Setting up Multiple Connections or Databases |
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Some of this information pertains to networking multiple parks/databases, but this also explains how to work with multiple databases on one computer even if networking is not used. This can be used to manage multiple parks from one location, or to simply handle different business entities in separate databases in order to keep reporting separate.
Networking multiple parks/databases:
If you want to access multiple databases from one computer, you will need to have a copy of each park's database available (at least an initial version of it, with the same filename), and of course the IP address, port, etc. for the connection to the master computer of each park. This can be either over a local network or through the internet (see the "Networking through the Internet" section for the technical details of making remote connections).
The network parameters are normally set in the Network Setup Dialog, and saved in the Campground Master INI file. However, these parameters need to be different for each park you want to connect to, and there's only one INI file. Rather than having to go into Network Setup every time you change databases, these can be changed automatically by setting up desktop shortcut icons in Windows with the network parameters and database name in the Target field. This is done through Windows:
| 1. | Right-click on the Campground Master icon (on the Windows desktop), select Copy. |
| 2. | Right-click on an empty area of the desktop, select Paste. |
| 3. | Right-click on the new copy of the Campground Master icon, select Rename, and enter an appropriate name (e.g. the park or database it will be used for). |
| 4. | Right-click the icon again, select Properties, and on the Shortcut tab you'll have the Target field where you enter the command line parameters mentioned below and also add the database name. |
The available "command line parameters" are listed below. Note that these should start after the quoted executable file (CampgroundMaster.exe), e.g. after .exe" at the end of the existing text. There must be a space before the slash (/) for each parameter.
/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. For instance if the "master" for all databases you're connecting to will be the same computer, then the IP address is always the same and need not be included in the parameters. The database name can appear after all of the other 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
Important: Note that there must be a space before the slash (/) for each parameter.
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 reside on a central server (that would be the network "master"). While this isn't generally recommended (since each one 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). See the section above for details on setting up the shortcut icons.
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 and later), 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 (x86)\Campground Master\CampgroundMaster.exe" /IPPort=6010 Park One
"C:\Program Files (x86)\Campground Master\CampgroundMaster.exe" /IPPort=6011 Park Two
"C:\Program Files (x86)\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.
Important: Note that there must be a space before the slash (/) for each parameter.
Additional Topics:
Networking Through the Internet
Firewall Configuration Examples