The program downloads orders only while it is running. So that the workshop computer does not demand attention, it is brought up automatically — in one of two ways.
Way one: the program window in the startup folder
- Press Win+R, enter
shell:startup— the startup folder will open. - Put a shortcut to the program file there.
- On the «Settings» tab switch on «Start polling at launch» and «Minimise the window at launch».
After you log into Windows the program will start, minimise and begin polling the server. The window can always be restored from the taskbar to look at the log.
If the computer switches on without a user logging in, use the «Task Scheduler» with the «At log on» trigger instead of the startup folder — there you can also set a restart on failure.
Way two: a Windows service
For a computer without a monitor the program is registered as a service. It does not become a service by itself — that is done by any service manager (NSSM, for example), which is given the program file and one of the startup flags:
--download-service— constant polling of the server, downloading and copying to the machines;--convert-service— constant conversion of the accumulated tasks.
What is important to know about the services:
- The program window and the services will not work at the same time: while the service is alive the window does not start, and the other way round. This is a protection against two programs downloading the same thing into the same folder.
- The services do not report updates and do not update themselves — you will have to watch the version yourself.
- Administrator rights are needed to register a service.
One-off launches from the command line
They are convenient during setup and troubleshooting — they do not disturb an already running program, but they must not be executed at the same time as it either:
--console— one polling round without the window: to check the key, the address and the folder rights.--convert— convert everything that is left unconverted, once.--cleanup— remove from the disk the order files that are not in the database. Without showing the list first, straight away.--help— the list of all startup flags.
Power supply
Check in the Windows settings that the computer does not go into sleep mode: in sleep mode orders are not downloaded, and after waking up the program will start from the nearest polling round.