How do I use Punch Clock on a network?
Using Punch Clock on a network can be done pretty easily. At the highest level, you choose a machine to act as the 'SERVER', or the home of the Punch Clock database. Then all of the network 'WORKSTATIONS' that will be using Punch Clock will all point to that database.
Here is a break down of the steps that are necessary for configuring Punch Clock on a network:
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SERVER INSTRUCTIONS
1) Install Punch Clock on the machine that you wish to be the "home" of your database. This machine will be referred to as the SERVER for the duration of these instructions.
2) On the SERVER, go into Punch Clock. Press F2 to enter the managers menu, and go to "Maintenance -> Database Location". This is where the installation program installed the Punch Clock database. Make a note of this location. (For example, the database location on my local copy of Punch Clock is: "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Pclock\PunchClock.mdb".)
3) On your SERVER computer, open windows explorer and browse to the folder that contains your PunchClock.mdb file (from the above step), and SHARE the folder. Make sure to enable network users "FULL ACCESS" to this share. Name this share, something appropriate, like "Pclock". (For example, I created a share for "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Pclock\" called "Pclock". Assuming that my computer's network name is 'WORK1', I now have a share on the network named '\\WORK1\Pclock".) PLEASE NOTE -- The "Application Data" folder may be invisible when browsing through Windows Explorer. If so, you will need to go to Tools -> Folder Options -> View and select the option "SHOW HIDDEN FILES AND FOLDERS". |
The following steps are to be performed on each machine that Punch Clock will run on (we will call them "WORKSTATIONS"), not including the SERVER.
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WORKSTATION INSTRUCTIONS
4) In order for the WORKSTATIONS to use the same Punch Clock database as the SERVER, you need to create a MAPPED DRIVE. In Windows Explorer, browse the network to find the share on your SERVER (in our example, it was \\WORK1\Pclock. RIGHT-CLICK on that share, and choose MAP NETWORK DRIVE. Choose a DRIVE letter (I'm going to use "P:" in my example), leave "Reconnect at logon" clicked, and click on FINISH. (Now you have a drive mapped that contains the PunchClock.mdb file)
5) Install Punch Clock on the WORKSTATION.
6) Go into Punch Clock. Press F2 to enter the Managers Menu. Click on Maintenance -> Database Location". Click on the button on the right hand of the box, with "..." inside it. Find your mapped drive (P: in our example) and click on it. Choose OK at the bottom. The box on the Database Location screen should say "P:\PunchClock.mdb" (replace the "P:" with whatever drive letter you chose). Click SAVE.
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Repeat steps 4 thru 6 on all other WORKSTATIONS that Punch Clock will run on.
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