Author Topic: Fantastic help from a program creator  (Read 2711 times)

Offline bellbram

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Fantastic help from a program creator
« on: March 01, 2007, 12:59:30 AM »
I use a program called MacJournal, created by chap called Dan Schimpf and distributed by Mariner.

Some days ago I downloaded the latest upgrade.  All the stuff from the previous version was seamlessly transferred to the new.  No problem.

I added a few bits to the Journal and decided to password it, which I had not previously done.   Went through the usual process for passwording, i.e. input once and then repeat it.  Again, no problem.

BUT when I tried to open the journal the following day, it wouldn't accept my password.  I tried dozens of possible variations of it, but no joy.   Of course I had saved everything to an externl drive and thought I could possibly open the saved version.  I couldn't.   wallbash.gif

In desperation and without much hope, I emailed Dan Schimpf asking if there was any way to open a locked MacJournal file.  I got an immediate response asking me to mail it to him and he'd see what could be done.

To cut what is becoming a long story short, it took no fewer than twenty emails back and forth before finally I managed to open the file.

The reason for this post is that I want to pay tribute to Dan, not only for producing an extremely effective program, but to let you all know what an incredibly helpful (and clever) chap he is.

I highly recommend the program for anyone interested in writing or diary-keeping.
To have a peek, go here: http://homepage.mac.com/dschimpf/

Offline Highmac

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Fantastic help from a program creator
« Reply #1 on: March 01, 2007, 02:41:54 AM »
Maybe we talk too much about BAD service and not enough about the good. Nice to hear Dan got your problem solved for you. Credit where it is due, eh?
Neil
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Offline pendragon

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Fantastic help from a program creator
« Reply #2 on: March 01, 2007, 06:44:49 AM »
'Tis always a pleasure to learn of such. eusa_dance.gif

Posting your review and comments (re MacJournal) on VersionTracker and MacUpate will undoubtedly be appreciated by Dan Schimpf and those (unwashed) who have yet to acquaint themselves with TS. rolleyes.gif
« Last Edit: March 01, 2007, 09:07:21 AM by pendragon »
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Offline bellbram

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Fantastic help from a program creator
« Reply #3 on: March 01, 2007, 08:54:44 AM »
A good thought Harv.  Have just posted to both.

Offline Xairbusdriver

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Fantastic help from a program creator
« Reply #4 on: March 01, 2007, 09:22:42 AM »
Thanks for the info! I think you'll find all of Mariners supported programs equally well cared for. smile.gif
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Offline RHPConsult

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Fantastic help from a program creator
« Reply #5 on: March 01, 2007, 10:50:34 AM »
QUOTE
Thanks for the info! I think you'll find all of Mariners supported programs equally well cared for. smile.gif
IAWJ . . . wholeheartedly
My experience with Mariner has been primarily with its really nifty (NON-bloated) word processor, MarinerWrite and the Minnesota (presumably) staff. I say presumably, because at MacWorld I met 3 or 4 of Mariner's Minions as well as the Founder, who now lives in Florida. (Eminently understandable, after reading RNKiii's recent series of MN weather reports from Owatonna!)

In addition to its highly responsive tech staff on e-messages, Mariner utilizes an iChat function that is REALLY fast and incredibly efficient. As I recall, somewhere on their support page is an optional button for firing-up iChat. Exchanging text PLUS "exhibits" with a specialist via iChat is wonderful.

e.g. I was having difficulty properly aligning the printing of an envelope (MarinerWrite has a neatly integrated address book and envelope printer, but because my principal printer is an olde, olde HP tabloid workhorse, the "modern" Write couldn't quite handle aligning it. An iChat inquiry, including the exchange (lightning-fast) of some jpegs illustrating the problem, and they sent me back an envelope template that efficiently provides a workaround.

No hours on hold; no murky Mujikboorish accents, no prevarication, no obfuscation, no bobbing-or-weaving, just quick, polite, informed, comprehensive service, as in Minnesota-nice.

Bravo MarinerSoftware.

Glad you posted this Peter. Those guys deserve all the accolades we can heap about their heads and shoulders.  clap.gif    eusa_dance.gif    notworthy.gif
« Last Edit: March 01, 2007, 02:13:53 PM by Xairbusdriver »

Offline RHPConsult

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Fantastic help from a program creator
« Reply #6 on: March 01, 2007, 11:00:58 AM »
PS: Since I have Mariner tech support on my BuddyList, I just sent them the URL for this thread, Peter.

Ain't modern life wonderful!
« Last Edit: March 02, 2007, 11:03:05 AM by RHPConsult »

Offline krissel

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Fantastic help from a program creator
« Reply #7 on: March 02, 2007, 04:08:19 AM »
Peter, of course curiosity makes me ask...what did you do to get the file opened?

Or is it too long to explain?  Thinking.gif


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Offline bellbram

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Fantastic help from a program creator
« Reply #8 on: March 02, 2007, 01:44:25 PM »
QUOTE(krissel @ Mar 2 2007, 10:08 AM) [snapback]120619[/snapback]
Peter, of course curiosity makes me ask...what did you do to get the file opened?

Or is it too long to explain?  Thinking.gif


Kris I have to go out tonight.  Will let you have all the info tomorrow.  Au revoir.

Offline bellbram

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Fantastic help from a program creator
« Reply #9 on: March 03, 2007, 04:08:08 AM »
kris: The easiest way to explain is to copy the series of relevant emails.  It will make for a long post, but will show just how helpful Dan was.  Here goes.......

Following my initial call for help, Dan mailed:
Thanks for writing. Do you have encrypted enabled in the preferences? If not, then I should be able to unlock the journal if you send me your data file. The serial number you have seems to be one for version 4; what version are you using?
Thanks again, and let me know if you have any other questions as well.


From me:  "Thanks for your response.  I appreciate your interest. I find I am unable to attach the folder that won't open, so have tried to send you the MacJournal app in which it sits, but that makes the message the too long to send.
Any suggestions?"

Later From me: "Have at last managed to get the darned thing attached.  Hope you can do something with it."


From Dan:  Thanks for getting back to me. I need the "MacJournal Data.macjournal" file from Library/Application Support/MacJournal. That will have the actual data in it and then I can get it back to you.

From me:  "Thank you Dan.   Here it is."
And later:  "Re my previous, I find there are five Data files.  Not sure which one you need, so am sending them all."

From Dan:  "Here is the returned file. Rename it "MacJournal Data.macjournal" and place it back where you got the other files (best to make a backup of the old file instead of replacing it). Let me know of any problems."

From me: "There was no file attached to this mail"

From Dan:  "Sorry about that; I must have deleted it accidentally. Here it is again"

From Me: "Well Dan, it was there this time, but it's still locked and won't respond to the password.  What to do??????"

From Dan:  "Instead of replacing files in the Finder, can you try importing the data file into MacJournal and see if it shows up unlocked then? There's more options after this, but I want to try this first."

From Me: "Done that.  It still shows up locked"

From Dan(sending another file):  "Try importing this file:Let me know if it does not work any better."

From me: "Still locked and not responding to password"

From Dan:  "I just tried this on another machine with the same file and it loaded in unlocked. Can you try moving the entire MacJournal folder out of the Application Support folder from which you found the files to send to me and then launching the app so it's forced to create new ones? Then drag the "Peter Williams.macjournal" file I sent you into the (mostly) blank drawer and let me know what happens. What version is this again?"

From me: "Have moved the MacJournal folder out of the App Support folder (and trashed it).  When I launch MacJournal afresh it does NOT create a new MacJournal in App Support.    Having dragged the file you sent into the (mostly) blank drawer, it sits where you can see in the screen pic below and the actual location of the file is:  'users/peter/Library/Caches/Metadata/MacJournal'.    But it won't open!!!"

From Dan:  "Open up your preferences and look in the Advanced section. Click on the "Reset" button and then quit. When you relaunch, it should create the blank data file as expected, and then you can import the file. Make sure it still has the "macjournal" file extension; it looks like yours has a "3" appended to it that could throw off the importing and make it not try to import it correctly.
Let me know how it works."


From me:  "Brilliant !     It worked.  Many many thanks."

From Dan:  "Great! I'm glad it worked out. Let me know if you have any problems in the future.  Thanks again."

The above back & forth started on 20 Feb and ended on 25 Feb.  I have no idea what Dan did to get the file open, but if it does nothing else, this exchange shows what first class support he gave.

Offline krissel

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Fantastic help from a program creator
« Reply #10 on: March 03, 2007, 08:18:26 AM »
Thanks for the rundown. It's like following a mystery and not knowing how you got the bad guy. Now at least we have an inkling of what went on.

smile.gif


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