Chapter 3 - Configuration
Windows Manager Configuration Wizard
The Windows Manager Configuration wizard, WinMgrCfg.exe, is an executable file that performs the initial configuration of the Manager program and it’s associated files. It is found in the directory, CHRR Authoring System, along with the Manager program, WinMGR.exe, if the default configuration was accepted.
The Manager program needs to know whether the configuration environment is either ‘local’ or ‘remote’ and the location of several essential files. If the environment is ‘local’, the Manager will be set up to reside on a single PC and all the files will reside on the PC. If it is ‘remote’ the Manager will be configured to reside on a network and more than one PC may share common files. If a remote configuration is desired and more than one user will be sharing files, it may become important to establish different levels of permissions for administrator, supervisors, and users. For information on how to set up instrument with multiple users, see the Admin function.
Once the environment is established, the Manager needs to know the locations of several essential files. The locations of the following files are essential for the Manager to function correctly.
| System.MDW | This database file defines various workgroups and contain information such as users’ passwords and permissions. There may be more than one ‘system.MDB’ database file. The number depends on-line whether the configuration is on a network, on how many different surveys are being worked on at one time, and how the administrator organizes the combination of instruments and modules in these surveys. |
| Dbase.MDB | This database file contains specifications about the instruments that are available to the Manager program. This database file should be located in the same directory as the Basics.MDB database file. |
| Basics.MDB | This database file contains system-wide data used by the Manager program to display the questionnaire in a viewable format. This database file should be located in the same directory as the Dbase.MDB database file |
| Demo.MDB | This sample database is installed as a demonstration instrument. There may be more than one instrument that is being worked at any time. The number of instruments available to the designers depends whether the configuration is on a network, the number of surveys being created, and the organization of the instruments within a survey. Individual designers within the Manager program may make the selection or modification of which instrument to work on at a later time. |
| Chrrcapi.MDB | This database file is a temporary working file that is used to store temporary tables during the creation and design process. |
| Browser | This step configures a Web browser to be used to display reports on-line. After reports are reviewed on-line they may be printed by using the print command in the browser. |
Running the Configuration Wizard
To begin, double click on the WinMgrCfg.exe file name and the dialogue box shown in the figure below will appear. Read and follow the directions on each screen. The following series of sample screens displays the default configuration for the Manager program.
System DatabaseThe first database file to locate is the System.MDW. The default path displayed in the dialogue box is:
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To browse for another location on a different drive or directory, press the Browse button and the standard Windows browse dialogue will appear. It may be necessary to locate a directory other then the default above.
When the location of the database file is satisfactory, press the Next button to continue.
This database file defines various workgroups and contains information such as users’ passwords and permissions. At a later point, when all of the users and their permissions have been established, it may be wise to create and keep a backup copy of the System.mdw database file (e.g., old-system.mdw) for each installation.
TIP: If the Manager program has to be re-installed for some reason, the new re-installed System.mdw will contain minimal users’ passwords and permissions. The old System.mdw backup copy may then be renamed to System.mdw and used to re-establish the previous complete setup of passwords and permissions.
ConfigurationThe next step is to configure whether the Manager installation will be for a local stand-alone PC or a network. If you choose a local configuration, go to the "Local Configuration" topic.
Remote ConfigurationIf a remote configuration is desired, database files will be placed in specified directories on the network and users will share some (system.MDW, dbase.MDB, basics.MDB, and browser). Others (chrrcapi.MDB and may be the instrument database files) will have access restricted by password.
Click on the Network Mode radio button. The configuration may be changed later in the Manager program.
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To continue press the Next button and skip to the
Instruments Database topic.
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The Instruments Database dialogue box describes the nature of the DBase.MDB and Basics.MDB database files that are used by the Manager program. The Manager program needs to link to the data contained in the databases. In general, DBase.MDB contains the administrative structure tables and Basics.MDB contains the content tables used by the Manager. They should be kept in the same directories.
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To continue, press the Next >> button.
To return to the previous dialogue box, press the Back button.
The next dialogue box requires the locations of Dbase.MDB and Basics.MDB database files. Both files should be kept in the same directory. The default path displayed in the dialogue box is:
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When the location of the database file is satisfactory, press the Next >> button to continue.
Questionnaire Databases
The Questionnaire Databases dialogue box locates the actual questionnaire database to be created or worked on. Eventually, there may be more than one questionnaire to work on.
The primary installation furnishes a demonstration questionnaire database. Additional questionnaire databases may be created and selected from within the Manager program.
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Tip: It may be wise to create a directory for each questionnaire database. Depending on how the administrator wants to configure the Manager (local or remote) and the ‘support files’ for each instrument (common or instrument specific), the setup of each questionnaire (and sections of it) may be easier to manage in separate directories.
Support files are used by a questionnaire for a variety of purposes. They include continuous codes, help files, pick lists (a.k.a. distribution codes), rosters, section (a.k.a. modules) files, and symbol files. These files are linked to each questionnaire in the Manager program. The administrator must decide how these links occur. They are not configured during this process.
Work Database
The Work Database dialogue box specifies the location of a work database that needs to be created by the Manager. This database file is a temporary file that essentially contains working copies of tables, data, and links in Basics.MDB and Dbase.MDB. More than one work database may exist. Each instrument may have one. Work databases may be placed anywhere in the directory structure.
The default path displayed in the dialogue box will create the CHRRCAPI.MDB working database file in:
TIP: It may be a good tip to place the working database in the particular instrument’s directory.
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If the directory specified for the work database already contains one, the Manager will notify the user and request what to do with the existing work database. |
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Date Format
The date format may be set during configuration to one of three international standard formats. All dates are Year-2000 compliant as the year is stored in a 4-digit format.
To set the date format click on one of the radio button.
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HTML Viewer
This step in configuration will no longer appear in configurations for versions later than 2.2.22. The default configuration viewer for software versions later than 2.2.22 is Internet Explorer 4.0 or later.
The HTML Viewer dialogue box configures a Web browser to be used to display reports on-line. After reports are reviewed on-line they may be printed by using the print command in the browser. The configuration wizard can find the Netscape and Internet Explorer browsers if they are properly installed on a PC or network.
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Simply click on the radio button for the desired browser. If the browser cannot be found or another browser is desired, click on Other and then press the Pick Apps button and browse in the standard Windows dialogue box to find the browser’s program file.
Save Configuration
In the Save Configuration step of the Windows Manager the wizard asks the user to review and verify the previous steps. This dialogue box identifies the setup mode, the databases, and displays the setup paths for each.
To review the complete paths and setup for all the files, use the horizontal and vertical scrollbars to make them visible.
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If the configuration is correct, click the Finish button to close the wizard and make the settings permanent.
Database File Attributes
If the software is being installed and configured for the first time or have been copied from the CD, a series of messages similar to the following will appear. The Manager cannot open the database tables because the Read-Only attribute of the files Basics.MDB, Dbase.MDB, System.MDW, and RecTypes.MDB needs to to be reset. The reason for this is that anytime a file is copied from a CD directly, its attribute gets set to Read-Only.
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Resetting Database File Attributes
After acknowledging all of the above messages, follow the directions below for each file. If you are copying any of the following files, Basics.MDB, DBase.MDB, System.MDW, and RecTypes.MDB from the CD, the Read-Only attribute will also need to be reset.
To reset the file attribute,
Next Steps
If the configuration is successful and the file attributes are correct. You should be ready to log on to the Manager.
If not, it will be necessary to re-configure the Manager. The first step is to re-create the working database, by deleting the corrupted copy from the Windows Registry.
