• I downloaded the program but nothing happened.  Where is the program?
• How can I get a shortcut to the program on my desktop or Quick Launch toolbar?
• Where do I enter my Plus Edition registration code and software key?
• I entered data into one of the forms but it did not calculate.
• I get "Error 76" or "Error 53" when trying to run some of the modules.
• In Windows Vista or Windows 7, the program's help features do not work properly.

Note: if you select "Run" instead of "Save" when downloading the setup program, you will not have to worry about this question.  Windows will download the setup program to a temporary folder and delete it automatically once the application is installed.  If you select "Save" then additional steps will be required, as noted below.

After downloading, you must install the program.  During downloading, you are prompted to specify the destination (folder) for the downloaded file.  Take note of the download file name and destination folder name, so that you can locate the file after downloading is complete. (If you are not sure where to save the downloaded file, save it to your Windows desktop.)

If you downloaded the "self-installing EXE" version, simply locate and double-click on the downloaded file. The setup process will be automatic from that point.

If you downloaded the "ZIP" version, a zip utility such as WinZip will be required to open the archive. Open the zip archive with your zip utility.  (Normally you can simply double-click on the downloaded zip file to open the archive.) Select "Install" from your zip utility to begin the setup. The setup process should be automatic from that point.

Regardless of which of the above methods is used, setup will add a link for the program into your Windows "Start" button menu during the installation process. Use this link to start the program.

If you have installed the Standard Edition (v1.9.x) or the Plus Edition (v2.0.x) and already activated it with your Standard Edition registration code, the program will no longer stop on the initial screen with the "UNREGISTERED" notice.  To enter your Plus Edition registration code and software key, start the program and then select:

Help  >>  About... 

to bring up the splash screen.  Then click anywhere inside the "Registered to:" box to display the registration dialog.  Select "Plus Edition" and enter your registration data.

How to avoid the need to add the shortcut icons manually

Install the program from the "exe" versions of the setup files:

eptool19.exe  (Standard Edition)
eptool20.exe  (Plus Edition)

These versions of the setup files will create the desktop and/or Quick Launch icons for you automatically if you select this option during installation. If you have already installed the program, you can follow the procedures below to add the shortcuts manually.

Creating a Shortcut to Engineering Power Tools on Your Desktop

Click on the Windows "Start" button.  Select "Programs >>" and locate the Engineering Power Tools program entry in the list.  RIGHT-click on the Engineering Power Tools program and, from the pop-up menu, select "Send to >>" and then select "Desktop (create shortcut)" to create the shortcut.  A new icon should appear on your desktop.  Double click the new icon to start the Power Tools program.

You can also use the new desktop shortcut icon to assign a "hot-key" combination, which can quickly start the Engineering Power Tools application (or pop it up to the top, if it's already running, but is hidden or minimized).  RIGHT-click on the new desktop shortcut and select "Properties" from the pop-up menu.  Click in the box marked "Shortcut Key:" and then press the desired hot-key (for example: press the "E" key).  The shortcut combination will be displayed (for example: "Ctrl + Alt + E").  Click "OK" to accept the hot-key combination. Now, regardless of what application is running in the foreground, pressing "Ctrl + Alt + E" should start up the Engineering Power Tools application (or pop it up to the top, if it is already running).

Adding Engineering Power Tools to Your Quick Launch Toolbar

Click on the Windows "Start" button.  Select "Programs >>" and locate the Engineering Power Tools entry in the list of programs.  Using the LEFT mouse button, drag the Engineering Power Tools program entry down onto your Quick Launch toolbar and release the mouse button to drop.

IMPORTANT: Press and HOLD DOWN the "CTRL" key while you are dropping the icon onto the Quick Launch toolbar if you want to create a copy of the shortcut and leave the original shortcut in your Start button menu.  When you press the "CTRL" key, a small "+" sign should appear on the dragged icon to show that you are only making a copy and preserving the original shortcut.)
 
A new icon will appear in your toolbar to start the Power Tools application.

Note: the "Quick Launch" toolbar is a row of small icons that appear down on the Windows "Taskbar."  If your Quick Launch toolbar is not turned on, right-click on a blank section of your Taskbar and select: Toolbars   >>  Quick Launch This will turn your toolbar on - then continue with the above instructions.

On forms where there is a "Calculate" or "Solve" button, click the button to force a recalculation. On some modules, simply pressing <Enter> on the keyboard will force a recalculation. Be sure that sufficient input data has been entered to allow a solution of the problem.

Error 76 is "Path Not Found" and error 53 is "File Not Found."  These errors indicate that the program is having trouble locating one or more data files.  Typically, this means that the stored data path is incorrect. The stored path may point to the program folder from a previous version, etc.  Open the program and immediately select:

File  >>  Set Data Path

Click the "Reset to Default Data Path" button and then click the "OK" button. This action resets the stored data path to the folder containing the main Engineering Power Tools program file. Now try the same menu options which previously caused the errors. If the errors persist, contact technical support at .

The help file is compiled for reading by Microsoft's "Windows Help" program, which has been included with all versions of the Windows operating system since Windows 3.1.  However Microsoft elected not to include it with Vista or Windows 7. The next release of the EPT Plus Edition will use a different help authoring system. However the "WinHlp32.exe" support file is readily available, directly from Microsoft. The file is small and only takes a minute to install.

     Link for Windows Vista  ====>  http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=82148

     Link for Windows 7  ====>  http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=166421

This will restore the functionality of all programs that use the Windows Help system.  If you install WinHlp32.exe and the errors persist, contact technical support at .