FAQs
Welcome to the AccuChef™ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page.
Here you'll find answers to the most frequently asked questions (and some not so
frequently asked) about AccuChef. The top part of the page contains the questions
for you to look through (or use your Browser's Find Function, usually Ctrl+F). If you find your question or something similar, click on it
and the page will jump to the answer. Click on the question in the answer section to
jump back to the question section. If you don't find your question answered here, please submit
it to us at support@AccuChef.com.
The Questions
Does AccuChef run under the new Vista operating system?
I can't view the help files under VISTA.
When adding new ingredients - sometimes I miss attaching them to a category.
How do I go into an ingredient and assign it a category after the fact?
I can't seem to get my computer set up to email from the accuchef program.
I see SR19 of the nutritional database is now available. How do I install it
in AccuChef?
We have just switched to Earthlink Internet. Before, when I wanted to
email a recipe to someone, it worked perfectly. Now we use the Earthlink
TotalAccess mailbox instead of Outlook. When I try to send an email-I
fill in the "SMTP" information and it appears to be working and then I
get an error message. "Error 550 Please configure your mail client
to use authentication. Request done Rq=9 Error 550 Done sending."
It never sends the recipe. Can you help?
I want to print out my shopping list in store aisle order. Do I have to
assign an aisle to every ingredient for every store?
How can I easily copy a recipe between different cookbook files?
I see SR18 of the nutritional database is now available. How do I install it
in AccuChef?
Why do some of the ingredients show up blue and others black in the editor?
When I try to open AccuChef, a window flashes up very briefly and then closes
and nothing else happens. The program does not open at all.
I recently upgraded to the 6.6 version of Accuchef from an earlier 6.? version
I purchased a couple of years ago. When I try to print preview or print a
recipe it shows the word "invalid" for the title, yield or notes. Can you tell
me how to resolve this?
I see that the USDA web site has released version 17 of their
nutritional database. How do I update AccuChef?
I have just downloaded the Version 6.6 upgrade. I was pleased to see that
the USDA data now includes sugar content. When I loaded in the new version
all my additions & modifications are no longer there.
Can I download accuchef recipes to my pda?
When I select the import wizard the bottom of the screen is chopped off
and I can't see the "Next Step" button.
I want to print a 8.5 x 5.5 (half a regular page) booklet of my recipes. Can AccuChef do that?
AccuChef looks like what I'm looking for but I need a MAC version. Do you have one?
One of the things my wife is looking for is the ability to import recipes from
Weight Watchers and The Food Network web site. Thus far we have not been successful in
that endeavor with AccuChef (or other programs). Responds not in the proper
format ... is there a utility that EASILY will do this ?? Once we can perform
this we would also like to scan recipes in, but am concerned will hit the same
or similar snag. Any suggestions ??
How do I set up AccuChef so multiple workstations can access the same cookbook over
my network?
AccuChef will not calculate the nutritional values of my recipes and it says there
is no database to do this.
I did something wrong while dragging field sizes in the edit window. It used to chop
off one ingredient field but now I can't see any ingredients at all. How can I force
AccuChef back to it's default settings so I can start over?
I have installed Accuchef on both my laptop and my PC. I usually enter my recipes on the
lap top, as I take it everywhere with me. I then copy the cookbook files to a floppy and
then copy them from the floppy to my PC. This has worked fine until now, but I have tried
to do this recently and I get the following message on the laptop :-"Error Code 112. Error
Description. There is not enough space on the disk" - it doesn't give me the chance to put
in a second disk.
Although I followed your instructions to the letter regarding unformatted
text files, AccuChef will not import them.
What are AccuPoints?
How do you insert symbols, such as the degree sign, umlats etc.
I'm having trouble changing the Browser background color, any hints?
When I do a print preview I do not see the Custom report I chose. How do I
do this?
Is it possible to customize the ingredient list, by adding items you use often,
so that when you type a portion of the ingredient, the program will finish
typing it for you?
I know that you want the software name/version to appear which is does
right below the recipe title, but the next line seems unnecessary and
runs off the 3x5 card. Can that be adjusted or deleted?
I was playing with the printout styles and noticed that I would like to make my
own but found when I created it, it made a report with only ingredients or with
preparation. What am I doing wrong? Also is there a way to save an edited report
and still keep the old report. (like adding a different font and clipart). I
don't want to lose the original but don't want to go through creating a new report
just for a few small changes.
Can I print directly on 4x6 index cards?
How can I transfer recipes between cookbooks?
Some recipes aren't showing up in the Find/Filter searches that I know are
there, where are they?
What can I make?
How can I bulk delete a group of related recipes?
Is there an easier way to post or email a single recipe?
How come when I try to open a different cookbook it's showing me there are
two copies with the same name?
How come there is a recipe in the Browser with "!!!" in the marked column
and AccuChef won't let me delete it?
Can I install AccuChef on more than one machine?
I just purchased a new PC. How can I move AccuChef over from my old box?
Can I run AccuChef from a CD?
The Answers
Does AccuChef run under the new Vista operating system?
Yes BUT, Vista institues a different protection architecture that by
default won't allow most regular users to have read/write access to any
folder in the C:\Program Files folder (where AccuChef installs by default).
This means that it may run the first time you install it (because your
access token gets "elevated" on install) but you'll get a "...stopped working" error
on subsequent starts. To correct the problem you can:
1) Uninstall AccuChef (Add/Remove Programs from the Control Panel and select AccuChef) and
re-install it in a different folder (like C:\My Documents\AccuChef)
that you have read/write access to (instead of the default C:\Program Files\AccuChef6).
2) Right click the AccuChef icon and select "Run as Administrator" from the Drop Down Menu.
Now click the icon and it should run. If the User Account Control (UAC) message
appears enther the appropriate credentials if you are logged on as a standard user,
and click the Submit button. If you are the Administrator and UAC is not configured
to always require credentials, just click the Continue button and AccuChef should start.
2) Give yourself read/write access to the C:\Program Files\AccuChef6 folder
(check the Vista documentation for specific instructions
on making the folder accessible to the default “users” group)
I can't view the help files under VISTA.
Vista no longer officially supports the 32 bit help file format
(which AccuChef uses). Here is a pointer to the Microsoft site where
you can install the Vista WinHlp32.exe program:
Click here
When adding new ingredients - sometimes I miss attaching them to a category.
How do I go into an ingredient and assign it a category after the fact?
Click on the shopping cart button to bring up the Shopping List Manager.
From the “Sort” menu select “By Store Category” and all of the blank ones
will come to the top. Go down through the list and select a category using
the drop down under the "Store Category" field. Click on the “Save Items”
button and close.
I can't seem to get my computer set up to email from the accuchef program.
It could be that your email provider is using authentication which AccuChef
doesn’t currently support. As a work around set up AccuChef to use Meal-Master
format for cut & paste operations (check the box labeled “Use Meal-Master
format for cut & paste operations” on the ExIm tab of the configuration screen).
Then when you want to email a recipe highlight it in the Browser and press
Ctrl+C to copy it to the Windows clipboard. Open your regular email software,
go to the body of the note where you want the recipe and press Ctrl+V to paste
it in.
I see SR19 of the nutritional database is now available. How do I install it
in AccuChef?
The new sr19 abbrev.txt file is contained in the sr19abbr.zip file you can
download from here:
http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/Data/SR19/dnload/sr19abbr.zip
Unzip it in the AccuChef folder (it contains abbrev.txt and SR18_doc.pdf).
From the Browser, choose Tools, Edit Supporting Files, Nutritional Data and
from the editor window select "Import ABBREV" from the "File" menu.
We have just switched to Earthlink Internet. Before, when I wanted to
email a recipe to someone, it worked perfectly. Now we use the Earthlink
TotalAccess mailbox instead of Outlook. When I try to send an email-I
fill in the "SMTP" information and it appears to be working and then I
get an error message. "Error 550 Please configure your mail client
to use authentication. Request done Rq=9 Error 550 Done sending."
It never sends the recipe. Can you help?
We’re working on a fix for networks that use authentication. In the meantime,
configure AccuChef to use “Meal-Master format for cut and paste operations”
(on the ExIm tab on the configuration screen). Then to email it, highlight
the recipe in the browser and press Ctrl+C to copy it to the Windows clipboard.
Switch over to your email software and create a new message. Position the cursor
in the body of the note and press Ctrl+V to paste it in.
I want to print out my shopping list in store aisle order. Do I have to
assign an aisle to every ingredient for every store?
NO! Unlike other recipe software that require you to do so, AccuChef uses
a category approach. Instead of assigning an aisle for (for example) flour
for every store in which you shop you instead assign an aisle for "Baking
Goods" for each store. AccuChef already knows that Flour is in the Baking
Goods category so it can figure out which aisle it's on (why not let the
computer do some of the work, there's a novel idea!). Also when you add a
new ingredient, if AccuChef doesn't know what category it fits into it will
ask you. Let it know and it will automatically know which aisle it's on for
ALL of your stores.
How can I easily copy a recipe between different cookbook files?
Move the highlight bar (in the Browser) to the recipe to copy and press
CTRL+C to copy it to the WIndows clipboard. Open up the cookbook you want to
copy it to and press CTRL+V to paste it in. HINT: If you want to copy multiple
recipes just mark (CTRL+M) them first.
I see SR18 of the nutritional database is now available. How do I install it
in AccuChef?
The new sr18 abbrev.txt file is contained in the sr18abbr.zip file you can
download from here:
http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/Data/SR18/dnload/sr18abbr.zip
Unzip it in the AccuChef folder (it contains abbrev.txt and SR18_doc.pdf).
From the Browser, choose Tools, Edit Supporting Files, Nutritional Data and
from the editor window select "Import" from the "File" menu.
Why do some of the ingredients show up blue and others black in the editor?
Blue ingredients mean that AccuChef has linked them to items in the
nutritional database. You can change the link color by selecting
"Nutrition Link" under the Tools menu in the Editor. You can turn
off the automatic nutrition link by unchecking "Auto Connect Nutrition"
under the Tools menu.
When I try to open AccuChef, a window flashes up very briefly and then closes
and nothing else happens. The program does not open at all.
This issue with was fixed by turning off the Matrox Power Desk service in
the task manager. Seems they may have some video driver problems. If you see
this kind of behavior check to see if there is a later release of your video
driver (even if it's not Matrox).
I recently upgraded to the 6.6 version of Accuchef from an earlier 6.? version
I purchased a couple of years ago. When I try to print preview or print a
recipe it shows the word "invalid" for the title, yield or notes. Can you tell
me how to resolve this?
Start up the custom report editor (Click on the "Start the custom report editor"
button on the Custom tab on the configuration screen), then expand the "Data
View Dictionary" leg on the Project Tree. Right click each of the Views and
select "Refresh" from the pop up window.
I see that the USDA web site has released version 17 of their
nutritional database. How do I update AccuChef?
For user's of version 6.6 here are the instructions for updating the
nutritional database (if you're using an earlier version, update to 6.6
first, then follow these instructions):
1) Download http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/Data/SR17/dnload/sr17abbr.zip
if you haven't already
2) Unzip sr17abbr.zip (results in ABBREV.txt & sr17_doc.pdf) make sure that the
ABBREV.txt file is located in the AccuChef folder
(default is C:\Program Files\AccuChef6)
3) Start up AccuChef
4) Select Tools, Edit Supporting Files, Nutritional Data
5) From the File menu on the USDA Nutritional Data screen select "Import" and
click OK on the confirmation screen.
AccuChef should begin importing the data and updating the nutritional database.
When finished it should display some stats at the bottom of the window. Mine said:
Recs: 7325 Dups:0 New:798 Updt 6041
but yours may differ slightly
I have just downloaded the Version 6.6 upgrade. I was pleased to see that
the USDA data now includes sugar content. When I loaded in the new version
all my additions & modifications are no longer there.
Unfortunately the USDA database not only added sugars but re-organized the
way they pass the data (moved fields around etc) so the only way to use the
new data was to overwrite the existing structure. The old nutritional
database with your modifications (USDA6.RWZ and USDA6.IX) should now be
named USDA6.BK1 and USDA6.BK2. You can recover your old items by renaming
the existing USDA6.RWZ to something else (like TEMP.RWZ) and USDA6.IX to TEMP.IX,
then rename USDA6.BK1 to USDA6.RWZ and USDA6.BK2 to USDA6.IX. This should now
contain your modified entries but won't contain any sugar information or other
modifications. To get those, download the sr16-1abbr.zip file from the USDA web
site (http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/Data/SR16-1/dnload/sr16-1abbr.zip)
and unzip it to get the ABBREV.TXT file, then in AccuChef edit the nutritional
database and select "Import" from the "File" menu. This should upgrade your
existing nutritional data to the 16-1 version but leave your modifications intact.
Can I download accuchef recipes to my pda?
Yes. Mark or filter the recipes to download (if you don't want all), select
"Export Multiple Text Files" and select a folder to export the recipes to (you may
want to create a special transfer folder first). Once the recipes are exported,
you can use Windows Explorer to create a recipe folder on your PDA and copy the
recipe over. On your PDA, use your file explorer software to open the recipe
folder and the individual recipes will display with their recipe names as the
file names. Tap a recipe file name to open and view the recipe.
When I select the import wizard the bottom of the screen is chopped off
and I can't see the "Next Step" button.
This only happened if you had Windows set up to use "Large Fonts". We've posted
a fix so just re-download & run the installation program
(www.AccuChef.com/achefsup.exe).
I want to print a 8.5 x 5.5 (half a regular page) booklet of my recipes. Can AccuChef do that?
Yes, you have several options.
1) Check your printer driver to see if it will create booklets of printed pages. If it can
then check your owners manual for specific instructions.
2) Cut your 8.5 x 11 pages in half and load them into your printer. Specify half
letter (5.5 x 8.5) in the printer setup page size. Select "Print Cookbook" from the
File menu and click the "Print/Preview" button. Make any adjustments to the font
size or "Break @" value then print your cookbook. AccuChef will print out the fronts,
then pause so you can re-insert the paper for printing on the back.
3) Use booklet printing software. There are a couple products supported by
Accuchef that will print on 8.5 x 11 or 8.5 x 14 pages that can then be folded
directly into a cookbook. FinePrint (www.fineprint.com) and ClickBook
(www.BlueSquirrel.com) will intercept the output from AccuChef and rotate
and re-paginate it so that it can be folded directly into a booklet. We use
ClickBook to print out cookbooks on legal sized paper (8.5x14) so it can be
folded into a 8.5x7 booklet.
AccuChef looks like what I'm looking for but I need a MAC version. Do you have one?
We don't offer a MAC version of AccuChef at this time.
One of the things my wife is looking for is the ability to import recipes from
Weight Watchers and The Food Network web site. Thus far we have not been successful in
that endeavor with AccuChef (or other programs). Responds not in the proper
format ... is there a utility that EASILY will do this ?? Once we can perform
this we would also like to scan recipes in, but am concerned will hit the same
or similar snag. Any suggestions ??
YES! The Import Wizard in version 6.6 is what you're looking for. When you
want to import a recipe from a web page into AccuChef just:
1) Highlight the recipe in your web browser (hold down the left mouse button and drag
it over the recipe, from the title to the end)
2) Press Ctrl+C (or select Copy from the Browser's Edit menu)
3) Switch over to AccuChef, click on the Import Wizard button and follow the instructions
to paste it in
Scanned recipes need to first be run through your scanner's Optical Character
Recognition (OCR) software to convert the scanned image (graphic) to a text
file. You can then use the Import Wizard to paste the recipe into AccuChef
by following the same steps.
How do I set up AccuChef so multiple workstations can access the same cookbook over
my network?
1) Install AccuChef on each workstation (you'll need a license for each, contact us
for a discount if it's more then 10).
2) Make sure that the "Temp File Path" on the "General" tab of the configuration
screen is pointing to a local folder (C:\foldername).
3) Place the cookbook you want to use on a shared resource on your network.
4) Connect each workstation to the shared resource (net use f: \\sharename\foldername).
5) Start up AccuChef, select Open Existing Cookbook, navigate to the shared
resource and select the cookbook.
AccuChef will not calculate the nutritional values of my recipes and it says there
is no database to do this.
Assuming you're not using the Express version which doesn't include the nutritional
calculator feature, right click the icon you're using to start AccuChef, select
Properties and look to see which folder it's starting AccuChef from. Re-run the
installation from the CD (or www.AccuChef.com/achefsup.exe) and make sure it's
installing in the same folder. When it comes to the "Update Options" screen, make sure
that the box labeled "Nutritional Database" is checked.
I did something wrong while dragging field sizes in the edit window. It used to chop
off one ingredient field but now I can't see any ingredients at all. How can I force
AccuChef back to it's default settings so I can start over?
Here's a way to restore all of AccuChef's default settings:
1) Exit AccuChef (if it's running)
2) Start up regedit (Start, Run, type in regedit)
3) Open the following folder HKEY_CURRENT_USER
4) Delete (or rename) the following folder ACCUCHEF62.INI
5) Exit regedit
6) Restart AccuChef
I have installed Accuchef on both my laptop and my PC. I usually enter my recipes on the
lap top, as I take it everywhere with me. I then copy the cookbook files to a floppy and
then copy them from the floppy to my PC. This has worked fine until now, but I have tried
to do this recently and I get the following message on the laptop :-"Error Code 112. Error
Description. There is not enough space on the disk" - it doesn't give me the chance to put
in a second disk.
NOTE that these instructions also apply to backing up your cookbook files.
On the laptop select "ZIP/Backup a cookbook" from the Tools menu. Put a floppy in the
drive and in the window labeled "Backup current cookbook to a compressed file" type in
"a:\cookbookname" in the "Zip to" field where cookbookname is the name of the cookbook.
DON'T add a file extension. For example if I'm backing up the book1 cookbook I would type
in "a:\book1". AccuChef will compress the cookbook and save it to the floppy, spanning
multiple floppies if necessary. Back on the PC, insert the floppy and select
"UNZIP/Restore a cookbook" from the Tools menu. Type A:\cookbookname.rzp (or click on the
Restore From button, browse to the floppy drive & select the file). In the "Restore to"
field, type in the name of the folder to restore to (or click the button & select the
folder) and click on the "Restore" button. NOTE that if there is an existing cookbook
with the same name in the folder you're restoring to it will be overwritten WITHOUT notice.
Although I followed your instructions to the letter regarding unformatted
text files, AccuChef will not import them.
What editor are you using to create the text files you're trying to
import? If it's something like WORD make sure that you save them as unformatted
text files, otherwise WORD adds in formatting characters that will cause the
import to fail.
What are AccuPoints?
AccuPoints are roughly similar to (W)eight (W)atchers (WW) points. The method
used to calculate WW points is proprietary however so they can't be viewed as exactly
equivalent. The formula use to calculate AccuPoints is (total calories/50) +
(total fat/12) - (total fiber/5).
How do you insert symbols, such as the degree sign, umlats etc.
Degree sign (°) is Ctrl+O, ¼ is Ctrl+Q, ½ is Ctrl+W, ¾ is Ctrl+S and é is
Ctrl+E. Any other special characters can be added by holding down the ALT key
and typing the character code via the numeric keypad. For example if you wanted
an "à" you could hold down the ALT key and type in 0224 (needs to be a four digit
number). Here is a list of some of the more common keycodes:
0191=¿, 0192=À, 0193=Á, 0194=Â,=0195=Ã, 0196=Ä, 0197=Å, 0198=Æ, 0199=Ç,
0200=È, 0201=É, 0202=Ê, 0203=Ë, 0204=Ì, 0205=Í, 0206=Î, 0207=Ï, 0208=Ð, 0209=Ñ,
0210=Ò, 0211=Ó, 0212=Ô, 0213=Õ, 0214=Ö, 0215=×, 0216=Ø, 0217=Ù, 0218=Ú,
0219=Û, 0220=Ü, 0221=Ý, 0222=Þ, 0223=ß, 0224=à, 0225=á, 0226=â, 0227=ã, 0228=ä,
0229=å, 0230=æ, 0231=ç, 0232=è, 0233=é, 0234=ê, 0235=ë, 0236=ì, 0237=í, 0238=î,
0239=ï, 0240=ð, 0241=ñ, 0242=ò, 0243=ó, 0244=ô, 0245=õ, 0246=ö, 0247=÷, 0248=ø,
0249=ù, 0250=ú, 0251=û, 0252=ü, 0253=ý, 0254=þ, 0255=ÿ
I'm having trouble changing the Browser background color, any hints?
If you have a background BMP file specified for the Browser it will
override any background color you select. To change the background color
first make sure that the field labeled "Background BMP" on the
"General" tab of the configuration screen is empty.
When I do a print preview I do not see the Custom report I chose. How do I
do this?
Make sure that the box labeled "Use Custom Reports" is checked on
the "General" tab of the configuration screen (Ctrl+D from the
Browser).
Is it possible to customize the ingredient list, by adding items you use often,
so that when you type a portion of the ingredient, the program will finish
typing it for you?
The ingredient list should automatically modify itself (if you enter something
that's not currently in the list it gets added automatically). This only happens
however if you specify a store category in the pop up category editor after
adding it.
I know that you want the software name/version to appear which is does
right below the recipe title, but the next line seems unnecessary and
runs off the 3x5 card. Can that be adjusted or deleted?
To get rid of that line (and/or the subtitle) just uncheck the box labeled
"Copyright & Cookbook" on the "General" tab on the configuration screen. If it's
the subtitle line you want to get rid of uncheck the box labeled "Print Subtitle"
on the same configuration screen or change the subtitle text in the "Subtitle"
field.
I was playing with the printout styles and noticed that I would like to make my
own but found when I created it, it made a report with only ingredients or with
preparation. What am I doing wrong? Also is there a way to save an edited report
and still keep the old report. (like adding a different font and clipart). I
don't want to lose the original but don't want to go through creating a new report
just for a few small changes.
In the help file there is a tutorial on customizing reports that shows you
how to copy an existing report as the first step (select Help, Contents &
click on "Customizing Printouts"). It also goes through several
steps working with an existing report, placing graphics, linking components etc.
Can I print directly on 4x6 index cards?
First of all your printer has to be able to support 4x6 sized pages. To
check to see if it does, select Print, then click on the Setup button of the
Report Setup dialog box. Click on the drop down Paper Size button and
scroll through the choices. If your printer supports 4 x 6 inch index cards
select it, then select Landscape in the Orientation section and click OK.
Back at the Report Setup dialog box click Cancel. AccuChef is now set up to
print landscape on 4x6 index cards. Select Print Preview (or click on the
speed button with the eyeball) to see what your printout will look like. Use
the A1 and A2 font buttons to change the fonts and sizes to your liking (try
Brush Script size 24 for the titles and Arial Italic size 9 for the body) and
click on Done. Back at the browser, select "Defaults/Options" from the Tools
menu and select the "Standrd" tab. Make sure the "Auto size fonts to paper"
checkbox is not checked, the "Use Custom Reports" checkbox (General tab) is
not checked, and the "Pause between pages" check box is checked. If you want
to save the selected fonts as the new default fonts, check both of the
"Save as Default" boxes. Set the margins as required to get your printout
the way you want it. On a DeskJet the settings for 4x6 cards seem to work
best if set to 0.5 for left and right, 0.2 for the top and 0.2 for the bottom.
Check or uncheck the other boxes in the "General" tab and click on OK. Load
a 4x6 index card into your printer and click on the Print button. The first
page of your recipe should now print and AccuChef will pause to let you
turn the card over for printing on the back (if you're using an inkjet type
printer wait a few seconds before re-inserting the index card to let the ink
dry). If you selected to save the changes you made in Defaults/Options
setup, you'll only have to specify the paper size and orientation for future
4x6 index card printing.
How can I transfer recipes between cookbooks?
To transfer recipes, the easiest way is to use the Windows
clipboard along with AccuChef's cut & paste routine. Open the cookbook that
contains the recipes you want to transfer. In the Browser, move the highlight
bar to the recipe you want to transfer and press Ctrl+C to copy it to the
clipboard. Then open the cookbook you want to transfer the recipe to and
press Ctrl+Z to paste it in. NOTE: That the format used to transfer the
recipe depends on if you have the checkbox labeled "Use Meal-Master format
for cut & paste operations..." checked on the "ExIm" tab of the configuration
screen. If you use Meal-Master format then nutritional links and formatting
will be lost. If you want to transfer multiple recipes between cookbooks
then mark the recipes (Ctrl+M) to transfer prior to pressing Ctrl+C.
Some recipes aren't showing up in the Find/Filter searches that I know are
there, where are they?
One possibiliy is, when entering ingredients for Find and Filter searches use the singular
form of the word (i.e. Mushroom instead of Mushrooms). Some recipes may
call for "1 Shallot" and if you're searching for "Shallots" it won't show
up in the results. Also, make sure to click on the "Reset" button when entering
new search of filter criteria. Some fields (like the date entered/modified)
may contain search criteria left over from a previous search and interfere
with your current search unless emptied. The Reset button will initialize
all fields with one click.
What can I make?
You can have AccuChef suggest recipes based on what you have on hand.
Perform a filter search and type in some ingredients you find in your
freezer or pantry. AccuChef will scan through your cookbook(s) and show
you just the recipes that contain the ingredients you've entered. For
example type in "Chicken", "Mushroom" and "Shallot" and AccuChef will
suggest "Auge Valley Chicken Stew" and "Chicken Marsala".
How can I bulk delete a group of related recipes?
This question stems from the fact that you can filter for a group of related
recipes but if you then press the Delete key to try and delete them AccuChef
tells you that you have to leave the filtered view first. The answer is to
select "Tools|Mark All" from the browser menu. This will mark all of the
recipes currently in the filtered view, then turn off the filter. The marked
recipes stay marked! Now you can press the Delete key and when
AccuChef asks if you want to delete all of the marked recipes, answer Yes.
Is there an easier way to post or email a single recipe?
There is a menu choice under the File menu called "Copy to Clipboard" (or
shortcut key Ctrl+C) that will copy the current recipe (the one highlighted
in the browser or open in the editor) to the Windows clipboard in Meal-Master
or AccuChef format (depending on which you've chosen on the Import/Export tab
of the configuration screen [Ctrl+D]). Once copied, you can activate your
email software, move the cursor to the point where you would like the
recipe inserted and paste (Ctrl+V) it in!
How come when I try to open a different cookbook it's showing me there are
two copies with the same name?
If you have the "ZIP files when closing" box checked on the
configuration page (Ctrl+D) then AccuChef will compress all of the files that
make up a cookbook (RWZ, IX, IX2 and PIC) into one WinZIP compatible file
with the extension RZP. If Windows is configured to hide known file
extensions (the default) then when you try to open a cookbook the Open
File window will display both the RWZ and RZP files, but since the extensions
are stripped off it looks like two cookbooks with the same name. Configure
Windows to NOT hide known file extensions and you'll see the RWZ and RZP
extensions. By the way, it doesn't matter which one you click on. If you
click on the RZP compressed file, AccuChef will check the date on the
enclosed RWZ file to see how it compares with the existing RWZ file. If
it's the same or later it will unzip the files and overwrite the existing
ones. If it's earlier, it will display a warning that the uncompressed RWZ
file has a later date then the one you're unzipping and allow you to choose
how to proceed.
How come there is a recipe in the Browser with "!!!" in the marked column
and AccuChef won't let me delete it?
The "!!!" indicates that there is an entry in the index (IX) file that points
to a non-existing record in the data (RWZ) file. The usual cause is an
unusual termination of AccuChef while entering data (like a power failure,
re-boot etc). The fix is to select "Rebuild" under the Tools menu in the
Browser. This will force AccuChef to rebuild the index file and get rid of
the offending entry.
Can I install AccuChef on more than one machine?
If you have a single AccuChef license (registration) you can install
AccuChef on more than one machine only if it will be used on one machine
at a time. If there is a possibility that both machines may be running
AccuChef at the same time then you need to purchase a separate license
for each machine.
I just purchased a new PC. How can I move AccuChef over from my old box?
If you purchased the installation CD first install AccuChef from the CD
onto the new machine. If you didn't purchase the installation CD, download
the installation program from our web site (www.AccuChef.com) and install
and re-register it. Once installed on the new machine, copy your cookbook
files from the old machine to the new one in one of the following ways:
1) If you have the "ZIP files on closing" box checked (and they'll fit on
a floppy) copy the RZP files from the old machine to the AccuChef folder
on the new machine and you're done.
2) From the old machine, export each cookbook to a file on a floppy, then
on the new machine, create a cookbook and import the recipes.
3) If you have a network connection copy the cookbook files directly from
the AccuChef folder on the old machine to the AccuChef folder on the new
machine. Cookbook file sets are made up of files with the following
extensions: RWZ, IX, IX2 and PIC.
NOTE: If you made changes to any of the supporting files you might want to
copy them over to the new machine too. The files to copy are *.LST (the
supporting files), USDA6.* (the nutritional database) and USERDCT.DIC
(the customized dictionary entries).
Can I run AccuChef from a CD?
No. Windows marks files copied to a CD as Read-only and AccuChef won't
run if it can't open the cookbook files in Read/write mode.
NOTE: Anytime you copy files to a CD and then copy them back
to a hard drive the files remain "Read-only". In order for AccuChef to
use them you first need to turn off the Read-only attribute. To do so,
start up Windows Explorer, open the folder with the files, right click
them and select "Properties" from the window that pops up. At the
bottom of screen uncheck the box labeled "Read-only".