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.
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.