Primary & Secondary Installation / Database

If you install a database on more than one computer the first one you register (read article for details) will be considered the “primary” database. Any additional databases will be registered as “secondary” with limited access.

Overview

You may install Procare on as many computers as you like. In most cases you’ll install the database on just one computer, your main computer. When you register the database (see below) this becomes your “primary” installation, or “primary” database. If you install a database on another computer (like a home computer or laptop) and register it after the main computer has already been registered, this becomes a “secondary” installation, or “secondary” database.

How does Registration Work?

When you Log In for the First Time you’ll be prompted to register the database. This “initial” registration temporarily assigns a “primary” status to the database. If you install a database on more than one computer each of them will initially be considered “primary”. After a period of time you’ll be prompted to register again. This second registration is what triggers the “primary” and “secondary” status. Whichever database is first to complete the second registration becomes the “primary” database. Any database registered after that become “secondary”.

If you intend to have more than one database (see below under “when to use”) you may wish to control which becomes the primary. To do so you may force the second registration to occur as follows:

1. Log on to any Procare computer that is connected to the database you wish to make “primary”.
2. At the Procare Home screen click Configuration > License.
3. At the License Configuration screen click Register.
4. At the Registration screen choose to register using the internet or by phone, then click the Register button.

What is the difference between Primary & Secondary?

The primary database allows full access to all program features, based on the User Group to which you are assigned. Typically you can add things, delete things, make changes and so forth.

A secondary database gives you limited access. You may be able to look up information, make minor changes and print reports – but not add new families, run batch procedures, post entries on a ledger card and so forth.

When to use a Primary & Secondary Database

In most cases you’ll only want a primary database. If you need to access the data remotely (from home, etc.) you have several options such as having Procare host your data, hosting your own Virtual Private Network (VPN), using Windows Remote Desktop, or signing up for a third party service as referenced in the “see also” section.

The time to use a secondary database is when a person needs to occasionally look things up, but not make changes or have access to live information. In this case you’d do a Full Install on the secondary computer. Then you would periodically make a Backup of the primary database and Restore it to the secondary computer. The secondary database would have only information restored from the most recent backup.

Switch Primary & Secondary

Contact Procare Support if it becomes necessary to change a secondary database to the primary one and vice versa. This may happen in certain cases, such as replacing an old server with a new one.