Multi-point installation

To install dPos for a multi-point system you must start by installing the software on the computer that will act as the server. Follow the same procedure as described for the single user version; start dPos and ensure that everything is working as expected – ie. you can view the Items, Customers and Suppliers tables and generate reports. If the server computer is acting as a point of sale machine you should also check that the receipts and invoices (if used) print correctly. Close dPos.

From you computer’s Start menu select Programs – Microsoft SQL Server 2005 – Configuration Tools – SQL Server Configuration Manager.

 

 

Expand the SQL Server 2005 Network Configuration item in the left hand pane, and select the Protocols for SQLEXPRESS item. In the right hand pane, double-click on the TCP/IP item and choose the Protocol tab. Choose Enable from the drop-down list of option in the Enabled line.

Now choose the IP Address tab. In the IPAll section ensure that the TCP Dynamic Ports is empty, and set the TCP Port entry to 2301. Push the Apply button and close the dialogs.

Unfortunately you need to restart the SQL service – which you can do by rebooting the computer, or by restarting the SQL Server service by opening the control panel, choosing Administrative tools – Services and then scrolling down to the SQL Server service. Right-click on SQL Server service and choose Restart. Then close the Services applet and the control panel.

Finally start dPos and check that everything is still working!

Now enter the Setup & Maintenance screen and enter 2301 in the port box (alongside the server name).

 

 

Test the connection to ensure that the port number has been correctly entered. Push the continue button and check that everything works as expected.

 

Now install dPos on the first of the client machines. Start dPos and enter the test for the Text holders.

When the Setup & Maintenance screen is displayed enter a unique two character code for the PoS code and you word for VAT/Sales tax.

In the Server name box enter the name of the computer that acts as the server. In the port box enter the same port number as that entered for the server (ie 2301).

In the database path box enter the full pathname of the dPos database folder ON THE SERVER machine. If you have performed a default installation on the server this pathname will be:

C:\Program Files\dLSoft\dPoS\Database

 

 

Test the connection by pushing the Test Connection button. You should see the message “Connected to database OK”. If you don’t, you must correct the typing or network problem that prevents the connection from being made.

Push the Continue button to display the Control Centre and check that you can open the various functions as expected. The database being accessed is that on the server computer.

The procedure can now be repeated on each additional client machine.

Note that the database may be backed up or archived only on the server machine; similarly data may be imported and exported and the tax codes modified only on the server machine. These facilities are disabled on all client machines.