Chapter 10 Visual Fortran Technical Support

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This chapter contains the following sections:

• 10.1, Overview of Technical Support
• 10.2, Types of Technical Support
• 10.3, Guidelines for Reporting Problems

10.1 Overview of Technical Support

For information about Visual Fortran, including availability of new releases and the location of service update kits, you can access the Compaq Fortran home page with a Web browser at:

http://www.compaq.com/fortran 

If you have questions related to the use or installation of Visual Fortran or the visual development environment, including the installation of the IMSL libraries, consult the printed and online documentation provided before you contact Compaq technical support.

For specific questions about the use of IMSL library routines (not related to installation or the use of Visual Fortran), first carefully read Using the IMSL Mathematical and Statistical Libraries in the online Programmer's Guide before you contact Visual Numerics, Inc.

10.2 Types of Technical Support

The following types of Visual Fortran technical support are available:

• E-mail support

Visual Fortran e-mail support is available worldwide in English as a free service. The length of time to answer your questions will vary. For example, a detailed problem report might require multiple days to investigate.

Compaq prefers that you use the VF Reporter tool to submit e-mail questions. See Chapter 11, Using the VF Reporter Tool.

• Paid consulting support through Compaq Services

For a description of the paid technical support options available, access the Compaq Fortran Web page at:

http://www.compaq.com/fortran 

Under the Compaq Visual Fortran heading, in the QuickSelect Page menu, choose Support.

The type of paid technical support services available from Compaq also depends on the country in which you live. You can contact your local Compaq office for information about the type of support services available in your country.

• User-to-user support on Compaq message boards

Compaq hosts a Web-based forum where users can post general questions. To use it, access the following Web page:

http://www.compaq.com/fortran/forum 

You will be prompted to register to use this service. After registering or logging in, select the Visual Fortran category.

• Visual Fortran Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) and Knowledge Base

To see these, access the Compaq Fortran Web page at:

http://www.compaq.com/fortran 

Under the Compaq Visual Fortran heading, in the QuickSelect Page menu, choose Frequently Asked Questions or Knowledge Base.

• Newsletter

All registered Visual Fortran users with a valid e-mail address will receive a periodic electronic newsletter notification.

10.3 Guidelines for Reporting Problems

If you have a problem, read the following to determine if the problem is a known problem:

• Release notes in the Visual Fortran program folder
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Knowledge Base

To report a problem, Compaq prefers that you use the VF Reporter tool. See Chapter 11, Using the VF Reporter Tool.

If you cannot use VF Reporter, see the online BUGREPRT.TXT file for information on sending a report to Compaq. The file is in the following directory:

\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\Df98 

When reporting a problem, be sure to include the following:

• The name and version number of the operating system you are using.
• The specific commands or steps used to compile and link the program. In the visual development environment, this includes the Fortran and Link tab settings from the Project menu Settings item.
• Any error messages displayed.
• Relevant detailed information (possibly including source program listings). Try to narrow the cause of the problem to a specific subprogram or lines of code.