Windows 95/98 Network Setup Procedures for MAGIC

Windows 95/98 has built-in peer-to-peer networking and MAGIC has been tested with this network. Here are a few guidelines to insure a successful installation.

Suggested Minimum Hardware Requirements for Windows 95/98

Sound Card and Speakers are recommended.

MAGIC

The entire MAGIC directory should be copied to one workstation (the fileserver). Magic will need to be setup for peer-to-peer networking. Your technician can call software support for instructions. You will need to setup a shortcut in Windows 95/98 to access Magic from the desktop. You can setup a different shortcut for each product (AIMS, ACORD, RATING) so you can have multiple screens.

Here are the settings for the shortcut:

Program Tab
Cmd line: X:\MAGIC\HOME\MAGIC.BAT
     (Replace X with the drive letter Magic will run on)
Working: X:\MAGIC\HOME
Run: Maximized
Make sure Close on exit box is checked.

Memory Tab
All memory settings set to AUTO. 

Screen Tab
Under the Usage heading, Window option should be selected.

IRS-AIMS uses a program call USERID.EXE to identify each workstation on the network. For MAGIC to function properly, you will need to put the following command in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file of the fileserver and each workstation:

SET MAGICADR=UXXXXXXX
(Where X is a unique number for each workstation and the total length of the variable is 8 characters. For example, U0000005)

The USERID.EXE program is in the \MAGIC\HOME directory. We use different versions of the program for the different operating systems. To make sure you are using the correct version for the Windows 95 network, do the following:

XCOPY X:\MAGIC\MUTIL\USERIDEN.EXE X:\MAGIC\HOME\USERID.EXE
(X: being the drive where MAGIC is installed)
Answer Yes to overwrite the current version.

Windows 95/98

We recommend creating a directory call APPS on the fileserver. You need to share this directory with full access through Windows 95/98 networking. All users must access Magic from the same drive letter, so you will need to map D:\APPS as the same driver letter on all workstations. Windows 95/98 will not allow you to map a network drive letter to a local hard drive on the same system, so you need to use the DOS SUBST command to get around this limitation on the fileserver. You can add this to the existing AUTOEXEC.BAT file or create it if the PC does not have one. For example: If the workstations see the fileserver drive as G then the fileserver must have SUBST G: D:\APPS in the AUTOEXEC.BAT.

Printing

If you are going to share a laser printer and you have different types of local printers (i.e. dot matrix or inkjet), you will need to install a physical LPT2 port on the fileserver. The shared laser will be on LPT2 and a shared dot matrix/inkjet will be on LPT1. AIMS’ reports print to LPT1 and cannot be changed; however, the laser products in AIMS can be assigned to LPT2. Rating and ACORD can print from LPT1, 2 or 3. These assignments are set for the entire system.

Your technician will need to use the Windows 95/98 capture commands to redirect the DOS output on the workstations to the appropriate shared printers on the fileserver. The software support staff can setup the printers in Magic.

NOTE: You MUST disable MSDOS spooling for the shared laser printer on the fileserver for MAGIC and AIMS to print correctly. Follow these instructions:

From the Windows 95/98 Desktop:
Click START è Click SETTINGS è Click PRINTERS
Right Click the shared printer and select PROPERTIES
Click on DETAILS tab
Click PORT SETTINGS Button
Take check off of SPOOL MSDOS PRINT JOBS
Click OK twice
Closer PRINTERS window

If you have any questions you can call 210-658-4691 and ask for technical support. 

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