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Network installation instructions for Digita Practice Advanced

note
  • Digita Practice Advanced uses Microsoft SQL Server (including 2014 Edition and later) for storing data. The computer on which the data is located (the SQL server) must be turned on in order for others to access the data. In addition, if this computer has a firewall installed, you must create an exception within the firewall for the instance of SQL Server you are using (recommended) or disable the firewall (not recommended) to run Digita Practice Advanced. If you need assistance in creating an exception for the instance of SQL Server you are using, please refer to your firewall’s documentation.
  • If your database server is currently running any edition of Microsoft SQL Server or SQL Server Express Edition earlier than 2012, you will not be able to install the latest release of Digita Practice Advanced until you apply SQL Server 2012, SQL Server Express Edition, or a later version, to your database.
  • After July 12, 2022, Microsoft will no longer support SQL Server 2012 or earlier.
  • The computer where the shared files are installed must be turned on in order for the application files to be available to users (workstations).
This topic contains information about installing Digita Practice Advanced on a network server.
If you are installing Digita Practice Advanced on a network, you must be present at the database server during the initial installation.
Perform the following procedure to install Digita Practice Advanced to the network or to a standalone workstation. If you purchased a license for the network version and install the application files on the network, you need only perform this procedure once. You should then install the license files on the network and perform a workstation installation on all other computers that will access the application.
note
  • You can download and install Digita Practice Advanced from our website. Because a full application download involves a large amount of data, downloading and installing from the website is recommended only if you have a high-speed internet connection.
  • The installation process may require that you restart the computer on which you are installing the application. If you are installing the application on a network, be sure that your network administrator selects a time to install when all other users have logged off the network.
  1. Verify that you are logged in to your computer or server as an administrator.
  2. If you have previously installed Digita Practice Advanced, view the System Information portlet on any Digita Practice Advanced dashboard to verify the Database server/instance name and the Integration/Datasharing path before you begin the installation process.
  3. Close all open applications, including background virus protection applications.
  4. Visit the Downloads page of our website at Tax.ThomsonReuters.com, and follow the instructions to save the installation EXE file to your local drive.
  5. After the EXE file has been downloaded, double-click the file to start the installation wizard.
    note
    If you do not yet have a web account, you will be prompted to establish one when you attempt to download applications from our website.
  6. When Digita Practice Advanced Setup starts, click the Install Digita Practice Advanced link.
  7. On the Welcome to Digita Practice Advanced Setup screen, click Yes to verify that you are installing the application on the computer that you want to designate as the Database Server. Click Next to continue.
    note
    If you click the No option, you will be prompted to start again on the computer that will function as your database server.
  8. Read the Digita Professional Suite License Agreement, mark the
    I accept the terms in the License Agreement
     checkbox, and click Next to continue.
  9. For Installation Step 1, click Next to select where the Digita Practice Advanced shared files reside. Files shared by Digita Practice Advanced installations are used for storage of configuration settings, and for workstation installation files. Click the More button, then navigate to the appropriate folder.
    • If you are not going to run Digita Practice Advanced on a network, this folder is usually C:\WINCSI.
    • If you run Digita Practice Advanced on a network, select a shared network folder such as X:\WINCSI or \\<name of network share>\WINCSI.
    Click OK, and then click Next to continue.
  10. The setup wizard now provides the option to allow Remote Entry, which enables your staff to perform functions such as time and expense entry without a connection to your office network. If you want to allow Remote Entry, click the
    Allow Remote Entry to be enabled on other computers
     option and then click Next.
  11. For Installation Step 2, click Next to configure this computer as the database server for Digita Practice Advanced. Digita Practice Advanced requires an instance of SQL Server. If your computer does not have an instance of SQL Server, the only available option will be
    Install a new instance of Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Express Edition
    . If your computer already has a supported version of SQL Server, you may use an existing instance or use the CREATIVESOLUTION instance.
    • If you choose to use an existing CREATIVESOLUTION or other existing instance of SQL Server, mark the option and click Next to select that instance and configure the instance for use with Digita Practice Advanced. To use an existing instance, it must be version 2012 or later.
    • If you choose to install a new instance of Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Express Edition, mark the option and click Next to install and configure the instance for use with Digita Practice Advanced. You will need to provide a unique name for the new instance. Click Next to specify where you want your Digita Practice Advanced database to reside. This cannot be a network folder. SQL requires this folder to be on this computer.
      note
      If Digita Practice Advanced has been previously installed, you can select the instance used during the last installation, unless that instance is older than version 2012. If you choose to use a different instance or install a new instance, you must back up your database before continuing. After installation is complete, start Digita Practice Advanced and restore your database.
    When finished, click Next to continue.
  12. You may be prompted that the sample database already exists. Click Yes to replace the database with a fresh copy, or No to preserve your existing copy of the sample database.
  13. For Installation Step 3, click Next, then determine whether the Digita Practice Advanced files should be installed on the computer that also functions as your database server.
    • If you want to run Digita Practice Advanced on this computer, click the
      Install Digita Practice Advanced so that I am able to run it on this computer
       option and then click Next.
    • If you want this computer to function only as the database server, click the
      Skip installing Digita Practice Advanced on this computer, this computer will be used as the Digita Practice Advanced database server only
       option. Then click Next, and skip the following step before continuing.
  14. The installation application now installs Digita Practice Advanced and the necessary components. Any components without a check mark will be installed. Click Next to install Digita Practice Advanced and any components without a check mark. Your computer may need to be restarted one or more times during this step.
  15. The setup wizard now displays instructions for completing the Digita Practice Advanced setup for a network. You will need to run the desktop setup application at each computer that will run Digita Practice Advanced. You can save or print these instructions. Click Next to continue.
  16. When you are prompted that the installation is complete, click Finish. If you want to immediately launch Digita Practice Advanced, leave the
    Run Digita Practice Advanced
     checkbox marked.

This article applies to:

  • Product: Digita Practice Advanced