The DRS System Configuration Screen
This screen is concerned with items that are concerned with the basic operation of the system and will usually need no changes.
Database Location
The database file used by DRS is called drs.mdb. The location of this database is shown in the status bar at the bottom left of the main DRS window.
For Windows 95/98 and NT systems it is by default located in the same place as the program files:
c:\program files\drs\
For Windows 2000 and XP it is by default located in:
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Shared Documents\drs\
This will be fine for most stand alone PC systems.
If the PC is connected to a network, it will probably be better to put the database on a network drive. The database will then be backed up when routine server backups are done, and it will be possible to access the database from any PC connected to the same network (as long as DRS is installed on that PC).
To install the database on a network drive proceed as follows: -
Find or create a suitable directory on a network drive.
Use Windows Explorer to copy the drs.mdb file into that directory.
Use the configuration screen to select the new location for the database. First select the drive letter from the pull down list. Then select the directory where the database was placed.
Click on "Store Changes".
DRS will now notify you that the database location has changed and will automatically shut down. Re-start DRS to use the database on the network drive.
OMR Configuration
If a Chatsworth Data Corporation OMR 1100 optical mark reader is to be used to allow rapid entry of diary card data, the program must know which serial port it is attached to. The serial ports at the back of a computer are often numbered 1 and 2, which makes selection on this screen easy. If they are not marked trial and error is the required technique to find the right one.
Default Values
It is possible to set a Trust name here that will be added to every new work group created on the system.. This is useful if you work with a single trust but could be sending your data to someone who works with more than one trust.
When sending details of a group by email (sending an XML file) it is possible to have this compressed into a ZIP file by checking the box. This will reduce the size of the attachment and avoid a problem if security policy prevents XML file being sent or received as email attachments.
Prospective Cover Method
Select the default prospective cover method to be used in calculations. Individual groups may have different settings to default created on the Prospective Cover screen. See Prospective Cover for more details.
Colours
The system uses colour throughout, in particular to highlight different categories of duties and in the activity analysis charts. If you don't like the default colour scheme, it can be changed here. Clicking on the category will display the standard Windows colour selection dialog box. Select a new colour from the standard palette or use "define custom colours" for more subtle shades. Click OK.
The colour categories that can be changed are: -
Normal Day, Weekend, Leave and Rest Colours.
These colours are (in general) used to identify the named items on the screen and on colour prints. It is important that light colours are selected. Any foreground text or numbers that appears against these colour backgrounds will always be in black and will be harder to read if a dark colour is selected.
Colours linked to Duty Codes (A-Z).
The colours are used to identify the different duty types. Where duty codes (A to Z) are used to identify different days in a work pattern, the colours defined on this screen will used to help identify the duty on screen displays and diagrams. It is important that the colours selected are not too dark and are different enough to aid recognition. The missing S and L codes are used to identify "Standard (or Normal) Day" and "Leave".
Buttons
The "Save" button will store and action any configuration changes made.
The "Reset all defaults" button will return all settings to that of a newly installed system.
The "Cancel" button will exit and ignore any changes made on the screen.
Technical Note
The configuration settings are stored in the file "newdeal.ini"
On a Windows 95/98/NT system this is in the main DRS program directory (default: c:\program files\drs\newdeal.ini).
On a Windows 2000/XP system it is located in:
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Shared Documents\drs\
This file can be examined or edited using a utility such as Windows Notepad. A backup regime should include this file as well as the main database.
