KATS Standard Installation Procedure

Note: KATS Generationi III is compatible to Microsoft .NET v1.1 which is provided in the installation package. KATS Gen II will not function with v2.0 of .NET. Please read all of these instructions before attempting to install KATS. Also note that with version 3.2.4 of KATS the system now installs to a default directory of C:\Program Files\KATS as opposed to C:\Program Files\KATS30. If you are updating your system, you may wish to adjust the pathing option during the install, or install to the new directory and then move your dbkats.mdb file over into the new KATS directory after the initial install.

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 you are first trying out the system it opens in demonstration mode and provides you with a 30 day free trial of the software before you are required to purchase it. DO NOT CHANGE ANYTHING ON THE REGISTRATION SCREEN IF YOU ARE OPENING IT IN DEMO MODE. SIMPLY CLICK ON THE “CONTINUE EVALUATION” BUTTON. Changing any of the information on this screen will invalidate the 30 day trial. If you have inadvertently changed something on this screen and it will not allow you into the system any further, input the following information exactly as shown in this screen capture.

You should be up and running for your 30 day trial. If you have a registration information sheet from purchasing your system, simply input the information as directed on the registration sheet.

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. 

Network Installation: KATS is a client based product. To set up KATS for network installation, install the software while logged into any computer on the network while it is not logged into the system. If the system is logged into the network, log out/dismount from the server and restart the computer in local mode. Install KATS as above using the License Type 3 registration information. Reboot the system normally and allow it to come up onto the network.

Go to the drive on the server that you will be using to run the KATS program on and create a KATS30 or KATS directory. Within that directory create another directory called Images.

Using Windows Explorer open up the KATS30 or KATS directory on the computer you just installed KATS on. You will normally find it in the Program Files Directory off the C: Drive. In this directory you will find a file called dbKATS.mdb. Drag and drop the dbKATS.mdb file over into the new directory you have created on the server.

Log into KATS and set up at least one administrator account. Go to the Options/Preferences menu and change the path from the default of C:\Program Files\KATS30 or C:\Program Files\KATS to the server and directory you created on your server. Do the same process for changing the Images directory to point to the Images folder you created on your server. KATS Network Installation is now complete.

Synchronization: Agencies that are using the License Type 1 on mobile workstations to input their information and then import the information into the Main License Type 3 main office system need to follow this procedure:

Follow the instructions as above for installation. Create the tables you require that are custom for your agency in the License Type 3 system. Export those tables to a floppy drive and then import them into each mobile workstation using the Options/Synchronize system. This will then ensure all tables for each handler are identical.

Have each handler create his or her handler, dog and team profiles in their workstation or mobile laptop. They can then use the tables developed by the main system and in turn export their data back to the main office system.

Do not duplicate the handlers names in the main system. The system will draw in the information the first time the handler synchronizes his database with the main office system. If you put the handlers name on both systems, KATS will read it as two different persons even though the name is identical. This programming is done to ensure that multiple handlers, narratives etc can be used on each training and incident number.