Adding a New ABS Client/User

Adding a new client/user to the Alloy Blending System (ABS) is accomplished in the steps shown below. Keystone Systems recommends establishing the following environment when ABS is initially installed over a network. Folders in red must be named as shown - those in blue are suggested names and may be substituted with your designation. All examples shown below are based on this starting configuration:

NOTE: All folders under \KEYSTONE must be named as shown, except for the user’s working folder. In addition, each user must have their own working folder. Working folders cannot be shared among users. In our example, the folder \KEYSTONE is “Shared” and mapped as drive “K”. This will be referred to as the “ABS mapped drive”.

Following are the steps necessary to add a new user (User 3 in our example).

1. CREATE FOLDER FOR WORKING DIRECTORY

Create a new folder under ABS for the new user. For example:

2. MODIFY THE AUTOEXEC.BAT FILE (WINDOWS 95/98)

Modify the user’s AUTOEXEC.BAT file and add the ABS mapped drive [drive:]\TASK to the PATH statement. If an AUTOEXEC.BAT file does not exist, one must be created on C:\ with a PATH statement added. Based on our recommended configuration, the PATH statement would be entered as shown below:

PATH=%PATH%;K:\TASK

Reboot the user’s computer after editing/creating the AUTOEXEC.BAT file.

To set the path in Windows XP, edit the environment variables as described in Windows XP Network Installation.

To set the path in Windows 2000, edit the environment variables as described in Windows 2000 Network Installation.

3. CREATE A WINDOWS SHORTCUT TO THE FULL ABS MENU

The third step is to create a Windows shortcut for ABS. Refer to either Creating a Windows 2000 Shortcut or Creating a Windows 95/98 Shortcut for complete details. The shortcut properties would be entered as shown below:

Make sure the “Start In” or “Working” area is specified as a folder other than \TASK - ABS should never be activated from \TASK.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Multiple shortcuts can be created to automatically launch specific ABS programs and/or functions. Refer to Bypassing the ABS Main Menu for more information.

4. CREATE THE ABS.INI FILE

Lastly, create the user’s unique ABS.INI file. If you attempt to activate any other program, you will receive the error message “ABS.INI file does not exist - Program cannot continue”.

To create the ABS.INI file, select “ABS Utilities” from the ABS main menu. The following message will appear:

Click on “Yes”, and the following dialog will be displayed:

The three drive locations will default to “C”. Enter the correct ABS mapped drive. Enter the User Number and User Name for this new user. Click on “About” to display a help file.

Based on our recommended configuration, the ABS.INI file would be specified as shown below:

Please refer to ABS User Configuration for more details.

After the four steps above have been performed, the user is ready to run ABS.

User-Defined Variables | User Number Restrictions & Privileges