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How to install Axiom MDL applications
to a network
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In this article, you will learn how to install Axiom's MDL
tools to a network. This saves time when carrying out a site-
or company-wide installation of Axiom's tools, especially
for sites where many MicroStation users will be using them.
Also, this type of installation gives the CAD manager or IT
department control over the usage of the software (like restricting
who uses the each program and ensuring that the latest version
of the software is installed throughout the network). Before
we begin, here is a quick refresher of a couple of key terms:
MDL = MicroStation Development Language. MDL is based upon
the C programming language with Bentley-specific additions
for MicroStation. Most Axiom applications are implemented
using MDL.
DLL = Dynamic Link Library. A DLL is a collection of small
programs, any of which can be loaded into memory and run as
needed to support another running program.
Prior to starting this installation, it's a good idea to
plan where on the network you want to install the Axiom product
or products. Make sure that you have write access to modify
that network location. It is not necessary to create an "Axiom"
folder prior to installation, as there is a prompt to do so
during the install. Also, this installation assumes that you
have never installed an Axiom product on a local (client)
machine before. If you have installed the product on a local
machine before, remove it from its current local location
before proceeding with the network installation.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding this network
installation, contact Axiom's licensing department for help.
Call 727-442-7774 or e-mail license@axiomint.com.
Materials needed
To perform the network install, you will need the following:
an Axiom product CD and a diskette labeled "Axiom License
File". You should have received these items from Axiom
after you purchased your software. If you received your license
file via e-mail, replace all instances of the "a:\axiom.lic"
in this how-to with the location where you saved your license
file. If you don't have both of these items, again, contact
Axiom's licensing department.
Base installation
Now we are ready to start. Here we go:
1) Place the Axiom product CD in your CD drive and the license
diskette in your floppy drive. Start MicroStation.
2) From the MicroStation main menu bar, open the "MDL
Applications" dialog box located under the "Utilities"
menu. From the "MDL" dialog, click the <Browse…>
button and specify the drive letter your product CD is in.
For MicroStation 95, SE and J, select the \ustn\v7\ directory
in the CD and double click install.ma. For MicroStation V8,
select the \ustn\v8\ directory and double click install.ma.
3) After selecting install.ma, your machine will scan through
the products on the CD.
4) Next, you will be prompted for the location of your Axiom
license file. This file is located at a:\axiom.lic.
5) Click on <Next>.
6) You will now see a list of Axiom products that can be
installed. Products are highlighted when you have a license
for them. You can install all of the highlighted products
by clicking the <Next> button. If you wish to exclude
a product, de-select it by holding down <Ctrl> and clicking
it.
7) Next, the Axiom "End-user License Agreement"
window comes up. Read it and click on the <Accept> button
to proceed.
8) Next, a dialog box will pop up prompting you for the base
Axiom installation directory - all Axiom applications will
be installed in sub-directories under the directory you specify.
Here is where you will want to specify the pre-established
network location. Be sure to add "axiom" in the
path. For example, if you want to install the products to
the root of server drive "x" the directory you would
want to specify would be "x:\axiom\". With the correct
path entered in the command line, click on the <OK>
button to begin the installation.
9) Once the products are installed, you will receive a "Successful
installation" message. Click the <OK> button to
close the window and MicroStation. This will finalize your
installation.
This concludes the base installation.
System configurations
Now there are only a few steps left to allow other users to
automatically access the programs from the network.
1) During the initial installation, there are four ".DLL"
files that get automatically copied to the Windows System
folder of the machine which the installation was executed
from. These files are: axilib.dll, aximdl.dll, axiomsys.dll
and axireg.dll. These files need to be made accessible to
other machines. So, go to your Windows System folder and copy
these files and paste them into the Axiom base directory on
the network.
The Windows System folder's location varies with each Windows
version. Here are the typical locations:
For Windows 98 go to c:\Windows\System\
For Windows NT and 2000 go to c:\WINNT\System32\
For Windows XP go to c:\Windows\System32\
2) Now, the configuration file called "axiom.cfg"
which is created at MicroStation's "application"
level, needs to be added to every machine needing access to
the products. The default location for this file is:
For MicroStation SE and 95: c:\WIN32APP\config\appl\
For MicroStation J: c:\Bentley\program\microstation\config\appl\
For MicroStation V8: c:\Program files\Bentley\program\microstation\config\appl\
When copying the "axiom.cfg" file to other machines,
place it in the same directory as it was on the original machine.
That is to say that if the file is being copied from the "c:\WIN32APP\config\appl\"
directory on the original machine, it should be copied to
that same directory in the new machine.
Now, your network installation is complete. Enjoy!
Contact Axiom
If you need help with installation of Axiom software, please
contact Axiom at 727-442-7774 or e-mail license@axiomint.com.
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