New Blue Ribbon Data Server
Thanks to Darin Dugan, we have a unique new opportunity--to have all of our counties' Blue Ribbon data folders stored in one location. The advantages are many, the only possible disadvantage is small in comparison.
Beginning the next time you start your computer, all BR users should see a new drive listed on "My Computer": “Projects on \iastate.edu\C Ext (X:\)” That’s the new Blue Ribbon data server. When you open that X: drive, you’ll first see a folder named Winyouth, then inside that you will see two folders, CountyData and CountyLocks (only instead of the word “County”, you’ll see your own county name… like AppanooseData, for example). The CountyData folder is where your Blue Ribbon data files will reside after the change.
Let me give you a little sales pitch on moving your data out to this new server drive. In the interest of full disclosure, I will tell you the only disadvantage first--your Blue Ribbon program will take a bit longer to open, and will switch between screens a little slower than it does now with your data on the C: drive. However, over half the counties have been using the S: drive already, and in checking with them, they didn’t feel that the slowdown was really burdensome once you get used to it.
Turning this sales pitch around, let’s talk about the positives!
Your data is secure. Although this is a server, not everyone can see the X:\Winyouth directory. I control permissions not only to that folder, but also to the individual county folders. That’s why you can only see your own county, even though all 100 county folders are out there. So the only people who can see/open/use your county data folder are the ones I set permissions for, which are the Blue Ribbon users in each county.
I, however, can see and use all of the county folders. That means you will NEVER EVER have to do another backup. You will also NEVER EVER have to download and install those pesky project & lit updates that come out every fall, because I will do that for you. If you are having problems with your records not working right (kids not showing up on the right report, ES237 not balancing) you can call and I will be able to look at your data “live” and help you work through a solution.
The server is automatically backed up every night. If something dreadful happens and you somehow lose data, we can recover your Data folder from the previous day. Additionally, we’ll be making a copy of the data folders every month, so that if you want to be able to go back to a previous set of data (like at the beginning of the new year), that can happen as well.
I have posted instructions for you on how to make this change on the BR helpsheets web page at http://www.extension.iastate.edu/4H/blueribbon/helpsheets.htm. You can choose to print out the Word document, or view the videos. The information is the same, just presented differently for those who would rather read, and those who would rather watch & listen!
An email is going out now to all the the people who are listed as Blue Ribbon users in counties with their data on the C: drive, and there is a bit more information in that. Additionally, an email will go out to all county directors, so that they are aware of what is happening, and also know that when a new Blue Ribbon user is hired, they will have to notify me so that I can add permissions for them.
If you have questions or concerns that you need to have addressed before you make this change, please feel free to email me and I’ll be happy to work with you on those!