When I attempt to log in to my Act! database, I receive a message that a "Provider cannot be found" error was returned from Act!.

Reporting4Act! uses a component of the Act! program called the Act! OLE/DB Provider to access the data in Act! databases. This error indicates that there is a problem with this Act! component. This component consists of the file actoledb.dll in the Act! program folder; generally this error message indicates that this file either does not exist, or is not registered properly with Windows. To resolve this problem, follow the instructions below.

First, verify that the actoledb.dll file exists in the Act! program folder. The default location for this folder is C:\Program Files\ACT\Act for Windows; you may have installed Act! to a different location. If the actoledb.dll file does not exist in this folder, retrieve it from your Act! installation CD. On the CD, the file is in this folder:

\ACTWG\program files\ACT\ACT for Windows

The file actoledb.dll should be copied from this folder into the Act! program folder on your machine.

Next, register this file with Windows. The method to do this differs slightly depending on your version of Windows.

Windows XP

1. Select the Run option from your Windows Start Menu.

2. In the Run window, enter this command:

    regsvr32 "C:\Program Files\ACT\Act for Windows\actoledb.dll"
   

Windows Vista / Windows 7, 8, 10

1. Click the Windows Start button.

2. Type cmd

3. The item cmd.exe should appear near the top of the Start menu. Right-click on it and choose Run as Administrator.

4. Enter this command:

    regsvr32 "C:\Program Files\ACT\Act for Windows\actoledb.dll"
   

Again, this command shows the default location for the actoledb.dll file. If you have installed Act! to another location, then modify the command accordingly. When this command is run, a message will appear indicating that the dll registration succeeded. With the actoledb.dll file in place, and the registration completed, the error message should no longer appear in Reporting4Act!.