Working with Multiple Databases
You are generally recommended to work with a single database where you may create any number of catalogs for each information group.
If for any reason, you prefere to work with multiple databases and need to switch between them occasionally, you may enable "recent databases menu".
SpeedBase will then display new menu items under "database" menu as shortcuts to each database you have connected in the past.
You may then instantly switch to another database by just clicking the desired shortcut menu.
To enable this feature, click "Database" from main menu, open "Preferences" window, click "Interface" section, check the box related to the
recent database menu.
Remember that, once you are connected to another database, the reminders of the former database cannot not be displayed.
Running Multiple Instances of SpeedBase with Multiple Databases
While it is possible to start two instances of SpeedBase each connected to a different database, this is not fully supported
and not recommended either.
By default, SpeedBase does not start another instance when you double click it's shortcut once more and it just restores the
existing running instance on your screen. This helps to avoid displaying out-dated data hence causing confusion or even loss of data.
If you start a separate instance of SpeedBase using a command line switch, this protection becomes disabled.
Follow the steps given below to connect to a different database on a separate SpeedBase window:
- Locate the desktop shortcut icon of SpeedBase program, copy and then paste it anywhere on your desktop to create a copy of the shortcut.
- Right click the new shortcut, open properties window. At the very end of the line with "Target" header, type a space and then
the command line switch "/db:" followed by the database file name to open a specific database file:
/db:db_file_name_here
Typing just the file name of the second database is sufficient if it is located on your default data folder.
If it is located in a separate data folder anywhere else, you must type the full path of the database file in that case.
- Save the shortcut.
- Double click the new shortcut to verify that you are able to start another instance of SpeedBase which is connected to your
alternate database file.
- Open preferences window, click "Interface" section, uncheck the boxes "minimize to system tray" and "continue running in the background when closed", save changes.
This should be done to minimize the possibility of starting this instance multiple times.
Remember that, clicking the X button on main window will terminate the application fully with this setting.
Important Notes:
- To restore the default instance of SpeedBase, remember to use it's icon on system tray.
- To restore the alternate instance of SpeedBase, just click the application from Windows task bar.
- Beware that reminder popups belonging to each instance may overlap and hide each other when you run multiple instances.
- Remember that starting Speedbase with a "db" command line switch always overwrites connection settings and the software connects to the specified database.
The connection setting window becomes disabled.