Terry Chapman
Info Plan Software
December 2004
Applies To:
Info Plan
Software® WorkExpo
Summary: This article explains th= e network setup for WorkExpo for version 6.0 and later, and describes the issues that= IT managers should consider when installing WorkExpo in a shared environment across a Local Area Network (LAN).
Contents
Introduction
Automatic Network Installation
Manual Network Installation
Display the Data File Path in the WorkExpo Title Bar
Sharing Files Between Different Users of WorkExpo
WorkExpo Will Run Slower Across a LAN
WorkExpo File Format (Microsoft Access)
WorkExpo is a Microsoft Access database. It consists primarily of two
key files (databases) - WORKEXPO.MDE (front-end) and DATA.MDB (back-end). It
should be installed so that the data file may be shared by different users =
at
different locations while all other files including the front-end file
WORKEXPO.MDE reside on the local machine.
WorkEx=
po can
automatically create a connection to a back-end file on a network drive. Yo=
u do
not need to copy files manually. It is recommended that you use the FILE/OP=
EN
command in WorkExpo to point to a data file and connect to it.
Follow these steps to set WorkExpo up on a work station
1. Log onto the workstation where WorkExpo is t= o be installed
2. Install WorkExpo on the mach=
ine
using the /Silent switch (silent install) e.g. SETUP.EXE /silent
This switch accept all defaults during setup and installs WorkExpo to c:\program
files\workexpo
3. Start WorkExpo and test that=
the
sample data is displayed correctly.
4. Register the software in the=
usual
way. Register via Options/School. Enter your school name then the registrat=
ion
code.
5. From the WorkExpo main menu =
click
the “Options” button
6. Click the “NetworkR=
21; tab
7. Specify the path to the fold=
er in
the "Network Server data file location" box, then
8. Click the "Create Netwo=
rk
Connection" button
9. WorkExpo carries out the fol=
lowing
steps:
·
Checks
to see if an existing WorkExpo data file (DATA.MDB) is found in your specif=
ied
network location
·
If
an existing data file is found in the specified network location, WorkExpo
connects to it and renames the data file on local machine to data.old
·
If
an existing data file is NOT f=
ound
in the specified network location, WorkExpo copies the current data file on=
the
local drive to the specified server and then connects to it. Then WorkExpo
renames the old data file to c:\program files\workexpo\data.old=
|
File Name |
Default Path |
Path after Network Install |
|
data.mdb |
c:\program files\= workexpo |
e.g. //server1/teacher/workexpo |
|
All other files including WorkExpo.mde |
c:\program files\= workexpo |
c:\program files\= workexpo |
&nb= sp; Notes Only a single file data.mdb needs to reside on the ne= twork server. All other files should remain on user’s C: drive.
Follow these steps to set WorkExpo up on a work station man= ually using Windows Explorer
1. Log onto the workstation where WorkExpo is t= o be installed with full software installation and registry permissions
2. Install WorkExpo normally on=
the machine
using the /silent switch (Quiet install) e.g. SETUP.EXE /silent
This switch accept all defaults during setup and installs WorkExpo to c:\program
files\workexpo
3. Start WorkExpo
4. Register the software in the=
usual
way. Register via Options/School. Enter your school name then the registrat=
ion
code
5. Close WorkExpo
6. Using Windows Explorer move =
the
single file c:\program
files\workexpo\data.mdb to=
a
network server location
7. Start WorkExpo
8. WorkExpo will prompt for the
data.mdb file location on startup
9. Navigate to the network serv=
er
location of data.mdb
10. WorkExpo re-connects to this=
network
data file and stores its location for future use
WorkExpo can display the current data file path in the titl= e bar, to enable this:
1. Open WorkExpo at the Main Menu
2. Click the Options button
3. In the Options dialog click the DATA FILE ta= b
4. Click checkbox to enable “Show data file path in the title bar”
WorkExpo displays the current data file path in the title b= ar
Users of WorkExpo can also share their data file (data.mdb) across a LAN so that upd= ates and deletes flow to all users. WorkExpo will handle any read/write conflicts internally.
WorkExpo with the d= ata.mdb file deployed across a LAN will run slower than if the data file resided on= the user’s hard drive. However, WorkExpo will run very much slower if the front-end file workexpo.mde is = also deployed on the server. It is strongly recommended that this is avoided and that workexpo.mde is deployed on each u= ser’s hard disk.
WorkExpo’s default file format is Microsoft Access. C= heck out the README.TXT file in the MANUAL INSTALL folder on the WorkExpo CD. Provision is made for supporting various versions of Access and instruction= s on installation are also contained there. For more information on converting WorkExpo files, contact Info Plan Software (03) 9531 1091 or software@infoplan.com.au
WorkExpo can be installed across a local area network for d= ata sharing by several users. Only a single file data.mdb needs to be deployed to the network server. Any other installation will mean that users may lose WorkExpo program settings between sessions. Also WorkExpo may run considerably slower if the front-end file w= orkexpo.mde is deployed on the ser= ver. In this article, you learned about the considerations that IT managers need= to be aware of when developing and using WorkExpo in a LAN environment.