FAQ

Question:
Does Penfriend work on a network?

Affecting products:
Penfriend XL, Penfriend XP, All other language variants

Penfriend is happy to work on a computer network. It can be installed on each machine because the installation process includes copying files to the Program Files directory, to the Windows System directory, and also involves updating the registry.

You can batch-install it using Norton Ghost or similar software if necessary. You will need a special serial number to do this, so ask for this when ordering the program.

You can also install on RM CC3 networks. The following steps may be useful in creating a package.

Create a package on a clean machine using the RM Application Wizard.

In the RM Management Console, allocate the package to a workstation and add shortcuts to the program sets.

The package will be delivered to the workstation, but will not be available to a standard user because of issues with the shortcuts.

To fix the shortcuts within the package - log on to the workstation as systemadmin

Delete the shortcuts within the package (in a subfolder of Q:\Applications\PackageName) ; create new ones to replace them.

Through the RM Management Console, reallocate the package and update the shortcuts in the program sets.

The package should now work for standard users.

Each user must run Penfriend with a separate Lexicon file. This is because it will learn their personal vocabulary and writing style, and will save that information when they quit Penfriend. If several people had the same lexicon, the changes of all but the last would be over-written. Thus each lexicon should be created with the advanced option 'load previous lexicon' switched off. Then each person using the program will open it by double clicking on their own lexicon. These lexicons could all be saved on the server.

Network Installation

Penfriend can also be used on a computer network using unattendded installation if you wish. First, you must purchase a site licence for the appropriate number of machines from Penfriend Ltd.

Unattended Installation

Penfriend is provided as an "MSI" file for Windows Installer, and can normally be installed remotely with no user interface; "unattended installation".

You must specify the installation code (serial number) of your licence on the command line to MSIEXEC using the property ISX_SERIALNUM, for example:

msiexec /qn /i "Penfriend XL.msi" ISX_SERIALNUM=EBEJ-EAMI-DDLL-ECOK

During installation, activation will normally be recommended with a dialogue box. If the user interface is disabled, however, activation will always be attempted without the dialogue. If it fails, the installation will proceed, but the application will request activation again by the end user. If the serial number was incorrect, (fails its checksum), the application will not run and must be re-installed. If you have a group of related serial numbers, you can install all machines with the same code.

Other properties that you can specify on the command line for msiexec include: Property Meaning

ISX_SERIALNUM Installation code (serial number) for this copy of Penfriend XL, which will be used for activation and for support. A serial number must be specified, and there is no default.

INSTALLDIR Directory on computer filing system where application will be installed. This is normally something like c:\Program Files\Penfriend\PF-XP but you can change it to any directory which will be readable by the users. If this is not specified, there is a default such as the example above.

USERNAME The textual name of the person or role to which the installation is assigned, or who owns this copy of the product. This appears in the "about" dialogue box, and is submitted with the activation request. If this is not specified, a default is taken from your installtion of Microsoft Windows.

COMPANYNAME The textual name of the organisation who owns or uses this product. If this is not specified, a default is taken from your installtion of Microsoft Windows.

(others) There are other properties which can be specified to standard Windows Installer packages.

Activation

The software must be activated on each machine before it can be used fully. Please read the section on site licences in the help page for activation.

Lexicons

It becomes very easy to handle individual lexicons for users, which should be done even on a stand-alone machine. There can be a directory for lexicons on the server which each user chooses their own lexicon from regardless of the computer they are using. Even better, however, is to map the user's home directory on another drive and make sure that each person has the same file name, for example U:\WRITING\MYDICT.LEX where U: is the user's home directory mount. Penfriend records in the HKEY_CURRENT_USER registry the name of the last lexicon to be used.

If your users all log in with the same Windows accout, and they are starting Penfriend from the Start menu or a program shortcut, but do not wish to use the same lexicon as the previous person (each user should have their own personal lexicon), then you can switch off "Load Previous Lexicon" in the Advanced Preferences.

FAQ answered:

by RIWS on 2001-12-13 revised rls 2007-6-4