Can I use multiple databases?

The 4Matrix ‘Database Switcher’ no longer exists as a separate application.

Instead, we have now programmed Launcher.exe (when launched), to prompt which database you wish to use, should it detect more than 1 on your system.

4Matrix uses the Settings file in the 4Matrix folder, e.g. C:\Program Files\4Matrix\Settings to connect to a database. To connect to other databases you need a copy of the Settings file for each database. They will be identified using a ‘#’. These are generated by the Network Manager tool on your server. 

  • In order to set this up, start by opening the 4Matrix client folder on the server where the Network Manager is installed i.e. D:\4Matrix\Client Files
  • Duplicate and rename the Settings file to Settings#SchoolDataA
  • Now open the Network Manager tool and run the wizard. Choose to create a new database at the relevant stage (such as SchoolDataB). Complete the rest of the wizard as normal
  • Once back in the main Network Manager application, click the button that says ‘re-copy files’
  • Go to D:\4Matrix\Client Files and you should now see two settings files, the one you renamed (Settings#SchoolA) and a new Settings (which actually refers to your new SchoolDataB database)
  • Rename the new Settings file to Settings#SchoolDataB
  • Copy both of these Settings files to the client(s) which require access to more than 1 database (directory example: C:\Program Files\4Matrix). Note that you must keep the original Settings file for this process to work. In this example, Settings#SchoolDataA is a duplicate of the original Settings file, allowing using users to select the database assigned to this file as an option.
  • Now open Launcher.exe on the client (also in C:\Program Files\4Matrix) and it should ask you which database you want to connect to
  • When using a second or consecutive database for the first time, 4Matrix will prompt for a licence key - use your School ID to licence your new database(s)

 

Notes:

Clients that should be restricted to using 1 database can still use a Settings File called 'Settings' - the name doesn't matter, provided the information in the Settings file itself is correct and the client is pointing to the correct database.