California Gap Analysis Project: CD-ROM FAQ Page

A few users have experienced difficulty getting the CD-ROM installed or operating properly. There are also a couple of errors in the atlas itself. We are maintaining this web page with problem descriptions and solutions as these arise. If, after reading this page, you still can not get the atlas to run correctly, contact David Stoms at UCSB Biogeography Lab by email or by phone (805-893-7655).

OPERATING PROBLEMS--Getting the Atlas to run

Problem: When the atlas is started from the Start menu or the GAP icon, the opening banner appears on the screen for a couple of seconds and then the program stops and disappears from the screen.

Solution: If you have Arcview 3.0 or higher already installed on your computer, it may create a file called default.apr in the c:\temp directory. We recommend that you rename this file to remove the conflict with the CA-GAP atlas. Deleting the file may cause problems with your own ArcView projects if you have used the default.apr file to save customized color palettes, etc.

Problem: When the atlas is started by double-clicking the cagap.apr file, I get an error message that it is unable to determine the library location of certain files.

Solution: Clicking on the cagap.apr file launches your own version of ArcView rather than the version that is customized for the CA-GAP atlas. You must run the cagap.exe file with the cagap.apr project. The easiest way to do this is to go to the Start menu -->Programs --> California GAP Atlas -->California GAP Software. This uses a shortcut that includes all the necessary files.

Problem: When the atlas is started by double-clicking the cagap.exe file, I get an error message that 'ArcView Publisher cannot start without the key project.'

Solution: Clicking on the cagap.exe file launches the executable version of the software without the correct version of the user interface. You must run the cagap.exe file with the cagap.apr project. The easiest way to do this is to go to the Start menu -->Programs --> California GAP Atlas -->California GAP Software. This uses a shortcut that includes all the necessary files.

Problem: When the atlas is started from the Start menu or the GAP icon, I get an error message 'Cannot read from drive A' (or perhaps a different drive).

Solution: We have only heard of this problem on newer Dell PC's with 400+ MHz processors. So far we have not discovered a solution. Suggestions are more than welcome.

ATLAS ERRORS--Problems when the Atlas is running

Problem: The VER and SPE buttons (select a vertebrate or plant species) do not work properly if they are the first action the user takes in the Data Window. The buttons properly prompt the user for a species name, but then take no action with the selected species.

Solution: The work-around is to do something else first. Select the COM (or WHR) button and chose the appropriate type of name and display its distribution. Then use the VER or SPE button to display the wildlife or plant species of your choice.

Problem: The legend for the Land Cover theme in both the Maps and BaseMaps menus has an error in it. The type labeled 'Closed-Cone Coniferous Forest' should read 'Lower Montane/Closed-cone Coniferous Forest.'

Solution: If you want to change the legend just for the current session, for instance to make a plot of the Data View window, double-click on the legend in the Table of Contents and use the Legend Editor to change the name. When you Exit from the Atlas, your changes will be lost. For a permanent change, you can edit the cagap.apr file, say in Word or Wordpad. WE STRONGLY URGE YOU TO SAVE A COPY OF THIS FILE FIRST IN CASE THE ORIGINAL IS DAMAGED. OF COURSE, YOU CAN ALWAYS GET A COPY FROM THE CD-ROM IF THAT HAPPENS.

CA-GAP Home \| Overview \| Report \| Download GIS \| CD-ROM \| Site Index \| National GAP
Top of Page	Send your comments to: stoms@bren.ucsb.edu	UCSB Biogeography Lab Home