Priacta

TROG^TM Bar Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Common Issues

• I have 10,000 Unprocessed Tasks!
• Trog pops out when I don't want to see it.

Registration and Support

• Where is my registration key?
• What's the difference between Basic and Premium Registration?
• How do I upgrade from Basic Registration to Premium Registration?
• What is "priority support"?

Auto Update and Beta Testing

• How do I get new features and bug fixes?
• What about beta testing? Can I beta test?
• What happens when the beta testing period is over?

Compatibility and Comparison

• I don't have Outlook. Can I get it FREE?
• What's the difference between Trog Bar and Outlook?
• Is Trog Bar Exchange Server compatible?

Technical Questions

• Is my data safe with Trog?
• Are there any limits to the database size?

 

Common Issues

I have 10,000 Unprocessed Tasks!

If you see a huge number of unprocessed tasks, you probably have email relief misconfigured. It's tempting to tell Trog that every email folder has actionable emails, but that's not right. Most of your emails are probably reference items or someday/maybe read and review messages that shouldn't be in your task list.

To fix this, limit your "actionable email" folders to one Action folder, and make sure email relief is configured wisely. Here is the recommended approach:

• Create an [Action] folder in your Outlook Mailbox (Exchange Server) or Personal Folders (non-Exchange).
• Select "TRO" as your time management system (recommended).
• If you want to manage emails as tasks, select "Yes" to that question.
• On the next page, select the [Action] folder. No other folders should be selected!
• On the next page, select "All emails in the folders I selected."
• On the next page, choose either "Mark as read and set the completed flag" or "Move it to my Deleted folder".

if that doesn't solve your problem, click "Select Profile and Folder Options" on the Trog Options screen and examine the meanings assigned to your folders. You probably have archived tasks lists designated as sources of tasks.

Trog pops out when I don't want to see it.

You have several options that adjust Trog's behavior. Go to the Options screen by clicking [+] near the upper right corner and try one or more of these:

• (Recommended) Uncheck "Hover Select Tasks for Popout". This give a smoother behavior for most people.
• Increase "Milliseconds to delay popouts." (400 might be a good number.)
• Consider moving the bar to the other side of the screen. ("Show on which side?")
• If you have a lot of screen space, you can make Trog a permanent fixture by unchecking "Auto Hide the Trog Bar."

Registration and Support

Where is my registration key?

Your registration key is delivered immediately via email when you place your order. The key appears as hundreds of numbers and letters, with an auto-registration hyperlink, so you don't need to cut and paste. If this email doesn't show up in your Inbox within 15-20 minutes (your server may take that long to process email), then check your Junk Mail folder(s).

Remember that you may have more than one Spam or Junk Mail folder if your email is being sent to one account and forwarded to another. Check all Junk Mail folders for all accounts.

If you still can't find it, no worries. Drop us a line and we'll resend it pronto. Oh, and give us an alternate email address to send it to, just in case... :-)

What's the difference between Basic and Premium Registration?

Basic Registration lets you use Trog Bar beyond the 30 day Free Trial. It covers the current version of Trog Bar, includes all forms of support, and gives you automatic updates for bug fixes and the like. Access to new features is not included.

Premium Registration includes everything in Basic Registration plus you get all new software features for one year plus priority support. You get access to all new features automatically as they are delivered via automatic update. You can upgrade to Premium registration at any time, you'll save by purchasing Premium Registration right from the start.

How do I upgrade from Basic Registration to Premium Registration?

When you access a locked feature in the software, you'll see an upgrade button or hyperlink. Or upgrade via the online catalog.

Important: Trog Bar with Premium Registration comes with all Total, Relaxed Organization training packages. At the moment, you can get TRO Self Training (which includes the TRO Field Guide), for just a few dollars more than Premium Registration. We highly recommend the TRO Self Training System. It's your best value, it helps you get the full benefit of Trog Bar, and it gives you full control over your time, tasks, and life.

What is "priority support"?

While we strive to provide awe-inspiring support at all levels, "priority" support gives you an added boost in line—your support requests get preferential handling before non-priority requests, and possibly by more senior support staff.

Auto Update and Beta Testing

How do I get new features and bug fixes?

Priacta uses a proprietary "continuous update" approach for agile software development. This means you'll see our software improve and evolve gradually with each new update. New fixes and features will be automatically sent to you as they are released. If you have Premium Registration, you'll have continuous access to all these new features. If you have Basic Registration, you'll see the new features as they become available, and you can decide if it's time to upgrade and start using them.

What about beta testing? Can I beta test?

Beta testing and alpha testing are an important part of our "continuous update" development approach. New updates can include locked features and changes that only our alpha testers can use. "Public beta" features may also be present and visible to anyone. By making these features available early to the general public, people get the benefits of the software and we get the benefit of testing on a wide range of machines.

Trog Bar makes beta software available on a feature-by-feature basis rather than releasing a complete beta upgrade. This allows a continuous upgrade cycle, so you get bug fixes and the latest features constantly rather than waiting for an annual, major release. When beta features are released, only the feature itself is beta code. The remainder of the program runs in release mode.

You are given the opportunity to opt in on beta features when you try to access one of them. If you opt in, you may opt out at any time on the Options screen.

What happens when the beta testing period is over?

Beta features are provided on a time-limited basis and may be tested by anyone. As soon as beta testing is over, the feature or fix is released to the general public. Current Premium Registration may be required to continue using advanced features once they are released. However, even if you do not have Premium Registration, you will still be able to access all data you entered while beta testing the feature. Only the entry of new data will be restricted for the feature. Beta features and software are provided on a limited, trial basis for testing purposes only and may contain errors. You should exercise caution when testing beta features.

Compatibility and Comparison

I don't have Outlook. Can I get it FREE?

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus, and his name is Microsoft. They will give you Outlook 2003 free if you evaluate their Small Business Server 2003 platform. Click here for details. Also, you can get Outlook free by signing up for Exchange Server hosting, which we highly recommend. Click here for information.

What's the difference between Trog Bar and Outlook?

Trog Bar does not replace Outlook, it supplements it. You can manage the same emails, tasks, and appointments in either (or both) without imports, exports, or synchronization. Trog Bar is designed to look similar to Outlook. However, their approaches are very different.

Outlook is email-oriented with an added calendar and task list. It lets you manage your emails, time, and tasks. It has tons of fancy features can actually distract you, using up a lot of time, mouse clicks, and keystrokes as you fiddle with views and lists instead of focusing you on getting more work done.

Trog Bar is workload-oriented and unifies your approach to emails, tasks, and appointments. Trog Bar has built in smarts to manage your workload for you instead of making you manage it yourself. Intelligent task lists keep things out of your face and off your mind until you need to pay attention to them. It all works together to help you focus on  getting more work done, in less time, with less stress. Trog's smart task views and tools are designed by time and task management experts. Gentle coaching and passive training encourage the effective time management practices of Total, Relaxed Organization by Priacta. (And yes, when you really do need those advanced Outlook features, Trog Bar provides quick shortcuts to take you to them fast.)

Is Trog Bar Exchange Server compatible?

Yes. We recommend Exchange Server to our clients and use it ourselves. Note: For performance reasons, Trog Bar requires Outlook to run in Cached Exchange mode if Exchange Server is being used. If Trog finds Outlook running in uncached mode, it will recommend cached mode and make the change for you automatically (if you approve). You'll love the difference. Outlook is generally faster and more reliable in Cached mode, and you have full access to your tasks and emails even when you don't have an Internet connection.

Technical Questions

Is my data safe with Trog?

Well, as a general rule, if you're using any software on any computer, your data is always at risk. Hard drives fail, viruses abound, nothing is guaranteed in the digital world. So always back up. Always! Regular backup is the first thing we ensure when we do on-site TRO training for our clients. Click here for low-stress, low-cost backup solutions recommended by Priacta.

However, the Trog Bar uses the Microsoft Outlook MAPI database to manage your tasks, emails and contacts. MAPI access is supported and used by Microsoft, so your data should be roughly as safe as any Outlook data ever is.

One of Priacta's values is Integrity—not just as people, but in our software development. We've gone to great lengths to prevent damage to anyone's data. We designed it to be trivial to install and uninstall, with no sweeping changes or information loss. We use the Trog Bar to manage our own lives, tasks and projects.

Nevertheless, when using any computer or software, always safeguard your data. Back up regularly. Verify that everything is working right, especially with beta software, and the Trog Bar IS currently beta software. Odds are very high that this advice will one day save your data from something not related to the Trog Bar.

Are there any limits to the database size?

Outlook has known reliability issues with its .PST files once they start exceeding 1.5 GB in size. Trog Bar depends on the Outlook database, so you need to keep the .PST file at a reasonable size. Delete or archive old data to other files. If you need help with this, get some TRO Tech Support time. Our techs can remote in to your computer and set it up quickly while you watch.

Click Here for Other Trog Bar Support Options