Error 1912: Your Computer has been Removed from the Data Sharing Network
What happens when my computer doesn't synchronize during the data retention period?
Instructions for Re-Adding a Computer to your Data Sharing Network

ChurchTrac stores new and updated data on your data sharing server for 21 days (although you can change this data retention period when you set up your data sharing network). This means that each computer must connect to the server and synchronize every 21 days or less in order to stay active in the network. The following instructions will guide you through re-adding one or more computers to your network after they have gone past the data retention period.
 

How do I re-add my computer to the data sharing network?

Note: If all of the computers in your data sharing network are getting error 1912 or have not synchronized during the data retention period, then skip down to the second section of this article (Step A below).

Let's suppose one of your computers (we'll call it Computer Z) does not synchronize within the 21 day data retention period. ChurchTrac automatically removes Computer Z from your data sharing network. You can re-add Computer Z to your network by following these steps:

1. Open the data sharing screen in ChurchTrac on Computer Z and click the "Synchronize Now" button. This will upload any new or updated information on Computer Z to the server so that it is not lost. ChurchTrac will still prompt you with Error 1912, saying that this computer has been removed from the data sharing network. Click OK.
    
2. Make sure ChurchTrac has the most recent program updated installed by clicking on "Check for Updates" under the Welcome tab. If an update is available, install it now.
   
   YOU SHOULD ALSO DOUBLE-CHECK to make sure that the Date/Time is set correctly on your computer. If the date is set incorrectly, then these instructions may not work to fix the problem, or the problem may be encountered again. You can check to make sure the date/time is set correctly by clicking or double-clicking on the clock in the lower right-corner of your screen.
   
   Note: In addition to Steps 3-5 below, you can also reset error 1912 by creating a backup of a data file from a computer that is able to successfully synchronize, and by restoring that backup file on the computer that is encountering error 1912. Use this method if it is easier for you, or when the steps below do not resolve the problem. If you choose the backup/restore method, there's no need to continue to Steps 3-5 below.
    
3. Make a note of the location of your data file. In ChurchTrac, click on Utilities, then click "Data File". This screen will display full path to the location of the data file on your computer.
   
   
   After making a note of your Data file's location, close ChurchTrac. Click on Start and use Computer (or My Computer) to browse for and find your ctdata file. Rename this file to ctdata_old.
    
4. After renaming the data file in the previous step, open ChurchTrac. The program will prompt you to create a new data file or browse for an existing file. Click the button to Create a New Data File (do not choose the option to Browse for an existing file).
   
   
   NOTE: If you do not see the above image displayed when you open ChurchTrac, then you did not rename the correct data file. Go back to Step 3 and try again.
    
5. After ChurchTrac creates a new data file, go to the Data Sharing Settings screen (under the Utilities tab) and click the Synchronize Now button. ChurchTrac will automatically re-add this computer to the data sharing network.

What happens if ALL of the computers in my data sharing network have gone past the Data Retention Period?

If every computer in your network has gone past the data retention period (every computer is getting error 1912), then your data sharing server must be reset using the instructions below. If ALL the computers in your data sharing network have gone past the data retention period, follow these steps:

1. First, locate the computer that has the most up-to-date data. This becomes your new "Computer A". The data on the other computers will be discarded and replaced with the data on Computer A, so choose carefully.
    
2. Be sure the most recent program update is installed on Computer A. These steps may not work unless the most recent update is installed.
    
3. Open ChurchTrac, click on Utilities and open the Data Sharing Settings screen. Click the "Advanced Data Sharing Options" button.
    
4. On the Advanced Data Sharing Options window, click on the button to "Reset Your Data Sharing Server". Click Yes, then type the word YES when prompted.
    
5. Next, click the button to "Reset the data file's Last Sync Date". When prompted, choose Yes. This will remove the time stamp of your last synchronization and prompt you to restart ChurchTrac.
    
6. When you re-open ChurchTrac, click the Synchronize Now button. This will re-setup your server and add this computer back to your network.
    
7. DO NOT REPEAT THESE STEPS to re-add another computer to your network. Instead, jump to the top of this page and perform only steps 2 through 5 (NOT STEP 1) on each of the other computers in your data sharing network.