Assistance with Installation

Basic Installation Instructions
Installing Modular Downloads
Multi-user Installations
Problems with Windows NT, 2000, and XP
Adminsoft Directory Conventions

Basic Installation Instructions

Basic instructions are provided on the "Download" page. For your convenience, they are repeated here so they are more concise when printed out:

The downloads are all self extracting compressed files. It is sensible to save all downloads to disk first, and install them from there. You can save the download files anywhere you like. When you run them, they will attempt to create a directory called "\Adminsoft" on your "C: Drive", and install themselves into this. If you wish (e.g. a network installation), you can over-ride this and specify a different drive or directory. In a multi-user environment, you should specify a mapped network drive on your file server (rather than a "universal network address"). It is usually sensible to use the same drive designation for this on all workstations.

For Multi-user (network) sites, there is also a Workstation installation for you to download. You should install the main software first into the appropriate mapped network drive from the main workstation, then run the workstation install for each workstation. It is best to set up identical mapped drives for each workstation. If this is not feasible, then you will need to edit the shortcuts that are created, so that they point to the appropriate drive and directory.

Installing Modular Downloads

You should download the "Central Core and Address Book" first, and install it before you install the other modules. You can install this while you are still downloading other modules. Note that the secondary install files will extract themselves into a temporary folder on your local hard disk, and install themselves from there. Provided you have run the main install first, the secondary installs should automatically find the location for the main program files.

Note: You should install all the desired modules before running the software for the first time. If you fail to do this, you will need to subsequently turn the secondary modules on (see Tools, Administrator menu).

Multi-user Installations

For Multi-user (network) sites, you need to download both the main software installation, and also the Workstation installation. The software and data will be installed on the designated server. Each workstation will only install the Microsoft Visual FoxPro run-time engine on the local hard disk, and access the main software and data over the network. You must use mapped network drives rather than universal network path names. It is best if the drive letter is common for all workstations.

You should install the main software first from the primary workstation. This will configure the default network drive and path settings appropriately. Then run the workstation install for each workstation that will be using the software.

The workstation install will setup the Microsoft VFP run-time engine on the local hard disk. It will also create two shortcuts on the local desktop, and a program group in the Start Menu. It will default these shortcuts to the same drive and directory settings as for the main workstation. (If you are not using a standard drive designation for all workstations, you will need to edit the properties of the shortcuts appropriately. The workstation install program will also configure the local Windows Registry appropriately.

(Note: In small peer-to-peer networks, it is wise to create a shared "c:\Shared" directory on the "server", and use the "SUBST" command in the AutoExec.bat file to create a logical drive that matches the drive letter that other workstations will use. Then install the software into this.)

Problems with Windows NT, 2000, and XP

We haven't encountered any problems at all with installations in Windows 95, 98, or Me environments. Unfortunately however, we can't say the same about Windows NT, 2000, and XP. (Can anyone?)

(Click here for assistance with Windows NT, 2000 and XP)

Adminsoft Directory Conventions

Adminsoft software is very flexible with regard to the directory structure that it can accommodate. Paths for respective data files can be specified during installation, and altered subsequently in the configuration settings (see Tools, Options, System Settings menu). Unless you have over-riding reasons to do otherwise, we recommend that you accept the default settings "as they come out of the box", as this will require minimal subsequent "tweaking" on your part (to shortcuts, path settings etc.).

By default the software and data will be installed together into a "c:\Adminsoft" directory (i.e. off the root directory in Drive C). When installing in a network environment, you need to over-ride this of course, so that the "\Adminsoft" directory is located on the server. You should use mapped network drives rather than "Universal Network Address" (i.e. you need to map a drive first using My Computer or Explorer, and specify this directly. Do not use Network Neighborhood - except to map a drive!!!). It is preferable to place the \Adminsoft directory in the root directory for the mapped network drive (e.g. "T:\Adminsoft"), but the install program and software will handle being pushed down one or more levels of subdirectory (e.g. "F:\Apps\Adminsoft").

When installing the software on a stand-alone computer, we still recommend placing \Adminsoft in the root directory, rather than under "Program Files" because we philosophically don't particularly like the idea of having significant volumes of important data tucked away in the "Programs" directory. Also, with most of our users, the Adminsoft software is the principle activity of the computer/workstation concerned. Hanging it off the Root directory makes it easier for users to find for backup purposes, and whenever they eventually need to shift it over to a server (if upgrading to multi-user) or new replacement stand-alone computer. (It also means that novices are less likely to be confused by all the other sub-directories in the "Program files" directory, and accidentally damage some of these if they are poking behind the scenes in Adminsoft programs and data for some reason.) You are fully entitled to disagree with our philosophy if you like, but at least you can understand our rationale.

If you elect to go for a non-standard directory structure, you will need to alter all "Demo" shortcuts appropriately, in order to get the Demo running properly - start by editing the directories specified in the shortcut, you may also need to change the path settings (see Tools, Options, System Settings menu).

For user convenience (with updates in particular), we keep just one master set of program files (Adminsoft.exe and *.app) on the server, rather than installing them on every workstation. It seems sensible to keep all Adminsoft stuff together (both programs & data) in the \Adminsoft directory structure. However, it is easy to separate the program and data files - e.g. if this is a more convenient way to backup only the data files on a daily basis, say. (However, this is usually not necessary. Adminsoft's basic backup facility (GEBackup.bat) only backs up data and configuration files. If you are using a backup tool like MS Backup, you are able to simply exclude the program files from your daily backups.) It is also possible to store copies of the program files on the local hard drive for each workstation and run them from there, if you need to reduce your network traffic slightly. Contact the Adminsoft HelpDesk if you want to split the location of your program and data files.

The Microsoft Run-time engine (VFP*.* files) is installed according to Microsoft conventions, in the "\Windows\System" directory on respective workstations. The install process raises appropriate entries in the system Registry for each workstation. This is why you need to run the "Workstation Install", rather than merely setting up a shortcut that points to the programs and data.

If you need further assistance or have feedback you would like to give us, please contact our Help-Desk:

E-Mail now to: Support@Adminsoft.com

Phone: (09) 262 2020, Fax: 262 2021,

(From overseas +64 9 262 2020, etc.)