InstaCode allows users to save several types of user data; client records, master key systems, hooks locations, favourite series and series notes. With the normal 'Standalone' installation of InstaCode, this user data is stored on the computer InstaCode is running on and each copy of InstaCode has its own set of user data.
When the user data needs to be shared by multiple copies of InstaCode, a network installation can be performed. A network installation has one computer with all data (the server) that is accessed by InstaCode on other computers (the workstations) across the local area network. With a network installation there is a single store of user data that is shared by all installations of InstaCode.
A network installation should be performed only when your user data needs to be shared by multiple installations of InstaCode on the same network.
If the user data does not need to be shared, perform the
Standaloneinstallation on all computers as standalone installations are less complex.
InstaCode workstations access some data from the server via a Windows Network Share called ICDataFiles (The remaining data is accessed via a TCP/IP connection). The Windows users running InstaCode on each workstation must have all permissions to the network share.
When a server installation of InstaCode is performed, the network share is created by the installer. The share is available to users authenticated on the server (e.g. A domain user when the server is a domain controller). If you are performing a network install where your computers are stand alone (i.e. Not on a domain) then you must ensure that each workstation has a login to the server machine and permissions to the shared folder.
If the computers (server and workstations) are not on a Windows domain you must ensure the login permissions are correct to access the
ICDataFilesshare on the server.
All workstation installations of instacode must be activated. If the installation of InstaCode on the server is not going to be used, it does not need to be activated. The data will still be accessible by the activated installations of InstaCode running on the workstations.
So after completing the installing, registering and activating the server, InstaCode can be run and deactivated from the Setup menu without affecting the ability for workstations to connect.
By deactivating the server, an activation is released to allow another installation of InstaCode to be activated.
All copies of InstaCode will automatically create a backup file on their local machine when InstaCode closes (See the topic Overview of backups).
It is important when updating InstaCode that the update is run on all computers (server and workstations) to maintain compatibility between the data on the server and the InstaCode program.
Alway ensure workstations are the same version as the server.