This article will guide you through installing a brand new instance of HowNow On Premise.
What you need:
Admin access to the client server.
The path the client would like HowNow installed.
The path the client would like to use for Record storage.
The path the client would like to use for Content storage.
Access to Support Downloads.
Access to CMS.
Access to CRM.
About 1-2 hours of dedicated time.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Creating the firm in CMS.
Open CMS.
Search for the client, in case they already exist.
If they already exist, open the client.
If they do not exist, click File > New > Organisation.Go through the tabs and enter/update the firm information from CRM.
Ensure that a risk and ranking is applied to the client, this does not need to be accurate.
Ensure that the client has HNA (Monthly subscription) enabled.
Ensure that a website user and password is created for this firm, note these for later.
This must be text only, no special characters.Save the organisation, then reopen.
Go to Subscriptions and apply HNGEN, if the client is subscribing to Content apply BOSA as well.
Click Publish and wait for this to complete.
Once published, close the client in CMS but leave CMS open.
2. System Requirements check.
Open the Minimum System Requirements page and confirm that the clients server meets or exceeds the listed requirements.
If the minimum requirements are not met, check if they have another server that meets them, and if not, advise that the installation is not recommended to continue.
3. Installing HowNow.
On your machine, navigate to Support Downloads.
Copy the HowNow Installer download link.
Paste this into the browser on the clients server.
Run the downloaded installer.
Accept the agreement.
The Server Name should be pre-populated, leave this as is.
If this is blank, locate the name of the machine and enter it here.Adjust the installation path to where they would like HowNow installed (if required), copy the path to your clipboard.
Leave the Database Location as default, this should be the path entered in the last step with \Data appended.
Paste the path copied in 3.7 into the Workstation path.
If the client is subscribing to content, select Accountants Content and click Next.
If the client is not subscribing to content, select No Content and click Next.Untick HowNow WebServer Installation and click Next.
Click Install and follow the prompts to complete installation.
When prompted to complete Firebird installation, leave all settings default but tick the two bottom checkboxes (the first checkbox should be "Generate client library as GDS32.DLL for legacy Interbase support?").
Leave the SYSDBA password blank or you will encounter errors when opening HowNow.
4. First start setup of HowNow.
Double-click the HowNow shortcut on the desktop to open the new installation of HowNow.
If you are prompted to install add-ins, close this window for now.
IMPORTANT: If setup is closed at any point before completion, you will need to reinstall HowNow again.
The HowNow System Setup Wizard will open.
Note that this may open as a background window, minimise other windows if you can't see the window.Complete the first tab, Firm Details.
Enter the firm name in full in the Name field.
Enter a short name for the firm, usually removing Pty/Ltd as an example.
Enter the firms street address, this can be found in CRM.
Leave the message field, this can be competed by them later.
Leave the Partner Title field.
Leave the Email Address field.
Leave the Default Greeting and Signoff fields.
Click Next.
Complete the System Settings tab.
Tick Guest User Disabled.
Untick Allow Knowledge Preview.
Untick Allow Records Preview.
Tick Show Search Records Count.
Tick Recycle Bin.
Click Next.
Untick the Enable HowNow home checkbox, click Next.
Click Next for the Knowledge & Contacts Tab tab.
Untick Alerts Enabled, click Next.
Enter the Website Username and Password you created in step 1.7, click Next.
Click Next on the Server and Add-ins tab.
Complete the Employees tab.
In the First, Middle and Last Name field, enter Business Fitness.
Windows Logon Name should prefill automatically when clicked.
Tick Administrator, then click Add/Replace.
Acknowledge the maximum users prompt.
Click OK to complete setup, HowNow will open.
5. HowNow initial configuration.
If you are prompted to update HowNow when it opens, click Cancel.
Click File > System Tools > Advanced.
Click Software License.
Go to CMS and open the client, click Licenses.
Click New.
Enable the appropriate license (with or without Workflow).
Enter an expiration date of 01/12/2099.
Enter the number of licenses.
Enter the description as "New firm setup".
Click Generate and copy the key.
Paste the key into the Software License window of HowNow, and click OK.
Return to CMS and click OK on the license key window.
Close HowNow and reopen.
Click File > Options.
Go to System Settings and set the Open at Tab option to Records.
Click OK.
Confirm if the client uses client codes, if so, perform the below steps.
Click File > System Tools > Advanced.
Click Record Storage Fields.
Enter the Daily Support Code.
Tick Client Code and untick Entity Name.
Click OK.
Click File > System Tools > General > Software Update.
Complete the software update and reopen HowNow.
Click File > System Tools > General.
Click Content Update and complete the process.
Once the update is complete, go to the Records tab.
Right-click in the Record Locations pane.
Select Clients in the list, then select Sub-level and click New.
Name the new location Permanent.
Click OK to create the new location.
Click OK to close the Record Location Editor.
Close HowNow.
6. Setup storage locations for network access and HowNow.
Navigate to the Records storage location that the client has specified, or go to the Data\Records folder if this is not specified.
Right-click the folder, select Sharing.
Enable sharing to Everyone with full access (IT can change this later if required).
Copy the UNC path for the share.
Open the HowNow.ini file.
Paste the Records storage UNC path on the Records Path line.
Navigate to the Content storage location that the client has specified, or go to the Data\Content folder if this is not specified.
Right-click the folder, select Sharing.
Enable sharing to Everyone with full access (IT can change this later if required).
Copy the UNC path to the share.
Paste the Content storage UNC path on the Content Path line.
Save the file and close.
Open HowNow.
Go to File > Info > About HowNow.
Confirm that the paths you entered are displayed in their respective fields.
Close the About HowNow window.
7. User configuration for HowNow.
Go to File > Administration > Organisation > Employees.
Click New and setup the first user, ensure the Windows Username matches the user.
Give the user full admin permissions.
Click OK to add the user, click OK again to close this window.
Notify IT that users will need a shortcut to HowNow.exe created on their desktop.
8. What next?
HowNow setup is complete. At this point the admin user will need to open HowNow and setup the remaining users.
If the firm is connecting to an External Connection or requires Data Sync for their connection to Xero, iFirm, or Greatsoft, begin setup of this now.
If the firm purchased Portal, begin setup now unless you have been instructed otherwise.
If the firm is not connecting to an External Connection/Data Sync, and they did not purchase Portal, they are OK to begin use of HowNow.