using external hard drive

[MTUSUPPORT]

Yes,
If you import your discs into Hoster on your Desktop computer. You can then save the files to the External hard drive. Then you can take this over to your Laptop. Attach the drive to the laptop, and then open Hoster on the laptop and run the Build Songs Database command, located on the Tools Menu.

[nreel]

I, also, have purchased TWO Hoster programs and use my HOME Computer to IMPORT Songs and, then, transfer the Imported KMA files to my SHOW Computer...I "Transfer" because I use Internal Hard Drives and I, ONLY, use an External Drive as a way to Transfer the KMA Files.

In your situation, you will not have to transfer files because you will be using the same External Drive and moving it from one Computer to the Next. But it will work either way.

For those of you who do not see why one would do this, consider this:

Karaoke SHOW Computers are, usually, subjected to VERY SMOKY Environments and, possibly, for Import purposes, one could not trust the CDR Laser to read correctly.

Also, a Karaoke SHOW Computer gets moved from Show-To-Show, which could cause the laser to become slightly out of adjustment (un-calibrated).

With all the time involved in Importing, I know that I'd hate to have to do it all again.

When Importing and Transferring, another trick to save time is to C O P Y your SONGS.MDB from c:\Program Files\Micro Technology Unlimited\Hoster\Databases\ of your IMPORT Computer to c:\Program Files\Micro Technology Unlimited\Hoster\Databases\ of your SHOW Computer.

This will keep you from having to REBUILD your Database every time you either transfer KMA files from one computer to the next or Transfer External Hard Drives.

It is easiest if you INSTALL Hoster in EXACTLY the same FOLDER on BOTH Computers.

Then, make sure that BOTH, your "Songs Source Folders" and your "Songs Database Folder" are SET EXACTLY the same, in the "Build Songs Database Menu" of Hoster, on BOTH Computers.

ex.
Both Computers - Build Songs Database Menu should look something like this (whatever it is, it MUST BE THE SAME on BOTH Computers):
Either-
Using Internal Drives - Transferring KMA files:
Songs Source Folders= c:\Program Files\Micro Technology Unlimited\Hoster\Songs
or-
Using External Drive - Swapping same External Drive between Computers:
Songs Source Folders= d:\Songs (where "D" is your External HD "Drive Letter" and "Songs" is a Folder where your KMA Files are stored)
And
Songs Database Folder= c:\Program Files\Micro Technology Unlimited\Hoster\Databases\


Note for External Drives
External Drives may be assigned different Drive Letters by the Operating Systems of different Computers. Your IMPORT Computer may assign your External Drive to DRIVE Letter D where your Laptop or other Computer may assign your External Drive to DRIVE Letter G.

When moving an External Drive to a different Computer, you M U S T make sure the DRIVE Letter is the SAME as the DRIVE Letter you used to IMPORT the Songs. Otherwise, Copying the SONGS.MDB to a second Computer will not help and you will have to REBUILD the Songs Database every time you move the External Drive to ANY Hoster Software equipped Computer so that Hoster will know where to FIND THE SONGS.

You can always change DRIVE Letter Designation to match what you need.

Hope this helps,
Norm