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Task 5.2(a): Install WI Pack Updates, Standard Alternative

Badger TraCS Guides

Task 5.2(a): Install WI Pack Updates, Standard Alternative

Owned by Geraldine Polster
May 10, 2023
5 min read

Task 5.2(a): Install WI Pack Updates, Standard Alternative

Purpose: Applies patches from the Badger TraCS update service to fix bugs in the TraCS software, update state-level code tables, and add new features.

Each time you log into the master computer, a check is made to see if a new WI Pack is available. WI Packs contain state level updates to the TraCS software, which include bug fixes, state level code table updates, and feature enhancements. We encourage you to keep your WI Pack level current. However, each pack is cumulative. If you skip the occasional WI Pack release, your computers will be updated on the next release you accept including files from skipped releases.

Periodically, Badger TraCS will announce the availability of a new WI Pack. You will have an opportunity to preview the pack on the master computer. Once you are satisfied with the pack, you will mark the pack as accepted and then it will be automatically deployed to your remaining TraCS computers through the update server.

The update server requires connectivity to the Internet. You may have some in-vehicle computers that are very difficult to connect to the Internet, even on a monthly basis. These computers will need to have the WI Pack updated through the distribution process. This is a slower and more labor intensive option than using the update server and should be avoided if at all possible.

Requirements: Master Computer.

  1. Install new WI Pack on master computer.

    1. An announcement from Badger TraCS states there is a new WI Pack.

    2. Log into TraCS as a System Admin

    3. A popup will state there are updates available , log in as a System Admin

    4. You will receive notifications in your Windows task bar that files are downloading.

    6. When you receive the notification that the download is complete, exit TraCS by clicking the Cancel button on the log in screen.

    7. Restart TraCS.

    8. Click Yes to download the update.

    9. Click Close once the download has completed.

    10. Close TraCS.

  2. SQL Server only: review the pack announcement. If this pack contains changes to tables structures in the tracs_data database, you will need to run the latest “Delta” SQL script update the database. This is a rare occurrence.

    1. Start SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS)

    2. Create the needed tables and/or columns in the tracs_data database using the “Delta” SQL script. The script will be located in the TraCS network folder (from task 1.2, step 6b) under the DBData\SQLScripts folder. The name of the script takes the form of <Timestamp>Delta.sql. If there is more than one “Delta” script present, run the one with the most current timestamp.

Note: a common error is to run the script against the default database, which is typically not the tracs_data database. Either change the default database in SSMS to tracs_data or add the following lines to the script before running it—

 

USE [tracs_data]

Go

Your master computer is now updated and ready for use.

  1. Follow any additional instructions provided by Badger TraCS for this update.

  2. Accept the new WI Pack on master computer.

    1. Each time you start TraCS on the master computer you will receive the following dialog:

    2. Responding Yes will mark the WI Pack as ready for deployment to your remaining computers. Responding No will allow you to continue to use TraCS on your master computer without deploying the pack further within your agency. You will see this dialog each time you start TraCS on the master computer until you respond Yes.

    3. After responding Yes, each computer in your agency will receive the update when they log into TraCS provided there is Internet connectivity at the time of log in. Downloads occur in the background and an interrupted download will continue where it left off once connectivity is re-established. Officers will see the following dialog boxes the next time the log in after a download has been completed:

  3. The update server requires an Internet connection at least some of the time. There may be in-vehicle computers where it is very time consuming to provide an Internet connection. This alternative to the update server may be used for “no connectivity” computers. However it is more labor intensive and time consuming than using the update server.

    1. Get a local copy of the update package.

      1. Go to https://trust.dot.state.wi.us/tracs/extranet.htm, click software, and scroll to the WI Pack section.

      2. Download WIPack.zip.

      3. Unzip (extract the files) WIPack.zip to the Distribution\Mobile folder, which is typically on a USB flash drive, for example, F:\tracs\Distribution\Mobile.

      4. You should now have the newest pkg file in the Distribution\Mobile folder: WIPack YYMMDD -WIPackYYMMDD.tracspack.pkg (where YYMMDD is the most recent patch number).

      5. Delete any older pack numbers in the Distribution\Mobile folder that are present from the last time you did this task.

    2. Manually run the update package on each “no connectivity” computer.

      1. Insert the USB flash drive.

      2. Start TraCS.

      3. Click Yes to accept the update.

    3. Close the dialog box once the update is completed.

    4. Exit TraCS

  4. Track progress of update throughout your agency.

    1. Update server status reports are available on the extranet site: https://trust.dot.state.wi.us/tracs/extranet.htm and click on the Reports link.

    2. A sample is shown below:

  5. Follow up on any computer that is still out-of-date after a reasonable time period.

 

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email badgertracs@dot.wi.gov or call 608-267-2096