Frequently Asked Questions

FREE TOOLS By Scouters For Scouters

.zip\[TigerTrax1.12.xls]Scout 1
	Problem:	When I enter the boy's names on the tabs at the bottom of the page, I get this cryptic filename in front of the boy's names. What am I doing wrong and how do I fix it?
	Solution:	You have to physically SAVE the spreadsheet to your hard drive. As soon as you save it, the filename will disappear from in front of the boy's names.

*Password?*
	Problem:	I'm trying to enter information onto the boy's pages, but it keeps telling me that the cell is protected and therefore, read-only. It further tells me I'll have to unprotect the sheet to enter the information, and that I may be prompted for a password. Help. What's the password?
	Solution:	Basically, if you're getting this message, you're trying to type stuff in the wrong place. Please read the instructions page about how and where to enter information.

*Read Only*
	Problem:	I'm trying to fill in information, and spreadsheet tells me it is read-only. Help.
	Solution:	This always boils down to one of two problems: 1. You are trying to enter stuff in the wrong place, and it is asking you for a password. To solve this issue, you need to carefully read the instructions page about how and where to enter information. 2. You haven't really unzipped the .xls Trax file from inside the .zip file yet. You are merely "looking at" the file enclosed inside the .zip file. To solve this, you need to finish unzipping the .xls file by physically saving the spreadsheet to your hard drive. I can't be more specific than that because different zip applications handle the unzipping of files differently. Winzip allows you to simply drag-n-drop the file from inside the zip window.

*Deleting Scouts*
	Problem:	I had a scout drop out. How do I delete his record?
	Solution:	Deleting can cause major problems, and I HIGHLY recommend you don't do it.The best way to safely remove a scout's record is to simply clear all his 'A's from his record, and rename his page back to 'Scout #'

*Adding Scouts*
	Problem:	I have over 15 scouts in my den/patrol, and I want to add a column to accomodate the 16th scout. How do I do that?
	Solution:	No easy way to do that. It would involve rebuilding the spreadsheet from scratch. Basically, you just need to download a 2nd spreadsheet to handle the extra scout(s). To be honest, if you have to ask for help in doing it, you don't have the Excel expertise to attempt it.

*Rearranging Scouts*
	Problem:	I really want to rearrange the order my boys appear within the spreadsheet (be it alphabetical, by age, or whatever). How do I do that.
	Solution:	You can rearrange the order of the tabs for the individual scout sheets by dragging the tabs at the bottom of the page left and right, but there's no way to do a "sort" on the spreadsheet. This is a simple spreadsheet.

*LDS Scouting Units*
	Problem:	Since LDS units approach scouting graduation from one rank to another from a different perspective, how do I keep track of the records for the boys as they graduate from rank to rank on their birthdays?
	Solution:	At any point in time, you'll have two active spreadsheets. One representing this year, and one representing last year. Name your two spreadsheets according to the calendar year. For example, if the current year was 2007, BearTrax2006.xls (created January 2006) and BearTrax2007.xls (created January 2007). You will always have two spreadsheets, one for 'this year' and one from 'last year'. As a boy ages up INTO your den/patrol, always enter him in your newer, current-year spreadsheet according to the year he entered (the 'this year' sheet...2007 in our exaple). As he ages up to the next rank OUT OF your den/patrol, simply allow his records go "dormant". Do nothing else. By Jan 1, 2008, all boys on the 2006 sheet will already be aged up to Webelos, and your two current spreadsheets will then be BearTrax2007.xls and BearTrax2008.xls.

*Data Transfer*
	Problem:	I've been using an older version of one of your spreadsheets, and I notice you now have out a newer version of the spreadsheet available. I've downloaded the sheet, and now I want to transfer over the data from the old sheet to the new sheet, but I don't know how. Help. How do I transfer over the data?
	Solution:	Bad news. There is no transfer function. This is a flat spreadsheet. Basically, you're going to have to hand-transfer over the data. The ONLY time-saver you have would be Copy~Paste from one block of boxes to another. Sorry.

*Can't see the tabs at the bottom of the page*
	Problem:	I've downloaded and opened the Tiger Trax spreadsheet. All I get is the instructions... no tabs, no place to enter data other than den and troop numbers. It says to use the tabs at the bottom of the page but I don't have any tabs... just information about the program itself.
	Solution:	You have to maximize the spreadsheet. Then you will see the tabs at the bottom.

*It wants to enter a boy's name when I try to type an A or E*
	Problem:	One of our boy's name is 'Alex' (or Andrew, or Eric, etc) - so whenever I try to enter 'A' for achieved in the Achievement page (or 'E' on the Electives page), it wants to automatically enter his full name instead, which also means the formulas won't work. Any suggestions on how to fix this?
	Solution:	You’re the victim of Microsoft's “auto fill”. Enter the A in the sheet, then hit the Backspace key to erase the rest of Alex’s name. Then press Enter. You'll have to do this on each page where you enter data.

*Packmaster/Troopmaster*
	Problem:	Is there a way to import data from these spreadsheets into Packmaster or Troopmaster?
	Solution:	No. Sorry.


*e-mailing individual scout sheets*
	Problem:	How can I e-mail individual scout pages to parents?
	Solution:	The short answer is to output a pdf file and e-mail that sheet. There is free software titled Cute PDF Writer that will "print" the sheet to a pdf file. Once you install Cute PDF Writer, to use it, choose File~Print, and then choose the pdf writer as your "printer." You will then tell it where to save the pdf file to. Then e-mail the parents, and attach the pdf file (thanks for the tip, Jill). http://www.cutepdf.com/Products/CutePDF/writer.asp.

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
	ZIP decompression tool. These spreadsheets are ZIP COMPRESSED to facilitate quicker downloads. After downloading, the resultant file needs to be de-compressed on your workstation. If you do not have a Zip decompression tool available, click here to download WinZip. Microsoft Excel version: The spreadsheets have been tested on both Macintosh (OS 7.5 and later) and on Windows 95/98/2000, XP, and Vista machines. They have been tested with versions of Excel from 5.0 and later. Please note that these spreadsheets are not compatible with Microsoft Works. If you do not have access to Microsoft Excel, OpenOffice contains a free spreadsheet that is about 90% compatible with Microsoft Excel. OpenOffice is a free download from Apache Software Foundation on the Internet. This suite contains not only Calc, but also a word processor, a database, and a graphical presentation program. Click to download either the Windows or Mac version PLEASE NOTE! More specific information on using and customizing the spreadsheet is contained in the spreadsheets Instructions worksheet. Please read this page before you begin using the spreadsheets!
DISCLAIMER & SUPPORT
	Frank Steele of Troop 615, Coastal District, Bay Area Council of League City, TX was the creator of the CubTrax series of spreadsheets. Updates and support are the responsibility of Chris Oradat of Pack 363, Roadrunner District, Longhorn Council of Bedford, TX. Update and support of the GirlScoutTrax spreadsheets are the responsibility of Audra Edmunds of Virginia The BSA and GSA do not endorse, support, or in any way acknowledge them. If you need help, please don't hesitate to e-mail me, but before you do, please be sure that you have first read the Instructions page within the spreadsheet and then checked the Troubleshooting & FAQ page on this website thoroughly. I have found that almost all problems can be solved by simply reading these two documents. To be honest, I get very frustrated with users that take up my time sending me e-mails asking me for help in doing things that I've already covered on the Instructions page, or on the Troubleshooting & FAQ page (or both). If, however, you want to simply drop me a note of 'thanks,' I'm always open to that (smile). Also, feel free to drop me an e-mail with any suggestions that you'd like to see in upcoming revisions. I promise, I will consider what you write. Many of the features you now find in these spreadsheets are a direct result of previous users sending me suggestions. However, please don't get offended if I don't use your suggestion.

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