CompuDance Requirements

                                                         OS: PC with Windows 2000, XP or Vista
                                                         RAM: 512MB minimum
                                                         Printer: ink jet or laser; parallel or USB
                                                         CD-ROM: for installation
                                                         Flash Drive required for daily backup
                                                         Video: 640 x 480 or 800 x 600
                                                         POP3 server protocol to receive E-Mail

The Network Version
The network version of CompuDance (called CDWNT from now on) supports multi-user access as follows.

File Sharing  CompuDance will allow two (or more) computers to have access to the same year/studio data simultaneously.  When Jane, on Computer Two, tries to access the same data file that is open and being used by Mary, on Computer One, CompuDance will display a message that the file is currently being used by another computer and that Jane should wait until that file becomes available.  When Mary has finished with the file, CompuDance will release the file so that Jane can then access it.

CompuDance will not keep files open for extended periods of time as it does in the non-networking version.  When Mary is accessing data, files will remain open and restricted only long enough to access the data.  That should be a matter of less than a second in most cases, several seconds in a few cases.  So, Jane won’t have to wait long.  Only when Mary is in a student/family ledger, entering payments, charges, or adjustments will data files remain open longer.  This is to protect the integrity of the financial data and student/family balances.

Read/Write Access  When using CDWNT, only one computer can have write access at a time.  The other computer(s) can have only read access.  In other words, one user can update (change) information, and the other computer can look at information.  So, Mary and Jane must decide who will be able to change data and who will be able to only read data.  If Mary decides that she is going to enter payments, change classes, post charges, etc., then she will open CompuDance on her computer for read/write access, and Jane will open it on her computer for read access only.  If later that day, Mary wants Jane to be able to make changes, then they will both exit CompuDance.  Mary will open it on her computer for read access only and Jane will open it on her computer for read/write access.  Now Jane can update class/student/family/financial data and Mary can read information only.

Non-Multi-user Operations  There are several operations which are not supported by CDWNT.  In general, these are ones which make wholesale changes to all student/family records, E-Mail operations, or operations which are very security sensitive, or which in some other way affect your entire data file population.  These operations must be performed by the non-network version.  These are backup/restore, global tuition or charge operations, adding and deleting years and studios, massive statement-printing, and credit card and EFT operations.  These are operations which are done infrequently, as opposed to continuously throughout the day.

After the non-network version is installed on all computers, there is no additional charge to install the network version.