Initialization Files and Installation Folders
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Overview


The executable file DMSEnt.EXE can be installed on the server or on the local drive.  The default setting for the executable files is in the \Program Files \Dynafact\ DMS\ for Windows 32-bit and \Program Files (x86)\Dynafact\ DMS\ for Windows 64-bit.


The DMS.INI file holds the SQL server name and information on each DMS dataset (database) created.  It should be shared by all users who will be using these same datasets. 


Different divisions or user groups who will be accessing different datasets may be setup to use their own copy of a DMS.INI file.  If a user group has their own copy of the DMS.INI file they will not be able to access or see the datasets in separate DMS.INI file.  In the case of two or more user groups sharing the same server, the IT department must make sure that each user group is assigned a separate naming convention for the physical SQL Sever database to avoid naming conflicts.  This can be accomplished by the IT department creating the required databases for each user group (i.e. the DMSSetup.EXE is used to make sure that users cannot create their own databases).  The DMS.INI file requires read/write access.


The default location of the DMSUser.INI is on the user’s computer in the C:\Dynafact\DMS\User folder.   DMS uses the DMSUser.INI file to locate all the folders used by DMS for the user.  (The DMS folders and their defaults are given below in the next section.)  Each user must have their own user folder as this is where DMS stores system user information.  The use folder requires read/write access.


DMS.INI has a parameter that specifies what type of help file will be used for your install.  Either a local version of the DMS help file can be installed and used or you can use the DMS help file on the internet located at the Dynafact website.  The advantages of the website help is ease of maintenance and you do not need to worry about CHM file access on your network.  The disadvantage is that all users need access to the internet to see the DMS help.


If you wish to access DMS help on the Dynafact website, a manual change is required to the DMS.INI file.  Simply change the UseWebSiteHelp=No to be UseWebSiteHelp=Yes as in:


[DMSHelp]

;If No, DMS uses the local compiled help file "DMS Help.CHM"

;If Yes, DMS uses the Dynafact website to display help

;

UseWebSiteHelp=Yes


If the above parameter is set to Yes, all users will be accessing DMS help on the internet.  The default during the install is UseWebSiteHelp=No.


The installation DMSInstall creates the necessary folders and DMSUser.INI file. DMSInstall is used for standalone and server installs.   DMSClient creates the user folder, registers the report writer, and asks you to identify the location of the installed DMS folders on the server.


Note that DMS window positions and settings for each user are stored in the database.  These settings can be adjusted though DMS using User Settings Management.  Please refer to the help documentation for more information on User Settings Management.


In summary:


  1. The executable file should be installed on a server and shared by all users (recommended).  It can also be installed locally on each workstation (not recommended as multi EXE files can then exist).
  2. The DMS.INI file must be shared by all users who access the same datasets.  Users must have read/write access to the DMS.INI
  3. Each user must have their own folder to store personal settings.  User must have read/write access to their user folder.


DMS User Initialization File

The DMS user initialization file (DMSUser.INI) informs DMS where all the other DMS folders are located for a user.  The default for DMSUser.INI is C:\Dynafact\DMS\User, but it can be located in a different location.


DMSUser.INI contains the following settings:

DMS INI Folder

The DMS.INI location defaults to C: \Dynafact\DMS\Data located on the server.  If DMS is standalone the file is on the local computer in the same folder name.  DMS.INI holds the SQL Server name and other pertinent information for DMS such as the DMS datasets (databases).  DMS.INI is encrypted and should NOT be edited; it is changed by using the DMSSetup.EXE application and the DMS application.  For each copy of DMS installed, network users must share the same DMS.INI file.


[DMSINI]

DMSINIFolder=<server> \Dynafact \DMS\Data\


DMS User Folder

Each user must have their own user folder as this is where DMS stores personal user settings.    It is specified in the [DMSUser] section of the DMSUser.INI file under DMSUserFolder.  Network users must have their own user folder location.  The default is C:\ Dynafact \DMS\User\ (note if using DMS Help on the internet, this parameter is ignored by DMS)


[DMSUser]

DMSUserFolder=C:\Dynafact \DMS\User\


DDF folder

The DDF folder is used to store the DDF (data dictionary files) for the reports.  It is specified in the [Reporting] section of the DMSUser.INI file under DDFFolder.  Network users should share the same DDF folder location for each copy of the DMS system installed. 


[Reporting]

DDFFolder=<server>\Dynafact \DMS\DDF\

Reports Folder

The reports folder is used to store the report files used for reporting.  Currently the report files are Crystal Reports where each defined report in DMS has a corresponding Crystal Report file.  The Reports folder is specified in the [Reporting] section of the DMSUser.INI file under ReportsFolder.  Network users should share the same reports folder location for each copy of the DMS system installed. 


[Reporting]

ReportsFolder=<server>\Dynafact \DMS\Reports\


Import Folder

The Import folder is used to store text files that will be imported into DMS.  It is specified in the [Importing] section of the DMSUser.INI file under ImportFolder. 


[Importing]

ImportFolder=<server>\Dynafact \DMS\Import\


Export Folder

The Export folder is used to store text files that were exported from DMS.  It is specified in the [Exporting] section of the DMSUser.INI file under ExportFolder. 


[Exporting]

ExportFolder=<server>\Dynafact \DMS\Export \


Wave files for Sound

The Wave File folder is used to store wave files that can optionally be used for sound in DMS such as reminders.  It is specified in the [Wave] section of the DMSUser.INI file under WaveFolder. 


[Wave]

WaveFolder=<server>\Dynafact \DMS\Wave File\


Help File

The Help File setting is used to specify the location of the help file. (Also see “Accessing DMS Help from a network.DOC.)


[HelpFile]

HelpFile= <server>\Dynafact\DMS\DATA\DMS Help.chm


Example DMSUser.INI File

In the example below, Z: is the server drive.  Z: can also be the universal path name as in \\Some_Server\Server_Drive.  DMSUser.INI is located in the default location locally in C:\Dynafact\DMS\User. 


[LastUsed]

ConfirmExit=0

UserName=dms

ViewCompanyName=1

TextEditor=NotePad.exe

Database=DMS

CompanyName=DMS


[DMSINI]

DMSINIFolder=Z:\Dynafact\DMS\Data\


[DMSUser]

DMSUserFolder=C:\Dynafact\DMS\User\


[Importing]

ImportFolder=Z:\Dynafact\DMS\


[Wave]

WaveFolder=Z:\Dynafact\DMS\


[Reporting]

DDFFolder=Z:\Dynafact\DMS\

ReportsFolder=Z:\Dynafact\DMS\


[Exporting]

ExportFolder=Z:\Dynafact\DMS\


[HelpFile]

HelpFile=Z:\Dynafact\DMS\Data\DMS Help.chm


Optional DMSUser.INI Location & Multiple Systems

DMS determines the DMSUser.INI file location by using the UserIniFolder= parameter in the command line.  During installation of the server or client, DMD automatically sets up the parameter for the shortcut.  For example:


       “Z:\Some Server\DMSEnt.EXE”  “UserIniFolder=H:\Some Folder\”


The above parameter informs DMS that the DMSUser.INI file is located in H:\Some Folder\. Note that the entire parameter must be surrounded by double quotes. 


The screen example below shows the properties of the DMS shortcut icon on the desktop.  The target to execute the DMSEnt.EXE is "C:\Program Files (x86)\Dynafact\DMS\".  The DMSUser.INI file is located in the UserIniFolder  C:\Dynafact\DMS\User\.  This is specified be the parameter “UserIniFolder = C:\Dynafact\DMS\User\”.  Note that both the executable file location and the UserIniFolder parameter have been surrounded by double quotes.  The entire target line is:


"C:\Program Files (x86)\Dynafact\DMS\DMSEnt.exe"  "UserIniFolder=C:\Dynafact\DMS\User\".


       


Using the UserIniFolder parameter you can setup multiple copies of DMS that are independent.  This can be done by creating an icon on your desktop for each independent version of DMS and then changing the target line to the DMS executable location and passing the UserIniFolder name in the target line.


For example, let say that there is a server with drive T for testing and a production server drive P.  The DMSUser.INI file is in C:\DMSLocal\Test for testing and C:\DMSLocal\Production for production.  On both drive T and drive P, DMS is installed in a folder called “DMS”.  The target line for the test server would be:


       “T:\DMS\DMSEmt.EXE” “UserIniFolder=C:\DMSLocal\Test\“


And for production:


       “P:\DMS\DMSEmt.EXE” “UserIniFolder=C:\DMSLocal\Production\“


The DMSUser.INI file in C:\DMSLocal\Test\ would be something like:


[DMSINI]

DMSINIFolder=T:\DMS\Data\


[DMSUser]

DMSUserFolder=C:\DMSLocal\Test\


[Reporting]

DDFFolder=T:\DMS\DDF\

ReportsFolder=T:\DMS\Reports\


[Importing]

ImportFolder=T:\DDMS\Import\


[Exporting]

ExportFolder=T:\DMS\Export\


[Wave]

WaveFolder=T:\DMS\Wave File\

...


The DMSUser.INI file in C:\DMSLocal\Production\ would be something like:


[DMSINI]

DMSINIFolder=P:\DMS\Data\


[DMSUser]

DMSUserFolder=C:\DMSLocal\Production\


[Reporting]

DDFFolder=P:\DMS\DDF\

ReportsFolder=P:\DMS\Reports\


[Importing]

ImportFolder=P:\DMS\Import\


[Exporting]

ExportFolder=P:\DMS\Export\


[Wave]

WaveFolder=P:\DMS\Wave File\

...