bullet Customer Service Bulletin
bullet Computer Requirements
bullet Sending your exported herd data to us via E-mail
bullet Backing up your data
bullet Creating a Shortcut to HERD-LINK
bullet Exporting to BIO
Customer Service Bulletins

CSB #011 - Date: December 6, 2000

As part of our Customer Support Plan we will from time-to-time be sending out Customer Service Bulletins (CSBs) along with HERD-LINK upgrades to ensure that you are working with the very latest version of the software.

  1. Feature added to Export data to the Canadian Livestock Records Corporation in their new era format.

We have added a new function to HERD-LINK under the Export menu that will allow those customers who work with the CLRC to directly export their information for registration purposes or updating the CLRC’s databases. The following information can now be sent to the CLRC:

bullet

Birth weight and Birth information

bullet

Pedigree information

bullet

Weaning performance information (Weight, date, management group)

  1. New filters and sorts on various browses and reports.

We have added some new sorts to various browses and reports:

bulletEPD record browse now includes filter by calf season, and also includes additional sorts by birth year. The EPDs records can now also be sorted by the trait value for the ABC.
bulletThe EPD report has been updated to include the above sorts as well.
bulletThe Carcass record browse has been changed to include a sort by calf birth year.
  1. Display and reporting of Foster and Donor cows.

Foster and donor cows are now displayed on the following browse views:

bulletAnimal Browse with View set to "Pedigree"
bulletIn Calf entry browse

The foster and donor cows are now printed on the following reports:

bulletBirth or Calving report
bulletGeneral Listings with Pedigree/Birth information
  1. Entry and conversion of "Kilograms" to "pounds".

    We have added a special data edit feature that allows users to enter weights collected in kilograms and convert them on the fly to pounds.

    For example, if your scale reports weights in kilograms and you are recording birth weights in kilos you can enter the value directly into HERD-LINK with a "K" right after. HERD-LINK will automatically convert the value (eg: 36K) to pounds (79.2 lbs). So on all the entry fields that record weight, you can use this feature to do a quick conversion from "Kilos" to "pounds".

  2. Various bug fixes

Various problems have also been addressed and this includes:

bulletCorrect calculation of number of cows/heifers on the season statistics reports
bulletImproved birth date validation against parents
bulletMinor spacing problem on Ancestry report

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Exporting to BIO - Error Message

Some users have been experiencing a problem with their HERD-LINK Export to BIO giving them an error.  The error states that the export was not complete due to errors within the data.  If you experience this problem please follow these steps to fix the problem:

  1. From the Windows Start Button select Programs => Windows Explorer.
  2. In the Windows Explorer click on your c:\ drive.
  3. Expand the C:\ drive to display all the subdirectories.
  4. In the list you will see a Herdlink directory, double-click on the Herdlink directory.
  5. On the menus click on File => New => Folder.
  6. In the box displayed type: Export



Computer Requirements  

The following is a list of the basic computer requirements needed to run HERD-LINK for Windows v2.0

bulletIBM Compatible 486 DX/66Mhz or Pentium Computer
bulletMicrosoft Windows 95 or 98
bullet16 MB of RAM (minimum)
bullet20 MB of Hard Drive space
bulletCD-Rom Drive (2X - double speed)
bullet1.44 MB Floppy Disk Drive
bulletColour Monitor - Super VGA (640 x 480, 256 colour)
bulletMouse
bulletPrinter

Note: If your computer does not have a CD-ROM Drive you can request 1.44 MB diskettes.

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Sending your exported herd data to us via E-mail.
  1. From the main menu, select, File - Export - Export to BIO. The Data Export Utility screen will appear.
  2. Select the drive you would like the export files copied to with the popup button provided (use drive C if you are going to attach this file to an e-mail.
  3. If you are requesting EPDs, indicate this using the check box provided.
  4. Press the << Export Data >> button to begin export.
  5. Once your export is complete and the files are saved to the directory you indicated, you can go to your e-mail software.
  6. Create your e-mail as you normally would, and indicated the attachment is the export file from HERD-LINK.
  7. Attach the export file to your e-mail and send to: hluserdata@biobeef.com.

For detailed information on how to save an e-mail attachment from BIO and how to use different e-mail packages click here.

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Backing up your data

The Backup function allows you to backup all your HERD-LINK data to a diskette (such as drive A:) or to a specified location on your hard drive. You can setup HERD-LINK to remind you to Backup your data periodically by enabling the option under Preferences.

To backup your HERD-LINK data use these easy steps:

  1. From the main menu select File - Backup and the following screen is displayed.
  2. Select the drive you would like to backup your data to; A:\, B:\ or a subdirectory on your hard drive.
  3. Choose <<Backup>> to begin the process.

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Creating a Shortcut to HERD-LINK

If you would like to have quicker access to your HERD-LINK, you can create a shortcut in Windows 95/98!  To create the shortcut use the following instructions:

  1. On the Windows desktop (anywhere on your screen), right click with the mouse.
  2. A drop down menu will appear.
  3. Select New => Shortcut.  The create shortcut screen will appear.
  4. In the Command Line box type:  C:\HERDLINK\HLWIN.exe
  5. Click on the Next > button.  The Select a Title for the Shortcut screen will be displayed.
  6. In the box provided type: HERD-LINK for Windows.
  7. Click on the Finish button. 
  8. The HERD-LINK for Windows shortcut will appear on the desktop.

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If you would like to have quicker access to your HERD-LINK, you can create a shortcut in Windows 95/98!  To create the shortcut use the following instructions:

  1. On the Windows desktop (anywhere on your screen), right click with the mouse.
  2. A drop down menu will appear.
  3. Select New => Shortcut.  The create shortcut screen will appear.
  4. In the Command Line box type:  C:\HERDLINK\HLWIN.exe
  5. Click on the Next > button.  The Select a Title for the Shortcut screen will be displayed.
  6. In the box provided type: HERD-LINK for Windows.
  7. Click on the Finish button. 
  8. The HERD-LINK for Windows shortcut will appear on the desktop.

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If you have further questions regarding HERD-LINK you can send them to us via e-mail.

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