Manual for OpenEstate-ImmoTool

How ImmoTool can be installed…

You may use ImmoTool in two different ways. Before installing the application you should decide for one of these usage scenarios.

Installing on a single workplace

Using the application on a single workplace (so called single-user installation) is the most straightforward installation method. In this case only the ImmoTool has to be installed. The ImmoTool-Server is not required for this type of installation.

On the first startup of the application a database is created automatically on the local hard drive, that gathers all processed data.

Advantages of single-user installations

• This is the most straightforward installation method. Only ImmoTool has to be installed.
• The database is created automatically on the first startup and the application is usable without any further setup.

Disadvantages of single-user installations

• Multiple users can not work on the same database at the same time.
• It is not possible to set permissions for different users. The user always has full access to the database and the application features.
  

Steps for single-user installations

The following steps are required in order to start with a single-user installation:

1. Download ImmoTool.
2. Install ImmoTool.
3. Start ImmoTool.
4. Create a local project on first application startup.

Installing on a multiple workplaces

If multiple employees should be able to work on the same database from their workplace, a so called multi-user installation is required. In this case the shared database has to be provided by an external application (ImmoTool-Server).

The following image illustrates the setup schematically:

The ImmoTool-Server is placed in the center of the image. The employees workplaces are arranged in a circle around the ImmoTool-Server.

Advantages of multi-user installations

• Any number of employees may work at same time on the same database.
• Each employee has its own credentials for database access.
• Each employee may have its own permissions within the database (e.g. accessing certain data or using certain features).
• ImmoTool-Server may be installed in a data center. In this case employees may access the database from different locations. Alternatively the ImmoTool-Server might be made available through a Virtual Private Network.

Disadvantages of multi-user installations

• The installation procedure is more complicated because the ImmoTool-Server needs to be installed separately. Basic knowledge of networks and server administrations are helpful.
• Software updates are a bit more complicated because all workplaces should use the same ImmoTool version.

Steps for multi-user installations

A multi-user installation requires multiple steps, that need to be done on multiple computers / workplaces.

The ImmoTool-Server needs to be installed at first on one computer in the company network:

1. Download ImmoTool & ImmoTool-Server.
2. Install ImmoTool to the server computer.
3. Install ImmoTool-Server to the server computer.
4. Start ImmoTool-Server.
5. Start AdminTool (provided with the ImmoTool installation) and create a database on the ImmoTool-Server.
6. Start ImmoTool and create a remote project.

After the basic setup of ImmoTool-Server was completed you may consider setting up further features (e.g. encryption, automatic backups or installing a service).

In the next step you have to install ImmoTool on each workplace:

1. Download ImmoTool.
2. Install ImmoTool.
3. Start ImmoTool.
4. Create a remote project on first application startup.