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K-9 Record Keeping Articles-'Training and Usage Records…An Overview' |
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Written By: Bob Ives
Author/ KANINE Records Software
Making your KANINE 2006 data mobile
Let me ask you a question. Do you have KANINE set up so that you can access your K9 records in the easiest manner and in the places that are most convenient for you? Or, are you simply stuck entering your K9 records in one location such as at the office or at home. If you want to know more about making KANINE 2006 more mobile, then this article is for you. Here, I will explain the ins and outs of connecting to your KANINE 2006 data in various scenarios. You may find that you have been stuck entering records in the office for no reason after all!
KANINE 2006 has been created so that you, the end user, have a great amount of say as to how and where you will access your K9 records. And, simply put, if you know where your KANINE 2006 data folder is and can browse to it from the computer that you are working on then you are in business.
First things first, let’s talk about the prerequisites that we must have in place so that we can run the KANINE software and connect to our data. You can consider KANINE 2006 as having two distinct parts. The first part is the software itself. The software, including the runtime files (.Net Framework and Microsoft Reportviewer files), must be installed on any computer that you wish to access your K9 records from. And furthermore, you can install the KANINE 2006 software on as many computers as you like. The software itself allows the user to interact with the user’s K9 records with controls that the user understands, such as drop down lists and text entry fields.
The second part of KANINE 2006 is the data itself. And, without access to the folder that contains your data, the software would be pretty much useless. It would be much like a car with no gas. It looks real pretty, but it just doesn’t do much. The most important thing is that you always connect to the same data folder so that you do not have your K9 records spread out in different databases.
Now, when you install the KANINE 2006 software for the first time, a data folder is created automatically for you and is copied to the default location of 'C:\CBD Data' (C:\Program Files\CBD Data for pre-September 2007 installs). If you are content with only accessing your K9 records from this single computer, you need not ever worry about the CBD Data folder because you will automatically be connected to this default folder each time you start the KANINE 2006 software.
What is in the folder, you might ask? Well, as shown below, you will find five separate MS Access databases inside this folder. Each database performs a different task within KANINE 2006. The primary database, and the one that you will most likely need to locate in the event that you are using KANINE 2006 in multiple locations, is the KANINE2006.mdb file (note that you may or may not see the .mdb extension. Also, if you do not have MS Access installed these files may look generic and may not appear as they do below.). You should note also, that anytime you copy or move your data, you should copy or move the entire CBD Data folder.
Ok, now here is the good part. You can take your data with you. Yes, that’s what I said! Your KANINE 2006 data can be stored in various locations, including removable storage such as a USB drive or an SD card. Doing so, allows the user to take his or her K9 records with them. That means that you can view, enter or print records on any computer on which you can install the KANINE 2006 software. So, let’s walk through this scenario from start to finish.
Let’s say that you want to be able to enter your K9 records from your work computer as well as your home computer or laptop. First, install the software in one of these locations. Let’s start with the laptop. KANINE 2006 can be downloaded and installed from the internet or you may have been sent a CD, from which it could be installed as well. Once you have installed the software in this first location go ahead and run the software for the first time. Now, set up your user profile and your K9’s profile. Once you have this step completed, exit the software. Now, plug your removable storage device in (USB drive or SD card, etc.). Then, browse to locate the default CBD Data folder in your computer’s ‘Program files’ (Or root C:\) folder. Right click and copy the entire CBD Data folder. Now, open your removable media and paste this folder onto your removable media.
Now, let’s again run the KANINE 2006 software, keeping the removable media device plugged in. When the login screens comes up, and before logging in, click the ‘Select database’ link. Since we have moved the location of our data, we have to tell KANINE 2006 where to find it. So, using the ‘Browse’ button locate the KANINE2006.mdb file that is inside the CBD Data folder on your removable media. Double-click this file and then click the ‘Ok/Close’ button to return back to the login screen. You should now be able to select your username from the drop down list and login. Note that KANINE 2006 shows you the location of your data at the bottom of the login screen. It should read something like this ‘E:\CBD Data\KANINE2006.mdb’. And there you go, you have moved your data and successfully logged into your data, which now resides on your removable media.
For the second computer, the one at the office let’s say, you simply perform a few steps. First, install the KANINE software onto the computer. Second, plug your removable media into this computer and run the KANINE 2006 software. And last but not least click the ‘Select Database’ link and again browse to the KANINE2006.mdb file that is located on your USB drive. Normally, you will only have to browse to locate your database folder once per computer as these path settings are stored locally on the computer itself. It is good practice, however, to look at the path at the bottom of the login screen just to make sure that you are connecting to the correct file. Also, if you log into KANINE 2006 and do not see all of your K9 records, you are probably not connected to the correct data folder.
Well, in a nutshell, that’s it! And, if you are sure to exit the software each time by clicking the ‘Backup and Close’ button, you will always have a good working backup folder that is stored on your computer, just in case something were to happen to your removable media.
So, don’t be stuck in the office, take your data with you!
Bob Ives
Code Blue Designs
2269 240th St- Stanton IA 51573
Copyright 2007. Code Blue Designs
