Installation and Startup Guide for Teamwork Information Exchange 3 This guide contains a instructions for installing and running Teamwork Information Exchange. System Requirements & Configuration TIE may be run on any IBM compatible PC using DOS 3.3 or above and is compatible with all network software that adheres to the file sharing protocols of DOS 3.3 and above. TIE requires a minimum of 400K of available conventional memory. Configuration Requirement: A minimum of 31 file handles must be available to run TIE. The following line should appear in the CONFIG.SYS file of all workstations running TIE. FILES=31 Values above 31 may be substituted if other applications require more file handles. Values above 31 may be required if your workstation is running memory resident (TSR) applications or utilities such as shell programs. Installing TIE On Your Network For multi-user access, TIE's data files must be installed on a network server or workstation where the data files can be shared. To install TIE on the network server place the distribution disk in drive A: and type the following command: A:INSTALL You will be prompted as follows: Disk drive where you want to install: c Enter the drive letter for the network server drive where you want to install the program and data files. Suggested installation directory on drive X is \TIE3 where "X" is the drive letter specified above. Press key to accept or type a new path: press enter to accept the default directory or enter a new directory name. TIE's program and data files will be decompressed and installed on the designated drive and directory. The main program (TIE.EXE) may also be installed on and run from individual workstations. Note that not all networks support running workstation resident copies of TIE with access to the data files on the server. We recommend that, were possible, the program be installed on each work station. This configuration reduces network traffic and improves performance. To install the TIE main program on a network workstation, create a directory on the workstation's hard disk and simply copy the main program file (TIE.EXE) from the network server to the new subdirectory on the workstation's hard disk. Example: C: Change to the workstations hard drive MD \TIE3 Create a subdirectory named TIE3 CD \TIE3 Select the new subdirectory COPY G:\TIE3\TIE.EXE Copy TIE.EXE from the network server drive to the workstation drive. Where "G:" is the network server drive letter where TIE was installed. Starting TIE TIE can be run from any DOS workstation on the network provided that the workstation views the server drive as a standard DOS disk drive. In many installations, access to the network server's disk drive requires a local logon procedure before the server volume is visible to the workstation. The following assumes that you have already gained access to the network server via your local log on procedure. Your network manager may have provided you with a batch file that eliminates the need for typing the individual commands. TIE uses DOS environment settings to determine the location of the server resident shared data files and the default directory where files attached to mail messages will be saved. DOS environment variables are normally setup in the workstation's autoexec.bat file. The required environment variables are specified as follows: SET TIEDAT=g:\tie3 Where "g" is the network drive letter where TIE's program and data files have been installed. If not specified, the default is the current drive and directory. SET TIEINBOX=c:\inbox Where "c:\inbox" is the workstation drive and directory where the user will normally save email attachments. If the common use of file attachments in your organization is for sending word processing documents, you may wish to set this to your word processor's default document directory. If not specified, the default is "c:\" To run the server copy of the program, when TIE.EXE is not resident on the workstation's hard disk, type the following commands: g: Where "g" is the network drive letter where TIE's program and data files have been installed. CD \TIE3 Set the default directory to the directory where TIE's program and data files have been installed. TIE Run TIE. To run a workstation installed copy of the program with access to the shared data files located on the network server, type the following commands: d:\tie3\tie Where "d" is the workstation drive letter where TIE.EXE has been installed. TIE will look for shared data files on the drive and directory specified by the "TIEDAT" environment variable. Your system manager will assign each authorized user, a unique User ID which must be entered each time you start TIE. Command line parameters are available for adjusting mouse operation and improving network performance. See Appendix A for details on command line parameters. Establishing a System Operator TIE is distributed with all data files empty. Because there are no defined users in the system when TIE is first run, the log on screen is temporarily bypassed and replaced by a data entry screen which allows definition of an initial user. By default, this initial user must be given the maximum (System Operator) privileges in order that additional users can be added to the system. When TIE initially starts for the first time, enter the information requested for all fields. Be certain that you memorize or write down your User ID before saving the entries. Immediately after saving data on the user definition screen, the logon screen will be displayed. After entering your User ID, you will have full access to all program functions. Appendix A - Command Line Parameters When starting TIE from a command prompt, the command line allows for specification of the location of shared data files, optional mouse configuration parameters and optional environment parameters. The order of parameters in the command line is as follows: TIE [mouse parameters] [environment parameters] The brackets are not typed and are shown to indicate that each parameter set is optional. Whenever the data drive and directory is specified, it must be the first parameter on the command line. Mouse Parameters In most instances it should not be necessary to enter any mouse parameters on the command line. On EGA or better monitors the mouse is displayed as a true mouse (arrow) cursor. On other displays the mouse cursor is displayed as a block cursor. The mouse parameters that can be entered on the command line are as follows: /nv Disable video bit manipulations. You may want to try this parameter just to see if you like the screen appearance better. /ng Disable graphic mouse cursor. If the mouse cursor does not behave properly when running in a DOS window under Windows 3.x you may need to use this parameter. If both parameters are used on the command line, a space is required between them. Example: TIE /nv /ng Special Note: If your monitor goes blank when starting TIE or becomes distorted, using both the /nv and /ng parameters should correct the problem. In addition, these parameters are required when running the DOS version of TIE in less than full screen mode under Windows. Environment Parameters Several environment parameters can be passed to TIE either on the command line or through the SET CLIPPER environment variable. The environment settings are as follows: E: The E option enables use of LIM 4.0 - compatible EMS memory and can improve performance on workstations that have EMS memory. If your system is running EMM386, or another memory manager, you can simulate EMS memory with the following command in your config.sys file. Device=C:\DOS\EMM386.EXE AUTO RAM To use up to 512k of expanded memory, add "//e:512" to the command line. BADCACHE Some caches that use expanded (LIM) memory do not expect that other applications will be using expanded memory and can burst into memory segments that TIE is using. The BADCACHE option provides a way around this. SWAPPATH The virtual memory management system used by TIE loads as much of the program into memory as will fit. When additional code segments are needed, the system swaps unneeded segments to expanded memory and loads the required code. If expanded memory is unavailable or exhausted, the code segments are swapped to the default disk. The SWAPPATH option allows these swap files to be redirected to an alternative drive and directory. To reduce network traffic and improve program performance, the location where swap files are written should be the local workstation's hard disk. If TIE is installed on the workstation, this is the default. Otherwise the SWAPPATH option should be used. TEMPPATH Sorting and indexing routines in TIE use temporary scratch files to buffer data as they proceed. If the drive where the TIE resides does not have enough disk space or is read only, an alternate drive and directory can be specified. Any one or more of these parameters may be passed to TIE on the command line by entering two slashes before the first parameter and separating each parameter with a semicolon. Example: TIE //E:512;SWAPPATH C:\TIE;TEMPPATH C:\TIE Alternatively, these parameters may be declared at system startup and passed to TIE from the "CLIPPER" environment variable. Example: SET CLIPPER=E:512;SWAPPATH C:\TIE;TEMPPATH C:\TIE When placed in your autoexec.bat file, this line has the same effect as passing the E, SWAPPPATH, and TEMPPATH options on TIE's command line. Troubleshooting Out of Memory If you receive an Out of Memory message when running this program it means that you either do not have enough conventional memory available to run the program or there is a fault in expanded memory. The amount of memory available for running applications can also be increased removing unnecessary TSR programs (screen savers, DOS shells, pop-ups, mouse drivers, etc.) If you are using DOS version 5.0 or higher, you may be able to load some of these programs into high memory. Runtime Errors The most serious type of potential problem is a run-time error. If this occurs, it will cause the program to abort. When this happens, the program will list several lines of text which indicate the cause of the error and it's location in the program's source code. If you get a run-time error, make a note of the error message. Run-time errors can be the result of errors in data entry, improper system configuration, or failure to have your printer on-line and ready when print operations are being performed. Check your data using the browse functions to be sure that you have entered it correctly. Run the Reindex option from the file menu to insure that all files are properly indexed. Also, check that your system is properly configured ("FILES=31" in your CONFIG.SYS file, printer turned on and on-line when printing reports). Sharing Violation On some networks a sharing violation can occur when two or more users attempt to execute a portion of TIE the same time. To solve this problem, set the file attribute of TIE.EXE to read only. This can be done using the DOS attribute command as follows: ATTRIB +R drive:\TIE\TIE.EXE It should never be necessary to change the file attribute on a workstation installed program. Getting Help If you are unable to resolve a problem on your own, send us a letter with the exact text of the error message (if any) and a compete description of the problem, your computer system (computer, memory, graphics card, DOS version, etc.), the option you were running when the error occurred, and any supplemental data which you entered under the option. Sample printouts are often key to uncovering the source of a problem. We will investigate the problem and respond as quickly as possible. If it's a simple problem or you just have a question, you may want to call us at (301) 306-0409. You may also contact us by Email on Compuserve at: 72144,1223 or Internet at: 72144.1223@compuserve.com.