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| Frequently Asked Questions And AnswersSee our Official Privacy Policy for additional information on how we think about your privacy.
1.0 The
30-Day Test Drive
1.1 Is the software I download for the 30-day Test Drive the same software I would get if I purchase it?Yes, there is no difference between the Test Drive and registered software in the way it functions. It’s important to us that you feel sure MileMate will meet your needs without having to purchase it first. The only option not available is to create new Garages. You must use the Sample Garage during the Test Drive. However, all the information entered during your Test Drive is stored in the Sample Garage and available if you decide to purchase MileMate. 1.2 What if 30-days just isn’t enough?You can uninstall and then reinstall MileMate for another 30-days. Unfortunately, the information you stored in the Sample Garage will be erased. The 30 days is meant as a trial period to see if MileMate includes the features you’re looking for in a vehicle maintenance product. The best approach would be to begin collecting your fill up and service receipts. When you have a substantial amount of test data, download MileMate and install it on your computer. As you enter the data, you can get a feel for some of the features and capabilities without having to wait to get your vehicle filled up, serviced, etc. 1.3 What happens after the Test Drive?MileMate will run out of gas and stop working. You’ll know this because the About screen will be the only thing displayed each time you start MileMate. You will need to purchase a MileMate Driver’s License to continue using MileMate after the 30-day Test Drive. Again, all the information entered during your Test Drive is stored in the Sample Garage and available if you decide to purchase MileMate. 1.4 Once I purchase a Driver’s License, do I need to download MileMate again?No. Just enter your Driver’s License Number in the Registration area. This will start your current copy so you can continue using MileMate. The Registration area is located under the Help menu in the About MileMate option. Press the Enter License button on the About screen to enter the Registration area. 1.5 How much does MileMate cost?MileMate comes in three exciting Trim Levels; each with the options and features you require to Master Your Vehicle Maintenance™. Each is designed to match a driver’s needs and budget. Picking the Trim Level that’s right for you will depend on the level of detail you need to track and your interest in automotive maintenance. Please see our Purchase Page for the most up-to-date pricing information. 2.0 Setting Up MileMate
2.1 When I first start MileMate, there is a screen asking me to select my Trim Level and Dashboard. What is this?Each time you start MileMate during your Test Drive, you need to select the Trim Level and Dashboard (your last selection will be loaded so you can just press the Enter key for faster startups). The Trim Level you choose CLe, DXe, or MSe (Classic, Deluxe or Master respectively) will determine the level of functionality that is loaded. With each Trim Level, there is an associated Dashboard configuration. While each succeeding Dashboard and Trim Level has more functionality, you can choose whatever Dashboard configuration suits you best. However, you can only choose the Dashboard for the Trim Level selected or lower. Make sure you watch for Dashboard changes when you combine them with different Trim Levels. For example, the DXe Dashboard, where you can only display four Reminder gauges, will allow you to see all 12 Reminders if you select the MSe Trim Level (which has access to 12 Reminders). You’ll notice little scroll bars on each side of the Reminders on the DXe Dashboard. You can use those to scroll through the Reminders. However, if you select the DXe Trim Level, which has access to only four Reminders, those scroll bars will not exist because all four Reminders are displayed. 2.2 A screen labeled “Getting Started” pops up in front of the Dashboard. When I close it and try and select something, it pops back up. What do I need to do to get rid of this screen?This screen is to help you set up MileMate. After your Test Drive, if you create a new empty Garage this screen will pop up to help you enter your data in MileMate. You can also select the Help Options under the Help menu to see this screen. It displays all the various tables that require some information. For example, MileMate must have at least one vehicle in the Garage in order to do anything. This makes sense because you can’t enter a Fill Up if you don’t have a vehicle. There are additional Check List items on the Getting Started screen, which you can use to further customize MileMate. The Getting Started screen will no longer appear once you have satisfied the basic Check List (or you can uncheck the options box). The Getting Started screen is just that, it is there to help you get started. The first Check List item will give you a brief introduction to MileMate along with useful things to know and step-by-step instructions. 2.3 I am an existing MileMate Driver, how do I get my current Garage information into MileMate 3.0?Because MileMate 3.0 was such a substantial upgrade from MileMate 2.0, you have to convert your old Garage into the new format. This is easy using the conversion utility under the Help Menu and it leaves your old Garage untouched. Start MileMate 3.0 and select the conversion utility under the Help menu. Find your old Garage using the Browse button. 2.4 Where can I get a photo of a 2000 VW Beetle, and a 2001 Acura CL Type S? I'll be tracking both and I would like to customize the rear-view mirror feature.Sorry we don't assist in supplying the photos. You might want to try searching the manufacturer's web site or the web in general. Any photo (or graphic) you find on the Web can be saved to your hard drive (right click on the graphic and choose Save As from the menu). Once it's saved to your computer, you can point MileMate to that location on your hard disk (right click on the "Rear-View Mirror" and select Change Picture from the menu). You can have one picture for each vehicle you track in MileMate. 2.5 In Phoenix, Arizona there is a gas station called Diamond Shamrock. Can you add this to the database?Most of the lists in MileMate are customizable by you. We’ve loaded the Sample Garage with a lot of useful content but they are just that, samples. If you need to add content for your particular area or needs, feel free to add as many as you like. For all lists that allow custom information, there will be an “<Add New>” item at the bottom of the list. Scroll down to the bottom and select “<Add New>.” A new screen will display allowing you to create your new content. Press the OK button and the new content will be selected in the list. If you make a mistake or would like to add more, these lists can be accessed under the Tools menu. 3.0 Using MileMate
3.1 How often should I back up my Garage?The frequency of backups depends mostly on what you would be willing to reenter should there be an “incident.” To remind you, there is an option under the Preferences menu. You can set the reminder for a specific number of elapsed days and a specific number of MileMate starts, whichever happens sooner. 3.2 On some screens, there is a little button called Manual. What the heck is that?MileMate comes with a complete Owner’s Manual that divides helpful information in to three areas: 1) Overview of the task that is currently active, 2) Step-by-Step instructions for completing the task, and 3) Specific Detailed information about a particular step. The information will change as you move around the screen so if you’ve got a question, move to that area of the screen and “check the manual.” 3.3 If one vehicle's parts, reminders, etc. are pretty much the same, how can I create them once and use it for each vehicle?Most items like this will have this capability as an option. In the individual specification screens, make sure the “Available to all Vehicles in the Garage” option is checked. In addition, once you’ve created your first Garage, you can copy this information to other Garages that you create. 3.4 I am looking around and can’t find where I enter my Warranty information?Under the Maintenance menu, select the Parts option and choose Warranty. Here you can enter warranty items that can be used on the entire vehicle, tires, parts, & reminders. 3.5 I've been entering some previous mileage information (some from about three years ago) into MileMate and the three-month average doesn't appear to be working.The function for determining your three-month average is based on your system's current date. In other words, you'll get an average for the previous three months based on today's date. So your historical averages won't start to show up until you've entered enough information to cover the last three months. 4.0 Preferences
4.1 How do I change the Dashboard so it shows in kilometers?There are a lot of features that will be automatically set to your Window’s Regional settings (such as your date format), but a good number of preferences are left for you to customize. Under the Preferences menu, select Options. On the General tab, you can switch the Distance parameter between miles, kilometers and hours. You can also customize the Fuel unit to use gallons or litres. There is an option for the European standard for calculating consumption versus the American standard. 4.2 On my MSe Dashboard, there is a warning for 24 pending reminders in the next 10,000 miles. How do I change this so it’s telling me what I need to do sooner?Under the Reminders tab in Options, you can change the Pending Reminder criteria. You can set the Pending Reminders for either time or distance. Then you can select the length of time or the total distance to calculate the Pending Reminders. 4.3 How can I change my Dashboard to show my Reminder gauges in time (rather than distance)?The Reminder gauges have both a time and distance configuration. To see one configuration or the other, select “Show in Time” or “Show in Distance” from the Preferences menu. 5.0 About Blue Sunset Software
5.1 What is Blue Sunset Software’s TLC warranty program?We believe that you should only pay once for functionality. Therefore, when you purchase MileMate with one of our Trim Levels, you are entitled to free upgrade and support for that Trim Level. When we offer completely new capabilities (not simply a better way to do an existing task), we will give you the option to pay for the additional functionality or continue to use MileMate with your currently installed capabilities. 5.2 You're getting all this information when I register my Test Drive and every once in a while, MileMate says it's sending diagnostic information to Blue Sunset. What are you doing with this information?This information allows us to monitor the field performance of MileMate. This information is used to improve and enhance future versions of MileMate. All information obtained from our Drivers is strictly confidential and kept internal. We have no intentions to release this information to anyone. Period. See our Official Privacy Policy for additional information. 5.3 Is there a use for the build information located on the About MileMate screen?Once we release a version we do not stop there. We are constantly tweaking and refining MileMate. Licensed MileMate Drivers will occasionally receive notice, via email, about a new version available for download. We always include and reference the build number. This is an internal number used to keep track of version releases. The important information is your build (located on the About MileMate screen under the Help menu) is current with our latest release. If not, you need to download and install the latest build. 5.4 Who is RegisterNow?They are also sometimes referred to as RegNow. They are the company that manages our financial transactions over the Web. Blue Sunset Software and RegNow are not linked in any way other than we buy their financial services. It’s expensive and difficult for small companies to manage the financial accounts needed to accept credit cards from customers. However, it’s an added convenience for the consumer (especially in the Web environment) so companies like RegNow have formed to fill this need. They take over the difficulty of managing these accounts and lower the cost. 5.5 What is Blue Sunset Software all about?In early 1994, our founder was sitting at a local automobile repair shop getting his oil changed. During the shops “24-Point Courtesy Check” of his 1992 Subaru SVX, they came across the air filter that needed changing. Now the air filters in the SVX run about $100 and he could not remember if it had been replaced in the past year. He thought it might have but he just wasn’t sure. The idea came to him: “Wouldn’t it be easy to be able to track the scheduled maintenance on my vehicles?” In the end, he spent the $100 and he found out it had been over a year since it had been last replaced. In fact, it was almost two years old because the air filter was still the original factory equipment from when the car was new. However, a great idea had been born. We produce excellent software. Our focus is the managing of vehicle maintenance by the consumer in a way that the software is an aid and not a hindrance to use. The first product was a complete fuel consumption and trip-tracking application. Our dream of a comprehensive vehicle maintenance application was realized early in 2002 with the release of MileMate 3.0. To be continued …
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