Repairing ISAM (file server based) data files

NETKEEPER^{^{^�}}
nklin1.gif (3727 bytes)
|Home|Products|Demos|Tech Support|Top FAQ list| Help Desk Software| CRM Software|

Repairing ISAM (file server based) data files
Document ID : 000-000587 Created:11/13/2000 Last changed on:12/18/2000

Mis-display of data is usually caused by a damaged
index file. The tables in a ISAM NetKeeper system include:
a DAT file -- the data file
a MEM file -- the notes file ( not all tables have a MEM file)
and one or more Kxx files -- index files

For example:
The SCMNK (service call master table) includes:
SCMNK.DAT
SCMNK.K01
SCMNK.KO2
SCMNK.K03
SCMNK.K04
SCMNK.K05
SCMNK.K06
SCMNK.K07
SCMNK.K08
SCMNK.K09
SCMNK.K0A

Lists that display information in the wrong order or not at all are an
indication that there may be one or more "Kxx" files damaged.

Causes:
Files can be damaged by server crashes, communications problems (garbage data)
or incorrect data sharing settings on workstations and servers.

Correcting damaged index files:
*- Backup your database and program files

Select on of the following methods:
1- Delete all the key files for the table and restart the program. The index
files will be automatically rebuilt.
2- Run the CSRT utility on the damaged table
3- Run the CFIL utility on the damaged table
4- Restore the table from a good backup set.

1- Delete the key files for the table
Have all users (including automatic processes) exit the NetKeeper program
Delete all files with extension K* for the table. Example, to delete all
index files for the SCMNK table :
At a command prompt type : del SCMNK.K*
Or use Windows Explorer to delete all SCMNK files with K* extensions
Restart the program and reply YES or OK to the prompt on rebuilding the index
files.

2- Run CSRT
Note: Does not apply to NetKeeper Help Desk Captain CRM(tm) or NetKeeper Help
Desk Admiral(tm) as they are SQL server based.

Data table corruption is usually caused by incorrect data sharing settings on
workstations. Check your workstation's data sharing settings and turn off
and write caches or write delays. Do not turn off write caches at the
server. Also turn off opportunistic locking at the server.

To fix a data file from an NT workstation:
(This example uses the SCMNK - service call master table. If necessary,
substitute the name of the table you need to fix.)

*- File maintenance requires single user access. Have all users of the
NetKeeper software exit the program. Close down any NetKeeper automated
processes such as CAPCOM or HD Mail.

*- Make a backup of your NetKeeper database.

*-Open a command prompt (DOS prompt)

*-Navigate to the directory (folder) where your NetKeeper program is installed.

*-Rename your data file, at the command prompt type:
REN SCMNK.* TEMP.* (press enter)
This command will rename the table to be fixed (SCMNK) to TEMP. The above
command will rename all SCMNK files regardless of the extension. For
example SCMNK.K01 will be
renamed TEMP.K01

*-Start the CSRT utility, at the command prompt type:
CSRT (press enter)
This command will start the Clarion sorter utility

*-Enter data into the CSRT utility:
The input file is TEMP.DAT (press ENTER)
The output file is SCMNK.DAT (press ENTER)
Press ENTER to accept the remaining defaults
Press ENTER to run the utility.

*-You are done if CSRT completes without errors. If CSRT reports errors or duplicate records:
-Read the error message and fix the problem. Other users may be using the
table if the error message includes "non-sense" characters.
-If the CSRT utility reports duplicates in the file the utility will save the
record numbers of the duplicated entries to a file. Print or TYPE the file.

Deleting duplicate records
Use the CSCN - Clarion Scanner - utility to remove duplicate records
To delete the duplicate records:
*- File maintenance requires single user access. Have all users of the
NetKeeper software exit the program. Close down any NetKeeper automated
processes such as CAPCOM or HD Mail.

*- Make a backup of your NetKeeper database.

*-Open a command prompt (DOS prompt)

*-Navigate to the directory (folder) where your NetKeeper program is installed.

*-Print or TYPE the file that CSRT created and that lists the duplicate records
This file will list pairs of records that are duplicated. For example:
867, 1054

*-At the command prompt type:
CSCN (press enter)
Note: You can also start the CSCN utility by double-clicking the CSCN.EXE
file in Windows(R) Explorer.

*-Input file is SCMNK (or the table you need to repair)
*-Sort order: Record Number (press ENTER to select)
*-Press ENTER to scan the file
*-For each pair in the duplicated records list you need to delete one of the
records.
*-Press Ctrl+J and enter the record number to delete
*-Check that the record is the one you need to delete. Do not confuse Record
Number with a data identifier such as SRVCID. The record number can be read
on the bottom line of the CSCN utility.
*-Press Ctrl+D to delete the record.
*-Once done, re-run the CSRT utility (see above). The utility should not
report errors.
*-Start your NetKeeper programs and check that the data displays correctly.

NOTES

1- Data corruption should be a very rare (if ever) occurrence. Repeated
data corruption of your data files indicates that one or more workstations
(or maybe even a server) are not properly sent to share data in real time.

2-Or or more files might be locked if you can't run the CSRT or CFIL utility. Locked files can also cause access denied errors or "garbage character" errors.
To check if a table is locked or in use elsewhere:
*- Backup your data and program files
*- Create a temporary directory
*- Copy all the table components (example SCMNK.*) to the temporary directory
*- Copy the files above back into the original directory. If the files copy back OK then the files are not in use elsewhere.

This solution text WEB page is automatically generated from your knowledge base and service data by NetKeeper Help Desk Software or NetKeeper CRM software. You can customize the pages to your site's look and feel or even include advertisements.