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Installation by Client image:

 

It is recommended to maintain an image of an AMS Client on your local network to facilitate installation on new computers. This image must contain all files, including your company specific files like reports and your license (refer to the list of specific files further down this article).

To install AMS on a new computer, copy the AMS Client image to C:\AMS\AMS_Client\ and create a shortcut to C:\AMS\AMS_Client\AMS.exe on the computer desktop / pin to task bar.

Allow the interactive user to make changes to this installation directory as iCare AMS will update its own files whenever an update is necessary

 

All files necessary to run AMS are copied using the above procedure. There is no third party software required, no requirement to change the Windows registry, no need to run an installation assistant or a setup program (a setup program is also available on request).

 

 

Your Specific files :

 

- Your license file in the installation directory \AMS_Client\  (Note 3)

 

- Company specific reports (refer to "Company Specific Reports" further down this article)

 

- if you are using specific MS Excel Templates: the entire directory \AMS_Client\XlsTemplatesCustom\

 

- Run iCare AMS Client and enter the server connection details (click on the “connection details” button on the log in window). (Note 1)

 

- If this is the fist installation, ensure that all general settings are tailored to your company (refer to the installation manual for further instructions)

 

 

NOTE 1 (Preset your connection to the AMS server):

Since version 3.358, you can use a configuration file to force AMS Client to connect to a pre-defined AMS Server. This is also very useful to create an AMS Client image containing your license file, your company logo and this configuration file so that copying this image on a client computer is the only thing needed to run AMS immediately (and without having to make a first successful connection to the Server for the connection parameters to be recorded)

Create a new file named "hostconfig.dat" in the AMS_Client.exe directory, then edit this file as per the following example (do not include the **** characters and replace the [Server] [DB Name] values as necessary):

***********************

[Alias Name]=DEFAULT

[Conn Type]=TCP

[Server]=194.125.94.88:219

[DB Name]=DATA

[DB password]=

[Language]=

[end]

***********************

If your database is protected by a global DB password, do not record this password directly (in clear) into this file. The password recorded into this file is encrypted using an encryption key which is specific to your computer (so that copying the file from one computer to another will fail). In this case you will need to create a connection alias (using the AMS login window / Connection details) and then copy the entry from the file "hosts.dat"make a first connection (without using a "hostconfig.dat") and then copy the entry generated into the file "hosts.dat" to comply with the above specifications.

 

NOTE 2 (Company Logos):

There is no need to copy your company logo files. Your company logo will be updated from the server the first time your log in (tick the box "Reset Logos" under the connection details)  

 

NOTE 3 (License file):

Your license file should be named "licen01.dat"; but there are specific situations where your license file will be named differently. These specific situations are not exposed in this manual

iCare AMS will display a message (on the welcome page) to warn you if your license file expires within less than 30 days.

When you receive your new license file, you can copy this file to each client computer (\AMS_Client\licen01.dat) to immediately get rid of this warning message. It is recommended to do this on at least one computer to make sure your new license file is operational. To update all clients license files without having to update it manually on each client computer, place a copy of your license file on your server in the same directory as the database file (DATA.FDB) and name this license file "amslicen01.dat". When the license file of a client is found out-dated, AMS will try to obtain a newer copy from the server by checking this file location. Note: This automated license file update will only work if an out-dated license file is found (if there is no previous license file present on the client computer, the server will reject the connection).

 

 

Company Specific Reports

 

AMS is delivered with 200+ standard reports. If you ordered additional reports which are specific to your company, you received a file with the same name as the standard report except the 3 letters "SPC" at the end of the file name (prior to the file extension). Example: the standard report ReportMAIN1.rav and its specific version ReportMAIN1SPC.rav. Simply copy the specific report next to its standard version to override it.

Important: If you are using specific version of reports, upgrading AMS to a newer version does not change your report (only the standard version of the report is upgraded). For more details refer to User defined edition reports

Note that you can distribute your internal reports, templates and company logo on all client computers by installing these files on the server. Refer to the Installation Manual section 3.2.4.