Data entered into WorkingArtist 3.0 is stored in the WorkingArtist data file (artdat30.mdb), which is in the WorkingArtist30 folder. To move WorkingArtist data from your old computer to a new computer, copy the WorkingArtist data file from the WorkingArtist30 folder on the old computer to the WorkingArtist30 folder on the new computer.

Only WorkingArtist 3.0 versions 3.07.07a and later are Vista enable. We recommend that you download the latest full trial version WorkingArtist 3.08.02a (or later) or order WorkingArtist 3.0 on CD for $15. There is no additional charge if you've previously purchased an activation code.

You will need to separately copy image files to the new computer.

1. Make a backup copy of the WorkingArtist data file, artdat30.mdb, from the WorkingArtist30 folder on the old computer using one of the following methods:
--Burn it onto CD. Please see the Knowledge Base article Make a Backup of WorkingArtist 3.0 for more details.
--Copy the data file to an external storage device such as a flash drive.
--Network the two computers and simply copy artdat30.mdb from the old computer to the new computer through Windows Explorer and Network Neighborhood.

NOTE When you burn your artdat30.mdb file onto CD or copy it to your flash drive, make sure it is the correct file, ie., artdat30.mdb NOT artdat30.ldb. If you cannot see the file extensions on your files (mdb, doc, txt, etc), then change folder options.
--On XP, W2K and earlier operating systems, go to Start/My Computer/Tools/Folder Options/View Tab. UNCHECK "Hide file extensions for known file types," then click on Apply.
--On Vista, go to Start/Computer/Organize/Folder and Search Options/View tab. UNCHECK "Hide file extensions for known file types," then click on Apply.

2. Install the full version of WorkingArtist 3.0 (version 3.08.02a or later) onto your computer. If your new computer has Vista, only WorkingArtist version 3.07.7a and later are Vista enabled. You can download the full version of WorkingArtist 3.0 free of charge or order WorkingArtist 3.0 on CD for $15.

3. Identify the artdat30.mdb file path on the new computer.
a. Open the WorkingArtist 3.0 application by double-clicking on the WorkingArtist 3.0 icon on the desktop of your new computer.
b. Make a note of the file "path" displayed on the blue Title Bar of the Main Switchboard. This shows the location of your data file.
--On Vista, the file path is probably "C:\ProgramData\WorkingArtist30\Artdat30.mdb".
--On previous operating systems, the file path is probably "c:\Program Files\WorkingArtist30\artdat30.mdb".

4. Rename the artdat30.mdb file on the new computer.
a. Go to Start/Computer. Double-click on the C Drive. Locate the folder you identified as the location of the WorkingArtist30 subfolder (where the artdat30.mdb file is located).
NOTE: On Vista, some folder are hidden. If you do not see the folder you are looking for, change folder options in Start/Computer/Organize/Folder and Search Options/View tab. CHECK "Show hiden files and folders."
b. Rename the artdat30.mdb in the WorkingArtist30 folder to artdat30.old.

5. Copy your backup artdat30.mdb (from the old computer) from your CD or flash drive to the WorkingArtist30 folder on your new machine. The following instructions assume that your WorkingArtist30 folder on the new machine is located at C:\ PROGRAMDATA.
a. Insert the CD into the computer or the flash drive into the USB port.
b. Click on the Start button to display the Start menu. Right click on “Computer” or "My Computer" and then click on Explore to go into Windows Explorer.
c. In the left section of Windows Explorer locate the device where the copy of your old artdat30.mdb file is, for example, the CD Drive. Double click on it to open it.
d. In the Right section of Windows Explorer, click once on artdat30.mdb to highlight it. (If you double click artdat30.mdb in an attempt to open it, you will get a permissions error message).
e. Click on the Copy button on your toolbar or select Edit/Copy. This copies the file to the Windows Clipboard.
f. In the Left section of Windows Explorer, locate the WorkingArtist30 folder and double-click it to open it.
--On Vista this will probably be c:\ProgramData\WorkingArtist30.
--On prior operating systems (XP, W2K) it will probably be c:\Program Files\WorkingArtist30.
g. Without clicking on anything else, select File/Paste or simply click on the Paste button on your toolbar. This will copy the artdat30.mdb file from the Windows Clipboard to the WorkingArtist30 directory. If you have not renamed the installed artdat30.mdb file, you will get a prompt that asks you if you want to overwrite one file with another. If you are sure that the file you are copying from is the correct file and the one you are overwriting is an empty file, then say “yes”.
h. If you have copied from a CD, right click on the artdat30.mdb file name. Click on Properties. Uncheck the Read Only attribute. (Burning a file onto a CDR may make it Read Only).
i. Close Windows Explorer and open WorkingArtist 3.0 by clicking on the WorkingArtist icon on your desktop. Check to make sure your data is there.

6. Open WorkingArtist on the Vista machine. Verify that your data is there.

NOTE: Do not double click the artdat30.mdb file in order to open it. You will get a permissions error message. You must open WorkingArtist by clicking on the WorkingArtist icon on the desktop.

Artwork Images Not Displaying in WorkingArtist on the New Computer.

When moving to a new computer, a user may notice that artwork images no longer display in WorkingArtist. Artwork images are not stored in the WorkingArtist program. WorkingArtist only stores the "path" to an artwork image. The path is a description of the folder/file location on the hard drive. For example, if you store the image in a folder called "Slides" on your C Drive, the path will be "C:/Slides." When you page to an artwork record, WorkingArtist links to the image file using the path location of the file. If the location of the folder changes, the path will also change and the images will not display in WorkingArtist. This might happen if moving to a new computer where the file path of the image is different.

To resolve this problem, you can create a new default folder for images. This will tell WorkingArtist in which location to find the folder with the image files. Please see the WorkingArtist Knowledge Base Article Changing the Default Folder in WorkingArtist on Windows Vista.

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