Troubleshooting the Network Diary

Article ID:

ND020509

Provided by:
Acute Software

Last Updated:

22-Sep-2005

Do you have the Skills Required?

Installation of the Network Diary is possible by non IT people, but if it is recommended that you have the following skills:
* Must be able to move files and folders using Windows Explorer.

* Must have a basic understanding of Network security, and have administrator rights on all PC's

* Must be able to setup file sharing between PC's on a Local Area Network.

* Should be able to edit INI files with a text editor

* Should be able to read and understand logfiles.

If you do not feel comfortable performing the above tasks, you can get an IT person to perform the installation, or you can follow the detailed instructions in the help file - but it is very important that you follow each step carefully.

The Network Diary isn't overly complicated, but there are certain steps which must be done in order, for the system to work.

This article describes the steps to take to find problems when setting up the Network Diary version 6.0 and greater.

NOTE - Please follow the Instructions for installation if you are a first time user, or if you are using an older version of the Network Diary, you can see the original troubleshooting guide HERE

Step 1 - Is the Diary installed and running?

Make sure you have installed the Network Diary to your local hard drive ( default path is C:\Program Files\acute\netDiary\ ) Now, pick a folder on your shared server which all users can access - this will be where the DATA FILES are stored (for example - N:\NetDiary where N: is your mapped drive to the shared server)

Step 2 - Check that your network is able to share files

This is critical to the operation of the Network Diary. Each user on the LAN must be able to 'see' the shared folders on the server, and they must be able to copy files there.

From here, drag and drop a file (any file) into this shared server folder. If you get an error message, then you need to check the security of the shared folder.

Step 3 - Check the Diary Clients network datapath

Go to the client PC (ClientA) and start the Diary Client. Go to the Options Menu then Diary Options, then click the DataFiles tab.

Enter the shared path into the datapath (e.g. N:\NetDiary)

Step 4- Booking Meetings for other Users

From the Diary Client (ClientA), click the 'Staff View'
Screen shot of Network Diary in Staff mode.

The user list on the Left Hand side of the screen should show the users you have added in the Server Setup - currently ClientA and ClientB

Leave both users ticked, and go to the Appointments menu and choose 'Plan a Meeting with other users'

Enter some text 'test meeting' and click the 'Book Meeting' button.

The staff view screen should now show that time greyed out for both users.

Still on ClientA - click in the 'Diary' view on the Left hand toolbar to show your own local appoinments - the meeting will be there, in red (showing that it is a meeting)

Go to the ClientB (and repeat steps 2 and 3 for ClientB to prove that it is connecting OK), and look in the staff view - you should see the same times greyed out. In ClientB's local diary events the meeting will appear there.

If this is the case, then the diary has been successfully configured.

Still Stuck?

Run the Configuration Reporting Tool from both the Diary Server, and the faulty Clients PC and follow the instructions to send in the bug report.

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