SOLD II (v3.5 or greater) Installation & Setup Instructions for Linux Version CD. Table of Contents. Installation Instructions 2-7

Transcription

1 SOLD II (v3.5 or greater) Installation & Setup Instructions for Linux Version CD Table of Contents Topic Pages Installation Instructions 2-7 Loading Operating Environment (linux umsdos) 2-3 Installing SOLD II 3 Logging In and Starting SOLD II 4 Linux Startup & Boot Options 4 Starting Linux 5 Shutting Down Your Computer 5 Terminals 5 Trouble Shooting 5-7 SOLD II Quick Setup Instructions 8-11 The first time you run SOLD II 8 Required Default Settings 8-9 Auction 0 setup 9-10 Company Setup 10 Begin Running Auctions 11 SOLD II Installation & Setup Page 1 of 11

2 SOLD II (v3.5 or greater) Installation Instructions for Linux Version CD Introduction & System Requirements These are the instructions for loading SOLD II Under DOS. Either MS-DOS or mswindows 95/98, ME, or 2000 must already be loaded to your computer. This software must be loaded to an uncompressed area of your DOS partition. You should have at least 100 MB of free space available on your hard disk. Hardware minimum requirements include 16Mb or more RAM, intel 486 or greater processor; recommended: Pentium with 64mb ram. IMPORTANT: IF THIS IS A LINUX UPDATE and NOT A FIRST TIME INSTALLATION ON YOUR COMPUTER: Prior to loading your linux update, you should always: 1. Backup your data which is easily done from the SOLD II Utility Menu. 2. Move your old linux out of the way. Linux umdos is located in the msdos root directory (c:\); move (or rename) this directory prior to doing the new load (described below). This is necessary to get a clean linux load and also provides a 2nd data backup. If you are uncertain of this procedure, please call for support. Loading Operating Environment (Linux umsdos) Windows 95, 98, ME, or 2000: after you have booted to windows (do not start your computer with the SOLD II cdrom in your drive until you have loaded linux as follows), insert the SOLDII cd in your cdrom drive. Using MyComputer, click on the cdrom drive to view the cdrom s contents. Then Install umsdos linux to your computer. by double-clicking on install.bat (the.bat extension may not show on your WIN screen) This will open a window which will show the unzipping of a large # of files to your computer. See below if you are asked whether to overwrite any files. Alternative load from MSDOS prompt: You may also load Linux from an msdos or Win command prompt. Insert the SOLD II CD-ROM. You will need to know the drive letter for your CD-ROM. On most computers, it is drive D. C:\> D: D:\: install (to change to cdrom if it s drive D:; alter accordingly if different than D:) If you are reloading the computer, you may be asked if you want to overwrite SOLD.BAT or LOADLIN.EXE. You may answer Y. If you are asked this in relation to any other file, STOP and call for help. If it's after hours, you may hold down the CTRL Key and press the C key to stop the load until later. The first time you boot into linux to load the soldii programs, you will want to boot either from the soldii cdrom OR from a floppy disk. To boot from the cdrom, your computer must be setup with the cdrom ahead of your harddrive in the computer s boot sequence.if your computer is not setup this way and you are unable the change these settings, you should make a boot floppy per the instructions which follow on page 3. SOLD II Installation & Setup Page 2 of 11

3 Creating a Start Disk (optional if your computer can boot from the SOLDII cdrom) You will need a formatted 3.5" High Density (1.44MB) floppy diskette. On the label for this disk write "Linux UMSDOS Start Disk." Affix this label to diskette. Insert disk. From WINDOWS: Using MyComputer (click on the cdrom drive if not already there), double click on the file makeboot.bat (the.bat extension may not show on your WIN screen) From an msdos prompt: C:\> D: (to change to cdrom if it s drive D:; alter accordingly if different than D:) D:\: makeboot Starting Linux for the First Time With either the bootable SOLD II Cdrom in your cdrom drive or with the UMSDOS Start Disk" that you just created in your floppy disk drive, shutdown your computer. If using Windows, use the shutdown from the START button. If using MS-DOS, simply hold down the CTRL and ALT keys and press the DEL or DELETE key. When the computer reboots (restarts), you should see a message that says loading... And then the computer will display a lot of startup messages that are normally of no interest. Finally, you should get to a login prompt. You have now booted linux and are ready to install SOLD II. Installing SOLD II At the login prompt (after booting to linux, see previous page), type in root and press the enter key. You will get a prompt that will end with a #. The stuff before the # can vary, so in our example, we will just show the #. # cd /home/sold # cp /DOS/sold*.tgz /home/sold # tar xvzf sold.tgz (a bunch of files will load) # tar xvzf soldc.tgz (one file will load) # sh install.sold # cd etc/sys # sh setup.new.dos With either the bootable SOLD II Cdrom in your cdrom drive or the Linux umsdos Start Disk which you created above in the floppy drive (It will still be there if you haven t removed it), hold down the CTRL and ALT keys and press the DEL key. This will reboot your computer and restart it from the Linux start disk. SOLD II Installation & Setup Page 3 of 11

4 Logging In and Starting SOLD II When Linux is up, you will get the login prompt. At the login type in sold in small letters. At the sold:~$ prompt type in go and press the ENTER key. Follow the instructions in the Quick Setup section of the SOLD II manual. Note, the manual might refer to a sold:~> prompt. That was the old prompt. The prompt with the $ is the newer one. Don't worry about it. The first time you run SOLD II you will be asked for information related to your company s Sales Tax Jurisdiction and typical buyer s premium. Enter these now if you can. You can edit or change these entries later. If you decide not to make the entries, you will not be allowed to run any auctions until you do (see SOLD II Quick Start Instructions beginning on page 7). On the next screen, you will be prompted for an auction # which defaults to 0 (zero). Zero is your only option until you have setup auctions, so simply press the ENTER key to this and the confirmation prompt. Linux umsdos STARTUP or BOOT OPTIONS Starting Linux from Start Disk If the Start Disk is in drive A when you start (boot) or restart (reboot) your computer, your computer will go straight to Linux without going through DOS or Windows. This is the best and simplest way to get to Linux. If you are in Windows 95/98 and want to use the start disk, shutdown your computer (from the START prompt) and reboot. If you are in MS-DOS, get to the C:> and then hold down the CTRL & ALT keys and press the DELETE key. Of course, if the computer is off, just turn it on. Shortcut for Linux from Windows 95/98 If you have Windows 95/98, you may want to start Linux from Windows. The best way to do this is to setup a Windows shortcut. This section describes how to do that. (For more information on shortcuts, please refer to your Microsoft documentation). Move the mouse pointer to an unused area of your Windows 95 wallpaper. Click the RIGHT mouse button. Move the mouse down to NEW and then over to SHORTCUT. Click the LEFT mouse button. Type in C:\SOLD.BAT in the command line box and click NEXT. The next screen asks you for the title for the program. Since SOLD is a good title, just click NEXT again. Now Windows wants you to select an ICON. Pick any ICON that you like (such as the Money ICON) and click FINISH. Move the mouse pointer to the new ICON and click on the RIGHT button. LEFT click on PROPER- TIES. Then click on the PROGRAM tab (near the top of the box). Click on the ADVANCED button (near the bottom of the box). Click on the box next to MS-DOS MODE (which puts a checkmark in the box). Click on OK until the Window closes. (You can CLICK and HOLD on the new ICON and drag it anywhere on the screen you want.) SOLD II Installation & Setup Page 4 of 11

5 Starting Linux from Windows 95/98 To start Linux, just DOUBLE CLICK on the SOLD shortcut you created above. Starting Linux from MS-DOS From a pure MS-DOS prompt (i.e.., not from inside Windows 3.x) C:\> SOLD Shutting Down Your Computer Using the proper shutdown procedure is very important. Make sure all work stations are logged out (type exit at the $). This procedure should be followed at the end of every work session in Linux and SOLD II. On the main computer, login as root. # shutdown -h now If you want to reboot back into DOS or Windows 95 or 98, the command is # shutdown -r now If you are confused about shutdown, please contact us. TERMINALS: The linux provided with SOLD II is setup to support the login of terminals on either of the first two serial ports, often known as com1 and com2. SOLD II will allow you to run up to 2 simultaneous users, typically the first is on the console or main computer, the second from a terminal. In order to run a terminal, you will need a nul-modem cable (see the Tech section of soldii.com for pinout specifications). The linux & SOLDII load also assumes VT100 terminal emulation and the terminal screens will not format properly unless your terminal is using this emulation. If you need a vt100 terminal emulator to turn a computer into a terminal, please contact SOLD II. We can provide this. SOLD II also provides a simple program called activate to enable your comm ports for a login at a terminal. To run this program you must either login as root or become super-user by typing su at the $ shell prompt after loggin in as sold. The program identifies com1 and com2 as s1 and s2 respectively. An example of the command sequence to activate com1 follows: $ su # activate s1 # exit $ SOLD II Installation & Setup Page 5 of 11

6 Trouble Shooting Although 95 % of all installations are without incident, a discussion of some of the most common problems you might encounter follows: The keyboard freezes and I can't type. 1. The most likely cause is that you have a misbehaving driver loaded for MS-DOS or Windows. Turn the computer off. Then insert the "Start Disk For Linux UMS DOS" and turn the computer back on. In the future, use this disk for starting Linux. This is recommended. We have found that this rarely occurs in MS-DOS. In Windows 95 or 98, eliminating the loading of drivers in the \WINDOWS\DOSSTART.BAT file usually does the trick. However, you may need to also clean up AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS. Or just use the Start Disk. 2. The keyboard freeze can also be caused by static electricity. You are unlikely to feel the "zap." The simplest solution is to purchase some antistatic spray. 3. Other possible causes are a defective cable from the keyboard to the computer or a power dip. In either case, you are likely to also have a problem in MS-DOS or Windows. I type SOLD at the DOS C> prompt and Linux won't boot (start). 1. Try the Start Disk instead. This is the simplest solution. 2. If you are running Windows 3.1, exit Windows to get a pure DOS prompt. If typing EXIT at the C prompt gets you back to Windows 3.1, you are not at a pure DOS prompt. If you are running Windows 95/98 you should not be using this procedure. Use a shortcut making sure the shortcut is setup for DOS mode (see instructions), boot from the cdr, or a bootable floppy. In the case of WinMe, 2000, or Xp, you must use the cdr or bootable floppy. 3. Try a different computer. Linux begins to load but you get an error such as Kernel Panic VFS: unable to mount root fs on 03:01 The SOLD II load is targetted for the first primary partition of the first ide drive. Your bootable cdrom is also programmed under this assumption which is correct 98% of the time. This error typically means that your Windows, and thus umslinux, has been loaded to a drive partition other than the standard. Computer manufacturers and assemblers, for reasons that puzzle us, will sometimes install Windows to a partition other than the standard location (the first partition of the primary drive). Almost all of the manufacturers get this right (and thus you wouldn t see the above error) but a few get it wrong. To solve this problem, first determine which partition your computer manufacturer decided to use. One way is to read the attempted linux boot strap which will display the partitions which it sees. For example, if linux sees hda1 and hda2 and you get the "unable to mount.." error, then Windows (and therefore linux) is most likely on hda2. Then you can create a boot floppy disk for that partition. SOLD II Installation & Setup Page 6 of 11

7 Your SOLDII/Linux cdr will have makeboot script files to create bootable floppies for partitions 1 through 4, i.e. makeboot.bat for hda1, mk2boot.bat for hda2, mk3boot.bat for hda3, etc. If for any reason these scripts don t work on your computer, you may make your bootable floppies from a dos or Windows command prompt. For example, the manufacturer chose the second partition of the primary drive (hda2), and that your floppy drive is A: and your CD-ROM is D:, get to the DOS or Windows command prompt and type D:RAWRITE D:UMSBOOT.A2 A: If Windows has been loaded to the 3rd or 4th partition, adjust your commands accordingly (If 3rd partition, D:UMSBOOT.A3 and if 4th, D:UMSBOOT.A4). Obviously, if your cdrom is other than D:, adjust your commands for that change as well. Reboot your computer from the floppy disk you have made using one of the above procedures. Be sure that your computer s CMOS is setup to boot from floppy. If not, please adjust according to the documentation provided by your computer s manufacturer. Using a Shortcut with WIN not on primary partition: If your are using Windows 95/98 and want to use a shortcut to linux (not available in WINme, WIN2000, or XP), you will need to edit c:\sold.bat to match up with your actual partition.. /dev/hda1 is the first primary partition of the first drive (your original sold.bat contents) /dev/hda2 is the second primary partition of the first drive. /dev/hda5 is the first extended partition of the first drive. (etc.) /dev/hdb1 is the first primary partition of the second drive. (etc.) Linux begins to load but it aborts with the error Can t open initial console. This error is normally caused by an incomplete or corrupted load (did you get errors when loading linux?) or because you are loading onto an already corrupted file system. In either case, we recommend: 1. run scandisk; 2. use deltree to remove the linux directory and all of its contents; 3. Reload from scratch. If this doesn t cure the problem, you may very well have a broken computer. When loading Linux UMS DOS, I get a CRC error or I get Abort/Retry/Ignore Messages: Your disk drive might be broken or dirty, or the disk was damaged during shipment. 1. If you have an option to retry, reinsert disk and Retry. 2. Turn off computer and start over. 3. Clean disk drive (if you have a disk cleaning kit). 4. Try a different computer (if could be the disk drive after all). SOLD II offers comprehensive Subscriber Support as well as many useful programs (such as a terminal emulator) and many optional modules which may be important to your auction company. To learn more, please call us at: (800) or send to info@soldii.com SOLD II Installation & Setup Page 7 of 11

8 SOLD II Quick Setup Instructions When running your SOLD II program for the first time, you must setup some required defaults before you can begin using the program. Once you have done this, you need not change them or set them up again unless you reload your system entirely. If you skip these steps, your first experience with your SOLD II program will surely be frustrating. Please read the Orientation Section of the manual before proceeding with this setup, particularly the sections on Screen Handling. After you have done so, take a few moments to read and do the following: The first time you login and then type go, a message might appear that says: If this is the first time sold has been run or if you have just updated your system, you will want to create auction files Next, the screen will show: Auction #? 0 Create Auction files? (Y or N) _. Type Y Your SOLD II program is capable of having several auctions open, so it asks you to choose here. Because this is a brand new system, you only have Auction 0, a special, permanent file that is not to be used as a real auction and should never be closed. Press ENTER to accept the default of 0. Next you will be asked: Right Auction? Press ENTER to accept the default of Y. (This is the same way you would accept any default setting throughout your SOLD II program; if the prompt is already showing the response you want with the cursor blinking beneath it, you may just press ENTER to accept it. There is no need to type it in as well. If you wish a different response, then you would type it in before pressing ENTER). Your SOLD II program s Main Menu will now be on your screen. Auction (auction specific tasks and reports) is on the left hand side. Business Management is on the right. Required Default Settings You probably already entered these when you came into SOLD II for the first time.. If you did, you may skip this section unless you want to review / edit your entries. You must enter the Required Default Settings before you will have access to many of the functions within your SOLD II program. There are a few preliminary steps to doing this. To begin, select 12 from the Main Menu (Miscellaneous Management) and press ENTER. Now, from the Miscellaneous Management Menu, select 2 (Sales Tax Jurisdictions) and press ENTER. Next, you need to add your jurisdiction to the program so you can use it later when entering your defaults. To do so, select 1 from the Sales Tax Menu (Sales Tax Jurisdictions - ADD/CHANGE) and press ENTER. SOLD II Installation & Setup Page 8 of 11

9 The first field on this entry screen is a key field (keys are short strings of characters used to identify records. You will create all of the keys in your SOLD II program. Keep in mind that the keys should be common sense, but also easy to remember). You should choose a simple abbreviation for your tax jurisdiction. For example, if your tax is a state tax, you might just use the two letter abbreviation for your state as a key. If it is a county, you might use the common abbreviation for your county. Once you have chosen and typed in a key, press ENTER. Next is the description field. You should type out the full description of what you abbreviated in the key field. For example, if you used a key of NY for New York State, you might type out the words New York State Sales Tax in the description. When done, press ENTER. The next field is for rate. Type in the tax percentage rate charged in that particular jurisdiction and then press ENTER. If you are in Canada, you need to fill in the next two fields for GST Subj to Tax and Calc. like GST. Answer Y or N accordingly. When you are finished, press ENTER. Now your cursor is back at the key field at the top of the screen. Press the F1 key twice. You should now be back at the Miscellaneous Management sub-menu. Select 1 (Custom Setup) and press ENTER. From the Custom Setup Menu, select 2 (Required Default Settings) and press ENTER. The computer might beep at you with the message Sales tax key not on file appearing at the bottom of your screen. This doesn t matter because you are here to enter the Sales Tax Jurisdiction Key which we setup in the previous steps. The first field is Sales Tax Jurisdiction. Type in the key you previously setup and press ENTER. The next field is for Buyer s Premium. Type in the % of Buyer s Premium which you usually charge at auctions (if it is zero, enter 0) and press ENTER. Press ENTER again and you will be back on the Custom Setup sub-menu. Press F1 twice and you are returned to the Main Menu. Auction 0 Setup Auction 0 (zero) is a special case, an auction which is never run. If you use permanent bidders (assign permanent registration # s) you must setup auction 0 since this is where you will register permanent bidders. Auction zero is also where the default invoice messages are kept for subsequent auctions. Although you are not required to setup auction 0, it s a good idea and also instructive on setting up other future actual auctions. From the Main Menu, select 1 (Auction Setup) and press ENTER. From the Auction Setup Menu select 1 (Add/Edit an Auction) and press ENTER. You should now be on the Auction entry screen. Your cursor will be at the Auction Number field. Select 0 and press ENTER. You must now fill in this record for Auction 0. You should name the auction something like Permanent Auction 0, Permanent Bidders (if you issue permanent bidder numbers, these individuals will be registered to Auction 0), or something SOLD II Installation & Setup Page 9 of 11

10 else that gives people the idea that it is not a real auction, and press ENTER. Now, you will be asked to enter the Starting Date and Ending Date for the auction. For Auction 0, since it isn t a real auction, you may just type in today s date and press ENTER (or type t then press ENTER and today s date will be filled in automatically for you). You will notice that the Sales Tax % and Buyer s Premium are already filled in based on what you typed into the Required Default Settings previously. There is no need to enter a Cashiering Message in Auction 0 since it is not a real auction and you will never be cashiering in it (however, if you intend to use the same Cashiering Message for all of your auctions, entering it here in Auction 0 will make it a default and save you from having to type it in for each auction you setup). Just continue pressing ENTER until you reach the bottom of the screen. Press ENTER again as instructed and the cursor will now be back at the Auction Number field waiting for the next entry. Press F1 twice and you will be back at the Main Menu.. Company Setup The company record contains important information you should enter prior to running auctions. From the Main Menu, select 12 (Miscellaneous Management) and press ENTER, then select 1 (Custom Setup) and press ENTER. From the Custom Setup Menu, select 1 (Company Information) and press ENTER. You will now be on the Company Information entry screen. If you are in the U.S., please type your Reseller Tax # in field #1 and your U.S. Federal ID # in field #2. If you do auctions in Canada and have a Canadian GST ID #, type it into field #3 and the Canadian GST Rate in field #4. If you do not do auctions in Canada, #3 should be blank and #4 should be blank or have 0. If you are in Canada, field #1 & #2 should be blank unless you do auctions in the U.S. If you do, type in the appropriate numbers. Type your Canadian GST ID # into field #3 and the Canadian GST Rate into field #4. You don t need to be concerned with the rest of this entry screen at this point; come back later and make your entries after you have reviewed that section of the Guide. After making the entries to field #s 1 through 4, press ENTER until you reach the bottom of the screen, then press ENTER again. You will now be back on the Custom Setup Menu. To match up with how your auction firm does business, you may customize how many of the SOLD II programs behave during use based on your edits to the many custom setup options you see on this menu. Many of these entries are repeated to individualize individual auctions under custom auction setup (as you will learn later). You entries to the various screens under this CUSTOM SETUP Menu, however, determine the default values for all new auctions (how these auctions will behave if you don t edit their individual setup). So please review these screens. No requirement to do so, but it s an opportunity to match SOLD II best to your needs and also a way to begin learning the many powerful options of the SOLD II programs. SOLD II Installation & Setup Page 10 of 11

11 Begin Now, you are ready to begin using your SOLD II program. We suggest that you make use of the TRAIN section of the program for practice (see the Orientation Section of the manual for instructions) rather than remaining in the real program while you are experimenting. This will enable you to make entries without being concerned about affecting your real data. Please follow along in the manual and make use of the on-screen help as you work through the program. Refer to the Table of Contents in the Guide section of the manual for exact page numbers for each topic. The following is the logical order you should follow while learning the program. Read the Orientation, Appendix, Errors, and Glossary sections of the manual Custom Setup (12-1 from the Main Menu) Auction Setup (selection 1 from the Main Menu) Commission Codes (found in Consignor Maintenance, #11 from the Main Menu) Consignors (selection 11 from the Main Menu) Cataloging if you are intending to use catalogs (selection 2 from the Main Menu) Registration (selection 3 from the Main Menu) Clerking (selection 5 from the Main Menu) Cashiering (selection 4 from the Main Menu) Reporting (selection 7 from the Main Menu) SOLD II has many programs available to serve auction firms including Support Subscriptions, Training Seminars (both basic and advanced), and numerous program options to meet the requirements of nearly all auction businesses. For more information, please call us at: or us at (800) info@soldii.com SOLD II Installation & Setup Page 11 of 11