TAP™ Single-Seat and Multi-Seat Systems

Q:  What is the difference between the single-seat and multi-seat TAP software?

A:  With TAP6.0.2363 or later and a Maintenance Subscription date of September 30, 2010, or later, you can purchase a TAP license configured for either single-seat or multi-seat operation.

Note that all values in this example are for demonstration purposes only.  You should determine appropriate settings for your application.

• Installing additional users to use TAP with the multi-seat license is described in Adding TAP Multi-seat Users.

• The use of a multi-seat TAP system is described in Multi-Seat Operation of TAP.

• Performance of TAP on multi-seat systems is described in TAP Multi-Seat Performance

This article describes the differences between the single-seat and multi-seat systems.  The differences are summarized in a table at the end of this article.

A “seat” is defined as a running instance of the TAP software.  In this document, a “user” is defined as a person “sitting in the seat” using the software.

For example, think of a single-seat system as a computer terminal (stand alone or a network installation – more on that later) with one chair in front of the keyboard and monitor.  There may be many users (Joe, Sue, Tom) but only one can use the software (i.e., sit in the chair) at any one time. 

On the other hand, a multi-seat system can have multiple chairs in front of multiple keyboards and monitors.  But for a two-seat system with the three users mentioned above, still only two users can be using the software simultaneously.  The third user must wait until one of the chairs is vacated before he or she can use the software.

There are other differences in the licensing of single-seat and multi-seat TAP systems.

Single-Seat System Installed on a Stand-Alone Computer

For previous TAP versions, this was the only real option, since multi-seat operation and the necessary sharing of data bases (Fixed Facilities, etc) was not supported.

This operation of a single-seat system on a stand-alone computer (in contrast to installation on a network server, discussed below) is still supported.  This configuration permits any number of “users” to use the software, one at a time, in the single “seat”.

The SoftWright Software License Agreement also permits an additional benefit in this configuration.  Licensees who have a single-seat system installed on a stand-alone computer are also allowed to install a second copy of TAP on either a home computer or a portable computed (such as a notebook).  This is to facilitate use of the single-seat TAP system in the field.

Single-Seat System Installed on a Network Server Computer

This operation of a single-seat system on a network server computer (in contrast to installation on a stand-alone computer, discussed above) is still a single-seat system.  This configuration permits any number of “users” to use the software, one at a time, in the single “seat”.  The installation on a network server facilitates the use by multiple users (one at a time) more conveniently than the installation on the stand-alone machine.

The SoftWright Software License Agreement does not permit any additional installations on home or portable computers if the single-seat system is installed on a network server.  Licensees who have a single-seat system installed on a network server and want TAP installed on one or more home or portable computers can purchase additional single-seat licenses for each of the additional computers.

Multi-Seat System Installed on a Network Server Computer

Multi-seat systems are typically installed on a network server, so that multiple users can use the software simultaneously from different workstation locations.  The number of users is unlimited, but the number of simultaneous users is limited to the number of seats specified in the license.

Multi-seat systems include the use of common database information, such as Fixed Facilities, computed Area Coverage studies, etc.

The SoftWright Software License Agreement does not permit any additional installations on home or portable computers.  Licensees who have a multi-seat system installed on a network server and want TAP installed on one or more home or portable computers can purchase additional single-seat licenses for each of the additional computers.

Multi-Seat System compared with Multiple Single-Seat Systems

TAP users who have used multiple single-seat systems (previously the only option available) have had separate database information (Fixed Facility, Area Coverage studies, etc.) for each system on a stand-alone computer.  Sharing of facility information or computed coverage results was possible but not easily facilitated between the separate machines.

TAP users with multi-seat systems automatically share facility data, coverage results, etc., since there is one TAP system installed on a single network server.  All the seats that access the software use the same data files, with all seats sharing the information entered from any one seat.

Summary

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