Overview

A configuration is the group of attributes and templates (database records) that enable Crash Magic to read and analyze each different client's data.  The configuration describes such basic things as the connection and query used to access the database; calculated fields that are used to "normalize" the data so that the program can understand it; street, intersection and node normalizers to provide location references; object maps to convert data to graphics; and many more pieces of information, all designed to enable the program to understand a new dataset.

In most cases, a configuration is purchased with the Crash Magic license.  It is still appropriate to consider custom changes and tweaks to the provided configuration.  This section of the manual describes the creation of a configuration from scratch.  It is the process followed by Pd' Programming when we create configurations.  

Preparing a configuration from scratch, the section which follows, can be complicated.  Please read this section completely before beginning.

You will find that the first step in creating a configuration is to create a new user group.  This requires that the software has been installed, and is accessible by browser.  It also requires  that the you either have permissions to create a user group, or can log into the program as a Master Administrator to create the new user group.

Because of the powerful inheritance mechanism, a prudent method of making configuration changes is to copy the resources that will be changed into your own user account for editing.  Once the object has been successfully tested under your own account, it can be promoted to the group for others to use. This also allows users to continue working without interruption until the new object has been completed.  And, if mistakes are made, simply deleting the new object causes the program to go back to using the original resource.  However, for creating a new configuration, it is usually best to build in in the .shared user, where it will eventually reside.