ACL for Windows Installation and Activation Guide

This guide provides detailed instructions for installing ACL for Windows, which contains the following components:

  • Analytics
  • Offline Projects

Upgrading from earlier versions

The ACL for Windows installation package performs a fresh installation of Analytics 17.0. The installer does not upgrade previous versions of Analytics or ACL Desktop.

Analytics 17.0 can be installed side by side with any previous version of Analytics or ACL Desktop prior to version 17.0.

Unicode and non-Unicode editions of Analytics or ACL Desktop can never be installed side by side, regardless of the version number.

ACL for Windows installation quick start

(For detailed installation steps, see Install ACL for Windows)

Important

When you install ACL for Windows, any existing Analytics sample data files are overwritten if they are in the Analytics working directory that you specify during the installation.

If you have made changes to any of the sample projects or data files that you want to keep, save the files elsewhere before installing, or rename the folder containing them. Do the same with the associated command log files if you want to preserve them.

Ensure Analytics can connect to the certificate authority

Analytics uses a digital certificate to validate its authenticity and integrity. The certificate requires an Internet connection to DigiCert, the third-party certificate authority, so that the certificate can be verified. If you are installing Analytics behind a network firewall, the firewall must be configured to allow the certificate to connect to DigiCert. Without the required connection, you will not be able to use Analytics.

For more information, see Ensure Analytics can connect to the certificate authority.

Download the installer

Sign in to Launchpad (www.highbond.com) and download the ACL for Windows installation package (ACLforWindows17.exe).

If you do not have Launchpad sign-in credentials, see Install ACL for Windows.

Extract the installation files

  1. Double-click the ACL for Windows installation package (ACLforWindows17.exe).
  2. If a security warning dialog box appears, verify the information listed, and click Yes.

    Tip

    The security warning dialog box could be hidden behind any windows you have open.

  3. Select the language you want to use for your installation and click OK.
  4. In the Setup Extraction Location page, click Extract.

    After the files are extracted the installer starts automatically.

Install prerequisites, if required

If you are prompted to install prerequisites, click Install.

After the prerequisites are installed, the installer automatically proceeds.

Perform the ACL for Windows installation

Follow the onscreen instructions to install ACL for Windows. The installer performs a fresh installation of Analytics 17.0.

In the ACL Edition Selection page, select the edition you want to install:

  • Non-Unicode
  • Unicode

Caution

Ensure that the edition you install is the correct edition for your company.

For more information, see Should I install the non-Unicode or Unicode edition of Analytics?

Note

If you are installing Analytics side by side with an earlier version, the installer enforces selecting the same edition as the currently installed version.

Non-Unicode and Unicode editions cannot be installed side by side. For more information, see Installing different versions or editions side by side.

Install optional Analytics data connectors and Python engine

Analytics offers data connectors to access data from a wide variety of supported data sources and a Python engine to enable Analytics machine learning commands. Some of these connectors and the Python engine are optional and you can choose to install them during the ACL for Windows installation.

Note

If you do not install the optional data connectors or the Python engine and want to use either of them later, you must uninstall and re-install ACL for Windows.

Exclude optional Microsoft Access Database Engine

The ACL for Windows installation or upgrade gives you the option of excluding Microsoft Access Database Engine from the Analytics installation. The Database Engine provides connectivity between Analytics and older Excel files, and Microsoft Access files.

  • Exclude the Database Engine if you use Analytics with only the current generation of Excel file (*.xlsx), and you do not use older Excel files (*.xls), or Microsoft Access files (*.mdb). The Database Engine can cause compatibility issues with other, newer Microsoft Office products. So exclude the Database Engine if you do not need it.
  • Include the Database Engine if you need to import from, or export to, older Excel files (*.xls), or Microsoft Access files (*.mdb).

Note

If Microsoft Access Database Engine is already installed on your computer as part of a previous ACL for Windows installation, you are not presented with the option to exclude the Database Engine.

If you exclude the Database Engine and later need it, you can uninstall and reinstall ACL for Windows.

Activate Analytics

Note

Analytics may already be activated if you are installing it side by side with an earlier version.

How you activate Analytics depends on your company's Launchpad authentication method:

  • Standard authentication If you have a single Analytics subscription, you probably use the standard authentication.
  • Authentication using a custom domain If your company uses Single Sign-On (SSO), you authenticate using a custom domain.

    Note

    If your company uses a custom domain, do not enter an email and password on the first screen of the Launchpad sign-in screen. Instead, click Sign in to a custom domain.

Standard authentication

For detailed information, see Activate Analytics.

  1. Double-click the ACL for Windows 17 shortcut on your desktop.

  2. Select the authentication type that you want to use and click Continue:

    • User name and password

    • Your Analytics token

  3. Enter your authentication credentials and click Sign in or Continue.
  4. Select your Diligent One instance if you are prompted to do so, and click Activate Analytics.

    If activation is successful, the ACL for Windows main screen appears.

Authentication using a custom domain

Note

This method of signing in and authenticating is available only if it has been set up by your company.

  1. Double-click the ACL for Windows 17 shortcut on your desktop.

  2. Select User name and password (or custom domain) and click Continue.

  3. Click Sign in to a custom domain at the bottom of the Launchpad sign-in screen.

    Important

    Do not enter an email and password on this screen.

  4. Enter your company's custom domain and click Continue.

    If you do not know your custom domain, contact the in your company.

  5. Enter your SSO credentials.

  6. Make sure your Diligent One instance is selected, and click Activate Analytics.

    If activation is successful, the ACL for Windows main screen appears.

    You can also click Continue without activating a license if you only need to use Offline Projects.

Start Analytics

To start working with Analytics, choose an option in the ACL for Windows main screen.

Option Action
Create a new, empty Analytics project Under Create, click Analytic Project
Open an existing Analytics project Under Open, click Analytic Project
Open a recently used or a sample Analytics project (*.acl) Under Recent Analytics Files, or Sample Files, click the name of a project