Setting Up MediaShout in a Network Environment

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There are different ways that MediaShout can be set up in networked environment, and each has pros and cons.  The program can be configured so that it uses a common, shared My Shout folder that is stored on the network--and many users do this--but this is usually not necessary and can have a couple of drawbacks.  Another, and usually preferable, configuration is to set each MediaShout computer to use a common song database and/or folder of templates while keeping all of the other settings to their default locations.  

All of the user files and default media are stored in a folder called 'My Shout'.  Beginning with build 223, this naming convention is critical, and the software will insist on these files being in the correctly named paths regardless of where those paths reside.  The My Shout folder contains:

  • Shoutable Library  (contains default graphics and presentation media; recommended location for user's media files)
  • V4
    • Bible Library
    • Plugins   (contains the Cue Templates folder)
    • Song Library
    • Thumbnails
    • Tutorials
    • User Settings
    • WorshipTeam

...and possibly a few other items.  Of those folders listed, the only ones that most people would need to share are the Shoutable Library, Song Library and Cue Templates folder, and the latter two can easily be redirected to a shared file by going to Tools > Settings and selecting the appropriate settings.  The rest contain files that do not need to be shared because they never change or are irrelevant.  The Bible Library, Tutorials and WorshipTeam contents don't change, the Thumbnails are temporary files which benefit from fast local access, and the User Settings store little of value and can usually be removed without any noticeable change.  The Shoutable Library is the only item that isn't easily pointed elsewhere, but since media can be used from any location in the Windows file system, it is easy to create a common media library anywhere the user desires.  There can be performance issues when using media that is located on a network server, however, so please see the section below to avoid those problems. 

Using a shared, server-based 'My Shout' folder:

If there is a need for all settings and files to be in one common location, each MediaShout computer can use a common 'My Shout' folder.  This has the advantage of all files being in a central location, but if the network connection ever fails (or you use the computer remotely) you will need to reconfigure MediaShout to use a different My Shout folder that is locally stored.  This type of configuration is often chosen by IT administrators, but it is usually not needed. There are a wide array of files in the My Shout folder, and most of them either never change or benefit greatly from the increased access speed that is afforded by being locally stored. This is usually not the best solution.

Using a mapped drive:

Windows allows you to map a drive, partition or folder to appear as a drive that is accessible by network users. (If you don't know how to do this, search the internet on the term 'Mapped Drive' for more info.) You can assign the same drive letter to the network path so that the content in the mapped drive appears to be in the same place on all computers accessing it. This allows you to map the My Shout folder that is on the presentation system to be accessible to the network as drive M: for example. If all network users access media for their scripts from the mapped drive, and they save the scripts to the mapped drive, when the script is opened on the presentation system, MediaShout will find all referenced media files at the original M: location. This structure will work well for situations with only one presentation system. A key point to make is that you do NOT need to use the My Shout folder on drive M: for every computer. It will be useful to set each networked user's song database and templates to be shared from the mapped drive, but that is easily done through the Tools > Settings... in MediaShout on each machine.

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If you need to set MediaShout up on a network to share files and access a universal database, you will need to change settings on each local computer's INI file to reflect the new locations for the networked files. Here is where these folders are installed by default:

My Shout

XP:  Start>My Computer>C:>Documents and Settings>All Users  (Older versions:  Start>My Computer>C:)

Vista:  Start>My Computer>C:>Users>Public

Windows 7:  Start>My Computer>C:>Users>Public

MediaComplete:

XP, Vista, and Windows 7:  Start>My Computer>C:>Program Files>MediaComplete

MediaShout x.ini  (x = version #)

XP:  Start>My Computer>C:>Documents and Settings>All Users>Application Date>MediaComplete>MediaShout

Vista:  Start>My Computer>C>Program Data>MediaComplete>MediaShout

Windows 7:  Start>My Computer>C>Program Data>MediaComplete>MediaShout

 

The easiest way to install MediaShout in a network environment is to install the software on the local PC and, during the installation process, install the multimedia (My Shout) onto a mapped network drive.  However, if you are unable to do this, follow the instructions below:

NOTE:  This is not for the novice computer user.  We recommend that you have your network administrator do this if possible.

  1. Map the network folder onto each local computer.  We recommend mapping the folder to the same drive letter for each computer on your network.  If you are unsure how to map a drive, check with your network system administrator.
  2. Copy the master My Shout folder to your newly mapped drive.  (Ex:  If moving to network drive H, it should be copied to H:>My Shout.)  NOTE:  If you have multiple copies of the song database, only one can be the "master" database.  All other songs will need to be imported into the "master" copy after this process is complete.
  3. Open the MediaShout INI file in Notepad.
    1. In Notepad, go to Edit>Replace.
    2. In the Find What dialog type C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\My Shout  (3.0 and 3.1:  C:\My Shout - Vista and Windows 7:  C:\Users\Public\My Shout)
    3. In the Replace With Type dialog type X:\My Shout  (Where X is the new drive letter)
    4. Click Replace All.
  4. Save the file and close Notepad.

If the end users on each local computer log in using a limited user account, you will also need to make sure the administrator gives the appropriate permissions for the MediaShout folders so that files can be accessed.  You will need to give FULL Control permissions to the My Shout and MediaComplete folders that get installed with the program.  (If you want the users to have permissions to access global settings, you need to set Full Control permissions for the MediaShout x.ini file.)  If part of a domain, we generally recommend setting up a group for all MediaShout users and assigning permissions to that group of users.

Alternative Method For Those Of Us Who Are Not So Techie

Here is where these folders are installed by default:

My Shout

XP:  Start > My Computer > C: > Documents and Settings > All Users  (Older versions:  Start > My Computer > C:)

Vista:  Start > My Computer > C: > Users > Public

Windows 7:  Start > My Computer > C: > Users > Public

The easiest way to install MediaShout in a network environment is to install the software on the local PC using defaults during the installation process, then copy the multimedia (My Shout folder) to a mapped network drive.  To do this, follow the instructions below:

  1. Map the network folder onto each local computer.  We recommend mapping the folder to the same drive letter for each computer on your network.  If you are unsure how to map a drive, check with your network system or computer administrator.
  2. Copy the master My Shout folder to your newly mapped drive.  (Ex:  If moving to network drive H, it should be copied to H: > My Shout.)  NOTE:  If you have multiple copies of the song database, only one can be the "master" database.  All other songs will need to be imported into the "master" copy after this process is complete.
  3. Open MediaShout and go to Tools > Settings and change the location of the My Shout folder to the one on the network. Once you click the Browse button you will get the following window:


If your network location is not listed, click the Browse button and navigate to the new location. Once your location is listed, click the Select button.

If the new My Shout folder is missing necessary files as shown above for the C:\My Shout location, please do not use it, as it will cause errors. Please call our support team for assistance.

 

If the end users on each local computer log in using a limited user account, you will also need to make sure the administrator gives the appropriate permissions for the My Shout folder so that files can be accessed.  You will need to give FULL Control permissions to the My Shout folder on the network to any MediaShout users.  If part of a domain, we generally recommend setting up a group for all MediaShout users and assigning permissions to that group of users.

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