Monday, November 11, 2013

Moving ACT! Data to New Server and Sharing Database

I had a client in San Diego recently for whom I set a new server.  This meant moving the data for all of their programs;  This includes ACT!.


Moving ACT! is not as simple as moving, say, Quckbooks.  First, you have to move the folder where the ACT! database is contained to the proper location on the new server.  


Normally you run the .pad file to open an ACT! database.  However, the first time the database is opened after the data is moved it is the .adf file that has to be run.  This must be run from the server.  Opening the .adf from the server will rewrite the .pad with the correct information.


Next disable the firewall on the server.  (I will update this if I figure out a way to allow just ACT! through the firewall).  This shouldn't be an issue as long as there is a hardware firewall (aka. a router).


The final step is to share the database.  Again, from the server, run ACT! as an administrator.  Then, go to Tools > Database Maintenance > Share Database.  If the option is greyed out, make sure you ran ACT! as an admin this time.


Make sure the correct options are setup so everyone on the network has permission to edit the folder/database files and you should be good to go.

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