MainBoss Advanced, Version 3.4.2:
New Installation

In order to install this version of MainBoss, you must meet certain requirements:

MainBoss 3.4.2 depends on Microsoft SQL Server 2005 (SP2, Version 9.0.0.4035.00 or later), SQL Server 2008 SP1, or SQL Server 2008 R2. 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. See the MainBoss Installation and Administration Guide for more details.)
Installing this version of MainBoss requires Windows Administration privileges (although running it does not).
To begin with, only install MainBoss on the computer where SQL Server is running. Make sure MainBoss works correctly there before installing it on other computers.
To activate MainBoss, you must enter the license keys provided to you by Thinkage Ltd. or your MainBoss dealer. These keys must be dated Jan 1, 2013 or later.

We strongly recommend that you read the two following pieces of documentation:

Getting Started (PDF) is a brief guide to using MainBoss itself. While much of the software interface will be intuitive for experienced IT personnel, features like the Active filter are useful constructs that you may not have seen before.
The MainBoss Installation and Administration 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 guide before you install MainBoss.

Open Installation and Administration Guide now (PDF)

Once you have met the specified requirements, you can install MainBoss.

Using MainBoss in Spanish: You use the same MainBoss software for both English and Spanish. To use MainBoss in Spanish, go to your Windows Control Panel and set your Regional and Language Options to one of the Spanish options. It is possible for some people at your site to use MainBoss in English while others use MainBoss in Spanish.

Initial Installation of the Software

1. Login to Windows using an account with Windows Administrator privileges.

2.

to obtain a ZIP file named Install.MainBoss.3.4.2.5.zip containing the files for installing MainBoss.

3. Extract the contents of the ZIP file into a folder of your choice.

4. Once you have extracted the files,
execute the extracted setup.exe file.
(Do not execute the .msi file directly.)

Note: If you are running under Windows 8, it will display a message saying that it "saved" your computer by not running the installation. Beneath the message is a line in small print saying More Information. Click that line; in the resulting window click Run anyway to install the software.

.NET 4: This version of MainBoss requires version 4 of Microsoft's .NET framework. If you run the MainBoss installation program on a computer where .NET 4 is not installed, the installation program will automatically attempt to download and install .NET 4 from Microsoft's web site. If this is not possible, MainBoss will not be installed. You must install .NET 4 on the computer before the MainBoss installation program will work.

If the installation procedure installs a new version of .NET, you will have to reboot your computer in order to continue. After the boot, you must login to the same account you were using so that you can continue installing MainBoss. (This should be an account with Windows Administrator privileges.) The installation should continue automatically once you login.

Report Viewer 2010 SP1: This version of MainBoss also requires Microsoft's Report Viewer 2010 SP1. If the appropriate version of Report Viewer is not installed on the computer when you begin the MainBoss installation, the MainBoss installation procedure will automatically attempt to download and install the software from Microsoft's web site. (The Report Viewer 2010 SP1 software is available here.)

5. Start the MainBoss program as described in the Installation and Administration Guide and use it to create a MainBoss database.

In order to do this, you will need SQL Server Administrator privileges. You will also need the license keys that were sent to you when you licensed MainBoss. For full instructions, see Creating a Maintenance Organization in the Installation and Administration Guide.

Installing the Software on Other Computers

The previous section described how to install MainBoss Advanced on one computer. Installing on additional computers is easier.

1. Login to Windows using an account with Windows Administrator privileges.

2. Use the ZIP file downloaded in the previous section (or the files extracted from that ZIP file) to install MainBoss on each additional computer. Remember to run the setup.exe file, not the .msi file.

Note: If you are running under Windows 8, it will display a message saying that it "saved" your computer by not running the installation. Beneath the message is a line in small print saying More Information. Click that line; in the resulting window click Run anyway to install the software.

If .NET 4 and/or Report Viewer are not installed on the computer, the MainBoss installation procedure will automatically install them.

ClickOnce Deployment

As discussed in the Installation and Administration Guide, this version of MainBoss Advanced may be used with Microsoft's ClickOnce deployment. To use ClickOnce deployment, you must first install MainBoss manually on one computer and create a MainBoss database. You may install MainBoss manually on other computers too, if you wish.

After installing MainBoss manually, you should use that installation to create the MainBoss database. Once you have done so, you can set up ClickOnce deployment.

for instructions on setting up ClickOnce deployment.

MainBoss Service

If you have licensed MainBoss Service, you can now install and start it. In order to use this software, you must have a MainBoss Service license key.

for instructions on installing MainBoss Service for the first time.

MainBossRemote: Web Access and Web Request

If you have licensed the Web Access and/or Web Request modules, the software is distributed as a single package called MainBossRemote. In order to use this software, you must have a Web Access and/or Web Request license key.

The MainBossRemote software is distributed as a ZIP file named Install.MainBossRemote.3.4.2.5.zip.

Extract the ZIP file's contents, then follow the installation instructions in Appendix C of the MainBoss Advanced Installation and Administration manual.

Important: The first time someone connects with the MainBossRemote web site, the software must compile itself and perform various set-up processes. This can take a long time and use a lot of computer memory. Once this has happened, however, the software doesn't have to go through the process again (unless something significant changes in your configuration, e.g. you install a new web server or SQL Server).