Configuration Files

The DP4 Cofiguration files are as follows:

• System database, SYSTEM.*

  The system database defines the information that is common to all the applications on your DP4 system, and is created as part of the installation process. The system database files ( SYSTEM.DAT and SYSTEM.IND, and also SYSTEM.DCI and SYSTEM.PTR from release 4.622) are generally located in the same directory location as your application database. A system database must be present for your DP4 system to operate (except on machines configured as network clients with no local database).

  The system database contains the following system specific information:

  • The user list, including the password and access levels for each user
  • The language table
  • The printer and device characteristics

  The System database also contains all the maps used by the standard DP4 utility programs and the System menu (initiallydisplayed when you log on as DP4)

  You may choose to edit these maps and menus on the end-user copy of the system daabase to change or restrict the faclities available to end users.

• DP4 Licence file

  The licence file defines your licence details and the location of DP4 files on your system. The licence file, named DP4.sys from 4.620 or DATAFIT.SYS in earlier releases, is supplied on your DP4 licence disk. This file must be present for your system to work properly. It is modified by the DP4 System setup utility and the System database utility. The file stores the following information about your system:

  • Your licence details
  • The system database name
  • The location of files on your system (including the database files, backup files and print files)

  • The transaction, roll-back and console log options for your system

• The DP4 Configuration file

  The DP4 configuration file contains many important details about your DP4 installation. From version 4.620 it is usually named DP4.INI and is installed in the same directory as your DP4 executables. In earlier releases this file is only used in the Windows version of DP4, is named DATAFIT.INI and is stored in the "Windows" directory.

  For full details of the settings contained in this file refer to the Guide to DP4 Configuration.

• User data file USERDATA.SYS

  The user data file defines your workstation monitor type, the user preferences and the key translation table on your system. It is created by the USERDATA utility program during the installation process. It is modified by the DP4 System setup utility (DFSETUP). It stores defines the following information about your system:

  • The characteristics of the monitor used by your workstation
  • The key translation table

  • The user preferences, including the date and time and colour preferences

  You can maintain separate copies of USERDATA.SYS by placing one copy in each user directory. Alternatively, you can maintain one copy that is shared by all users by placing the file in the licence directory.

  MENUDATA.SYS is a temporary file that is created when a user logs on to the DP4 system. The MENUDATA.SYS file is deleted when the user exits. Occasionally a MENUDATA.SYS file may be left after a system crash. This file can safely be deleted.