WorkExpo On-Line Help
Networking WorkExpo - Overview

WorkExpo is a Microsoft Access runtime database. It consists primarily of two key files (databases) - WORKEXPO.MDE (front-end) and DATA.MDB (back-end).  It should be installed so that the data file may be shared by different users at different sites while all the program files (incl. front-end) reside on the local machine.

A multi-user licence is required to configure WorkExpo for shared network use.


Network Installation
Follow these steps to configure WorkExpo for shared use by two or more teachers across a network if the licence permits.

  1. Install WorkExpo normally on the first machine using setup.exe or the optional /silent switch
  2. Once installed. Start WorkExpo and ensire that it is running normally
  3. By default the data file will be: c:\program files\workexpo\data.mdb
  4. Close WorkExpo
  5. Using Windows Explorer move or copy the single file c:\program files\workexpo\data.mdb to a shared network server location. All teachers needing access to this data file will require read/write/create permissions on the shared network location
  6. Start WorkExpo again
  7. If you moved the data file WorkExpo will prompt for the data.mdb file location. If you copied the data file WorkExpo will open normally and connect with the default data file c:\program files\workexpo\data.mdb. If you copied the data file, go to the Main Menu, then FILE / OPEN from the WorkExpo menu-bar
  8. Navigate to the shared network server location of data.mdb
  9. Select the data file and click OK or OPEN
  10. WorkExpo re-connects to this network data file and stores its location for future use connecting to it each session

 

Display the Data File Network Path in the WorkExpo Title Bar

WorkExpo displays the current data file path in the title bar. This option may be toggled on or off.
To do so:

  1. Open WorkExpo at the Main Menu
  2. Click the Options button
  3. In the Options dialog click the DATA FILE tab
  4. Click check-box to enable Show data file path in the title bar
  5. WorkExpo displays the current data file path in the title bar

 

Navigating to a WorkExpo Data file
Follow these steps to navigate between different WorkExpo data files.

  1. Start WorkExpo
  2. From the FILE menu choose OPEN
  3. Navigate to a WorkExpo data file e.g. //myserver/teacher/careers/workexpo/data.mdb

WorkExpo will remember the links for subsequent sessions

 

Sharing Files between Different Users of WorkExpo
Users of WorkExpo can also share their data file (data.mdb) across a LAN so that updates and deletes flow to all users. WorkExpo will handle any read/write conflicts internally.


WorkExpo Will Run Slower Across a LAN
WorkExpo with  its data file deployed across a LAN will run slower than if the data file resided on the user’s hard drive. However, WorkExpo will run very much slower if the front-end file workexpo.mde is also deployed on the server. It is strongly recommended that this is avoided and that workexpo.mde is deployed on each user local disk.

Conclusion

WorkExpo can be installed across a local area network for data sharing by up to five concurrent users depending on your licence. Only a single file data.mdb needs to be deployed to the network server. Any other installation will mean that users may lose WorkExpo program settings between sessions.
WorkExpo may run considerably slower if the front-end file workexpo.mde is deployed on the server.

NOTES:

See Also

 

 


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