Eden Consulting Group02
FAQ

Welcome to the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ). Below, we have tried to answer the most common questions visitors to our Web site may have. If you find that your question is not answered on this page, please email Bob Eden or call us at 604-507-2962.

What is the KATS Standard Installation Procedure?
  • Exit all programs that you have open.
  • Click on the KATS Installation Icon to start the installation procedure.
  • The system will begin to unpack the files to a temporary installation directory on your hard drive. The system may advise you that it needs to reboot and ask you to allow a reboot of the system. If so, select Yes.
  • The system will then proceed with installation. During the installation you will be prompted to select the full system, detector dog or search and rescue modules only. Select the appropriate choice and then continue with the installation.
  • When the installation has been completed you will be offered the option of installing a K9 screensaver. Click on the installation icon to install the screensaver and follow the prompts. Once installation is complete you will be brought back to the KATS installation window. Click on the Next button to complete the installation. When all phases of the installation are complete you will be presented with a Finish icon. Click on that to close and then start up the system by clicking on the desktop icon provided.
  • When the system first starts you will be prompted for a user name and password. The first person logging in must be flagged as an administrator. Fill in the appropriate information and click on close when you have completed all the information.
  • Note: At this point, just prior to the system starting up you will be provided an opportunity to import KATS v2.0 records into the system. If you have KATS v2.0 and wish to include those records in this database click on Yes. This will be the only opportunity you will have to import these records into the system. It cannot be done at a later time due to potential record numbering conflicts.
  • Once the records have been imported, or if you clicked on No to the import prompt, you will then be brought to the main screen for data entry.
What are the system requirements to run Generation III? 

Miniumum of a Pentium III 600mhz, with 64 Megabytes of RAM and 250 Megabytes of hard drive space.

My system takes an extraordinarily long time to run KATS. Is there a fix?

There is a 99% chance that you are running Windows Millenium. For some reason, when running the .NET technology used in KATS Windows Millenium will run it, but it is very slow. The only way to deal with this is to upgrade your system to Windows XP. KATS runs very efficiently on virtually every other operating system; there is something about Millenium that is different.

How is the system best networked?

In order to share a common KATS database on a network for use with multiple computers, follow these steps on each computer that is to use the shared KATS database:

1. Create a mapped network drive to the shared directory on a network computer that contains the KATS database that you want to use.

2. Open KATS and login

3. Click on the Options - Preferences menu item

4. Click on the "Browse" button in the "Database Location" section and select the shared database at the location from Step #1

5. Once the shared database has been selected, close and restart the KATS program.

NOTE: If the connection to the shared KATS database cannot be established, a message will appear upon opening KATS which will provide you with an opportunity to either use the Default database on the local hard drive or to close the program. To help prevent this from happening, ensure that the "Reconnect at Login" checkbox is checked when creating a mapped drive (Step #1)

Hint Regarding Shared Database: Create a directory called KATS30 on your network server where you want the system to be located. Place the KATS Database file inside the KATS30 directory on that server or shared network drive. Then create an Images directory on the same server alongside the KATS30 directory. Once this step has been completed, simply install KATS Generation III on every client you want to access the shared drive, open the KATS program, select OPTIONS from the menu on the top of the KATS screen, then select PREFERENCES. In the “SET PROGRAM PREFERENCES screen, the Database location and the Images location can be set and directed to use the database that you have set up on your shared directory.

How does synchronization work?

The synchronization system operates in the following manner:

  • The level 1 and 2 databases limit the number of Canines, Handlers, and Teams that can be entered into the system
  • The level 3 database does not have a limitation on Canines, Handlers, or Teams
  • The level 3 database is the master database with which the level 1 and 2 databases would send their data.
  • A level 3 database can be synchronized with another level 3 database
  • The level 3 database would contain a master list of codes/lists used in the combo-boxes which could be sent down to the level 1 and 2 databases.
  • The level 1 and 2 databases are used for entering Handlers, Canines, and Teams which would be uploaded to the Level 3 database
  • Should not be able to send Handlers, Canines, or Teams from a Level 3 to a Level 1 or 2 due to the limitations imposed on the Level 1 and 2 databases
  • The level 1 and 2 databases are used for entering Incidents, Training sessions, etc which would be uploaded to the Level 3 database
  • Information can only be transferred once to prevent data duplication. After it has been exported, it cannot be exported again (override has been built in by pressing ALT+A at the export screen to display a checkbox which allows for exporting all data).

Why are all my files not being exported/imported?

The reason why the TeamID is not being included in the KAD file along with the Incidents is because the associated Team has already been exported to a KAD file and should have been imported into the database where the other KAD files are being imported to. If this was not done, and they are trying to import an incident belonging to a team that does not exist in the currently open database, then it is expected that not all information be imported. To re-export a team, the user will need to go to the “Teams Manager” (Managers – Teams menu), select the associated team with the incident they want to export, then click on the Save button (the user will also have to do this for the Handler and Canine associated with that team to ensure that those associations are not also broken). This will reset the “Exported” flag by tricking the program into thinking that the team has changed so that it can be exported again. One thing to keep in mind by doing this is that if the user manually entered a Handler, Canine, and Team with the same name into the database they are trying to import this data to, they will receive duplicates for those items.

NOTE ON SETUPS FOR IMPORT/EXPORT: KATS is designed in a manner that will allow agencies to keep records unique to that department. Anytime you need to create a new table entry for all the Level 1 systems, it must be created on the Level 3 and the tables exported out to the level 1 or level 2 systems. This ensures consistency and prevents record duplication. For example, if you are working KATS from a laptop in a car and you need a new table entry, have your administrator add it into the KATS system on the level 3 system, then export the tables to all the mobile units.

How do I back up KATS?

KATS has a unique feature built in that you set under the options menu. The Backup system allows you to set up the frequency and the number of backups the system will do. The system can be set for daily, weekly, bi-weekly or monthly backup routines or can be turned off according to your wishes. Once this has been set, you never have to deal with it again unless you wish to change your settings as KATS backs up your system as part of it’s start up routines automatically.

Should you need to restore the system for any reason, you simply go back into the options menu, click on Restore Database, choose your preferred date from the list (up to ten) provided for you and the system is automatically restored to that point.

How do I get the Help Screens?

Help in KATS is context sensitive, meaning that you can access help for any screen by hitting the F1 function key. The help screen for the entry form you are working on will be brought up to assist you. You can also access the help system from the help menu at the top of the screen.

In the Incident area I cannot delete the Units and Unit Conversions. The program will not allow it.

The reason you cannot delete is because they are being used somewhere else. In other words, they are listed in another portion of the program that the program needs. In order to delete a unit conversion you would have to take out the unit that normally requires it so that it would no longer be applicable. In order to take out the unit, you would have to take out any activity that would normally require that unit. It won't allow you to remove anything that leaves an orphaned file.

What is the Microsoft .NET Technology used to develop this version of KATS?
Explanation from the Microsoft® .NET website.

Microsoft .NET is software that connects information, people, systems, and devices. It spans clients, servers, and developer tools, and consists of:

  • The .NET Framework programming model that enables developers to build Web-based applications, smart client applications, and XML Web services applications which expose their functionality programmatically over a network using standard protocols such as SOAP and HTTP.
  • Developer tools, such as Microsoft Visual Studio® .NET, which provide a rapid application integrated development environment for programming with the .NET Framework.
  • A set of servers, including Microsoft Windows® 2000, Microsoft SQL Server™, and Microsoft BizTalk® Server, that integrates, runs, operates, and manages XML Web services and applications.
  • Client software, such as Windows XP, Windows CE, and Microsoft Office XP, that helps developers deliver a deep and compelling user experience across a family of devices and existing products.

In short, this opens up a wide expanse of opportunity for future development of KATS. .NET is Microsoft’s latest and greatest technology.

 

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