Installing Capable 21C in a network

Abstract

This article explains how to install Capable 21C into a simple networked environment (eg several PCs in a single site with a network, but no server). It refers to some concepts related to Windows XP networking, and a basic understanding of networking principles is assumed.

Underlying challenge

When Capable 21C is installed on a single PC, it is configured automatically so that the application knows where to locate the database of patient/client information.

When Capable 21C is installed on a network environment, one of the PCs is nominated as the ‘Main’ PC, the ‘Server’ PC, or more commonly, the ‘Front Desk’ PC. It will have the database located on it. Other PCs in the network will access the ‘Main’ PC to obtain access to the database. This kind of configuration has a range of implications, which are described below.

Resolution

On each PC in the network, Capable 21C will be installed into the C:\Program Files\Capable folder by default. This installation folder may be altered, but altering the folder is not recommended.

In the C:\Program Files\Capable folder, there is a Capable.INI file that defines where the database is located.

On the ‘Main’ PC, the Capable.INI will be correctly configured automatically by the installer. On the other PCs, it will need to be modified. The following steps need to be performed:

  • On the ‘Main’ PC, share the C:\Capable folder so that other PC’s in the network can read and alter the database.
  • On all other PCs, alter the Capable.INI file so that they know where to locate the database.

Detailed Information

To share the C:\Capable folder, follow these steps:

  • Click Start and then click Run
  • Type C:\ and press enter.
  • Right click on the C:\Capable folder, and select ‘Sharing’.
  • Tick the box to Share the folder, and ensure that the share name is ‘Capable’.
  • Ensure that users are able to modify files in this folder.

Note that if the ‘Sharing’ option is not available, Windows File Sharing may have to be enabled. Windows Technical Expertise will be required to enable Windows File Sharing. Instructions are not offered in this Knowledgebase Article.

To determine the full computer name of the ‘Main’ PC:

  • On the ‘Main’ PC, right click on the My Computer icon, and select Properties.
  • Switch to the Computer Name tab, and note the Full Computer Name.
  • Click Close to close the My Computer Properties window.

To determine whether file sharing is working correctly:

  • Go to a PC other than the ‘Main’ PC.
  • Click Start and then click Run
  • Type in the following command \\MAINPC\CAPABLE\ and press enter. Note that the term MAINPC will need to be replaced with the name of the ‘Main’ PC determined using the procedure described above.
  • Follow these steps to determine that both ‘read’ and ‘write’ privileges are available:
  • If Windows opens a Windows Explorer window. read privileges are available. If Windows reports any kind of error, read privileges are not available, and further Windows Technical expertise will be required. The problem can be caused by Windows networking issues, hardware failures, or firewall restrictions.
  • Double click on the Capable.MDB Access Application file. Microsoft Access should open, and display the contents of the database. It may report four possible errors:
  1. The application is potentially unsafe. This is Ok.
  2. The database file is read-only. This is not Ok.
  3. Objects in the database may not be modified. This is Ok.
  4. The PC may indicate that it does not know how to open the file.  This occurs if Microsoft Access is not installed on the PC.  This is possibly Ok.  Right click on some free space in the same folder, and choose the option to Create a New Folder.  If this works, it is Ok.  Don't forget to delete the newly created folder as it is not essential to the operation of Capable 21C.
  • If the second message does not appear, then write privileges are available. If Windows reports any other kind of error, or reports that the database is ‘Read Only’, then further Windows Technical Expertise will be required.

Once read and write privileges are available on all PCs in the network, follow these steps to configure PCs other than the ‘Main’ PC:

  • Click Start and then Run.
  • Type C:\Program Files\Capable\Capable.INI and press enter.
  • A notepad window should open displaying the contents of the Capable.INI file.
  • Alter the DATABASE line such that it locates the database in the folder determined above:

DATABASE=\\MAINPC\CAPABLE\

  • Replace the term MAINPC with the name of the ‘Main’ PC determined above.
  • Close the Notepad window, and click Yes to save the changes.
  • Start Capable 21C normally.

Additional notes:

Capable Software Pty Ltd does not recommend the use of mapped drive letters to access shared files across a network. UNC filenaming conventions are preferred,

Microsoft Windows XP Home™ does not permit non-simple file sharing to be enabled. Several Capable Software customers have reported networking challenges with Windows XP Home™ that could not be resolved short of purchasing and installing Windows XP Professional™. For this reason, Capable Software Pty Ltd does not recommend the use of Windows XP Home™ in a networked environment.

A number of Capable Software customers have reported problems mixing Windows 98, Windows ME, Windows 2000, Windows XP Home and Windows XP Professional installations together. For this reason, Capable Software Pty Ltd recommends the use of the same Windows operating system on all PC’s in an office network.

This knowledge resource is designed for use on a Windows (tm) XP system operating at a screen resolution of 1024x768 or better. Windows Media Player must be installed for this training resource to operate correctly.

Copyright 2008 Capable Software Pty Ltd

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