Answer:  Your computer is probably running an old version of the Windows 95 operating system (Windows 95A or earlier). Make sure that your computer's operating system is Microsoft Windows 95 with OSR2 (Windows 95B) or better, Windows 98, or Windows 95  NT 4.0 with Service Pack 3 or 4.  To check which operating system is running, right-mouse-click on the "My Computer" icon and select "Properties."  After clicking on the "General" tab, look at the "System" information which contains the operating system and its release version. If your computer is running Windows 95A, you need to upgrade to a newer release of Windows 95 or to Windows 98.

Some computers produce an error message associated with the file MSVCRT.DLL the first time Working Model is launched.  If you did not reboot after installing the product (as suggested by the installer), reboot and try again.  If the problem persist, then you probably have an outdated and read-only version of this file.  This file cannot be read-only as the Working Model View installer needs to overwrite this file if it is outdated.  To find this file, click on "Start", then "Find" then "Files or Folders".  In the dialogue box, enter the file name MSVCRT.DLL and look for the file on your hard-drive(s).  There may be several occurrences of this file.  Right-mouse-click on the occurrence of this file associated with the Windows "System" directory.  Select "Properties" and make sure the attribute "Read-only" is not checked.  If it is, uncheck it and reinstall Working Model View from the CD (there is no need to reinstall other components).  Reboot and launch Working Model View again.  This problem should disappear.
 

2. When I start Working Model or load a Working Model file, I see a black screen. What's the problem and how do I fix it?

Answer:  This black screen phenomenon occurs because your video card or video card's software drivers has a bug that will not allow GL rendering.  Working Model View and other sophisticated visualization tools, e.g., CAD programs, require GL rendering. There are a number of ways to fix the problem.

a. Update the video card's software drivers. To find the required drivers, check the brand of video card installed in your computer.  This check can be done by right-mouse-clicking on a blank part of the background of your computer's screen, selecting "Properties",  clicking on the "Settings" tab, and reading the video card's manufacturing information. After obtaining the manufacturer's web site or phone number, get the new video drivers (you can usually download them for free from the company's website) and install them on your computer.  Installing video drivers is not trivial, so you may want to ask your system administrator to obtain and install the video card driver software for you.

b. Change the number of on-screen colors (usually to a higher number of colors, although lower may work in certain circumstances). To change the number of colors, right-mouse-click on a blank part of the background of your computer's screen, select "Properties",  click on the "Settings" tab, select the pull down arrow that controls the number of colors displayed on your computer screen.  As needed, follow the on-screen instructions.

c. Minimize Working Model View and then re-open it (click on the minimized icon of Working Model View on the toolbar).  This insignificant operation can somtimes circumvent the bug in your video card.

d. Under Working Model's file menu, select close, open a different file, close that one, reopen the first file. This seemingly senseless operation can somtimes circumvent the bug in your video card.

e. Install a new video card with more than 4MB of video memory and bug-free GL rendering.
 

3. The icons in Working Model View are not showing up correctly. How do I fix that?

Answer:  Icon associations are made when Working Model View is launched for the first time. To ensure that icons show up correctly, restart the computer to make sure the Registry is updated. If the problem persists, increase the number of colors displayed on your computer screen.To change the number of colors, right-mouse-click on a blank part of the background of your computer's screen, select "Properties",  click on the "Settings" tab, select the pull down arrow that controls the number of colors displayed on your computer screen.  As needed, follow the on-screen instructions.
 

4. Why does Working Model View take such a long time to start when I am viewing a Working Model file from the Microsoft Internet Explorer browser?

Answer:  Because of bugs in Internet Explorer, Working Model View has a long idle period before opening a Working Model file from within Internet Explorer. To avoid this long delay, click on IE Jump Start which is located on the left-side frame of StartHere.html.  You will be prompted to open or save a file, select open.  After doing this once, you should experience no more delays in opening Working Model View files in Microsoft Internet Explorer.

5. After opening a Working Model file, how do I run it?

Answer:  Either click on the green play button at the bottom left of the Working Model Window or press F5 on the keyboard. The other simulation buttons at the bottom can also stop, rewind, fast-forward, reverse one frame at a time, or advance one frame at a time.
 

6. My Working Model file no longer gives me the answers found in the Beer & Johnston textbook. What's the problem?

Answer:  You may have inadvertently changed and saved the file. To restore the file to its "correct" state, copy the original .wm3 file from the Exercises folder on the CD.
 

7. When I am manipulating a slider within a Working Model file, I am confined to a set of preset values. How do I input a nonpreset number, e.g., 3.5678?

Answer:  To enter the numerical value of your choice, highlight the current number displayed in the edit box on the left-hand-side of the slider and input the number you want.
 

8. How do I change the view of my Working Model file?

Answer:  View options are located on the Working Model toolbar or under the View menu. Alternately, shortcuts to various views are also available. For example, to pan, click on the pan tool or press F2 and move your mouse. To zoom, click on the zoom tool or press F3 and move your mouse. To rotate, click on the rotate tool or press F4 and move your mouse. Double-clicking on a view icon, e.g., the zoom icon, allows you to do multiple zooms without having to click on the zoom icon multiple times (click on the arrow/pointer icon to then disable zoom).
 

9. After I change my perspective, how do I return to a previous view?

Answer:  Select "Previous View" from the View menu. This can be done as many times as you would like to find any of your previous views. Also, you can define a particular perspective as "Home" by selecting "Set Home" from the View menu. Subsequently you can see this "Home" perspective by selecting "Go Home" from the View menu.
 

10. Why did some or all of my objects disappear when I changed my view?

Answer:  When an object is too close or too far from the screen, Working Model's camera clipping plane removes part or all of the object from the computer screen's display. To fix it, select "Previous View" from the View menu and keep selecting "Previous View" until the object reappears.
 

11. When I resize the Working Model window, the text on the screen no longer aligns. What is wrong?

Answer:  Nothing is wrong. Text is floating permanently on the screen and alignment is lost when the window is rescaled.
 

12. Can I write notes on the Working Model file?

Answer:  Yes, you can write notes or reminders on the demo. Select "Annotation" from the Insert menu, click on the screen where you want the text, and enter the text you want. You can also change the color, font, size, and other formats of the text.
 

13. I cannot seem to find an input slider in a Working Model file. Where is it?

Answer:  The slider is probably "off" your computer screen because of your computer video resolution. As mentioned earlier, the Working Model files were designed for a resolution of 800 x 600. If you choose a lower resolution for your monitor, it is possible that the sliders are off the screen. To "retrieve" the sliders, set your monitor to a higher resolution (800 x 600 or above).
 

14. Why do Working Model files run slower on my computer than on my friend's?

Answer:  Working Model's speed depends on your computer hardware, e.g., processor speed, RAM, video card RAM, hard drive speed, and free hard disk space.