Law Enforcement Software
Law Enforcement Software
The process for updating to a newer version of CrimeStar is basically the same as the process used for your original installation. Download the latest version and repeat the installation process. The CrimeStar download will upgrade all the necessary files and will scan your data files and update them if necessary. ALWAYS BACK-UP YOUR DATA FIRST!
The distribution files for CrimeStar does not include the database tables that are typically found in the \Data subdirectory. These files are created during the Setup process when setup runs the Validate.EXE program. This program checks to see if the database tables exist. If they do not exist it builds them. If they do exist it checks to ensure that they adhere to the latest database schema definitions and changes them accordingly. This how new data fields get added to your database!
This strategy allows subsequent updates of the software to be installed without the risk of deleting valuable user data. If the database table files were to be distributed as part of the setup routine, they would be copied over any existing database tables and could cause a loss of data.
Although this installation and update strategy is designed to preserver your data, as a precaution you should ALWAYS BACK-UP YOUR DATA FIRST. See CrimeStar Quick Backup.
Network Installation Updates
In a networked environment CrimeStar is installed on each client (workstation) machine where CrimeStar is run. Only the database files that by default are installed in the \CRIMESTAR\DATA directory are moved to a ‘centralized server’ location. See: How to setup CrimeStar to run on a network )Therefore, when you update your software to a newer version it is important that you update each computer that runs CrimeStar. If you are using the internet download file to perform the update, simply copy the download file across the network to each machine and perform the installation procedure.
It is important to realize that files, which are open, and being accessed can not be copied or replaced. Because the installation/update process copies and updates many files, it is important that all users be logged-out of CrimeStar and not running the program on any network computer or workstation while the update is being performed.
While Crimestar Corporation makes every effort to ensure that the installation of software updates protects your data, you should ALWAYS BACK-UP YOUR DATA FIRST.
Your data is the most valuable resource your organization has. If you do not have a tape backup or some other high capacity off-line storage device GET ONE!
Each time you install or update the CrimeStar version on your computer a small semaphore file named ‘start.zzz’ is placed in the \CrimeStar directory. When CrimeStar runs it detects the presence of this file and launches the ‘Validate.exe program referenced above. Because you must install CrimeStar on each workstation, CrimeStar will attempt to build the database on each workstation. Obviously, if you are in a network environment there will ultimately only be one copy of the database. Therefore, after installing CrimeStar on a workstation where the central or Master Database has already been built on another machine, you may want to suppress the building of the database locally. To do this, simply delete or rename the ‘start.zzz’ file and the \data directory on the local workstation so they will not be present when the program runs.
If this automatic process has difficulty properly updating your database, it may be necessary for you to do it manually. See the help topic How to manually update a CrimeStar Database.