FAQ: Network feature : sharing your collection

Can we use the Collectorz.com software on our network?

Yes, you can.

You can install our software on the computers in your network.
This will allow you to share a database between them.

So you can view and work with one database across a network with multiple users.

How does sharing a database work?

To share a database, you will first need one license per computer.
You can use our volume license order page to order multiple licenses.

Then you can install the software on your network computers.

The next step is to place a database in a folder on your network. The users on your network can then open this database from there, and all view the database at the same time.

A reference for your network administrator on how to do this can be found here

Besides viewing the database, it can also be edited. There are some limitations however to who may edit the database.

Viewing the shared collection can be done from all computers.
Editing the database can be done by one user at a time. Editing includes changing loan information of books, DVDs etc.

Our programs have a built in mechanism to make sure only one person at a time may edit. If someone already has opened the collection in edit-mode the following user will only be able to view, not edit.

When a user with editing rights closes the software on his computer, the next user to start the software will then be allowed to edit.

How can we set up a shared database on our network?

Setting up a shared database requires the following steps. (example for Book Collector)

Network location: On the network, create a shared folder. Make sure that all users have read- and write access to this folder. In that same folder, also create an images folder with the same read- and write-rights for the users.
For example
\\Server-name\Public\Book Collector data\
and
\\Server-name\Public\Book Collector data\images
Program settings: For each of the computers you have installed Book Collector on, change the image folder settings:
- start Book Collector, and choose the menu Tools | Options
- on the Images tab, change the Default Folder For Image Files. It should be changed into the images sub-folder (which was set up in step 1). Use the notation as in the folder example, common for network locations

Placing the database: Start Book Collector from any of the computers, and create a new database using the menu File | New Database. A new empty database is created
Save this database by using the menu File | Save Database As. Make sure to put it in the folder set up as shared folder. Once this new database is saved, all users will be able to view the database by using the menu File | Open Database (only required once on each computer).

Now you are ready to start using the shared database.

When we share a database on our network, who can view-only and who may edit?

The software will automatically check if someone already has opened the collection in edit-mode. If so, any next user will automatically only be able to view, not edit.

When a user with editing rights closes the software on his computer, any next user to start the software will then be allowed to edit.

You can override this automatic feature if you prefer to set a certain computer to only have read access regardless of whether there is an editor working on the collection. There are two ways to do this.

Run the installer with a /readonly parameter, so e.g. bookcollectorsetup.exe /readonly. This will write a flag in the Registry during installation to enable read-only mode for that computer.
Manually set this key in the Registry. Using the Registry Editor, create a key (DWORD) in the section
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Collectorz.com\Book\Settings\ which is called ReadOnly.
Setting this registry key to 1 will force a read-only mode on that specific workstation.

Can I share one database between Windows and Mac computers?

No, you can only share a database using Windows computers.
The databases of the Mac and Windows versions are not identical.