TAMUS Remote Desktop Setup
For BPP SQL & Alva
The BPP SQL database and the ALVA application are both hosted on a remote desktop. A Texas
A&M NetId account is needed to log in to this computer. NetId accounts can be requested on this
webpage, https://gateway.tamu.edu/netid-activate/
Additionally, a Statement of Responsibility (SOR) form needs to be submitted before access is
granted to the remote desktop. The form is on this page, http://it.tamus.edu/bpp/forms/request-forms/.
Once access has been approved, a connection to the remote desktop will need to be established.
When connecting to the remote desktop from outside of the TAMU network, it will be necessary to
first create a Virtual Private Network (VPN) connection. This page explains how to install the
necessary VPN software, https://helpdesk.tamu.edu/Connecting/VPN/index.php (This installation may
require assistance from an on-site IT administrator.)
When connecting to the remote desktop from within the TAMU network, a VPN connection is not
required.
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TAMUS Remote Desktop Setup
For BPP SQL & Alva
Connecting to the Remote Desktop
This will create a connection to the remote desktop computer.
Click the “Start” button.
Type “remote” in the search box above the “Start” button.
Select the program, “Remote Desktop Connection”.
When the “Remote Desktop Connection” window opens, click the “Show Options” button
If not already displayed, select the General tab.
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TAMUS Remote Desktop Setup
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In the Computer field, enter “ts01.ad.tamus.edu”.
In the Username field, enter the NetId, with the ‘@tamu.edu’
Select the Local Resources tab.
Check the box for “Printers” and “Clipboard”
Click the “More” button.
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TAMUS Remote Desktop Setup
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Check the box for “Local Disk (C:)”.
Click the “OK” button.
Click the “Save” button. (This will save the settings for the next session.)
Click the “Connect” button.
If not already displayed, select the General tab.
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If prompted, check the box “Don’t ask me again for connections to this computer”
Click the “Connect” button.
Enter the NetID’s password.
Click the “OK” button.
After the connection is established, on the “ts01” remote desktop, click the “OK” button.
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TAMUS Remote Desktop Setup
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Creating a BPP SQL Access database
There are two options to establish a personal Access database. Click one of the links below for the
appropriate instructions.


Create a new Access database
Copy an existing Access database
For instructions on accessing ALVA, click here, “Creating an ALVA shortcut”.
For instructions on printing from the remote desktop, click here, “Printing from the Remote Desktop”.
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TAMUS Remote Desktop Setup
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Copy an Existing Access Database
This process is for copying an existing BPP SQL database from the local computer to the remote
terminal.
On the desktop of the local computer, navigate to where the existing BPP SQL Access database
resides. It is usually in the folder, “C:\Users\youraccount\Documents”.
Right-click on the file and select “Copy”.
Connect to the remote desktop.
Right-click on the desktop, select “Paste”.
Verify the Access database has been copied correctly, double-click on the Access icon.
Microsoft Access should open with the BPP SQL database and queries intact.
Contact BCS Support if there are any error messages or the database doesn’t copy over.
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TAMUS Remote Desktop Setup
For BPP SQL & Alva
Create a New Access Database
This process will create a new personal BPP SQL Access database on the remote desktop.
Connect to the remote desktop.
Click the “Start” button.
Type “access” in the search box above the “Start” button.
Select the program, “Microsoft Access 2010”.
If this is the initial set-up, a prompt to confirm the username and initials may display. Verify and press
the “OK” button.
If prompted with a “Welcome” window, choose the recommended or default setting and press the
“OK” button.
If prompted with a “User Account Control” window, click the “No” button. Close the warning message
that displays.
Access should open to the screen below. If it doesn’t, click the “File” tab and choose “New” on the
side menu.
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TAMUS Remote Desktop Setup
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At the top of the screen, select the template, “Blank Database”.
On the right-side of the screen, next to the “File Name” box, click the open folder icon.
Inside of the new window that opened, on the left-side menu under Favorites, choose “Desktop”.
In the “File Name” box, type “BPP SQL”.
Click the “OK” button.
When the window closes, click the “Create” button.
A new blank database will open. This is where the processor’s personal BPP SQL Access database
queries, reports, etc. are stored.
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At the top of the screen, select the “External Data” tab.
Select “ODBC Database”
In the new window that opens, choose “Link to the data source by creating a linked table.”
Click the “OK” button.
In the new window that opens, select the “Machine Data Source” tab.
Click the “BPP-SQL” data source.
Click the “OK” button.
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In the new window that opens, click the “Select All” button.
Click the “OK” button.
The “Select Unique Record Identifier” window will open. This will link each of the fields in the BPP
tables to the new Access database. There are over 100 BPP tables and each table will need to be
linked to the database.
In each new window that opens, click the “OK” button.
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After all of the tables have been linked, Access will process the tables and display them on the leftside of the window.
At the top of the screen, select the “Create” tab.
Select the query type, “Query Design”.
In the new “Show Table” window that opens, select “dbo.Accounts”.
Click the “Add” button.
Click the “Close”button.
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In the open “dbo_Accounts” table, double-click the fields, “Part”, “Account”, “ShortAcctDesc” and
“LongAcctDesc”. These will be added to the query table at the bottom of the screen.
In the query table row, “Criteria”, in the “Part” column, enter a 2-digit Part number.
At the top of the screen, in the Design tab, select “View” to see the results of the query.
A datasheet view will display the results of the query.
To save the query, at the top left of the screen, click the computer disk icon.
In the new window that opens, enter a name for the query and click the “OK” button.
To edit the query, select “View” again by clicking the down arrow.
Select “Design View” from the drop-down menu.
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TAMUS Remote Desktop Setup
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Saved queries can be found in the menu on the left side of the screen under “Queries”.
Because the Access database is linked to the BPP tables, the data is automatically updated. Each
time a query is run, it will display the most recent data from BPP.
There is no need to modify the query before running it unless new fields need to be added or the
selection criteria needs to be changed.
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TAMUS Remote Desktop Setup
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Create an ALVA shortcut on the remote desktop
This process will create a shortcut to the Anacomp Viewer used for ALVA.
Connect to the remote desktop.
Click the “Start” button.
Type “anacomp” in the search box above the “Start” button.
Hover over the program, “ANACOMP Viewer”.
Right-click to open the menu.
Select “Send to”.
Select “Desktop (create shortcut)”.
A shortcut for ANACOMP Viewer is now put on the remote desktop underneath the Access shortcut
created earlier.
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TAMUS Remote Desktop Setup
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To view the “Earnings Register Report”, double-click the ANACOMP icon to start the ALVA program.
In the “User ID” box, enter “BPP”.
Click the “OK” button.
Select “Earnings Register Report”
Click the “OK” button.
A list of available reports will display on the left side of the screen. For information on how to search
for employee records, the processor should contact their payroll supervisor.
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TAMUS Remote Desktop Setup
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Print from the Remote Desktop
There two ways to print from the remote desktop.


Connecting to a local printer
Printing to a file for local printing
Before connecting a local printer, verify that it does not already exist.
Connect to the remote desktop.
Click the “Start” button.
Select “Devices and Printers”.
In the new window that opens, if the local printer is listed, it is possible to print from the remote
desktop.
Right-click on the local printer and select “Set as default printer”.
If the local printer is not connected, choose one of the instructions at the beginning of “Printing from
the Remote Desktop”.
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TAMUS Remote Desktop Setup
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Connecting a local printer
On the local computer, click the “Start” button.
In the search box above the “Start” button, type “printers”.
Select “Devices and Printers”.
The default printer will have a small checkmark.
Right-click on the default printer.
In the menu that opens, select “Printer Properties”.
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TAMUS Remote Desktop Setup
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In the new window that opens, select the “Advanced” tab.
In the “Driver” box, note the driver information.
Send this print driver information to BCS Support requesting that the printer driver be installed on the
remote desktop.
Once the drivers are installed, return to the beginning of the “Printing from the Remote Desktop”.
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TAMUS Remote Desktop Setup
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Printing to a File for Local Printing
The remote desktop has two options for printing a document to a file. This file can then
be copied to the local computer for printing.
The two choices are “CutePDF Writer” and “Microsoft XPS Document Writer”.
To choose one of these options, click the “Print” button as normal.
Select either print choice and click the “Print” button.
When the new window opens, in the “Save in:” drop-down menu, navigate to where the
file should be saved.
In the “File name:” box, enter a name the file should be saved as.
Click the “Save” button.
Navigate to where the file was saved on the remote desktop. Right-click on the file and
select “Copy”.
Navigate to the local computer’s desktop, right-click and select “Paste”.
When the file is ready to be printed, right-click on the file and select “Print”.
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TAMUS Remote Desktop Setup
For BPP SQL & Alva
Closing the Remote Desktop Connection
There are two ways to end the remote desktop session and close the connection.

Click the “Start” button and select “Log off”.

At the top of the screen, click the “X” on the remote desktop toolbar. Click the “OK” button.
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