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How to configure a Shared Catalog Database for Design on a server

Yuri Marchesini
  • Updated

Design allows multiple computers to access the same catalog database when it is hosted on a server or shared network location.

This article explains how to move an existing catalog database to a server and configure multiple Design installations to use that shared database.

⚠️ Important Notice: A shared server-based catalog database keeps all users in sync, but can increase opening load times and requires a reliable server.

✅ Best Practice Recommendation: Ideally, an instance of Design should be installed directly on the server. This will allow faster initial database creation and copying, since there's no need to transfer large files from a computer to the server, and it provides easier catalog installation and maintenance.

Step 1: Locate the Existing Catalog Database

On a computer where Design is already installed:

  1. Open File Explorer.
  2. Navigate to the default catalog database location:
    C:\ProgramData\Cyncly\Design\14\Cat
  3. Inside this folder, locate the Common directory.

 

Step 2: Copy the Database to the Server

  1. Copy the entire Common folder.
  2. Paste it into the target location on your server where the catalog database will be stored
    (for example: \\ServerName\Catalogs\).

Note: The Common folder can be several gigabytes in size, depending on the number of installed catalogs.
To reduce transfer time, consider copying the database from a fresh Design installation, which contains only default catalogs, and later install the needed catalogs.

 

Step 3: Map the Server Folder as a Network Drive

All computers that will access the shared catalog database must map the server location as a network drive.

  1. Open File Explorer.
  2. Right-click This PC in the left menu.
  3. Click Map network drive .
  4. Choose an available drive letter (for example, Z:).
  5. In the Folder field, enter the server path, for example:
    \\ServerName
  6. Check Reconnect at sign-in.
  7. Click Finish.

Ensure that the mapped drive is accessible and opens correctly.

 

Step 4: Configure Design to Use the Shared Database

Repeat the steps below on each computer that should access the shared catalog database.

  1. Open Design.
  2. Go to File > Preferences > File Paths.
  3. Click the three dots (...) next to Catalog files.
  4. Browse to the mapped network drive you created and select the Common folder.
    It should look like the example below:
    Server (Z:)\Catalogs\Common
  5. Click OK to save the changes.
  6. Restart Design.

 

✅  IT Admins can refer to the full list of Best Practices for Maintaining a Shared Catalog Database.

 

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