1.     What do I do if I can't get X-12-ARIMA to run?

If you are using the Windows interface to X-12, the first step is to check the directory structure of your computer compared to the .ini file.

If you are running Windows Vista, then I don't have any information on how to get this to work. We don't have Vista yet, and neither does the US Census Bureau, but I know that the Bureau is working on getting a computer with Vista so they can begin to look at the issue. When more information is available, I will post it on this site.

There is help available on X-12-ARIMA from the US Census Bureau by writing to the address x12a at census.gov.

2.     What do I do if I click on a spec file and I get an error about Microsoft PKCS #7 Certificates files?

Below are some tips for editing spec files by Kathleen M. McDonald-Johnson.

Some people have had trouble with spec files (extension .spc) because the file extension is already associated with Microsoft files of type PKCS #7 Certificates.

One solution is to open the text editor (NotePad, PFE, etc.) first and then open the spec file from the editor.

However, many of us find it more convenient to be able to double click on the file name in Windows Explorer. The following steps are a guide to setting up the file type.

1. Open the Windows Explorer (if you don't have a shortcut set up, you can right click on the start button and then choose Explore or you can open Programs in the Start Menu and choose the Explorer program).
2. In the Windows Explorer, click on View in the top line menu - then Options - then click on the File Types tab in the window.
3. In list of file types, scroll down to "PKCS #7 Certificates" (you can type "p" to jump to the "p" file section).
4. Highlight the PKCS #7 Certificates file type, and click on the Edit box. Verify that this file type is associated with the .spc extension. If it is not, then check the error message that you get when you double-click on spec files. You need to find the file type associated with the .spc extension to complete these steps.
5. Change the File Description if you want. For instance, use "Spec File / PKCS #7 Certificates," or leave it as it is if that will help you remember. This file type is what Explorer sorts by in the normal folder contents view when you click on "Type."
6. Click on the New... button.
7. Type the Action description in the Action box. (Some like to use Action names like "NotePad" or "WordPad." Others like to use Actions like "Open," "Edit," or "View.")
8. Choose the Application that you want to use to edit the spec files. (Most of us on the TSMS OxEdit, but you can use any text-editing program.) NotePad is usually in the Windows directory, c:\WinNT\NotePad.exe or c:\Windows\NotePad.exe. On Census computers, WordPad is usually in the Program Files\Windows NT\Accessories directory. The choice of an editing program is up to you. You can browse to find the application, or if you know exactly where the program is, you can type it into the Application box.
9. Click on Okay.
10. Highlight your new action and click on the Set Default button. Then click okay. (You can also change the icon if you have one that is more useful.)
11. It's a good idea to check that Windows has accepted the changes. To check, click Edit again. If everything is okay, click on okay. If none of the actions are bold, then highlight the one you want, and click on Set Default again, then click okay.

You can add several Actions if you think you will use different programs in different settings - you might like one program better for editing, but another program for times when you just want to view the file quickly. To access the different actions, right click on the file instead of double clicking. Make your favorite program the default so it will open when you double-click on the spec file.

You can use these steps for all the different kinds of X-12 input, output, and save files. If the file type doesn't have another program associated with it yet, you can click on New Type instead of Edit.