MainBoss Newswire

March 2006

 

Topics:

  1. Tips on installing MainBoss
  2. How to move your MainBoss Database to a new Server
  3. Upcoming Tradeshows in Chicago, Boston and Las Vegas

 

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1. Tips on installing MainBoss

Installing MainBoss is not a one-time affair. Sure, you have to go through an initial installation when your first buy the software but as time goes on you will find yourself needing to install MainBoss again and again for various reasons. For example, the current computer may now be outdated and the user is getting a new machine. Or you have bought another user license and would like to install MainBoss on a few additional work stations. Our technical support department receives numerous requests each month because a customer needs assistance with installing MainBoss. Most of these requests concern reinstalling MainBoss or installing the software on additional computers. In response we have put together a list of tips that will help you make the installation process go smoothly.

·         When you are reinstalling MainBoss or installing the program on an additional workstation, you already have a database in place and need to link your new installation to that existing database. Therefore, as you go through the installation wizard, please choose “Existing database” in the appropriate window. Note: this is the number one installation error so please don’t miss this important step! Once you have chosen “Existing Database” the next window in the installation will ask you where the database is located. Make sure you know this information! If you’re in doubt, just open up an existing copy of MainBoss and click on Help -> About. The database location will be displayed on the last line in this window.

·         There are two parts to MainBoss: the database folder and the program files. As part of the program files, the MainBoss executable is always installed on the workstation. Only the database folder should reside on the server. Therefore it is best to run the installation right on the machine which is to hold the MainBoss program files. By default, MainBoss will put the MBoss.exe under the Program Files folder of that computer, which is what you want.

·         A ‘typical’ installation includes all the sample databases. If you don’t need the samples and/or are trying to conserve hard disk space, please choose ‘custom’ installation in the appropriate window and un-click some or all of the sample databases. Also choose ‘custom’ installation if you would like to install the MainBoss help files in different languages.

·         When installing MainBoss on a new work station, make sure that the user has full permissions to the MainBoss database folder and all folders/files contained within. Specifically, the user needs to have Create, Delete and Modify permissions. Even if the installation was successful, the user won’t be able to open the MainBoss program if the permissions aren’t set properly.

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2. How to move your MainBoss Database to a new Server

Whether you operate MainBoss within a server environment or on a stand-alone computer, a time may come when you need to move your database to a new computer. Here is how you would safely move your database:

  1. Make sure that no one is using MainBoss until the database has been successfully moved.
  2. Make a backup copy of the MainBoss Database. This is best done by using WinZip or a similar compression program, or if the database folder is not too big, by copying the entire folder to an external storage device such as CD-ROM or a USB-drive.
  3. Rename the existing database (on the former server) to “Old”. This ensures that no one accidentally accesses MainBoss on the former server and makes changes that will not be part of the database copy that is moved to the new server.
  4. Copy that backup file to the new server or stand-alone computer. If you have used WinZip to compress the folder, you can now use WinZip to un-compress it again. If you have used a CD-ROM or USB-drive, then simply copy the files to the new location on the new computer. Make sure that the files have not been marked as read-only, which can happen when you use a CD-ROM.
  5. Install the MainBoss program on the new computer. Only follow this step if you were using MainBoss on a stand-alone machine! Insert the MainBoss CD or use the downloaded install file to install MainBoss. Since you have the database files already uncompressed and in their correct location (see step 2), make sure you choose ‘Existing Database’ when the Install program asks you whether you have an existing database or would like to create a new database. The next window will ask you where your database folder is located. Point the installer to the correct location (for example, C:\MainBoss). Complete the installation. For more tips on installing, see topic #1 of this newsletter! To make sure that everything went smoothly, double-click on the desktop icon to start MainBoss.
  6. Change the pathname for all desktop shortcuts. Only follow this step if you moved the database from one server machine to another but the workstations remained the same! Now that the database folder is in its new and proper location, you need to update the MainBoss shortcut on all the workstations. Simply go to each workstation that has MainBoss installed on it and right-click on the MainBoss desktop shortcut. Choose Properties and go to the Short-cut tab. Here you will see a Start-in field and it will contain the former location for your MainBoss database. Type in the new database location and save your changes. Test the short-cut by double-clicking on the icon to make sure that your data is present. Repeat this procedure for any other workstations. Note: since you are only moving the database from one location to another, there is no need to install MainBoss since the program files are located on the individual workstations.
  7. Delete the old database from the former server or the former stand-alone computer.

 

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3. Upcoming Tradeshows

Thinkage will be attending the following tradeshow to demonstrate MainBoss:

·        The TFM Show at the Navy Pier, Chicago, IL from April 10 to 11, 2006. Visit us at booth 525. http://www.tfmshow.com/

·        The New England Facilities Expo at the World Trade Center in Boston, MA from April 19 to 20, 2006. Visit us at booth 610. http://web.fminnovations.com/News/newengland.asp

·        The ICSC Spring Convention  at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, NV from May 21 to 23, 2006. Visit us at booth 762. http://www.icsc.org/