The article has been updated successfully.
Network Installation
The primary advantage of the LAN version of PIPE-FLO is the ability for anyone on the network to run the program. Unlike the stand alone version of PIPE-FLO which must have a verification key located on the printer port of the computer running the software, the LAN version uses License Management Software located on a server to check out licenses. Anyone on the network with access to the program can run PIPE-FLO, up to the maximum number of licenses available. This eliminates the need to move the verification key from computer to computer.
To make it easier to install PIPE-FLO on the LAN, an administrator setup feature provides the capability of creating a Client Setup. The Client Setup is a centrally administered configuration that allows for the installation of PIPE-FLO on the workstation without and direct intervention by the Network Administrator. Details on performing an administrator setup can be found in the Engineered Software Configuration & Installation Guide included on the PIPE-FLO instillation CD in the NETWORK.pdf file.
Network Files & Resources
PIPE-FLO uses a variety of support files to help create the project file. First PIPE-FLO uses of engineering data tables, and electronic pump catalogs to look up design information about pipes, pumps, fluids, valves, and fittings. In addition the program also utilizes design files, which contain pipe specifications that provide design control to your projects. Finally all PIPE-FLO projects are saved on disk that can be opened at a later date.
During the default instillation of PIPE-FLO, these support and project files are stored in a series of directories under the directory where the PIPE-FLO program is stored. For example if you installed PIPE-FLO in the C:\program files\Engineered Software\ directory, the location of the program files are as indicated on the Preferences dialog box below.
Figure 1- The Preferences screen specify the Locations of the support files used by PIPE-FLO. The files can be stored on a mapped drive, in addition PIPE-FLO version 7 supports UNC (Universal Naming Convention) file names.
There are advantages for keeping the various files on a network file server.
The design files, engineering tables, and electronic catalog are used by PIPE-FLO to build projects. These tables can be customized to meet your company's standards; with customized tables it is important that everyone using the program is using the same data to insure a consistent design. This can be accomplished by two ways, sending updated files to everyone using PIPE-FLO (which requires action by every user), or to set everyone's PIPE-FLO's preferences to the same shared directories on the file server. Sharing the information on a file server conserves disk space on the workstation.
Figure 2- Shared files and the project directory can be stored on a network file server. This allows sharing of design resources and periodic backing up of project data.
In PIPE-FLO version 7 you can also provide greater control by setting network privileges for different types of users. For example you may grant the majority of PIPE-FLO uses read only privileges to the Design directory. This allows them to create a new project with a design file, but it does not allow them to make any changes to the shared design file. If a person has read / write privileges for the design directory they can also create and modify pipe specifications in the shared design directory.
Sharing files on a LAN requires a little pre planning and setup, but it provides you with greater design control.