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Install guides, database setup, and troubleshooting for BioPAK, BioEMG III, BioJVA, and T-Scan.

BioPAK installation

What are the system requirements for BioPAK?

To use BioPAK, you need:

  • Microsoft Windows 7 or later
  • 2 GHz or faster processor
  • 4 GB or more of memory
  • 2 GB of available disk space
  • USB 2.0 or later interface for the USB data acquisition hardware

We also recommend an internet connection and a backup system (writable DVD or CD drive, USB drive, tape drive, or a second hard disk) to safeguard your data.

How do I install BioPAK on a network?

To share the BioPAK database between computers, one computer is designated as the server. It holds the database and accepts connections from the client computers, so it must be running and connected to the network. The network must use TCP/IP, and the database engine uses port 3050, so you may need to open that port in your firewall.

Server installation

  1. Install BioPAK on the server using the administrator account. Choose the Network Server option, which installs the Firebird Database Server automatically.
  2. Run BioPAK and enter the registration name and key if prompted. A previous version's database will be converted; otherwise an empty database is created.
  3. Note the network name of the server computer (right-click Computer on the Start menu, then Properties). You need it for the client installs.
Do NOT plug in the BioRESEARCH USB interface before the software has been installed.

Client installation (repeat for each client machine)

  1. Install BioPAK and choose the Network Client option. When the installer finishes, run the InstaCal device driver installation and restart the machine.
  2. Run BioPAK, enter the registration name and key if prompted, then enter the server name when asked (the name of the server machine, not the network).
Clients automatically try to connect to the server database using the alias BIOPAK. To connect to a different database, use the Database Wizard.
How do I move BioPAK to a new server?
  1. Install BioPAK on the new server.
  2. Run BioPAK and enter the registration name and key.
  3. BioPAK creates an empty database at Public Documents\BioPAK\Database\BioPAK.FDB.
  4. Close BioPAK.
  5. On the old server, open Control Panel and use the Firebird Guardian to stop the Firebird database service so there are no active connections. The Services applet in Administrative Tools also works.
  6. Copy the old database file to the new server (USB stick or network) and replace the empty database from step 3.
  7. Run BioPAK. It will connect to the database.
  8. On each client computer, change the server name to match the new server.
I'm having problems installing an update. What should I try?

Before calling for support, try these steps. If installing an upgrade:

  1. Uninstall the previous BioPAK version.
  2. Uninstall InstaCal.
  3. Run the BioPAK upgrade installer.

Upgrading an existing database: before version 5.2 the file was in C:\Program Files\BioPAK\database. After 5.2 it is in the Public Documents folder (C:\Users\Public\Public Documents\BioPAK\database on Vista and Windows 7). You can also search for files with the .FDB extension.

When BioPAK connects to a database from an earlier version, it makes a backup copy first, then upgrades it.

Data security & backups

How should I back up and protect my BioPAK data?

Back up patient data to a secure off-site location. Many cloud-based services will store it. Encryption stops thieves and hackers from reading your data if they get access to it, which matters most for portable computers that can be stolen.

Never use the Windows Home version to store patient information. It does not meet the minimum requirements for HIPAA portability.
  • Dropbox makes copies of your files and stores them on remote computers.
  • BitLocker (Windows Pro, Enterprise, and Ultimate editions) encrypts your computer disk to prevent unauthorized access.
Contact your IT consultant for help setting these up in your office.
What are HIPAA data portability, Dropbox, and BitLocker?
  • HIPAA data portability: you are allowed to move data electronically, but you are required to encrypt it.
  • Dropbox: a cloud storage provider. Your data is stored on hardware in a remote location and can be reached from any device over the internet with your username and password.
  • BitLocker: Microsoft's built-in encryption for Windows. It can encrypt your entire drive and help protect against unauthorized changes such as firmware-level malware.

Database

How do I create a new, blank database?
ProblemYou need a new blank database on a standalone computer.
Solution
  1. Open BioPAK and go to Setup | Database Wizard.
  2. Choose "Create a new (empty) database" and click Next.
  3. Click Browse to open the database folder.
  4. The program enters BIOPAK.FDB as the file name. Keep it or change it, then click Open.
  5. Click Next, then Finish to create the database.
  6. When prompted, enter a name for identification only (e.g. "local" or "seminar").
  7. Check "Connect to this database now" and click OK.
How do I copy the database to a standalone computer?
ProblemYou are going somewhere you need a standalone copy of your server database.
Solution
  1. Go to Setup | Database Wizard.
  2. Choose "Make a local copy of server database" and click Next.
  3. Click Browse to open the database folder.
  4. The program enters LOCAL.FDB as the file name. Keep it or change it, then click Open.
  5. Click Next, then Finish to begin transferring the database.
  6. When the copy finishes, click OK on the confirmation message.
Then use the Database Wizard to connect to your local copy (Change to a different database).
How do I change the database location?
  1. Open the Database Wizard, select "Database backup/maintenance" and click Next.
  2. Select Database Location and click Next.
  3. Type the new path or use Browse (the path must already exist). Click Next, then Finish.
  4. Move your existing database to the new location, or create a new one there. To copy the current database, stop the Firebird database engine with the Firebird Guardian first so there are no active connections, then restart it afterwards.
  5. Open the Database Wizard again, select "Database backup/maintenance" and click Next.
  6. Select "Manage Aliases" and click Next.
  7. Edit the path for the BIOPAK alias (click the path to show a browse button). You can also add new aliases for other databases.
  8. Click Next, then Finish.

USB interface

The interface isn't recognized, or there's no steady green light
ProblemNo steady green light, or the interface is not recognized.
Solution
  1. Make the USB connection last. Unplug the cable from the computer, plug it back in, and wait for Windows to detect it.
  2. On Windows 8.1 or later, run InstaCal (All Programs | Measurement Computing | InstaCal) to finish hardware configuration. If prompted to run the HID Registry Update Utility, follow the prompts.
  3. Try a different USB port on the computer.
  4. If you are using a USB hub, plug directly into a port on the computer.
  5. Update InstaCal. You can download it from our FTP site (see the BioPAK Help menu).

T-Scan & connection issues

Patient data isn't syncing between BioPAK and T-Scan
ProblemThe patient data is not synchronized between the two programs.
Solution
  1. Check that you have the latest versions of T-Scan and BioPAK installed, and that each is configured with the link module.
  2. Activate the link by clicking the BioPAK icon in T-Scan, or the T-Scan icon in BioPAK.
  3. Check the patient's information in each program and make sure it matches. Upper and lower case differences in the name are ignored.
A client can't connect to the database on the server
  • Check that the database alias on the server points to the correct path. You can use the database path instead of the alias (use one or the other). The path should be the drive letter and folder exactly as configured on the server.
  • Check the server's firewall and add an exception for port 3050. Do the same on the client if it runs firewall software.
  • Use the Ping Server button to test the connection (Setup | Database Wizard | Change to a different database | Connect to a database on a network server). Some firewall configurations block ping.
  • Confirm the Firebird service on the server is running and set to start automatically.
  • Try entering the server's IP address instead of its name.
How do I install the T-Scan 10 SQL server? (best practices)

We recommend restarting the workstation or server before installing SQL.

View Here
  1. Download the software.
  2. Unzip (extract) the software.
  3. Inside the installation files, locate Autoexec.exe. Right-click it and select Run as administrator.
  4. Select Install Software, then choose the top button for Server installations or the bottom button for Local installations.
  5. Select the directory for extracted files. We suggest typing in C:\Tekscan\10.
  6. Make sure the SQL server installation starts.
  7. When it completes, there should be a new folder: C:\Tekscan\TScanDB\MSSQL14.TSCAN10.
If that folder is missing, the SQL server was not installed.
How do I migrate the T-Scan 10 database to a new server or PC?
ProblemYou need to move the T-Scan 10 database from the old server (or local PC) to a new server (or another PC).
We suggest upgrading to our current version, T-Scan 10.0.40. View Here
Solution
  1. Copy the Scans folder from the old server to the new server. Default location: C:\Tekscan\Scans
  2. Copy the Backups folder from the old server to the new server. It is located at C:\Tekscan\TScanDB\Backups
  3. Install SQL Server 2017 on the new server from your T-Scan 10 installation files (use the top button: Server option).
  4. Copy the most recent backup file from the old server to the new server at C:\Tekscan\TScanDB\MSSQL14.TSCAN10\MSSQL\Backup
  5. Customize and run this SQL script as local administrator: 
    sqlcmd -S .\TSCAN10 -U sa -P <your-sa-password>
USE [master]
GO
IF DB_ID ('tscanmain') IS NOT NULL
BEGIN
ALTER DATABASE [tscanmain] SET SINGLE_USER WITH ROLLBACK IMMEDIATE;
DROP DATABASE [tscanmain];
END
RESTORE DATABASE [tscanmain] FROM DISK = '<backup-file-name>.BAK'
WITH
MOVE 'tscanmain' TO 'C:\Tekscan\TScanDB\MSSQL14.TSCAN10\MSSQL\DATA\tscanmain.mdf',
MOVE 'tscanmain_Log' TO 'C:\Tekscan\TScanDB\MSSQL14.TSCAN10\MSSQL\DATA\tscanmain_log.ldf',
RECOVERY, REPLACE, STATS=10;
GO
    Replace the backup file name with the most recent backup copied in step 4. The MOVE paths use MSSQL14.TSCAN10 for SQL 2017, or MSSQL12.TSCAN10 for SQL 2014.
  6. When done, run this SQL script as local administrator: 
    USE tscanmain;
DROP USER TScanApp
CREATE USER TScanApp FOR LOGIN TScanApp
ALTER ROLE [db_owner] ADD MEMBER [TScanApp]
GO
  7. Set up T-Scan 10 on the workstations for the new server.
  8. Test and confirm the old database is available on the new server.

Still stuck?

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