File Menu > Configuration

CMD actually uses two configuration files - one generated by CMD, and another generated by CMD's data engine.

CMD's configuration file is named CMD Startup and is comprised of two data files which are placed in your CMD 2020 folder when CMD 2020 is first initialized. The files are named CMD Startup.dat and CMD Startup.idx. These files store the information your CMD needs to know where to find the configuration file generated by the database engine, which database files are available to you, and if the connection is local or remote (meaning you access CMD's data through the remote database server software.

The configuration file that is generated by CMD's data engine is named CMD2020.CMDCfg. It "knows" how to differentiate between and then access all the data files you set up for CMD on a given computer.

The reason CMD works with two configuration is to allow you the greatest flexibility in using CMD. Given the wide use now of the remote database server software for CMD, it is very possible that you will be using a number of CMD data files from different locations. For example, perhaps you have a CMD file created for your own use on your laptop, and you have another CMD data file that has been created for church use that you access from your laptop while you are in the office. Plus, perhaps you wish to access the office's CMD data from home on your laptop. The CMD Startup file can keep track of all of these CMD data files and allow you to access any of them at any time.

Because these configuration files are essential to CMD's operation, there are a number of utilities to help maintain them. To use these utilities, click File, Configuration, and then select one of the following:

•View Configuration Info. This item displays a small dialog which shows the File Description, Data Files Path, connection information, and other currently logged-in users.

•Include Other CMD File. Use this choice when another CMD file has been copied to your computer and you wish to make CMD aware of its presence so that you can gain access to the data.

•Configuration Update. This option brings up the Configuration Update dialog which allows you to change any of the configuration settings about any data file set whenever needed. For example, from this dialog you may change the File Description, or even change the data file which comes up by default when you start CMD if you have more than one data file installed.