A2C not working

[nlbentley1138]

Hi,

 

I'm trying to set up the new version of AVCO A2C software for transferring files with the exam boards. Never had any trouble with the old version but the latest version (Version: 1.3.2.373eba39) won't run.

 

It seems to install Ok but when I try to run it it reports an error of not being able to open database.

 

Anyone know what the fix may be.

 

 

Thanks,

 

 

Neville.

 

 

A2C Error.docx

[FragglePete]

I had this. I just ran the installer 'Run as Administrator' and that resolved the issue.

 

Pete

[free780]

Or give write access to users for the directory it uses.

[nlbentley1138]

I've installed with 'Run as Administrator' which seems to work fine. And users have 'Full Control' over the installation directory. However the only users that can run it successfully are Domain Admins, Staff accounts just give the message I attached.

 

I'll have to get on to Pearson, see if they can help.

 

Thanks.

[Max_Power]

Had this issue exact last week, cant remember what I did to get it working..... When installing I think it was trying to save something to c:\user\appdata or somewhere similar, during setup there is a tick box to change the location for the software to carry out its workings (or words to that effect), changed that to the users profile stored elsewhere and not on the physical workstation and it works are required.

[nlbentley1138]

Thanks Max_Power that was it. Thanks everyone else. Problem solved.

 

Cheers,

 

Neville.

[Max_Power]

No probs.

[ZenIT]

The other thing to try is to use mapped drives for folders that are not local instead of UNC paths.

Software doesn't start if APPDATA_DIR, INBOX_DIR, OUTBOX_DIR are UNC paths and errors with: "...System.Data.SQLite.SQLiteException (0x800007FF): unable to open database file at System.Data.SQLite.SQLite3...".

The default installation path is:

C:\Program Files (x86)\A2C Transport Application

A2C Transport App stores settings in XML file:

C:\Program Files (x86)\A2C Transport Application\jcq.a2c.client.gui.exe.config

You need to specify those folders as mapped drives or local paths (with a drive letter assigned to that directory/partition/disk, etc.) something like that in the config file:

...

The app needs to write to those folders so user running it needs to have modify permissions on those folders (and subfolders) and at least traverse permissions on all the folders above those three.

The MSI should accept those properties at the command line:

USE_CUSTOM_APPDATA="1"
APPDATA_DIR="W:\YourPathGoesHere\A2C\Appdata\"
DO_INBOX_OUTBOX="1"
INBOX_DIR= "S:\YourPathGoesHere\ExamsIN\"
OUTBOX_DIR="S:\YourPathGoesHere\ExamsOUT\"

The command line could look like this (Run it from elevated command prompt):

MSIEXEC /I "\\YourUNCPathToInstallerFile\A2C Transport Application.msi" /QB-! USE_CUSTOM_APPDATA="1" APPDATA_DIR="W:\YourPathGoesHere\A2C\Appdata\" DO_INBOX_OUTBOX="1" INBOX_DIR= "S:\YourPathGoesHere\ExamsIN\" OUTBOX_DIR="S:\YourPathGoesHere\ExamsOUT\"

Or you could create a transform file (MST) with all those properties and use it to modify original MSI during installation.

Edited October 13, 2021 by ZenIT

[MYK-IT]

Very useful thread, as recently been asked by our Exams Administrator to install this latest version.

 

Historically, the A2C software has been installed on one workstation, although it has been asked if can be installed on the other Exam Department computers. However, I seem to recollect that the software (certainly the older version) requires security keys / certificates(?) from each of the exam boards for it to work etc. Does anyone use this (newer) A2C software in a way that will allow use and access from more than one computer? Presumably the installation would have to be installed on a shared drive / app server etc.

 

Many Thanks,

[round2it]

i installed it for our new exams person

 

run as administrator to install

 

permissions on folders

 

the user had to request the new keys

 

but all seems fine at the moment

[ZenIT]

There are two errors in my original post that were introduced by vBulletin while I was previewing my post.

 

There are spaces between INBOX_DIR= and "S:\YourPathGoesHere\ExamsIN" which shouldn't be there and will result in MSIEXEC syntax help window popping up and failed installation.

 

The correct batch file code should look something like this:

@ECHO OFF
REM Map appropriate drives if they are not present in the installation environment. Installation will fail if MSIEXEC can't access those drives.
IF NOT EXIST W:\ (NET USE W: "\\YourUNCPathToW:Folder" /persistent:no  >NUL: 2>&1)
IF NOT EXIST S:\ (NET USE S: "\\YourUNCPathToS:Folder" /persistent:no  >NUL: 2>&1)
REM Run installation
START "A2C Transport App Installation" /WAIT /B MSIEXEC /I "\\YourUNCPathToInstallerFile\A2C Transport Application.msi" /QB-! USE_CUSTOM_APPDATA="1" APPDATA_DIR="W:\YourPathGoesHere\A2C\Appdata\" DO_INBOX_OUTBOX="1" INBOX_DIR="S:\YourPathGoesHere\ExamsIN\" OUTBOX_DIR="S:\YourPathGoesHere\ExamsOUT\"

 

You need to create and map your own W:\ and S:\ folders (or whichever letters you have available).

If you create those folders somewhere on the internal network (maybe a server or a storage) that is permanently available to the users that are going to be running A2C software then you could deploy A2C software to several computers and users would be able to run the software from any of those computers (but most likely not simultaneously!).

 

The folders need to be mapped for A2C users with the same drive letters that you specified as properties on the command line and mapped during installation.

 

Certificates and keys are stored in APPDATA_DIR (which you specify during installation). If APPDATA_DIR is in some network folder then those certs and keys won't have to be downloaded/supplied on each individual computer with A2C software installed.