BOATING COURSE ASSISTANT PROGRAM
Boating Course Assistant
Program by: P/D/C J. Kenneth Guscott, ITCOM BCA700 version 7.0.9 fixes several minor issues which if standing alone would not have warranted an update, but together they do. BCA is a program designed to help with the management of the USPS public boating courses and seminars.
Major Features:
Include any State examination as part of course.
Print certificates and wallet cards.
Print ED-26 headers
Print a correct answer overlay on the ED-26.
Print PWC endorsement labels
Print Membership Application Form partially filled.
Keep database of student information by course (ED-46)
Calculate student examination score.
Perform a missed question analysis
Compile course statistics.
Make course reports using course statistics:
Keep attending staff in the database.
Make merit mark recommendations for attending staff.
DB2000 compatibility to simplify squadron data entry.
Export / import class data between computers.
Export student data as Excel® compatible CSV file.
Email students from BCA to advise of course changes.
Upload / Download class data with USPS web site.This program is for USPS use only. It is not at all useful for the general public.
Important Note: If you are a previous BCA user, do not uninstall your BCA6 version of BCA. BCA7 is incompatible with the BCA6 database and you will need it to retain access to your old data. Version 7.0.8 will be installed in it's own folder "BCA700". The install program will also update previous versions of BCA7.
Important: Always "save" the file to a folder on your computer that is unrelated to BCA and then run it locally. A website issue will not allow the "run" option to work properly.
Important: We have been getting reports that in Windows 7 and vista the install may raise an exception concerning the file "msscript.ocx". If this occurs just dismiss the message with no action and let the install continue. If when running BCA7 after install you get a script control error do this:
1. Right click the BCA7 desktop icon
2. Click "properties"
3. Select "compatibility"
4. Check "run this program as an administrator"
5. Click on "apply"
Also, select select for Windows XP compatibility.Download BCA700_Install.exe (ver. 7.0.9 10MB)
Release date January 4, 2013Recent changes made to BCA in response to HQ changes in reporting. BCA 6.7.9 to BCA 7.0.0:
1. Supports only ABC 3 public boating courses.
2. Supports only official USPS seminars.
3. Simplified communication with USPS web server:
BCA700 is intended to be used from new class start to finish.
a.) Register the new class with HQ.
b.) Download students that signed up on line.
c.) When complete upload class result. Upload is now a one click procedure, no hunting for files to upload and HQ makes the necessary form submissions. (ED-26 and ED-27)
The communications interface also supports adopting online registered classes and students for the purpose of printing certificates. Such classes may be completed in BCA or the results may be manually posted on line.4. The membership application form now complies with recent changes in membership rules
Version 7.0.3 cleans up several website communications glitches. It provides a means to sign certificates with graphics made from a font.
Version 7.0.4 adds the means of reporting class results to "Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission" for the purpose of their issuing "Florida States Safe Boating Education Cards". This csv file is compatible with the FFWCC' Excel template.
Version 7.0.5 ensures compatibility with the USPS website regarding examination scoring.
Version 7.0.6 Allows additional and State Law questions to be included or excluded at any time after defining and starting the class.
Version 7.0.7 Identical to 7.0.6 except that email correspondence to "Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission" has been amended.
Version 7.0.8 Fixes several minor issues raised by users. It addresses some security related problems posed by Windows User Account Control and anti-virus programs.
Version 7.0.9 Fixes several minor issues raised by users.
Sometimes at workshops an overview of BCA as a PowerPoint® presentation is useful. This version has been updated to BCA 6.5.4. While having major communication differences with BCA7, other operations are sufficiently similar to be useful as an instruction tool. This will be updated soon.
Download BCA_PPT.zip(2.3 MB)
Date March 16, 2008Using BCA with DB2000 will greatly improve it's squadron data retrieval capabilities including personnel data. It requires a password to download a roster file. This may be obtained from your squadron commander.
Download DB2000 from the linked website.
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