I opened a back up of my database but I cannot enter any data. What should I do to be able to fill data in?
Any database you open using the "File - Open Database" menu item is opened in read-only mode. This allows you to browse data and generate tables. The data modifications are possible only for the default (master) database. If you would like to replace the default database with a backup, please use the "File - Restore database" menu item. (CRF Reporter User Manual, 3.1. "Getting started" and 3.2. "Administer CRF Reporter").

1.2 Database password protected

Why is the CRF Reporter database locked by password? How do I open the database?
The database is saved by a password, because any unauthorized data changes may cause data loss or data integrity and consistency problems. If you need to view the data directly in the database, you can use the option "Save as without password" from the "File" menu. Then you will be able to open that database in MS Access, but it will not be possible to use it later in the CRF Reporter.

1.3 Database and CRF Reporter (different versions)

When I try to restore an old database, I get an error message saying - "Cannot restore data base with different versions".  

The reason why the CRF Reporter does not restore the selected database is that the version of the database is different from the version of the CRF Reporter installed on your computer. Should you have version 3.0 installed on your computer, you will be able to work with version 3.0 databases. To open/restore any database whose version is prior to version 3, you will need to install the CRF Reporter version corresponding to the one of the databases you are trying to open/restore on another computer.

2 Country specific settings

2.1 Agriculture (Options A and B)

We have selected Option A from the Country Specific Setting section for Agriculture. Why are both options (A and B) present in the generated CRF tables even though  there is nothing entered for option B? Is this normal?
The situation you described reflects expected behaviour. In line with the CRF template, the CRF tables present both options (A and B). Relevant cells will be filled in with data according to the option you selected.

3 Entering data

3.1 Grey cells

I would like to insert data in to the CRF Reporter but some cells are coloured grey and I cannot enter values. What should I do?
Cells may have a grey background when Activity Data has not been specified. To enter the activity data description, click on "(specify)" twice; and select the proper description or type in the necessary entry.
Another possible reason for cells to be grey (blocked for editing) is that a formula has been disabled at a higher level. Should this be the case, you need to go one level up in the navigation tree and identify the "parent" cell in the data grid. It should be coloured either grey or orange. If it is grey then you need to go higher in the hierarchy until you find an orange cell. Right mouse click on the orange cell and, from the context-sensitive menu, select the "Enable aggregation for cell data" menu item. This will turn the colour of the cell to green meaning that it is now an auto-calculated cell. The child cells will also turn from grey to green or white (editable).

3.2 Green cells

I would like to edit a value that is on an aggregated level and marked as green due to specifics of my country. What should I do?
You need to disable aggregation for that cell by selecting the item "Disable aggregation for cell data" from the cell context menu (available by selecting the cell and right clicking the mouse). For further information, please refer to the CRF User Manual, 5.2.1.6. "Disabling Aggregation".

3.3 Notation Keys in Activity Data

I noticed over the last couple of days that I have been unable to insert NO (not occurring) into the Activity Data. What are the possible reasons for this?
There are a number of input validation rules for NO/NA. From the described situation, it seems that you have numerical values in the emissions rows; therefore CRF Reporter does not allow you to enter NO in the Activity Data for consistency reasons.

3.4 Unit selection (1.AB)

I am having trouble selecting the correct units for imports, production, exports, etc. for other bituminous coal under the reference approach. The software does not allow me to select tonnes or TJ.
In category 1.AB, when a unit is already set, the drop down list offers only the reduced choice with units of the same nature. If you select the blank choice at the bottom of the drop down list then next time you hit the selection box the drop down list will give you all possible unit choices.

3.5 Propagation in Allocation

Additional information e.g. in 1.AD.1 data grid associated CO2 emissions propagates through the full time-series when a value is entered. Typed in value was only actually entered into one cell.
This is normal behaviour by design. The idea behind it is that the allocation is expected to be consistent throughout all the years.

3.6 Multiple recalculation explanations

Sector 1A Fuel combustion will have entirely new values to the whole time-series. How should we deal with the recalculation explanations? Do we have to fill in the explanation to all cells individually? How can we propagate the explanations? On which level are the recalculation explanations mandatory?
In this case, the most convenient way to enter recalculation explanations is to run the recalculation check for the full time series and, starting from the first year, fill in the relevant cells as required. In order to propagate the provided explanations to the following years, click the " Copy explanation to selected years" button. Recalculation explanations are required only for the emissions of the main GHGs (CO2, CH3, N2O, PFCs, HFCs, SF6) at the level of sector/ subsector as defined in Table 8(a). The following color codes are used in the recalculation check window: White - optional, because it is not present in Table8b; Yellow - mandatory, present in Table8b but no explanation provided; Green - explanation provided.

3.7 Recalculation explanations

If the identified recalculation is not a true recalculation, for example, due to the use of the software for the first time and the values provided in the software were not correct, how should the user reflect this without necessarily providing an explanation text for every instance where this occurs?
Recognizing that this situation is arising due to the initial use of the software, and the recalculation explanations requested by the software are intended to allow the user to report explanations for those instances of true recalculations as required in accordance with the UNFCCC Reporting Guidelines on Annual Inventories, it is acceptable for users to simply provide an explanation in the documentation box for Table8a (accessible under the cross-cutting node "Recalculation"). The user may wish to provide a generic explanation addressing these instances and copy such explanation to the documentation boxes of all relevant years. The explanations however should be clear as to why (e.g. data provided with installation was incorrect for categories ...... ) and in any case the user should report explanations in accordance with the UNFCCC Reporting Guidelines in instances of true recalculations.

3.8 Recalculation panel missing

I changed an emission value in a year that was previously submitted and I would like to enter explanation for that. Why I do not see the recalculation explanation panel?
The recalculation explanation appears only for main gases emissions (CO2, CH3, N2O, PFCs, HFCs, SF6). If the recalculation panel does not appear even for those gases, then check in the Help->About window that path to recalculation database is not empty. If it is empty then Select the "Submission - Select recalculation base" menu item and select the recalculation database, which was sent to you by your National Inventory Compiler. If the recalculation panel is still invisible, please verify that resizing the datagrid and the chart panels has not minimized it.

3.9 Percentage of DOC (6.A.1)

In table 6.A.1. we have reported DOC degraded in Gg in the previous submissions. The CRF Reporter is asking for %. Is that correct,and if so, % of what?
Our understanding is that DOC degraded (%) means the result of the product of the fraction of degradable organic product (DOC) in MSW and the fraction degradable organic product dissimilatable under anaerobic conditions (DOCf). That is: CRF cell (%) = DOC (%) * DOCf(%). However, you may wish to clarify this with the IPCC National Greenhouse Gas Inventories Programme Technical Support Unit (http://www.ipcc.ch/about/secret.htm).

3.10 SF6 actual emissions (2.F.9)

Why in "Other (please specify)" category it is not possible to enter data?
It is not possible to enter values directly in "Other (please specify)" categories because all the cells in it are formula-based. You need to add a country-specific category (-ies) under 2.F.9 and then you will be able to enter the necessary information.

4 Installation

4.1 Errors 31 and 1926

I have tried to install the data files on the net drive, but I got the following errors: Error 1926 saying "Could not set security for the directory..." and Error 31 asking to "Verify sufficiency of privileges...."
The CRF Reporter was designed to be standalone software therefore neither the software nor the related databases can be installed on a shared drive. In order to share your data with other colleagues, please use the export/import functions. This function is explained in the User Manual, under the section 5.4 "Data Exchange".

4.2 Error 1720

CRF Reporter Installer run from setup.exe fails with error message: Error 1720. There is a problem with this Windows Installer Packge. A script required for this install to complete could not be run. Contact your support personnel or package vendor.
This problem occurs when the setup program was started directly from the zip file. Please unzip the installation files to a new folder first and then run Setup.exe.

4.3 Run-time error 372

I'm trying to install v3.0 onto the laptop and although the CRF Reporter appears to install correctly when I attempt to run the program I get a run-time error 371: Failed to load control 'XLview' form.
It looks like you have an old version of Office Web Components (OWC) installed on your computer. You can solve this problem by running "owc10se.msi" (located inside ofin the CRF Reporter installation package which was provided to you).

4.4 Problems with access to FTP

We are having difficulties in downloading the CRF Reporter. We followed the instructions in the "party specific note", but couldn't log on the FTP site.
You should contact your IT support to verify that the FTP ports have not been closed by your network administrator. If you are unable to obtain the installation files from FTP, we could send the software installation files to you on a CD.

5 XML import/export

If you are experiencing problems with the XML import/export functions, please download and install the following Microsoft components on your computer:
1. MSXML 4.0 Service Pack 2 (Microsoft XML Core Services)
2. Microsoft Jet 4.0 SP 8
Please refer to the provided links and to your IT support, as appropriate.

5.1 XML import and aggregations

Do we need to upload aggregated values as well as their disaggregated values or does CRF recalculate aggregated values after new children values are loaded?
The CRF Reporter will do the calculations automatically after each import, so you do not need to provide values for formula-based variables.

5.2 Parsing error during import

When I try to import an XML file I get the following error report: "Parsing Error : xsi:nil attribute on element "parentUID" is invalid. in line: 17 coulmn: 30"

The CRF Reporter needs to load the XSD file from http://unfccc.int/resource/ghg/crfreporter.xsd for XML schema validation checking.
We have noted that the problem you reported can occur when no internet connection is available. We would therefore like to ask you to try to import the file again, having ensured that your computer is connected to the internet and it is online.
A personal firewall may also stop the CRF Reporter accessing the Internet to validate the XSD schema.

6 Official Submission

6.1 Acknoldgment file import

How to import the Acknowledgment file received from the secretariat relating to my 2006 GHG inventory submission?
The step-by-step procedure on how to import the Acknowledgement file is available  here (122 kB) .

6.2 Resubmission of GHG inventory

I need to submit a new version of my 2006 GHG inventory, could you please explain how to proceed?
After having imported the Acknowledgement file relating to your 2006 GHG inventory submission, should you need to resubmit your 2006 GHG inventory, simply add/modify data as needed and select the "Submission - Prepare official submission" menu item. The official submission wizard will guide you through the generation of a new version of your 2006 GHG inventory to be sent to the secretariat.

6.3 Start new submission

I tried to start a new submission but the following message appeared: "No latest accepted submission database found".
This message usually indicates that the Acknowledgment file has not been imported. Please contact the secretariat in case you have not yet received the Acknowledgement file relating your latest submission or if you had problems while importing it.

7 CRF Tables

7.1 Missing data in CRF Table 7 and CRF Table 10

I generated CRF Table 7 but some of the key categories seem to be missing.  I also noted that in CRF Table 10 some years of the time series, although present in the data grid, are missing in the excel table.
Problems in the CRF tables 7 and 10 print area set-up will be fixed in the future version of the CRF Reporter. For the time being, in order to print the full table, please select the ″View -› Page break preview″ menu item and simply drag the blue line indicating the area currently set for printing so that it will include the missing key categories or the full time-series range as appropriate.