Checklist for Network Setup of GoAntiquing! POS

The checklist below will help you to setup your network for a multi-register retail store-front for use with GoAntiquing! POS.

The quick summary of what you will be doing below is easy to state: You will setup your network with a shared folder on the "Main" computer. This folder will contain the GoAntiquing! POS database. You will install the software to all computers, and you will connect each computer to the database manually, then you will get activation codes for all the computers. Naturally this summary implies some details, but again, the checklist here should help you get the installation completed and working.

NOTE: It is assumed all computers are already networked on at least a 100Mbps Ethernet-style network, recommended is a 1GB or GigE network. Anything slower will not work. Your computers should all be running the same version of Windows and should have at least 1Gb of RAM and a CPU with at least 1.5Ghz processing speed - this higher requirement (most new PC's from within the last 2 years meet this requirement already) is needed as this is a network environment and processing loads will be larger because of the network overhead.

"Stand-By", "Hibernate", "Sleep" and "Low-Power" Mode Notes:

You must ensure that all computers that connect to the database on your network or the database host computer cannot go to "Sleep" or enter "Stand-By" mode, or "Hibernate" while connected to your GoAntiquing! POS database. You must also ensure that the network connection you use for each computer is setup to NOT be allowed to go into "Low Power" or "Stand-By" or "Sleep" mode, or be allowed to "Conserve Power". If you do NOT do this, then without a doubt, you will experience data loss and data corruption. If you have a technician assisting you, please ensure that they completely understand this statement. Also, please backup your data!
Firewalls and Anti-Virus Notes:

Many computers today come with Firewall software pre-installed. It is important to allow GoAntiquing! to get through the firewall for all potential needs. The best way to do this is to ask someone who knows how to configure the firewall to setup an "exception" or "exclusion" for "GoAntiquingPOS.exe". We also recommend that any anti-virus software be setup to exclude the GoAntiquing! POS application and Data folder from being scanned or otherwise monitored by the software. This is more of a performance setting - anti-virus software can see some of GoAntiquing!'s normal function as threatening as it opens and creates and closes and deletes many temporary files of a data type (MDB) which many anti-virus programs see as virus vectors. GoAntiquing! POS itself has no such viruses and contains a digital signature that means you know that it came from Brave New Software and is certified safe.
Get a full install of GoAntiquing! POS from the download support page, most people will download the one for Windows XP/Vista/7.
Copy the install to a removable memory stick device or place it on a shared network location, or you can just download it to each computer individually from the link above.
Install the software to the computer that will be designated the MAIN computer, which should be the fastest and most stable machine on the network. Note the software must be installed by an "Windows administrator" login.
Create a folder on the MAIN computer, perhaps "C:\GAPOS" and copy your shop database to that location.

Note: if you have previously been configuring the software on another computer you will copy the file of type MDB, which should have a name like your shop name, from "C:\Data Files\GoAntiquing! POS" to this "C:\GAPOS" folder. You will also want to copy the "Settlement" folder if it exists. A deeper discussion of this can be found on the FAQ located here.
Now share that folder on the network. You must NOT be using "simple file sharing" on ANY of the computers. Set the share so "Everyone" has "Full Control" access - this is located unmder the Permissions tab of Sharing Properties for the folder. If you do not know how to setup file sharing please consult a technical person.
Everyone will access the database by opening the database from the shared folder using File / Open Database. This means every computer needs to know the "name" of the "Main" computer. So please be sure and locate the "Main" computer name - this can be found under Control Panel / System.
You should now complete the installation of the software to each computer that will function as a cash register.
On the MAIN computer, run GoAntiquing! POS and use the "File / Open Database" option. Browse to the shared folder location, such as C:\GAPOS and open your shop database. Select or type in the word "ADMIN" for the cashier to use and click the Login button.
You will then be waiting at the Activation Screen and will need to send the hardware key info and the Registered Shop Name to our Support email address. We will then provide an activation code.
If you have any additional setup tasks to do, such as creating Dealers, Cashiers, etc., this is the right time to do so.
On each of the cash registers open GoAntiquing! POS and and use the "File / Open Database" menu option. Browse to the shared folder on the "Main" computer using the Network or Network Neighborhood option on the Open Database window. Select or type in the word "ADMIN" for the cashier, or another Admin level cashier name, and click the Login button.
You will then be waiting at the Activation Screen for each cash register and will need to get me the hardware key info and the Registered Shop Name. We will then provide an activation code.
You will then need to use the Cash Register management tool to confirm the settings for each register.
Assuming all settings completed and you have tested your POS environment you are ready to make/take sales.
Above all, be sure and ALWAYS backup your data. Check the settings in GoAntiquing! POS under "Settings / General Settings / Close Out", ALWAYS execute a Close Out EVERY DAY and ensure you are using the Backup option when you Close Out. If you are interested in a on-line data backup solution, consider the integrated GoAntiquing! Data Backup service that costs $10/month.