Network File Archives - ALCATECH BPM STUDIO 4 PRO User Manual

Network Functions
Addressing MP3 files via the computer name
If no network drives are supposed to installed on
a client PC, for example if the client PC is
connected to particular servers only randomly, it
is possible to access the files through the
Windows network client. Here also the files or
folders are loaded with +DIR or +FILE, but now
via the network neighborhood of Windows, not
"My Computer"
The address of the MP3 files will then be in form
o f \ \ [ C o m p u t e r n a m e ] \ [ F o l d e r ] \
[Subfolder]\*.mp3
An example of a File Archive row, in which the
file is addressed via the computer name, can be
found at the end of this page. In place of the drive
letter here \\HOLI\ (the computer name) and the
name of the shared folder DATA1 are displayed.
When using this method of addressing though,
at every access a Windows name resolution
needs to be performed, which can, under
circumstances, lead to timing problems for
example if the address of the WIN-S-
Masterbrowser changes. Until now though,
dropouts due to this addressing method are
unheard of. Be also reminded though, that the
BPM File Archive "Update" functions don't work
correctly.
In mobile use with local server connectivity it is
recommended, to create a user for every place
of use, and then load the files via the network
client.
Addressing via the Network Client:
Example entry in a *.grp-file of the File Archive
(Displayed with a word wrap, that is not present in the original file)
Track620=\\HOLI\DATA1\MP3\RUBRIKEN\HOUSE\WATERGATE - MADE OF
ORLEANS.MP3|TAG|WATERGATE|MADE OF ORLEANS||DREAM DANCE - VOL.13 - DISC
1||||MP3|0|230400|0|327680|0|0|-1|0|0|0|3|128|8|-1|0|0|0|-1|||0|
3.22.2. Network File-Archives
A BPM File Archive consists of a group of text
files located at the DATA folder of the particular
BPM Studio installation. The files Groups.gps and
Groups.idx contain the folder directory of the File
Archive. The *.grp files, like Default.grp, contain
the paths to the different MP3 files. These files
can be located on a local drive, a connected
network drive, or on a PC addressed via
\\[computer name]\ See also addressing via
computer name. With no regards to the type of
the file archives, it is always the MP3 files provided
by the central server that are actually accessed.
In general one tells apart between a Master File
Archive, and user file archives.
A Master File Archive will be provided by the
server, and is only editable from there. It can be
viewed on the clients in read only mode. Any given
user can use this File Archive, without having to
worry about updating or maintenance. This will
be the network administrator's task.
A user file archive can be created on the client
PCs or, similar to the Master File Archive, on the
server. If the user file archive stored locally, there
is no way to access it from another client PC.
Modifications would have to be made by each
particular user.