IMPLAN PRO: Troubleshooting & Known Issues

INTRODUCTION:

This article is designed to offer users of our legacy software, IMPLAN Pro, some insights to ensuring the software functions properly. We’ve outlined some common troubleshooting ideas as well as descriptions of known technological issues which have been identified. Please note that IMPLAN Pro V3 is a legacy product and as such will have no further patches or hotfixes. 

Customer Success Managers will continue to provide best effort support for active customers. Please note, as there won't be further development on Pro if a critical issue arises that cannot be resolved via best effort our recommendation is to utilize our fully supported current version of IMPLAN. Should you encounter any issues which are not addressed in this article, please let us know by contacting us at (800) 507-9426 or at support@implan.com. Please note that customer support for Pro will have a longer time to resolution than our current version of IMPLAN.

 

TROUBLESHOOTING:

If you are having issues running IMPLAN Pro V3, here are a few interventions that might help.

 

1. Operating System

At this point, there is no limit on what Windows Operating System is required for IMPLAN Pro.  However, changes may occur that impair the functionality as Windows is continuously being updated.  This is one of the main reasons that we are working hard on our new platform at app.implan.com.

 

2. .NET Framework

Software applications require .NET framework to run on Windows. You really don’t need to know anything about this to run IMPLAN, but you may run into an error message that will prompt you to update your .NET framework. IMPLAN Pro requires the older .NET Framework 2.0. For information on how to change this, visit the article IMPLAN Pro System Requirements.

 

3. “Conversion from type “DBNull” to type “String” is not valid

This is usually caused by a corrupt structural matrix. Please email support@implan.com and ask them to send you the appropriate structural matrix. However, this error can also be caused by issues with the IMPLAN Appliance (the hard-drive that used to be shipped with orders). Please let support know if you have such a device. 

 

4. Software is Asking for the Appliance but no Appliance is Being Used 

To remedy this, uninstall the IMPLAN application. Install a fresh copy of IMPLAN Pro and re-download the data using the order number and order key. If this doesn’t work, contact support.

 

5. Models Not Opening or it Displays Various Unusual Error Messages

This is usually caused by the model being saved in a cloud-based or shared folder. Please note this is not supported within IMPLAN Pro as any slight interruption with the internet connection can corrupt the model. This is because IMPLAN Pro continuously communicates with the source model while in use. Please move the model to the default location:

     Documents > MIG > IMPLAN > Models

Then re-attempt opening. You can share a model using a cloud or shared folder but should not be working with the model from such a folder. 

 

6. Error Message “The Remote Server Returned an Error 404”

This error is typically caused by using an outdated version of IMPLAN Pro. Please go to HELP > Check for Updates in the software. If this does not work, please delete IMPLAN Pro and install IMPLAN Pro version 3.1 from our website and then re-download the order using your original order number and order key. If this doesn’t work, contact support.

 

7. Error Message “File Template is Missing”

The primary cause of this issue is that the download files were not extracted prior to installing the software. Please uninstall IMPLAN. Ensure you delete the folder housing the configuration files:

     C:\Users\[your username]\AppData\Local\Minnesota_Implan_Group,_I

Download IMPLAN Pro again from our website and ensure you choose the option to “Extract All” before running the installer. 

8. Model Builds but the option to “Setup Activities” is Not Working

Please start a new model. Ensure the box for “Build Through Multipliers” is checked after selecting your region(s). If this doesn’t work, you can also go into the construct menu and choose Multipliers to complete the model.

9. Error Message “The Feature You are Trying to Use is a Network Resource that is Unavailable”

This typically means the connection from your desktop shortcut to IMPLAN Pro is broken. Please delete the shortcut icon and open IMPLAN Pro from the source: 

     C:\Program Files (x86)\MIG\Implan3

If this works, use the source file to make a new shortcut. 

Alternatively, this error can also be caused by installing IMPLAN Pro prior to extracting the files. Please uninstall IMPLAN. Ensure you delete the folder housing the configuration files

     C:\Users\[your username]\AppData\Local\Minnesota_Implan_Group,_I

Download IMPLAN Pro again from our website and ensure you choose the option to “Extract All” before running the installer. 

10. When Opening an MRIO Project Error Message “Failed to Enable Constraints. One or More Rows Contain Values Violating Non-Null, Unique, or Foreign Key Constraints”

This typically happens when an MRIO project is saved to a cloud-folder and worked on while saved in that location. Please note this is not supported within IMPLAN Pro as any slight interruption with the internet connection can corrupt the model. This is because IMPLAN Pro continuously communicates with the source model while in use. Please move the model to the default location:

     Documents > MIG > IMPLAN > Models

Then re-attempt opening. You can share a model using a cloud or shared folder but should not be working with the model from such a folder. Note: if MRIO models are moved, they typically need to be remapped, which deletes the Scenario runs.

11. Error Message “Could Not Delete From Specified Tables”

This is usually caused by a lack of permission to access the folders in which you are trying to save your IMPLAN Pro files. The lack of permission may be because you do not have administrative rights on your computer or that IMPLAN Pro is specifically blocked from reaching those folders even if you are able to access them. If this is the case, try saving your models to a folder on your desktop. 

 

12. Infinities

When you are working with a non-time series data set that doesn’t have the correct deflators for the Event Year, you may get “Infinity” in one or more of your Event fields. This is usually caused by a corrupt structural matrix. Please email support@implan.com and ask them to send you the appropriate structural matrix. 

 

13. Aggregation Scheme

When there are changes in the number of IMPLAN Industries, you may not have the new aggregation libraries and you may encounter a mapping issue. 

This is usually caused by a corrupt structural matrix. Please email support@implan.com and ask them to send you the appropriate structural matrix. 

 

14. Remote Desktop

IMPLAN Pro was not designed to allow access from a remote desktop. Users of this software have experienced issues in the past with IMPLAN Pro refusing to open when accessed from a remote workstation. This is an issue that requires your institutions IT support to resolve as it's outside the scope of IMPLAN. We do recommend purchasing the newer cloud-based version if you believe you'll need to access IMPLAN without being able to store it locally.

 

KNOWN ISSUES:

There are a few known issues with IMPLAN Pro. Remember, there won't be further development on Pro as it is the legacy version of IMPLAN. 

 

1. Order of Operations

The order in which you enter Event data in IMPLAN Pro is extremely important. For each Event, the correct order should be:

1. Sector
2. Event Year
3. Industry Sales
4. Employee Compensation
5. Proprietor Income
6. Employment

If you do not have one of these items, leave it blank. Note if you enter these values out of this order, you will get different information.

 

2. Activity Template

The Activity Template for IMPLAN Pro is quirky. The Activity Template is a very specific file, and each field must be filled out exactly as it is shown in the original template. The sheet has one tab for each Activity Type, and the correct tab must be used for successful import. It must stay in the older .xls extension (don’t change it to a .xlsx). 

Other notes:

• Follow the directions in the Activity Template article exactly. Otherwise, you will see an error that says “Object reference not set to an instance of an object.”
• Leave the formatting of the cells alone. Do not add dollar signs or change the way they are displayed.
• When entering “Yes” or “No” for Margins, capitalization matters.
• If you leave a field blank or enter a zero, IMPLAN Pro will estimate these for you. If you have a long list of Events and don’t want to go back and zero out one field, like Proprietor Income for example, you can trick IMPLAN Pro by entering a $0.01 in the Activity Template. 
• Negative numbers will import as positive ones.
• When uploading large numbers of events using the events template, industry specifications cannot be greater than 536 sectors. For the 2018 data set and later, this means that industries 537-546 cannot be included in an events template.

 

3. Editing Study Area Data

As with the order of operations in Events, it is also important to customize your Study Area Data in this order:

1. Industry Production
2. Commodity Production
3. Trade Flows

Following this will ensure the correctness of your model.

 

4. Customizing Study Area Data

Using the “Lock” button on this screen will cause the Intermediate Expenditure Per Worker values to remain fixed. If you make changes to the Output Per Worker field,  all Value Added components and employment will update. This makes your total Intermediate Expenditure number update as well, while the other values remain the same. As a result, you can have Intermediate Input plus Value Added totals not being equal to your Output. For some additional information, visit the post Customizing Study Area Data.

 

5. 544 Industries Instead of 546

For the 2018 data in IMPLAN Pro, there are only 544 Industries instead of the 546 Industries you will find at app.implan.com. This is because of limitations in the desktop software program itself. All of the Industry numbers will match through Industry 539. However, beginning with 540, the changes will appear. In Pro there is no breakout of Employment and payroll of state govt, non-education or Employment and payroll of local govt, non-education.  The split between “hospitals and health services” and “other services” are only available at app.implan.com. In Pro, these are combined in the old familiar non-education Industries . You will also not see the two institutions that match these payroll Industries. A bridge between the 546 Industries and the 544 Pro Industries here.

 

6. Forced Closure

Sometimes, Pro has an issue where it needs to shut down. The software may ask you if you want to tell IMPLAN about this by sending a message. Spoiler alert: we never get those messages.

 

7. Pro [Version 3.1] does not utilize the Journey to Work (JTW) files that account for commuting between regions during an MRIO analysis

IMPLAN’s JTW data is used in latest version of the IMPLAN application (app.implan.com) to analyze the effect of income earned by in-commuters in the Region where they live when the Region where they live has been included in an MRIO analysis and an Event that affects the in-commuter’s income has been analyzed in the Region where they work. In Pro [Version 3.1], the JTW data is not properly accessed by the program. Therefore, in-commuter’s income is treated as a leakage even if the Region where they live is included as a Linked Region in the MRIO analysis.

 

8. Updating Values in Study Area Data

When editing an Industry in Study Area Data, entering a zero in each of the fields and hitting Save will cause an error and force IMPLAN Pro to close. Use the "Zero Out Industry" button instead.

 

9. Deleting Commodities in Customize > Industry Production

Errors are encountered prohibiting Commodities from being deleted in Customize > Industry Production. 
Instead you should edit the existing values. If there is a Commodity included in the Industry Production function that you'd like to exclude, set the value to zero and check off the "Fixed" box, so it holds at zero.

 

Written March 16, 2020

Updated November 2, 2020