CFAL-NetCIL Database Administrator's Guide

           

 

Database Administration – An Overview

To perform the tasks of database administrator, you should have reasonable familiarity with standard networking and Microsoft Access database concepts, server networks, database structures, and query development.

The CFAL-NetCIL database is comprised of four main files.  All data tables reside in a file server that can be stored in any folder on a stand-alone computer or local area network.  A copy of the three client-side files, CFAL Client, NetCIL Manager, and NetCIL IRLog, reside on each workstation that utilizes CFAL Client application. 

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Each workstation that utilizes CFAL will have a copy of the file "CFAL Client.mde" installed on it.  This file is a compiled, executable version of a Microsoft Access database file.  No maintenance of this file should be required, and no changes can be made to it. The client application will normally be installed in the directory “C:\Program Files\CFAL Client”.

 

You can create customized queries and store them in your copy of CFAL Client.  If you have created customized queries, you can save them by pressing the “Export Queries” button on the CFAL Main form.  After installation of a software update, you can then use the “Import Queries” function to restore them.

 

Connecting to File Servers

 

The Connect button allows the CFAL Client application to connect to different Microsoft Access file servers (.mdb files). When CFAL Client is installed, by default it will search for a file server on the local C: drive in a folder called “CFAL Database.”  If you are running the application on a network, everyone who uses the application must be able to connect to the same file server in a shared network folder. To establish the connection, press the Connect button, and specify the location where you have installed the file server.

 

Once you have specified a valid filename, the application will refresh all of its links and connect to the file server.  Depending on the size and speed of your network, this operation may take several minutes. The progress of the connection operation will be displayed in the applications status bar (lower left).  When the operation is complete, a message will be displayed.   The connection operation needs only to be done once per workstation. After a successful connection, the link information will be retained in both the client application and an entry in the workstation registry.  If you ever need to re-install the application, CFAL will use the registry information to reestablish its link to your file server.

After a valid connection has been established, a message will be displayed in the lower left portion of the CFAL Main screen showing the path to your file server.

CFAL will run on any network configuration or as a stand-alone application.  If you run a server on your network, it’s best to install the CFAL file server to a shared folder on the server.  If you run a peer-to-peer network, create a shared folder on your most powerful workstation and store the file server there.

 

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