TCTdBX v1.1: Enhanced connection management with custom naming and configuration

Summary

This article introduces a new capability in TCTdBX v1.1 that allows users to name and configure connections.

Connections are data records that hold the following information:

• Title – name of the connection
• IP address of the Transaction Server that holds Analyst data to retrieve from and send to
• Port number of the Transaction Server
• Analyst account details for logging into TCTdBX, including:
  • Login name
  • Option to to authenticate using Active Directory credentials
  • Domain (if using Active Directory credentials)
• Default Hierarchy
• Default Operator Set

How to configure multiple connections

In addition to any named Connection with a Title, the system provides a default <None> (unnamed) connection.  A newly installed TCTdBX has no named connections. The default connection state (‘<None>’) is intended for initial use until a named connection is configured.

If a user is using only one connection (e.g., always TS at address #.#.#.#, port #; always Analyst User X; always Hierarchy Y; always Operator Set Z), there is no need to create named connections. Aside from the initial setup where they set the IP address and port number of the TS to connect to, there is no need to access the Manage Connection Settings dialog. All parameters (such as login name, Hierarchy opened, last Operator Set selected) are stored in the configuration file.

On the other hand, if the same computer is used by two different users (each with a unique Analyst username) or by one user accessing multiple Analyst databases (each Transaction Service with a unique IP/Port combination), they will need to create named connections with the specific information. When starting TCTdBX, the selected connection title is automatically highlighted in the Manage Connections dialog, allowing any changes to be made directly to the logged-in record.

If the user wishes to clear all named connections and start over, they should log in as <None> (since the named connection used to log in cannot be deleted). They can then remove all named connection records and start adding new ones.

The Manage Connections dialog primarily exists to manage named connections, not the default <None> state. The <None> state is used to initially set the IP and port (and test the connection) if named connection records are not being used.

Contacting SKF Technical Support Group

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