Section 2 - Installation

CARGOMANAGER is designed for use under Windows XP / Windows Vista / Windows 7, 8 and 10 and assumes a display set at 1024 * 768 resolution or better. Initial installation will only require around 20Mb of space, but when running more complex problems (say packing 200 containers with thousands of items!), 200Mb or more of temporary files may be generated. The installation uses the familiar InstallShield / Microsoft Installer used by many software companies.

The version, as standard, supports screen / printer operation in English, French, German and Danish languages, with the language of operation being selected on the opening screen.

The CD supplied normally contains copies of several of our software products including PALLETMANAGER and CARGOMANAGER software. The CD will normally autostart when placed in the CD drive and the Install Software option can then be selected.

All CD versions allow TRIAL installations of all our software products to be carried out. These TRIAL installations (only) MUST always be installed on a local (not network) drive of your computer (they will not function otherwise). The trial period is up to 21 days from installation. Normally no codes are required for such installations as they are pre-coded for trial.

A Licensed Enabled CD will have with it a set of license codes (specific to the software product), typically attached to the CD Case. These codes are needed when installing a fully licensed CD copy. A licensed user is able to successfully install the licensed software product on both local and network drives. The CD can be used to create a complete new installation or (if you have a current license / support agreement) for update of a previous installation. If you update an installation (in the same folder) then user configuration and database files from that release will be retained.

Before installing we would recommend that you firstly check the display mode of the computer. Whilst not essential for general operation some more advanced functions do require that the pc display is set (Control Panel / Display / Settings) into 32bit / True Color mode. If this not set then the user will be alerted.

(1) With Windows running insert the installation CD. The CD will normally autostart and you are then able to to select the 'Install Application' option to install CARGOMANAGER.

Note: It will NOT be necessary to de-install any previous copies of CARGOMANAGER - whether evaluation, trial or fully licensed that are already on the machine. User data files WILL be retained, but you should be aware that the first stage of Installation will remove application files before installing the new version.

If the computer on which you are installing already has a copy of the same version of the application installed then you may be prompted to Modify / Repair / Remove the application. Unless otherwise advised you should select Repair to update files accordingly.

(2) If you are installing in TRIAL mode then you must install on a local drive of your computer. If you have a licensed CD and a set of license codes then you can install either locally or on a network drive.

An InstallShield Wizard will guide you through the installation process. In choosing the destination location for the CARGOMANAGER files the default location (as with previous releases) is a folder CARGONT on your C drive. Installing 'over the top' of the previous release will retain all user created files.

All CARGOMANAGER files are normally held in this default folder, with the manual files etc in sub-folders below. No files (other than the CARGOMANAGER entry for the Start Menu and De-install) are placed in the Windows folders.

(3) The final installation step requires you to run the software. Select CARGOMANAGER using the appropriate Start / Programs entry which will have been added during installation.

When you run the software for the first time a License Screen may be displayed (showing for example the TRIAL Status of the installation). With TRIAL system you just select Continue to proceed with the trial.

With Licensed Systems the screen shown requires you to enter License Codes for the software product exactly as given and then select 'Continue'.

Very Important: When this is done correctly then you are immediately informed that the software is 'Fully Licensed'. Otherwise you will be informed that the software is in 'Trial mode'.

Licensed users must ensure that the 'fully licensed' message is displayed as described above - otherwise the software may fail on first use with a 'time expired' message, and will at the very least fail in a few days.

Users are encouraged to make use of the on-disk hyperlinked manual which can be accessed from the main CARGOMANAGER menu and from most screens. This includes a short Guided Tour and a Summary of New Features. The manual is a natural supplement to the individual Help entries available on most screens.

To remove CARGOMANAGER you can select Add/Remove programs from the Windows Control Panel (after selecting Start / Settings / Control Panel (or Start / Control Panel) in Windows).

This will remove most files, however you will need to delete the few remaining files in the installation folder (C drive - folder CARGONT by default), and the folder itself, (in both instances using Windows Explorer / My Computer) to fully remove the system. (This is because the files remaining are generated by the CARGOMANAGER user and not installed by CARGOMANAGER).

In some very rare situations you may find that an entry for any previously installed version of CARGOMANAGER remains on the start menu. This can be removed by using the right mouse button to highlight the unwanted entry and then selecting Delete. (Do not remove it using add/remove in Control Panel - this would remove some user data files and some of the current version application files)

As described earlier, the installation procedure carried out above will, by default, place your copy of CARGOMANAGER in the folder CARGONT on your C drive. If the previous release was installed in this default folder then all user files / settings will have been retained and no other action is required.

If however you used another folder for the earlier release, then to retain your earlier settings you will need to copy (using Windows Explorer etc) certain user files from the old folder as detailed below. All end-user files from release 4.0 and later of CARGOMANAGER are compatible with those in use with the current release. The files required are detailed below.

All of the above files, but ONLY these, can be copied from the older CARGOMANAGER folder to the new installation folder if required.

This release uses a powerful browser like interface to display the full manual and allow search of the whole manual. If you experience any problems in launching / using this then please see the comments in Appendix 1.10.

The operation of CARGOMANAGER is by its very nature highly sequential. Although users are likely to want to switch between certain screens (e.g. the two and three dimensional screen views of the loaded container), and facilities are provided to allow this, in the interests of ease of operation all screens are displayed maximised. Users can of course switch to other applications (using Alt/Tab or using the task bar). A Windows taskbar at the base / top of screen is assumed.

Whilst most CARGOMANAGER files can be re-created from the release disks in the event of computer disk failure, the user created/ modified files should be regularly backed up. The files are normally all held in the folder / directory in which CARGOMANAGER is installed, though it is possible for these to be automatically placed elsewhere (See Appendix 1).

NOTE! Not all files may exist in every installation, and the references above to files in the CARGONT directory assume a fully standard installation. As described elsewhere, files could be saved on other drives / directories, though this is not recommended. If in doubt the contents of the file CMCONFIG should be examined (using say Wordpad / Notepad) to determine whether alternate directories are in use for any of these files. Once again see Appendix 1.

This version of CARGOMANAGER is, on installation, configured to display screens and print results in English. However, as standard, users may configure the software (on the front screen) to operate in French, German or Danish.

A translation of the printed manual is NOT currently available. However the translated screens and translated tooltip help which do form part of the installation should ensure that this should not be a major barrier to use. Additional Help screens in English are provided which should also assist in overcoming any uncertainties regarding definitions etc.

The translations have been carried out by graduate nationals having a science / engineering / logistics background. However given the technical nature of some of the material, users may feel alternate translations of key terms might be preferable. We would welcome written feedback on any such examples.