FAQ - Frequently asked questions...
Participating in ordering system for retailers
Interfaces
Internet connection
Data exchange
|
Please contact our hotline for further questions:
Tel. +49-2233-80410-66
Fax: +49-2233-80410-30
e-mail: info@idnv.net
Participating in ordering system for retailers
| How do I participate in the ordering system? |
You need a CD-ROM of the IDNV catalogue subscription (from July/August 2004 or newer) with the current databases
and the IDNV-Order program. You can download the latter from Current version.
An installation version with databases is available on CD-ROM on request.
In addition, you need a program key and a password for the download area, which you will receive from
our Hotline.
To top...
| What are the rates for participation? |
For retailers, participation in the ordering system is included in the
catalogue subscription.
Please see Offers for additional information.
To top...
Interfaces
| How do I place orders in IDNV-Order? |
The interface IDNV_Ord_In for placing orders in IDNV-Order has been implemented
in the current program version. The required documentation is contained in the
download package of IDNV-Order (see Current version).
To top...
| Can I copy item data into my stock control system? |
The interface for exporting item data is currently in preparation and will
be provided with an update as soon as possible.
To top...
| Can I place orders directly from my research in IDNV-Order into my stock control system? |
A DDE interface is currently in preparation for this function.
DDE (Dynamic Data Exchange) is a standard of the Windows operating system for communication between programs. While IDNV-Order is running in DDE mode,
orders will not be collected in the integrated order database but transmitted to another program, as long as the program is equipped
with the corresponding DDE server. To help with the implementation of this function, a SDK (Software Development Kit) will be available in the future.
To top...
Internet connection
| The data exchange fails while connecting. What could be the reason? |
IDNV-Order requires a direct connection to the Internet. The connection
is initiated by the client (i.e., IDNV-Order) to our central server via TCP port 2222. (A connection from outside,
as with active FTP, is not required)
If the connection cannot be established, it may be due to one of the following reasons:
- No Internet connection is established.
This may be the case if you do not have a permanent internet connection but a modem or ISDN card.
If so, establish a connection as you do when you surf the web or send e-mails.
If the connection is set up as a Windows remote access service, the program
can open it automatically and close it after having sent the data. For this option,
choose the desired connection from the pop-up menu in the "Data exchange" dialog box.
Otherwise, open the connection manually before clicking "Start". This is especially true
for AOL or T-Online dial-up software. Once the completion message appears ("Data exchange and processing have been carried out successfully."),
you can close the connection.
- No gateway has been set up.
If you usually use a proxy server in your own network, your computer may not have
a direct connection to the Internet. A gateway is a computer or external device that
transmits or receives IP data packages to or from the Internet. A proxy, on the other hand,
transmits only specific protocols, e.g. HTTP for web browsers.
The local gateway address must be set up in the network interface card's TCP/IP properties, and
the gateway must allow connections on port 2222 (see next point).
- The connection is blocked by a firewall.
This may be the case if you have firewall software installed on your computer or
if you are connected to the Internet through a firewall in your network. If so, the firewall must be
cleared for outbound connections via TCP port 2222.
You may want to contact your network administrator. Please call our hotline (Tel. +49-2233-80410-66, Fax +49-2233-80410-30 or info@idnv.net) with further questions.
- Our server or network is out of order
Our server is normally online 24/7. Should there be a failure, please try again later.
To top...
| Why can't I run the data exchange through a proxy, as with a web browser? |
The IDNV software uses a particular secure protocol for the data exchange, which transmits the data in
a compressed and encrypted form. This is not supported by proxies.
To top...
| Can viruses or worms enter through the port 2222? |
No, because incoming connections are not accepted in this port. Therefore your firewall can block incoming
connections if you want.
When the data exchange is initiated, our program sets up a connection only with our central server. There is no
direct data exchange with other computers. Because we use only our own software, no known security breaches
of standard software can be exploited.
To top...
| The data exchange seems to proceed normally at first but then it suddenly stops and a message
says that the connection has been interrupted or closed by the server. |
Some routers may be configured to automatically cut the connection after a certain time
when there is no traffic on the line ("time out"). If the router only monitors certain ports,
like the typical browser ports 80 (HTTP) and 443 (HTTPS) it will cut the connection even if
there is still traffic on our port 2222. In that case configure the router to monitor port
2222 as well.
Another method to solve this problem is to "surf" a little while the IDNV is doing it's data
exchange. Doing this the router will see traffic on port 80.
But you must be active by clicking on links etc. Just viewing a page will not be sufficient.
To top...
Data exchange
| Attempt to connect the IDNV server fails.
What could be the cause? |
The data exchange is done via the internet on TCP-port 2222. The client (the application)
will open the connection to the server. If you experience any problems please check the following:
--------- Internet access via network ---------
In the data exchange dialog set "Connection" to "Network or open remote connection".
If the connection fails, a firewall may be blocking the transmission or your computer's data packets are
not transmitted to the internet.
Please make sure that your internet gateway's IP address is set properly in the TCP/IP settings of
your computer's network adapter and that the gateway passes the packets from/to the internet.
A HTTP-proxy server, as used for HTML browsers, will not work here!
--------- Connecting via firewall ---------
The firewall has to be configured to allow outgoing connections via port 2222.
Incoming connections on this port are not needed and may be blocked.
--------- Connecting via SOCKS server ---------
If you are working within a company network you might not be allowed to directly connect to the internet
or connections via the required Port 2222 are blocked by the firewall.
If however a SOCKS server is available you can use it as well.
In the data exchange dialog click the "..." button on the right hand side of the "Connection"-pop-up to enter
the required settings. If necessary ask your network administrator for further information.
--------- Dial-up with a Windows remote network connection ---------
In the data exchange dialog choose a connection from the "Connection"-pop-up and select "Disconnect after transfer" if you
want the connection to be opened and closed automatically.
--------- Using a special dial-up software (e.g. AOL) ---------
In the data exchange dialog set "Connection" to "Network or open remote connection".
Before you select "Start" in the send dialogue box, open the connection with your dial-up software as you usually do.
Then press "Start". After the data exchange has finished, you can close the connection.
If it still does not work, you should try to setup a Windows remote network connection.
To top...
When I set up a connection to the central server, the following message appears:
"Logon failed because of an invalid username and/or password."
What can I do? |
You need a different key for your program. Please call our hotline (Tel. +49-2233-80410-66, Fax +49-2233-80410-30 or info@idnv.net).
To top...
| I would like to update my databases automatically when I start my computer or when I log on to windows. How does it work? |
Please open the windows autostart folder. You will find this for example in the start menu under
Programs (Right-click and then click on Open). Then, you can create a shortcut for
IDNVOrd.exe in the IDNV-Order installation folder.
Please now right-click on the shortcut, and then go to Properties.
In the field "Target", the path to IDNVOrd.exe should be indicated. Please add a space behind it and then
-OnlineUpdate. Close the window by clicking on OK. Next time you log on, the update should be carried out.
After that, the program closes again.
To top...
|
