Customer Support>Software Installation

Thermoflow Software Setup

Setup of Thermoflow software involves two steps: INSTALLATION and REGISTRATION.  This process was significantly modified starting with TFLOW15.  The current process is described below.

INSTALLATION - Overview

This process copies the files from your installation CD and expands them in the proper places on your computer’s hard drive.  For a fully-functional, licensed installation, you will be asked to enter your Site ID number and Product Activation Code, which you should find on the label of the CD case.

Go to INSTALLATION - Step-by-step instructions

REGISTRATION - Overview

This step conveys your Site ID number, hardware key identification, Username, Password, and related site information to the Thermoflow website.  In return, the website supplies a unique file, TF1600.txt, which you must copy to your program folder, (C:\Tflow16\ by default) to enable the software on your computer with your key.  You will need to connect, directly or indirectly, with the Thermoflow website to complete the REGISTRATION task.

Go to REGISTRATION - Step-by-step instructions

INSTALLATION – Step-by-step

Start Window

Installation of your Thermoflow software begins with inserting the installation CD. 

When the process begins, the window shown below will be displayed. 

If your computer doesn’t automatically start programs on CDs when they are inserted, you will need to use My Computer or the Windows Explorer to find and start the file TFSETUP.EXE in the root directory of the CD.

Installation Options – Licensed or Demonstration

If you are installing the software at a licensed site, you will need to enter your Site ID Number and your Product Activation Code in the entry boxes at the lower left of the screen.  These will be clearly identified on the CD case that accompanied your new installation CD.    When you have completed the installation, you will want to store the CD and its case in a secure location from which you can retrieve it as necessary for repeat installations.  The installation will proceed most quickly and easily if you attach the hardware key to your computer before proceeding, and if your computer can connect to the Thermoflow website.

If you are installing the software for demonstration purposes, you will not need the Site ID or Product Activation Code.  Select the option “Install demonstration software only”.

Begin Installation

Starts the installation process, first checking to see if the Site ID Number and the Product Activation Code you have entered are consistent.  If they are not, you will be prompted to enter them once again.  Characters within the Product Activation Code are limited to the numbers 0 through 9 and the letters A through F.

Cancel Installation

Terminates the installation.

Installation – Other Options

Welcome

Once the installation process begins, you will see the following confirmation screen:

Destination

This window tells you to make certain to close any open programs before proceeding.  Click the Next> button to continue to the following screen:

The default Destination Directory will be named C:\TflowXX, where XX is the version number.  The installation will not overwrite earlier versions of the Thermoflow software unless you deliberately install the new version in the same folder, which is not recommended.  In many cases, users will prefer to keep the preceding version of the software in place to guarantee continuity with ongoing projects.  If you prefer, you may un-install the preceding version either before or after installing the present version.  Each version is completely independent.

Setup Type

 Select from three Setup Type choices:

• Typical installs all the software and supporting files on the CD.  It includes all major programs, the 16-bit utility program QTPRO2, and the \Tutorials\ folder which includes a number of useful PowerPoint presentations describing software use.
• Compact installs the software without the 16-bit program or the \Tutorials\ folder.
• Custom allows you to select which elements of the software to install.  When Custom is selected, the screen shown below is displayed when leaving this menu.

When you have made your choice and clicked Next>, the file installation will begin, and indications of progress will be updated while files are copied and expanded in place.

HASP Device Driver Installation

When the files have all been transferred, you will see the following display:

If you have a recent Thermoflow installation, known to be functional, on this computer, you can select to Skip this, since a device driver for the hardware key is already in place.  Alternatively, if you know that you will need assistance from a System Administrator, you can use the Skip button to postpone the installation of the device driver.  To install the device driver at a later time, you can run the program “HASP Device Driver Installation” that will have been placed in the Thermoflow 16 program group.

With some operating systems, you will be told that you need to restart the computer after the files have been copied, as shown below.

When the installation is complete, you can select to launch the program as the Setup terminates, or you can simply end the process.

Setup Complete

 REGISTRATION – Step-by-step

For all except DEMONSTRATION installations, the new installation must be registered using Thermoflow’s web server.  The REGISTRATION process will enable the hardware key to interact with this version of the software on this computer.  This process begins when a licensed user first launches any of the licensed programs in the newly-installed suite of programs.  REGISTRATION requires connecting directly or indirectly to the Thermoflow website.

When a newly installed program is first started, it will search for an enabling hardware key.

Requirements – Key Device Driver Installed and Key Attached

Message – No Key and/or No Driver

If no key is attached to your computer, or if you have no HASP device driver installed to interact with your key, the following message will be shown:

If you had neglected to attach the key, attaching it and clicking Retry may be sufficient to proceed.  Clicking Cancel will stop the program, postponing the REGISTRATION process until you launch a program once again and it can detect that a hardware key is connected to the computer.  If the hardware key is attached, the problem may be the HASP Device Driver is not installed, or is malfunctioning.  Follow the steps below to install or re-install the HASP Device Driver.

Installing the HASP Device Driver

To invoke the installation program for the HASP device driver included with this CD, follow these steps:

1. Click the Windows Start button,

2. Choose the All Programs item,

3. Click the Thermoflow 16 program group,

4. Click the HASP Device Driver Installation icon to launch the installer.

The device driver and its installation program are provided by the hardware key vendor, Aladdin Knowledge Systems, Inc.  The exact screens you see during the installation varies from version to version.  However, in most cases, accepting the default choices is best.  You can visit the vendor's website at www.aladdin.com for additional information and more recent device drivers.

When both the key and the HASP device driver are available, your first attempt to run a program after INSTALLATION will invoke the message below:

Connecting to Register the Installation

ON-LINE Computer

Click this button if this computer is able to connect to the internet.  Subsequent screens will be displayed in your computer's default browser.  These screens have instructions you should read and follow carefully.  They will lead you through the steps to complete the REGISTRATION task.

OFF-LINE Computer

If this computer is isolated, and cannot connect to the internet, click this button instead.  Clicking this button produces a web page, ThermoflowWebLink.htm, stored in a location you choose.  It is easiest to save this file on a floppy disk, a USB memory stick, or any other removable media.  Then, bring the file to another computer that has internet access.

When you have this file available on a computer with internet access, double-click its name or icon to start the computer's browser.  Subsequent screens will be displayed in the browser.  These screens have instructions you should read and follow carefully.  They will lead you through the steps to complete the REGISTRATION task.

In either case, the REGISTRATION process will provide a Web Registration File, named TF1600.TXT, which you will want to download and place in your Thermoflow program folder, the directory where your programs were installed.  Unless you deliberately selected an alternate location, this will be the C:\TFLOW16\ folder.  If your own computer is on-line, you’ll be able to download the file directly to that location.  If your own computer is isolated and you are using a different computer for the REGISTRATION process, then you will want this file to be downloaded to your floppy disk or other removable media, letting you carry the file back physically to your own computer, where it can be copied to the Thermoflow program folder. 

Web Registration File not Found

If you try once again to run one of the programs, before completing the REGISTRATION process, or without placing the Web Registration File in the main program folder, the program will recall that it had previously provided you with the link to the Thermoflow web server and remind you that it now needs the Registration file, TF1600.TXT.  If you downloaded the TF1600.TXT file, choose the browse button on the right, and locate the file.  Otherwise, click the 'X' to close this window so you can complete the registration as described below.

Thermoflow Web Server Connection

The web server connection page, shown below, provides a link to connect to Thermoflow's web server.  This page is displayed either when you click to continue with the ON-LINE Computer button, or when you start the ThermoflowWebLink.htm file that you have brought to an internet-connected computer from an isolated computer.

When you click the Click here link, your browser connects to Thermoflow's web server and conveys the necessary registration information.  A new screen, shown below, is displayed for you to log in using a Username and a Password. 

Thermoflow Web Login

The first time you connect to Thermoflow's web server you will be asked to provide a Username and Password.  This data will help to identify you when you interact with the web server in future, and when you run Thermoflow software.  Note that you will use the Password many times more as you run the programs, so brevity will be rewarded.  Passwords can be from 1 to 10 characters in length, and are case-sensitive.

User Contact Information

Once you have provided a new Username and Password and clicked on the Submit button, or you will be shown a screen requiring contact information, which will be passed to our website. 

Several entry fields are required, and you will be able to proceed by clicking on the button near the bottom of the screen labeled Submit Information.  The website checks this information for completeness and then shows the screen below.

Download Registration File

This is the screen from which you will download the registration file, TF1600.TXT to your computer.  If this procedure is being run on the computer where the software was installed, download the registration file to the main installation directory, C:/TFLOW16, by default.  Otherwise, download this file to a floppy disk or USB stick so you can ultimately copy it to the main program installation directory of the isolated computer.  Click here here for more detailed download instructions.

When you have placed the TF1600.TXT file in its proper location, start the Thermoflow program of your choice.  When the program starts, it will seek your Username and Password before beginning, as shown below.  It will remember and use the most recently used Username to initialize that entry box, but will expect you to fill in the corresponding Password.

Licensed Site Restrictions

The login screen shown above displays important information about the license agreement governing your use of Thermoflow software.  You should read this screen and the entire software license agreement so you are fully aware of the agreement's limitations.  Each and every time you click the login button to start a Thermoflow program, you are explicitly agreeing to use the software in full compliance with the Licensed Site restrictions.