Coming in v8.8 - Picture filenames to UNC names

Posted on April 26, 2009

For people with multiple computers, picture files can be a problem because pictures are stored in different locations on different computers. 

For example one person may include a picture on computer 1 which has a filename of c:\picture.jpg, however on computer 2 the computer is trying to find the file c:\picture.jpg on computer 2 which does not exist.  This does require some setting up.

One option is to do all your picture handling from one computer, and understand that the other computers wont be able to see them.

Another option is to use something called mapped drives.  Mapped drives is how multiple computers can share the same database.  If 2 computers map the same drive letter to the same location, then a file called x:\picture.jpg will exist on both computers.

In version 8.8 of RentMaster, we try to help solve this problem a bit further, although you still need to use mapped drives.  However it wont matter if the 2 computers have mapped different drive letters, because the system will automatically convert the filename to a UNC name which is a special filename notation which does not rely on drive letters.  e.g. filename x:\picture.jpg could be converted to something like \\Computer1\pictures\picture.jpg.  Using this notation, both computer 1 and computer 2 will be able to see that file (assuming there is no security software blocking access).

A recommendation is to save all picture files in the same folder (or subfolder) as the main database file, because this folder is already share between the 2 computers.