Hi Alan,
I think the errors are caused by some fundamental misunderstanding how the database connection between mAirList-setups works.
Let me explain:
When you’ve connected a Remote PC via the IP address to gain direct access to the PostgreSQL-Database the remote PC will look for the files/elements in the local path the element is linked to in the database entry.
So if your element/file on the Studio PC with the Server is stored in
D:\Music\Billy Joel\leningrad.mp3
your Remote PC also will look for this file in its local path
D:\Music\Billy Joel\leningrad.mp3
but will not find it there because it’s only stored locally only on the Studio PC with the server.
As long as you have no exact local copy of all of your files on a remote PC OR stored them on a network drive, where the server and every client gains access through the same letter and path it WILL NOT WORK.
But there’s a clever and…
Easy Solution: The mAirListDB Server
mAirListDB Server is built into mAirList.exe but runs as a standalone process. It creates a HTTP/HTTPS server (on one or two TCP ports) that listens for incoming requests from clients.
It will send the needed elements/files temporarily from the Studio Computer/Server to the Remote PC for editing/PFL or to be used in the playout of the second machine.
Every time a Client need a file to play it will access the elements through the server db so you don’t need to have a local copy on a remote installation.
Important Note 1:
Only the “Advanced Server” or “Studio Professional” edition has this feature enabled through the license but every edition can connect to the host.
Important Note 2:
The client computer must have a compatible copy of mAirList installed, and set up a “mAirListDB (Internet Client)” connection accordingly. Thereafter, the client user can run the mAirListDB application to connect to the mAirListDB server and work with the database as usual.
Important Note 3:
A couple of things are not available when connecting through mAirListDB Server:
How-to set up the connection
1. Setting up the host on the studio PC
You will find the Database Server app in the mAirList group in the Windows Start Menu. Alternatively, if you’re running the Zip distribution of mAirList, you can start mAirListDB Server using the batch file DBServer.bat
inside the program folder.
When you run the application, the main window will appear:
Before you enable the server, you should check the TCP ports that are used for HTTP and HTTPS. The default ports are 8840 (HTTP) and 9840 (HTTPS).
It may be necessary to open these ports in your firewall before client computers can access them. (If you use the Windows built-in firewall, you will be prompted to grant access when you click Enable server for the first time.)
2. Setting up the mAirListDB Client computer
On the client (remote!) computer, follow these steps to add a connection to the mAirListDB Server:
-
Open mAirList Configuration.
-
Go to Databases.
-
Click Add, then select mAirListDB (Internet Client).
-
In the dialog that appears, enter hostname (= IP adress of the studio PC), port, user and password.
Note: In more recent versions of mAirList, a randomized one-time token is used for authentication to the server. In order to generate the token, click Sign In, enter user name and password, and a token will be requested from the server and entered into the input field.
- Click OK to save.
Now you have access to all files/elements stored locally on the server PC.
Please test it and report back if this solved your connection problems.