Biotics Core Module Installation Page

Whether you have Biotics 3.1 or not, you'll want to put this baby on your system today!

These are the instructions for installing the "Biotics/NatureServe Explorer Core Module" software.

This software consists of the Biotics Core Module (installed in all BIOTICS 3.1 installations) plus the core software used in the NatureServe Explorer Data Refresh (which relies on the Biotics Core Module). This software is a generic framework for getting data out of the BCD System, and is the engine that runs the XML export used in the HDMS data conversion.

You must install this software even if you already have BIOTICS 3.1 installed. This update will not affect your BIOTICS 3.1 programs--except that the BIOTICS shell program itself has been enhanced so that when it opens a log file in NOTEPAD it will no longer freeze the BCD.

You may already have the necessary components installed. Perform the following to see if you can omit this step:

If no records are found, then you must run this installation. If one record is found, you can skip this installation.

If you already have BIOTICS 3.1 installed, this upgrade will give you the updated BIOTICS SHELL program which opens the LOG file in NOTEPAD without freezing the BCD. If you do not have BIOTICS 3.1 installed yet, and you later want to install it, just remember to restore the $BIOTICS record to BCD.PROGRAMS after the installation (the BIOTICS installation program--which actually installs most of the software you're using today--archives copies of records that are being overwritten during the installation).

1. Find the Biotics/Natureserve Explorer Core Module software on ftp://ftp.natureserve.org/pub/natureserve/hdms/data_xfer/misc (as of this writing, it is CORE001c_adjunct.zip, which includes the ADJUNCT_ADDER_2003 mini-upgrade).
2. Kick everyone out of the BCD (including the indexer).
3. Once you are certain everyone is off the BCD, execute RESET.SIZELOCKS. When prompted to reset, say Yes. This is just a routine maintenance step that helps keep your BCD running trim.

   Answer "yes" when it asks if you want to reset all sizelocks.

In case you are curious, for the purposes of data conversion export and QC, it is not necessary to rebuild any data indexes. The entire process has been carefully designed to reduce dependence on indexes. Therefore, do not rebuild your indexes at this step unless you are doing so for other general maintenance reasons.

4. Make a backup of the BCD. This step has proven handy during testing--don't forget it!
5. Unzip the CORE001c_adjunct.zip file to the XFER subdirectory you normally use.
6. Log into the BCD.
7. At TCL, execute ATTACH XFER
8. At TCL, execute RUN PROGRAMS INSTALL--if it tells you you've already installed it, answer "N" when it asks if you want to install it again anyway.
9. After the program executes, press ESC to get out of the post-installation messages.
10. At TCL, execute DETACH XFER -- this is extremely important!!
11. At TCL, execute RUN DOS XFER\INSTALL
    

    NOTE: the "XFER" part of "XFER\INSTALL" has to point to the place you unzipped your file. Therefore, if you unzipped your file to C:\AREV\XFER, you should execute "RUN DOS C:\AREV\XFER\INSTALL"

12. When the program finishes, it will open the log file in NOTEPAD. You can press Alt-Enter to get back to the BCD. When you press any key, it will log you out.

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