How To Repair Corrupt Database Index Problems

A corrupt database can cause various error messages and sometimes cause the CMS to lock-up when logging in. This document explains the most common types of problems and their solutions.

PROBLEM: "My CMS locks-up as soon as someone types in their ID number and hits the [ENTER] key."

PROBLEM: "When I log into the CMS I get an error message that mentions ‘Stack Overflow’."

PROBLEM: "When I log into the CMS I get an error message that mentions a ‘General Protection Fault’."

All of these problems are related to the database having an "index" problem. Because database files can become quite large, "index" files help the CMS locate information it needs at any given time.
A good analogy would be that the various database files are city streets with different houses being represented by the individual records contained in each file. The "index" files serve as a map, or a telephone book, which tells you where the houses are located. If your "map" is ruined, you can no longer find the house that you are looking for.

To correct this problem, the first thing that should be done is to run the Database Recovery Utility that is installed when you do the original installation of the CMS on versions 1.1 and higher. This will usually fix whatever indexing problem you might have. Once it has completed, try logging into the CMS as an administrator. The problem should be solved.

In the case of severe database corruption, the Database Recovery Utility may not work in which case you will have to repair it manually.
Fortunately this is relatively easy.

Repairing Your Database Indexing Manually

1. Open Explorer (in Windows95), or the File Manager (in Windows 3.1x) and navigate to the NCMS folder.
   
2. Click on the "+" sign to the left of the NCMS folder icon and then click on the DBFS folder.
   
3. Click on the "+" sign to the left of the DBFS folder icon and then click on the BACKUP folder.
   
4. Locate two files that start with NCLOG. The extensions for these files are .DBF and .CDX.
   
5. Holding the CTRL key down on the keyboard, left-click with the mouse on each file. You will see that both files are highlighted.
   
6. Click on FILE located on the Menu Bar at the top left of the Explorer window. Select COPY.
   
7. Now click on the DBFS folder in the left-side window pane below. Again, Click on FILE located on the Menu Bar at the top left of the Explorer window. Select PASTE.
   
8. You will be prompted to confirm the COPY because these files already exist – click on the Yes button.

Once done, close Explorer (or File Manager), and try to log into the CMS as an administrator. It should let you in with no problem. Once in, the first thing we want to do is select FILE from the menu bar and then choose the REINDEX option. This will re-index the entire database and correct any problems that were causing the lock-up.

If this does not work, please call Technical Support at (800) 952-3540 for further assistance.