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BDE Alias definitions required by PTWin32

Tip #: 4.2.88
Ver(s):PTWin32, V2, V1

PTWin32 uses a database engine called the BDE to manage a number of data services. The BDE is also responsible for keeping track of where files are stored in PTWin32.

Considering that certain portions of PTWin32 can be stored in a number of different locations it becomes problematic for users to refer to the actual storage location when that location might change or is in more than one place.

For example, if you are using PTWin32 on a network of computers you will generally find that not all the users refer to the same network drive letter.

Maybe you have a hard drive called “C” and a CD drive called “D”. In this case your first network drive will be called “E”.

Now let’s say the user next to you has a hard drive “C”, a CD drive “D”, and a Zip drive “E”. This user will refer to the first network drive as “F”.

What do we do when one user calls the network drive “E” and the other one calls it “F”? We define an Alias.

An Alias is a name we give to a path that can be unique to each BDE user. This way PTWin32 always refers to the same Alias name but the location changes based on the user.

The first user defines an Alias called “ptwin” that points to E:\PTWin32\Data. The second user defines an Alias called “ptwin” that points to F:\PTWin32\Data. The “ptwin” alias provides a single name for the program to refer to but takes into account the differences between the user’s computers.

PTWin32 uses five different Alias definitions to refer to file locations in the system.

The “ptwin” Alias points to the PTWin32\Data directory. The “ptwpriv” Alias points to the PTWin32\Ptwpriv directory. This directory is used for individual user files in a network environment.

The “ptwprog” Alias points to the PTWin32\Programs directory. The “ptwrpt” Alias points to the \PTWin32\Reports directory. And the “ptwstruc” Alias points to the \PTWin32\Struct directory.

It is possible that you chose to redirect your PTWin32 installation to use directory names outside the default paths listed above. If you have redirected your PTWin32 installation please adjust the above paths to values that match your installation

These five alias definitions must exist and point to the correct locations for each user’s PTWin32 files. If these Alias definitions are missing or defined incorrectly in the BDE then PTWin32 will probably malfunction.

If you receive an error message about unfound files check your Alias definitions in the BDE Administrator. This utility can be found in your PTWin32 Program Group on the Windows desktop.

 

 

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