Overview

The Pendragon Forms Distribution Toolbox makes a number of changes to database content and synchronization relative to Pendragon Forms.  For example, the Distribution Toolbox enables you to use your own licensing scheme for your customers.

Since releasing the Distribution Toolbox, Pendragon Software shipped the Pendragon SyncServer.  The Pendragon SyncServer product enables multiple users to synchronize securely to Pendragon Forms databases simultaneously across TCP/IP networks.

Now, the Pendragon Forms Distribution Toolbox has been adapted to work with the Pendragon SyncServer.

This document describes how the integration works, how Pendragon SyncServer is licensed with the Distribution Toolbox, and how to install the combined product.

Licensing

The standard version of Pendragon Forms requires the following licenses:

• Pay Pendragon Software a license fee per device for each handheld that runs Pendragon Forms

• Pay Pendragon Software a license fee for each Pendragon SyncServer (per server).

The Pendragon Forms Distribution Toolbox enables you to distribute frozen form designs without the need for per device licenses.  This means that you can deploy an application created with the Distribution Toolbox (a "Toolbox Application") with Pendragon SyncServer under the following license scheme (see the license agreement for details):

• Pay Pendragon Software a license fee for the Distribution Toolbox software developer license.

• Distribute the forms royalty-free

• Pay Pendragon Software a license fee for each Pendragon SyncServer (per server).

The Pendragon Forms Distribution Toolbox does not include any licenses or rights to deploy or brand the Pendragon SyncServer software.

Purchasing Pendragon SyncServer For Your Customers

When you deploy your Toolbox Application in conjunction with Pendragon SyncServer, the following procedure is recommended:

1. Download and install Pendragon SyncServer from the Pendragon Software Web site.

2. Install your Toolbox Application.

3. Install any Pendragon SyncServer specific modification required by your Toolbox Application.

4. Have the customer order a Pendragon SyncServer license serial number by calling Pendragon Software.  Alternatively, if you are an approved reseller, you may order the license code from Pendragon Software on behalf of your customer.

5. Enter the Pendragon SyncServer license code in the server software.

Technological Changes

Both the Pendragon Forms Distribution Toolbox and the Pendragon SyncServer had to be modified by Pendragon Software engineers to interoperate.  The Pendragon SyncServer needed to be adapted to work with the encryption and licensing scheme of Toolbox Applications.  The Pendragon Forms Distribution Toolbox software was modified to generate additional registry entities and installation components that are adapted to the generated Toolbox Application.

Pendragon Forms Distribution Toolbox now generates an installation template for the Pendragon SyncServer Proxy software so that this software installs your Toolbox Application Palm OS client instead of the Pendragon Forms Palm OS client.

The new Distribution Wizard can also generate complete server and client installations for your Distribution Toolbox application.

Installation Procedure

The installation procedure for an integrated Pendragon SyncServer/Toolbox Application is, in summary:

1. Install Pendragon SyncServer on the server PC.

2. Install your Toolbox Application on the server PC.

3. Install special registry entries on the server PC (this could be part of your main installation).

4. Install your customer Pendragon SyncServer proxy installation program on the remote workstations.

After generating your application, you will notice Pendragon Forms Distribution Toolbox now generates an installation template for the Pendragon SyncServer Proxy software so that this software installs your Toolbox application Palm OS client instead of the Pendragon Forms Palm OS client.

Server Registry Changes

After installing your standard Toolbox Application registry entries, the following additional registry settings are needed on the SERVER ONLY:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Pendragon Software Corporation\Forms]
"ToolboxCode"="XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX"
"DatabaseName"="C:\\YourInstallPath\\YourDB.MDB"
"ConnectString"=""
"KeepBackup"=dword:00000000
"SlowSync"=dword:00000001

Note: These entries should not be installed if your client is not using Pendragon SyncServer.

All these entries are generated by the new Customizer application included with the Distribution Toolbox, except for the database name path which should be installed by your installer and point to your configuration database.

Creating a Pendragon SyncServer Proxy Installation

The Customizer generates an InstallShield Express IWZ file and a Wise InstallBuilder WSE file that will install the necessary components and set up the correct registry entries.  

The new Distribution Wizard can also generate a complete client installation program for your Distribution Toolbox application.

Doing a Custom Client Install

On the client PC, you will install the Pendragon SyncServer proxy components with some custom registry changes.  Your custom conduit is no longer installed on the client PC.

The registry setting are identical to those that would be used by a normal client installation except that the conduit and module names are PFPROXY.DLL instead of the generated conduit name.

The Pendragon SyncServer proxy includes an application called PFSPREF.EXE.  This application serves two functions:

• To prompt the user at installation time to enter server connection information, and to install the Palm OS client software.

• To prompt the user for connection preferences and install Palm OS client software via a Start menu icon.

In order to adapt this software to your specific creator code, command line arguments are required.  The arguments consist of a special character and your creator code.  For example, suppose your creator code is TEST; the command line parameters have the following meanings:

• ~TEST
  Display the installation dialog and install the file TEST1.PRC that is in the same directory as PFSPREF.EXE on the handheld.

• *TEST
  Display the Pendragon SyncServer Preferences dialog for creator code TEST.

• ?TEST
  Prompt the user to install TEST1.PRC and S-Link.PRC on the handheld from the same directory as PFSPREF.EXE .

Important Note: The PFSPREF.EXE application expects your PRC file to be called ABCD1.PRC where ABCD is your creator code.  

Finally, PFSPREF.EXE stores your Toolbox Application server's connection information under:

{HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Pendragon Software Corporation\ABCD1]

where ABCD is your creator code.  Be sure to create this registry key as part of your installer.

For more information, please call 847.816.9660.