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The Installer
The QikKids Installer begins with an autorun program that launches the setup programs required by QikKids. The launcher has three buttons for installing Microsoft Access 2003 Runtime and Internet Explorer 6 (Prerequisites), QikKids 4 and Adobe Acrobat.
CD Layout
The Update CD has a single folder containing the installation files for QikKids.
The New Installation CD has the following folders:
Acrobat – installation files for Adobe Acrobat Reader. Used to display the print version of the QikKids manual
ART2K3 – contains the installation files for Runtime Access 2003. Used on Windows 2000 or later if Access is not already present.
ARTXP – contains the installation files for Runtime Access XP. Used on Windows 98 or ME if Access is not already present.
IE6 - Internet Explorer 6
MSI - Windows Installer
QikKids – contains the QikKids files, also contains the JET and MDAC updates
SP – contains the latest Windows Service Packs
Tools - programs used by our support people
Dependencies
QikKids 4 is native 32 bit Windows executable written in Microsoft Visual C++ .NET 2003. The database is stored in either data.mdb - an unlocked JET 4 format database, or as an MSDE / SQL Server 2000 database (Enterprise only). The database can be easily linked to and read / written via the JET OLEDB/ODBC providers, or any application that supports Microsoft Access or SQL Server databases.
Most items that are printed by QikKids are stored as Access report objects; communication with these objects is via COM.
QikKids also makes extensive use of the control libraries in Internet Explorer 6.0 or later, and the online HTML help system also requires IE6 or later.
So the application dependencies are:
The Windows OLE/COM subsystem
Microsoft JET / ADO / SQLOLEDB
Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 or later
Access XP / 2003 full or runtime (runtime supplied on CD)
Common Problems
Practically all installation failures are caused by premature termination of the Access Runtime Installer, often due to interference by virus checkers. Common problems include: QikKids exiting with an “Abnormal Program Termination” error (the COM or JET subsystem is missing or incorrectly registered), printed items such as statements and reports not displaying (Access not fully installed) and the online help system not operating (IE 6 not fully installed).
Solutions
Most problems are resolved by a re-install / repair of Office or Access.
At the end of the repair process the computer should reboot. Reinstall QikKids to make sure all files are registered correctly (this will not overwrite any data files).
Internet Explorer is upgraded if necessary as part of the installation process. If the installer is exiting prematurely, try installing Internet Explorer first, then run the Access installer again. IE is located in the support files directory.
Permissions on Windows NT / 2000 / XP / Server 2003
As with all applications, installation on Windows NT / 2000 / 2003 and XP should always be performed using an account with full administrator privileges.
Additionally, if you are using an Access database file, QikKids requires users to have full control privileges of the directory containing data.mdb.
Note: If you wish to allow non-administrators to update QikKids, you must grant them full user rights to the QikKids application folder (usually c:\program files\palm technology\qikkids4) and all sub folders.