Can I still use the Mark 1 version of HAL?

HAL's Race Results Mk.1 was based on the Microsoft Access database management software. The last Mk.1 version was 8.19 released in 2008. HAL Mk.1 has been superseded by the Mk.2 version.

HAL Mk.2 is completely compatible with HAL Mk.1. You can load an archive file made with Mk.1 into the Mk.2 program. All your data will transfer across. There is no backwards compatibility, though. HAL Mk.2 cannot make archive files that can be read into HAL Mk.1.

If you have HAL Mk.1 loaded on your computer you can, of course, continue to use it. But the author can no longer support it and will not develop it further. If your club is committed to using Mk.1 and wants to put it onto a new computer that is possible, but it may not work correctly with versions of Microsoft Access after the 2003 release. To install the Mk.1 version do the following:

1. Determine whether your computer has Microsoft Access. If it does and it is either the 2000 or 2003 version, proceed to step 2.
   • If you do not have Microsoft Access, install the free runtime version of Access 2000.
   • If you have an earlier version of Microsoft Access than 2000, consider either upgrading it to 2000 or 2003, or uninstalling it and installing the free runtime version as above. Note that the free runtime version will not work with any existing Microsoft Access applications you have other than HAL Mk.1.
   • If you have a later version of Microsoft Access than 2003 you can try installing HAL Mk.1 as in step 2, but it may behave erratically. Otherwise, if you have no other use for Microsoft Access, you can uninstall it and install the free runtime version as above.
2. Download the HAL Mk.1 installation file and run it.

If you are still using HAL Mk.1 you should definitely consider changing to HAL MK.2 at a convenient time in your club's sailing calendar. The Mk.2 program has all the capabilities of Mk.1 and a lot more and you can transfer your data without losing anything.