Home Forums Discussions Problems Having to connect twice with v4

I recently upgraded from v3 to v4. I am very happy with it, as it seems to be running much fater. Pulls up charts much quicker from laptops running on WiFi.

However, I have the following connect problem.

First off, I have a peer-peer network of 7 computers running AC. The database host computer is running XP Pro SP3. My exam room computers are running Vista Home Premium. Other computers in the office are running XP Pro SP3. Some hardwired, some on WiFi.

My AC Host computer is named DOCSROOM. When I open AC on a non-host computer, it says...

Connecting DOCSROOM
Connecting DOCSROOM(2)
Connecting DOCSROOM(3)

Then, it says "There was a problem preventing Amazing Charts from starting."

If I click "Let me Browse to Another Databse", then go through the setup selecting the AC file from the DOCSROOM computer on the network, everything works fine.

But, after I close down AC, the next time I try to run it the same thing happens. This happens on every computer (Vista or XP) every time.

Does anyone know why this happens? Otherwise, appears to be working perfectly. Once connected, it stays connected all day. The problem is, if something happens and a nurse closes out of AC, my nurse doesn't know how to go through the set up when she re-opens it, so it can be kind of a pain. Kind of like turning the key twice to get a car started. I'm glad it starts, but having to turn it twice makes me nervous (and gets annoying.)

Any thoughts?

-Lee

Lee

I have the same issue here. Did you ever speak with support or get around this problem?

Karl

I just upgraded our AC from 3 to 4. I have EXACTLY the same problem. For me I have to click "Let me Browse to Another Databse" and enter full path of the XML file (\\main\ac4\AmazingCharts.xml) everytime.
Other than that everything is working fine.

-Rao

Hello folks,

The technical reason you can connect on the second try is because Amazing Charts does a ping test on the first connection try (and name test on every try) and if we are not able to connect to the server by ping then Amazing Charts will not connect.

On the second try Amazing Charts does not do a ping test and only searches for the server name and that is why you are able to connect on the second attempt.

We are working on enhancing the process to help solve the problems we are seeing on some systems where the domain is named with a period (e.g., domain.com) and pinging fools the remote computer to believe that the main computer is not on the network.

Thanks for the clue CLOS. I was able to fix my problem. I have NortonAntivirus on all of my PCs. It has got 3 modes of network protection: Full Trust, Shared and Restricted. On the Main comp I changed my network PCs status from Shared to Full Trust. On rest of the network PCs, Main comp was already marked as Full Trust. As you have mentioned I wasn't able to ping Main comp from networked PCs with Shared status. With Full Trust status I was able to ping Main comp and connect to its AC database from networked PCs with out any problem on first click.

I would suggest others with similar problem should modify their firewall settings accordingly to clear this issue.

Thank you.

-Rao

Thanks for the clarification CLOS.

Thanks for the tip Rao. I have Windows OneCare for my antivirus, and I can not find any settings for "Full Trust, Shared, and Restricted" so unfortunately I can not try your fix on my system.

At least the system works, and this is only a problem when someone inadvertantly quits the AC program, and it needs to restart. I'd say a minor annoyance. It is a relief to know it is a known issue and a solution is being worked on.

-Lee

Hi. I am new to AC and am having the exact same issue as well. I currently have v4 running with Vista on 2 computers and also use Norton Antivirus, but unfortunately changing to Full Trust on the 2 computers did not change things. But thanks, Rao, for the tip. I also am glad, like Lee, that the system at least works, but I am hoping to not have to go through locating the database on the 2nd computer every time. Otherwise, we have been very pleased with AC and its features.

CLOS or anybody else, I was wondering if there has been any progress on this issue or if there are any other things I could try to clear this issue.

Thanks!

Can you please explain to me why doing the ping test is helpful? Is it pinging the name (sounds as though it isn't) or the IP address of the "server."

Just for fun, maybe try this:

Right click on the main computer's My Computer. Select properties. Select Hardware. Select Device Manager. Find your NIC card, click on Properites and select Power Management.

If there is a check next to:

Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power, uncheck it.

It may be that the ping "wakes up" the network card and allows the second attempt to connect.

Just a thought.

FYI: If using Vista, the path will be a little different, but it's the same idea.

I would be interested in knowing if this made a difference.

I have a problem like this, but slightly different. We have a domain setup with many computers (WinXP) connecting to a server (SBS 2003) and on these domain computers we have no trouble. However we also have computers that need to be kept off the domain network for security purposes during the night but during the day we use a different NIC to connect to the domain network. Then we can open Amazing Charts if we give credentials to the server. However, it is not a seamless transition by any means. Usually I end up disabling the workgroup NIC and then enabling the domain NIC and then repair the domain NIC. Then open a browser and type in \\Server\Share\ in the address bar and proceed to be prompted for a domain username and password. Once supplied I can close out of there and open AC and browse to the database. Trying to input the \\Server\Share\ into the pop-up window asking me to find the database did not work for me. Unsure why. Also, sometimes the above steps do not remedy the problem and I end up repairing the domain NIC connection several times or rebooting the machine. Just thought I would share that info.

Paul,

I am not sure I completely follow, so bear with me if I ask any stupid questions. Are the computers you take off on a workgroup, e.g. are they workgroup computers? Or are they are on a separate subnet which could connect to a managed switch or router, which would seem easier?

Finally, in the scenario you describe where you can't browse to the database in the popup window, can you map the database folder to each computer?

Yes, basically we have a small network (a workgroup) completely disconnected from the domain. Everything goes through a small switch and nothing on that workgroup is connected to the domain or the internet. I installed a second NIC on that computer and during the day we disable the workgroup-connected NIC and enable the NIC that is connected to the domain so that the user during the day can access Amazing Charts and the internet. I am not wanting to map a network drive, if I do it expects the local computer to be the server and thus wants to use the local computer as a SQL server and asks me to install SQL. I instead use Network Places to map the share from the server, which usually works. A lot of times I have to manually add the network place again though, and sometimes even that doesn't work.

Thanks Paul,

But it seems to me, if the group of computers that connect and disconnect form the server are a workgroup rather having a domain name: nameofpractice.local and a FQDN, they would not actually be on the domain when they are connected but are simply accessing the share. Wouldn't it be better to make them domain computers which are connected via another router interface as a difference subnet which could be controlled or you could use a managed switch and turn the connection off via a web browser.

If you did map the drive, what would be so bad if AC made you install SQL?

I don't think it would be that bad to install SQL but I have been asked not to do that and not to join it to the domain. I have not received any really good reasons for this other than someone might access the data stored on that computer for uses other than what it was meant for. Security seems to be their major concern, and as I know, all systems could potentially be broken into. I think a domain would be more safe but if it works the way they want it (besides being a hassle) I think I will be ok tinkering with the thing a few minutes each morning for the time being.

I think I have figured out the problem anyway. Amazing Charts looks for the server by name and not by IP (as far as I know) and I believe that it just takes time from when the domain connected NIC is enabled for it to access the shares by name. I will try and test that later today or in the morning. I have a feeling all my tinkering just takes up the time until the computer finds the database on it's own.

It definitely works with UNC. I don't see a way to access the share or file with IP.

I also don't see why it would take very long once the NIC was enabled.

I don't know anything about your IT people; they are probably very good. But, IT people (like controlling doctors such as myself) are famous for setting something up the way they think it would work and not in a practical way.

I don't see anything you would have on those work group computers that you wouldn't want others to access. I would think everything of any note at all would be on the server. That is the beauty of a domain and a a file server, you can set up NTFS permissions anyway you want either at the user level or at a group level.

I would think putting every important file on the server, setting up one domain and network with permissions would make the most sense. Otherwise every time there is an issue, the troubleshooting will be that much more difficult.

Sorry, just my opinion, and I realize I don't really know your topography all that well.

Our topography is a sleep center inside our medical office that operates at night. The sleep center's computers have video sessions recorded during the night that include people being comfortable (underwear) and such so we have a recorded version of the entire night in case something were to be missing or any allegations were to come up. The reason the network was segmented into a workgroup is that, as far as I have seen, the system that runs those cameras and all the sleep study equipment consists of 2 large computers that sit by the bedside and feed their info as they process it to the programs set up in the sleep study office area. This probably would mean that if I wanted to put it all on the domain I would have to include those systems, which would mean figuring out how to connect and administer those machines. They are enclosed and proprietary as far as I can tell, so who knows what that would take.

I am the only IT guy at our office and the reason I come here is to try and learn this program. I have many certifications but this is my first IT job (previously a medical assistant and CNA) and I just started in December of last year. My 2 cents on schooling is that no amount of "book-lernin" can ever prepare you for what it is like when you are actually working in the field. I am figuring out things they never thought to mention and learning things again that I know I forgot from 2 years ago, in some fleeting chapter in a class. I know quite a bit but the more I learn, the more I realize that I don't know enough.

Oh, now that makes more sense. Sorry, if I am being too nosy.

Now, the only thing that is confusing me is why do you need AC to connect from those computers? Or did I miss something?

Well, we have people that work scheduling the sleep study stuff and interviewing patients and even doctor visits concerning sleep studies (rarely) in that area. In the small space that they have, it would not be feasible to add another computer for daily things, so I figured it would be far easier to put in another NIC. As I said, it works, but why it takes a little time and messing around with or restarting I do not know. If all else fails I can just try and come up with a batch file that they can use to switch connections and tell them to run that and then reboot every morning.

Hey, Bert, thanks for the tip! I am going to try it this weekend, and I'll definitely let you know how it goes!

Well, no luck with the power management idea. Still having the same problem and would still like to find a solution. Any more ideas, anyone? Thanks!

Didn't think that would work. Sorry. I am not sure if this has been mentioned previously, but how about if you map the AC folder to your computer.

It would seem that you would be less likely to lose that connection given you are no longer having to connect via UNC.