Below are the solutions to some common issues you may experience whilst using Loxley Designer Pro.
1. I am receiving a "missing pictures" error message when trying to load a design.
2. Why can't I complete the checkout process (webpage does not load)?
3. Order will not upload
4. Slow upload of orders
1. I am receiving a "missing pictures" error message when trying to load a design.
If you are trying to load a previously saved album design, you may come across an error message indicating that your images are missing.
LDP aims to use your computer’s processing power most efficiently. When you design pages, your files are not saved as part of that album; instead there is a link to the files’ location on your computer, e.g. if your image IMG_001 is located in My Pictures/Folder A, then LDP will use that path to display the designed page, and not the original JPEG. This ensures your computer does not have to cope with a multitude of large JPEGs, allowing it to run faster and more smoothly.
If you receive the warning message, this means that the files are no longer at the original location or have been renamed to something new.
Selecting ‘Find Pictures’ allows you to browse to the missing files’ new location.
Select the first missing picture from the list. The original location will be listed at the foot of the window. At this stage you can return the files to their original location OR rename the files to the original name.
Alternatively, click the ‘Update’ button & browse to the location where the image now resides. If the rest of the images are in the same folder you should be prompted to update the rest of the files.
2. Why can't I complete the checkout process (webpage does not load)?
Back to top
If you have completed your design, you then proceed to the checkout section. This is web based and will appear once the start button is clicked at the disclaimer stage. If you are not taken to the web page, this can due to a few different factors.
Default Web Browser
The most common cause is the default web browser for your computer has not been detected.
On a PC:
- Navigate to your ‘Control Panel’ followed by ‘Internet Options’
- Select the ‘Programs’ tab
- Click the ‘Make Default’ button under the ‘Default web browser’ heading
On Mac:
- Open Safari (Applications \ Safari)
- Click on ‘Safari’ in the menu bar
- Click on ‘Preferences’
- If it is not already selected, click on the ‘General’ tab
- Near the top of the window, there will be a drop down menu with text on the side that says ‘Default Web Browser’. Select this menu and click on the web browser you want to enable as the default. Selecting Safari might be the most reliable option
Firewall
A firewall could also block LDP’s access to the internet. Browse to the application/program list within the firewall and ensure LDP is allowed full inbound/outbound access to the Internet.
Pop-Up Blocker
A pop-up blocker may be in use and is blocking access to the checkout facility. Make sure any such application is disabled or amended to allow the LDP software full access. Internet Explorer has its own pop-up blocker incorporated into the browser, which can be disabled by selecting: Tools/Pop-up Blocker/Turn off Pop-up Blocker.
3. Order will not upload
Back to top
When you have completed your design and progressed through the checkout facility, you should be prompted to save or upload the order. If you choose to upload the files, the software will automatically connect to our server and begin upload via FTP.
If the order does not progress at all, this indicates something is blocking the transmission, which could be your computer’s firewall. To counteract this, make sure that you only have one firewall active, e.g. if you are Windows based and have an aftermarket firewall such as Norton 360, McAfee or AVG Enterprise, then ensure the Windows firewall is deactivated.
Next, check that LDP is allowed full Internet access within the firewall’s settings. The firewall should have a program section where all the programs that require Internet access are listed. It will state whether or not each program is allowed Internet access, and can be amended to suit. LDP requires full inbound & outbound access.
4. Slow upload of orders
Back to top
A few things can influence Internet transmission speeds. Broadband, by its very nature, is asymmetric meaning the upload speed is a fraction of the download speed. You may not realise this and expect your order to send much quicker than it actually will.
Each Internet user is also subject to a contention ratio, which varies from ISP to ISP. This means that you may share the connection to your local exchange with a certain number of users. If they were all to be online at the same time as you, then your speeds would decrease. This is why the Internet operates at higher speeds through the night (off-peak), as there are fewer users online.
The size of the individual files will affect the overall upload time of an order. Before you create a design, it would be worthwhile assessing how large an image is to be printed. The files can then be resized to a more appropriate size which will decrease the time an order takes to upload.