BERT 2.1 User Guide

PART 2
Installation

2.1 System requirements
2.2 Access Runtime for users who do not have MS Access
2.3 Installing BERT 2.1
2.4 Preventing nuisance pop-up messages in Access 2000–Access 2006
2.5 Preventing nuisance pop-up messages in Access 2007 or later

2.1 System requirements

BERT 2.1 is a Microsoft Access application. In order to run BERT, you must either have Microsoft Access Runtime or Microsoft Access 2000 or later, installed on your PC. Information on obtaining and downloading Access Runtime for free are located in section 2.2 below.

If you have any problems installing BERT 2.1, or if you have any questions about using the program, please do one of the following:

• contact your district’s MTRS Employer Service Representative by phone or e-mail;
• call the MTRS Employer Services helpline at 617-679-6895; or,
• send an e-mail to bertsupport@trb.state.ma.us .
  

2.2 Access Runtime for users who do not have MS Access

If you do not have Microsoft Access installed on your PC, the MTRS has a solution that will allow you to use BERT without purchasing MS Access. Microsoft Office Access Runtime is a free application that enables you to use Access even if you do not have the full version of Access installed on your computer, and is available for downloading via Access Runtime on our website.

Below is a set of step-by-step instructions to walk you through installing Access Runtime. If your district has an IT specialist, you may want to ask him or her to install this for you. If you need assistance, please contact your Employer Services Representative. We can either answer your questions or schedule a time to help you with the installation.

1. Go to the Employers page of the MTRS website, click on Basic Electronic Reporting Tool (BERT). This will link you to the BERT page; click on DOWNLOAD: Access Runtime.
   
   
   
2. After you have clicked Access Runtime, a screen will pop-up asking if you want to Run the installation from our server or Save it locally. Please choose Run to run it directly from our server and avoid any possible compatibility or license issues with the version of WinZip that you may have installed on your PC.
   
   
   
   
3. Once you have clicked Run, a progress bar like this should appear.
   
   
   
   
4. If you get a warning that the state website has an unpublished certificate, please don’t be alarmed. Access Runtime is installed on a secure server and is safe. Proceed by choosing Run again.
   
   
   
   
5. The WinZip Self-Extractor should open in the view below. Before you unzip the BERT file, choose the location where you want to save the Access Runtime installation program. To choose a new location, hit the Browse button and a window will appear and you can choose from several locations. We recommend saving the installation program on your desktop for easy post-installation disposal. Once you have selected where you want to save your installation program, choose Unzip.
   
   
   
   
6. A pop-up message should appear confirming that your files have been successfully unzipped. Click OK.
   
   
   
   
7. When you click OK, you will return to the extractor menu. Choose Close to exit this menu.
   
   
   
   
8. These three icons should appear on your desktop. To install Access Runtime, click on the Access Runtime icon and it will install itself on your computer. We will address using the other two icons later in this section.
   
   
9. Access Runtime is a free program designed by Microsoft in order to enable the use of Access applications by users who do not have the full version of Access. To use Microsoft’s software, you will have to accept their user agreement. Again, Access Runtime is a free program, not a promotional trial; you will not receive a message, after some period of time, that you need to purchase the application.
   
   Use the scroll bar on the right to read through the license agreement and, if you accept the terms, check the box in the bottom left corner.
   
   
   
   
10. Once you have agreed to Microsoft’s terms, you will see this dialog box and the installation will begin.
    
    
    
    
11. The installation time depends on your download speed. In several tests, the MTRS was able to download Access Runtime in an average time of less than three minutes.
    
    
    
    
12. When the installation is complete, this confirmation message will appear. Click OK.
    
    
    
    
13. After Access Runtime is installed, you may notice that your BERT program icon will change from the icon on the left to the icon on the right. This is normal.
    

    From

    To

    
    
14. After Access Runtime has been installed, you will still have two “registry” icons on your desktop. Click on each icon once, then click OK. These two registry entries will install in seconds and will make BERT easier to use.
    
    
15. When you have run all three of these installation programs (Access Runtime, BERTRegInstallUpload, BERTRegInstallSecurity), you can remove the icons from your desktop or drag them to your recycling bin.
    
    
    
    

2.3 Installing BERT 2.1

To install BERT 2.1, please follow the nine steps illustrated below. (Note: The following nine steps may vary slightly depending on your Windows settings or the versions of Windows and WinZip software you are using. See section 2.1 for our contact information if you need assistance installing BERT 2.1.)

1. On the Employers page of the MTRS website, click on Basic Electronic Reporting Tool (BERT). This will link you to the BERT page; click on DOWNLOAD: BERT.
   
   
   
   
2. BERT’s installation program is an executable file so you may receive a warning from your security software. When this occurs click Run to continue the installation process.
   
   
   
   
3. Some security programs may give you a second warning, but please be assured that BERT 2.1 is a safe program to install. If this message appears, click Run again.
   
   
   
   
4. When BERT 2.1’s self-extracting message box appears, click the Browse… button to select the network folder in which you would like to install BERT 2.1. We recommend that you save your file on a secure network folder whenever possible. This will ensure that your data will be safe and will enable your IT department to back up your files.
   
   
   
   
5. A window will then appear, allowing you to choose the network drive on which you want to save BERT 2.1. The MTRS recommends that you save your file on a secure network folder when possible so your data will be safe and can be backed up by your IT department. Click OK.
   
   
   
   
6. Once you have selected a network drive, click on Unzip to install BERT 2.1 on the drive you selected.
   
   
   
   
7. When BERT 2.1 has been successfully installed, you should receive a confirmation message box similar to the message below. Click OK.
   
   
   
   
8. Now that BERT 2.1 has been installed, exit the installer by clicking Close on the Self-Extractor.
   
   
   
   
9. Next, navigate to the network drive where you installed BERT 2.1 in order to use it.
   
   Tech tip:
   To create a shortcut to the BERT 2.1 program on your desktop, right-click on the program in this view and choose “Send to…” then “Desktop (Shortcut)”.
   
   

This is what you should see when you open BERT 2.1.

Thank you for installing BERT 2.1. If you have any questions about installation or use, please do not hesitate to contact your assigned MTRS Employer Services representative.

2.4 Preventing nuisance pop-up messages in Access 2000–Access 2006

Access will cause a series of pop-up messages to appear when you are using BERT. To avoid these recurring messages every time you run the program, follow these steps:

1. Open Windows (not Internet) Explorer and select the folder where you have stored BERT 2.1.
   
   
   
2. When you are in the folder, use the up and down arrow keys to highlight BERT in the folder. Next, click on the BERT program while holding the “Shift” key. If you get a security warning, make sure to keep the “Shift” key depressed as you open BERT.
   
   
   
3. The BERT tool should open in a view similar to this. Next, click the Tools option in the menu bar at the top of the page and select Options from the drop-down list.
   
   
   
4. The Options menu is reproduced below. Select the Edit/Find tab and uncheck the boxes in the Confirm section circled in the illustration. Next, click Apply, then click OK.
   
   
   
5. When the screen below appears, close by clicking on the “x” mark in the Database box. This process does not have to be repeated unless a new version of the file is downloaded.
   
   

2.5 Preventing nuisance pop-up messages in Access 2007 or later

Access will cause a series of pop-up messages to appear when you are using BERT. If you have a later version of Access, follow these steps to avoid these recurring messages when you run the program:

1. Open Windows (not Internet) Explorer and select the folder where you have stored BERT 2.1.
   
   
   
2. When you are in the folder, use the up and down arrow keys to highlight BERT in the folder. Next, click on the BERT program while holding the “Shift” key.
   
   
   
3. The BERT tool should open in a view similar to this. Next, Click the circle on the upper left corner of the screen.
   
   
   
4. Once this menu has appeared, click on Access Options at the bottom.
   
   
   
5. In Access Options, you will find an option called Advanced in the left margin. Click this option.
   
   
   
6. In Advanced, scroll down to the section called Confirm. Under this heading you will see Record Changes, Document Deletions and Action Queries. Make sure that these three boxes are empty and NOT checked.
   
   
   
7. Now press OK at the bottom of the screen, and exit out of Access completely. The next time you open BERT, the unnecessary pop-up messages will not appear.
   

Go to Part 3: Using BERT
Go to BERT 2.1 User Guide