Hi Stefan,
Obviously it's not magic but my inability to explain. I've attached a quick jpg of the file structure we use. So for every project we just repeat the file structure. It then becomes a browser based interface for our engineers, inspectors, project managers etc. so via the network they can access the data anywhere onsite.
Elog is used in an iframe on the manrec page. Here we record several logs (a record of everything we do, a record of test equipment, tools used, harnesses, connectors made and disconnected, etc. and what i'm now trying to achieve a document record / check list).
Now in the data directory we store hundreds of documents from procedures, circuit diagrams, mechanical drawings, parts lists, test reports and data, inspection reports, down to consumables like what type of cloth and liquid was used to wipe down a cable.
So the bulk of documents can fit on to an 8G memory stick, the only section that doesn't fit is the test data. So when we need to move off site, or supply this data to a subcontractor we copy the contents (minus the test data) on to a memory stick, when the memory stick is returned we simply synchronise it back to the network. So the only links that would fail to work off site are links to test data - which we are not worried about.
Now, any new person working on the project needs to review the check list (hopefully the new elog if i can get it to work) part of this check list / document record could say something like - carry out inspection, refer to drawing <href link> now this is where the problem occurs, as when the files are on the site based machine, we know the file structure is on the M:Drive; however when the memory stick is now plugged into a subcontractors machine / laptop we have no control of the drive allocation, so how can i get the link to the drawing to work?
When they finish the job required, they upload the data to the memory stick and state where. ie inspection carried out - results passed see report "xyz" <href link>
I hope this now makes more sense
Kind regards
Terry
| Stefan Ritt wrote: |
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If a file is on a memorystick and the memorystick is gone, how could elog bring it back? What you ask for is magic, sorry for that. Also if you move files outiside elog from one folder (drive) to anohter. How shoudl elog keep track of these files if they are outside? If your colleague moves some piece of equipment from A to B, without telling you, how can you guess where B is?
| Terry Almond wrote: |
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Hi Stefan
Unfortunately this would become impractical for us as many of the test data files which we'd need to link too are Gb's in size, some over 100Gb, hence only the files needed to do a say an inspection of the equipment would be copied onto memory sticks. Currently we use an excel speadsheet to store hyperlinks to all of the files / directories we need - unfortunately some people forget to update this and it was asked could we do it using elog as people are familiar with this wonderful peice of software.
Hence why i'm now investigating - so is it actually posible?
Kind regards
Terry
| Stefan Ritt wrote: |
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Linking to external files via "file:///..." is a bad idea, since only a pointer is stored in the elog. So if someone puts somehing on M: and the drive is removed, the file is physically gone. No way to retrieve it. Instead of puttting links to files, users should get trained to ATTACH the files to elog cntries (V3 of elog has a "Drop attachments here..." section. Only then the files are physically transferred into elog and accessible independed of your external memory stick.
Stefan
| Terry Almond wrote: |
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I've created an elog where users can then enter links to a file: for example they would enter:
<a href="file:///M:/Data/Inspection%20Reports/ABC123.doc">ABC123</a>
If they are running this on their desktops where everyones M drive is mapped to the same location, not a problem, the file opens perfectly.
The problem we have is some people work off of site and hence they run everything from a memory stick (USB drive), then once back in the office, copy the memory stick back on to the network.
Unfortunately when off of site the href link M: is no longer valid as the M drive doesn't exist.
Hence i've been trying to open a local file with the following syntax:
<a href="file:///../ABC123.doc">ABC123</a>
It just won't open
Hence in my frustration i basically copied the word file ABC123.doc into every single directory on the memory stick thinking surely this must work, it must find it somewhere, unfortunately not.
What am i doing wrong?
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