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FAQs:

Installation Questions

1. What are the system requirements to install DIRECT?

2. Can DIRECT be installed on a Vista computer

3. How do I install CTECS DIRECT 5 in a server configuration?

4. Why can't I complete the installation process?

5. During installation, a System Administrator Password is requested; what is the password?

6. How can I reinstall CTECS DIRECT after uninstalling the application and MSDE (Microsoft SQL Desktop Engine)?

General Questions

1. Where do I find supporting information on using CTECS DIRECT?

Problem-solving Questions

1. What do I need to enter in the Server name dialog box when I start DIRECT?

2. Why do I keep seeing the Server name dialog box at program startup?

3. I cannot connect to the database. Is it running/installed?

4. The program has stopped working. Why?

Q:  What are the system requirements to install DIRECT?

A:  CTECS DIRECT™ 5.2 System Requirements: DIRECT System Requirements

Q: Can DIRECT be installed on a Vista computer?

A: To install DIRECT on a Vista computer you must perform a FULL installation from a CTECS DIRECT 5.2 program CD dated October, 2008 or later!  Refer to the release notes to see the system requirements and other important information: DIRECT 5-2 Release Notes Dec 2009.pdf

Q:  How do I install CTECS DIRECT in a server configuration?

A:  In short, here is how you install CTECS DIRECT in a server configuration. This assumes you will be using the MSDE SQL server supplied on the CTECS DIRECT program CD as the database server and not an enterprise version of MS SQL server.

Install CTECS DIRECT in typical fashion on the Windows computer designated as the "server". Then install the DIRECT software in custom mode and do a "Client Only" install on all of the client machines that will be connecting to the "server".

Run DIRECT on the server and create Users.

Now launch DIRECT on one of the client machines. The software will attempt to connect to a database on the local machine but after about 60 seconds will fail and display a dialog box asking for the location of the database server. Use the following info:

Server Name: "server" (actual network name of your server) Database: VTECS_DATA
User: vtecs
Password: C0nn3ct (capital "C", zero and a three)
This should attach the client to the "server". Log in as one of the users you previously created and you are set.

Q: The program stopped working. Why? 

A: Windows may have Compressed the SQL Database master files. MS SQL Server will not allow any database files to be compressed. You must manually uncompress the file/folder and then attach the database files.

Q: Why can't I complete the installation process?

Users must be logged in as Administrators. If, during installation of the SQL server, the progress bar progresses about half way and then backs off, giving an error, you are probably not logged in, in Administrator mode.

The installation of CTECS DIRECT requires the modification of the Windows registry and configuration of services for the database server. These modifications to Windows require Administrative access to the system.

Q:  How can I reinstall CTECS DIRECT after uninstalling the application and MSDE (Microsoft SQL Desktop Engine)?

A:  Never uninstall MSDE on Windows XP. However, if it has been already been uninstalled, refer to this bulletin: Support bulletin CTECS20060816.txt

Q: Where do I find supporting information on using CTECS DIRECT 5?

A: Software updates, current Release Notes, and other helpful information is available here on the CTECS website on the DIRECT Support page.  The CTECS DIRECT 5 program CD contains the Release Notes and instructions for importing CTECS occupations into DIRECT.

Q: What do I need to enter in the Server name dialog box when I start DIRECT 5?

A: Here is the information to enter for server, database, user and password:

(local)
DIRECT
vtecs
C0nn3ct (be sure that you enter a capital letter C the number 0 then nn3ct)

Also, refer to the CTECS DIRECT 5 Release Notes available on the DIRECT Support page.

Q: Why do I keep seeing the Server name dialog box at program startup?

A: The Server Name dialog box appears at program startup when the software cannot connect to the database server. Usually this means that the database server is not running. You can use the SQL Server Manager icon in the taskbar to start and stop the SQL server.

If the database server regularly does not start at system boot up, use the SQL Server Manager icon in the taskbar to set the Auto-Start option.

If the database is not installed on the same machine as the client that is unable to connect to the database, then the server name property is incorrect. Please verify that the server name is the name of the computer running the CTECS DIRECT 5 database.

Q: I cannot connect to the database. Is it running/installed?

Press Alt-Ctrl-Delete and see if you can find the entry "sqlservr.exe" in the list under the Processes tab. If so, that means the database is running. If it is not in the list, it needs to be started. Run the following program and hit the green arrow to start the database.

C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\80\Tools\Binn\sqlmangr.exe

You can also check the "Add Remove Programs" from the Windows Control Panel, to see if "Microsoft SQL Server Desktop Engine" is installed. If it is not, then rerun the install from the CTECS DIRECT program CD.

Q.  During installation, a System Administrator Password is requested; what is the password?

CTECS DIRECT does not require a password during installation. If a System Administrator password is requested, download this file, MSDE_Auth_Mode.exe, run it on your computer to change to "Mixed" mode then restart installation.

Basically SQL can be installed in two login modes, Windows and Mixed.  CTECS DIRECT 5 requires Mixed.  This program allows a user to change the preinstalled SQL server login mode so the software can be installed.  Do not run the MSDE Auth Mode program on a server.