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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) 

Please Contribute Your Questions

Frequently Asked Questions will be posted to this site based on support requests and your feedback. If you have questions you would like to see answered on this page, please contact us.

You can also view Check In Wizard Frequently Asked Questions and Installation Frequently Asked Questions.


Annotation Layer
 

Question: Can I turn labels on and off at will if I created them with the Toolkit map labels tool?
 

Answer: Yes, but only if you checked the "Create Annotation Layer" box when you created the labels with the Toolkit map labels tool.

 
The annotation layer feature allows you to turn the labels on/off regardless of whether the layer's display is set to on or off. To turn the labels on/off:

  1. Right-click in the View window.
  2. Select Properties.
  3. Click on the Annotation Group tab. You'll see the annotation layers that you created with Toolkit's label tool listed in the box.
  4. Uncheck them to turn off the display; check the box to turn the display back on.
  5. Click Apply to see the display change in the View.

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ArcEditor
 

Question: Can ArcEditor be loaded directly on a CCE server for use with a multi-user license file?
 

Answer: ArcEditor is not loaded on a server to execute on the server as a multi-user application. The ArcEditor server installation refers only to the process of placing the ArcEditor installation package on the server so that it can be retrieved easily to install on individual workstations. The license file is provided for use by each of the workstations, including laptops, that can disconnect from the server and run ArcEditor without requiring a licensing dongle.
 

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Question: Where can I find specific instructions on installing ArcEditor?
 

Answer: Your ITS team member is the person to contact for performing this installation.
 

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Question: What must individual workstation users do to run ArcEditor if it is installed on a server?
 

Answer: They must install ArcEditor on each workstation. ArcEditor is a single-user application that runs on the individual workstation, similar to how Microsoft Word is a single-user application that runs on the individual workstation.
 

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Check In/Out
 

Question: I'm trying to check out a file, and I get an error message to select a server endpoint. What should I do?

Answer: Follow this procedure:

  1. Click the down-arrow to display a drop-down list. (If you do not know the location of the server, contact your local Toolkit/GIS coordinator.)
  2. Select the server for your field office's server on which the Toolkit folders are stored.
  3. Click OK.

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Question: Can I check out a file in read-only mode, make changes, and the check the file back into the NCPDB?
 

Answer: No. You can view locked folders in read-only mode. However, you cannot make edits to these read-only files and check them back into the NCPDB.


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Contract Wizard
 

Question: Can I edit the AD-1155 and AD-1156 forms?
 

Answer: No. You can no longer edit these forms using the Contract Wizard.
 

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Correct Version of Toolkit
 

Question: How do I check that the correct version of Toolkit v5.0 (Build 66) is installed on my workstation for production or training use?
 

Answer: The correct version of Build 66, for use in both training and production, has a timestamp of 5/4/2005 9:56:44 AM. To check the timestamp of your version of Toolkit, click on Help --> Customer Service Toolkit. The timestamp is located in the gray watermark that runs vertically in the lower right-hand corner of the window that pops up.

 


 

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Current Version
 

Question: How do I determine the version of Toolkit 2004 that is currently installed on my workstation?
 

Answer: To obtain version information:

  1. Select Start > Settings > Control Panel to open the Windows Control Panel.
  2. Double click on Add or Remove Programs to open the Add or Remove Programs window.
  3. Scroll down to Toolkit 5.0 Client.
  4. Click on Toolkit 5.0 Client to expand the listed information:


     
  5. Click on the Click here for support information link. The Support Info screen appears:

  • The current version is listed below the publisher.
  • The Support Info screen also provides the phone number for the ITC Help Desk and links to various information resources.

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Current Configuration
 

Question: How can I determine the configuration of my Toolkit workstation?
 

Answer: You can tell how your workstation is configured by going to the Toolkit main menu and selecting Current Configuration.
 

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Customer Files

 

Question: What folders/files are in Customer Files Toolkit folder?
 

Answer: For specifics, see "Customer Folder Organization" in the Manage Customer Data guide.

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Question: What is the "life expectancy" of the duplicate copy of customer files (F:\Customer Files)? Instructions state to make a copy of this and place it in F:\Customer Files Toolkit, but the instructions do not say when to delete F:\Customer Files.
 

Answer: The original customer file folder has to remain in F:\Customer Files in order to check in the .mdb files (created in Toolkit 4.1) using the Check In Wizard v1.0. Once all .mdb files for a customer have been checked in to the NCPDB, the original customer file folder can be deleted from F:\Customer Files.

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eAuthentication Level 2 Access
 

Question: How do I obtain a Level 2 eAuthentication account?
 

Answer: To apply for a Level 2 eAuthentication account, you need to visit a Local Registration Authority (LRA) and show a valid photo ID (e.g., state-issued driver's license). For more information on eAuthentication requirements or to locate a Local Registration Authority near you, see the eAuthentication Web site or call 800-457-3642.

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Endpoints

Question: I don't understand endpoints - do I need to map them to my workstation?

 

Answer: No. For more information, see the "Determine Server Endpoints" subject in the Toolkit 2004 Getting Started guide.

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Question: Are endpoints set up only once per Service Center?

 

Answer: Yes. Once you have set up the endpoints at the Service Center, you do not have to set  them up again when a new user is added. However, the Toolkit/GIS coordinator must enroll each user into Toolkit and give the user permission to access the Service Center using the Toolkit Permissions Web site.

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Enroll Toolkit Users

Question: Can I enroll a user in Toolkit?

 

Answer: Yes, if you are the state Toolkit/GIS Coordinator (for specifics, see the "Enroll Toolkit Users" topic in the Toolkit 2004 help text).

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Question: Are the permissions for Toolkit 2004 and ProTracts related?

 

Answer: Yes. Toolkit 2004 and ProTracts share the same User Permissions database. If an office or county is added to one program (e.g., Toolkit), that same office or county is viewable in the other program (ProTracts). Do not remove an office or county from the User's Office Permission or User's County Permission unless neither program requires permissions for that office or county.

 

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Error Messages


Question: What do I do if I get one of the following errors?

This constraint cannot be enabled as not all values have corresponding parent values.
Error creating Practice Instance View
The application will now close.

Error in adding domain table relationship Practice_to_StatePractice. addTableData Relation(). This constraint cannot be enabled as not all values have corresponding parent values.

Plan could not be opened. Error message: PracticeSchedule.PlanServer_PlanOpened() error -- Object reference not set to an instance of an object.

Answer: To resolve the problem, follow these instructions:

  1. Make a backup copy of the personal geodatabase (filename Toolkitv50.mdb), located here:

    C:\Documents and Settings\<user name>\Local Settings\Application Data\USDA\Toolkit5\Toolkitv50.mdb
     
  2. Make a copy of the C:\Customer Files Toolkit folder to backup the customer files that are currently checked out.
  3. Using Toolkit 2004, check in all customers.
  4. Close Toolkit 2004.
  5. Close ArcGIS (if open).
  6. Delete the personal geodatabase (filename Toolkitv50.mdb), located here:

    C:\Documents and Settings\<user name>\Local Settings\Application Data\USDA\Toolkit5\Toolkitv50.mdb
     
  7. Open Toolkit 2004.
  8. Check out those customers that you had previously checked out.
  9. Make your changes to these customers in Toolkit 2004.
  10. Check in your changes.
  11. If you encounter errors during check in, contact ToolkitSupport@itc.nrcs.usda.gov for assistance.

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Installation/Deployment


See also the Installation FAQ.

Question: What are the Memory Requirements for CCE Platforms?


Answer: The following workstation/laptops have been approved by CCE and meet the memory requirements for Toolkit:

CCE Configuration

Model

Additional Memory Requirements

CCE021

2001 Dell C600 Laptop (IT)

No additional memory needed (already 512 MB)

CCE025

2001 Dell C600 Laptop

1-256 MB (256 MB PC100-SDRAM)

CCE026

2001 Dell OptiPlex GX240

No additional memory needed

CCE027

2001 Dell Precision Workstation 330

No additional memory needed (already 512 MB)

CCE037

2003 Gateway E4100 Mid-Range Workstation

No additional memory needed

CCE038

2003 Gateway E450 Laptop

No additional memory needed (already 512 MB)

CCE039

Gateway E-4100 High-End Workstation

No additional memory needed (already 1024 MB)

CCE044

HP Compaq dc5000 Mid-Range Workstation

No additional memory needed  (512MB expandable to 3GB)

CCE045

HP Compaq dc7100 High-End Workstation

No additional memory needed (1GB expandable to 2GB)

CCE046

HP Compaq nc6000 Notebook

No additional memory needed (1GB)

 

Notes:

  • You must install the Open GL driver (required by ArcGIS) on the 2003 High-End Gateway workstations; the driver is not installed as part of the base XP software image.
  • Currently, only the E4100 Gateway High-End workstations have been performance tested.
  • The CCE Project has purchased workstations in FY 2004 for the Service Center Agencies to replace those originally acquired in FY 1999 and to meet current business requirements of the agencies. See entries for CCE044 through CCE046 in the above table for configuration information.

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Practice Scheduler
 

Question: What do I do if I get the following error?

This constraint cannot be enabled as not all values have corresponding parent values.
Error creating Practice Instance View
The application will now close.

Answer: To resolve this problem, follow these instructions:

  1. Check in all customer files.
  2. Close Toolkit and ArcGIS (if open).
  3. Delete the geodatabase (called Toolkitv50.mdb) located at:

    C:\Documents and Settings\<user name>\Local Settings\Application Data\USDA\Toolkit5\
     
  4. Run Toolkit.
  5. Check out the customer files again.

Note: This error may also occur when opening a checked-out folder.

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Question: Do I have to select a Management Guide on the Practice Schedule tab?

 

Answer: No. Selecting a guide is optional. If you have a unique system that does not fit any particular guide, skip this step or add a new guide to eFOTG.

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Question: What is the source of the Conservation Management Guides in the Practice Scheduler?


Answer:
The Conservation Management Guides are pulled from your state eFOTG listings.
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Question: I don't see any system guides? Why?

 

Answer: You must select CRA for the tabular side on the Land Units tab or in ArcGIS. At present, only CRAs have system guides.

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Requirements for Affiliates
 

Question: I am an affiliate. What do I need to do in order to use Toolkit 2004?
 

Answer: To use Toolkit 2004:

  1. You must have access to a CCE computer (see the table of CCE platforms in the Installation/Deployment question) that has Toolkit 2004 and any desired optional software installed and configured (see the Toolkit Software question).
  2. The workstation must be on the USDA Backbone (or have a connection to the USDA Backbone through VPN Client).
  3. You must obtain a Level 2 eAuthentication account (see the eAuthentication Level 2 Account question for more information).
  4. The State Toolkit/GIS Coordinator must set up the appropriate user permissions. (If your user permissions are not set up, you will be unable the access the appropriate data in the National Conservation Planning Database.)

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SCIMS

Question: Is there a way to use Toolkit to develop plans for customers who do not want to be in the SCIMS database?
 

Answer: No. All customers must be in SCIMS before they can be added in ToolKit.

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Setting User Permissions in ProTracts and Toolkit

 

Question: How do I ensure that a user's Toolkit permissions are not lost when changing the user permissions for ProTracts?
 

Answer: Because Toolkit and ProTracts permissions are integrated, a change in the permissions for one application is reflected in the other. To ensure you don't lose Toolkit permissions, first set the user permissions correctly in Protracts, then reset the Toolkit user permissions using the Toolkit User Permissions web application.

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Toolkit 2004 Software
 

Question: What software comes with Toolkit 2004 v5.0?
 

Answer: The Toolkit 2004 v5.0 installation package contains files for installing Toolkit 2004 v5.0, Check In Wizard v1.0, and Toolkit Utilities. Toolkit 2004 v5.0 is required on designated workstations, while Check In Wizard and Toolkit Utilities are optional. See the Software Summary below from more details.
 

Toolkit 2004 v5.0 Software Summary

  • Toolkit 2004:  ITS System Administrators should install Toolkit 2004 (v 5.0) on designated Toolkit workstations.
  • Check In Wizard (optional): Use the Toolkit Check In Wizard to check in planning data, developed in former versions of Toolkit, into the National Conservation Planning Database. This software should be installed on at least one Toolkit 2004 workstation per office location. Installation is optional on additional Toolkit workstations within the same office.
  • Toolkit Utilities (optional):
    • The Toolkit APR Utility reads in an APR file and creates a report on the extensions and data layers the APR file is dependent on. It also replaces all references to the original Customer_Files folder with the new Customer_Files_Toolkit folder and removes all dependencies on the Toolkit 4.1, Soil Data Viewer, and Toolkit Wetland Extensions.
    • The Export Layout utility converts ArcView 3.3 layouts to graphic files (JPG, BMP, WMF, or EPS) to store as a historical record of maps developed in former versions of Toolkit.
  • Soil Data Viewer: Soil Data Viewer, an extension to ArcView® that creates soil-based thematic maps, provides a tool for geospatial analysis of soil information for resource assessment and management.

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Question: How do I know what optional software I need on my workstation?
 

Answer: Your Toolkit Coordinator can determine the optional software needed for a given Toolkit workstation.

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Question: Can I install Toolkit 2004 or optional software on my workstation myself?
 

Answer: No. An ITS System Administrator must install Toolkit 2004 and any optional software requested by the Toolkit Coordinator. Your Toolkit Coordinator will coordinate the installation of Toolkit 2004 on target workstations with your State ITS System Administrator.


Note: The installation of Check In Wizard is a two-step process. An ITS System Administrator performs the first installation step, but individual users must perform the second step while logged in as a non-administrative user.

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Toolkit Extension (ArcGIS)
 

Question: How do I add a Planned Land Units layer to the ArcGIS project?

 

Answer:  You have several options. For instructions, see the "Planned Land Unit Work Flow" topic in the Toolkit 2004 help text.

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Toolkit Permissions
 

Question: How are Toolkit Permissions set up?

 

Answer: Toolkit permissions are set up by the state Toolkit/GIS coordinators. For instructions, see the "Enroll Users" or "Toolkit Permissions" topics in the Toolkit 2004 help text.

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Question: Does the Toolkit Permissions web site use the same permissions as ProTracts?

 

Answer: Yes. Toolkit 2004 and ProTracts share the same User Permissions. If an office or county is added to one program of the programs (e.g., Toolkit), that same office or county is made available in the other program. Likewise, removing permissions for a site removes the permissions for both programs. Do not remove an office or county from the User's Office Permission or User's County Permission unless neither program requires permissions for that office or county.

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Toolkit Preferences
 

Question: Is there a way that I can share Toolkit preferences, or do all users need to set up their own preferences?

Answer: You can do either. To share, set up the preferences for a field office on one workstation. Then you must copy the preferences from that workstation onto the remaining Toolkit workstations, replacing the existing default preferences.xml file. In this way, all users in that office will have the same preferences. (See the Copy Toolkit Preferences help topic for more information.)

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Question: My district field office information is incorrect. What should I do?


Answer: If the field office, DC, or district information is incorrect under the Preferences tab, contact the contact the ITS Service Desk at 800-457-3642 to update
the information.

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Question: I can no longer see the check boxes for the Practice Narratives in Preferences. What should I do?

 

Answer: Most likely, the check boxes are there but they just don't show in the window. Use the scroll bars to adjust the view or enlarge the window by clicking on the window edge and dragging it to make it bigger.

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Wetlands Determination Toolkit and Easement Toolkit
 

Question: Will I be able to use the Wetlands Determination Toolkit v4.0 once we convert to CST 2004?
 

Answer: No, not currently. Toolkit Wetlands and Toolkit Easements tools are not currently being ported to the new environment. Toolkit 2004’s installation removes Toolkit 4.1, Wetlands Toolkit, and Easement Toolkit. With sponsor's approval, we hope to move these applications to the new environment in the future.

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