Technical Information
Operating System
The following are the approved operating systems for the Overseer applications.
|
Application |
W95 |
W98 |
NT4 |
ME |
W2K |
WXP |
Mac |
Unix |
Linux |
|
Admin |
T |
T |
T |
|
T |
T |
|
|
|
|
LAN |
T |
T |
T |
|
T |
T |
|
|
|
|
Grades |
T |
T |
T |
|
T |
T |
|
|
|
|
Reports |
|
T |
|
|
T |
T |
|
|
|
Minimum Requirements
The recommended minimum memory requirement for each operating system is as follows:
· Windows 95: 486/66 with 16 MB RAM (Pentium 133 with 32 MB recommended)
· Windows 98: Pentium 133 with 32 MB RAM (Pentium 266 with 64 MB RAM recommended)
· Windows NT4: Pentium 266 with 64 MB RAM
· Windows 2000: Pentium II 450 with 128 MB RAM
· Windows XP: Pentium IV with 256 MB RAM.
You may check the amount of installed RAM by clicking Start | Settings | Control Panel | System | Performance (or similar menu option depending upon the version of Windows used).
The following are suggested minimum additional hardware and software requirements to run the Overseer applications:
- 256 KB cache (512 KB recommended)
- hard drive with 100 MB free disk space for the application and database
- tape or disk backup medium
- CD-ROM (recommended)
- VGA colour monitor (SVGA colour monitor with small fonts recommended)
- printer for reports
- email and Internet access (recommended for support)
- keyboard & mouse
Database Engine
Overseer Admin and Overseer LAN use the Borland Database Engine (BDE) version 5.1.1 and two Paradox databases: a Demo database (BDE alias SA_DEMO) and a Main database (BDE alias SA_MAIN). The user can toggle between these two databases from within the applications, making it easy to experiment with Overseer functions on the demonstration (Demo) database without altering the local school’s (Main) database.
The Demo and
The Paradox tables in the
Core information about families, children, students, adults or organizations may be output (via comma-delimited ASCII text files) to other applications, using the file export options within Overseer Admin or Overseer LAN.
Overseer Grades does not use the Borland Database Engine. Instead it interfaces to data in individual (custom) files within each teacher's personal, portable Grades database.
Overseer Reports does not use the Borland Database Engine. It saves report card designs in custom files (with a .rrc extension) - for import into Overseer Admin.
Application Language
Borland’s
Installation
The automatic installation programs for Overseer Admin and Overseer LAN check for the existence of the Borland Database Engine. If found, they check the version of the BDE and, if it is earlier than 5.1.1, update it to version 5.1.1. If not found, they install the full BDE under the default Program Files directory for the operating system. If other applications are using an installed BDE, you may want to have a computer technician evaluate the impact of the Overseer Admin or Overseer LAN installations on those applications. If there is an existing partial BDE installation, it may have to be uninstalled before Overseer Admin or Overseer LAN will install successfully.
The installation procedures install all of the Overseer applications under the default <Program Files> directory for the relevant operating system. Other than the BDE, and a few files which are stored in the Windows System directory, all of Overseer’s files are installed under the subdirectory ...<Program Files>\Robust Software\Overseer.
Overseer may be installed from a CD (available from RSI) or by downloading the individual Overseer applications from the website. The installation CD includes 1.44MB disk images so that the applications can be installed on a PC which has no CD ROM drive. Use Winzip's (http://www.winzip.com) or an alternative utility program if you need to transfer the downloaded installation file to a target PC via diskettes.
LAN Access to Shared Database
Schools may install the database on a LAN simply by remapping the SA_MAIN (but not SA_DEMO) alias via the BDEAdmin.Exe administration utility installed with Overseer Admin and Overseer LAN.
Although Overseer Admin runs on a LAN, only one user at a time may access the application. However, Overseer LAN supports multi-user access to allow teachers and specialists simultaneous access to the Overseer master database to enter report card term marks, edit student/class session notes and reference information linked to their students and classes.
Uninstalling Overseer Applications
The Overseer applications may be uninstalled using the Windows uninstall utility (accessed via Start | Settings | Control Panel | Add/Remove Programs).
Check-List of Common Windows Problems
Please review the following check-list before reporting a support problem to RSI. Our experience to date shows that many problems result from computer hardware or PC configuration problems.
1. Available Hard Drive Space
The Overseer applications are always installed to the local hard drive (C:). While the applications themselves do not use much disk space, none of the Windows operating systems will run well when the amount of available disk space gets low.
Always maintain at least 100 MB of free disk space when installing or running any of the Overseer applications. You may check the available disk space through Windows Explorer.
2. Hard Drive Integrity
Corruption on your hard drive can cause Windows to fail when performing disk activity for any application. Run the Windows ScanDisk utility (Start | Programs | Accessories | System Tools | ScanDisk; enable the standard test; enable Automatically Fix Errors) one or more times until no disk errors are detected. Periodically run the Disk Defragmenter as well (Start | Programs | Accessories | System Tools, then Disk Defragmenter).
3. Garbage Deletion
Periodically open your Recycle Bin and empty it. Also, delete any files with the .tmp extension, which do not have today’s date, in the ...Windows\Temp directory. These files can fragment your disk, eat up valuable space and slow performance.
4. System Integrity
Over time, the installation and removal of applications on a PC can gradually corrupt the ...Windows\System directory and registry to the point where the surest way to restore the health of a PC is to have a computer technician reformat the hard drive and re-install Windows and all applications from scratch. This may sound like a heroic measure, but it is a common requirement in some environments. Don’t use your PC for testing every piece of software that comes your way if you want to keep it healthy!
5. Virus Check
Use one of the many virus detection applications to check for viruses on your PC. Strange behaviour could easily result from a virus which has inadvertently found its way onto your PC (usually from an infected diskette installed in your diskette drive, an email attachment, or a macro virus in an office document). If found, have a computer technician clean your PC and any infected diskettes before re-using your PC.
6. Stability of Main Power
Fluctuations in the voltage of the main power into a school may result in random errors on your PC. Consider installing a UPS on your PC, at least on a trial basis, to see whether or not your PC is a victim of power-line noise.
7. Video Display Mode
Not all applications run well in every video display mode. The Overseer applications were designed to run in VGA, SVGA (small fonts only) or higher modes. They will not work well in SVGA mode with large fonts or custom font sizes. Right-mouse click on the Windows desktop, and click Properties | Settings | Advanced to check that you are not using one of these unsupported font sizes in SVGA mode (800 x 600 pixels).
8. Windows Desktop Appearance
If you are experiencing unwanted scroll-bars on any Overseer main screen, it may be because you have selected a large title bar display mode for the Windows Appearance options. Right- mouse click on the Windows desktop, and click Properties | Settings | Appearance and check that the sizing of the chosen scheme is Windows Standard or one with compatible title-bar sizes. Alternatively, maximize the Overseer screen after opening it so that the scroll-bars are not displayed.
