Networking

Excel Invoice Manager Pro and Enterprise editions support networking. This simple tutorial goes through the steps for sharing database(s) between multiple computers.

Let's say we have two computers. They are all running Windows XP Pro. ComputerA will host the shared database file, and computerB will connect to the database on ComputerA. These two computers are locally networked.

1. Create a folder named DB on ComputerA.
2. Right click the DB folder and select Properties.
3. Switch to the Sharing tab.
4. In the Network sharing and security section, check the option Share this folder on the network and Allow network users to change my files.

   
   

5. Click OK.
6. Store the database file in the DB folder, or create a new database file in the DB folder.
7. On ComputerB, open My Network Places.
8. Click menu Tools -> Map Network Drive.

   
   

9. Choose a drive letter, such as S:.
10. Click Browse.
11. Browse to and select the shared DB folder on ComputerA.

    
    

12. Click OK.
13. Click Finish to close the Map Network Drive dialog box.

    
    

14. Open My Computer. Make sure there is a drive "S:" and that you can open it.

    
    

15. Open your invoice template. Click the Settings button on the Invoice worksheet.
16. Switch to the Database tab.
17. Click Open Database.
18. Browse to and open the shared database.

    
    

    Note: Make certain that you are opening the shared database via its mapped driver letter (i.e. S:), and not the computer name in My Network Places, or the system will not be able to find the database file and will display the following message:

    
    

19. On the Invoice worksheet, below the Current Database label you will find the name of the database which is currently connected.

    
    

20. Save the template once. This insures the template will connect to the specified database automatically next time you open it.