Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

Table of Contents

CIARA

1. Can I use subscripts in molecular formulas?
2. Does CIARA run on a Macintosh?
3. Can I use chemical structures with CIARA?
4. How do I copy and paste all of the information associated with a single Reactant or Product?
5. How do I set a database so that it opens with the program?
6. Will you allow for more than two Products in the future?
7. Can I use weight instead of volume for the solvent amounts?
8. How do I change the expected product amount when scaling up a reaction?
9. During setup I got an error about the THREED.VBX file. How can I eliminate this error and install the program?
10. Why am I unable to highlight text in a blue or yellow box?
11. When using the Print option how can I prevent the text on the right of the page from truncating?
12. When using the Print option how can I align the columns of data with the column headings?
13. When using the Copy All Reactants or Copy All Products option and pasting data into another application how can I align the columns of data with the column headings?
14. When using the Copy All Reactants or Copy All Products option and pasting data into another application how can I prevent the lines from wrapping?

CALACO

1. Does CALACO run on a Macintosh?
2. Can I add my own materials to the Density and Boiling Point lists?
3. Is there a way to set up CALACO so that a specific conversion screen opens when the program is opened?
   

CIARA Question 1:

Can I use subscripts in molecular formulas?

Answer:

Subscripts and superscripts are not supported in any CIARA text box.

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CIARA Question 2:

Does CIARA run on a Macintosh?

Answer:

CIARA does not run on a Macintosh and currently there are no plans to support this platform.

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CIARA Question 3: 

Can I use chemical structures with CIARA?

Answer:

CIARA version 2.10 has a Graphics box that will accept a graphic of a chemical reaction. This box is not structure searchable. This is under consideration for future upgrades.

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CIARA Question 4:

How do I copy and paste all of the information associated with a single Reactant or Product?

Answer:

Currently there is no feature to copy and paste all of the information associated with a single Reactant or Product; however, this feature is planned for future upgrades. For now you can added the Reactant or Product to the Materials List, move to a new position, and recall the material from the list. You must then input the equivalents value.

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CIARA Question 5:

How do I set a database so that it opens with the program?

Answer:

To set a database so that it opens with the program:

1. From the File menu use the Open Database option to open the database.
2. From the File menu select Set Configuration.
3. The "Set Configuration" dialog box is displayed.
4. In the "Current Database" box select the "Save as Default to open with program" option (the box should display an X).
5. Click the Save Configuration button.
6. Click the OK button to close the dialog box. The database on display will open when CIARA opens.

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CIARA Question 6:

Will you allow for more than two Products in the future?

Answer:

Future upgrades of CIARA will include six Products.

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CIARA Question 7:

Can I use weight instead of volume for the solvent amounts?

Answer:

To change from volume to weight for a solvent, click the Labels menu and select item "Solvent Volume/Weight. Then from the sub-menu select Weight. You will see a dialog box warning that the solvent amount will be cleared. Click OK and the units for solvent has changed to correspond with the current volume unit (This is supported in version 2.10 and higher).

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CIARA Question 9:

How do I change the expected product amount when scaling up a reaction?

Answer:

You must use Solver to adjust the expected amount of the product by setting the known percent yield for the reaction:

1. Change the amounts of the Reactants to correspond to the scale of the reaction.
2. Click the white "% Yield" box associated with the Product.
3. In the "Solver" dialog box input the known percent yield for the reaction.
4. Click the OK button.
5. In the "Solver Adjusted Value" dialog box click the OK button.
6. The adjusted product amount is displayed in the corresponding "Weight" box.

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CIARA Question 10:

For version 1.01b and earlier only.

During setup I got an error about the THREED.VBX file. How can I eliminate this error and install the program?

Answer:

You may experience problems during installation if you have earlier version of some ".VBX" files on your computer. If you get an error message relating to a ".VBX" file you should rename the file (e.g. rename THREED.VBX to THREED.SAV) and restart the installation. The ".VBX" files usually are located in the windows or windows/system directory.

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CIARA Question 11:

Why am I unable to highlight text in a blue or yellow box?

Answer:

When the Windows highlight color is the same color as the blue or yellow text boxes in CIARA and the highlighted text is black, you will not be able to view highlighted text. You should change either the highlight color, the highlighted text color, or both.

To change Windows color settings:

1. Go to the Program Manager.
2. Double click the "Control Panel" icon.
3. Double click the "Color" icon.
4. Click the "Color Palette>>" button.
5. In the "Active" box click "Highlighted" until the text "Highlight" appears in the "Screen Element" box.
6. Click a color box other than the blue or yellow hue used with the boxes in CIARA.
7. In the "Active" box click "Highlighted" until the text "Highlighted Text" appears in the "Screen Element" box.
8. Click a color box other than black.
9. Click the OK button.
10. Close CIARA and reopen the program.

To change Windows 95 color settings:

1. Click the Start button on the Task bar.
2. Point at the Settings option.
3. Click the Control Panel option in the sub-menu.
4. Double click the Display object.
5. Click the Appearance tab in the "Display Properties" dialog box.
6. In the "Item:" box click Selected Items on the drop-down list.
7. In the "Color:" box to the right of the "Item:" box) choose a color other than the blue or yellow hue used with. CIARA.
8. In the "Color:" box to the right of the "Font:" box choose a color other than the blue or yellow hue used with. CIARA.
9. Click the Apply button in the bottom right corner of the dialog box.
10. Click the OK button.
11. Go to CIARA.

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CIARA Question 12:

When using the Print option how can I prevent the text on the right of the page from truncating?

Answer:

The text will truncate if the font size is too large. To change to a smaller font size:

 

1. From the File menu click the Select Printer Font option.
2. In the "Size" box select a smaller font (10 or smaller is recommended).
3. Click the OK button or hit the Enter key.
4. This change can be saved permanently using the Set Configuration option.

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CIARA Question 13:

When using the Print option how can I align the columns of data with the column headings?

Answer:

A non-proportional font must be used. To change to a non-proportion font:

1. From the File menu click the Select Printer Font option.
2. In the "Font" box select a non-proportional font such as Courier, Courier New, or System.
3. Click the OK button or hit the Enter key.
4. This change can be saved permanently using the Set Configuration option.

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CIARA Question 14:

When using the Copy All Reactants or Copy All Products option and pasting data into another application how can I align the columns of data with the column headings?

Answer:

In the application where you are pasting the data a non-proportional font should be used, or the pasted text must be edited:

1. Paste the data.
2. Highlight the pasted text.
3. Change the font in the application to a non-proportional font such as Courier, Courier New, or System.
   OR

1. Change the ruler in the application where you are pasting the data to a proportional font such as Courier, Courier New, or System.
2. Paste the data.
   OR

If a proportional font is used the pasted text can be edited by inserting spaces to align the columns.

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CIARA Question 15:

When using the Copy All Reactants or Copy All Products option and pasting data into another application how can I prevent the lines from wrapping?

Answer:

A smaller font size or narrower margins should be used in the application where you are pasting the data:

1. Paste the data.
2. Highlight the pasted data.
3. Change the font size to a smaller value in the application (8 is recommended).
   OR

1. Change the ruler in the application where you are pasting the data to a smaller font size (8 is recommended).
2. Paste the data.
   OR

The page width is too narrow to accommodate the text. The right and/or left margins should be decreased in the application where your are pasting the data.

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CALACO Question 1:

Does CALACO run on a Macintosh?

Answer:

CALACO does not run on a Macintosh and currently there are no plans to support this platform.

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CALACO Question 2:

Can I add my own materials to the Density and Boiling Point lists?

Answer:

Currently there is no method to add your own materials to the Density and Boiling Point lists. This feature will be included in future upgrades. A feature to transfer Material Lists between CIARA and CALACO is planned.

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CALACO Question 3:

Is there a way to set up CALACO so that a specific conversion screen opens when the program is opened?

Answer:

To set a configuration screen to open with the program:

1. Close all open conversion screens.
2. Open the conversion screen you want to open with the program.
3. From the File menu select Save Configuration. When you open the program the conversion screen you selected will be displayed.

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Vogel Scientific Software, Inc.
1199 Leeward Avenue, Lake Elmo, MN 55042-9643
Phone: 651-436-2998, FAX: 651-436-2798, Email: support@vogelscientific.com
http://www.vogelscientific.com