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System requirements:To use ProFile, we recommend the following:
•400 MHz CPU for XP, 800 MHz for Vista (Intel, AMD, or other Windows compatible processor) 1 GHz or faster 32-bit or 64-bit processor for Windows 7•Windows XP, Windows Vista or Windows 7
•128 MB RAM for XP, 512 MB RAM for Vista, 1 GB RAM (32-bit) or 2 GB RAM (64-bit) for Windows 7
• Monitor and Video card that supports colour and 800x600 resolution for XP, Support for Super VGA graphics for Vista, DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver for Windows 7 • CD-ROMdrive (if ProFile is ordered on CD)
• Approximately150 MB for download and 200MB for install • HP III Laserjet printer or compatible
•Internet Explorer 7.0 or 8.0 for online help features, Internet-based EFILE services. Internet connection (for downloading our software, ordering single returns/plans online, using Internet-based EFILE services).
•When wanting to share databases of returns or plans between users of ProFile, Classic Database requires any kind of Windows network where files can be shared and accessed by different computers. Client Explorer requires a network based on the TCP/IP Network protocol.
What can we share on our network?
ProFileisdesignedforusersinanetworkenvironmentaswellasthoseonstand-aloneworkstations.Onanetworkyoumaychooseanyoralloftheseoptions:
• SharethesameProFileprogramloadedonanetworkdrive,
• Shareasingledatabasetomanageandqueryclientfilesstoredanywhereonthenetwork,
• Shareaserverfolderforstoringallclientdatafilesinonelo-cation,
• Sharecommonoptionsettingsbetweenallorsomeusers,
• Sharewordprocessorclienttemplates,and/or
• ShareanEFILEreportsfolderonanetworkserver(forProFileT1andTP1users).
ProFilehasmanyfeaturesthatarewellsuitedtoanetworkenvi-ronment.Auditandreviewfeaturesaredesignedtoofferaflexiblesystemforreviewingfilespreparedbyothers.Shareddatafoldersindexedinasingledatabasegiveseniorpreparersandpartnersinstantaccesstothefilespreparedbyjuniormembersofthefirm.
ProFiledatabasefeaturessuchasthequeryfilter,reportsanddataexportarealsoeasytouseonanetwork.Aslongasclientfilesarestoredinsharedfolders,theindexletsapartnersearchandfilterclientfilesfromallworkstationstoproducecomprehen-sivereports.
Ofcourse,itisyourchoicewhetherornotyoutakeadvantageofnetworkfeatures.Ifthepreparersorplannersinyourofficeareindividuallyresponsibleforcertainclients,eachusercankeepaseparatedatabase,storeclientfilesonalocalharddrive,andcon-figureProFileoptionslocally.
PeertoPeerNetworks
Network configuration
Before installing on a network, make sure that your licence agreement covers the number of users who will have access to the software. If you have any questions, please call us at 1.800.452.9970
TheClientExplorerhelpsyoumanageallyourclientdatafiles.Usersonanetworkcansharethesamedatabasesothattheindexisconstantlyup-to-dateforalltosee,andfilesneverdisappearinforgottenlocalfolders.
IfyourunProFileonanetworkandintendtosharedatabasesormanageclientfilesbe-tweendifferentworkstations,youmustinstallandconfigureaProFiledatabaseserveronatleastonenetworkedcomputer.TheProFileServerensuresthatdifferentmachinescanshareClientExplorerdataacrossthenetwork.Note: Ifyourcomputerisnotonanetwork,youshouldnotusetheProFileServerinstaller. The following instructions are intended for network administrators or for ProFile users who are knowledgeable in systems and network configuration.
Contents
TypesofNetworkinstalls.................. 2NetworkConfiguration...................... 3ClientExplorerServerInstall-Peer
toPeerNetworks......................... 4Sharedatabasebetweenworksta-
tions............................................. 5UseProFileonaNetwork................. 6
•.NET 3.5 or higher version
•eReview feature requires a MAPI email client (Outlook Express 4.0, Outlook 97, Netscape 4.03, Eudora 3.0, or better)
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1 InstallProFileinasharedfolderonyourserver(forexample,e:\shared\profile).
2 Inthisfolder,lookfortwoicons:“WorkstationInstall”and“ProFile.exe”.
3 WorkstationInstallisashortcutwiththistargetproperty: ”e:\shared\profile\profile.exe”/register
4 TosetupProFileonaworkstation,theuserneedstobrowsethroughNetworkNeighborhoodanddouble-clickthisshortcutinthesharednetworkfolder.The“/register”parameterupdatestheWindows™registryattheworkstation,andtellsWindowswheretofindallthemodulefileswhentheuserlaunchesProFile.exe.
5 AfterlaunchingwiththeWorkstationInstallshortcut,configurationiscomplete.TorunProFilenexttime,auserwillneedtodouble-clicktheProFile.exeiconintheserverfolder.Infact,WorkstationInstallandtheProFile.exeiconbothlaunchtheprogram;however,theregistercommandassociatedwithWorkstationInstallmakesthelaunchabitslower,andisonlynecessaryforthefirstlaunchofthesoftwareateachworkstation.NoweachuserisrunningProFiledirectlyfromtheserver.
6 YoumaywanttocreateadesktopshortcutateachworkstationthatrunsProFile.exefromthenetworkserver.YoucandothisusingstandardWindows™features.
Stand-alone install IfyoudecidetoinstallProFileateachindividualworkstation,youcanuseyourservertodistributetheinstallationprogramandshareupdateswithallusersonthenetwork.ThisismoreefficientthansharingtheCDandensuresthatallusershaveaccesstothesameversion.
CopyGPSetup.exefromtheCD(oranyProFileinstallprogramfromtheweb)toasharedfolderonyournetworkserver.Emailyourteamtoletthemknowwhenanewversionisavailable.EachusercanthenbrowsethroughNetworkNeighborhoodtorunGPSetup.exeandinstallProFiletohis/herworkstation. Foradditionalconvenience,youcanevencreateashortcutfromeachworkstationtoGPSetup.exeinthesharedserverfolder.
Workstation Install Onanetwork,youmayfinditadvantageousifallworkstationsrunProFilefromthesame.EXEfile,installedonanetworkserver.Usingthissetup,thenetworkadministratorcanloadanewversionofProFileontheserverandinstantlyupdatethesoftwareatallworksta-tions.NotethatifyouareusingwindowsXP, Vista or Windows 7youwillneedtobeloggedinasanadministratorinordertocompleteawork-stationinstall.(We recommend a workstation install to a maximum of 20 users. A higher amount may slow down your workstations.) DonotrunaworkstationinstallonalaptopcomputerthatusesProFilewhiledisconnectedfromthenetwork.
Theadvantagetothisprocessisthespeedofinstallingupdatesthroughouttheseason.TherearenoperformanceproblemssincePro-FileisloadedintotheRAMmemoryofeachworkstationthatlaunchestheshared.EXEfile.Keepinmindhowever,thatforanylengthoftimeyourserverisunavailable,noworkstationswillbeabletorunProFile(unlessusersinstallthelatestversionofProFilelocally).
TypesofNetworkinstalls
Thereare2differenttypesofnetworksetups:
Whenyousetupyournetwork,keepinmindthatyouwillneedtouseaUNC(UniversalNamingConvention)networknamecommontoallusersonyournetwork.Thisresource,developedbyMicrosoft,allowsuserstoaccessfilesoveranetwork.You may also choose to
use a mapped network drive (such as a T: drive).
What are UNC file names?
UNCstandsforUniversalNamingConvention,asystemthatletsnetworkedcomputersrecognizeeachotherwithoutassigningorsub-stitutingdrivelettersoneachlocalmachine.WerecommendUNCforuserssharingclientfilesorusingClientExplorerfeaturesonanetwork.
UNCfilenamesarenotonlyimportantintheClientExplorer.Anoptionspackagestoresthelocation(pathways)ofyourdatabase,tem-platesandshareddatafolders.Whenyouareconfiguringoptionsforanoptionspackage,alwaysbrowseforfilesthroughNetworkNeigh-borhood,evenifthetargetfilesareontheworkstationyouareusing!
ThereasonforUNCfilenames?Eachcomputerassignsdriveletterstodrives(C:,D:etc...).Let’ssayyoustoreaclientfileonyournetworkdriveL:\RETURNS.Anotherusermaywanttoaccessthatfile,butatadifferentworkstationwherethenetworkdrivehasbeenmappedtoG:\RETURNS.TheshareddatabasewillthinkthefileisonL:\RETURNSandwilldenyaccesstotheseconduser(becauseProFilecannotlocatethefile).
ThesolutionistouseUNCfilenames.Allcomputershaveaname(lookundertheMicrosoftWindows™StartMenu:Settings>ControlPanel>Network>Identification.)IfyourservercomputeriscalledSERVER,thenthesamenetworkdrive(identifiedasL:\ReturnsorG:\Returnsabove)wouldalsobeknownas\\SERVER\RETURNS.Everycomputeronthenetworkcanrecognizethispathname,nomatterwhatdriveletterisconfiguredoneachmachine.
NetworkConfiguration
• Peer to Peer–PeertoPeernetworkshavenocentralcom-puter(server).Eachcomputeronthenetworkcanshareitsresourcesandaccessresourcesonanothercomputer
• Server Client Install(WindowsXP, Vista, Windows 7)–Thisisanetworkinwhichamastercomputer(server)doesnothingmorethanstoredataandprovideservices.Returnsarenotcompletedonthismachine.
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ClientExplorerServerInstall-PeertoPeerNetwork
Workstation where all/most ProFile datafiles are stored. Run the Setup Wizard on this workstation.
Note:Ifyouwanttosharedatabasesfrommorethanonecomputeronthesamenetwork,orifyouwanttoinstallashareddatabaseonaserver,youmustfirstinstallProFileonthecomputer(s)thatwillshareadatabase.
Onceyouhavedesignatedaworkstation,installandconfigurethePro-FileServer:
1. InsertyourProFileCDintheCD-ROMdriveofthecomputer, (ordouble-clickthegpsetup.exedownload)onthecomputer whereyouwanttoinstallasharedProFileServer.Follow theinstallationpromptstoinstallProFile.
2. LaunchProFile.
3. GotoOptions>Database.
4. SelectUseClientExplorer.
5. ClickSetupWizardandclickNext.
6. SelectUseClientExplorerandclickNext.
7. SelectYesandclickNext.
8. SelectMakethiscomputeraSharedDatabaseServerand clickNext.
9. GivetheProFileServeranameandclickNext.
•GivetheDatabaseamoredescriptivenameifyouwant,especially ifyouwillsharemultipledatabasesonyournetwork.
10. ClickFinish.
Youwillnowbeabletopointotherworkstationstotheshareddata-base.
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ToviewtheClientExplorerwindow,clickonOKandselect Goto>ClientExplorer.
ThefirsttimeyouopentheClientExplorer,itwillnotdisplayanycli-entfiles.IfyouhaveexistingProFileorcompetitorfiles,youmusthaveProFilescanyourharddriveandcreateanindexofthemintheClientExplorer.Indexingshouldonlyhavetobedoneononeworkstation.Onceyouhavecreatedtheindexonyourprimaryworkstation,allotherworkstationswilldisplaythefiles.
Topointotherworkstationstotheshareddatabaseyouhavein-stalled:
1 LaunchProFilefromanotherworkstation(otherthanthework-stationonwhichtheServerisinstalled).
2 GotoOptions>Database.
3 SelectUseClientExplorer.
4 SelectSharedServer.ProFilewillsearchfordatabasessharedonthenetwork.
5 SelectaProFileServerfromthedrop-downlist.
6 Highlightthedatabaseontheserverthatyouwishtouse.
7 Ifyourserverisproperlysetup,youshouldseeyourdata-basenameappearinginthelistunderthe‘Databasetouse’section.Thisstepwillhavetoberepeatedateveryworksta-tionwhereProFileisinstalled.
8 ClickOKtoexittheClientExplorersetup.
Sharedatabasebetweenworkstations
Client Explorer Options
The path shown under ‘Database folder’ C:\Shared ProFileData is local to the database server machine.
File Directories
File Directories Makesurethatthefiledirectoryforeachmoduleispointingtothenetworkserver: SelectOptions>Environment>File.
ProFile Client Explorer
ThedirectorythatappearsundertheFileDirectorysectionshouldbeaUNCnetworkname(i.e.\\server\share)oradrivemappingthatiscommontoallProFileusersacrossthenetwork.Otherwise,otheruserswillnotbeabletoaccessthefilesviatheClientEx-plorer.
Client Explorer
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TocreateanindexintheProFileClientExplorer:
1 Clickthe[Index]buttonoftheProFileClientExplorer.
2 [Browse]toenterthefolderlocationofyourfiles.ThisshouldbeaUNCfilepathorthedriveletterwhereallyourProFiledatafilesarestored.Remember:Ifyouareusingadriveletter,itshouldbecommontoallProFileusersonyournetwork.Otherwise,theClientExplorerwillnotfunctionprop-erly.
3 Click[Ok]tobeginindexingyourfiles.Astatusboxwillap-pearonthescreenshowingyoutheprogressoftheindexingprocess.OnceProFilehascreatedtheindex,thedialogboxwilldisappearandyouwillseeclientnamesonthetaboftheClientExplorer.
4 Ifyourclientfilesarestoredonmorethanonecomputeryouwillhavetorepeattheindexprocessforeachworkstationwheredataisstored.TheProFiledatabaseserverwillkeepacommonindexofallthefilesonthenetworkregardlessofwhichcomputerthefilesarestoredin.
Index Client Explorer
Index Client Explorer
Store files in a network directory
ProFileallowsyoutostoreclientfilesanywhereonasharedserverorsharedlocalharddrive.Sinceashareddatabasetracksclientfilesanywhereonthenetwork,yourfilemanagementiseasy,nomatterwherefilesarestored.
Hint:Usingthissameconfiguration,youcanalsoshareafiletemplateforanyorallofyourProFilemodules.Afiletemplateletsyousetcommoninformationonceforallyournewclientfiles.
ForeachProFilemodule,youcansetadefaultfolderwhereyoustoreyourclientfiles(ifyoudon’tsetadefault,ProFilewillselectthesamefolderwhereyoulaststoredafileofthistype).
1 GotoOptions>Environment.
2SelecttheFiletab.
3Atthebottomofthedialogbox,clickthepathwaynexttoamodule.Thiswillplaceacursoronthescreensothatyoucaneditde-faultlocationforyourfiles.
4Typethepathwaytothesharednetworkfolderwhereyouwanttostoreclientfiles.UsetheUNCnetworkpathwayratherthantheletterofamappednetworkdrive(\\servername\foldernamenotF:\foldername).[WerecommendthatyouuseUNCfilepaths,however,ifyouhaveacommonreference-i.e.acommonmappednetworkdrive,thisisacceptableaswell.]
Youcansetthispathwayateachworkstation,orsetitonceandsavetoanoptionspackagethateveryoneloads.Whenanyusersavesanewclientfile,theSavedialogboxwilldefaulttothisnetworkfilesfolder.
UseProFileonaNetwork
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Options Administration
ProFilecanstoreyouroptionsconfigurationintheWindows™registry,orinanoptionspackageinthefolderthatyouspecify.IfyoustoreoptionsintheWindows™registry,thosesettingsapplyonlytotheworkstationwhereyouhaveconfiguredtheoptions.IfyoucreateaPro-Fileoptionspackage,youcaneasilysharesettingsacrossanetworkforallusers.OpenOptions > Options administration:
1ChooseoneoftheseoptionstodeterminehowProFilewillstoreandloadyourconfigurationsettings.
• Select 1tostoreyourentireoptionsconfigurationinthemachine’sregistry.
• Select 2 tostoreyourconfigu-rationinanoptionspackageandloadthatpackageeachtimeyoustartProFile.
• Select 3tostoreconfigura-tionsindifferentoptionspackagesandchoosewhichpackagetouseeachtimeyoustartProFile.ThischoiceisidealifseveralusersshareamachineandeachwantstocustomizeProFile.
2ProFilehandlestheidentificationoptionsseparatelysoyoucansavetheseintheWindows™registryasuser-specificset-tingsORinanoptionspackageavailableforsharing.UnderOptions>Environment,theidentificationoptionsare:preparername,email,preparerinitials,partnerinitialsanddiscounterortrusteeinformation.IntheEFILEoptions,EDItransmitterfieldsarealsostoredintheregistryoranoptionspackage.Selectthisfeaturewhenyouwanttousethesameidentifica-tionatallworkstationsinthecompany.
Tomodifyanexistingoptionspackage,first[Load]thatpackage.Makeyourconfigurationchanges.Then,returntoOptionsAdministra-tionand[Save]theoptionspackage.If you forget to save your latest changes, you will lose themwhenProFilereloadstheolderoptionspackagethenexttimeyoustarttheprogram.
Ifyoutakethetimetoconfigureoneworkstationwithallthesharingfeatures,youcanthencreateanoptionspackagefromtheconfig-uredworkstation.Saveyourentireconfigurationintotheoptionspackage.IfyouhaveusedUNCfilepathways,youcansimplyloadthisoptionspackageatyourremainingworkstationstocompletenetworkconfiguration.
ProFileupdatesmayaddnewconfigurationoptions.Yourconfigurationwillshowthedefaultsettingforthenewoption,evenifyouuseanoptionspackage.Ifanexistingoptionchanges(forexample,ifwemodifyaCRAprintsetfromOptions>Formselectiontoreflectnewfil-ingrequirements),versionreleasenoteswilladviseyouthatthechangeisoneyouwillneedtomakeinyouroptionspackage.
3Select Prompt to save changes ifyouwantProFiletoremindyou tosaveconfigurationchangesintotheoptionspackageyouwereusingduringthesession.
4Click[Browse]tosearchyourharddrivefortheSettingsfolderwhereyouwillstoreyourop-tionspackages.WhenProFilecreatesyournewoptionspackage,itcreatesanewfolderinside thefolderyouselecthere.Ifyouareusingop-tionspackagesoveranetwork,makesureyouenterthepathtothisdirectoryusingaUNCfilename.IfyoudonotwanttousethedefaultSet-tingsfolder,youwillneedtocreateanewfolderusingWindows™.Forexample,youmaywanttocreateasharedsettingsfolderonanetworkserver.Highlightthefolderthatwillstoreyouroptionspackage(s)andclickOK.
5Click[New]andtypethenameofanop-tionspackage.ProFilewillcreateafolderbythis
nameinsideyouroptionspackagefolder.
6Highlightyournewoptionspackageandclick[Save].ProFilestoresthecurrentProFileconfigurationfromtheWindowsreg-istryoftheworkstationintotheselectedoptionspackage.
7Ifyouhavemorethanoneoptionspackagewithdifferentcon-figurationineach,highlightapackageandclick[Load]tousethesettingsinthatpackage.
Tip: Includeyouroptionspackagefolderinyourregularback-uproutine.Ifyoueverneedtorestoreallyour settings,
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