masterkey software replacement

[urbanwriter]

Assume you're running Framon TMK Plus (Version 3.0.31, runs on steam-powered PCs) and your computer dies. Dead. Bricked.

First, any up-to-date master-keying software opinions?

Second, does anyone know 'for sure' if any given package will let you start with a given key (say MK) and then re-develop prior systems?

Silly me, it just occurred to me as I'm writing this that any such software pretty much gives you the run of the entire suite of locks junior to the master. But I'm working in a shop (verifiable should a moderator wish to get involved I suppose) where a wireless connection and a wireless mouse are assumed to be the same thing. : )

I'm sure someone will inform me of errors of fact, assumption, opinion, but politely and with great finesse.

Hoping for feedback, thanks in advance.

[Evan]

@urbanwriter:

Assume you are a business who uses this powerful magical box (a.k.a. a computer) which creates a product which you then sell to your clients and may also contain your business/client records and other important accounting records... Then one day the pixie dust that allowed the magical boxes' spell to work accidentally ALL blew away, killing the magical box...

Translation:

Relying on one computer for your business = a bad business plan...

Not doing daily back-ups of a business computer = a real surprise waiting to happen and the financial loss of having to re-create important business records/files...

Ok, now that you have some basics of technologically based business to ponder, here are my thoughts and opinions covering your specific questions:

Masterkeying Software Programs will allow you to choose a given key as the TMK for a new system being created... You already know that, but will one software package exactly recreate a previously created system produced by a different program -- not really... You would have to specify all of the same variables and even then you might get slightly different systems because some of the software packages have different bells and whistles as options which have an effect on how the keying systems are produced...

The solution to your problem is manually re-entering the system(s) in question into your new program...

So what should be done about this problem in a business where computers are these mystical magical boxes ?

You need to adopt a new technology plan where critical client files are automatically backed up to another machine on your network every day... (This would ensure that you would only ever be able to lose a maximum of one day's work if one computers decides to meltdown in the future)

If you are going to continue on using ONLY ONE computer, a standard desktop workstation system is not adequate for that purpose... You need a more robust computer system equipped with RAID array for HDD storage rather than a standard HDD... (This protects you from losing data if your computer HDD crashes)

Another idea for keeping the single computer business model viable is saving additional copies of your sensitive client files to external drives whenever you make changes to them... But from what you have described it sounds like most of these ideas are too high tech for your environment...

Technology is a tool in this industry and not a burden...

However, if the owner of your business is still doing accounting and/or other important record keeping on paper in ledger books/sheets, then perhaps the best solution at this time is to fall back to that same level of technology and write all your master key systems on paper by hand OR if a computer program is used for creating systems to print out a copy of all keying systems generated and use the paper copy to work from occasionally taking some downtime to update the records in the computer program and print a new updated paper copy for the files...

Whatever strategy you utilize going forward it is clear that you need to give some careful thought to how you will archive/back up your important data...

Good Luck with your issue...

~~ Evan

[urbanwriter]

Evan,

Thanks for the reply, well considered, well written, and, pretty much, the truth. The problem is that I only work there. My boss, a guy I've known for over three decades, looks on computers in ways I cannot fathom, let alone explain to myself or others.

I've been pushing for some form of back-up, replacement, CSV files or something for the three years we've been working together, this time around. And the younger guy in the shop doesn't seem any more functionally literate than the older guy. I just work there.

, he'd think this entire forum was a desecration of the secret arts, a terrible betrayal of knowledge, power, obfuscation.

Besides - they're both PC users - when the real expertise in the shop is a old bald guy running endless Macs, with innumerable backups of everything he cares about...

Again, thanks for the reply. Hopefully your chastisement of my boss will have some salutary effect on others. No.

Urb

[Evan]

Besides - they're both PC users - when the real expertise in the shop is a old bald guy running endless Macs, with innumerable backups of everything he cares about...

The old bald guy sounds like the one who should be making all the technology related decisions at your place of employment...

Too bad the concept of a "Technology Coordinator" probably sounds like it would be considered sorcery and witchcraft by the powers that be... :-O

~~ Evan