GETTING STARTED WITH TIDE WIZARD

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1 GETTING STARTED WITH TIDE WIZARD Thank you for purchasing Tide Wizard. These notes are to help you get the software installed, registered and up and running please refer to the help files for assistance in using Tide Wizard. SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS Tide Wizard will run on versions of Windows from Windows 95 onwards, but will not run on Windows Mobile. If you wish to use the GPS or echo sounder related features of Tide Wizard, you will need a serial port, connected the NMEA 0183 feed from your instruments. This port must be numbered between COM1 and COM4. DOWNLOADING TIDE WIZARD You can download the software from Smartcom Software s web site When Windows asks if you want to run or save the file, if you select Run it will start the installation process, whereas if you select Save it will save the installation program to your hard disk, called tidewizardsetup.exe. In general, selecting Save is less error prone than selecting Run, and also enables you to save a copy of the installation program to a CD or memory stick in case you need it and don t have a fast internet connection to hand. INSTALLATION If you have already installed a demo/trial version of Tide Wizard, you need to uninstall the demo version before installing the full version of the software as described below.

2 If you are running a version of Windows other than Windows 95 or 98, you need to be logged in with Administrator rights this is normally the case, but if necessary you can change this from User Accounts in Control Panel or, for a corporate environment, contacting your system administrator. If you have saved PC SatC to your hard disk, double click on the program to start it if you selected Run from the web site, it will start automatically. First, you may see a window similar to the one below, generated from Windows: This just means that we haven t gone through the process with Microsoft to be on their list of verified publishers, so just click on Run.

3 Now enter your name, your organisation or vessel name, and your registration number. You will find your registration number on your invoice or, for the boxed software, on a label inside the box. The next screen is for confirmation of the above details just click on Next. Now you can change the location of the installation. Again, click on Next unless you have a reason to install the software into a different location on your computer. Now you have the option to backup any files that may be updated by Tide Wizard. Unless you are low on disk space, check Yes, as this allows you to restore all files to their previous versions by using Windows System Restore functions, whereas if you just uninstall the software any changes to system files are not undone. Finally, you can name the heading where Tide Wizard is placed under the Start / Programs menu. Again, unless you have a good reason to do so, we suggest you leave the default value. Now comes the configuration of Tide Wizard, beginning with your vessel s draft and height, used in calculating clearances. Enter the dimensions measured from the waterline, including any safety margin you wish to apply. These can be changed in the program, so leave them until later if you wish, by clicking on Ignore. Next, the options for connecting to your instruments are given. Interfacing to your GPS allows Tide Wizard to select tidal stations in your vicinity. Interfacing to your echo sounder allows you to plot a graph of the depth from your echo sounder. The interface to the

4 instruments is performed by a mini application, NMEA Server. If you don t want to use either of these features, then select the option Don t connect to my instruments. If you will always use these features, select Always connect to my instruments, and NMEA Server will always start up when you start your computer. If you may use these features at some time, select Use instrument data if NMEA Server is running, and then start NMEA Server manually whenever you want to use them. Click OK and Tide Wizard will start being installed to your computer. During the installation, it will check for the NMEA Server utility, and if not found it will be installed. At this stage, you need to enter your name, and the name of your company or vessel. It will also ask for the installation path for NMEA Server software. Again, we suggest you

5 leave this unaltered unless there is a specific need to change it. This is followed by a similar screen for the data path, to specify where data from NMEA Server is installed, and again leave the default value. Once the NMEA Server is installed, the installation of Tide Wizard is completed. STARTING AND REGISTERING TIDE WIZARD To start Tide Wizard, click on Start/Programs/Tide Wizard/Tide Wizard. Until you have gone through the registration process, the following screen will appear:

6 If you don t wish to register Tide Wizard yet, for example you have not yet purchased the software and are using it in trial mode, select Continue evaluation and register later and click on Continue. If you have purchased Tide Wizard and wish to register the software, the easiest way to do so is to click on On-line registration. This will open up your web browser at the software unlock page. At the bottom, enter your registration number and click on Register. The registration number will be on your invoice and/or in the accompanying if you bought Tide Wizard online from Smartcom Software, or on a label inside the box if you bought the software through a retailer or purchased the software as a CD from Smartcom Software. If you bought the software a number of years ago, the registration number may have been supplied on a blue card inside the box. On the next screen, please enter your name and contact details. It is important that you enter a valid address, as the unlock code will be ed to that address. When you click on Submit, the unlock code is ed through to you, and should arrive in a few moments. If you do not have web access, please us with your registration number and serial number (which you will find in the top right hand corner of the registration window), and we will get back to you with an unlock code in due course. When you have your unlock code, either copy it or cut and paste it into the edit box, and click on Continue. A message box will pop up saying Thank you for registering, and when you next start the program the registration window will not be displayed.

7 GETTING STARTED WITH TIDE WIZARD When you start Tide Wizard, you will see a world map with a red dot at each tidal station. Pan and zoom to your area of interest, and click on a dot to see the tidal information. Alternatively, to search by name or location, click on the Search item on the menu. Full details of the search features are given in the online help. To set up clearances, time zones and other settings, click on Tools Options on the menu. If you wish to use the GPS and echo sounder facilities, you need to configure NMEA Server so it communicates with your instruments. To do this, click on Start/Programs/Tide Wizard/NMEA Server. Now click on Options/Receive, and set the COM port to the one connected to your instruments, and you should see the NMEA data displayed on the screen. To get help on using Tide Wizard, click on the Help menu item or press F1, or go to Start/Programs/Tide Wizard/Tide Wizard Help. FURTHER INFORMATION Smartcom Software s support contacts: Web site: support@smartcomsoftware.com Phone: +44 (0)