The Expert edition of Disk Triage allows the user to save the Sizing information to a database for later reuse. Saving a sizing to the database is a requirement for using the Visual Sizing Comparison utility. The database can be accessed via an ODBC driver - so you can access the data from any ODBC complient application such as Microsoft Access.
Saving Sizing to Database
You can save a sizing by choosing the icons (
) from the button bar - or by chooseing File/Save/Save Output to Database from the Main menu. When you do this - you will be presented with the following screen.
Available Databases
This box lists the available databases that you can save to/from. The program ships with DB1 - and you can create others using the New Database button.
Available Sizings
This grid lists the sizings that are currently stored in the Database. The above screen shots shows the Sizing Key (just a unique key for each sizing in each database), the date the sizing was run and the descriptions. There is also a fair bit of other information about each sizing in the grid that is available by scrolling to the right.
Description of Sizing
This field allows you to enter your own description of the sizing to help you find it again when you want to reload it.
Tree Levels to Save
This field allows you to specify how many levels of directories in the tree you want to save. This is a great way to save space in your database when you are really only interested in the first couple of levels in the Tree for reports.
Save & Cancel Buttons
If you hit Cancel - the sizing is not saved and the Dialog is closed. If you enter a description and hit Save - the sizing is saved - and then the dialog closes.
New Database Button
Creates a new database and makes it available to save to / load from.
Delete Database Button
Deletes the currently selected database and all its sizings.
Loading Sizing from Database
Available Databases
This box lists the available databases that you can save to/from. The program ships with DB1 - and you can create others using the New Database button.
Available Sizings
This grid lists the sizings that are currently stored in the Database. The above screen shots shows the Sizing Key (just a unique key for each sizing in each database) and the date the sizing was run. There is also a fair bit of other information about each sizing in the grid that is available by scrolling to the right.
Sizing Details
This area shows the main details about the sizing - to help you find the Sizing you want fast.
Directory
This field shows the Directory that was analyzed for the currently selected saved sizing.
Description of Sizing
This field shows the description that you entered for the currently selected saved sizing.
Date
This field shows the date the Sizing was performed for the currently selected saved sizing.
Load & Cancel Buttons
If you hit the Cancel button the dialog closes without loading a sizing. If you hit Load, the program will loading the currently selected sizing and then close the dialog.
Delete Button
This button allows you to delete the currently selected sizing.
Database Technical Information
The database used by Disk Triage is called the Advantage Database (www.advantagedatabase.com). It is a single user database that offers excellent performance and stability. As well, you can download an ODBC or ADO driver from our web site (www.timeacct.com/disktriage) - that will allow you to easily access the data from any program such as Access or Excel.
There are database tables in two places. The first is in the Templates subdirectory - which stores an empty database. This empty database is used for creating new databases on the Save dialog. The second place is in the Data subdirectory. Each database you create will create a new directory under the Data directory. In that directory will be all the tables and indexes for the database.
So - if you have three databases - DB1, DB2, and Monthly you would have a directory structure that would look like ...
\Disk Triage
\Data
\DB1
\DB2
\Monthly
Creating New & Copying Databases
When you create a new database - besides creating the directory - Disk Triage also makes an entry in an INI file called ADS.ini that is held in the application directory. It is this entry that lets Disk Triage know that the database is available for it to use. The entries for the above example databases would look like:
DB1=C:\Delphi\TimeAcct\Projects\Disk Triage\Object\Data\DB1\Disk TriageDB.add;D
DB2=C:\Delphi\TimeAcct\Projects\Disk Triage\Object\Data\DB2\Disk TriageDB.add;D
Monthly=C:\Delphi\TimeAcct\Projects\Disk Triage\Object\Data\Monthly\Disk TriageDB.add;D
So - if you need to move a database from one install to another - it is a simple matter of copying the directory - and then making the appropriate entry in the ADS.ini file.
ODBC Driver
How to get the ODBC/ADO drivers?
If you want to get the drivers - you can download them by clicking on the links below.
ODBC ADO
Or you can go to our web site http://www.timeacct.com/disktriage and click on the Database link to the left. It will then show you a page where you can download the drivers.
Configuration
The ODBC driver once installed - needs to be configured. Disk Triage allows you to create and maintain multiple databases - so you will need to setup an ODBC DNS entry for each Database. The following screen shot shows the settings you need to configure in order to have the ODBC driver correctly access the Disk Triage
There are two critical settings that must be set properly. The first is the Available Server types in the lower right hand corner. It MUST include the Local Server (ALS) entry. In the above screen shot that is the only one selected. The second critical setting in in the 'Database or Data Dictionary Path in the middle of the screen. Here you need to specify Data Dictionary by making sure the checkbox is checked - and then you need to select the *.ADD file for the Database you want to access. In Disk Triage - each database you create (including the DB1 database that is setup by default) creates its own sub-directory under the Data directory. In each of these directories (or databases) you will find a Disk TriageDB.add file that is the one you need to select. Note that you must have the checkbox selected - or the ODBC driver setup will only allow you to select directories.