You should be able to download the ReStackor demo, double click the install file, enter the “ReStackor” password and run the demo.

However, there are ways to mess that up:

• Incorrect file paths
• No read/write access to the C:\ drive
• Security disabled spreadsheet macros

Common problems and fixes are shown below.

File paths

The install directory for ReStackor must be C:\ReStackor. All of the spreadsheet macros and I/O files are hardwired to work on that path. No other file path will work.

Once installed, the spreadsheets in C:\ReStackor\Excel or C:\ReStackor\OpenOffice can be copied, renamed and run from any directory on the computer.

Shim ReStackor files must be installed on the C: drive in the C:\ReStackor directory

Run from command prompt

Running ReStackor directly from a command prompt is the most direct method to diagnose problems. Missing directories, bad file formats or read/write access permissions will show up as error messages when run from the command prompt.

A ReStackor spreadsheet has to be run at least once to generate the C:\ReStackor\Work\Stack.in file read as input. If that file is missing the code won’t make it far as the first thing the code does is try and read that input file.

1. Go to “Start Menu” and type “command prompt”
2. Select “Command Prompt”
3. cd C:\ReStackor\Code (Moves command prompt to C:\ReStackor\Code working directory)
4. dir (Lists directory contents)
5. restackor.exe (Runs ReStackor code)

Running from command prompt shows file access problems

File read/write access

The C:\ReStackor directory and all of the subdirectories and files need to have User read/write access. Virus scanners may disable access requiring permissions to be manually set.

To check file access permissions:

1. Go to the C:\ReStackor directory in explorer
2. Right click (not left) on the file or folder
3. Select "Properties"
4. Select "Security"
5. Select "Authenticated Users"
6. Set "modify, Read & execute, List folder contents, Read and Write" to Allow

All files in the C:\ReStackor directory must have User read, write and execute premission

Enable spreadsheet macros

Shim ReStackor calculations and file I/O are processed through spreadsheet macros. To allow the macros to run they must be manually enabled when a spreadsheet is opened.

Click on “Enable Content” to allow the macros to run.

System permissions to execute macros must be manually enabled when opening a spreadsheet

Some computer systems disable all macros with no prompt for optional permission. If the “Enable Content” options does not appear when opening a spreadsheet you have to go deeper in the system menus to enable macros to run.

1. Click on "FILE"
2. Click on "Options"
3. Click on "Trust Center"
4. Click on "Trust Center Settings..."
5. Click on "Macro Settings"
6. Click on "Disable all macros with notification"

System menu path to enable spreadsheet macro execution

Europe Dot/Decimal

Shim ReStackor file I/O requires periods (.) for decimals and commas (,) for field separators. To setup Excel and Libre OpenOffice spreadsheets to use dots for decimals:

1. Click on the start menu and type “control panel”
2. Click on “Control Panel”
3. Under "Clock and Region” select “Change date, time, or number formats”
4. Click on “Additional settings…”
5. Set "Decimal symbol:" to . (period)
6. Set "list separator:" to , (comma)

Shim ReStackor calculations require dots for decimals and commans for field separators