Notes: Many Customers have asked to have a copy of PastPerfect on a computer where researchers and patrons would search for information but not be able to manipulate the “Master” database. Our primary concern is protecting the data while giving controlled access to “public” data.

We suggest having a computer that is not connected to the main network available for public use. You can easily transfer data and images to that computer, eliminating the threat of having a visitor corrupt the “real” database. Users with the Scatter/Gather or Networking Upgrade need not worry about additional licensing for a single public computer.

Public Computer Setup:

1. Install PastPerfect as a single or stand-alone computer as outlined in chapter 1 of the user manual.
2. After the program is installed, open it and make sure it functions.
3. Close the program and download (save) the PastPerfect Version 3 update from our website www.museumsoftware.com (directions are on the website)
4. Run the update that you have downloaded on both the public and networked computers.
5. Open PastPerfect and make sure you still don’t have data and that you don’t have any errors.

On the Main Computer (or network workstation):

1. Open PastPerfect
2. Click “Utilities”, then “Backup”, then “Backup data to removable A: drive” (or zip if configured)
3. Click “Backup all data files”, then click “Start” to begin. Follow the instructions as prompted.
4. After completing the backup to floppy, using windows or writable CD software, copy the pp3\images folder to a ZIP disk, a CD-R or a CD-RW.

On the Public Computer:

1. In PastPerfect, click “Utilities”, then click “Restore”, select the “FD-Backup” radio button.
2. Click “Restore Data”, then click “Restore all data files”, then click “Start”
3. Follow the instructions as prompted. When restore is complete, close the restore screen and click on “Reindex”, then click on “Start Reindex Now”, then click on “Exit’ twice, exiting the program.
4. Open PastPerfect again and you should see your data in the catalogs now.
5. Exit PastPerfect and using Windows Explorer, copy the images folder from the CD (or Zip) to the c:\PP3\ folder, overwriting the existing Images folder(s).
6. When you open PastPerfect, you should see your records with their respective images attached.
7. Activate security on the public computer following page 47 of the user manual.
8. Restart PastPerfect and you should have a fully functional Public Access computer with NO chance for data corruption on the networked computers.

If you have trouble setting up your public computer, please contact our Technical Support Office.