Science Fair Master Quick Start Introduction (rev 7.0.3) Possible Science Fair Master setup scenarios: Note: The ‘Alternate SciFairMaster FastStart’ document contains additional information – including a quick run through (demo) of the major features and more detail about various steps. That document is no longer maintained, some parts are obsolete, but you may want to refer to it is you need more information or want a fast demo. There are four parts that make up the Science Fair Master application. Three MS Access parts and one website: 1. SciFairMaster.mdb: This Microsoft Access ‘database’ is the main application. It has all the forms and tools necessary to manage your Science Fair. However, it does not contain any data. All the data used by the application are located in separate Access databases which are linked to and accessed by the main application. 2. SciFairData.mdb: This Microsoft Access database is where all the data used by the SciFairMaster application are stored. This database is attached to the SciFairMaster application using the MS Access “Linked Table Manager”. SciFairData.mdb contains the many tables where the data are stored. There are no usable forms or code in the SciFairData.mdb database. 3. SciFairWebData.mdb: This Microsoft Access database resides on the website host server. This is where the data used in the website are stored and where new registrations data are stored. It is necessary to import the new registrations data from this database and place it into the SciFairdata.mdb database and it is also necessary to keep the data in both databases synchronized. So, SciFairMaster must have access to SciFairWebData.mdb (or a copy). To this end, the location of SciFairWebData.mdb must be entered in the “Fair Info Edit Add Delete” form in SciFairMaster. A website synchronization form in SciFairMaster is used to keep things synchronized. 4. A website hosted on a Windows ASP.NET server. Your main website can be hosted on any server, but the Science Fair Master Registration and various web tools pages must be on a Windows server that supports ASP.NET – preferably in your organization’s Intranet (LAN or WAN). Depending on your access to the files on your website host server, there are several ways to set up you installation. A summary of each setup is covered in the next pages. Then, detailed steps for setting up the website and the workstations follow. The normal (preferred) configuration: This configuration requires that your website host server is in your organizations intranet* and you (your PC) have permissions for high speed direct or VPN access (Ethernet at 100 Mbps or better) to files on your website server. Access to your website with DSL, cable, or most wireless speeds will not be sufficient. *Note: Intranet is a term often used to refer to a private connection of LANs and WANs that belongs to an organization, and is designed to be accessible only by the organization’s members, employees, or others who have authorization. An intranet is basically an internet that is usually only accessible from within the organization and typically have high speed data transfers at 100Mps or higher. Requires Login Website Server SciFairMaster.mdb Application (no data) SciFairData.mdb (Attached Application data) Membership SQL database & Website Main PC Work Station Admin Judges, Teachers Chairs Exhibitors Other PC Work Stations SciFairWebData.mdb (Registrations & Worksheet data) Account not required SciFairMaster.mdb Application (no data) Mapped drive connections Normal setup of Science Fair Master application and Web Server Normal Science Fair Master Setup. 1. The application’s data (SciFairData.mdb and SciFairWebData.mdb) reside on the website server and the location is shared with the workstations using mapped drives. 2. ALL website functionality is supported with this configuration. 3. You will use the website (pages and code) distributed with the application as a starting point for the registrations and worksheets. Integration into an existing ASP.NET website is not covered in this document. 4. You will use a Windows Server 2008 (R2) or 2012 to host the ASP.NET web server to host the website and the data for the application. Steps details may vary slightly for different or newer versions. 5. The workstations that use the Access Application (SciFairMaster.mdb) and the website server are in the same intranet (preferably the same domain and possibly the same workgroup). 6. Shared folders on the web server can be accessed by workstations running SciFairMaster.mdb application using mapped drives. Alternate Configuration (SciFairMaster on web server) This setup is used for the New Mexico State fair at NM Tech. In this configuration, SciFairMaster is located on the website server and users access the server using Remote Desktop – then run SciFairMaster from their user account on the server. Only one copy of SciFairMaster.mdb exists on the server. The data base files are linked to their locations on the server. This was a good solution for NM Tech because of issues with mapping drives to the web server because of the way NM Tech sets up their security. Each user has a different account on the server and a different Remote Desktop login (user name and password). In this setup the Website Sync works as normal but in reality only moves data to and from SciFairData.mdb and SciFairWebData.mdb on the same machine. This configuration may also be a good solution for organizations using a cloud server for their website (Like Microsoft Azure) as long as they have a reasonable Internet connection speed and the cloud server supports printing on a local printer from applications running on the server. You should be aware that Microsoft licenses for remote desktop access will be required. This graphic illustrates this setup: Requires Login User PC User PC Remote desktop SciFairMaster.mdb Application (no data) SciFairData.mdb (Attached Application data) Membership SQL database & Website Remote desktop Website Server Admin Judges Teachers Chairs Exhibitors SciFairWebData.mdb (Registrations & Worksheet data) Remote desktop log in Cloud server setup of Science Fair Master application and Web site Note: All website functionality is supported with this configuration Account not required Alternate configuration (Using Client/Server to sync data): Note: Supported only in Rev 6.0.2 until further notice. SFMClient is not updated for newer revisions. Use this configuration when the website must be hosted on a public ISP Server or other server only accessible thru the World Wide Web internet using FTP, VPN or other access tools. In this case, you will not be able to have sufficient access speeds to the SciFairData.mdb database if it is located on the server so it will be located on a workstation in your workgroup. This solution will have considerably slower, but adequate performance when downloading registrations and synchronizing the website data with the local data. Some features like website category judging and all web pages in mobile folder are NOT available with this option. Here is how the setup is configured: Main PC Work Station SciFairMaster.mdb Application (no data) SciFairData.mdb (shared ) Registrations Services Membership SQL database Website Server Admin Judges Teachers Chairs Requires Login SciFairWebData.mdb (shared local “copy”) SciFairWebData.mdb (Registrations & Worksheet data) SFM Client Exhibitors Account not required Internet synchronization Mapped drive connections Other PC Workstations SciFairMaster.mdb Application (no data) Configuration of Science Fair Master application and Web Server using SFMClient and website services. SFM Client Alternate Science Fair Master Setup (Using Client / Server). 1. The main application data (SciFairData.mdb) and a “copy” of SciFairWebdata.mdb reside in one workstation in your workgroup and the location is shared with the workstations using mapped drives. 2. You will use the website (pages and code) distributed with the application as a starting point for the registrations and worksheets. Integration into an existing ASP.NET website is not covered in this document. 3. You will use a Windows Server 2008 (R2) or 2012 or an ISP (Internet Service Provider) to host the ASP.NET website and the SciFairWebData.mdb database. Steps details may vary slightly for different or newer versions or the server. This website host may be located anywhere including ISPs like Winhost.com, GoDaddy.com or on virtual servers like Microsoft Azure. 4. The main SciFairWebData.mdb database is located on the server. 5. Shared folders on one workstation in your workgroup can be accessed by other workstations running SciFairMaster.mdb application using mapped drives. 6. All Workstations have at least a DSL internet connection to the website. A Stand-alone installation without a website: If your organization wants to use SciFairMaster without the advantage of online website registrations and other website tools - that is also possible. In this scenario, Exhibits registrations data, Judges and Teachers data is entered manually in the forms provided in the SciFairMaster application. This is the original scenario for the installation at UNM so is tested to work well. The judging and final ranking is also possible without the website but is not as elegant. Here is how this setup is configured. 1. If only one PC is used for all functionality, SciFairMaster.mdb and SciFairData.mdb can both be located on that PC and the use of shared folders and mapped drives is not necessary. 2. If you want multiple PCs to have access to the SciFairWebData.mdb database then you place that database on one of the workstations, share the folder that contains the database and then map drives on each workstation to that location. 3. SciFairWebdata.mdb is not required in this configuration but a new revision may be required to eliminate references to it in the code in SciFairMaster.mdb. Let us know if this is your preferred configuration. Science Fair Master Setup Details Setting up a new Windows Server or Virtual Server Note: These steps and details are for the normal (preferred) configuration. Where appropriate we try to make notes if you are using the alternate configuration. Note: These steps do NOT apply if you are using and ISP. Most of the details would be different in that case and you should work with the ISP to achieve the same functionality. Using an ISP would typically require that you use the alternate configuration. Note: If you already have a Windows server hosting your existing website – or that will host an additional website for Science Fair Master – many of the steps may have already been accomplished. If you just installed a new Windows server (or virtual server) in your organization or, for instance, on Microsoft Azure, the complete server setup has to be performed. Assuming you just did a fresh install of Windows Server, proceed as follows: Use Server Manager to set the following: Set the time zone to that of your event. Set the windows server updates settings to your preference. Auto download, ask or auto install. Add (install) Roles: o Web Server (IIS). Leave all the defaults set as is. Add Web Server Services (in addition to those set as default) o Application Development (ASP.NET, .NET Extensibility) o Security (Windows Authentication) o FTP Server (with all subservices) Add Features .Net 3.5.2; (4.5 if Server 2012); SMTP Server and services; FTP Server. Restart and install all updates. Keep installing updates until no more are found including (if found) the important or optional .NET Framework 4.5.2 for Windows Server 2008 R2 x64-based Systems (KB2901983) which may not be automatically selected. (Optional) Download (from web) and install Fire Fox browser or your other favorite browser. Download SQL Server Express 2012 with tools – get this one: ‘ENU\x64\SQLEXPRWT_x64_ENU.exe’. Try this link https://www.microsoft.com/enus/download/details.aspx?id=29062. Get the version with tools (has ‘WT’ in the download name) so you get the SQL Server management Studio with the download. When installing SQL Express: o Leave ‘Browser’ disabled. Do NOT set up a ‘sa’ login (use Windows Login) (Optional) Download and install Visual Studio Community (2015) so later you can debug the website on the server: try the link: https://www.visualstudio.com/en-us/products/visual-studio-community-vs.aspx Check in Control Panel Programs and Features to see if Microsoft .Net Framework 4.5 or higher is installed. It should have been installed with Visual Studion. If not, download and install .Net Framework 4.5 or later. Setup SQL Membership database SFMASPNETDB on the server: Install Microsoft SQL Server Express if not yet installed on your website server. This is a free download. See the above section on configuring the server for details. Open SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) as administrator and log on to the SQL Server engine. This will probably use Windows authentication unless SQL Express was installed with Server Authentication (sa). Select Server Type: Database Engine, Server Name is probably ‘YourServerName\SQLEXPRESS’. Click Connect. o In the left panel right click Databases and select Restore Database. o In the new window check ‘Device’ then browse (…). Click Add. Browse to the website root folder\App_Data\Backup folder and you should see ‘SFMASPNETDB_BUSET_Started_201510.bak’ or other SQL backup files. Select the latest one if more than one. Click OK. You should now see that backup set listed in the restore window. Make sure the box ‘Restore’ is checked for the desired backup. o Click OK. The database should be restored. The name of the Database should be SFMASPNETDB. If not change it to that name. The name is used in the website web.config file connections section – and it must match! To see where the actual database files and where they were restored to: Right click SFMASPNETDB and select properties, then in the left pane, click Files. As you can see, the created SQL data files (sfmaspnet.mdf and sfmaspnetdb_log.ldf) are not in the App_Data folder of the website files. The files in that folder were not used. There is a way to force the restore to that location and/or to attach those files but that is beyond the scope of this document and is not necessary. o Do these steps so the SQL Backup in admin section of the website will work: In left panel, in ‘Security’ for SQL Server, expand Logins. Right click NT_AUTHORITY\NETWORK SERVICE and select properties. In the Login Properties, go to the User Mapping tab. Then, on the “User Mapping” tab, select the desired database (SFMASPNETDB). Then, on the lower screen, check the role ‘db_owner’. Click OK. Here is a link that may help: http://blog.sqlauthority.com/2009/08/20/sql-server-fix-error-cannot-open-databaserequested-by-the-login-the-login-failed-login-failed-for-user-nt-authoritynetworkservice/ Look for the Login NT SERVICE\MSSQL$SQLEXPRESS. It should be there or a similar login for the server depending on what version of SQL Server you are using. You will need this Login name after you install the website files. Install the files and folders provided in the distribution for the initial website on the server Install the website files and folders to the location for website root file. To avoid security issues it is best to choose the folders setup specifically for the web sites. In most windows servers this is in C:\inetpub\wwwroot\... (the folder may not exist if IIS has not been installed) o Create a new folder with a name that reflects your website name. Example might be C:\inetpub\wwwroot\SciFairWeb\ (this is the website root – referred later) o Copy the website files and folders to folder SciFairWeb. It should look like this: C:\inetpub\wwwroot\SciFairWeb (the root folder) Admin (folder) App_Code (folder) …. the other folders About.aspx (file) About.aspx.cs (file) … all the other files in the website root. Setup Internet Information Services (IIS) and add the website. Open Internet Information Services Manager. It will be installed if you followed the Server setup steps above. Expand the Server list – left pane – then expand sites. You might see one site ‘Default Web Site”. Right click Sites and select add website. Enter the following: o Site name: The actual name of the site – i.e ‘MyOrgWebRegistrations’. o Application Pool: Use an application pool specific to your website – not the default. o Physical path: enter the path to the root or browse to the root. In this example it is ‘C:\inetpub\wwwroot\SciFairWeb\’. o Binding: Leave as is… (http, All Unassigned, Port 80) o Host name: The url. Example: MyOrgWebRegistrations .myuniv.edu (without ‘www.‘or ‘http://’). o Check ‘Start Web site immediately’ box (it should be checked as the default) o Click OK. The website should (may) now be running. To see if your website is running, click the website under Browse Website in the right hand pane. That should bring up the website in o o o o Internet Explorer. If not, you need to set up DNS for the site and wait for that to propagate. Your IT department will have to help you do that. In the advanced settings for the application pool for the website Set ‘Enable 32 bit Applications’ to True. Set the Process Model Identity to “NetworkService” (or LocalSystem if you have permission problems?). IMPORTANT: Set the Process Model Idle time-out to 720 minutes (12 hours) or larger. This will keep the static variables I use in the mobile Judge Scoring, Chairs Stats Etc pages in memory for 12 hours (what ever you set). This is really important else those web pages may crash and fail during judging. In the Recycling Actions: IMPORTANT TO DO THIS Un-check Regular time intervals. You do not want recycles at any time other than 2:00 AM as set next. Check Specific times(s) and enter 2:00 AM. This forces recycling to occur only at 2:00 AM each day. Recycling destroys the Globals static data. See website code for more details. You may not have to change any other settings at this time. If you have problems contact the help forum or a trained Microsoft Server technician. If you want to use a security certificate (highly recommended) there are more IIS setups to do. There may be a separate document for the details of that process. More Steps – Server setup. These steps are necessary to perform SQL backups and restores from an administrative log-in on the website. Right click the folder C:\inetpub\wwwroot\SciFairWeb (the root folder) and select properties. Select Security Tab then, click the Edit button. Click the add button and enter the login name for the SQL Server. This is probably ‘NT SERVICE\MSSQL$SQLEXPRESS’. (see Note: below) Check the ‘Full control’ box in the Allow column. Note: If for some reason you left the website application pool advanced setting Process Model / Identity set to “ApplicationPoolIdentity“ then you will need to add the user IIS APPPOOL\ NameOfHost . Example: IIS APPPOOL\MyOrgWebRegistrations .myuniv.edu then set to allow full control. Last Steps – Server setup Share the root folder of the website so the users of SciFairMaster.mdb and or their PC workstations will have read / write access to the website root folder and all the site folder and files. Sharing is beyond the scope of this document – have your IT department help. Note: Skip the above step if you are using the alternate configuration. You will have to set up the DNS for you to open the website and provide for to access to the website from the public internet. It may take a day or so for the DNS entry to propagate through the www. I also leave that to your IT department. Your IT department may also have to configure the organization’s firewall (open ports or set rules) to allow access from the public www. After DNS settings have propagated, test the website. Here is a really good test of everything. o Open the website in your favorite browser. o Click [Administrator Menu] under the Admin menu. o You should see the login screen. If not the forms authentication is not set correctly in the website web.config file o Enter user admin, pass DrPePPer You should be logged in and should now see the main admin menu. If not, SQL and/or the SFMASPNETDB SQL database is not set up correctly. o Click the [Website Management] button. That should bring up the Website admin page with a menu at the top. o Click the Backup / Restore link. That should open a new page with options to backup and restore the SFMASPNETDB SQL database. If you get any errors in this step or the next steps, then the SQL Server Logins were not changed as suggested or the security in the website root folder was not correctly set. Click the [Backup] button. You should get a message that the backup succeeded. Click the [Restore] button and follow the instructions. That should successfully restore the SQL database. Make any changes in the website web.config file: o Two entries are important for the Website Judging and Category Chairs pages. You can set these according to your preference but probably not make the settings smaller In <forms loginUrl="Login_Admin_Judge.aspx" name=".SciFairMasterAuth" timeout="60"/> you can increase the timeout. This is when the user is logged out. In <sessionState mode="InProc" cookieless="false" timeout="40" /> you can increase the timeout. This is when a warning message is presented to the user that their session is about to expires due to in-activity. This number should be about 10 minutes BEFORE the login times out. If you want your judges and chairs to remain logged in and keep their session alive for the entire category judging time (E.G 4 hours) set session timeout to 4*60 = 240 and the login timeout to 250. o If you install a security certificate an set up SSL for the website then: Change security switch mode to “On” instead of “Off” If you are not using SSL, you must leave this set to “Off” or several formatting and other issues will be noticed in the website. o The website is designed to send e-mails to the Science Fair administrator (or some staff person in the office). - In <appSettings> section - in the add keys “FromEmail” and :FromEmailDisplayName” Set the value = to the values for your organization and the correct email. - In the <system.net> <mailSettings. section – Enter the correct/desired values for “smtp from = ”, “network host = “, “password =”, and userName=” Check with IT if you do not know how to do this. o o Important note: Since you have entered passwords, you can encrypt the web.config file if you log in as administrator to the website. - click the Admin Administrator Menu link; - Log in as ‘admin’ pass DrPePPer - Click “Website Management”; Click “web.config Encryption” to toggle ( on or off). “On”, will encrypt the mail settings. “Off” will allow you to make changes. Note: If you are using the alternate configuration you will need to select the proper web.config file in the website root files. Use the help forum to ask for details if you need help. PC Work Stations Setup - Normal (preferred) configuration. Note: Also Applies if you will only have SciFairMaster installed on the server – substitute “server” every you see the word “workstation” Setup SciFairMaster Application: Do this for Each Workstation that will run the application – or if SciFairMaster is only on the server – do this on the server using one of the user’s remote desktop log-in. If you have not yet done so, install Microsoft Office. Any recent version that includes MS Access will do. Place SciFairMaster.mdb and SciFairMaster.chm (the help file) in the same Folder on the workstation (Typically in C:\SF_Access\Applications. Note: In the following steps it is not necessary to share folders and map drives if SciFairMaster is only installed on the website server. If not already done - on the webserver, share the root folder so the workstations and users of SciFairMaster.mdb will have read / write access to the website root folders and files. On each workstation using SciFairMaster, map drive X: to the server website root file. You will need to search in Network (in Windows explorer) to find the server. It will be there if you or your IT department setup the sharing correctly on the server (proper user names and groups etc.) Open SciFairMaster.mdb (just double click the file). Observe the first window: o If you see a banner at the top indicating a security warning, do the following to eliminate the message: o o 2007: Click the office button - then click Access Options (lower right of the new dialog window). Office 2013: Click File then Options - Click Trust Center - Click Trust Center Settings - Click Trusted Locations - If not already in the list, add the location C:\SF_Access\ (or where SciFairMaster.mdb is located) - Check the include subfolders box. - Click OK to return The first window you should also see in SciFairMaster is the Startup form. If the server root is shared and the X: drive on your PC is mapped correctly, you will see: Linked Data: X:\App_Data\ScifairData.mdb (in black font) WebSiteData: X:\App_Data\SciFairWebData.mdb (in black font) A red “IMPORTANT… “ link. Click it for information if you like. o If you see any other red text or warning messages, something is not set up correctly – most likely the sharing and mapping. If SciFairMaster is only installed on the website server, you will need to use the linked table manager to link to the location of SciFairData.mdb and then use the FairInfo Edit Add delete to point to the location of SciFairWebData.mdb o If everything looks OK, Click Continue. In the next few steps you will need to enter data into some tables. To do so, scroll down the menu on the left side until you see the tables listed. Fill in or edit the data in these tables at this time. o Regions table: You will also need to enter the information about your state’s regional fairs and an RID. The RID is the region ID of the regions. Set the name for RID 0 to “Unknown”. RID 7 is reserved for your state’s State Fair. Other entries (RID 1,2,…6,8,… are for the region fairs in your state.) o FairInfo table: Enter the RID for YOUR fair into every record in the Fairinfo table. On any workstation, in the Utilities group on the left hand side, select ‘FairInfo Edit, Add, Delete’. This is where you will fill in the information about your science fair. Do that now. Be sure to arrange for training before your first event. The training should include an event dry run so you experience all the great features of SciFairMaster. PC Work Stations Setup – Alternate configuration (using Client/Server to sync data). Note: Until further notice this configuration only works with Rev 6.0.2. Server and Client software are not updated to support revisions after 6.0.2. Setup SciFairMaster Application: Do this for each workstation that will run the application. If you have not yet done so, install Microsoft Office. Any recent version that includes MS Access will do. Place SciFairMaster.mdb and SciFairMaster.chm (the help file) in the same Folder. (Typically in C:\SF_Access\Applications. Install the required client SFMClient on each workstation. o Create a new folder SFMClient in C:\Program Files (x86)\ o Copy the three Client distributed files (SFMClient.exe, SFMClient.exe.config and SMFClient.xml) to the folder C:\Program Files (x86)\SFMClient\ On the Main workstation, (the workstation that will host the data), create a folder C:\SF_Access\Data\App_Data and place SciFairData.mdb and a “copy” of SciFairWebData.mdb in the App_Data folder. Share the folder C:\SF_Access\Data to each other user in your workgroup that will be using the application. On each workstation (including the Main Workstation), map drive X: to the shared “Data” folder on the Main workstation. On each workstation, open SciFairMaster.mdb (just double click the file). Observe the first window: o If you see a banner at the top indicating a security warning, do the following to eliminate the message: 2007: Click the office button - then click Access Options (lower right of the new dialog window). o o Office 2013: Click File then Options - Click Trust Center - Click Trust Center Settings - Click Trusted Locations - If not already in the list, add the location C:\SF_Access\ (or where SciFairMaster.mdb is located) - Check the include subfolders box. - Click OK to return The first window you should also see in SciFairMaster is the Startup form. If the data files are shared and the X: drive on your PC is mapped correctly, you will see: Linked Data: X:\App_Data\ScifairData.mdb (in black font) WebSiteData: X:\App_Data\SciFairWebData.mdb (in black font) A red “IMPORTANT… “ link. Click it for information if you like. o If you see any other red text or warning messages, something is not set up correctly – most likely the sharing and mapping. o If everything looks OK, Click Continue. On any workstation, do the initial data entry for your fair. In the Utilities group on the left hand side, select ‘FairInfo Edit, Add, Delete’. This is where you will fill in the information about your science fair. Do that now. o In addition to the fair information, CHECK the “UseSFMClient” box. o Fill in the url, username and password for your website. o The url will look like: http://yourwebsite.com/Registrations.svc On each of the other workstations, run the application and follow the steps above except the fair information should already be entered (You did that on the Main workstation – right?) Be sure to arrange for training before your first event. The training should include an event dry run so you experience all the great features of SciFairMaster. Do the following on your website (plus a lot more of course): This is how to setup the registration service on the website so SFClient will see the server. o Using VSExpress for web or other Visual Studio version: Open the website so you can edit the forms and code Click on the “Add Service Reference” menu item Click on the “Discover” button. That should bring up the reference in the website code. At the bottom change “ServiceReference1” to “ServiceReference” which will replace the service reference. Click the “Go” button. o To check the operation of SFClient and the website service, setup FairInfo as above then run the WebSiteSync form and click Update Categories. You should see SFClient run on your workstation, then close then the message dialog “Success”. If all this does not work, call the author and arrange for some consulting.
© Copyright 2026 Paperzz