#11 AraSuite is not ''multiuser friendly''...
I'm forced to use AraSuite in a multiuser (windows 7 64bit mostly...) environment, and i've adapted them to work, simply putting image library and database (.db) on a common share on C:\, modifying conf.properties accordingly.
Having 20+ computers that use AraSuite, i cannot permit that they download 500+MB of pictograms one by one...
This pose some trouble, because if i need to upgrade the pictogram database, clearly i ''wipe'' some user pictogram added.
Now, adding the italian verbs conjugations, i've found that also the folder 'resources' have to be writeable to ''compile'' the verb conjugation in .db.
Considering that the db (not the images, only the .db files) are not so big, i think that:
1) In preferences, AraSuite have to load a ''system'' database, possibly readonly; and a ''user'' database; clearly, there can be also many user and system databases...
2) the ''user databases'' (and configuration) have to be saved on %AppData%/$HOME, not on the program folder.
I hope i was clear... Thanks!
Yes it is clear! Thanks.
We do agree, and thought about that. The solution sketch you propose is correct. However, our main problem is about (human) resources for maintaining, improving and coordinating the tool development.
Most of Arasuite users work in a non-multiuser environment; therefore, changing the database management is not a priority, but it is on the list.
On the other hand, importing/updating the database does not necessarily "wipe" added pictos, provided the "Replace existing images?" option is not quoted in the "Import database" action of the Resource Manager tool.
Good to know!
Another approach, that probably fits bot for single and multiuser environment, is to provide a command line version (or provide an unattended mode) of the resource manager tool.
Now i simply add images to a test machine, then i repack them with the image db.
If there's an offline tool, i can simply, when needed, run the resource manager unattended tool with the correct parameters and the image directory where to find new images.
Anyway, thanks for the answer.