30 September 2010

T&T0003R1 Upgrading AMS executable and reports

The latest AMS program upgrade will from now on be on our ftp site for all users to download.  Downloads will be available through the AMS program.  For users on older version of the program the first upgrade can be done manually as described below, but this option will not be available in the future.
This upgrade includes various changes and fixes made over the past few months as well as report changes, which can be automatically downloaded directly from the ftp site from within the program.
There are currently two options for upgrading available to users.
1     Auto Upgrade:For those users with version 2.22.00 or later, open 'Housekeeping - Config Options - Company' and select 'Download Update'.  A download window will open and the program will automatically download the latest upgrade file from the ftp site. 
W930This download window can be closed when complete or will auto close five seconds after completion.  Later versions will offer to auto start the 'Setup.exe'.
If the program does not try to auto start the upgrade, exit and manually run Q:\Data\Setams\Setup.exe (where ‘Q’ is the default drive used for AMS installations.  This might differ on some sites).
FTPFile_UpdateTo upgrade the report templates, open 'Housekeeping - Config Options - Company' and select 'Download Reports'.  A download window will open and the program will automatically download the latest upgrade file from the ftp site.  This download window can be closed when complete or will auto close five seconds after completion. Manually run Q:\Data\Setams\SetupReports.exe

2  Manual Upgrade
For users on progran versions prior to v2.22.00 use the ftp site to bring the program up to date.  This method of updating will be obsolute once all users upgraded to the latest version.
Download Site:
ftp://ftp.avdex.co.za    AMS
The ftp username is avdexftp and the password is avdata
Download the ‘Setup.exe’ file to the Q:\Data\Setams folder.  Run the ‘Setup.Exe’ on the first PC and follow the install instructions.  It is important to save the installation file in this directory where all users can access the installation file.
Please remember to close AMS32 on your PC when running the setup.  An error message most likely means that AMS32 is still open and cannot be over written.
Users not familiar with FTP sites could download from our online download site: Click Here and download the AMS installation file SetAMS.exe
FileStrucoutofdate_Warning3 Implementation
When the first user upgrades, ask all users to exit AMS.  Relaunch AMS. If the file structures need updating, the program will display a warning.  Select 'File Structure' and select each file that is not OK and press ‘Update’.  When complete, Exit re launch AMS and select ‘Housekeeping - System - Data Files - Build Index’ and press ‘Start Indexing’.
FileBuildW922
Once the first user has upgraded, the other users will be prompted to upgrade automatically when they next logon.
OldExe_warn
Reports
Download and save the file ‘SetupReports.exe’ and unzip to the ‘Q:\Data\Setams’ folder.

29 September 2010

T&T0014R1 - Mapped Drives for AMS

AMS32 and Status make use of 'Mapped Drives' when connecting to data and other folders.  This is due to a number of reasons, not the least being a quirk in a report writer that does not see UNC drives.  As a universal setup, AvData have used the drive letter 'Q' to denote the data directory for AMS and 'P' for WinStatus.  (The new SQL version of Status does not require this definition)  This aids trouble shooting in telephonic support as all AvData drives are 'Q' or 'P'.

When setting up a new PC on a network it is essential that the drive mapping be in place prior to first launching AMS or Status.  When selecting the remote folder to 'Map', select the folder containing the 'Data' folder.  ie the one above the data in the tree as shown by Windows.  Both the report writers and the data files need to see a folder in the data drive.  This means that the data drive cannot be 'Q' but must be 'Q:\Data'.  As most installations on servers are done via a full installation, it is then easy to 'Map' the 'AMO' folder on the server as 'Q'. 

Cleints making use of the 'Multi Data' facility must always have the same folders mapped in an identical manner as these paths are stored in a file on the server and will produce warnings if the program sees different paths to the 'Multi Data' folders.

MapThe data path for AMS will therefore aleways be 'Q:\Data'

Preferred method

  1. Click the Start button
  2. Right Click on My Computer
  3. Select Map Network drive…
  4. Enter the Drive (Q:)
  5. Browse and select the network folder
  6. Check Reconnect at logon
  7. Select Finish

The exact format of the window might differ between operatings systems.

Visit the AMS web site

15 September 2010

License renewal–Softkey update

The process of obtaining new softkeys for AMS users has been simplified and can be done online.  When this done for the first time each site must obtain their site user id and site password from Aviation Databases.  Users must also be using the latest executable as this feature was not available on older executables.  Click here for upgrade information or visit our download server.  Users must also have access to the internet for this option to work.
In AMS licenses must be obtained for each user or PC on the AMS system.  Users must go to the waterfall menu options: Housekeeping | Config Options.  This will open window W930.  Select the License tab to display the online registration options.
W930a
Ensure that you enter your correct Client company ID as obtained from Aviation Databases for your site installation.  Next enter your client password which is the same for all users in your company.  Once this is done, the “Net Login” button will be available.  Click this button to connect to the internet and obtain the softkey for your station.
W930b
The client data window will now open showing the registered programs with the program expiry dates.  You can select the “Update” button to update your company address information on the network data base.  The “Generate key” button will generate a new softkey on the PC.  Close this window and return to window W930 where the new softkey will be displayed.
To register users must be using the current version of the program.

On stations without internet access, users can manually enter the softkey which can be provided manually from the PC ID as shown on W930.  This softkey must be provided by Aviation Databases.  Another option is to email Aviation Databases the Softkey.dbf file as found in the data directory,  This option is also available on the backup window that can be found under the menu option: Housekeeping | System | Archive
Visit the AMS web site