Feature Overview: Launcher

Feature Overview: Launcher


 

The Yellow Dog Launcher provides a single access point for multiple Yellow Dog Inventory (YDI) environments.

Use the launcher to:

  • Reduce desktop clutter (no need for multiple shortcuts)
  • Switch between environments quickly
  • Manage multiple database versions in one place 

 
  • Download the installer from Balto
  • Install the application on your PC
  • Access the Yellow Dog Launcher from your desktop after setup 

Use the Yellow Dog Launcher when you:

  • Access multiple environments (for example, Production, Training, or multiple locations)
  • Manage different YDI versions across environments 

Most commonly used by:

  • Enterprise clients
  • Corporate or multi-location teams 



Centralized connections dashboard
  1. Launch all YDI environments from one interface

  1. View connection status, database version, and compatibility

Install and configuration management

Supports two setup options:

Option 1: Shared install by version
  1. One install folder per YDI version
  2. Separate settings file for each database

Option 2: Dedicated install per database
  1. One install folder per database
  2. Includes install files and settings file

Additional capabilities:
  1. Add installs from external file paths (outside the main directory) 

Automated scanning
  1. Enable Auto-Scan Install Directory – Automatically scans for new install folders
  2. Enable Auto-Scan Config Directory - Automatically scans for new configs (Settings files)
  3. Detect new installs and configurations on startup
  4. Select Scan Now to run a manual scan 

Additional Setup Options:
  1. Always validate connections and versions on start-up - Checks all connection statuses when launcher opens
  2. Display all connections by default on connections page on start-up - Displays all connections regardless of group filter
  3. Automatically assign new configs to a group (db/schema version) - New configs are automatically grouped by database version
  4. Automatically close this program when a connection is launched - Launcher closes after you connect to a site

Security and administration
  1. Set an administrator password per install
  2. Restrict access to configuration settings (such as group assignments)

Connection status

Check connection status before launching:
  1. Valid → Ready to connect
  2. Can Not Connect → Check database or network
    1. Contact Yellow Dog Support or Implementation if needed    

Logging (troubleshooting)
  1. Set Log Level to DEBUG when troubleshooting
  2. Review logs to identify connection or configuration issues 

  1. Connections – Your main dashboard; launch Yellow Dog from here
  2. Configs - Manage database configurations for all sites
  3. Installs – Register Yellow Dog application versions
  4. Settings – configure launcher settings, like auto-scan on start up, and password reset
  5. Logs – view application logs
  6. Lock – where you will enter password to access additional settings
    1. Without entering password, you will only be able to access the connections tab 


Organize installs and configurations

  1. Store all installs in one directory (for example, C:\Yellow Dog Instances)
  2. Avoid multiple directories when possible to simplify management

Enable auto-scan and validation

Enable the following settings:
  1. Always scan install and config directories on startup
  2. Always validate connections on startup

This helps:
  1. Keep environments up to date
  2. Reduce connection issues

Use standardized grouping

Group configurations by:
  1. Environment (Production, Training)
  2. Region or property
  3. Database or schema version







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