC?

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On the PC all database file names must end with the extension .pan, for example Checkbook.pan, Contacts.pan, etc. If the database doesn't end with .pan it won't open Panorama when you double click on it. You can add .pan manually or with the Platform Converter wizard. See Chapter 26 of the Panorama Handbook for more information about this wizard and setting up cross platform databases.

Questions about cross platform (Macintosh/Windows) databases

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Mac OS 9 Issues

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Will Panorama 5.5 run on Mac OS 9?

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No. Panorama V is the last version of Panorama that supports Mac OS 9.

Why didn't Panorama ask me to enter the product code?

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When you order Panorama we send you an e-mail with both a serial number and a product code. However, if your computer has an internet connection Panorama will look up the product code automatically from our server after you enter the serial number, saving you some typing. You'll only need the product code if you need to install without an Internet connection.

I'm using OS 9. Why does a type 2 error appear when I double click on the Panorama installer?

2007-10-17T22:30:32.213-07:00

This usually indicates either an extension conflict, a corrupted CarbonLib (see above) or a more general corruption with your OS 9 installation. Panorama V will run correctly on a properly configured OS 9 system.

Something happened to my computer and I forgot to/could not deactivate Panorama. How do I activate it again?

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Follow the instructions above for activating a new copy of Panorama. When you submit the serial number, Panorama will ask you to explain the circumstances that caused Panorama to need re-activation. Once this explanation is submitted the system will normally allow you to complete the activation process immediately. The explanation provided will be reviewed later by a member of ProVUE's staff, who will contact you to discuss the situation further if necessary.

Questions about installing and activating Panorama

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Why doesn't my form print after I've upgraded to Panorama V on OS X?

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The most common printing problem involves the Page Setup dialog. Due to a bug in Apple's OS X code, sometimes the page setup scaling information does not convert properly from OS 9 to OS X. When you open the Page Setup dialog you'll see the page setup scale set to a very large number like 576% or 1440%. To correct the problem, set the Page Setup to 100% and try printing again. Fortunately this only has to be done once (however it must be done for each form that has a problem).

A less frequent problem is caused by an out-of-date or corrupted print driver. This seems to happen most frequently with HP printers, but it can happen with any brand of printer. A good way to isolate the problem is to print to another printer (if available) or to a PDF file. If either of these works then the problem is not in Panorama. Usually the solution is to locate and install the most up-to-date driver for your printer (unfortunately locating this is sometimes easier said than done), but in some situations re-installing OS X has been necessary.

If you are printing a form with variable height objects (using the expand or expand/shrink option) you may see large gaps in your report. If this happens open the Form Preferences dialog (in the Graphics Mode Setup menu) and check the 72 dpi printing option.

Why does a previous version of Panorama open when I double click on a database?

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Usually the simplest solution to this problem is to remove the older version of Panorama from your system. If you are using OS X you can select a database in the Finder and open the Get Info window. This window contains an Open With property that you can change (with a pop-up menu) to select which copy of Panorama will be launched when you double click on the database. Another option is to drag each copy of Panorama into the dock. You can then open a database with any version of Panorama by dragging the database onto the corresponding icon on the dock.

Can I continue to use a previous version of Panorama as well as the new version?

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If you are using a Windows system only one copy of Panorama can be installed at a time, but if you are using a MacOS system you may have multiple copies of Panorama installed (and even running) simultaneously, though we don't recommend this except in exceptional circumstances (for example if you are a Panorama consultant that is supporting customers with different versions of Panorama, or if you are trying a beta or preview version of Panorama and want to be able to continue to use the previous release version as well as the beta version).

On OS 9 it is difficult to control which copy of Panorama will be launched. The only reliable option is to double click on the application and using the Open File dialog to select the databases you want to open.

On OS X you can select a database in the Finder and open the Get Info window. This window contains an Open With property that you can change (with a pop-up menu) to select which copy of Panorama will be launched when you double click on the database. Another option is to drag each copy of Panorama into the dock. You can then open a database with any version of Panorama by dragging the database onto the corresponding icon on the dock.

Will my existing Panorama 2, 3, or 4 databases work with Panorama V and 5.5?

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Yes. Panorama will open any Panorama databases created with any version of Panorama (including 1.0) with all data, forms and programming intact. However, databases created with Panorama 3 or earlier will not automatically open Panorama 5.5 when you double click on them (you can always open them with the Open File dialog or by dragging the database on the Panorama 5.5 icon). To convert Panorama 3 or earlier databases so that double clicking opens Panorama 5.5, follow these steps:

Open Panorama 5.5 by double clicking on the application icon.
Open the Platform Converter Wizard (in the Utilities submenu of the Wizard menu).
Drag the database (or databases) onto the “Panorama 3 to V” section of the wizard.

Once you've done this once the databases will automatically open Panorama 5.5 when you double click on them.

Questions about upgrading from an earlier version of Panorama

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Questions about ordering Panorama

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Do you sell Recordplate inserts?

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No, and we have no idea where such inserts may be available. Panorama does include templates for printing on Recordplate inserts, so our site is one of the few that shows up when doing a Google search for “recordplate.” As far as we can determine Recordplate went out of business quite a few years ago and these inserts are no longer available anywhere.

What are the capabilities and limitations of the Panorama demo?

2007-10-17T19:28:47.433-07:00

If Panorama has not been activated with a serial number it acts as a demo version. The demo version can open any database and has no time limit. However, whenever you save or print a database with more than 250 records the Panorama demo will pause to display a dialog suggesting that you consider purchasing the product before allowing you to save or print. Other than this dialog the demo version is fully functional and includes all data manipulation, graphics and programming tools included in the full version of the product.

Can multiple users access a database across a network?

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The standard version of Panorama only allows single user access. If you want multiple users to be able to access a database simultaneously you'll need to use the Panorama Enterprise Server.

Can the database structure and data be stored separately?

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No, each database is contained in a single file that contains data, data attributes, calculations, forms and any programs related to the data.

Does Panorama keep each database stored in a separate file?

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Yes, each database is self-contained in it's own file. You can also set up a “file set” icon that will automatically open a group of databases, however the databases themselves are still in separate files.

What are the operating system requirements for running Panorama?

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The current version of version for OS X is Panorama 5.5. For Windows the current version is 4.0.

Panorama 5.5	Mac OS X 10.3, 10.4, 10.5 or higher (runs "native" in OS X *) (Windows version will be available in 2008)
Panorama V	Mac OS 9, 10.2, 10.3 or higher (runs "native" in OS X *)
Panorama 4.0	Mac OS 7.6 or higher (including OS X in "Classic" mode) Windows 98, ME, 2000, XP, Vista or higher
Panorama 3.0	Mac OS 6.0 to 8.6 (including 68K based computers)

* Panorama is currently not a Universal App on OS X. A universal version will be released in 2008.

Is Panorama relational?

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Yes. Panorama supports one-to-one and one-to-many relationships, and also supports “equal or lessor” relationships for looking up data in rate tables (for example tax or shipping rates).

Why doesn't Panorama use indexes?

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You might be surprised to know that when you ask a disk based database to search or sort it does not actually search or sort the data itself. Instead it searches or sorts a complex structure it has built called an "index." An index is a special directory that contains hints for finding items quickly. A database index performs much the same function as an index at the end of a textbook. Instead of searching the entire book page-by-page you find the entry in the index and then jump directly to the correct page. Disk based database programs use a similar index system to allow them to search or sort a large database in a second or two instead of in minutes or hours.

Unlike other database software, Panorama doesn't use indexes. Because RAM is so fast, Panorama can actually perform searches or sorts using the brute force approach, the equivalent of searching a book by reading all of the pages (but very, very quickly). Essentially Panorama is the ultimate speed reader. Although indexes can help a database search and sort faster, they also come with some very significant drawbacks.

Indexes are very large. Unlike a textbook index which is only a few pages, databases indexes are often much larger than the actual data itself. Since Panorama doesn't use indexes, the database size is much smaller.
Indexes have a very complicated structure that must be updated any time the database is modified. As your database gets larger this structure gets more complex, so updating the structure takes longer and longer each time you edit the database. In addition this complex structure is prone to corruption (which explains why FileMaker, for example, needs a command to rebuild corrupted databases). It's actually not the database itself which is corrupted, but the index. Since Panorama doesn't use indexes, editing the database doesn't get slower as you add more records, and the index can't get corrupted because there wasn't any index in the first place.
Even though the indexes are large they actually don't contain all of the information in the database (most of the index space is taken up with hints to make searching faster). Since a disk based database is searching the index, not the database, this means that many useful search queries are impossible. Since Panorama doesn't use indexes it can perform any search you can think of, including phonetic searches (sounds like "alan"), partial matches, comparisons between fields (Price is more than twice the P/E ratio), searching for fields that contain only letters, only numbers, or some other combination, searching all fields at once, even live keystroke-by-keystroke searches (like iTunes and Spotlight).

What if my database doesn't fit in RAM?

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Panorama requires that the entire database fit in RAM. With today's large RAM capacities and low prices this is rarely an issue.

How much data can fit in RAM?

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Panorama uses your computer's RAM very efficiently. Because Panorama doesn't use indexes (see below) Panorama databases are very small compared to FileMaker (typically six to ten times smaller). For example the Panorama test drive includes a typical contacts database with 10,000 records and about two dozen fields — this database is only 2.2 megabytes! Some Panorama users have created databases with over one million records. Typically a Panorama database is about the same size as an ASCII text file containing the same data.

General Questions

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