 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
Part 4 – System Administration - 3 -
System Operation
Initialization:
When you install and start the HVAC Office for the first time by double clicking on the HVAC Office icon (or from
the Win95/98/NT/2000/Millenium Start Menu), the system begins an initialization process. The application is
“attached” to the many data tables within the data files.
The next step presents a login form, to allow you to log onto the database validating the user name and the
workstation system serial number. Once this has been completed, the system is ready for operation.
The data initialization process only occurs during the initial start-up of the system. Each time you start HVAC Office
thereafter, the program need not go through the initialization. Instead, the logon form and verification process appears
immediately.
Data Organization:
The DAT is organized into tables and fields. For instance, the Customer table contains over 20 fields that hold data
such as the customer’s name, billing address, etc. This customer table is linked to other tables, such as the Jobsite
table. This maintains the Customer / multiple Jobsite relationship. You see the data contained in the Jobsite table by
viewing the Jobsite form. Each of the linked tables contains the many fields required to contain the stored data. The
actual database table structure is presented in the Operations guide.
Functionality:
Clicking buttons on the Main Control Form, or on the Toolbar commands the application to do certain functions.
These have been carefully programmed to allow you to navigate through the system without fear of “breaking”
something. In fact, it is quite impossible for any operation that you can command to cause the system to crash or
hang-up. As you enter Customers, Jobsites, Service Calls, Equipment, etc. the system APP is programmed to store
that data in the appropriate location in the proper table and data field in the “DAT”. Many functions are programmed
to start automatically based on your customization of the system. They are based upon the date due, as compared to
the system’s internal date/time clock. It is therefore very important that all computers clocks are synchronized.
There are free programs on the Internet that will sync each computer with the National Bureau of Standards WWV
standard time.
Networking HVAC Office
1
:
Most installations of HVAC Office utilize Windows peer to peer networking in order to allow several computers to
operate simultaneously from the same database. The actual databases “Hvac01.dat” “Attachments.dat”, and
“DirectMail.mdb” are located in the Quantum\Data directory on only one computer. We call that computer the
“Quantrac Server”. (The server also contains an operational “APP” and is usually used as one of the workstations)
Other computers on the network are termed “Workstations”. They contain application software only (no database or
maintenance functions). Each workstation, when started for the first time, has to be told where the DAT is located
on your local network. The workstation attaches to the dat tables during initialization. Each bit of data that is entered
or retrieved on one of the workstations actually travels across the network for storage to or from the DAT on the
server computer’s hard disk drive.
Office Organization
Data throughput to and from a computer’s local disk drive is much more efficient than via the network. For this
reason, you should place the most demanding customer-oriented communications position in your office (usually the
Service Manager or Dispatcher) on the “Quantrac Server” computer. Doing this will provide the fastest data
response in your most critical position.
1
See Networking for HVAC Office, Appendix
|
 |
|