Trace File

A new feature generates a trace file of transactions for a selected year. This can help you understand the data shown in the charts and tables after a calculation. To create this file, use the drop down "Request Trace..." menu item under the "Tools" menu. Enter the year you want to trace and click Ok. The next calculation run produces a log file of the transactions in chronological sequence, so that you can see the numbers that are used to create the charts and tables.

The trace file is created in your My Documents folder.under Windows XP. If you are running Vista, the file is created in your Documents folder. It is named "ForecasterTrace-yyyy.txt", where yyyy is the year you entered in the Request Trace form. A trace request via this menu is good for one calculation run only. Repeat the request to get another trace.

To view the trace after a file has been created, use the drop down "View Last Trace" menu item under the "Tools" menu. This opens the trace file in your default text editor program, or the Windows NotePad program.

The trace file also can be created by adding this token as a command line argument: "/Tyyyy", where yyyy is the year you want to trace. This trace request stays active for the whole time the program is loaded. But it can be overridden on a one-time basis each time a request is entered via the "Tools" menu.

If you want the trace files created in a different folder, add this token as a command line argument: "/Fpath", where path is the path where you want the trace file created. Note that there is no space between "/F" and the path name in the tokens, even though the path name itself can contain spaces.

The easiest way to add a command line argument to the Forecaster program is to use a shortcut icon on your PC desktop. If there is no shortcut icon for the Forecaster program on your desktop, you can create one. Here is how you add a command line argument to a shortcut icon on your PC desktop:

• Locate the shortcut icon on your desktop.
• Right click the icon and select Properties.
• Under the Shortcut tab, you will see an area that says Target. This will list the exact location of the program file within quotation marks.
• Modify the Target adding the command line argument after the last quotation mark.
• Be sure to keep a space between the last quotation mark and your argument.
• Press Apply and start the Forecaster program via the shortcut.

Error Log File

When errors are detected during the calculation, they are no longer reported immediately with pop-up message windows. Instead each error is written to an error log file. At the end of the calculation, if errors were detected, a pop-up window alerts you and shows you a button to click to see the whole list of errors.

The error log file is created in your My Documents folder.under Windows XP. If you are running Vista, the file is created in your Documents folder. It is named "ForecasterErrorLog.txt", This file is re-created each time you run a calculation.

To view the error log file after a file has been created, use the drop down "View Error Log File" menu item under the "Tools" menu. This opens the error log file in a report window showing the whole list of errors.