• If the network is down: Check to see if you can use the Network Neighborhood (Windows) or Connect to Server (Mac) to pull up the server (where the BookingCenter database is stored) and view it from the client. If you can not 'see' your server, ask your network administrator to help you get the network running again. BookingCenter Support can not help you with the situation until your network is functioning.

• If the network is up (i.e. you can 'see' your server), here is what you do:
  • Open the ODB Admin Tool (in Program Files on the server under Windows and in the Applications folder for Mac OS X ).
  • Make sure you set the correct IP address in ODB ADMIN Tool. Do this by choosing ODB Administrative Preferences and the Options menu.
  • Cick the button Read IP and it will read the server’s IP address and set it for you.
  • After setting the IP address correctly on the server, place the cursor in the Actions menu, at top right of the screen, and choose Commit Changes and Restart ODB.
  • Close the ODB Manager Preferences window. You are now viewing the Omnis Databridge Administration window. Click Stop,and wait until message says "ODB Server is stopped'.
  • Click Start and verify that the ODB Server says "ODB Server is Running".

 Try again to connect to the server from BookingCenter. The error message has hopefully gone away.

Networking BookingCenter on Multiple Machines (for Version 6 and later)

BookingCenter works in a networked architecture so that there can be 'clients' and a 'server'. This allows for multiple people to work BookingCenter concurrently and for the server to utilize the network efficiently to process credit cards and communicate with the Central Reservation Server. Only ONE PC can connect to the BookingCenter Service to poll rates and availability - this computer is called the 'Network Manager'. This one PC becomes the Management Computer that will be synchronizing rate, inventory, and content with the BookingCenter Central Reservation Service.

If you are running any Windows network OR Macintosh OSX from 10.5 OR later (OS names of Tiger or Leopard) OR Mac OS7, 8, or 9 then networking is fast and easy. Instructions for simple networking are found at: http://www.BookingCenter.com/help/network_bc.html.

If you are running OS X 10.1 through 10.4 for Mac OS, then it is REQUIRED to use a networking technique called ODB (Omnis DataBridge). Because earlier versions of Mac OS X need assistance with networking, if you are using these versions of OS X then your networking needs are explained at: http://www.BookingCenter.com/help/network_odb.html.

Windows or Macintosh OSX users from 10.5 or later (OS names of Tiger or Leopard) can OPTIONALLY choose to use ODB or not. The decision will rest on the confidence and integrity of your Client <--> Server network. If your network is using wired Ethernet (as opposed to wireless); the PCs all have good network cards; the Server is a good PC with good hard drives, then the Windows OS will provide a stable read/write support for the file server and no ODB is required. Instructions for networking Windows PCs without ODB are found at: http://www.BookingCenter.com/help/network_bc.html.

If you choose to install ODB, we recommend working with a network administrator to establish your network, as sharing and assigning IP addresses on a network requires more skill than many hospitality people possess. If any of the above conditions are NOT present on your Windows network (such as PCs connecting to each other via wireless), then BookingCenter highly recommends installing the ODB for Windows on the Server. However, BookingCenter will not setup your ODB network for you. This work must be done by a qualified network administrator. Even if you have a current Support Contract, it is outside the expertise of BookingCenter Support staff to configure an ODB network unless an on-site training and installation contract is purchased. Don't worry, though! We have provided clear and complete instructions and an average user with PC networking skills should be able to accomplish the ODB setup in about 30 minutes. Instructions for networking your Windows Desktop using ODB clients are at: http://www.BookingCenter.com/help/network_odb.html.

The ODB Instructions are attached to this KnowledgeBase article and can be downloaded by clicking below. The file is a .PDF type called 'ODB.pdf".

Learn more details about Networking BookingCenter Software for Macintosh and PC networks by visiting: http://www.bookingcenter.com/help/network_bc.html

We have an article explaining the types of Updates the Desktop PMS offers at: https://support.bookingcenter.com/index.php?/Knowledgebase/Article/View/55

Troubleshooting tips for update erros are as follows:

If you are experiencing problems with Updating to the Internet, or other BookingCenter services, here are some likely causes:

--> Problem: "Error #0: Sockets: No Data Record" or "Unable to upload...." some file.

Solution: You are using a firewall that prevents BookingCenter from communicating with the Central Reservations Systems. We have seen this happen with the Personal Norton Firewall and some other software firewall products on the internet. Simply turn OFF the firewall, quit BookingCenter, re-start BookingCenter, and try again. If the problem is gone, then you must slowly 'tighten' security restrictions until both your firewall needs and the ability to communicate with BookingCenter's Central Reservation System are met.


--> Problem: Error: Sockets: Time Out

Solution: You are not connected to the Internet or have expired the internet connection. This happens if yuor internet connection dropped out (in the case of a DSL or cable modem, for example) or you are using a dial-up and the connection re-set itself. Simply quit BookingCenter. Connect to the Internet and confirm it by visiting a website or making a search engine query, and then re-launch BookingCenter and try again.



--> Problem: Notifications of Updates (Part or Full) are not getting through to your FROM BookingCenter. You get the 'Network Results Screen Success' but nothing changes online from the update.

Solution: You are not able to notify the BookingCenter server (admin.bookingCenter.com) by either HTTP nor SMTP that your Desktop software just did an Update. This leaves all the updates 'unprocessed' on our servers and the changes you sent not used. We see this in particular instances where there are proxy servers used on the LAN or on satellite systems that have been optimized for HTTP traffic and employ strange 'tunneling' programs for network enhancements.


We also see this if your mail server rejects emailing from within BookingCenterr. Placing the correct SMTP user name and password and choosing "Use SMTP Auth" will work for an Internet Service provider who uses 'clear text' as the authentication schemes. We have an article on Using Authentication to Send Email here:https://support.bookingcenter.com/index.php?/Knowledgebase/Article/View/174 to see if your ISP is on this list.

If the 'clear text' authentication scheme that BookingCenter supports does not work with your ISP, then you can download a local SMTP server for your BookingCenter needs.  There are numerous FREE SMTP servers for both Macintosh and Windows.  Check: http://www.download.com/ and download a free one to use on the BookingCenter PC/Mac you are are having trouble sending emails from. Note, BookingCenter does not support help setting up or configuring an SMTP server, so please contact your local computer networking person if this option is your desire.

The last option is for BookingCenter customers that can not get SMTP access through network authentication or SMTP 'clear text' authentication, nor do they wish to run their own SMTP server. In this case, we can set them up with an account on our BookingCenter servers and they use our SMTP servers for emails sent using the BookingCenter Property Management System.  There is a $120/year fee for using the BookingCenter SMTP servers, so try all other alternatives before resorting to this.


--> Problem: Firewall or Anti Virus Errors Prevent Updates or Credit Card Transactions

Solution: You are using a firewall that prevents BookingCenter from communicating with the Central Reservations Systems. While we don't work with firewalls and establishing security protection for our customers, we have found that a decent network administrator can help enable these services while still providing a good protection against intruders. here are the common protocols we require to work for various services:
Service

Host Name

Protocol
Credit Card Processing auth.bookingcenter.com HTTP
Part and Full Updates to the CRS admin.bookingcenter.com FTP
Live Sync admin.bookingcenter.com HTTP
Automated backup of datafile (can be backup.bookingcenter.com or customer's web host) FTP
Networking BookingCenter Desktop clients client dependent on mapping AppleTalk (older Apple Mac networking) or Windows Networking/SAMBA for Windows and mixed networks
MyPMS connectivity mypms.bookingcenter.com HTTP

After adding the above exceptions if you are still receiving timeouts when trying to do an availability update, a credit card transaction or a live sync please follow the test metric below:

1) make a booking, watch the live sync crs update time out
2) Open your firewall/av software and check exceptions
3) Disable all firewall/av software
4) Do an availability update or transfer a booking to a different room or any other modification that causes a CRS upload
5) Verify above update/transfer/live sync performed at normal speed with no issues
6) Re-enable Firewall/AV Software
7 Repeat test illustrated in step 5
8) Verify timeouts/issues reoccur.

The test metric above should conclusively rule out or confirm the issue is in fact within the firewall or av software. BookingCenter cannot provide technical support for firewalls or av software. Please contact a local networking professional for further assistance.

The most common reasons are:

1. The server is not powered on.
2. The IP address of the server has changed.
3. The ODB server machine must have a static IP address

If you have changed the server IP,accidentally or otherwise, you must use the ODB Admin Tool to reset the IP address. Then, commit your changes and restart the ODB server. Each client machine may have to reset the ODB Path under BookingCenter -> Parameters -> System Configuration in order to reestablish the connection to the ODB server.
 
Note: The ODB Path for each client will have to be reset. Go to Parameters->System Configuration and click on the ODB Path button.
 
For information on using the ODB Admin Tool go to: ODB Server Can Not Be Found

Here's how you can move a BookingCenter installation from one Mac / PC to a new one:

-> Make sure you know where the BookingCenter datafile (the file with ALL your BookingCenter data on it) you use on your old computer. Make a copy (backup) of it.

-> Quit BookingCenter on the old computer.

-> Drag the datafile to a folder on the old computer to the new computer or else onto a portable drive such as a thumb drive, ZIP, or extrenal drive.

-> Load BookingCenter onto the new computer (follow instructions at: https://support.bookingcenter.com/index.php?/Knowledgebase/Article/View/203/).   Launch BookingCenter on the new computer.

-> If BookingCenter asks you to load a datafile, choose the one you copied/loaded from the old computer. 

Look at the Rooms, Guests, etc. Did it all come across? I bet it did!


Make this new datafile the new one that loads every time on the new computer. How to do this?

-> Go to the FILE menu of BookingCenter
-> Choose Change Datafile
-> Click 'Other'
-> Find your customized datafile and double-click it. Now you have the correct datafile loaded and ready to use!
-> Now, go back to the FILE menu
-> Choose Change Datafile
->  Highlight the custom datafile you want to launch as the default (ie, each time BookingCenter launches)
->  Click the 'Default' button and BookingCenter will ask if you want to set this datafile as the default. Click  "Yes" and it is done.
-> Close the Change Datafile window by clicking the close button

To Stop the DEMO datafile from EVER loading
(this is the one that will be installed in the new BookingCenter folder if you install from a CD-ROM or from the download in the Support Area)

Go into the / BookingCenter / folder on your computer. Find a file called "BCDEMO.df1" and DELETE this file. Now your customized Default datafile will load each time you launch BookingCenter.

There are many reasons why one Mac or PC will loose connection to your server where the 'datafile' is stored. Usually it has to do with a problematic network cable, network card, or faulty wireless network.

Many times, only ONE of your Mac or PCs will get the 'Lock' and there is no way to 'un-freeze' this except by force quitting (control/apple/esc for Mac and control/alt/delete on Windows) the BookingCenter Desktop and starting it up again.

When this continually happens to ONE Mac or Windows, that helps identify the problem and until you fix it, the networking errors are prone to continue to happen. BookingCenter is VERY sensitive to the persistence of a 'byte compatible' connection to the server, whereas websites and email are very fault-tolerant. This means that even a mild issues with a network cable, network card, or faulty wireless connection will manifest in a 'Lock' on BookingCenter but show no problems for other internet use. It can be very frustrating, and hard to deduce.

The advice we give is to situations where the 'lock' continually happens to ONE Mac or Windows is - in no particular order - to:

• wire that Mac/PC directly to the router/hub that connects to the server. Basically, getting rid of a wireless issue.

• replace the ethernet cable (if it's wired already).

• replace the wireless card or ethernet card that connects that Mac/PC to the network

• plug the Mac/PC into a different port on the router/hub that connects to the server in the hope that you have a faulty port.

If the 'lock' occurrence is happening on ALL of your networked Mac PCs (often or occasionally), then you have a larger issue and the problem could be on the server, the router/hub, or other devices making to much traffic in your network. When this occurs, you will need to either considering moving to our web-based MyPMS system or calling in a network administrator who can solve your network problems. This is beyond the ability of Tech Support to solve for you remotely.

For general networking tips and instructions with all variations of Mac and Windows PCs, read here.  

When opening your BookingCenter Desktop Software, if you get this message: "Quitting Omnis due to unrecoverable error: Insufficient memory available DMFVAL2.cpp:536 "
It is recomended that you Re-install your Desktop Software.

Please follow the following Helpdesk Article to Reinstall your software.

Go to http://downloads.bookingcenter.com/ and download a new version of BookingCenter, but before you install it, copy your / BookingCenter Images/ and your data file to a place when you can put it BACK into BookingCenter once you've installed the new version. We don't want you to over-write your BookingCenter file when you do the re-installation, so please MAKE A COPY before proceeding.

Also please note. An active support contract is required to download software.

Here's the steps to take:

1) Download the new version of BookingCenter and save it on your computer.

2) Copy your / BookingCenter Images/ and your data file to a place where it is safe. Also, copy any other file you have placed in your / BookingCenter / folder that you need to save.

3) Throw the whole BookingCenter folder (C:/ BookingCenter / on Windows or Applications | BookingCenter on Mac OS X) to the trash

4) Follow through with the file you downloaded and re-install BookingCenter. If on a Windows 7 or Vista PC make sure you right click on the installer and left click on 'Run as Administrator'

5) Copy the your / BookingCenter Images/ and and your data file into the new BookingCenter folder at C:/BookingCenter/ on Windows or Applications | BookingCenter on Mac OS X.

6) Launch BookingCenter. Register it as per your registration details - these were sent to you earlier.

7) Once in BookingCenter, go to the FILE menu
Choose Change Datafile
Click “Other”
Find your customized datafile and double-click it. Now you have the correct datafile loaded and ready to use!
Now, go back to the FILE menu
Choose Change Datafile
Highlight the custom datafile you want to launch as the default (ie, each time BookingCenter launches)
Click the “Default” button and BookingCenter will ask if you want to set this datafile as the default. Click "Yes" and it is done.
Close the Change Datafile window by clicking the close button