DropBox Error Messages and Frequently Asked Questions

Last reviewed: 04/02/2010
Article ID: R10992

The information in this article applies to:

Summary

This article discusses error messages encountered when using the DropBox feature of Tabs3 and PracticeMaster software, and answers some frequently asked questions about the DropBox.

About the DropBox

The DropBox is a temporary holding area for any type of file on your computer. You can save reports and statements directly to the DropBox as PDF files from any Tabs3 or PracticeMaster program. To do this, select the DropBox option in the Print dialog and click OK. Files in the DropBox can be printed, saved or renamed. You can also drag and drop files to the DropBox from any Windows folder, and/or drag and drop files from the DropBox to any Windows folder.

Error Messages

Unable to find/initialize the library "stpdfgen.dll", PDF output not available
This error indicates that a required DLL file, stpdfgen.dll, could not be found in the program folder. To correct this, locate the file and copy it into the program folder. You can determine the program folder by selecting Help | About... from the menu bar (e.g., Help | About Tabs3). Alternatively, you can reinstall the program to replace the missing DLL file. Reinstalling the program will not affect your existing data.
dropbox.exe has encountered a problem and needs to close.  We are sorry for the inconvenience.
This error is generated by Microsoft Windows when a program fails to respond. One cause of this message occurs when the server where the STI application is stored is shut down while a user is still in the application. Verify that the server is running correctly, and that the workstation can access the server. There is no need to send an Error Report to Microsoft when encountering this error message. Error reporting is built into Windows XP and Internet Explorer, and can optionally be disabled (see Microsoft Article Q310414).
DropBox has been closed. Do you want to open DropBox? If you select No, DropBox will remain closed for the rest of this session.
This message is displayed when you attempt to print after the DropBox has been closed manually. Clicking Yes will re-open DropBox; clicking No will keep DropBox disabled for the rest of the session.

Frequently Asked Questions

The files I put in the DropBox yesterday are gone. Where did they go?
The DropBox is a temporary holding area. When all Tabs3 and PracticeMaster programs are closed on your workstation, the DropBox will also close, and any files in the DropBox will be deleted. It is a good idea to check the contents of the DropBox before closing the last Tabs3 or PracticeMaster program on your workstation.

Note:  Although files in the DropBox will no longer be in the DropBox after the DropBox is closed, files that are open and cannot be deleted when the DropBox is closed will remain in the DropBox's temporary file location on the hard disk until the next time the DropBox is opened, at which point they will be deleted.


Where on the hard disk are the files in the DropBox stored?
The location where the files are saved is different for each user and is based on the Temp File Path and OA Temp Directory. The Temp File Path and the OA Temp Directory can be determined by selecting Help | About... from the menu bar. (For example, in Tabs3, select Help | About Tabs3.) A folder named STITemp is created under the Temp File Path, and a unique OA Temp Directory folder is created under the STITemp folder. The following are examples of where files in the DropBox could be stored:


I have six files in the DropBox that I want to save. What is the easiest way to do this?
Use one of the following procedures to do this:

  1. In the DropBox, press Ctrl+A to select all the files.
  2. Right-click the selected files and select Copy. This will copy all selected files to the Windows clipboard.
  3. Using Windows Explorer, navigate to the folder where you want the files saved. Right-click this folder and select Paste.


    4.      ...OR...

  1. Right-click the first file and select Save As.
  2. Browse to the location where you want the file saved.
  3. Enter a file name for the file and click Save.
  4. Repeat steps 1 through 3 for each file you want to save.

What is the difference between sending a file to the DropBox and selecting the File option and saving it as a PDF file?
Sending a file to the DropBox is more convenient if you plan on e-mailing the file. Dragging and dropping a PDF file from the DropBox to your e-mail message allows you to quickly and easily attach the file to an e-mail. If you would rather save the PDF file for historical purposes, then you may be better off selecting the File option and saving it as a PDF file. Unlike the DropBox, selecting the File option and saving it to a PDF file will create a physical copy of the file at the location you choose, e.g., your computer’s My Documents folder.
 
The DropBox also offers a few advantages if you are working with multiple statements or reports. It automatically assigns a file name and saves each statement or report to a common location, so you do not have to keep browsing to the desired location and entering file names. When you are done generating statements or reports, you can select all of them in the DropBox and drag them to the desired location all at once.


Can I start Tabs3 and PracticeMaster programs without starting the DropBox?
Normally, the DropBox is opened when any Tabs3 or PracticeMaster program is opened, and stays open until the last Tabs3 or PracticeMaster program is closed on the workstation. However, you can optionally configure a shortcut to start a Tabs3 or PracticeMaster program without starting the DropBox by modifying the shortcut's target to include the /NO_DROPBOX startup option. For example, if you are modifying your Tabs3 shortcut and Tabs3 is installed in S:\STI, you would change the Target field of your shortcut to be as follows:

S:\STI\TABS.EXE /NO_DROPBOX


I renamed a file in the DropBox, but now I can't open the file. What happened??
When renaming a file in DropBox, it is important to preserve the PDF extension after the file name. For example, if you rename “Reprint_Updated_Statement_3.pdf” to “August_Statement.pdf,” you need to retain the “.pdf” following “August_Statement.” Otherwise, Windows will not know it is a PDF file and will not be able to open the file with the designated application for PDF files, e.g., Adobe Reader.

Note: DropBox will always display file extensions whether or not Windows is configured to display them.


Why is the DropBox option dimmed and unavailable in the Print dialog?
If the DropBox option is dimmed and unavailable in the Print dialog (i.e., it cannot be selected), this indicates that the DropBox window is not open. There are several possible reasons for this, including the following:

To make the DropBox option available in the Print dialog, use Windows Explorer to browse to the folder where the Tabs3 or PracticeMaster application is installed, and then double-click the DROPBOX.EXE file. If this file is not present in the folder, reinstall System Configurationn. Then, close and restart the Tabs3 or PracticeMaster application.
 
When I drag an object from the DropBox to the WORLDOX DropZone, the DropZone seems to hang or crashes. Why is this?
This is an issue with the WORLDOX software. Updating to WORLDOX GX will correct this.
 
Why do the margins change when I send my statement to the DropBox as a PDF, in comparison to when I print my statement directly from Tabs3?
This issue arises from settings stored in the Adobe® Acrobat or Reader program.  If the Adobe® software is set to automatically scale the page, it can cause the margins to change when the statement is saved as a PDF file through DropBox.  Use the following procedure to check what scaling is set to in the Adobe® software:
  1. From the Adobe® File menu, select Print.
  2. In Adobe® software version 9, 8 or 7, select None in the Page Scaling section.
  3. Click OK.
Adobe's Support Knowledgebase addresses this issue on the Internet at:  http://www.adobe.com/support/techdocs/323299.html, "PDF File Prints Smaller or Larger than Expected".
 
Why can't I drag and drop a file from the DropBox to Outlook 2007?
When running Windows XP, it is not possible to drag and drop a file into Outlook 2007. Instead, you can copy and paste files from the DropBox to a new Outlook e-mail message. Alternatively, if Outlook 2007 is set up as your default e-mail client, use the E-mail button in the DropBox to start a new Outlook e-mail message with the selected file(s) attached.

References

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