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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I?

Move the Program from One Computer to Another

Determine which Version of DONATION I have

Look things up in the program's Help file?

Initial Download and Installation

Which Version of the Program should I use?

Which Versions of Windows does it run on, and Which Computers?

Do I need a license key right away?

Purchasing and License Keys

What's the process of getting a license key after I purchase the program?

I've lost my license key, help!

I'm getting the message "License key doesn't correspond to organization name"

For any other questions, please use our normal Support resources.

How do I Move the Program from One Computer to Another?

You can read about this in the program's Help. Go to Help -> Help Contents in the menu, switch to the Index tab in the Help file when it comes up, and search for "Move" - the topic should come right up. Or you can read it online here.

How do I determine which Version of DONATION I have?

In the program, use the Help -> About DONATION menu option. That will tell you both the version number, and whether you are using the Standalone, Lite, Network Server or Network Client version.

How do I look things up in the program's Help file?

In the program, press F1 or use the Help -> Contents and Index menu option. That takes you into the Help file. You can then find most things by switching to the Index tab at the left (if it's not already on that tab), and entering keywords you want to search on in the text box under those tabs.

If you don't find things in the Index tab, you can try the Search tab (which searches on every word in the Help text, not just topic keywords) or the Contents tab.

Of course, individual windows other than the main window in the program each have their own Help button, which generally takes you to the most relevant Help topic. And in the main window, if you press Shift-F1, it takes you to a Help topic related to the section of the main window that your cursor is currently in.

Which Version of the Program should I use?

There are three basic options:

The normal Standalone version, which the vast majority of users select, has all of the program's features, and is installed on individual computers, with the database file on the same computer. You may install it on multiple computers (e.g. at your home and in the office), and copy the database back and forth between them as desired.
The free limited-feature Lite version, which is for very small churches and charities. Please read about its limitations on the Lite Version page, if you think you might be interested in it, to ensure that the limitations will work for you. If you start with the Lite version, you can always upgrade to the paid Standalone version, and your data will be unaffected.
The Network Version, which has all of the same features as the Standalone version. It is for use on multiple computers, possibly simultaneously, all accessing the same single copy of the database. Normally all of these computers would be on a local area network within your office, but it's possible to also set this up with home and office computers, though it's a lot trickier. If you think you might be interested in the Network Version, please click on the link in this sentence to read more about it.

N.B. for downloading and installation purposes, the Network version has two sub-versions:
- The Network Server version, which you install on the first or main computer (which doesn't have to be a real Windows Server). This computer will have the database file on it.
- The Network Client version, which you install on all other computers, and which accesses the database that is on the Network Server version's computer.

Which Version of Windows does it run on, and Which Computers?

DONATION will run on Windows XP, Vista, 2000, 2003, or Windows 7, on either 32 bit or 64 bit computers.

Do I need a License Key right away?

The Lite version doesn't need or use license keys.

For the other versions, when you install them for the first time, after you go through a few initial setup screens, you will come to the Licensing and Evaluation window. During your evaluation period, just click the Continue button at the top right of this window to get into the program. No license key is needed, until you decide to purchase the program.

What's the process of getting a license key after I purchase the program?

Once I receive your payment, I will send you an email acknowledgement, with instructions for requesting your license key which is done from the Licensing and Evaluation window that comes up when you start the program. That sends me an email with your license key request. I will send back the license key, with instructions for installing it, on that Licensing and Evlaution window.

I've lost my license key, help!

Most often I am asked this when you have to reinstall the program and restore your database backup, either on a new computer, or after your computer has been repaired after a hard disk crash etc. Just request the license key again from the Licensing and Evaluation window that will be coming up when you start the program, and I will send it to you.

I'm getting the message "License key doesn't correspond to organization name"

Generally this only happens if you have changed the Organization Name in Maintenance -> Organization Info, so that it no longer exactly matches the name I generated the license key for.

You need to look at the email in which I sent you the key (if you still have it), and see what Organization Name I gave it to you for. You can then either change the Organization Name in the program back to that one (at which point your key will work again), or just request an updated key if you want to stick with your modified Organization Name.