Running Appraise-It Locally and on a Network

There are a couple issues that need to be addressed before proceeding with the steps. The first one is when you get to the office, the reports you created and/or completed while at home will need to be copied from the TRADATA\DATA directory on your C: drive to the TRADATA\DATA directory on the network. Then, to be able to search for the reports using the File Index (rolodex icon), you will need to open each report from the network in Appraise-It, then save each one back to the network. This is the only way it will be added to the File Index.

The second issue is if you are using Appraise-It’s automatic file numbering system, make sure you allocate file numbers when you are working at home. For example, let’s say you complete File # 99050005 at home. You come back to copy that report to the network, but someone else in the office already created that report. You won’t be able to copy the file to the network unless you rename it or save it under a different file number. Allocating file numbers before you leave the office will solve this problem. Let everyone know what file number(s) you will be using, then they can begin with the following one. This also applies if you are using your own file numbering system.

If you understand the two issues above, please proceed to the instructions below. If you have any questions, please let me know.

These steps will create two icons on your Desktop. One will be named local, and the other will be named network. When you want to run Appraise-It while at home or in the field, double-click on the local icon on your Desktop. When you want to run Appraise-It while at the office, double-click on the network file on your Desktop after you are connected to the network.

1. The first step is to go to Windows Explorer (Start--Programs--Windows Explorer). Click once on the WINDOWS directory on the left-hand side.

2. Scroll down on the right-hand side until you see a tra.ini file. Highlight it, then go to Edit--Copy.

3. Now click on the (C:) drive on the left-hand side. Go to File—New—Folder. You should see New Folder at the bottom of the right-hand side. Hit your backspace key, type Local, hit Enter, then hit F5 on your keyboard.

4. Click on the LOCAL folder on the left-hand side, then go to Edit—Paste. The tra.ini file should appear on the right-hand side. Now repeat step #3, except name the folder Network.

5. Click on the NETWORK folder on the left-hand side, then go to Edit—Paste again. The tra.ini file should appear on the right-hand side again. Double-click on it.

6. Scroll down to the [Directories] section of this file and make sure every path that has TRADATA in it is pointed to the network drive. Make any necessary changes, go to File—Save, then close the file.

7. Click on the LOCAL folder on the left-hand side, then double-click on the tra.ini file. Make sure all of the paths in the [Directories] section are set to the C: drive. Make any necessary changes, go to File—Save, then close the file.

8. Close Windows Explorer, go to Start—Run, type notepad in the window, then click on OK. A blank Notepad file will appear.

9. Type what you see below (make sure you put a space where it says to):

copy[space]c:\local\tra.ini[space]c:\windows\tra.ini

c:\tra\tra.exe

10. Go to File—Save As, name the file c:\local\local.bat, change the “Save As Type:” to All Files (*.*), and click on Save. Close the file. Repeat step #8, then proceed to step #11.

11. Type:

copy[space]c:\network\tra.ini[space]c:\windows\tra.ini

c:\tra\tra.exe

12. Go to File—Save As, name the file c:\network\network.bat, change the “Save As Type:” to All Files (*.*), and click on Save. Close the file.

13. Open Windows Explorer (Start--Programs--Windows Explorer), then click on the LOCAL folder. Right-click on local.bat, then left-click on Send To—Desktop as Shortcut. Now click on the NETWORK folder, right-click on network.bat, then left-click on Send To—Desktop as Shortcut.

14. Close Windows Explorer. You should see both shortcuts on your Desktop now. Right-click on local, then left-click on Properties. Click on the Program tab, then put a check next to Close on Exit at the bottom. Click on OK. Do the same thing for network.