Installing ProfitSystem
A note before you install ProfitSystem®…
The most important job of working with a computer is to back-up it's data on a daily basis. Computers are mechanical and thus can break ANYTIME! This is usually not a problem because they can be repaired quickly and easily. However, a breakdown can cause data loss. Data CANNOT be replaced quickly and easily. For this reason you must BACKUP the data on the computer every day.
BBL suggests backing up using an offline backup service.
If you don’t know how to get your backup set up, contact a computer consultant or computer store. You should back up the entire ProfitSystem Data folder and everything inside it on your server.
Consider this: If your hard drive fails and you have no backup, you now have no record of who paid you money, who still owes you money, what gowns you need to special order, what you have in inventory, etc.
Most people experience a computer failure of some sort at one time or another. The difference between an inconvenience and a disaster is whether or not you have a good backup!
REMEMBER: Don’t take chances with your shop’s precious customer and inventory information.
Back up your system EVERY DAY!
Deployment options
Peer to peer The server software is installed on one server class computer. The workstation/client software is installed on each Windows PC that will be used as a workstation. Instructions for Peer-to-peer are included below.
Remote Desktop Services A single Windows Server computer is deployed with Remote Desktop services enabled and licenses for each user. The server and workstation software is installed on the server only. Each user accesses ProfitSystem using Remote Desktop Client from a Windows or Mac computer.
TSPlus Remote Access A single Windows Server computer is deployed with TSPlus Remote Access with enough licenses for all users. The server and workstation software is installed on the server only. Each user accesses ProfitSystem using Remote Desktop Client, or a web browser from a Windows, Mac, or tablet computer.
Contact BBL for details on this option.
Peer-to-peer installation
The ProfitSystem® installation is made up of two parts:
- ProfitSystem® Server, and
- Install ProfitSystem® Workstation. The installation steps required depend upon whether you are a first time installer or a current user upgrading.
The server installer is located at https://bblsystems.com/downloads/server14/ssetup.exe
The workstation installer is located at https://bblsystems.com/downloads/workstation14/wsetup.exe
NEW USERS, or REINSTALLING FROM SCRATCH
Single Users (those who will run the ProfitSystem® program on only one computer) must install both the ProfitSystem® Server and the ProfitSystem® Workstation portion of the installation onto their computer.
Multi Users (those who will run the ProfitSystem® program on two or more computers) must configure their computer network before installing any of the ProfitSystem® software (consult your Windows or Networking Professional for assistance in configuring your network). One computer will be configured as the ‘main’ computer (called the Server) and will serve as the host for the ProfitSystem® data. both the ProfitSystem® Server and the ProfitSystem® Workstation portion of the installation must be installed on this computer. The remaining computers will be configured as “Workstations”. Each of these workstations must have only the ProfitSystem® Workstation installed. DO NOT INSTALL THE ProfitSystem® SERVER ON THESE WORKSTATIONS!
CURRENT USERS UPGRADING:
DO NOT INSTALL ProfitSystem® SERVER! THIS INSTALLATION CAN DELETE YOUR EXISTING DATA FILES. REMEMBER TO BACKUP ALL YOUR DATA BEFORE RUNNING THE UPDATE. FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS WILL BE PROVIDED IN YOUR UPGRADE INSTRUCTIONS. Users upgrading from a ProfitSystem© installation CD should only install the Workstation on each computer currently running ProfitSystem©.
Installing ProfitSystem® Server software
The server is the computer that will control the ProfitSystem data files. In single user installs the server & workstation are the same computer, so both installations would take place on the one system.
Run the server install (ssetup.exe) and confirm the single prompt for default folder destination (accepting the folder default is recommended (unless under the direction of a computer technician). Run this installation ONLY on one computer in the network.
Note for multi-user installations
Install the ProfitSystem workstation software onto your server, even if the program will not normally be ran on the server. Start the ProfitSystem application. ProfitSystem will automatically mark the permissions Read/Write access for everyone in the network for the server's ProfitSystem data folders, thus allowing remote access of other workstations for multi-user installations. These permissions may be set manually if preferred. Just do not install the workstation software on the server. Remember to the folder must be shared before installing ProfitSystem on any remote workstations, otherwise their installations will fail.. Sharing is NOT required in Single user implementations.
Installing Workstation software
Run the workstation install (wsetup.exe) and follow the instructions on the screen. and confirm the single prompt for default folder destination (accepting the folder default is recommended (unless under the direction of a computer technician).
Once the installation is complete, run the workstation software. The first time a ProfitSystem dialogue form will appear asking for data folder destination and workstation/Register name.
Single User
On a single user install or if installing the workstation software on the data file folder location will be automatically completed.
Multiuser
Installing ProfitSystem on a Remote workstation, the dialogue form prompts for 'Computer with shared data files'... Enter the computer name with the data files, no special syntax is needed. If the files are found the system allows the user to continue. If files are not found an error alert will appear. For non standard folders the user may enter the true UNC path to the data files.
Remember: Permission on the data folder must be before the workstation installation may be competed.
Name... ProfitSystem is requesting for the workstation's Register name. The Register name is how ProfitSystem identifies the workstation. A Name is usually preferred that describes the location of the workstation, , i.e. BACKROOM, POS1, OFFICE, CASHWRAP2.. etc. The name for the Register should be unique for NEW Registers/workstations. If this a re-install for a older or replacement workstation the same name may be entered. ProfitSystem will display a a warning that the Name exists, but provide an option to accept.
Once the dialogue form is properly completed ProfitSystem will start and provide a warning if it is not authorized yet. It will ask you to update your license.
Select the option "Using an upgrade key via the internet" and click Ok. Use the key provided in your welcome email.
Once authorized BBL will display the main menu. From the main menu go to Register Setup and complete the setting for this new Register.
If you require assistance in installing the ProfitSystem® software, please contact BBL Systems Technical Support.
File locations
ProfitSystem 8 and later
Executable and DLLs are installed in C:\Program files (x86)\ProfitSystem TPSWIN.INI file is located in C:\Programdata\ProfitSystem Data files are installed in the data folder, C:\Programdata\ProfitSystem
On Windows XP and earlier operating systems, the data files and INI are located in c:\document and settings\all users\application data\profitsystem
ProfitSystem 7 & earlier
Executable and DLLs are installed in C:\TPSWINW TPSWIN.INI file is located in C:\TPSWINW Data files are installed in C:\TPSWINS
Temporary Files
Portions of the ProfitSystem© program will have to create temporary files for processing. Once ProfitSystem is completed with the temporary file, the file is deleted. ProfitSystem will use the operating system temporary file folder location by default (this location may be changed by trained operating system technicians if necessary).
ProfitSystem© will request the location of a temporary file folder from the operating system. However, this may be over written on a Register by Register basis by entering the location of the temporary folder on the Register setup form for each register.
Users/Registers must have Read/Write/Delete permissions on the temporary folder used. Individual program/data files may be marked Read/Write only to protect them from deletion by users if management is concerned about a folder used.
The Data Folder Contains
- \ICR – Only used for handwriting recognition order entry.
- \IMPORT – Only used for handheld order entry.
- \LIVEDATA – ProfitSystem data files live in \TPSWINS\LIVEDATA. TRAINING – A separate copy of the data is installed in TRAINING for training and testing purposes.
- \USER – Contains custom tag/label layout files, and layouts for user created reports.
- \SUPPORT – Holds a few support utility files.
- \PATCHES – Contains ProfitSystem© upgrade files in the form of patch files and/or TW.EXE. ProfitSystem checks this directory for upgrade patches at startup. If it finds a patch that applies (based on the version number) it applies the patch automatically. Once all the patch files are checked/applies ProfitSystem© will review any TW.EXE program file found and compare it's version to the version of the program running. If newer ProfitSystem© will replace the currently running program with this one automatically.
Once patch files are stored in this folder do not delete them. Until sure they will not be needed in the future, i.e. a new installation CD is received from BBL containing a version of the software exceeding the version of the patch files.
This feature is not normally used for terminal server users since the TW.EXE may be easily replaced on the application server for new a program version when available.