The following are questions frequently asked about the Tropez program and catalog.

• 1.  General
  • 1.1  How much does the program cost?
  • 1.2  What are the system requirements?
• 2.  Installation
  • 2.1  If I install a newer version of the program or the catalog, will I lose everything I've entered?
  • 2.2  Do I have to uninstall the old version of the program before installing the newer one?
  • 2.3  Do I have to install the program every time there is a newer version of the catalog?
• 3.  Record Browser
  • 3.1  What is the record browser?
  • 3.2  How can I add/view my own images?
  • 3.3  Why can't I see my image?
  • 3.4  How can I use my image as the Sample Image?
• 4.  Adding/Modifying Item Records
  • 4.1  How do I add an item to my database?
  • 4.2  How do I remove a color I entered from the Stem Color list?
  • 4.3  I can't find an item anywhere. Can I add my own?
• 5.  List Maker
  • 5.1  How do I add more field values to the list?
• 6.  Catalog
  • 6.1  What is the catalog?
  • 6.2  How often is the catalog updated?
  • 6.3  Why do I get an error saying that the catalog is incompatible.
  • 6.4  How can I add to the catalog myself?
• 7.  Known Problems
  • 7.1  Error message: "Failed to read the catalog"

1.  General

1.1  How much does the program cost?

The program is completely free.  There will periodically be updates to the program and catalog, and these updates will also be completely free.

1.2  What are the system requirements?

To run the program, you will need to be using Windows XP/Vista/7/8/8.1/10.  To install the program and catalog, you will need approximately 1.7MB of free disk space.  If you install the optional image pack, you will need an additional 18.6MB of free disk space.  You should have at least 256 color (64K for best results) and your monitor should be set to a resolution of at least 800 x 600 (1024 x 768 for best results).

2.1  If I install a newer version of the program or the catalog, will I lose everything I've entered?

No, the data you've entered will not be lost.  All of your entries are stored in a separate file, so when you uninstall an older version of the program or the catalog only the program executable, catalog, and related help files will be removed.  Since your file is not part of the installation it will not be affected.

Yes.  If you forget to uninstall the older version, the newer version installer will tell you to uninstall the older version first.  The default installation location is "C:\Program Files (x86)\Tropez".

No, it is not always necessary to install the program whenever a new version of the catalog is available.  There are some times when there is a major change to the catalog that you will have install the latest version of the program.  Look for the note on the download page to see what the minimum version of the program is required to use the latest version of the catalog.

3.  Record Browser

3.1  What is the record browser?

The record browser is the main window of the Tropez program.  From here you can "browse" through the records of the items you have entered into the database.  You also have access to menus and buttons that provide several functions.

3.2  How can I add/view my own images?

Browse to the item for which you have an image and click the Modify button (or select Modify Current from the Record menu).  On the Modify Current Item dialog box, click on the Images tab and then click the top button on the right.  Find and select your image in the Select Image dialog box and click the Open button.  Click the Modify button.  Click the Show Image button on the toolbar (or select Image from the View menu) to display the Your Image box.  You can now view your image in the Your Image box.

3.3  Why can't I see my image?

If you have image files listed in the Images tab but your image does not appear in the Your Image box, there are two probable reasons.  First, the file may no longer be at the location specified in the Images tab.  Second, you may have the capability to view your image turned off.  To turn it back of, click the Show Image button on the toolbar (or select Image from the View menu).

3.4  How can I use my image as the Sample Image?

Browse to the item for which you have an image and click the Modify button (or select Modify Current from the Record menu).  On the Modify Current Item dialog box, click on the Images tab.  If the image you want to use is not already listed then click the top button on the right, find and select your image in the Select Image dialog box, and then click the Open button.  Click the box to the left of the image you want to use and then click the Modify button.  You image will now be displayed on the Sample Image tab.  This image will also be highlighted in red on the Images tab of the Record Browser.

4.  Adding/Modifying Item Records

4.1  How do I add an item to my database?

The first thing you need to do to add an item to your database is to click the Add button on the toolbar (or select Add New from the Record menu).  At this point the Add New Dispenser dialog box will appear.  At a minimum you will have to select a Category, Series, Sub-Series, Character, Issue, and Variation.  After you've made these selections, check the Text Description and/or Image (if available) to make sure you've selected the correct item.  Continue to enter information for any of the other fields that you want and then click the Add button.  A message box will then appear that reads, "The record was added to the database."  Click the OK button to dismiss the message box.  At this point you will still be in the Add New Dispenser dialog box with all the information remaining from your last entry.  You can continue to add more items to your database or you can click the Close button to dismiss the Add New Dispenser dialog box.

4.2  How do I remove a color I entered from the Stem Color list?

There are a list of stem colors that are part of the program.  You've probably noticed that if you type in a color that is not in the list it will be added to the list.  This is not a permanent addition for the stem color list.  Every time you run the program, your personal database is search for these new colors and are added to the list.  The only way to remove a color that you added is to modify all the records that use this color.  Once that is done, the next time you run the program the color will not be there.

4.3  I can't find an item anywhere. Can I add my own?

Each separate item definition is stored in the catalog and there is no way for you to modify the catalog.  Whenever you can't find an item, please send an email to so that the item will be added to a future version of the catalog.  In the meantime, you can store the information about your item by choosing the *Other series in the Authentic Dispensers category (use the Notes field to enter what the item really is).  Once the item definition is added to the catalog, you can modify your *Other record and change the Category, Series, Sub-Series, Character, Issue, and Variation to what it should be.

5.  List Maker

5.1  How do I add more field values to the list?

By default, the only fields that will be added to a List Maker report are Series, Sub-Series, Character, Issue, and Variation (and also Country, Stem, and Patent for the Columns format, unless the Single Tabs option is selected).  To add additional fields, you first have to either select the Rows format or select the Columns format and the Single Tabs option.  Next, click the Customize button.  From here you can specify which fields to include and what order you want them in.  But, you cannot change the order or the Series, Sub-Series, Character, Issue, and Variation fields.

6.  Catalog Update

6.1  What is the catalog?

The catalog is a separate database file that contains an entry for item definition.  Each item definition includes a category, series, sub-series, character, issue, variation, description, and the year the item was first released.  The reason this information is in a separate database that no user can edit is so that there will be consistency among all the users for the item definitions.

6.2  How often is the catalog updated?

Depending on how many new, or newly discovered, items become available the catalog could be updated as often as every two weeks or only every couple of months.  On average, the catalog is updated every six weeks.

6.3  Why do I get an error saying that the catalog is incompatible.

There are two reasons why the catalog may not be compatible with the program.  First, the catalog requires a newer version or the program.  Second, the program requires a newer version of the catalog.  To make sure you have the latest version of the program and catalog, click here and download and install the Tropez program (which includes the latest version of the catalog).

6.4  How can I add to the catalog myself?

You can't.  If you need to add an item to the catalog, please send an email to so that the item will be added to a future version of the catalog.  In the meantime, you can store the information about your item by choosing the *Other series in the Authentic Dispensers category (use the Notes field to enter what the item really is).  Once the item definition is added to the catalog, you can modify your *Other record and change the Category, Series, Sub-Series, Character, Issue, and Variation to what it should be.

7.  Known Problems

7.1  Error message: "Failed to read the catalog"

A few people have mentioned that when they try to run the program they get a catalog error telling saying that access to the path is denied, and then they get a message saying, "Failed to read the catalog. Please contact the program provider." 

We think the problem has to do with the proper permissions on the Tropez folder. Try the following:

1. Open Windows Explorer and go to "C:\Program Files (x86)" (or wherever you installed Tropez)
2. Find the Tropez folder and right-click on it
3. Select Properties from the menu that appears
4. On the Tropez Properties windows click on the Security tab
5. Click the Edit… button
6. In the top list click on Administrators and ensure that it has Full control permissions (see the bottom list)
7. In the top list click on Users and ensure that it has Read & execute, List folder contents, and Read permissions
8. Click the OK button on the Permissions for Tropez window
9. Click the OK button on the Tropez Properties window
10. Try running Tropez again

If the previous suggestion did not work, try the following:

1. Open Windows Explorer and go to "C:\Program Files (x86)\Tropez" (or wherever you installed Tropez)
2. Right-click on Tropez.exe and select Properties from the menu
3. Click on the Compatibility tab
4. Under Compatibility mode, check the box next to “Run this program in compatibility mode for:” and then select your version of Windows from the drop-down menu.  You may need to select an older version of Windows than what you are using now.  If select your current version does not work, try selecting an older Windows version from the list.
5. Click the OK button
6. Double-click on Tropez.exe to run the program