Creating a Multi-User Environment
Setting up Multiple Users and/or New PCs
Setting up access for multiple users to use Calibration Control (our Calibration Management Software ) is as easy as changing the configuration and pointing to the correct database location or files folder path.
This could be a step of simply deleting or renaming the default general.config file and starting up the application, (or holding CTRL while starting Calibration Control), and linking to the new data file. Therefore, if you are using an Access database file, you should be familiar with the next section for finding the true database and moving it. And if you are using a SQL Server, please take a look at these help topics on Adding CC Database to your SQL Server and Connecting CC to your SQL Server Database.
Move Your Database (MS Access Only)
Find your database and then move your database to a shared network location where all users will have read-write access. Note: Most of the difficulties that users experience with implementing a multi-user environment are related to network folder permissions! Therefore, if you experience any difficulties, you should first seek assistance from your network administrator. And always refer to the Minimum Requirements for specific folders that require read/write permissions by users.
Set Up the Common Files Folder Path (BOTH Access & SQL)
Calibration Control uses a Common Files Folder that contains four sub folders (i.e., Attachments, Emails, Labels, and Reports). Ensure each networked user is using the Common Files Folder so its sub folders are equally accessible to all users. Do this by:
- Common Mapping: Ensure each user has the same network mapping for the Files Folder. For instance, if a mapped drive (e.g., "M:\Server2\Common Files") is used for one user, the same path will be used for all users.
- Point Ape Database Software: Open the Advanced tab of the Options dialog and click the Folder & Path button. Change the 'Location of Files' (i.e., Common Files Folder) to the common network location (step 1).
- Move Folders: If custom files already exist in the old location(s) of the Files Folder, move those files to their new Common Files Folder locations (step 1). Specifically, move all attachments and custom templates (e.g., reports, labels, & emails). Otherwise, the default Reports and Labels templates will be copied to the new Files Folder Location.
Add Additional Users
When running the software on a client for the first time, it presents the option to create a database (blank or with sample records) or to navigate to an existing database. Therefore, after starting the software on a new computer, check the 'BROWSE to Existing Database' option and [Continue] if a database already exists in a network location.
Otherwise, if a database has already been created on a client that needs to be networked (i.e., linked to a database on the network), delete or rename the local 'apecal.mdb' file to prevent the program from automatically connecting to it. If already running Calibration Control, find the folder for this database file by selecting Open Data Folder from the Files dropdown menu. Otherwise, refer to the finding your database help topic.
