Installation Instructions
Network Installation
Silent Installation
Configure Ariel.INI
Configure Folder Security Rights
Frequently Asked Questions
Installation Instructions:
Download the desired file Full or Maintenance; ‘Run’ the install (exe file). The install will update all necessary files to upgrade to the latest release. The install uses InstallShield Install script.
To install the application, follow the on screen instructions:
- Determine the drive where you want to install; C:\Program Files\Ariel is the default location for the application. You may choose another path or folder.
- Uncheck any components that you do not want installed.
- The ‘Application Manual’ should only be installed locally if you will not have an Internet connection at some time while using the program.
- Once the install finishes, there will be shortcuts in the Start-Programs-Ariel group. A shortcut for Ariel Performance will also be put on your desktop. You may need to restart your PC for the shortcuts to appear.
If this is installed by the Administrator, make sure the following steps are done before the finish.
- Configure the proper Security Access Rights to these folders. (Refer to Folder Security Rights)
- Request Security Key if pricing is required. (Refer to Requesting Security Key)
Top
Network Installation:
- Download ArielUpdate.zip and Unzip to Network Location.
- The Zip file is created with Releative Paths and starts with Ariel Folder
- Configure the Ariel.INI file. (Refer to Ariel.INI section)
- Configure the proper Security Access Rights to these folders. (Refer to Folder Security Rights)
- Request Security Key if pricing is required. (Refer to Requesting Security Key)
- Create Shortcut to ‘Ariel.exe’ with name ‘Ariel Performance Program’ and push this shortcut to all Clients.
- The program requires DAO 3.6 be on every Client. However, this is usually already there. Just be aware that you have to download and install DAO 3.6 on each Client.
- Done.
Top
Silent Installation:
If there is a need to create a silent installation in order to push this installation to all Client PCs, there are a couple of steps that you need to follow in order to create and execute a silent install.
First you have to create a Setup.iss file that will be used to tell the install what selections and input to use while doing the silent install. Therefore, we have to create this file first and then use it while running the install on the Client PC.
- Create the Setup.iss file
- Download the ‘Full Installation’ – ArielCompressorSoftware.exe and save it to disk.
- Run the install a test PC with the following command line parameter
- Drive:\Path\ArielCompressorSoftware.exe –r
- This will create the Setup.iss in the C:\Windows Folder of that PC.
- You can move this file to the same location as the install and also rename it, but you will need to use that name in the next step when running the silent install.
- Running the Silent Installation
- Drive:\Path\ArielCompressorSoftware.exe /s /f1”drive:\Path\Setup.iss”
Top
Configure Ariel.INI:
The Performance Program needs to know where certain information is located, so there is a few ways to configure this information. If the INI file is not used, then the program has an interface to change the File Locations, Main Menu – View – File Locations. When changes are made through that interface, the locations are stored in the Registry of that PC. Then whenever the program is started, either from a local install or network install, it will read the registry and use the file locations stored there.
However, you may have a need, usually network installs, to always set the location no matter who is running the program. That is where the INI files into use. The program will read the INI file first and use whatever locations that are set there first, then it will go to the Registry for locations.
The INI file has one section, [PATH], which is used to set all the file locations. Within an INI file you can comment a line just by putting a ; (semi-colon) at the beginning. The install creates an initial INI file, but every line is commented. If you need to set one or more locations, just remove the semi-colon from that line and edit the path.
The Ariel.INI file is located in the same folder as the Ariel.exe application file, which is in the program files \ Ariel \ Performance folder.
Explanation of each Path:
- Run Path – Location of RUN files and Multirun CSV files
- Support Path – Location for user data created from with program.
- Databook Path – Location of ArlData.mdb; All required databases
- AppManual Path – Should not be used unless Application Manual was install locally.
Top
Configure Folder Security Rights:
The installation creates a few folders and these folders require different security rights. The following is a list of the folders that are created and what rights they require. The folder locations are listed base on a standard installation. If you have installed to a Network and used the zip file, then you will have to adjust the paths accordingly.
- Main Performance Program
- \Program Files\Ariel\Performance
- This folder contains the main program application file, Ariel.exe and all of the support DLLs. It also contains the Security Key file, ‘Ariel.pwd’.
- Make sure to set the Security Key while you still have Modify/Create rights.
- Read / Execute Access
- Program Application Data
- \Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Ariel\Performance\Database
- This folder contains all the databases required by the program.
- The folder could be Read only, but we use a Microsoft Access MDB file as our main DB. Access creates an ldb (lock) file whenever anyone runs the program. Because of that, you can not secure this folder.
- Read / Modify / Write Access
- \Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Ariel\Performance\Support
- This folder contains all support data created with running the program. It is data that can be user specific or All users, i.e. Drivers DB, Shipping Address, option groups, etc.
- Full Control Access
- Documents
- \My Documents\Ariel\Performance
- This folder is not created by the installation, but by the program. The program creates the folder that is defined as the ‘Run Path’. This is the default location.
- This folder contains the RUN files and Multirun CSV files.
- Full Control Access
Top
Requesting a Security Key:
The Security Key is used to turn on/off different features of the program. The Key is request by sending Ariel a Security Code. The Key is then Saved in the Ariel.pwd file in the Program Files\Ariel\Performance folder, so make sure you have write rights when entering the Key.
- Run the Performance Program
- Go to Main Menu – Security – Setup – Access Key
- Click the ‘E-mail Code’ button in the lower left corner of the dialog.
- This will send an email to Ariel requesting the key.
- Ariel will generate the Security Key and email it back to you.
- Once you receive your Security Key, repeat steps 1 – 2
- Copy and Paste your Security Key from the email to the ‘Security Key’ field.
- Click ‘Accept Key’
- Verify that your ‘Current Access’ is what you requested.
- Click ‘Close’, you have finished the Security setup.
When you run the program the next time and find out that your requested rights are no longer there, then you probably only have read access to the Ariel.pwd file. You will have to contact you Administrator and re-enter the Security Key, steps 4 – 8.
Top
Frequently Asked Questions:
- Can I open old RUN files or Ariel 5.x files?
- Older version RUN files should always open with a new version program.
- Ariel 5.x Files are not compatible with Ariel 7.0 or greater.
- When I try to select a Frame or Cylinder, my list is completely empty.
- The program can not find the Ariel Database (Databook). The Performance program uses this database and needs to know where it is located. Go to the Main Menu - View – File Locations. Enter the location of the Ariel Databook or use the Browse button to find its location. The Ariel Database is Arldata.mdb.
- When I try to select a Frame or Cylinder I get an Error.
- You are connected to an older version of the Database. The Database and program are a matched set. If they become out of sync, then this kind of error is possible. I would try to run the installation again and do a ‘Repair’
- The Program starts, but I get an Error message telling me that is can not create ldb (lock) file.
- This is because you do not have the proper rights to the Database location. Contact your Administrator and have them refer to ‘Configure Folder Security Rights’.
- The program crashes when starting up.
- We have had different issues that have caused this to happen. The reason usually is because the required Micosoft DAO 3.6 feature is not install or corrupted. Refer to FAQ on Installing DAO 3.6.
- If that does not fix the crash, then email Ariel with your contact information and a screen shot of the splash screen with the error.
- How do I install DAO 3.6?
- This is supposed to be installed when the performance program is installed; however, we have seen when this does not always happen.
- You must be the Administrator in order to run the DAO install.
- Download DAO 3.6 and run. It is a pretty small download and fast installation.
Top