How do I set up a shared database in NoiseTools?

If you need to share your NoiseTools database between several users or need a remote location to backup your database, there are multiple ways to do it:

One PC with a database in a network folder:

  1. Install NoiseTools
  2. Run NoiseTools
  3. This will create a default configuration file and local database
  4. Click on the Tools menu and select Databases
  5. Click Create New, then browse to the required folder and give the file a name
  6. The new database will now be shown in the list
  7. Select this new database and click the Up button to move it to the top of the list
  8. Leave the original database in position 2 to be used as a backup in case network access is unavailable
  9. Optional: See the Audio Folder section below.

Multiple PCs with a shared database in a network folder:

  1. Follow the instructions above to install on the first PC
  2. Go to the next PC
  3. Install NoiseTools
  4. Run NoiseTools
  5. Click on the Tools menu and select Databases
  6. Click Add Existing, then browse to the required folder and select the file you created on the first PC
  7. Select this database and click the Up button to move it to the top of the list
  8. Optional: See the Audio Folder section below
  9. Repeat steps 3 to 8 on each additional PC you wish to use

Audio Folder (Required if using Optimus/Optimus+ Green):

Audio is stored in a different location from measurements. If your instruments support audio and you intend to use it, you should also create a shared location for storing this.
• Click on the Tools menu and select Storage Manager
• Click the Change button then select the folder where you wish to store audio
• You may need to create a folder the first time if it doesn’t exist
• Repeat steps 1 and 2 on any PC where you are using a shared database

Important Notes:

• Each user must have full read and write permissions for the database file and audio folder
• If other people are using NoiseTools when measurements are added, either by downloading or importing, their measurement lists will not be updated until they restart NoiseTools
• It is not possible for more than one user to play or analyse the same audio file at the same time
• Depending on the network type and speed, shared databases may be significantly slower than ones local to your PC