Q-DAS Launcher - English.pdf · case this option is deactivated, the launcher remains open until you close it manually. 1.2.6 Register for QDAS-Files In case of local installations,

Q-DAS Launcher

FAQ

Q-DAS Launcher 1/12

Version: 1.0 © 2015 Q-DAS GmbH, 69469 Weinheim Doku-Nr.: QDOC-572-37

Contents 1. Q-DAS Launcher ............................................................................................................ 2

1.1 General ................................................................................................................... 2

1.2 How to operate the Q-DAS launcher ....................................................................... 3

1.2.1 Layout of the launcher ...................................................................................... 4

1.2.2 “All Q-DAS applications“ ................................................................................... 4

1.2.3 “Installed applications“ ...................................................................................... 5

1.2.4 “Custom application list“ ................................................................................... 5

1.2.5 Close after Execute .......................................................................................... 6

1.2.6 Register for QDAS-Files ................................................................................... 6

1.3 Requirements .......................................................................................................... 7

1.3.1 Single license ................................................................................................... 7

1.3.2 Network installation (client) ............................................................................... 8

1.4 Configuration of PRESTART_V11.INI ....................................................................10

1.4.1 Start-up behaviour when starting the program manually ..................................10

1.4.2 Add entries manually .......................................................................................11

1.4.3 Product numbers .............................................................................................12

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1. Q-DAS Launcher

1.1 General

Users often ask the hotline team how they can open *.DFQ files either with qs-STAT,

solara.MP or any other software product depending on which program they currently need.

You can just link a single application with a specific file type in the operating system in order

to open this application by double click on this file type. This is the reason why we developed

the Q-DAS launcher.

You may link the Q-DAS launcher with *.DFQ and *.DFD files during or after the installation.

Afterwards, you can always select a specific Q-DAS product in order to analyse the data.

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1.2 How to operate the Q-DAS launcher

After the installation is completed, the “Q-DAS launcher“ shortcut is available in the start

menu.

Click on the shortcut to start the Q-DAS launcher.

You may start the launcher directly (e.g. through auto boot or the menu options) or – if the

launcher is linked to Q-DAS files, by double clicking a .DFD or *.DFQ file.

You right-click on the open launcher in order to adjust the behaviour and the layout of the

launcher. In addition, you may define specific file extensions subsequently.

These settings are not user-dependent and can always be adjusted since the

launcher does not use any authentication.

In order that the launcher even works on international systems without causing any

problems, it is only available in English. Moreover, a launcher accessing the test database

would become much slower.

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1.2.1 Layout of the launcher

You right-click on the open Q-DAS launcher to select the applications the launcher displays.

A context menu provides the following options.

All Q-DAS applications All products that can be installed show_all_exe_free=0

Installed applications All licensed products show_all_exe_free=1

Custom application list all products active in the PRESTART_V11.INI

show_all_exe_free=2

1.2.2 “All Q-DAS applications“

The launcher shows all Q-DAS products that can be installed.

Exception: It does not display free, lern, (PRM,) upload. PRESTART_V11.INI contains the

following entry - ”show_all_exe_free=0“.

Buttons that are greyed out indicate that there is not any license for the product available in

the applied configuration database or that the product was not installed.

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1.2.3 “Installed applications“

The launcher displays a button for all products with a license available (in the configuration

database), i.e. for all applications installed. PRESTART_V11.INI contains the following entry

- ”show_all_exe_free=1“.

Buttons that are greyed out indicate that the software is installed but there is not any

corresponding license available or that the entry contained in PRESTART_V11.INI was

deactivated (!!).

1.2.4 “Custom application list“

The launcher only shows products contained in PRESTART_V11.INI. The program files have

to exist and the respective licenses need to be available. This application does not check

whether there are any free licenses available in case of a concurrent installation!

PRESTART_V11.INI contains the following entry - ”show_all_exe_free=2“.

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1.2.5 Close after Execute

If this option is activated (box checked), the launcher will close after you select a product. In

case this option is deactivated, the launcher remains open until you close it manually.

1.2.6 Register for QDAS-Files

In case of local installations, the file extensions DFQ or DFD/DFX are allocated to a program

(e.g. qs-STAT or launcher). This allocation might get lost when you change the system. The

“Register for Q-DAS Files“ option writes the registry entries required to start the launcher as

standard application. This is the reason why you have to be granted administrator rights to

use this function, e.g. right-click on the shortcut of the Q-DAS launcher and select “Run as

administrator”.

The launcher now serves as a Windows start-up program for .DFQ and .DFD.

A double click on a *.DFQ file opens QDAS_PRE_START.EXE and the file name is passed

on to the product.

When you start the selected product, the software reads the respective file (here

Test_02.DFQ) and the user may select the application to open it.

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1.3 Requirements

In order that the launcher works, a specific environment is required. The following chapter

deals with single licenses and the standard client installation. This document does not deal

with special types of installation; however, they are based on a similar principle (ACLP etc.).

1.3.1 Single license

You have to use an INI file (QSSTAT2000.INI) to start the program file

QDAS_PRE_START.EXE. This INI file has to contain the path to QDASCONFIG.MDB (in

order to read the licenses).

Example

C:\Q-DAS\V11\CommonFiles\Program\Tools\QDAS_PRE_START.exe -I=C:\Q-AS\V11\CommonFiles\PROGRAM\Tools\QSSTAT2000.INI

Additionally, the PRESTART entry should be included in the [PATH] section of the

QSSTAT2000.INI.

PRESTART=<path>\<name prestart.ini>

Example

[path]

……

PRESTART=C:\Q-DAS\V11\CommonFiles\PROGRAM\INI\PRESTART_V11.INI

In case this entry does not exist, the “PRE_START“ INI file is created in the

“%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\QDAS\2“ subfolder when starting the qs-STAT.exe (since version

11/2013). PRESTART_V11.INI contains the following entries under “[PRESTART]“:

<product number>=“<path>\<name of program file>“ –I=“<path>\<name of INI file>“

Example

202="C:\Q-DAS\V11\qs-STAT\BIN\QDAS_qs-STAT.EXE" -I="C:\Q-DAS\V11\qs-STAT\BIN\QSSTAT2000.INI" "-SP=4"

You have to put these entries in quotation marks in order that the software identifies all paths

and parameters (even those with a space) correctly.

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Example

When you start a product, the software tries to enter the product in the *.INI file. In case the

QSSTAT2000.INI does not contain any corresponding entry, the software creates a

”PRE_START.ini“ file in the ”%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\QDAS\<number>“ folder. <Number> =

”1“ for V10 // ”2“ for V11.

1.3.2 Network installation (client)

Manual start of the launcher in case of a client installation

Structure of folders in the installation directory

Since you can install several clients in case of a client installation, you must not delete the

PRESTART_V11.INI file before uninstalling the last client. This is the reason why the

installation directory provides a “PRESTART” folder in addition to the “Client” folder. After

you uninstall the last client, the folder and its contents are deleted.

The “PRESTART“ folder contains two files - PRESTART_V11.INI and StartLauncher.ini.

ThePRESTART_V11.ini file is structured in the same way as the INI file for a single license.

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The StartLauncher.INI file corresponds to the qsstat2000.ini file of a single license. This file

contains a pared-down version of the entries for prestart_V11.ini and the configuration

database from the qs-STAT2000.ini for the launcher.

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1.4 Configuration of PRESTART_V11.INI

The software writes this INI file automatically during the installation. Depending on the

desired design and function, you may adapt this file.

The program does not define a name for the INI file. You may even call it “AnyINI.INI“;

however, you have to configure this name in the QSSTAT2000.INI. ”PRESTART_V11.INI“

was only specified to reference the version when updating the program.

1.4.1 Start-up behaviour when starting the program manually

When you start a Q-DAS program, the software checks whether the PRESTART_V11.INI

already includes the respective application. In order to avoid a new entry for the program,

you may enter the product number with the ”=“ character, e.g. 220=.

You may find a list of product numbers in chapter 4.3.

In this case, the product is not written in the INI file and the user will not see it in the

launcher. For example, if you need the following layout,

you must configure the PRESTART_V11.INI file as follows…

… in order not to display the other products installed and in order that the software does not

write them in the PRESTART_V11.INI file when starting the program manually.



1.4.2 Add entries manually

When you copy examples of entries from this document, the software

sometimes changes the quotation marks. We recommend you to write these

entries manually in Notepad!!!

PRESTART_V11.INI can also open other software products, paths and files (PDF/Doc/etc.).

You enter them into an own section.

Example

[NOTEPAD]

EXE=“%windir%\notepad.exe“

PIC="C: \Launcher\SI-Logo.jpg"

After you double click on a DFQ file, the file opens and a parameter is added to the file to be

started. In this case, Notepad will open the DFQ file.

EXE= is the file to be executed. It can even be a PDF file, Word document or a directory the

Explorer shall open.

PIC= is an optional picture to be included in the launcher. Please consider to choose a

picture that is not too large since the size might affect the loading time and the display of the

launcher.

When you start the launcher, the software checks whether the content “EXE=” exists. If it

does not exist, the button will be displayed in red and will not work.

Find two examples of entries in the following showing you how to open a PDF file or a

directory including manuals with the launcher.

[PDF]

EXE="C: \temp\test.pdf"

PIC="C: \temp\file.jpg"

[Manuals]

EXE="%windir%\explorer.exe" "C:\temp"

PIC="C: \temp\file.jpg"



Not all starting parameters of the software products work in the launcher.

Examples that do not work are –f (since this parameter was initially

programmed in the launcher when the user double-clicks on a DFQ file) or -ux

/ -ta /-uf.

1.4.3 Product numbers

The following table provides a list of Q-DAS product numbers (as of 2014-08-05).

Product number Product

200 solara.MP

201 procella

202 qs-STAT

203 destra

204 O-QIS

205 M-QIS Engine

206 M-QIS Dashboard

209 Q-EMP

210 Q-FD

218 Q-COM-Online

219 Q-COM-Offline

220 Q-COM-Professional

Documents

Q-DAS Launcher - English.pdf · case this option is deactivated, the launcher remains open until you close it manually. 1.2.6 Register for QDAS-Files In case of local installations,