Advice for Windows users

Refer to this to see how your results compare to others in your industry.

Refer to our software reliability FAQ and our Full-scale/shortcut model FAQ for important insights.

See the Version 3.7 frestimate users manual and WhenToStop users manual.

See the latest Frestimate Metrics users manual.

Make sure that you use the Frestimate Version 3.6 Prediction tutorial and the WhenToStop tutorial to learn about predictions and estimations. 

Installation facts

Make sure that you install Frestimate using an administrator login privileges.  Frestimate installation will install files into the system32 and will register dlls.  Each of these activities requires admin privileges. So if you install while logged in as a user without administrator privileges, the install will not be successful.

If you have version 3.6 or earlier you should upgrade due to changes in technology.

Frestimate uses the Microsoft Jet Engine.  Earlier versions of the Jet Engine had problems generated an "Out of Memory" error when you have 1GB of RAM.  The latest version of the engine is contained in versions 3.7 and higher.

Installing Frestimate on a split drive or a drive other than a C Drive

If you have your Temp folder defined to be on a drive other than the C drive you will receive an error message immediately after accepting the license agreement after launching Frestimate.  To run Frestimate you must have a valid temp folder defined on your C drive and this folder must have write access.  To change your temp folder to the c drive you will need to change the system environment variable in the control panel so that the path name for the temp system environment variable is on a C drive. 

 

Common new user mistakes include:

·        Significantly overestimating the size inputs for prediction (only input NEW lines of code)

·        Leaving too many default values (i.e. Q conversion ratio, growth period, application type)

Where to get help for using the Windows version of Frestimate:

·        Press the F1 key at any time while using the software to get context sensitive help

·        Select the help files under the help menu to see the entire list of help topics including the algorithms, big picture, tutorials, user manual, etc.

·        You can also launch the help files from your desktop by traversing to your install folder and launching the files that have a .hlp extension

·        Make sure that you read the Big Picture section of the help files

·        Use the wizards

Your support hours and how to use them:

·        Do schedule a new user telephone tutorial.  Schedule this after you have:

•    Installed the software

•   Become familiar with it

•   Reviewed the tutorials, help files and user manuals

•   Provide 3 different dates with times at least 1 week in advance to support@softrel.com

•   The new user tutorial is given to one user at a time

•   The new user tutorials given only to registered Frestimate users (By default this is the individual that purchased the software)  

·        Do submit your finished results for a sanity check by the support group. Provide 3 different dates with times at least 1 week in advance to support@softrel.com

·        Do use support hours only for issues that aren't covered in the help files and tutorials

How to report a support issue

Support issues must be initiated via email in order for us to record and track them properly.  Email support@softrel.com. You will receive a response within 48 hours.  Simple issues are generally answered within this time.  Support issues requiring review of your mathematical results may take longer.  You will be advised within your first response as to the estimated time for a complete response as well as any additional information required.  The amount of support time that you have in your first year of ownership is dependent on the modules purchased.  You will receive a regular statement of your remaining complimentary support hours.

Support hours provided during the first year of ownership

·        Basic package - 1 hour

·        Full-scale module - 2 additional hours

·        Rome Labs module - 2 additional hours

·        WhenToStop module - 2 additional hours

Note that you can use your support hours on any topic (not limited to any particular module)

Help for install errors

 

MSCVRT.dll install error.

During install there is a message displayed that this file is in use.  If you have other applications running then shut them down and start the install.  Otherwise, press ignore.  If you receive no other error messages and the software runs properly after install, then that means you have the correct version of this file already installed and no other action is needed.  On the other hand, if you subsequently receive an error message about registering graphs32 then that means you do not have the correct version of msvcrt.dll installed.  You can address this in a variety of ways.  Below is one way.

1. restart your computer in safe mode and install frestimate. 

MFC40 install error: 

During install there is a message displayed that MFC40.dll cannot be registered.   This is followed by an error message that graph32.ocx cannot be registered which is followed by an error message that crystlrpt.ocx cannot be registered. 

Cause:

This can happen when frestimate is installed on windows 9x AND the msvcrt40.dll is for a windows 2000, windows NT or windows XP operating system.  This happens when the msvcrt40.dll or msvcrt.dll file is uninstalled by some program and then the NT/XP/2000 versions of these dlls are reinstalled by Frestimate.

Solution:

The best solution is to reinstall/update windows 98.  Alternatively, you can also reinstall the 98 versions of these files using the MSDOS commands to copy them and the RegSvr32 command to register them.