Download MainBoss Basic 2.9 Demonstration Version

To download the evaluation copy of MainBoss Basic 2.9, please click the button below. The download is approximately 7.3 MB in size.

If you choose "Typical" during the installation process, the installation program will install a number of Sample databases showing MainBoss in action. To work with any of the samples, click the usual Windows Start button, then Programs -> MainBoss -> Examples 2.9 and finally choose one of the available samples. Each sample database is geared toward a different market segment (manufacturing, health care, etc.).

IMPORTANT: This is only a demonstration version of MainBoss Basic. If you already have a licensed version, do not install this demonstration software over your existing software.

Download Now.

When you have downloaded the software, you can install it by following these steps:

Download the mainboss_demo.exe file, and save the file to any location on your own computer.
Run the mainboss_demo.exe program on your computer, and follow the instructions that will appear. (To run the program, click the Start button on your main Windows desktop, then click the Run menu item. When Windows asks what program you want to run, click the Browse button and locate the mainboss_demo.exe file.)

Note: This version of MainBoss is intended for evaluation purposes only. You can test almost all the features of the program, but it imposes a limit on the number of work orders, work requests, and purchase orders you can create.

Note also that this software can be changed into a full working version by entering a valid license key obtained from MainBoss headquarters. This makes it fast and easy to move from demonstration mode to full operating mode—you don't have to download new software, you just have to register. You also don't have to re-enter new data; if you enter data during demonstration mode, that data will remain available once you upgrade to full operating mode.

If your system will not let you download .exe files: Some security systems do not let users download files whose names end in .exe. If you have this problem, download the software here as a ZIP file.

International Support: The installation procedure for the evaluation copy is written in English. However, the program will operate in Spanish, French, and several other languages—just set the Regional Settings in your Windows control panel to your preferred language, and MainBoss will automatically interact with you in that language.

If you have any problems downloading the Preview, please check our Download FAQ for information on common downloading difficulties. If the FAQ does not solve your problem, you can mail us at support@mainboss.com and we'll do our best to help you.

Download MainBoss Demonstration Version

Before you begin installing MainBoss Advanced, you must meet certain requirements:

MainBoss depends on Microsoft SQL Server 2008 (SP1 or later), or later. You must have SQL Server installed correctly before you can begin using MainBoss. (Small sites can use SQL Server Express, available for free from Microsoft at SQL Server 2017 Express, but see the MainBoss Installation Guide for more details.)
Installing MainBoss requires Windows Administration privileges (although running it does not).
Install MainBoss on the computer where SQL Server is running.

The MainBoss Installation Guide provides full details of what you need before you can start using MainBoss, including information on troubleshooting the connection between MainBoss and SQL Server. We strongly recommend that you read the relevant parts of the Installation Guide before you install the demonstration version of MainBoss.

Downloading and Installing

Obtain Installation Guide now (PDF). Once you have met the specified requirements, you can download and install MainBoss.
Download MainBoss 4.2.4.20. This is a .MSI installation file about 28 megabytes in size. Save the file somewhere on the computer where SQL Server is running (or copy the file there once it has been downloaded).
Run the installation program.
Once MainBoss has been installed, start it. In the opening screen, click the drop-down arrow beside Add Existing Organization, then click Create New Organization.
In Organization Name, enter any string of characters. This is just a label that MainBoss will use when referring to the database. Most people put their company name suffixed with MainBoss (e.g. My Company MainBoss)
In Database Server, enter the name of your SQL Server (the instance name). For SQL Express this would likely be 'localhost\sqlexpress' on the computer where the SQL server was installed. Alternatively, you can click the "..." button, in which case MainBoss will attempt to determine the names of available SQL Server instances.
In Database Name, enter a valid SQL Server database name (no blanks or other special characters). We suggest 'MainBoss' be used to identify the database.
In Licenses To Request, select the 'Demonstration' option so that demonstration keys will be requested from our web server when the database is created.
Optionally, provide a valid email address so that full license keys (for the Free Limited Single User license) can be sent to you and we have a record of you creating the database in case of technical support requirements (it will tell us what server and windows system you are running).
Click Create Empty Database. MainBoss will create a blank database that you can use to test MainBoss's features. The Demonstration license keys will be limited in various ways, e.g. in the number of work orders that can be created.