network issues

[Walter]

Hi all,

I have a network app. which are accessed by 3 users at a time ( or supposed to)
I created shadow databases on the user pc's. But as soon as I want to access the app. on the server, I get the following errors:
Access denied, cannot write to "acfrtf.txt" , acfhtml, .muf - cannot open.

The server OS is WIN XP PRO, and the other 2 pc's are WIN XP HOME. Also, the folder on the server is fully shared, with my app.files.
Also have the same folder names on the users pc's.

I copied the shadow database from the server to the users pc's.

Any ideas why this happens?
Thanks
walter

[Tom Cone Jr]

RE: network issues

Walter,
the Shadow copy of the database should never be on the Server. Instead the shadow copy of the database should be created on the local workstation by 'network optimizing' the actual database located on the server. If you really copied the shadow copy of the database from the server then something's wrong. -- tom

[Bob Houle]

RE: network issues

Sorry Tom,

I've been running a shadowed database on our server for 3 years without a glitch. I've just made sure that only the run-time version is installed on the server and acts like every other user (workstation).

--Bob

[Walter]

RE: network issues

Tom,

Should I actually access the master app. from the user pc, and when it is open, create the shadow from the user pc ? All my apps up to now was stand alone apps, I am lost !

[Tom Cone Jr]

RE: network issues

Bob,

For most users this would be an invitation to disaster. The risk of network optimizing the shadow on top of the actual is too large. I congratulate you that you've not had a problem.

I'm curious, do your users run the app by starting the runtime engine on the server? i.e. are they sharing the one runtime engine? If so, you've set up your application in an unconventional way.

In the typical setup each workstation runs the engine locally, opening shadow copies of the database also stored locally. This minimizes traffic over the network, and thereby speeds performance.

[Tom Cone Jr]

RE: network issues

Walter,

the problem you describe may or may not be related to how you've created the shadow databases.

1) Have you installed the runtime engine on each workstation?
2) Does each user have administrator / power user rights?

-- tom

[Walter]

RE: network issues

Hello Tom,

No, the runtime is only on the server

All the users have admin rights.

[Tom Cone Jr]

RE: network issues

Well, unless you're running Citrix or Terminal Services then you may have it setup wrong.

Here's the step by step:

1) Designate a machine on your network to act as 'server'. This should be a machine that doesn't crash. Preferably it should be a machine that isn't used by end users to do office work during the day.

2) Create a shared folder on the 'server' and copy your entire application there. This is usually the entire database you've developed on another machine. Hopefully you already followed the recommended advice and developed the entire application within a single folder, without using subfolders. If so, just copy the folder contents to their new home in the shared folder on the server.

3) Unless you need to run Alpha Five on the 'server' machine there's no reason to install Alpha Five there whatsoever. Most recommend doing development work on an entirely different machine, in a non-shared folder.

4) Install the Runtime Engine on each workstation.

5) Visit each workstation. Crank up the Runtime Engine. When you get the grey screen choose File, then OPen Database, and browse to the shared folder on the 'server'. Open your database.

6) Navigate to the control panel. Choose file, then Network Optimize. Accept all defaults. This will create a shadow copy of the application / database on the workstation.

7) Repeat steps 5 and 6 on the other two workstations.

Shut down the runtime engine.

I suggest you let Alpha Five create shortcuts to the shadowed databases on each workstation. Put them on the desktop for each workstation. Tell the users to start the app using the shortcuts.

-- tom

[Bob Houle]

RE: network issues

Tom,

I do everything you suggest and agree completely. But I've set up a user on the server using the run-time engine.

I wasn't "going" to do this, but I thought... "Since I'm going to be on-site for a while, I'll give it a try."

It turned out that the machine is solid as a rock and they now have 2 or 3 different Alpha programs running at one time (and an accounting server program) on this server with NO PROBLEMS whatsoever. Zip, Nada.

--Bob

[Tom Cone Jr]

RE: network issues

Bob,

Thanks for clarifying. I guess I'm guilty of having exaggerated things a bit. Probably should never say 'never', right?

I recall Dr. Wayne saying that in his office the 'server' is (or was at the time) in daily use as a regular workstation, too.

For the average bear, considering how relatively inexpensive pc's have become, and how much trouble is caused if the main database is overwritten accidentally, or crashes when then pc reboots, I think the better 'general' advice is otherwise.

-- tom

[Walter]

RE: network issues

Hello Tom,

Like so many times before now, thank you for the advice, I will try this today.

Have a nice day
Walter

[Bob Houle]

RE: network issues

Tom,

I've always set up machines to access a mapped drive (e.g. x: ) which represents c:\MyMasterpiece on the server.

All users get to the data (using the run-time program)though X: (including the user on the server) so there is NO possiblity of overwriting the main data, because the shadow database files are likely located at: C:\Program Files\A5V5Runtime\shadow\MyMasterpiece or something similar.

-Bob

[Tom Cone Jr]

RE: network issues

Bob, I'm glad you mentioned the mapping of the shared folder on the server as the 'same' logical drive on all machines using the application. This should have been included in my step by step. Thanks.

-- tom