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This new version of the program from Window Book allows for the automatic updating of each workstation (without requiring a full installation) once the Primary Network/Server installation has been completed.
NOTE: If for any reason a full installation using the install routine is required on the workstations after the system has been set up, it will be indicated by an .ini setting made by the Server Installation for that particular version. (This is a very rare occurrence).
NOTE: The Workstation install will issue a warning if the .Ini file (WBIProducts.ini) is not found in the NetBookshelf.
In order to make this new system possible, some changes were made to the installers and the architecture of the Server/Workstation type of Installation.
The Installer itself now has three options rather than two, and with this upgrade it’s very important to do the correct type of install in the correct place, i.e. “Workstation” on the client/workstations and “Server” on the Server or primary machine (where the Main Program and (sometimes) the data are physically located.) If the program and data are on separate machines it will be necessary to designate one of the machines as the Primary or Server install for the purposes of this type of architecture.
This will translate into a new code in the machine’s WBIinstall.ini
PM707Netversion=SERVER for a Server
Continuing with the “Server” Install – this screen now appears after the screen where you set the program and datapaths
NetBookshelf is important since it’s the repository of the files that will do the workstation updates.
The Netbookshelf MUST be available through the network to all workstations. (the aliasing can be different, for instance a workstation might see this same directory as “Z:\WB” or “\\Main01\Postal\WB” but the physical location has to be the same).
This will translate into a new code in the machine’s WBIinstall.ini
PM707Netversion=W for a Workstation
Continuing with the “Workstation” Install – this screen now appears after the screen where you set the program and datapaths
NetBookshelf is important since it’s the repository of the files that will do the workstation updates. The Netbookshelf MUST be available through the network to all workstations. (the aliasing can be different, for instance a workstation might see this same directory as “Z:\WB” or “\\Main01\Postal\WB” but the physical location has to be the same).
New files are being installed into Netbookshelf by the Server Installation (only) – these are the files that will update the workstation.
There is a new directory called …\Installs (Here Netbookshelf = O:\WB, so the full path is O:\WB\Installs) which contains subdirectories for each product (Post Master™ or DAT-MAIL™). Those subdirectories contain the files that are being updated on the workstation.
See Screenshots below:
The batch file “UpdatePostMaster.bat” does the actual copying of files
There’s also a new file called WBIProducts.ini (which is created and edited by the Server installation) which tells the workstation whether it needs to update or not.
WBIProducts.ini contains the version number of Post Master™ that has been updated by the Server installation. It also has a list of files to check being open on the workstation – if it finds any of these programs running you get a warning when you start up the workstation (if an update is required).
Note: The Workstation install will issue a warning if this file (WBIProducts.ini) is not found in the NetBookshelf.
Typical Contents of WBIProducts.ini:
[Post Master] Version=8.13.6.2 Installer=Installs\UpdatePostMaster.bat ManualInstall=0 ActiveServerInstall=0 ServerPath=O:\WB EXEFiles=4 File1=pwprg707.exe File2=PMWIE707.exe File3=imxml707.exe File4=mdbpst707.exe Display1=Accounting Purge Utility Display2=Import/Export Utility Display3=IMXML Import Display4=Dat-Mail Statements
NOTES: