Utilities
ComCash Utilities All rights reserved. No parts of this work may be reproduced in any form or by any means - graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or information storage and retrieval systems - without the written permission of the publisher. Products that are referred to in this document may be either trademarks and/or registered trademarks of the respective owners. The publisher and the author make no claim to these trademarks. While every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this document, the publisher and the author assume no responsibility for errors or omissions, or for damages resulting from the use of information contained in this document or from the use of programs and source code that may accompany it. In no event shall the publisher and the author be liable for any loss of profit or any other commercial damage caused or alleged to have been caused directly or indirectly by this document. Printed: July 2003 in Irvine, CA
Contents I Table of Contents Part I Logging on 3 Part II Using the interface 4 1 Using the menu... bar 4 2 Using the toolbar... 9 3 Using the navigation... pane 11 4 Using the details... pane 11 Part III Working with Utilities 12 1 Using the Backup... Manager 13 Running Backup... Manager 13 Working with... Backup Manager 13 2 Importing data... 14 Welcome screen... 15 Step 1 - Picking... your CSV file 15 Step 2 - Creating... or loading a map 16 Loading a... map 16 Creating a... map 17 Ready to import... 18 Saving the... error log 18 3 Exporting data... 19 Welcome screen... 19 Step 1 - Entering... a file name 20 Step 2 - Creating... or loading a data map 21 Loading a... map 21 Creating a... map 22 Step 3 - Exporting... the data 23 4 Running the... Service Control Manager 23 5 Checking program... versions 24 6 Attaching a database... 24 7 Using the SQL... Data Upload utility 25 Logging onto... the SQL Data Upload utility 25 Uploading data... 26 Downloading... data 27 8 Using the Version... utility 27 9 Clearing modified... flags 28 Clearing modified... flags with a database selected 29 Clearing modified... flags with a table selected 30 10 Setting modified... flags 30 Setting modified... flags with a database selected 30 Setting modified... flags with a table selected 31 I
II ComCash Utilities 11 Deleting a location... 32 12 Changing locations... 32 13 Detaching a... database 33 14 Counting rows... 34 15 Emptying tables... 34 16 Going live... 35 17 Viewing the contents... of a table 36 18 Viewing the table... structure 37 19 Clearing a table... 38 20 Using the SP... Helper 38 21 Querying for... all 38 22 Checking for... updates 39
Logging on 3 1 Logging on You will need to log on to a SQL server before using Utilities. Also, while in Utilities, you can log onto a different SQL server by clicking the Logon to SQL Server button on the toolbar: When logging onto a SQL server, you will see the Connect to SQL Server window: If you have logged onto a COMCASH SQL server instance on this machine before, then your log on information is stored in an INI file. If you would like to use Utilities with the server whose information is stored in the INI file, then click the Get INI Info button and then click the OK button to log on. If at anytime you change your mind about connecting to a SQL server, you can click the Cancel button to close the window without any changes taking place. 1. In the Select a Server Name edit box, either type in the name of the server in the format computername\servername, or select the server from the drop-down list. 2. Select an option dial specifying which authentication you would like to use: Select SQL Server authentication (choose this if the computer is not on a domain or if you do not want to use NT authentication). Select Windows NT authentication (choose this if the computer is on a domain or if you do not want to use SQL Server authentication). Proceed to Step 5. 3. Enter the user name used to log on to the selected server in the User Name edit box. 4. Enter the password used to log on to the selected server in the Password edit box. 5. Click the OK button.
4 ComCash Utilities 2 Using the interface Utilities has a simple interface consisting of four areas: the menu bar, the toolbar, the navigation pane, and the details pane. menu bar You can use the menu bar to access all the functions of Utilities. The commands menu is dynamic and will contain different items depending on what is selected in the navigation pane. toolbar The toolbar provides quick and easy access to all the functions in the menu bar. The center toolbar is dynamic and will contain different buttons depending on what is selected in the navigation pane. navigation pane The navigation pane shows what you are working with: a server, database, or table. Items in the navigation pane are organized into a hierarchy so that you can see the relationship of one item to the other. Using the navigation pane, you can quickly drill-down to the item you want to work with. details pane You can use the details pane to view and work with information about the item currently selected in the navigation pane. 2.1 Using the menu bar The menu bar consists of three menus: File, Commands, and Help.
Using the interface 5 The file menu always contains the same items pertaining to the Utilities program. The first section contains three menu items. The Run Service Control Manager menu item brings up the SQL Server Service Manager. The SQL Server Service Manager allows you to manage service instances on your computer and is not a COMCASH product. The Change Manager Password menu item allows you to change the password used to access Manager. The Check Program Versions menu item brings up a two-pane window that allows you to check the version number of any program on your hard disk drive. The next section contains one item. The Attach Database menu item allows you to attach a database to the server you are working with. The last section contains one item. The Exit menu item will close the Utilities window and exit the program. The Commands menu is dynamic and will change depending upon whether a server, database, or table is currently selected. The last two items in the last section of the menu are constant and will remain regardless of what is selected. The Launch SQL Data Upload Utility menu item allows you to upload your data to COMCASH technical support. This item is only available from the Commands menu and does not appear on the toolbar or elsewhere. The Launch Version Utility menu item allows you to check the version of your databases against the current versions and to upgrade your databases if necessary. If a server is selected, then the menu will contain two sections.
6 ComCash Utilities The Logon to SQL Server menu item brings up the logon screen that you first saw when starting Utilities. This will allow you to select the SQL Server you wish to work with. If a database is selected, then the menu will contain seven sections. The first section contains two items: Backup Manager and SQL Query Interface. The Backup Manager menu item allows you to make backups of your data. The SQL Query Interface menu item allows you to run SQL queries. The second section contains two items: Clear Modified Flags in One or More Tables and Set Modified
Using the interface 7 Flags in One or More Tables. The Clear Modified Flags in One or More Tables menu item allows you to mark data as being unmodified. The Set Modified Flags in One or More Tables menu item allows you to mark data as having been modified. The third section contains two items: Delete Location and Change Location. The Delete Location menu item allows you to delete a store location from that database. The Change Location menu item allows you to change the location that you are working with. The fourth section contains one item: Detach Database. The Detach Database menu item allows you to detach a database from the server. The fifth section contains two items: Count Rows and Empty Tables. The Count Rows menu item will show the number of rows for every table in the database. The Empty Tables menu item will clear all data out of the currently selected database. Use this item with caution. The sixth section contains one item: Go Live! The Go Live! menu item will cause the currently selected database to become the default database used with COMCASH. If a table is selected, then the menu will contain six sections.
8 ComCash Utilities The first section contains two items: View Table Contents and View Table Structure. The View Table Contents menu item shows the contents of the selected table in the Details pane. The View Table Structure menu item shows the structure of the selected table in the Details pane. The second section contains two items: Clear Modified Flags in One or More Tables and Set Modified Flags in One or More Tables. The Clear Modified Flags in One or More Tables menu item allows you to mark data as being unmodified. The Set Modified Flags in One or More Tables menu item allows you to mark data as having been modified. The third section contains two menu items: Import Data and Export Data. The Import Data menu item allows you to import data into a table from another application. The Export Data menu item allows you to export data from a table for use in another application.
Using the interface 9 The fourth section contains three items: Clear Table, SP Helper, and SQL Query Interface. The Clear Table menu item deletes all data from the selected table. Use caution with this menu item. The SP Helper menu item brings up a list of stored procedures to help in writing SQL Queries. The SQL Query Interface menu item allows you to run SQL queries. The fifth section contains one item: Query for All. The Query for All menu item // I'm not sure what this item does. The sixth section contains one item: Print... The Print... menu item prints the contents of the selected table. The help menu always contains the same items pertaining to help with the Utilities program. The Check for Updates menu item checks to see if there is a newer version of Utilities available and updates if necessary. The About SQL Utilities menu item shows a window containing the version number of Utilities that you are running. 2.2 Using the toolbar There are three toolbars in Utilities. The leftmost toolbar relates to Utilities. This toolbar is divided into two sections. The left section allows you to run the Service Control Manager, change the Manager password, and check program versions. The right section allows you to attach a database. The rightmost toolbar always contains the Exit button. Clicking this button will close the Utilities window and exit from the program. The middle toolbar is dynamic and will change based upon whether a server, database, or table is selected in the Navigation pane. If a server is selected, then only one button appears that allows you to log on to a SQL Server. Use this button if you wish to change the SQL Server that you are logged onto.
10 ComCash Utilities If a database is selected, then the dynamic toolbar will display numerous buttons divided into six sections. 1. This section contains a button for going live. Doing this will make the currently selected database your default database for use with COMCASH. 2. This section contains two buttons. The first button is used to empty one or more tables in the database. This will clear out all data in that database. The second button allows you to display row counts for all tables in the database. 3. This section contains a button for detaching the database. 4. This section contains two buttons. The first button allows you to change the store location that you are working with. The second button allows you to delete a location. 5. This section contains two buttons. The first button allows you to clear modified flags in tables. Use this button to mark data as unmodified. The second button allows you to set modified flags in tables. Use this button to mark data as having been modified. 6. This section contains two buttons. The first button brings up the SQL Query Interface. Use this button to use SQL queries. The second button brings up the Backup Manager. Use this button to make backups of your data. If a table is selected, then the dynamic toolbar will display numerous buttons divided into six sections. 1. This section contains a button for printing. Use this button to print the information contained within the selected table. 2. This section contains a button for querying the table for all rows. 3. This section contains a button for toggling the Read Only status of the selected table. By default, the tables are read only so that the data can not be accidentally changed. Press this button to take the selected table out of Read Only mode so that you can edit the data. Click the button again to place the table back into Read Only mode. 4. This section contains three buttons. The first button brings up the SQL Query Interface. The second button SP Helper which brings up a list of stored procedures to help in writing SQL Queries. The third button empties out the selected table. 5. This section contains two buttons. The first button allows you to export data. The second button allows you to import data. 6. This section contains two buttons. The first button allows you to clear modified flags in tables. Use
Using the interface 11 this button to mark data as unmodified. The second button allows you to set modified flags in tables. Use this button to mark data as having been modified. 7. This section contains two buttons. The first button allows you to view the table structure. The second button allows you to view the table contents. 2.3 Using the navigation pane The Navigation Pane can be found on the left side of the Utilities window. To use the Navigation Pane, select an object: either a server ( ), a database ( ), or a table ( ). Depending on the type of object selected, the toolbar and menu items will change to reflect the actions that can be performed with the selected object. 2.4 Using the details pane The details pane shows details for the item that is currently selected in the Navigation pane on the left side. If a server is selected in the Navigation pane, then the details pane simply shows the computer name\server name next to a server icon. If a database is selected in the Navigation pane, then the details pane shows the name of the database next to a database icon. The details pane also shows information regarding the Database in a green
12 ComCash Utilities row and information regarding the database file in a blue row. If a table is selected, then the details pane shows all the data contained in that table, organized into columns. In each column heading is a drop-down list. You can filter a column by making a selection from the drop-down list. You may wish to group the data for easier viewing. In order to group the data, drag a column heading to the section above the columns that has the sentence: Drag a column header here to group by that column. When you wish to remove the grouping, simply drag the heading off from that section. 3 Working with Utilities The actions you can perform in Utilities depends on the item that is selected in the Navigation pane. The three types of items that can be selected in the Navigation pane are servers, databases, and
Working with Utilities 13 tables. 3.1 Using the Backup Manager Backing up your data is perhaps the most important thing you can do in Utilities. You can use the Backup Manager to make backups of your databases. In the event that you can not use your current data, you can restore previous data from a backup. 3.1.1 Running Backup Manager You will need to have a database selected in the navigation pane to start the Backup Manager. 1. Select a database in the navigation pane to work with. The dynamic toolbar will change and show buttons for use with a database--including the Backup Manager button. 2. Click the Backup Manager button (or select the Backup Manager item from the dynamic Commands menu. 3.1.2 Working with Backup Manager There are seven toolbar buttons in the Backup Manager window that are used to work with the selected database. Previous backups are listed in the grid below the toolbar. Delete Clicking this button deletes the selected backup. You will be asked for confirmation. Register Backup from Another Server Clicking this button allows you to browse for a backup file on your computer to add to the backups listed in the grid. Overwrite Existing Backup Clicking this button overwrites the selected backup with a new backup of the database shown in the title bar. You will be asked for confirmation before overwriting the backup. Restore from Selected Backup Clicking this button overwrites the current database (shown in the title bar) with the database selected in the backup grid.
14 ComCash Utilities Save New Backup Clicking this button allows you to create a new backup of the database. Automatic Backups Clicking this button shows daily, automated backups. Automatic backups are created when closing the day if you have the feature enabled. Manual Backups Clicking this button shows manually made backups in the grid. 3.2 Importing data A table must be selected in the navigation pane to use this feature. The Import Wizard allows you to import product information from a CSV file into a COMCASH table. Note: It can be very helpful to use Microsoft Excel to modify a CSV file before importing it (removing erroneous or unnecessary data, creating column headings, etc.). However, it is important that the CSV file is imported into Excel and that each column is imported as text. A common mistake is to simply open the CSV file with Excel, in which case Excel tries set each column to the data type it thinks it best represents. In this case, the PLU field can be seen and opened as a number field and that will remove any leading zeros in a PLU number such as 0034 and make it simply 34, which is incorrect. Click the Import Data button (or select the Import Data item from the Commands menu) to open the Import Wizard. The Import Wizard window appears.
Working with Utilities 15 The Import Wizard includes instructions and will guide you through the process of importing your data. 3.2.1 Welcome screen The Import Wizard begins with the Welcome page. The Import Wizard will require a CSV to column map to import data. Click the Next >> button. 3.2.2 Step 1 - Picking your CSV file Here you will pick the CSV file that contains the data you want to import. 1. Enter the name of the CSV file to load or click the Look Up button to select the file from a list. 2. Check boxes according to the options that apply to the CSV file being loaded: Check The first line of this CSV file contains column names if the first line of the CSV file contains headers for the rest of the data in the file. This option is checked by default. Check Auto-Generate Import Rules based on CSV Column Names if you want Utilities to automatically map the data in the CSV file to fields in the database based upon the column
16 ComCash Utilities names. This option is checked by default. Check If the record already exists, update it's values to change a record in the database only if newer information is being imported from the CSV file. This option is unchecked by default. 3. Click the Next >> button. 3.2.3 Step 2 - Creating or loading a map 1. In order to proceed, you will need to either create a map or load a map: Load a map Create a map 2. Ensure that each field you want to import has a rule associated with it. 3. Click the Next >> button. 3.2.3.1 Loading a map If you have previously created a map, you can click the Load Map button to load that map into the grid. Each field you want to import must be mapped with an import rule.
Working with Utilities 17 1. Click the Load Map button. The Load Map window appears. 2. Enter, or select, the name of the map to load. 3. Click the OK button. 3.2.3.2 Creating a map You can use the Import Rule column to create your own map. Each field must be mapped with an import rule. 1. Click a cell in the Import Rule column to edit the rule for that field. The Import Rule window opens.
18 ComCash Utilities 2. Select the type of rule from the drop-down list box. 3. Enter data into the corresponding edit boxes. Certain edit boxes will be disabled if they do not apply to the selected rule. 4. Click the OK button. 3.2.4 Ready to import The Import Wizard is now ready to import. 1. Click the Start button. If an error occurs during the importation process, you will be prompted to save the error log. 3.2.4.1 Saving the error log If an error is encountered during the import process, a Save Log? window appears. You can choose whether to save the log file: Click the Yes button to save the log file. Click the No button to discard the log file.
Working with Utilities 19 3.3 Exporting data A table must be selected in the navigation pane to use this feature. The Export Wizard allows you to export product information from a table into a CSV file. Click the Export Data button (or select the Export Data item from the Commands menu) to open the Export Wizard. The Export Wizard window appears. The Export Wizard includes instructions and will guide you through the process of exporting your data. 3.3.1 Welcome screen The Export Wizard begins with the Welcome page. The Export Wizard will export the selected tabled to a CSV file through the use of a map.
20 ComCash Utilities Click the Next >> button. 3.3.2 Step 1 - Entering a file name You need to have a name to save your exported data. 1. Enter a name for the file or click the Look Up button to browse for a location or file to overwrite. The filename should end with the extension.csv. 2. Click the Next >> button.
Working with Utilities 21 3.3.3 Step 2 - Creating or loading a data map 1. In order to proceed, you will need to either create a map or load a map: Load a map Create a map 2. Click the Next >> button. 3.3.3.1 Loading a map If you have previously created a map, you can click the Load Map button to load that map. Each field you want to export must be listed in the Fields to Export column.
22 ComCash Utilities 1. Click the Load Map button. The Load Map window appears. 2. Enter, or select, the name of the map to load. 3. Click the OK button. 3.3.3.2 Creating a map You can use the arrow buttons between the columns to create your own map. Each field that you want to export must be mapped to the Fields to Export column. 1. Click the arrow buttons to move fields into and out of the Fields to Export column: Click the button to move a selected field in the Fields in Table column to the Fields to Export column. Click the button to move a selected field in the Fields to Export column to the Fields in Table column. Click the button to move all fields from the Fields in Table column to the Fields to
Working with Utilities 23 Export column. Click the button to move all fields from the Fields to Export column to the Fields in Table column. 2. The fields will be exported in the order specified in the Field to Export column. The higher fields will be exported first. Click the Up and Down buttons to order the fields in the Fields to Export column: Click the Up button to move a selected field in the Fields to Export column one position up in the column. Click the Down button to move a selected field in the Fields to Export column one position down in the column. 3. Click the Next >> button. 3.3.4 Step 3 - Exporting the data 1. (optional) Enter a SQL WHERE clause if you would like to only export certain information from the table. You must be familiar with SQL queries to use this feature. If you leave this field blank, then every record in the table from the fields you selected in Step 2 will be exported to the CSV file. 2. Click the Start button. 3.4 Running the Service Control Manager Running the Service Control Manager will bring up the SQL Server Service Manager window. The SQL Server Service Manager is used to control the SQL Server services running on the current machine. The SQL Server Service Manager is not a COMCASH product. The Service Control Manager can be run at any time by clicking the Run Service Control Manager button on the leftmost toolbar or by selecting Run Service Control Manager from the File menu.
24 ComCash Utilities You can get a ToolTip by hovering the mouse pointer over a button when Utilities is the active window. 3.5 Checking program versions You will need to open the COMCASH Executables Version Information window to check program versions. This window will allow you to view and save version information for any program located on your computer (not just COMCASH programs). To open the COMCASH Executables Version Information window, Click the Check Program Versions button on the toolbar (or select Check Program Versions from the File menu). The left-hand navigation pane will start out at the Program Files folder. By selecting a folder, you can see the version information for every program located in that folder in the right-hand details pane. For example, if you wish to check the versions of COMCASH programs, select the Comcash 8.0 folder (located in the Program Files folder). You can use the buttons on the toolbar to perform various functions: The Jump to Default COMCASH Directory button navigates to the default Comcash 8.0 directory and saves you the trouble of locating it manually. The Jump to C:\ button navigates to the Desktop. The Desktop is the highest level and you can navigate to anywhere in the computer from there. The Write Version Information to File button will bring up a window where you can choose to save a text file with all the version information currently shown in the details pane. 3.6 Attaching a database A database must be attached to work with it in Utilities. To attach a database to the current server, click the Attach Database button on the toolbar or select the Attach Database item from the File menu.
Working with Utilities 25 The Attach Database window appears, 1. Type in the location of the database file (MDF file) to attach or click the lookup button to browse for it. 2. Enter a name to recognize the database by in the Attach as: edit box. 3. Click the OK button. 3.7 Using the SQL Data Upload utility Use the SQL Data Upload utility to upload, and download, database data to and from a COMCASH technician. 3.7.1 Logging onto the SQL Data Upload utility To use the SQL Data Upload utility, select the Launch SQL Data Upload Utility item from the Commands menu. The Commands menu is dynamic and will contain different items depending on whether a server, database, or table is selected in the navigation pane. The SQL Data Upload utility is a static item and will appear near the bottom of the menu regardless of what other items may or may not appear. A Connection window appears, This window is similar to the Connect to SQL Server window that appears when Utilities is loaded.
26 ComCash Utilities 1. In the Select a Server Name edit box, either type in the name of the server in the format computername\servername, or select the server from the drop-down list. 2. Select an option dial to specify how you would like to log on. Windows NT authentication is recommended. There are additional steps to follow if you select SQL Server authentication: 2a. Enter your User Name. 2b. Enter your password. 3. Click the OK button. 3.7.2 Uploading data To upload data to a COMCASH technician, use the Upload Data tab of the Auto Data Upload window. 1. Directly enter, or select from the drop-down list, the name of the database you wish to upload data from. This will most likely be COMCASH. 2. Enter an Issue Number to identify the data that is being uploaded. 3. Select the Upload COMCASH Data check box (this should be selected by default). 4. (optional) If there is any other data you wish to upload, then select the Upload additional files... check box and click the Add Files button to browse for the files.
Working with Utilities 27 5. Click the Upload button. 3.7.3 Downloading data To download data from a COMCASH technician, use the Download Data tab of the Auto Data Upload window. 1. Directly enter, or select from the drop-down list, the name of the database you wish to upload data from. This will most likely be COMCASH. 2. Enter the Issue Number that corresponds with the data that is being downloaded. 3. Type in a location, in the edit box, to download the data to or click the Browse button to browse for the location. 4. Click the Download button. 3.8 Using the Version utility The Version utility allows you to check the version of your databases against the current versions. You can upgrade databases that have a lower version number than the current version.
28 ComCash Utilities To be sure that all of your databases are up to date with the current versions, 1. Click the Select All button. 2. Click the Upgrade Selected Databases button. You can click the View Logs button (if it is not dimmed) to view any log information that was recorded during the upgrade process. 3.9 Clearing modified flags You can clear modified flags when either a database or a table is selected in the navigation pane. Clearing the modified flags on a table will mark a table as being unchanged. Therefore, the data in that table will not be sent during Polling. If a database is selected, you can clear modified flags by clicking the Clear Modified Flags in One or More Tables button on the toolbar (or by selecting the item from the Commands menu). If a table is selected, you can clear modified flags by clicking the Clear Modified Flags button on the toolbar (or by selecting the item from the Commands menu)
Working with Utilities 29 3.9.1 Clearing modified flags with a database selected Choosing to Clear Modified Flags in One or More Tables opens the Clear Modified Flag Tables Wizard. Tables in the database you are working with are listed in the left column. Tables that will have their modified flags cleared are listed in the right column. The arrow buttons in between the two columns move tables from one column to the other. 1. Use the arrow buttons, between the columns, to select which tables to clear the modified flags on. Click this button to move a table from the left column to the right column so that its modified flag will be cleared. Click this button to move all tables from the left column to the right column so that the modified flags on all tables will be cleared. Click this button to move a table from the right column to the left column so that its modified flag will not be cleared. Click this button to move all tables from the right column to the left column so that no modified flags will be cleared.
30 ComCash Utilities 2. Click the Modify Tables button when you are done selecting the tables to modify. 3.9.2 Clearing modified flags with a table selected Choosing to Clear Modified Flags opens a window asking for confirmation. 1. Enter the location number that you want to clear the modified flag for. If you leave this box blank, then the modified flag will be cleared from this table for all locations. 2. Click the Yes button. 3.10 Setting modified flags You can set modified flags when either a database or a table is selected in the navigation pane. Setting the modified flags on a table will mark a table as being changed. Therefore, the data in that table will be sent during Polling. If a database is selected, you can set modified flags by clicking the Set Modified Flags in One or More Tables button on the toolbar (or by selecting the item from the Commands menu). If a table is selected, you can set modified flags by clicking the Set Modified Flags button on the toolbar (or by selecting the item from the Commands menu) 3.10.1 Setting modified flags with a database selected Choosing to Set Modified Flags in One or More Tables opens the Set Modified Flag Tables Wizard.
Working with Utilities 31 Tables in the database you are working with are listed in the left column. Tables that will have their modified flags set are listed in the right column. The arrow buttons in between the two columns move tables from one column to the other. 1. Use the arrow buttons, between the columns, to select which tables to set the modified flags on. Click this button to move a table from the left column to the right column so that its modified flag will be set. Click this button to move all tables from the left column to the right column so that the modified flags on all tables will be set. Click this button to move a table from the right column to the left column so that its modified flag will not be set. Click this button to move all tables from the right column to the left column so that no modified flags will be set. 2. Click the Modify Tables button when you are done selecting the tables to modify. 3.10.2 Setting modified flags with a table selected
32 ComCash Utilities Choosing to Set Modified Flags opens a window asking for confirmation. 1. Enter the location number that you want to set the modified flag for. If you leave this box blank, then the modified flag will be set for this table for all locations. 2. Click the Yes button. 3.11 Deleting a location A database must be selected in the navigation pane to delete a location. Please be aware that this will delete all data associated a location. You should make a backup of your data before deleting a location. Click the Delete location button (or select the Delete Location item from the Commands menu) to open the Delete Location window. Follow these steps to delete a location: 1. Type the location number to delete into the edit box. 2. Click the OK button. You will be asked for confirmation before the location is actually deleted. 3.12 Changing locations Information for multiple store locations can be stored in a single database. A database must be selected in the navigation pane to change the location that you are working with. Usually, a store location will only have one location in its database. However, a Corporate computer (used in Polling) will have information associates with multiple locations (each store location involved in Polling). You can use the Change location feature of Utilities to change the location that a particular set of data is associated with. A common use of Change Location is to open a new store location. If you have just opened a new store location as Location 5, you can restore a backup from an existing store location at Location 5 to
Working with Utilities 33 save yourself the trouble of re-entering all the product information (assuming that both stores will use the same type of products). However, all the restored information is still marked as another location and will affect Polling. Therefore, the Change Location feature must be used to mark all the restored data as being at the new location: Location 5. Click the Change Location button (or select the Change Location item from the Commands menu) to open the Change Location window. Follow these steps to Change the location to work with: 1. Type the location number that is associated with the data you would like to change in the edit box. If you leave this box blank, all data in the selected database (regardless of what location it is associated with) will be marked with a new location number. 2. Type the new location number to associate with the data in this edit box. 3. Click the OK button. You will be asked for confirmation before the location is actually changed. 3.13 Detaching a database A database must be selected in the navigation pane to use this feature. You may want to detach a database so that the database file can be copied. A detached database cannot be used until it is attached again. When you detach a database, it will no longer appear in the navigation pane. To detach a database, 1. Have the database selected and click the Detach Database button (or select the Detach Database item from the Commands menu). The Detach Database window appears. This window shows how many registers are currently connected to the database and the status of the database. 2. Click the Detach Database button.
34 ComCash Utilities 3.14 Counting rows A database must be selected in the navigation pane to use this feature. Use this feature by clicking the Count Rows button on the toolbar (or by selecting the Count Rows item from the Commands menu). The Count Rows feature opens a Row Counts window that displays the number of rows of data for each table in the selected database. 3.15 Emptying tables A database must be selected in the navigation pane to use this feature. Emptying a table will remove all data from a table. Please make a backup of your data before doing this. Click the Empty Tables button (or select the Empty Tables item from the Commands menu).
Working with Utilities 35 The Empty Tables Wizard window appears. Tables in the database you are working with are listed in the left column. Tables that will be emptied are listed in the right column. The arrow buttons in between the two columns move tables from one column to the other. 1. Use the arrow buttons, between the columns, to select which tables to empty. Click this button to move a table from the left column to the right column. Click this button to move all tables from the left column to the right column. Click this button to move a table from the right column to the left column. Click this button to move all tables from the right column to the left column. 2. Click the Empty Tables button when you are done selecting the tables to empty. 3.16 Going live A database must be selected in the navigation pane to use this feature.
36 ComCash Utilities Go Live is used to clear test data out of a database. COMCASH recommends that you make a backup of your data before using the Go Live feature. The selected database must have a stored Go Live procedure for it to be used as the COMCASH database. If it does not have this procedure, then a Missing Data window appears mentioning the problem. Click the Go Live! button on the toolbar (or select the Go Live! item from the Commands menu). The Go Live! window appears. 1. Select the check boxes for the data that you do not wish to remove. All unchecked data will be removed from the database. Note: Please make a backup of your data before continuing. 2. Click the Go Live! button. 3.17 Viewing the contents of a table A table must be selected in the navigation pane to use this feature. The table contents are displayed by default in the details pane and can be toggled with the Structure view. To view the contents of the selected table, Click the View Table Contents button on the toolbar (or select the View Table Contents item from the Commands menu).
Working with Utilities 37 The contents of the selected table are displayed in the details pane. 3.18 Viewing the table structure A table must be selected in the navigation pane to use this feature. The table contents are displayed by default in the details pane and can be toggled with the Structure view. To view the structure of the selected table, Click the View Table Structure button on the toolbar (or select the View Table Structure item from the Commands menu). The structure of the selected table is displayed in the details pane.
38 ComCash Utilities 3.19 Clearing a table A table must be selected in the navigation pane to use this feature. Clearing a table will erase all data from that table. It is recommended that you make a backup before clearing a table. To clear a table, select the table you want to clear and click the Clear Table button (or select the Clear Table item from the Commands menu). You will be asked for confirmation before the table is emptied. 3.20 Using the SP Helper A table must be selected in the navigation pane to use this feature. The SP Helper contains Stored Procedures to assist you with writing SQL Queries. Although the data in the window can be edited, changes will not be saved. To open the Store Procedure window, click the SP Helper button on the toolbar (or select the SP Helper item from the Commands menu). 3.21 Querying for all A table must be selected in the navigation pane to use this feature. Utilities only shows the first 100 records of a database. This shows a quick view of the database contents. Use Query for all to see all records in the database. This process could take several minutes to complete depending on the number of records within the database.
Working with Utilities 39 Click the Query for all button on the toolbar (or select the Query for all item from the Commands menu). 3.22 Checking for updates You can check in the Help menu to see if there is an updated version of Utilities. You will need to be connected to the internet in order for this feature to work. Select the Check for Update item from the Help menu.