Calibration Control: https://www.apesoftware.com/calibration-control
Learn how to download Calibration Control using each of the three major internet browsers and then install on a fresh Windows 11 computer.
On any page of the website, hover over the Calibration Control menu item until it expands. Then select ‘Free Download’. This menu option is in red so it should be easy to find. If you don’t already have an account, select the Sign-Up link at the bottom of the Log In dialog to create a free account.
Most of the browser default download locations lead to your computer’s download folder. You can find the main Download folder by clicking on the yellow File Explorer icon (usually in your taskbar) and then selecting Downloads from the Navigation Pane.
If it seems like your downloads are working but you still can’t find the install file that you’re downloading, it’s possible that your IT department may have security procedures implemented that automatically delete files downloaded from the Internet. Therefore, if you can’t find the downloaded file, check with your IT group for assistance and tell them what you’re trying to do.
Starting Calibration Control
MS Access
Choosing [MS Access], you’re given the options of creating a new Blank database, a new Sample database, or navigating to an existing Calibration Control database somewhere on your computer or wider network. The only difference between a Blank and Sample database is that the Sample database has sample records in it that help you better visualize how the program is used.
For now, lets choose the Sample database and then select the [Continue] button. If you see a Missing Drivers message, click [No] and restart the program. It’s still possible that you may not need to install those drivers. In the case of this fresh Windows 11 virtual machine, restarting Calibration Control does not display the driver message. At this point, we have successfully downloaded, installed, and minimally configured Calibration Control to use MS Access and run on this computer.
Minimum Requirements
On the other hand, if drivers are required, you can download those drivers from links on the Minimum Requirements page of the Ape Software website. Get to this page by clicking [Yes] on the Missing Drivers message or by visiting the Ape website, hovering over the Calibration Control menu, and selecting Minimum Requirements.
Note that choosing SQL Server as your database format does not require the use of MS Access database drivers.
SQL Server
If you want to start Calibration Control like it’s the first time you’re starting it, hold down the [Ctrl] key while clicking on the program icon and you’ll be presented with the Choose Database Format dialog.
This time let’s choose SQL Server. In the Choose SQL Database dialog, you’re presented with three options:
SAMPLE DB in Cloud: The [SAMPLE DB in Cloud] option is a database of the current version of Calibration Control hosted by Ape Software in the Cloud. This is a good option to choose if you do not yet wish to setup you own SQL Server. This is also a good option to confirm you are not blocked from connecting to a database in the Cloud. Specifically, connect to this database to confirm that your database port 1433 is not blocked. If you can connect to this SAMPLE DB, then Ape Software can host your custom database allowing you to access your data from anywhere in the world you have a good internet connection.
BLANK DB in Cloud: If you choose the second option, [BLANK DB in Cloud], you’ll receive an instructional message telling you what information we need to setup your blank cloud DB. Note that you can choose this option even if you are only using the software in trial mode. Before choosing this option, make sure your first connect to the SAMPLE DB in Cloud (that’s the above option) to ensure you can connect to it a cloud DB.
CUSTOM DB: Choose the last option of [CUSTOM DB] if you already have a SQL Server DB setup and ready to go and you have the credentials to connect. You can find a backed up copy of a sample SQL Server DB (2016 or higher) in the SQL Tools folder of the Program Files Folder for Calibration Control. Here again is the default folder location:
C:Program Files (x86)Ape SoftwareCalibration ControlSQL Tool