Projections Suite Installation Issues

Steve BrockUtah Department of Technology Services

Portland OR – June 10, 2015

Minefield topics: PS structure overview

Introduction to PS installation

Installation scenarios

Single user

Multiple users/machines

Multiple users/shared database

Running PS in shared database environment

How updates work

Future fixes/problems

The PS Installation Minefield Over the years, we’ve

received more questions about installation than about any other topic.

Pace of installation questions has slowed since introduction of new system, but still continues.

Why do installation questions persist? New computers

Turnover

Changes in how states manage projections process

Changes in IT rules

Simplified PS Outline

Database Data facade

PS Installation Steps Install MS SQL Server 2008 Express R2

Initialize database

Set up database connections for user

Install PS

PS Installation The biggest mine in the preceding steps….

PERMISSIONS

PS Installation Because permissions are such a key part of the process,

installation of Projections Suite becomes a partnershipbetween:

State analysts

State IT department

PMP support (Utah)

Microsoft SQL Server Express Free (always a good point)

Secure

Full range of data options

Expands easily

Easy to program against

Microsoft SQL Server Express Installation can be…touchy

Clumsy to administer (SSMS)

Requires permissions settings (which goes along with the security feature)

State installation scenarios One user, one machine, one database

Multiple users, multiple machines, multiple databases (Major minefield - NOT recommended)

Multiple users, multiple machines, shared database

Single user scenarioPS software + database

Single user installation Download and install the DB Install Tool

This will install MSSS if you don’t already have it

Run the Install Tool

Create the database

Create a user id/password IF you don’t want to use your Windows login to access the database

Run the database initializer

Add demo data if desired

Single user installation Save the configuration

Creates ProjectionsSuiteSettings.ini file on desktop

Download and install Projections Suite

Opening screen glitch on first time use

Update the database tables using PS utilities (details available on support web site)

Single user installation If all goes well…and you

have all the correct permissions….

Single user installation Biggest issue (mine): PERMISSIONS

User does not have rights to install DB Install Tool, or PS, or MSSS

Solution: Contact IT, who will either

Give you permanent rights (possibly as administrator)

Give you temporary rights

Do it for you

If they do it for you, they must install the Install Tool and PS and MSSS under your account!

Connection methods Windows Active Directory (AD)

Computer will use your Windows login to provide access to the PS database in MSSS

Recommended because of simplicity

If you’ve installed MSSS through the DB Install Tool, MSSS should already have your Windows login set up as a user

If MSSS wasn’t installed this way, you may have to have the permissions for your account set

Multiple users/machines scenarioPS software + database PS software + database

Multiple users/machines NOT usually recommended, because…

Databases can’t be synched

Merging databases later is very complex and fraught with mines

But, sometimes this scenario is necessary, due to IT considerations or other issues

Multiple users/machines Same procedure as single user, but repeated as many

times as necessary

Be very careful in delegating who does what on the projections team (mine!) because of the difficulty of combining the databases afterwards

Shared database scenario Ideal for states with

multiple analysts working on projections

Users can be in the same room, or different buildings, or different parts of the state (Performance restrictions may apply)

Shared database scenario Chances are, you won’t be able to install anything on a

network database server yourself

Your IT department is now your best friend

Ideally, IT should designate one person as a contact with your LMI shop regarding the server

Obviously, there are procedures to be followed

…to your IT shop’s regulations

Shared database scenario Your IT shop will:

Set up MSSS on the server, if it’s not already installed

Install the DB Install Tool on the server

Run the tool to create your database

Save the configuration, creating the settings file

Provide each user with a copy of that .ini file, with the connection string edited to reflect that user’s login (whether Windows AD or user id/password)

Shared database scenario You may or may not be the one installing PS on your

individual computer

Regardless, each user will need a copy of the settings file on his/her desktop, with the proper connection string in place (Potential mine!)

Shared database scenario Multiple users may be accessing the database

simultaneously

PS uses a caching system to store some tabular data, such as NAICS codes, SOC codes, areas, etc., as well as some employment tables

If edits are made to the cached data by user A, users B, C, etc. may not see the edits immediately (Potential mine!)

Solution: Different users should not be working on the same industries/occupations in the same areas

MS ClickOnce Installation Simple, easy way to distribute applications built in MS

Visual Studio

Installation package builds automatically

Previous versions archived for easy retrieval should it become necessary

Theoretically, minimal action needed on the part of the user

How ClickOnce Works Application can be published from any development

machine

Set up a pointer to a folder on an Internet server through Windows Explorer

Example: Y:\Dev.ProjectionsCentral\Downloads\PSPublicPublish\Application\

This folder is then matched to a URL

http://dev.projectionscentral.com/downloads/pspublicpublish/application/

How ClickOnce Works Application is published to folder location, with a

setup.exe file that takes charge of the installation process.

The link we give users is to the setup.exe file. The setup handles everything from that point.

Files are downloaded to the user machine from the server and extracted.

How ClickOnce Works The link to the website is an integral part of PS.

When PS starts, the first thing it does is go back to the website to check for a newer version.

(Which explains why sometimes you see a delay when PS starts)

If there’s a newer version, the application gives you the option to update.

MINE WARNING! If you decline the update option, PS won’t ever ask you again for that particular new version, until the next new version is published.

Other possible mines Previous/multiple PS installation

Previous/multiple MSSS installation

Broadband issues

Any time you have the download stop or freeze up, the most likely culprit is broadband width in your state

Try again at a different time of day

Future thoughts Alternatives to MSSS

Local DB

MySQL

Oracle (Oh man we hope not, but….)

Alternatives to ClickOnce

Package distribution

Future Microsoft ideas?

Out of the minefield…for now… Further info: Document available for download at

support.projectionscentral.com

Utah staff available to help both you and your IT people with installation questions

Thanks for attending! Happy Projecting!