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Jul 2006 22

All-in-one installation for Windows

Posted by bsag

For those of you on Windows who have been struggling with getting Tracks installed, Jim Strupp has kindly packaged up an installation of Tracks which uses Uniform Server. Everything you need (except Ruby) is included, and it’s a simple double click on a batch file to start Tracks running. Give it a go! And many thanks to Jim for creating and hosting the package.

Updated 29-09-2006: Fixed the link to the installation.

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41 Comments

Picture of Ken Ken
Tue, 1 Aug 2006 @ 20:44

Thanks for the install package!  However, I’m having difficulties when I perform step (4), starting Tracks:

1.  The install instructions say that the Uniform Server admin page would appear in the browser.  Well, my browser (Firefox) does open but I get a “page not found” error.  Not sure if this matters? 

2.  In step 4(f) I DO get the same output from my console, so when I put in http://localhost:3000 to access Tracks, I get the following output (I’m just including the first few lines):
Bad file descriptor - connect(2)
c:/ruby/lib/ruby/1.8/mysql.rb:103:in `initialize’
c:/ruby/lib/ruby/1.8/mysql.rb:103:in `real_connect’

Any idea what I might be missing? I followed all the steps outlined, and double checked everything twice (including mysql.rb file).  Are there other requirements I’m missing?  Do I need to install PHP or MySQL first, or should this run just as the install describes?

I’m using Win XP Pro SP2 and Firefox 1.5.  Thanks for any help, I’d love to get Tracks running smoothly so I can GTD!

Picture of Jims Jims
Thu, 3 Aug 2006 @ 07:36

Tracks is running fine. The problem is that Uniform Server and the database within it are not starting up properly. I’m not sure why.

Try starting Uniform Server on its own first. In step 4, hit Disk Start.vbs, and see what happens.  Uniform Server should start with the console window open in your browser.  If your browser opens with the Uniform Server console, then hit “TracksStart.bat” (not TRACKS_START.bat.bat - I realize I’ve made this confusing)

Also, see the Windows section of the forum and follow my suggestions to Lthouse.  If these don’t work, let us know.

Picture of Ken Ken
Thu, 3 Aug 2006 @ 18:01

Aha, I see the forums link now, thanks Jims.  Still no luck with Uniform Server but I’ll try some other stuff and post in the forums going forward.

Thanks again, I do appreciate the help and the install package (even though I haven’t got it working just yet, thanks for putting it together).

Oh, and Tracks is just plain awesome… which is why I’m eager to get this running!

Picture of Ken Ken
Thu, 3 Aug 2006 @ 20:47

I found the solution for my problem and wanted to post here in case anyone else has the same issue…

Uniform Server uses Port 80; I have IIS installed and running on Port 80, so Uniform Server wasn’t working.  To get around this I modified the port for Uniform Server in the file httpd.conf (Uniform Server3.3.2\diskw\usr\local\apache2\conf).  Just search for “80” and change it (2 places in the file). Use an unused port and voila!

When you start up Uniform Server in order to access the Admin page you need to add the port number like so:  http://localhost:81/apanel/.  However, the url for Tracks is unaffected by this.

Picture of Jims Jims
Fri, 4 Aug 2006 @ 06:55

Nice job! Glad you got it working for you. I will post this issue to the forum and update the installation instructions.  Try the USB installation too. I’ve found it very handy to just take Tracks with me to and from work.

Picture of Dustin Dustin
Tue, 8 Aug 2006 @ 08:18

Hi—I’m a total end-user trying to get this up and running.  I followed the directions for the all-in-one install here, and everything went smoothly, or so it seemed.  When I run the tracks_start.bat.bat it seems to go as intended up until the very end—the cmd screen that’s supposed to stay open fills up with text (too fast to read, so I don’t know if it’s the *right* text) and *closes*.  http://localhost:3000 gets me “server not found” messages.  As I understand it, that window needs to stay open, but like I said, it happens so fast (almost immediately after the “Start Tracks and MySQL server?”  dialogue) I don’t even have a chance to see if there’s an error reported.

Any suggestions?

Picture of Jims Jims
Tue, 8 Aug 2006 @ 08:42

Tell me: at what point does the problem command screen show up?  Are you left with a browser window open with the Uniform Server admin page still showing?  Do you see a command screen showing the Webrick server starting? Or is it this screen that is faulty? 

Also make sure all your popup blocker, virus, firewall software is not blocking the Uniform Server. Port 80 needs to be allowed. Localhost needs to have Popups/Active content enabled or allowed.

Make sure you have downloaded and installed MySql.rb also. I have found that when its missing, the Tracks command screen will throw up a bunch of text, groaning that the database isn’t responding. Describe the sequence in a little more detail.  Feel free to move over to the forum for future posts…

Picture of dustin dustin
Tue, 8 Aug 2006 @ 09:10

Thanks—went to the forum with this.

Picture of Eric Eric
Sat, 19 Aug 2006 @ 05:40

Thanks to Jim and Ken for their discussion! I had the same problem and modified the port to 81 and everything ran like a champ! You guys are awesome.
thanks again
Eric

Picture of Isa Isa
Sat, 9 Sep 2006 @ 23:25

Hi!
I would like to install Tracks on my computer (Windows). I tried to download the all-in-one installation package but the link seems to be broken…
http://www.4shared.com/dir/602346/8d3864b9/Tracks4Win.html
Does anyone know where can I find that package?

Merci!!
Isa

Picture of Jim Jim
Mon, 11 Sep 2006 @ 17:46

Hi Isa and others:
The link broke because I had a technical problem with the 4shared server.

I will create a new link and post it here and to the forum when I can get to my source files, which will be in about 12 hours.

When bsag gets back, I’ll submit the new link so that she can update the one above.

Many apologies for the inconvenience!
Jim

Picture of Rob Rob
Thu, 28 Sep 2006 @ 14:53

Jim - Any update on the link?  I still get the error that is referenced.

Picture of Jim Jim
Fri, 29 Sep 2006 @ 08:07

My sincere apologies for the delay.  The link has been updated. It is now:

http://www.4shared.com/dir/950576/3127bee6/Tracks4Win.html

Please use this, until I can get bsag to change the text-link above.

Jim

bsag's avatar bsag
Fri, 29 Sep 2006 @ 08:26

Thanks, Jim. I’ve just updated the link.

Picture of JE JE
Sat, 30 Sep 2006 @ 03:05

Whooo! Wow! This is the smoothest install I have every done for something like this! Thanks!

I tried all of the other ones: the tracks default instructions install, the install using the videos but after an hour+ I was getting frustrated.

This finally is up and running because of your great simplified install.

Thumbs up!

Picture of Jim Jim
Mon, 2 Oct 2006 @ 22:03

@JE:  Thanks. I’m glad you found it easier.  I created it because I also had the same set of frustrations.  Please share on the forum if you find any other good ways of tweaking this installation.  For instance, I did not delve at all into how you would rename your database, set security settings, change passwords, etc. within the Uniform Server.  Again, glad you like it.

Picture of Steven Bao Steven Bao
Mon, 27 Nov 2006 @ 15:44

Had many problems installing on Windows ME, no problems installing on Windows XP (no service pack), and Windows XP (sp1).

Picture of Guhan Guhan
Thu, 30 Nov 2006 @ 12:49

Jim, Thanks a ton for the instructions and files - installed like a dream! smile (esp. after I struggled with SQL running!)

As with all things-good-that-cant-be left-alone, I have 2 questions:

1. Can I run this as a service in the background, so thats its ON all the time?
2. Is there someway I can turn logging off on the Tracks server (since Im sure doing that will make it faster and maybe even free up some sys resources)

Let me know what you think.

Thanks
Guhan
Noobie to GTD, but desperate to make it work! <grin>

Picture of John Leonard John Leonard
Fri, 22 Dec 2006 @ 00:26

Aha! That’s why the number of comments about my long dead series of videos and hideously outdated install assistance dropped off - Jim’s gone and done it better. Excellent - instead of re-inventing the wheel, I can just point everybody here instead.

Jim - if you want me to host the file for you too, I’m more than happy to - got tons of space and oodles of bandwidth that is lying dormant at the moment.

Cheers
John.

Picture of Jim Jim
Sun, 28 Jan 2007 @ 08:20

John - Wow, its been a month since you posted this. Let me say to you and everyone else, the thanks are all mine and the credit goes to you.  I had no idea how to get Tracks into Windows until you figured it for Uniform Server. I just felt it would be easier to make it a download rather than make users go through all the steps—but they would learn more that way. Learning them allowed me to install a host of other apps on Uniform Server, so thanks to you.

In answer to your question - by all means feel free to host it on you servers. The files you need are all available at the link. Just grab and post - but if you do, lets let bsag know so that she can add a link. I will maintain my host for now.

Jim

Picture of fred fred
Fri, 9 Feb 2007 @ 22:23

I installed Tracks following the instructions
http://www.rousette.org.uk/projects/files/tracks_on_windows_installation.pdf
It is very well explained. I installed Tracks 1.4.3 with Ruby 1.8.2-15 on WinXP(SP2)
I had some trouble with five minor points:
1- When starting uniform server, a file was needed
french-iso-8859-1.inc (phpmyadmin), i just renamed english-iso-8859-1.inc (for i’m french:))
2- step22: “rake db:migrate” i looked and installed ‘rake’command after some googling.
3- syntax problem typing ‘ruby script/server – environment=production’ instead of ‘ruby script/server –environment=production’
4. Step 44: it seems it is “TracksRun” instead of “Trackstart”
5. I sometimes typed 1.041 instead of 1.043

I fully agree with the comments by Johnsu01
http://johnsu01.livejournal.com/184712.html

Picture of Richard Richard
Mon, 19 Mar 2007 @ 14:31

Hi,

The installation worked very smoothly for me.  I have hit only two snags.

(1)  The instructions say to run TRACKS_START.bat.bat and the first time I tried it I absent-mindedly ran TracksStart.bat.  Is there any reason for the very similar batch file names?  perhaps if they were less similar fewer accidental problems would crop up (and why the “.bat.bat” bit?)

(2)  If I leave everything running overnight (after telling it to keep me logged in) then when I try to click on a link in the morning I get a screen full of ruby errors and have to restart everything.  Anyone know why?

I also hit the IIS problem, and simply turned IIS off for the moment, but I just read about the “port 81” trick so I’ll try that.  I assume the URL for the admin page “apage” that pops up each time is hard-coded in one of the batch files somewhere and will need changing as well as the number in the httpd file.

Picture of Olajide Olaolorun Olajide Olaolorun
Tue, 22 May 2007 @ 23:03

After a while, Uniform Server 3.4 is about to be released. Release date is set for around April 1-4, 2007. It should be an easy upgrade…. Please copying over is not really the best option, just copy over your files to the new install and your settings…. for mysql, copy the database from /usr/local/mysql/data/ without having to go to phpMyAdmin…..

If anyone needs help, you can use our forums at http://www.uniformserver.com

Thanks.

Picture of Mike Love Mike Love
Tue, 28 Aug 2007 @ 20:42

Hi
There doesn’t seem to be any content at http://www.4shared.com/dir/950576/3127bee6/Tracks4Win.html.
Is Tracks4Win available somewhere else?  Or am I missing something at the URL?
Thanks.

Picture of Will Ray Will Ray
Mon, 3 Sep 2007 @ 18:37

wondering the same as Mike concerning 4shared.com material not being there. Thanks for any help.

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