The options in the General page are:

• Display real table and field names: if you are familiar with the name of your application's tables and fields, you might find it easier to locate the tables and fields you want by their real names. If you turn this option on, Stonefield Query displays the real name followed by the descriptive name in parentheses.

• Create and display report snapshots: the Sample page of the Reports Explorer shows a snapshot of what the report looked like the last time it was run. Storing snapshots for each report makes your reports file much larger, which may be an issue if you're short on disk space. In that case, turn this option off to prevent snapshots from being created.

• Warning if no filter when a report is run: if you run a report without creating a filter for it and there are a lot of records in the tables in that report, it can take a very long time to run the report. To prevent this, Stonefield Query warns you that there is no filter for the report and gives you the option of running the report anyway or canceling. If your tables don't contain a lot of records and you don't want to see this warning message when you run a report without a filter, turn the Warning if no filter when a report is run setting off.

• Remind me when my software maintenance is about to expire: if this option is turned on, Stonefield
  Query will remind you before your software maintenance is about to expire. This is helpful, because your software maintenance must be current to receive updates and technical support.

• Date format: this determines how dates are displayed in Stonefield Query. The default is "Use Windows Setting," which means Stonefield Query uses the format defined in the Regional Settings applet of your Windows Control Panel. Select a different choice (MM/DD/YYYY, DD/MM/YYYY, or YYYY/MM/DD) to use that specific setting.

• Default template: this setting determines the default template used for new reports.

• AccountMate DSN: Change this option to instruct Stonefield Query to use a different DSN than the default (AMMS for versions 7.0 and above, MSSQL_VAM for versions previous to that). Once you change the DSN in the drop down list, you will have to enter the username and password for the SQL Server instance that the DSN points to. After the DSN has been successfully changed, you must restart Stonefield Query for the changes to take effect.

The options in the Email page are used when you want to email a report to someone or if an unexpected error occurs in Stonefield Query, in which case you have an option of emailing an error report to us so we can resolve the problem. The options are:

• I use Outlook or a similar program for email (MAPI): choose this option if you use a MAPI-based email client such as Outlook. If you don't use Outlook and you're not sure if your email client uses MAPI or not, ask your system administrator.

• I use Outlook Express or a similar program for email (SMTP): choose this option if you use an SMTP-based email client such as Outlook Express. If you don't use Outlook Express and you're not sure if your email client uses SMTP or not, ask your system administrator.

• Your name: your email descriptive name (SMTP only)

• Your email address: the email address to use as the "reply to" address (SMTP only).

• Mail server address: the address for your SMTP mail server. If this isn't filled in by default, check your email client to see how it's set up. For example, if you use Outlook Express, choose the Accounts function from the Tools menu, select the appropriate account and click Properties, then look at the Outgoing mail (SMTP) option on the Servers page for the address of the mail server.

• My email server requires authentication for outgoing messages: turn this option on if applicable. To determine if you should turn this on or not, check your email client setup. For example, if you use Outlook Express, choose the Accounts function from the Tools menu, select the appropriate account and click Properties, then look at the My server requires authentication option on the Servers page.

• User name: the user name to use if the My email server requires authentication for outgoing messages option is turned on.

• Password: the password to use if the My email server requires authentication for outgoing messages option is turned on.

• Test: once the email options are set, click this button to send a test message to yourself. This allows you to ensure the email settings are correct.
  

The options in the Contact page are used as contact information when you email or fax an error report to us. The options are self-explanatory, except that choosing a country from the drop-down list updates the State/Prov. drop-down list. If you choose United State, the State/Prov. list contains U.S. state names. If you choose Canada, the list contains Canadian province names. Otherwise, the list is empty and you can type whatever you wish for State/Prov.

The options in the Updates page configure how Stonefield Query checks for updated versions. Turn off the Automatically check for updates option if you do not want to automatically check for updates. If you turn this option on, specify how often, in days, it should check. With this option turned on, Stonefield Query checks our server for the availability of a newer version when it starts. If a newer version is found, a dialog showing some of the new features displays. If your software maintenance is current, you have the option of downloading and installing this version. If your software maintenance has lapsed, you do not have this ability.

The first time you run Stonefield Query, you are asked for the location of the AccountMate SQL files and where Stonefield Query puts its files. The Locations page allows you to change these locations.

You can specify any directory for the Stonefield Query files, but we recommend a directory on a server; that way, you can share reports with other users.

For the location of the AccountMate SQL files, either type the directory where AccountMate SQL is installed or click the button beside the text box and locate the AccountMate SQL directory in the dialog that appears.

If you change either location, Stonefield Query must restart to use the new locations. You are informed of this when you choose OK to close the dialog and after you confirm this message, Stonefield Query will restart automatically and use the new locations.