Home Forums Discussions Problems Amazing Charts often forgets where the XML file is.

I provide tech services for 2 organizations that use Amazing Charts. At both locations, there is an ongoing issue where Amazing Charts will suddently forget where the Amazing Charts XML file is that points to the database. It usually happens first thing in the morning, but some people have said they closed out of amazing charts and then the next time it opened AC was looking for the XML file.

I have talked with support about it, and they believe it has something to do with the fact that it is a domain environment. Are other organizations not using domains? Generally speaking, when you have a centralized network, a domain is the ideal choice. Workgroups are not ment for centralized networking.

I'm not sure that's true. I'm providing tech services for 5 organizations with a mix of Server 2008R2, SBS 2011 Standard, and SBS 2011 Essentials domain environments. I would know as none of them even know how to browse to the XML file. They have not reported any random disconnects. Are you on WiFi?

There are 3 laptops on wifi and about 12 desktops that are wired. Do you use roaming profiles? I thought maybe there could be something going on there. I have roaming profiles because people will generally use what computer is available, especially when it comes to the laptops that are used in the examination rooms.

I use both folder redirection and roaming profiles. Are all of the computers disconnecting or just the laptops? When people switch around, does the XML get lost or is it on all computers?

Please tell me they did not say it was due to the domain environment?

For whatever reason, John, one of the users has had better luck using the IP address of the server rather than the name of the server.

I will have to double check. Back when it first was happening they would call me for help but now that they know how to find the XML file, I haven't personally seen it in a while. I don't remember if it was laptops only, I just know it still goes on.

He said it tends to work better in workgroup environments and also he's seen the issue at organizations that shut down their computers at night.

Alright, that's something to try

As far as I know, while AC works in a workgroup environment, everything works better in a domain environment.

I always leave my computers on, but we have one person turn hers off, and she never has a problem.

I have both domain and peer to peer and have never had this issue.

As long as the server isn't being shutdown, this shouldn't happen. We shutdown desktops every night. With SSDs they only take 10-15 seconds to boot. Server is never shutdown unless we're installing updates.

Same here, server is only shut down for updates.

Are you sure the switch isn't dropping connections? Perhaps a bad port / NIC on the server?

I have seen this in facilities that we get brought-in (remotely), and that comes down to a DNS resolution problem.

Try pinging by name, and see what resolution you get.

Another thing to do is open up the XML file itself and see what is in there - assuming a static IP for the server, you can try replacing the name with the static IP.

Would a dropped connection make it all of he sudden not have the XML file location saved though? I can understand disconnecting from the database, but it would seem the location of the XML file should be saved in a registry key or in the user's profile.

I need to get more information about the problem. Things can tend to get generalized or exaggerated because the users do not understand enough to even report the issue properly.

Yes it would. You can try it. Disconnect the server and all of them will start looking for the server. I'm pretty sure this happens on first login for users on new computers. You should get more information from the users. If it's a persistent problem I would explore the possibilities above. However, if it's a first run issue. That will go away as the users login.

Doesn't the XML file point to the local database location on the server? I'm pretty sure that is how it's set up on this server. The XML file is located in a share on the server that hosts amazing charts and has the local drive location and not network location. I was not involved in the setup so I do not know what is or isn't proper.

It's not a first run issue at the one site, they have had Amazing Charts running for about 3 years. It could be a first run thing at the new site because new users are still logging in and they probably don't understand that it's going to ask all users at first. That site just got up and running and they are still training and not actively using it yet, so I'm not really counting them yet.

Now that I think of it though, at the first site, I think I have rebooted the server before when there was a problem and everyone had to re-enter the XML location. I doubt it's the server NIC because I put in a new server earlier this year and they have had the problem ongoing longer than that. It could be the switch.

I will try to get back at you guys with more detailed information tomorrow. I appreciate all of the help and suggestions.

Two things I would ask:

* Does your Amazing Charts server have a static or dynamic IP address? The server having a dynamic address WILL cause this problem.

* For DNS, are you scavaging stale records?

JamesNT

Good thought, James. But, I am guessing with a domain, he is using a static IP. At least I hope.

@ihstech First, can you put your first name in an auto-signature. Hard to write ihstech.

Yes, you are correct, the XML file is on the main computer (server) and has the port and the path to the database. Wouldn't hurt to look in it. Also, try the IP. As Indy says or as my IT person says, think DNS, DNS, DNS, then everything else. The clients will have to resolve the server name to the IP but not if it is the IP.

Yes, it is a static IP. No, auto scavaging isn't enabled.

Are you guys suggesting that I use the IP when navigating to the XML file or that I actually use the IP inside the XML file. The XML file is using something like <LocalDbPath>X:\Amazing Charts\AmazingCharts.mdf</LocalDbPath> so how would I use an IP in the XML when it's not pointing to a server but to a specific drive?

Will \\ip.add.re.ss\AmazingCharts\AmazingCharts.mdf work in place of the drive location for a localdbpath?

Yes, you can replace the server_name with the IP.

So, with mine:

D:\Amazing Charts\AmazingCharts.mdf

Becomes \\Server\Amazing Charts\AmazingCharts.mdf

and finally to Server replaced by its IP address

I'll try that.

Just some various ways.

Finally, if all else fails, one good way is to map the network drive. Map each client to AC.

Did this issue get resolved?

It seems that things are OK, Thanks for the help.

Robert,

Glad you got it to work. It is always helpful for everyone in the thread if you let us know when you got it to work and, more importantly, what you did to fix it.

Question to Bert: If I am having no problems with the server name, would it still speed things up if I used the IP address? Marlon

Not likely. But ryanjo (John) could answer that better than I.

Theoretically, yes since the computer no longer has to resolve the name to an IP Address.

However, in reality, this is a trivial task and will likely make no difference.

EXTREMELY theoretical as DNS on a local network has to take about 0.0003 seconds.

Not on WiFi lol. But seriously, still no difference.

Marlon,
In case it wasn't clear from the last four posts, let me translate Bert and Sandeep, working together: "no".

I am going to rename you Patch Adams, lol.

I love this forum, thank you. Marlon