#

Installation Overview #

Okay, let’s get started! Before you can use Spectra, it must be
installed on each computer you plan to use it on. The installation process
will copy files and create settings based on your particular needs.

Before You Begin… #

Read the Installation Instructions #

Please read this entire chapter FIRST! Having
a basic understanding of the Spectra installation process before getting
started can save time.

Check the System Requirements #

Make sure your system meets the minimum system requirements to properly
run Spectra:

Additional Requirements: #

• The Windows user must have local administrative
  rights on each computer Spectra is being installed on.

Download the Spectra Installer #

You can download the installer from the Downloads
page on our website. Look in the Current
Version section of the page for the most current installer.

Click Save to download the installer
to your computer. Save the file to a shared network folder if you plan to install Spectra on more than one computer. Note:
This step is simply getting the installer from our website to your computer. You
can still use your current version of Spectra while the installer is being
downloaded. There will be no changes to your current program until you
actually run the installer (see the Basic Installation section below). Depending on the speed
of your Internet connection, the download could take a while. If
you are upgrading an existing version of Spectra, continue with the next
step while the installer is being downloaded.

Back Up Data Files and Uninstall Existing Version (Upgrades only) #

If you have a previous version of Spectra installed on your computer,
follow the steps below to remove it:

1. Click the Windows Start
   button and open the Control Panel.

2. Open Programs
   and Features.  

3. Highlight Spectra and click the
   Add/Remove or Uninstall
   button.

4. If you’re asked if you want to remove shared components,
   choose “Yes.” 

5. If you get a message indicating a certain file
   was not found, continue anyway.

Basic Installation #

Note: If you are installing Spectra on a
network, there are some additional installation steps. Follow the instructions
in the Installing Spectra on a Network topic in this guide.

We recommend closing any other programs
you may have running before starting the installation process.

1. Find the installation file you
   downloaded above and double-click to run it. If you are not
   sure where it was saved, search for a file that begins with “SPInstall.” The
   full name will include the version number and release. For example,
   one of the file names of the version 2013 installer is “SPInstall130103.exe.”
    

2. Accept the License
   Agreement to continue.

3. During installation, follow the online prompts
   of the Setup Wizard. We
   recommend accepting the defaults provided. Most studios should choose
   the “all users” option, ensuring Spectra will work
   for anyone that logs into Windows on this computer.

4. You will be notified when the installation is
   complete. Click OK to
   complete the installation process.

5. Choose your installation option.

HERE’S A FLASH FOR YOU!

“How do I know which installation to choose?”

• If
  you want to try out Spectra by evaluating more than one edition
  (Express, Standard, and Professional), choose Free 30-Day Evaluation.

• If
  you have already purchased a Spectra software license, choose Paid
  Product and then make one of the
  following selections:

• If you plan to run Spectra on just this
  one computer, choose Single
  User. It is easy to add users
  later and you can then use the Database
  Utility to move your data to
  a shared location.

• If you already have a network set up and
  a shared folder prepared for the first computer, use the Network – First
  Workstation choice.

• If this is a computer you are adding to
  your network that should use the already shared data files,
  choose Network
  – Workstation Add-On selection.

• If you are reinstalling Spectra on a workstation, choose the Reinstallation option.

6. If you chose one of the network options, you will
   be prompted to direct the installation to the shared folder. If
   this is the first station install, navigate to the shared folder where
   you want the database to reside. If this is an additional workstation,
   you also need to navigate to the shared location and then choose the
   database that is already in use. When setting up additional workstations,
   the database will already contain the company and user information,
   so the installation procedure will skip the next couple of steps.

7. The next page is where you enter your company
   information. In the Company
   Name section, type in your studio name and other company information.
   Note: All the fields can be changed
   later EXCEPT the Company
   Name field. Make sure
   to type in your studio name exactly as you want it to appear throughout
   Spectra, including reports, invoices, etc.!  The program
   will not let you continue until all fields are completed (except the
   2nd line of the address). 

8. Next you will be prompted to provide the user’s
   full name and initials (unless you are using the network add-on option).

9. For the 30-Day
   Trialchoice, the next
   page will prepare you to activate your product. If you’re installing
   a paid product and chose Paid Single or Network
   – First Workstation, you will be prompted to enter your product
   code(s) and you will be registered automatically.  

10. Click Finish
    to complete your installation.