How To: Configure a Symbolic Link (SIPP/SSAS~Pro)
Target Audience
Customers experiencing specific errors (see Related Articles) or have been directed to this article by Delta Product Support.
Overview
SIPP~Pro and SSAS~Pro contain embedded (hard-coded) processes that read/write files to disk. If the appropriate folder structure does not exist, some processes may not function correctly. Symbolic Links should be used to resolve these issues.
Symbolic Links
Symbolic links are file-system objects that point toward another file or folder. The object being pointed to is called the target. Symbolic links are transparent to users; the links appear as normal files or directories, and can be acted upon by the user or application in exactly the same manner.
Syntax
mklink /d <link> <target>
Reference: mklink
Deployment
Prerequisites
- Administrator access to computer
- Command Prompt (elevated mode)
Create Symbolic Link
MKLINK /D "C:\Program Files\FMPRO55" "C:\Program Files (x86)\FMPRO55"
Remove Symbolic Link
RMDIR "C:\Program Files\FMPRO55"
Command Prompt (Elevated)
-
Locate the 'Command Prompt' shortcut in the Start menu.
-
Right-click, and select 'Run as Administrator':
Background Information
From the mid-80's to shortly after the turn of the millennium, mainstream personal computers (PC's) used a '32-bit' architecture. In lay terms, this meant they could process 32 'lanes' of data simultaneously. Around 2003, 64-bit machines began to emerge, however operating systems and programs required development to take advantage of this extra processing power.
Microsoft Windows
By default, programs deployed on Microsoft Windows operating systems install in the 'Program Files' folder, providing their coding matches the native architecture. To accommodate a mix of 32/64-bit programs on one machine, Microsoft created a new application folder 'Program Files (x86)' in which 32-bit applications are installed. The following table demonstrates the variations:
Example No.
Hardware
Software
Default Installation Folder
1
32-bit
32-bit
Program Files
2
64-bit
64-bit
Program Files
3
64-bit
32-bit
Program Files (x86)
Note: Windows Server 2008 R2 was the first 64-bit only operating system.
SIPP/SSAS~Pro
Due to the evolution of computing architecture, our applications have needed to adapt. The core development of SIPP~Pro and SSAS~Pro predates 64-bit machines, therefore some coding references 'Program Files'. When customers began replacing their 32-bit PC's and servers with 64-bit machines, a hybrid environment was born in which our applications needed to work across all variants.
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