VariQuest™ Design Center 1000 and Design Center Software 1.2a Frequently Asked Questions

Design Center 1000

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Q. Is the Design Center all inclusive?
A. Yes! It contains 5 USB ports, hard drive, monitor, CD-RW/DVD ROM, etc.

Q. Is there a significant difference between using the Design Center and running Design Center software on a regular PC?
A. Yes! The touch screen is easy to use, does not take up a lot of valuable space and will not tieup schools IT resources. Also, the DC1000 comes pre-loaded with all the necessary product drivers and software application to run the VariQuest products. It’s ready to go right out of the box! Any user can approach the touch screen without having to log on to a computer and begin using the software.

Q. Can I load Microsoft Office software on the Design Center?  Can I load Microsoft Office Publisher software? Corel?
A. It is possible to load Microsoft Office software and other programs on theDesign Center. In order to ensure optimal performance; however, our software engineering team recommends that to you do not.Design Center software and its accompanying templates have been developed to work specifically with VariQuest products.

Q. Do I need to shut down my Design Center every night?
A. No. You may leave theDesign Center on continuously during regular usage. It is recommended to power down the system when not using for an extended period of time.

Q. Do we recommend using a surge protector?
A. Yes! As with any valuable electronic components, this is strongly recommended for all VariQuest products. Surge protectors are inexpensive and readily available.

Q. What temperature ranges can this product withstand?
A. Operating environment: 41° to 104°F.
Storage environment: - 4° to 140° F.

Q. What if I own an early version of the 3000 Series PosterPrinter that only has a parallel port and not USB, can I still connect this to the Design Center? Are special drivers needed since it’s not USB?
A. A ProImage^® Plus3000 or XL3000 PosterPrinter with a parallel port will work with theDesign Center. TheDesign Center has a parallel port and supports a parallel connection. No special drivers are needed for this connection.

You will need to configure the port by accessing the Printers and Faxes section of the Control Panel and following the steps to setup a parallel connection. Installation instructions are included with the Design Center Software 1.2 CD. Then, the PosterPrinter being installed (XL3000 or Plus3000) will need to be selected in the Workroom Assistant Tab.

Q. How do I load digital photos into the Design Center?
A. Photos from digital cameras can be saved to a USB device (flash drive, thumb drive, pen drive, etc) or burned onto a CD, then easily plugged into the USB port located in the front of theDesign Center. The files can be accessed within theDesign Center software by selecting "Find My Own Graphic".

Please see the Design Center User’s Guide link for supported file types; the most common are supported.

Q. How do I import photos from a CD (such as student photos) to the Design Center?
A. Load the CD into the CD/RW drive in the front of theDesign Center. When the files launch, save to a folder created on the Desktop (this will be the easiest place to locate later). The files can be accessed within theDesign Center software by selecting "Find My Own Graphic" and browsing to the location of your saved files.

Q. How do you import my own graphics such as our school mascot?  Does it matter if the graphics are full color or black and white?
A. Please follow the same procedure as outlined in the previous questions. For optimum quality output, the mascot file should be black and white or grayscale. Color mascot files may not produce desired results.

Q. What happens when I purchase additional VariQuest products after I have initially set-up my Design Center?
A. It is recommended that you perform a software upgrade each time you add additional components. This will ensure the latest database of content and software updates.

Q. How can I tell what drive I am using on the Design Center?
A. C = Hard Drive; D =CD Drive; E =Flash Drive. If you are connected to the network, the drives that are available to you also appear. (Note – drives may be different when using your own PC.)

Q. Can I print 8 ½ x 11 originals to a desktop printer from the Design Center? Is it plug and play or do I need to load special drivers?
A.You will need to follow the Windows “Add New Printer” wizard when installing a desktop or laser printer. Once installed, it will appear in the “Output Devices” section located in the Workroom Assistant tab.

Design Center Software 1.2a

Q. Is Design Center Software v1.2 compatible with Windows operating system?
A. Yes!Design Center Software v1.2 is compatible with Windows 2000 operating system and Windows XP operating system. It is not compatible with Windows Vista operating system at this time.

Q. Can we load Design Center Software v1.2 on each teacher’s computer?
A. Yes! The software license allows you to installDesign Center Software 1.2 on multiple computers located at your school site. Advantages include being able to print 8 ½” x 11” documents to use with the scan-to-print feature of the Poster Maker and ability to view all the available content. At this time, VariQuest devices are not able to print or cut over the network.

Q. Can I convert all of my saved GalaRio files into my new Design Center Software 1.2?
A. It is not possible to convert your GalaRio files.

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