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Network Installation Guidelines

IRIS PAYE-Master

Please Note: IRIS PAYE-Master isn’t recommended for network use. The following instructions represent best usage guidance only. If you decide to proceed with this set-up please ensure you create frequent back ups to help mitigate against database corruption.

  1. Set-up a common location to hold the data / licencing information. This would need to configured as mapped network drive rather than a UNC path (ie “P:\payroll” as opposed to”\\serversbs\payroll\payroll”). This mapped network drive must be configured exactly the same on all PCs you wish to run PAYE-Master. Do not run data from the root of the drive, create a sub folder on the mapped drive.
  2. Each user you wish to access PAYE-Master should be given permissions for full control of the folder and sub folders. Depending on your security/Anti Virus software you may also need to configure exceptions / exclusions to the data location. Refer to your system administrator for configuring permissions and security software.
  3. Run a local installation on each PC you wish to use PAYE-Master on. Even when using a network set-up each workstation must have the PAYE-Master program files installed locally. Follow the guide here for further details.
  4. Once the installation is complete, on each workstation we need to edit the file common.xml. This can be found (make sure to enable the option to show hidden files and folders):
    • Windows 7, 8 & 10: C:\ProgramData\IRIS Software Ltd\
  5. Right click on the file “Common.xml” and edit. You will need to change the text as highlighted to the mapped drive configured above (this file will need to be edited on each workstation):
  6. Next copy and paste the file Central.DAT into your mapped drive (You will find this file in the same folder as common.xml as above. This will only need to be done from one workstation).
  7. Start up PAYE-Master and record licence details.
  8. Once activated you can then create new companies or import existing companies from the mapped network drive.

IRIS Payroll Business / Bureau

Skip to moving a local installation to a network

New Network Installation

  1. Set-up a common location to hold the program data. This would need to configured as mapped network drive rather than a UNC path (ie “P:\payroll” as opposed to”\\serversbs\payroll\payroll”). This mapped network drive must be configured exactly the same on all PCs you wish to run Payroll Business / Bureau payroll. Do not run data from the root of the drive, create a sub folder on the mapped drive.
  2. Each user you wish to access Payroll Business / Bureau payroll should be given permissions for full control of the folder and sub folders. Depending on your security/Anti Virus software you may also need to configure exceptions / exclusions to the data location. Refer to your system administrator for configuring permissions and security software.
  3. Once your shared location is set up you need to run the software setup on each workstation PC. There is no need to run any installer directly on the server.
  4. Work through the installation wizard, when asked what type of install you wish to run, on the 1st PC choose complete:
  5. At the next step the wizard will ask you where you wish to install, browse to the mapped drive created above and install to folder there:
  6. Complete the rest of the wizard to finish the installation. PLEASE NOTE: Do not attempt to run a network installation with ANY user logged into payroll.
  7. Repeat steps 1-6 on each workstation you wish to run payroll from.
  8. Start payroll from any PC and record your licence details.
  9. Once activated you can create/run companies shared over your mapped network drive.

Move existing local install to network

  1. Set-up a common location to hold the program data. This would need to configured as mapped network drive rather than a UNC path (ie “P:\payroll” as opposed to”\\serversbs\payroll\payroll”). This mapped network drive must be configured exactly the same on all PCs you wish to run Payroll Business / Bureau payroll. Do not run data from the root of the drive, create a sub folder on the mapped drive.
  2. Each user you wish to access Payroll Business / Bureau payroll should be given permissions for full control of the folder and sub folders. Depending on your security/Anti Virus software you may also need to configure exceptions / exclusions to the data location. Refer to your system administrator for configuring permissions and security software.
  3. Once your shared location is set up you need copy the local program folder onto the mapped network drive. To find the location of your program folder you can check in “Help” > “About” in Bureau / Business:
  4. Copy and paste this folder onto your mapped drive.
  5. Uninstall the local copy of Payroll Business / Bureau. Don’t worry this will not remove any payroll data files.
  6. Once the local copy has been uninstalled we need to re install for network use.
  7. Work through the installation wizard, when asked where you want to install to browse to the folder on your mapped network drive (the one you just copied over)
  8. For the type of setup on the 1st PC choose complete:
  9. Repeat from step 5 for any other PC you want connect to the new network location. PLEASE NOTE: Do not attempt to run a network installation with ANY user logged into payroll.
  10. Start payroll, if you are asked to provide licence details you have made a mistake in the steps above. Uninstall and run setup again making sure you have browsed to the same folder you copied onto the mapped drive.
  11. When you first access each company you will be warned that the system cannot find the data files, do you wish to search for them. Click yes, browse to the mapped drive and click the file shown. Eg If you are trying to open company number 1 you would only see data files called 0001Data.MDB. It won’t be possible to open the wrong file for the company. You will only need to do this once for each company you use.

Earnie / IRIS Payroll Professional

Skip to moving a local installation to a network

New Network Installation

  1. Set-up a common location to hold the program data. This would need to configured as mapped network drive rather than a UNC path (ie “P:\payroll” as opposed to”\\serversbs\payroll\payroll”). This mapped network drive must be configured exactly the same on all PCs you wish to run Earnie / Payroll Professional. Do not run data from the root of the drive, create a sub folder on the mapped drive.
  2. Each user you wish to access Earnie / Payroll Professional should be given permissions for full control of the folder and sub folders. Depending on your security/Anti Virus software you may also need to configure exceptions / exclusions to the data location. Refer to your system administrator for configuring permissions and security software.
  3. Once your shared location is set up you need to run the software setup on each workstation PC. There is no need to run any installer directly on the server.
  4. Work through the installation wizard, when asked what type of install you wish to run, choose “install“:
  5. At the next step the wizard will ask you where you wish to install, browse to the mapped drive created above and install to folder there:
  6. Complete the rest of the wizard to finish the installation.
  7. Repeat steps 1-6 for each remaining PC you wish to access payroll from. PLEASE NOTE: Do not attempt to run a network installation with ANY user logged into payroll.
  8. Start payroll and record your licence details.
  9. Once activated you can create/run companies shared over your mapped network drive.

Move existing local install to a network

  1. Set-up a common location to hold the program data. This would need to configured as mapped network drive rather than a UNC path (ie “P:\payroll” as opposed to”\\serversbs\payroll\payroll”). This mapped network drive must be configured exactly the same on all PCs you wish to run Earnie / Payroll Professional. Do not run data from the root of the drive, create a sub folder on the mapped drive.
  2. Each user you wish to access Earnie / Payroll Professional should be given permissions for full control of the folder and sub folders. Depending on your security/Anti Virus software you may also need to configure exceptions / exclusions to the data location. Refer to your system administrator for configuring permissions and security software.
  3. Once your shared location is set up you need copy the local program folder onto the mapped network drive. To find the location of your program folder you can check in “Help” > “About……….” in Earnie / Payroll Professional:
  4. Copy and paste this folder onto your mapped drive.
  5. Uninstall the local copy of Earnie / Payroll Professional. Don’t worry this will not remove any payroll data files.
  6. Once the local copy has been uninstalled we need to re install for a network use.
  7. Work through the installation wizard, when asked where you want to install, browse to the folder on your mapped network drive (the one you just copied over)
  8. For the type of setup on the 1st PC choose Install:
  9. Work through the same process on each remaining PC you wish to access payroll from. PLEASE NOTE: Do not attempt to run a network installation with ANY user logged into payroll.
  10. Start payroll, if you are asked to provide licence details you have made a mistake in the steps above. Uninstall and run setup again making sure you have browsed to the same folder you copied onto the mapped drive.
  11. When you first access each company you will be warned that the system cannot find the data files, do you wish to search for them. Click yes, browse to the mapped drive and click the file shown. Eg If you are trying to open company number 1 you would only see data files called 0001Data.MDB. It won’t be possible to open the wrong file for the company. You will only need to do this once for each company you use.

IRIS HR Manager

  1. Set-up a common location to hold the data / licencing information. This would need to configured as mapped network drive rather than a UNC path (ie “P:\payroll” as opposed to”\\serversbs\payroll\payroll”). This mapped network drive must be configured exactly the same on all PCs you wish to run HR Manager. Do not run data from the root of the drive, create a sub folder on the mapped drive.
  2. Each user you wish to access HR Manager should be given permissions for full control of the folder and sub folders. Depending on your security/Anti Virus software you may also need to configure exceptions / exclusions to the data location. Refer to your system administrator for configuring permissions and security software.
  3. Run a local installation on the 1st PC you wish to use HR Manager on. 
  4. Start HR Manager. Work through the registration wizard to activate the product. This process will also take you through creating the company data file:
  5. When you click “Finish” you will be asked where to save the company database. You need to make sure this is saved in a folder on the mapped drive set up above:
  6. Save the file and complete the rest of the registration wizard.
  7. Once the registration process is complete close HR Manager. We now need to copy the file central.dat to the mapped network drive. This can be found here (make sure to enable the option to show hidden files and folders):
    • Windows 7, 8 & 10: C:\ProgramData\IRIS Software Ltd\
  8. Go back into IRIS HR Manager and click on ‘Setup’ > ‘HR Manager Wizard’.
  9. Put a tick in ‘Update Company Connection’ then click ‘Next’:
  10. Click on the ‘Browse’ button and navigate to the mapped drive on the network containing the CENTRAL.DAT file then click ‘Open’ and then ‘Finish’:
  11. Close HR Manager while you set up on the remaining PCs.
  12. Install HR Manager on each PC.
  13. Start HR Manager and you will get the registration wizard. This time we select the option “Just Register” and “Next”:
  14. On the ‘Connect to Company’ screen click on the ‘Browse’ button to locate the central.dat file that was created on the first PC, looking on the mapped network drive, highlight the file and click ‘Open’ then click ‘Next’.
  15. On the ‘Create Employee’ screen click ‘Next’.
  16. On the ‘Create User’ screen click ‘Next’.
  17. Click ‘Finish’ to complete the registration process. This PC is now linked to the networked data. Repeat the process from step 12 for each PC on which you wish to use HR manager.

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