Change the location where TOTAL stores your reports, images, and thumbnails

This document explains how to change the default location TOTAL uses to store your data files.

Document 6018  |  Last updated: 08/16/2022 MC7

Appraisers who primarily work at their computer often find themselves running low on hard drive space. By default, TOTAL uses the drive it was installed on to store your reports, images, and thumbnails — and that data adds up quickly!

Fortunately, if your computer has more than one internal hard drive, one of them may have significantly more storage space than the drive where TOTAL is installed. To help you take advantage of this, TOTAL lets you change the location where your data is saved — no reinstallation required. Choose a section below to begin.

1: Create a destination folder  |  2: Move your existing data  |  3: Change your TOTAL settings

a la mode is not responsible for any loss of data that might occur during the process of relocating your files. Be sure to take appropriate measures to back up your reports and other files prior to changing your configuration.

TOTAL's folders should not be pointed to run from any of the following:

• Terminal services, or any other remote desktop service
• A VPN (Virtual Private Network) connection
• A server that's also being used as a domain controller
• A USB drive, External storage, or NAS drive (Network Attached Storage)
• A compressed directory
• Folders which have been redirected to a different location

If you're planning on using any of the above, your installation won't be supported by a la mode, and you may need the assistance of a local technician.

Part 1 — Create a destination folder

In order to change where TOTAL saves your files, you first need to create a new folder for it to use.

1. Navigate to your custom location. Below is an example showing a secondary hard drive.

   

2. Right‑click in the empty space of your custom location. This opens a drop‑down menu at your cursor. Click New, then select Folder.

   

3. You're prompted to name the new folder. Give it a name such as TOTAL Data. Simply type your desired name, then hit Enter.

   

4. Double‑click your new folder to open it. Inside the new folder, create sub‑folders for the different types of data you want TOTAL to store. For instance, if you want TOTAL to store all of your data here, create three folders: Reports, Images, and Thumbs.

   

We don't recommend using a NAS drive (Network Attached Storage) or a removable device to store your TOTAL data. If your new folders are disconnected from your computer in any way, TOTAL won't be able to access them.

Part 2 — Move your existing data

Once you've created new folders for your data, choose a section below to move your existing data to the new folders. You can skip this step if you haven't created any reports or images in TOTAL yet.

Part 3 — Change your TOTAL settings

1. Open TOTAL. Click Tools on the top menu, and select Configure Settings.

   

2. In the Settings window, select General from the list of categories on the left, and click Browse to the right of Public Reports.

   

3. Navigate to your custom location, select the Reports folder, and click OK.

   

4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 to browse and select your new Images folder and Thumbs folder, if applicable.
5. When you're finished, click Save & Close on the lower right, and restart TOTAL.

   

That's it! Any new reports, images, and thumbnails are now stored in your custom location.

If your primary hard drive doesn't have enough space, you can install TOTAL on another internal hard drive. But, this should only be attempted as an alternative if the previous options fail to provide sufficient space.