Installing STN AnaVist
Choosing a Service Center
Connecting
Logging On
Tuning Performance on High-Performance Computers

Installing STN AnaVist

STN AnaVist software is installed on individual computers using STN AnaVist's MSI installer. The installer may fail for several reasons, including insufficient permissions and limited system resources.

• The installer ensures the PC meets the minimum system requirements. Error messages should guide you in selecting a suitable computer system or suggesting updates to enable STN AnaVist to function on your PC. It is possible that several settings do not meet minimum requirements, but the installer presents an error message only about the first one found.
• An update to Windows might be needed:
  
  
  
  Contact your IT help desk.
• You may not have permission to install software on your PC. Contact your internal help desk for assistance.

Choosing a Service Center

This section is for customers served by STN-Columbus or STN-Karlsruhe only. During installation, you are asked to choose an STN Service Center, either Columbus or FIZ-Karlsruhe: 

Choose the Service Center that issued your login ID. Generally, customers in Europe should choose FIZ-Karlsruhe and other customers should choose Columbus.

If you make an incorrect selection:

• If installation has not finished, click Cancel. The installer will end without making changes to your system. Then restart the installation process.
• If the installer has completed, click Start | Control Panel | Add or Remove Programs. Select "STN AnaVist" from the list and then click "Remove". Launch the installer again and make the correct selection.
• If connection problems persist, please contact your Service Center.

Connecting

STN AnaVist uses HTTPS (SSL) to connect to the STN AnaVist servers so that your search queries and answers are protected using 128-bit encryption across the Internet.

STN AnaVist attempts to connect to the STN-Columbus or STN-Karlsruhe server directly by default, and it can be configured to connect through an HTTP proxy server. If the connection attempt fails, the Connection Error dialog is displayed:

Click Connection Settings to provide or change network information:

Your IT help desk should be able to provide you with:

• the proxy server's hostname or IP address
• the proxy server's internal or listening port

Select HTTP Proxy Connection, enter the name or address of the server and its port, and click OK to save. STN AnaVist should connect. If you continue to see the pop-up connection window, please your STN Service Center.

Logging On

1. Why do I see the log on window again?
   
   If you type the wrong logon ID or password, STN AnaVist presents the log on window again.
   
   
   
   After 10 failed logon attempts, the login ID will be locked. Contact your STN Service Center.
2. Why do I see the message "Authorization Error"?
   
   
   
   This message is displayed when you attempt to log on to STN AnaVist connecting to one Service Center using a login ID issued by another Service Center. For example, if you chose the Columbus Service Center when installing STN AnaVist but try to log in using a FIZ Karlsruhe login ID, this message is displayed.
3. Why do I see a Windows Security Alert when I launch STN AnaVist?
   
   
   
   or
   
   
   
   Windows Firewall is warning you that STN AnaVist's Java runtime software is not specifically allowed to access the Internet. Solutions include

• In the case of the first message, click the OK button and continue with the logon process.
• Click the Unblock button to add the application to the list of Windows Firewall exceptions.
• Close the Windows Security Alert window and continue with the logon process.

Consult your IT help desk if you are unsure what to do.

 

Tuning Performance on High-Performance Computers

STN AnaVist is a program based on Sun JavaTM programming language. When Java runs on Microsoft Windows, it creates a Java runtime environment (JRE) in which to launch Java-based programs such as STN AnaVist.

STN AnaVist provides its own private JRE and sets some memory space parameters when the application is started. Your computer likely has a separate system JRE that is used for other Java-based programs.

STN AnaVist has minimum system requirements, and the STN AnaVist JRE is preset for optimal performance within the minimum system requirements.

Newer computers may have system memory (RAM) that significantly exceeds the STN AnaVist minimum system requirements. On those systems, performance gains for STN AnaVist can be acheived by resetting two memory settings that control the JRE memory space. (This is also referred to as the "memory heap" in Java programming).

If your computer has 1 GB of RAM or more, the following changes should improve STN AnaVist performance without negative impact on other system function.

To increase the Java memory heap:

1. Exit STN AnaVist.
2. Navigate into the STN AnaVist program folder. The default path is
   C:\STN\STN AnaVist\
3. Locate the file named anavist.lax.
4. Make a copy of that file.
5. Edit anavist.lax in a text editor such as NotePad.
6. Find the section labeled:
   # LAX.NL.CURRENT.VM
7. Edit the line:
   lax.nl.java.option.java.heap.size.initial=32m
   to read:
   lax.nl.java.option.java.heap.size.initial=128m
8. Edit the line:
   lax.nl.java.option.java.heap.size.max=256m
   to read:
   lax.nl.java.option.java.heap.size.max=512m
9. The section should now show:
   
   #LAX.NL.CURRENT.VM
   # -----------------
   # the VM to use for the next launch
   
   lax.nl.current.vm=jre\\bin\\java.exe
   lax.nl.java.option.java.heap.size.initial=128m
   lax.nl.java.option.java.heap.size.max=256m
10. Save anavist.lax and exit the editor.

If you experience unexpected system problems, rename copy of anavist.lax back to anavist.lax to restore the original configuration.

For answers to questions or help with issues not addressed here, please contact your STN Service Center:

• STN-Columbus: CAS Customer Care
• STN-Karlsruhe: FIZ-Karlsruhe Help Desk