Network Optimize

[Ronald Anusiewicz]

I've asked this question before and people have tried to answer. I can't grasp what needs to be done.

I have a small network. All of the application files are located on the server. Each workstation has the runtime program.

I update the application files. When I open Alpha 5, I'm looking at the latest update. However, I'm looking at the files on the server and not the shadow database.

I then need to close the application, go into tools and select network optimize. This is a pain as I have to go to each work station and do this.

I'm sure that there is a more automatic process for doing this. Where do I find this information. It needs to be in simple english for the not too knowledgable to understand.

There's an option for setting a version number. What does it do? How do I use it? I've downloaded info and I've studied it. Unfortunately, I do not grasp how to use this information.

Help!!

[forskare]

RE: Network Optimize

Have you tried a search? I think this was discussed before and someone suggested a third party program to do it form the server.

kenn

[russ Boehle]

RE: Network Optimize

Ron,
I think that all you have to do is change the version number and Alpha will check it and if the version on the server is different when the user starts the runtime it will update the shadow. I made a littel utility for this a while back I'll post it if I can find it, but you don't really need anything for this.

Russ

[russ Boehle]

RE: Network Optimize

This allows you to track versions. I never quite finished it, plan to though. The idea was to have it run before exiting A5, but only on the full version so the developer would always be prompted for the new version number after a development session.

Russ

[Bill Parker]

RE: Network Optimize

Ronald,

Let me take a stab at walking you through this.

1. You will need to visit each worksation to set up the shadow database initially. This will be the only time you need to go to each wotrkstation.

2. At the workstation, from control panel select Tools, Network Optimize. Click the Options tab. By default it says to prompt the user to accept the updates if there has been a version change. This means the user could elect to ignore the updates, but the prompt would reappear each time the database is opened. If you want the update to happen automatically, select the next radio button. Version number will be 0 in the box at the top, leave it that way. Click the Set button to save your changes if you selected something other than the default radio button. Now go back to the Basic tab and click "create shadow database". Create the shortcut or whatever means you want the user to open the shadow database. You are done with that workstation.

3. do the other workstations the same way.

4. When there is a change to the database that you want users to have, do this. From the full version of the database, at control panel go to Tools, Network Optimize and click the Options tab. Change the version number to 1, 2, or 3.12, etc. - whatever you want. Click the Set button to save your changes and close the network optimize window. Now when a user opens their shadow database, the action you selected when you created the shadow, manual prompt or automatic update, will occur without you having to go to the workstation.

Bill.

[Tom Mills]

RE: Network Optimize

Ronnie, as a new guy I think I finally have this straight in my head. So I'll try to pass it on.

Shadowing......

To set up a database to be "shadowed":

1. When you design a database, give the developer a method to get to Control Panel.
2. From Control Panel, Choose Tools, Network Optimize from menus.
3. Choose Options tab.
4. Give your program a Version number.
5. Choose whether the user must update or not. (Frankly I'd make them update automatically)
6. Choose whether these updates will occur on all changes to your database or just major ones in the last selection.

On each client machine: (One time setup)

1. Install runtime
2. Run Runtime once
3. Update runtime with any known updates (discussed later)
2. Sign on to database
3. From Control Panel, Choose Tools, Network Optimize from menus.
4. From Basic tab, choose create Shadow database.
5. Open Shadow database, and create a shortcut, from Tools, Create Shortcut.

From that point on, anytime you make a change to the database (that you are ready to distribute), you change the version number in the Tools, Network Optimize, Version number.

Your users will automatically get the update as they attempt to open their shadow.


Alpha Updates to a new version......

1. Anytime Alpha releases an update, they update the Developers Edition and the runtime in the same .exe.

2. Download (not open) the file, to a location all machine can access.

3. Each machine at your location, developer and client, must run that executable to update the client

4. Alpha has not developed an automated method to automatically install these updates. So you must either:

a. go to each machine to manuallly update
b. Use a third party tool to ensure it occurs
c. Send a link to your users and hope they do it.

Now as Reagan used to say, "Trust but verify". I think the optimal situation would be if we could capture the version number someone signs on with in a text or data file.

That way if they ignore our "do the update" message, we'll know.

[CALocklin]

RE: Network Optimize

Somewhere on this board Selwyn explained how to get the version number so it would be possible with XBasic to save that version number to a text file on the server.

[JerryBrightbill]

RE: Network Optimize

This code will load the current settings and explains the use of each variable and shows how to resave new values.

dim network_optimize as p
a5_load_settings("NetworkOptimize",network_optimize)

check_portion = network_optimize.check_portion ' Numeric value

' -- Explanation of use -----------------------------------------
' When checking Version Number, consider: (Has 2 possible values)
' 1 = Entire Version Number
' 2 = Integer Portion Only

OutOfDate_flag = network_optimize.outofdate_flag 'numeric value

' -- Explanation of use -----------------------------------------
' When a user opens a Shadow Database with a different Version Number: (3 possible values)
' 1 = Do nothing - allow the user to open the Shadow database
' 2 = Warn the User - but do not require them to refresh the Shadow Database
' 3 = Automatically Refresh the Shadow Database

version_number = network_optimize.version_number

' -- Explanation of use -----------------------------------------
' Saved version number - Alphanumeric

' To resave the settings in current database
network_optimize.check_portion = 1 '(or 2)
network_optimize.outofdate_flag = 1 '(or 2, or 3)
netowrk_optimize.version_number = "your version number"

a5_load_settings("NetworkOptimize",network_optimize)

Once you have the value into any variable, it is easy to write it to a file or read it back form a file and resave.

Jerry

[Tom Mills]

RE: Network Optimize

Don't know enough about code to tell. Is this checking the .exe's and not just the shadow?

[JerryBrightbill]

RE: Network Optimize

If you put this in a script, the values will read from the data dictionary of the database that holds the script. If you are running it from the shadow, it will give the settings of the shadow databse. If you are running the code form the master or server version, you will get the values from there.

Incidentally, most of what I posted is just comments to explain what each dot variable does. If you only want the version, use this

dim network_optimize as p

a5_load_settings("NetworkOptimize",network_optimize)
version_number = network_optimize.version_number

If the database you are checking has never had any network settings defined, this code may give an error. If that is the case, add these lines before the a5_load_settings() line to set some initial values

network_optimize.version_number = ""
network_optimize.check_portion = ""
network_optimize.outofdate_flag = ""

Jerry

[JerryBrightbill]

RE: Network Optimize

Opps,

Forgot the important part. The network optimize settings are saved in the data dictionary for the database (the alb, alm, alx files)

Jerry

[Ronald Anusiewicz]

RE: Network Optimize

Thanks to everyone who replied. This board is one of the hidden values of Alpha Software.

I do believe I understand what to do now. I'll be trying it out this week.

Thank you Russ for your version tracker. It's really great to see what other people are doing with Alpha 5. You've given me some new idea's.

Ron