Improving the speed of Biscount.

 performance of Biscount depends on many things only one of which is Biscount.  These notes will assist you to maximise Biscount's performance.

Networks

The Network is a major factor in overall system stability and speed.  Good network speeds reduce searching and printing delays, as these tend to be the most demanding tasks on a network.  If you use the Co-axial type network cable, we recommend you change to the faster CAT5 network cable.  CAT5 cable is more than 10 times faster than co-axial networks.  CAT5 Networks are less trouble, if a computer network cable fails (it develops a short or is accidentally damaged), only the computer connected with the damaged cable will fail to log onto the network.  If this occurs when using a co-axial cable, then the entire network fails. 

When using a CAT5 network cable, most network cards can run at 2 speeds - 10Mbits/sec or 100Mbits/sec.  You should always set the network cards to 100Mbits/sec as this greatly improves your network speed.  Network cards have greatly reduced in price and improved in performance so there is no excuse not to upgrade the network.  

The set-up of the Network protocols also affects performance.  When referring to networks, a protocol is the 'language' in which information is transmitted between computers.  There are many protocols to choose from, but Biscount Software recommend that only the TCP/IP protocol be used.  This is the same protocol as the Internet and is a fast and robust protocol.  Setting more protocols than TCP/IP makes more work for the Network each time information is transmitted.

Using only one protocol improves performance and shutdown.

Computers

Ensure that you have enough RAM (called Memory) which is expressed in Megabytes (MB).  Windows 98 will perform better with 64 Mb, server computers should have 128MB, but adding more RAM will improve performance.  Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional is our recommended operating system, but the minimum RAM requirement is 256MB.  The recommended amount is 512MB.

The more RAM and faster the processor (the Pentium brain that does all of the work), the better the performance of all programmes that you run on the computer.  Biscount Software recommend a minimum Pentium 1Ghz processor.

The network speed test gives a guide to your network and computer speed.  This button is in the Restricted Menu (you must use the buttons - not the drop-down menu).  This gives a general performance indication of each Workstation with examples times/speeds to compare with.

Other Programmes

Avoid running DOS programmes on all computers whenever possible.  DOS programmes 'hog' the time of the processor.  This means that other programmes can't get enough processor time. If the DOS program is on the Server then this slows the Server and all other Workstations too!

Some programmes run automatically when the computer starts.  Ensure that any programmes that are not essential are removed from the Windows Start-up folder.  All programmes take operating time when they are running.

Running maintenance programmes regularly improves system performance.  We suggest you run Microsoft Scan Disk and Microsoft Disk Defragmenter on the Server computer once a week.  Do this whilst Biscount or other programmes are NOT being used on any of the Workstations. These programmes can be found through the Windows Start button then > Programs > Accessories > System Tools.  If they are not there, install them using the Add/Remove Windows Programs icon in the Control Panel.  If you have Norton's System Works installed, run the Speed Disk and Disk Doctor programmes regularly instead of the Microsoft programmes mentioned.

General Hints for performance

Screensavers

These are great to look at but can kill performance when they are running on the Server.  So you should turn it off or set it not to come on for 60 minutes.

Printers

Printing takes a great deal of resources from Microsoft Windows.  Many Graphic type printers (lasers, etc) will store (spool) print jobs to the hard drive as the printer cannot print as quickly as the computer can generate the jobs.  However, 50 statements printed from Biscount can use around 100MB of Hard Drive space just to spool the print jobs.  The size of the print jobs is not dictated by Biscount but by the Printer driver (which is the software that makes the printer print from Windows).  Make sure that each computer has ample hard drive space (200MB or more) for print spooling.  If the printer is connected to another computer, it is the other computer that needs the hard drive space for the printer spool queue.

Check your Printers folder in the 'My Computer' icon, delete all of the printers in the Printer Folder that you don't use, including extra copies of printers that you do use.  Check your printer settings in Biscount after doing this!  

Check the Add/Remove Programmes in the Windows Control Panel for installed Printer software that is not used, also any extra copies and Uninstall them.

Imaging programmes

Programmes like PartSmart, PowerCom's PowerView, Fiche Finder, PLUS1, etc deal with images that are very large.  Here are a few simple rules which will increase performance with imaging programmes:

If the images on the CD-ROMS can be copied to a hard drive you should do this, also add more RAM to computers running these programmes. (Check your imaging programmes documentation or on-line help system to see if this is possible).

 This helps because:

1) The retrieval speed of data from a hard drive compared to a CD-ROM drive is hundreds of times better. 

2) You don't have to change CD's constantly when you need to change models/brands as the programme requires.

3)  Because you are not changing CD's, they don't lie around on workbenches and get scratched.

4) Using Imaging programmes on a network means that Workstations will retrieve data from the Server computer over the network.  If image retrieval is slow and the above hints do not assist, improve your network speed (as described in the section above entitled "On the Server Computer") and increase the RAM.

New hard drives are very large and very affordable.  Multi-stacked CD-ROM drives (allowing several CD's to be loaded at one time) are far more expensive than a new hard drive.  At the time of writing (May 2006), new 80GB hard drives are under $150 which will hold over 80CD-ROM's.  An equivalent Multi-stacker CD-ROM drive costs $1000 or more.

These hints indicate some of the many factors that affect a programme's performance whilst running in Microsoft Windows.  Further assistance can be provided by Biscount Software (Windows issues incur a fee).

We hope that these hints help you improve the performance of your system.