Setting up Multiple Connections

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If you want to access multiple parks (with separate databases) from a single location, it can easily be done over the internet. It works best if each park has a static IP address, so you don't have to find out the current address each time you connect. And of course there has to be an internet (TCP/IP) connection to the Master workstation at each park. Also be sure that any firewalls, gateways, etc. will allow messages for the selected Port to pass through. You will also need to have a copy of each park's database available (at least an initial version of it, with the same filename).

While the network parameters are normally set once in the Network Setup Dialog and never changed, these parameters need to be different for each park you want to connect to. This can be done automatically by setting up shortcut icons with the network parameters and database name in the Target field. The available "command line parameters" are listed below.

/Workstation= This is equivalent to "This Workstation's ID" in the network setup.

/WorkstationName= This is equivalent to the "Nickname" setting.

/MasterIP= This is equivalent to the "Master IP address" setting.

/MasterID= This is equivalent to the "Master (server) workstation ID" setting.

/IPPort= This is equivalent to the "TCP/IP Port" setting.

If a setting will be the same for all connections, it does not need to be included. The database name can appear after all of the settings, and can contain a complete folder path if necessary. Below are a couple examples (excluding the CampgroundMaster.exe portion of the Target line):

/Workstation=1 /WorkstationName=remote /MasterID=0 /MasterIP=192.169.34.55 /IPPort=6010 Marina.prk

/Workstation=2 /MasterIP=66.123.45.67 /MasterID=1 D:\Data\Hilltop.prk


Multiple Databases on One Computer

If you're using Campground Master for multiple businesses, with separate databases for each, you might want them all to access the data from a central server. While this isn't generally recommended (since they would need to be connected to the server to work with the software), this is possible if your organization requires it.

There are a couple special steps required for this. You need to enable multiple instances of Campground Master to run on one computer (which is normally not allowed, to prevent problems sharing a database), and you need to set up multiple shortcuts with parameters such that each instance loads a specific database and communicates on a specific IP port (they need to use different ports because they would all be at the same IP address).

If the master workstation or server is unattended, you may want to do this as shortcuts in the Startup group so they all start up when the computer boots. You could also include log-in information in the parameters so it doesn't show the Log In window, but be sure to use a low-level login to prevent tampering (set up a Guest operator to use as the default login).

To enable multiple program instances:

In the file "Campground Master.ini", you need to put the following setting in the [Main] section:

AllowMultipleInstances=1

This file will be found either in "Public Documents\Campground Master" (in Windows Vista), or "Shared Documents\Campground Master" (in Windows XP), or in the C:\Windows\ folder (in older versions of Windows or in Campground Master versions prior to v4.2).

To set up multiple shortcuts:

Lets say you need to set up the server to run Campground Master with 3 different databases. Start by copying the normal Campground Master shortcut on your desktop (and give each one a different name). Then set up each shortcut to load a different database and use a different IP Port by changing the Target in the shortcut's Properties. For instance if the databases are named "Park One", "Park Two" and "Park Three", set up the shortcut targets like this:

"C:\Program Files\Campground Master\CampgroundMaster.exe" /IPPort=6010 Park One 

"C:\Program Files\Campground Master\CampgroundMaster.exe" /IPPort=6011 Park Two 

"C:\Program Files\Campground Master\CampgroundMaster.exe" /IPPort=6012 Park Three 

(Note that quotes are not needed around the database names.)

If you have a default "guest" login setup, with operator and password both "guest", then add this to the target line (before the database name):

/Operator=guest /Password=guest 

In addition, you could have it minimize each instance to the taskbar tray by adding this to the target:

/Hide=1

You could also include the Workstation, MasterIP, and MasterID parameters, but if these are the same for all three instances then it's not necessary (once it's set for one of them, those settings are saved in the INI file that's shared by all instances).

Of course, you also need to configure the Network Settings in the respective client workstations to connect to the appropriate port for its database.



Additional Topics:

Setting up for a Network

Networking Through the Internet

Network Setup Dialog

Connection Progress Dialog

Other Network Functions

Net Client Diagnostic Dialog

Net Server Diagnostic Dialog

How Networking Works

Firewall Configuration Examples

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