Installing SmartDraw on a Network Server
SmartDraw may be installed remotely on a server and shared by multiple users with a multi-seat license. The program is loaded from the server but actually runs on a user's client machine. No registry entries or other changes are made to the server. This method of installation requires the least amount of maintenance from an Administrative standpoint as only one installation of SmartDraw needs to be maintained and updated.
Step #1: Setting the server up properly.
- To install on a server, you must set up an appropriate network share. On the target server, create a folder called "SmartDraw".
- Right-click on the SmartDraw folder and select "Share & Security".
- Choose to share the folder and give it an appropriate share name.
- Click on the Permissions button to set the appropriate access to the folder.
- In the Permissions Dialog, click on "Add" to selectively add permissions to the folder.
- Under Normal Server configurations, you can give access to users, groups, or built-in security principles.
- Once permissions are set, your share on the server should be ready.
A Note on Permissions
The administrator installing SmartDraw should have "Full Control" over the folder.
It is recommended that you give users "Change" and "Read" permissions to the folder so they can freely access the program and make changes to libraries if necessary.
In the event you wish to lock down the environment, you can set the permissions to "Read" only for the folder with the exception of one file, SDX.DLX (that is created after you install SmartDraw).
This file keeps track of the number of seats used and must be set to "Change" and "Read" permission for all users.
You must set the permission of SDX.DLX after it has been installed.
Step #2: Installing SmartDraw
Once you've set up the share properly, run the SmartDraw "setup.msi" from the client machine or on the server.
If you install from the server, your installation directory should read:
C:\SmartDraw\SmartDraw 2010 (or the name of the shared folder you created)
If you wish to install to a client PC, you will need to map the SmartDraw share before proceeding to the next step.
- To Map your share, open My Computer.
- On the Tools menu, click Map Network Drive.
- In Drive, type or select the drive letter to map to the shared resource.
- In Folder, type the server and share name of the resource, in the form of \\server name\share name. Or click Browse to locate the resource.
- Click Finish.
- In the User name and password dialog box, in User name, type your user name if you are prompted.
- In Password, type your password.
After you've set up your mapped drive, you can then choose your newly mapped drive as the installation directory:
Your installation directory should read:
[Drive]:\SmartDraw\SmartDraw 2010
After you have your installation directory squared away, simply enter your serial number when prompted and let the installation finish (You should also have a live Internet connection to your client machine).
When the installation is complete, SmartDraw will create its license file sdx.dlx in the installation directory and then validate it by connecting to smartdraw.com.
Administering a Multi-Seat License
To access the Administration Dialog, start up SmartDraw, create a document, access the Help Ribbon, and select the "License" icon.
At the "SmartDraw Licenses Dialog, hold down the "CTRL" and "SHIFT" key and click on the "View Users" button. This will open the "Network Administration" dialog with Administrative rights.
If no "View Users" button is present, this means that no one has connected to the network copy of SmartDraw yet. Exit out of SmartDraw and have one or two users log on and exit out and try accessing the dialog again.
Each new client machine that makes use of a network installation of SmartDraw with a multi-seat license is added to the list of seats used.
The "Computer Name" is logged as the "User Name" and the computer's default hard-drive's serial number is recorded as the "Serial Number."
Once the number of seats purchased equals the number of seats used, no more clients may access the installation. You can disable users on the seat list to free up seats for a new user or old user. A disabled client cannot run SmartDraw from that client.
If you need more licenses, we'd be happy to explain the different options available to you. Just call 858-225-3370 or toll-free 800-817-4238, or e-mail sales@smartdraw.com.
Step #3: Creating Desktop shortcuts for your users
- Now that you have SmartDraw installed on the network, you can create shortcuts to the SmartDraw.exe file so they can run the program. Through Windows Explorer, browse to the SmartDraw installation directory on the server, and select "SmartDraw.exe", and go to the File Menu, and select "Create Shortcut."
- Deploy the shortcut to your users and they can click on it to run SmartDraw at any time.
