System Requirments

As 32-bit applications, Modulus Server and Modulus single-user will only operate under Windows NT 3.5.1 or later, or under Windows 95 or later. Windows NT Server must be used if you wish to have Macintosh clients. Modulus requires a 486, Pentium, or later processor.

The server should be dedicated to Modulus. If you run the Modulus Server on a machine that is also running other fileserver software, you will slow down the operation of Modulus quite considerably. It is strongly recommended that you should use another machine for fileserving, print serving and/or any other central network services.

CD Drivers Under Windows NT 3.5.1 or 4.

Not all CD drivers operate properly with Windows NT. If, having loaded your CD, you are unable to get past the Windows OS directory, your CD drivers are probably not 32-bit versions. Contact your hardware supplier for updated drivers.

Alternatively, load the CD into a Windows 95 machine, and install Modulus across your network.

Memory Requirements.

Single-user, or as a client, Modulus will run in 16MB of RAM. The server for a multi-user system should ideally have 32MB of RAM installed, possibly more, depending on the number of clients. All setups will probably require more RAM if more than one application is to be run at the same time.

Installation.

Having loaded the CD, go into the File Manager, or My Computer, to view the contents.

Server Installation:

Load the CD onto your server (or onto a client, if installing across a network). Inside the 'Windows OS' directory, you will find directories for each possible type of client/server hardware combination.

Open the appropriate one for your network, open the 'Server' directory inside, then double-click the Installer.EXE file. Follow the on screen instructions. The installer will, by default, install into a directory that it will create on the boot partition, called 'MODULUS'. You are given the opportunity to change the destination directory during the installation process.

Client Installation:

Repeat the following process on each client machine. Inside the 'Windows OS' directory on the CD, you will find directories for each possible type of client/server hardware combination.

Open the appropriate one for your network, open the 'Client' directory inside, then double-click the Installer.EXE file. Follow the on screen instructions. The installer will, by default, install into a directory that it will create, called 'MODULUS'. You are given the opportunity to change the destination directory during the installation process.

Loading Modulus for the First Time on the Server

On the server machine double-click Modulus Server (not the Modulus Application) to launch it. The first time you do this, a message will appear to the effect that Sorting Tables are being built. This process may take up to five minutes, depending on the speed of your server.

When this has finished, you will be asked to enter a Licence Number. Modulus Server is a customised version of 4D Server and when first used it requires licensing by means of entering a licence number. This can be found on the licence card in the sealed brown 4D Server box and is not to be confused with the Modulus licence number.

You will be next be asked to locate the Modulus application and then a data file. Either locate and open the 'Tutorial' data file or click [New] to create your own. Thereafter, if you need to open a new or different data file, hold down thekey as you double-click the Modulus Server application.

You should now register the number of users purchased. You will have been supplied with a sufficient number of 4D Expansion Packs (eg you will have a single five-user pack and two individual packs if you have seven users) and/or 4DWrite disks (which provide the Word Processing functions in Modulus). Go to File menu and select 'Update LicenseÉ'. Simply insert your Expansion and/or 4DWrite disk(s). After a moment, you will be told the update was successful. When you click [OK], you will return to the Update LicenseÉ screen which will now show how many users have been registered. Repeat the process as necessary and then click [OK] to close the Update LicenseÉ screen.

Note that an expansion disk can only be used once. If you insert a disk that has already been used, it will be assumed that you wish to transfer the users to another site, so the users will be de-installed and copied back to the disk.

Loading Modulus for the First Time on a Client

Once Modulus Server is up and running, launch Modulus Client by double-clicking. The first task is to log on to the Modulus Server. The left-hand portion of the loggingi-on window shows the various zones available on your network. Available servers appear on the right: highlight the correct one and click [OK]. If your server is a Macintosh, no server will appear in the right-hand list, because the assumption is made that ADSP (Apple Data Stream Protocol) is being used. However, a stable ADSP plug-in for Windows NT or 95 is not currently available, so Modulus uses IPX. Therefore, in this situation, click [OtherÉ], select the IPX protocol and click [OK]. The Modulus Server should now be available: highlight it in the right-hand list and click [OK].

You will then be asked to enter a password. Use the table to select the correct one.

User Level Password
User U1
User with Word Processing U1WP
Manager M1
Manager with Word Processing M1WP

Modulus now asks for your Licence Number and Validation Code. Fill in all the boxes including the name of your Organisation, ensuring you copy exactly from the Modulus licence sheet.

If you are using the Tutorial data file, you will now be asked to enter a User ID. The data file is set up so that you do not need to remember a User ID, so simply click on a member of Personnel in the list and you will be allowed into Modulus.

If you are creating a new data file, the Modulus New Data Setups window will appear. A new data file needs a certain amount of setting up beforeit can be used by Modulus. In particular, certain Preferences need to be set and an accounts structure needs to be set up. This window allows you to select the option which most closely approximates your own business type, after which the Modulus set-up routine will almost completely automate the preparation of the blank data file. Select the correct option and click [Select]. It is recommended that you do not log on from other clients until the set-up work has been completed. If you want to create your own accounts structure, click [None]. You can subsequently decide to use the set-up routine using the 'Business Templates' function on the Utilities menu in the Data Manager.

The set-up routine will first attempt to locate a file named 'ModStart.TXT'. If this file is absent or has been renamed, or if the ModStart folder is not correctly located, Modulus will ask you to locate it. Once you've selected an option, Modulus will open the appropriate data document and start importing straight away. If the data document cannot be found, Modulus will ask you to locate it. These are named using the convention 'XXX.TXT', where 'XXX' is the name of the option selected.

Modulus next requires you to enter some information about your accounts, such as the start and end dates of your current financial year and whether you are using the Cash VAT scheme. Opening Balances then need to be entered to the Sales, Purchase and General Ledgers. Full details of this step can be found in the Getting Started manual.

Modulus is now ready to be used. However, you may wish to look at the Data Manager to define some of the set-ups. To do so, select 'Data Manager' from the Modules menu. Using the relevant manuals as a guide, set up Actions and Results to your own specifications. Then, set up Business Types, Status, Sources and Areas. Finally, set up a Personnel record complete with Module Access and User ID's. Again, the Core Functions reference will be of help here. You will then be ready to enter some Companies and Products.