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ViaTour System Files

This topic explains what files are needed, where they must be saved, how they must be named, and what they do:

Files*
ViaTour.mde The front end of ViaTour is called an .mde file, a locked file where the source-code (code on the forms, queries, etc) is inaccessible to users.  When users get an upgrade (new release of ViaTour with new code) this is the file that is replaced.

ViaTourData.mdb The back end of ViaTour, where the data tables are stored, is called an .mdb file, where data and reports are open and accessible to users.  In addition to your data, this file has your unique company information and preferences, permissions, boilerplate sentences and stock phrases, look-up codes, custom reports etc.  This file should be backed up regularly. 

Ini file This is the file that helps the front end find the correct path to the data file. 

.ldb This file is a library data file that opens when anyone is using ViaTour.  When you are updating the ViaTour.mde or copying the ViaTour Data.mdb, you should make sure all users are out of ViaTour and there is no .ldb file visible.

*The extensions: .mde and .mdb and .ini and .ldb may not be visible with your folder view settings. To view them go to the Explorer menus: Tools / Folder Options / View and under Files and Folders is a check box that says "Hide extensions for known file types."  This box should be blank or "unchecked" to see extensions.  At the top of the list you can apply this to all folders or just to the ones where you are looking at ViaTour files.
Where Files Reside

ViaTour.mde  This file will reside in two places:
on all users local computer with this path C:\ViaTour\ViaTour.mde
on the shared server in a ?: \?folder?\ViaTour\Setup\Viatour.mde  (highlighted path is unique to every client- enter for your records)

ViaTourData.mdb No matter what your path, the data file should always be one level below the ViaTour folder: 
?:\Folder?\Folder?\ViaTour\ViaTourData. (highlighted path is unique to every client- enter for your records)
Upgrades

How it works… When we upgrade clients, the file we send self-extracts to the set-up folder.  (We know your paths, so we map this for you.) 

The new ViaTour.mde replaces the old ViaTour.mde

When users click the "update icon" on their desktop a .bat file copies the latest ViaTour.mde from the set up folder on the server to their C:\ViaTour folder overriding the old one.  Now you are ready to go!

For some users, the .bat file does not work (Windows issue).  These users manually copy in Windows Explorer the new ViaTour.Mde file from the Setup folder on the shared server to their C: ViaTour folder, overriding the old one.

How does the front end know how to find the back end?
 
We store this information in the front end.  You can see the path to your data by clicking on System Maintenance- reattach tables. Users should never need to use this form to browse to their data--but it is there just in case.


Help Files

PowerPoint Help:  
Please have a folder for  Help with this mapping: 

? \ViaTour\VT_PowerPoint\

Sample Reports
These can be launched form the ViaTour Reports Form by selecting a canned report's name  (not custom) and clicking on the yellow question mark (bottom of form).  You must have the PDFs supplied by ViaTour in your ViaTour folder (same folder as your ViaTourData file)  on the Shared Drive called "SampleReports" no spaces: 
X: ? \ViaTour\SampleReports\

  OnLine Help File 
These help files will reside in the same folder as your ViaTourData file. Users click F1 to access help.
§ Help.cnt
§ Help.gid (created after first launch of help)
§ VT_Help.hlp