Error Message when Attempting to open Research Tracker® II
(Research Tracker® II Tech Topic; April, 2001)
If you've ever tried to open Research Tracker® II and received an error message like one of these . . . . . .Don't panic! This most likely does NOT mean your data files have been erased. In plain English, the message means that the application (RT2FE) can't find the database (RT2DB). When Research Tracker® II is running in a local network environment, the two components (application and database) reside in different locations on your network. The application, also called the "front end" is installed on the local "C" drive of each PC where Research Tracker will be used. The database is installed only one place - on a common location where each user can access it. To investigate the cause and remedy for the error, we recommend you check to make sure you can answer YES to the following questions: 1) Has the Research Tracker® II database (RT2DB.MDB) been installed in the correct location on your network? 2) Is your PC connected to the server or other PC where the Research Tracker® II database resides? 3) Is your RT2 initialization file pointing to the location on your network where the Research Tracker® II database resides? How to check if the Research Tracker® II database has been installed in the correct location on your network Ask the person who set up Research Tracker® II on your network where the database file was installed. In a traditional network configuration, the Research Tracker® II database is installed on a network server. Since most PCs use the drive letters "A" through "E" for local devices, the server drive is often labeled "F" or higher. To find the database file, use the Start, Find, Files or Folders command on your Windows desktop. In the "Name and Location" tab, enter RT2DB.MDB in the "Named" field and start searching in the C: drive. Be sure the "Include Subfolders" box is checked. If the C: drive doesn't yield results, continue searching in shared drives. The RT2DB.MDB should reside in a folder named RT2DATA. If you cannot locate the database file, your PC may not be connected to the network, or the RT2DB.MDB file may have been removed or renamed. It is also possible that your network configuration does not use mapped drives. Check with your network administrator. If the database file is not installed in the correct location on your network, you will need to move it, along with the RT2DATA folder, to the appropriate drive. If your PC is not connected to the server where the database resides, go to the next step. How to check whether your PC is connected to the server or other PC where the Research Tracker® II database resides. Click My Computer on your Windows desktop. If the drive where the Research Tracker® II database resides appears as an icon in the display, your PC is connected to that device. If not, check with your network administrator for more information on reconnecting your PC to the network. Again, if your network configuration does not use mapped drives, this procedure will not work. How to check whether the Research Tracker initialization is pointing to the location on your network where the database resides. If you have been able to verify that the Research Tracker database is installed correctly and your PC is connected to the appropriate drive, the most likely cause of the error is that the Research Tracker application (RT2FE) is looking in the wrong place for the database (RT2DB). When Research Tracker® II is opened, the application refers to an initialization file for a series of start up procedures. One of these procedures is the location of the database. Editing the initialization file may be needed. Follow these instructions, or refer to the Research Tracker® II Installation/Technical Manual that came with the system. To find the initialization file, use the Start, Find, Files or Folders command on your Windows desktop. In the "Name and Location" tab, enter RT2.INI in the "Named" field and start searching in the C: drive. Be sure the "Include Subfolders" box is checked. The RT2.INI file should reside in the WINDOWS folder on your C drive. If the search produces more than one RT2.INI file, contact MDSS for technical support. You should not have more than one copy of this file on the local drive. Double click the RT2.INI file to open the file in Notepad. 1) Scroll to the area [Directories] The second entry begins Database Direct=drive\folder This is the expected location of the Research Tracker database. It is where the Research Tracker® II application looks for the database at start up. You may need to edit either the drive or folder so that it conforms to your installation. For example, the default line Database Direct=C:\RT2DATA would need to be changed to S:\DATABASES\RT2DATA if the RT2DB.MDB file resides on the S drive in the RT2DATA subfolder in the DATABASES folder. 2) Scroll to the area [Table Path] The entry begins TABLE=drive:\folder\RT2db.mdb This again refers to the expected location of the Research Tracker database. You may need to edit either the drive or folder so that it conforms to your installation. For example, the default line TABLE=C:\RT2DATA\RT2DB.MDB would need to be changed to S:\DATABASES\RT2DATA\RT2DB.MDB if the RT2DB.MDB file resides on the S drive in the RT2DATA subfolder in the DATABASES folder. When you have finished editing these two lines in the initialization file, close the RT2.INI file, saving your changes. Try to start Research Tracker® II. If these tips don't resolve the problem, call MDSS Technical Support. 
