TAXWISE CLONES AND COMPUTER WORKSTATION NUMBERS August 22, 2011

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1 SUMMARY This paper describes the process of cloning configured TaxWise installations from one computer to others. The assignment of a TaxWise workstation number to a computer can interfere with the successful creation of a TaxWise clone on that computer. This paper also describes how to manage the TaxWise workstation number on a computer which is used as a clone source. The procedures are current for TaxWise 2010, and we expect them to be similar, if not the same, for TaxWise The document will be revised if changes are needed for TaxWise 2011 after the software is released. SPECIAL CONSIDERATION For 2011, Microsoft.NET Framework 4.0 is required for TaxWise installation. All Windows updates and Microsoft.NET Framework 4.0 must be installed on the computer which will hold the original installation of TaxWise and on all workstations which will receive the cloned software. ADDITIONAL REFERENCE For more information on setting up a TaxWise network server and workstations (clients), refer to the Networking TaxWise for AARP Tax-Aide document on the Extranet under the Technology Hardware tab, Networking group ( Clones can be used to install the servers. INTRODUCTION What is a TaxWise clone? A TaxWise clone is a fully or partially-configured TaxWise installation consisting of a complete UTSyy folder that is copied from one computer (called the clone source computer) to other computers (called the clone target computers). The clones are used to easily set up standalone computers or TaxWise servers, but not workstations in a client/server configuration. How is the clone installed on a TaxWise standalone computer? The UTSyy folder from the clone source computer is copied onto a CD or a flash drive, from which it is then copied into the root directory of a drive on the clone target computer, e.g. the C: drive, encrypted drive, etc. The TaxWise workstation setup program, \UTSyy\TWTech\setup.exe, is then run on the clone target computer to install the TaxWise program. Despite its name, the TaxWise workstation setup program is used to install both network and non-network TaxWise installations on clone target computers. Clones are used widely in the AARP Tax-Aide program. AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Page 1 of 5

2 Clones save a lot of time when setting up multiple computers for your District or State for the tax season. Clones are not supported by CCH and they typically will not assist if you have problems with an installation that used a clone. However, in general, it will be transparent to anyone whether or not a computer was set up with the TaxWise CD or a clone. How is the clone installed on a TaxWise server computer? Basically, the procedure is the same as for the standalone computer. However, in this case three modifications have to be accomplished: 1. The TaxWise setup module has to be changed to indicate that this is a network installation. 2. The Save as workstation defaults box must be checked in the TaxWise setup module to save any changes for the workstations. 3. An Environment Variable has to be assigned with a workstation number given for the server. This value is usually 101, but can vary. [See the Procedures for setting workstation numbers, below. What is a TaxWise workstation number? A TaxWise workstation number is a three-digit number between 100 and 999 that uniquely identifies a computer that can participate in a TaxWise client/server network. A [first] computer that participates in any TaxWise client/server network is required to have an assigned workstation number that is different from the workstation numbers that are assigned to any of the other computers that participate in any TaxWise client/server network with that [first] computer. A computer that never participates in a TaxWise client/server network is not required to have an assigned workstation number, although it is permitted to have an assigned workstation number. The workstation number allows the workstation computers to have their own setup files, independent of other setup files for other workstations. WORKSTATION NUMBERS WHEN CLONING Care must be taken when preparing clones of the TaxWise program for general use. The computer on which a TaxWise clone is prepared should be a stand-alone computer without an assigned TaxWise workstation number. A TaxWise clone prepared on a source computer that has an assigned workstation number may not install properly on other computers. How workstation numbers may interfere with creating a TaxWise clone. A situation where TaxWise apparently "misbehaves" on a clone target computer can often be traced to a TaxWise workstation number being assigned on the clone source computer. The "cloned" setup files may have information in them that may not match the values that were set on the clone source computer. A TaxWise workstation number is automatically assigned to a computer if the computer is used on a LAN where only the "server" computer has a copy of TaxWise and all other computers AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Page 2 of 5

3 access TaxWise on the "server" computer. Starting with TaxWise 2009, a workstation number is also assigned whenever the TaxWise workstation setup program [\UTSxx\TWTech\setup.exe] is run. A computer with an assigned TaxWise workstation number maintains its setup information in the file \UTSyy\setup.nnn, where nnn is the TaxWise workstation number assigned to the computer. This differs from a computer without a TaxWise workstation number, which maintains its setup information in \UTSyy\setup.0. The following paragraphs describe how to detect and remove the TaxWise workstation number from a clone source computer so that a valid clone can be prepared that will install correctly on other clone target computers. Workstation preparation before installing the clone. (1) Open the x:\utsyy\ directory (where x is the drive on which TaxWise is installed and yy is a year, e.g. P:\UTS10\) and check for all files named SETUP.* (where * is any value). Delete all SETUP files except for SETUP.0 (the extension is zero). [If you want, you can copy SETUP.364 (or any other workstation setup file) to SETUP.0 before deleting all except the SETUP.0 file. This will set the defaults the same as for workstation 364.] Hint: check the modified dates on the files to determine which one was changed last. E.g., if your current computer has workstation number 364, there will likely a recently modified SETUP.364 file which should be copied to SETUP.0 before going to the next step. (2) Check to make sure that the computer does not have an Environment Variable with the workstation number (see instructions below). (3) Check all desired setup values and defaults; then carry out the clone procedure Procedures for checking the workstation number: Windows XP (1) Right-click on "MY COMPUTER" (2) Select "Properties" (3) Click on the "Advanced" tab (4) Click on "Environment Variables" (5) In the bottom panel System variables, a. Scroll down to the bottom of this panel b. Look for a line that reads: "WORKSTATION nnn" (where nnn is the workstation number) c. Highlight this line, then press the "Delete" button (6) Click "O.K.", then "O.K." again to exit (7) Reboot the computer to have the change take effect AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Page 3 of 5

4 Windows 7 (1) Right-click on "COMPUTER". (2) Select "Properties" (3) Click on the "Advanced System Settings on the left-side (4) Click on the Advanced tab (5) Click on "Environment Variables" (6) In the bottom panel System variables, a. Scroll down to the bottom of this panel b. Look for a line that reads: "WORKSTATION nnn" (where nnn is the workstation number) c. Highlight this line, then press the "Delete" button (7) Click "O.K.", then "O.K." again to exit (8) Reboot the computer to have the change take effect This effectively resets the workstation number to zero which is the workstation number for a stand-alone computer. However, if you are cloning a server installation (refer to the How is the clone installed on a TaxWise server computer, above) instead of removing the Environment Variable, the workstation number in the Environment Variable should be changed to the desire number for the server, usually 101. WORKSTATION NUMBERS PERSIST WHEN TAXWISE IS UNINSTALLED It is important to understand that TaxWise stores and retains the "Workstation number" separately from the installed software. SETUP.0 contains the setup parameters you entered when installing TaxWise initially and is created when TaxWise is first installed. When the TaxWise workstation setup program is run, a workstation number [nnn] will be assigned (if one doesn t already exist) and a new SETUP.nnn file will be created which contains information from the SETUP.0 file. There will be a SETUP.nnn file for every workstation, including the server, where nnn is the workstation number. This is why it is important to not have duplicate workstation numbers. The workstation number is maintained in the Windows Registry when you assign the Environment Variable - completely separate from any of the TaxWise installation files. Thus, the workstation number will persist even if TaxWise is uninstalled and the entire TaxWise folder UTSyy is deleted. WORKSTATION NUMBER CAUTIONS WHEN USING THE FL1 CLONE TOOLS Some AARP Tax-Aide volunteers use a set of tools called the FL1 Clone Tools for cloning TaxWise. These tools were developed by Lee Boszak, an AARP Tax-Aide Technology Coordinator in FL1 District 11. They are not supported by CCH, the AARP Tax-Aide National Technology Committee, or the AARP Tax-Aide National Technology Manager. An introduction AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Page 4 of 5

5 to these tools is posted on the AARP Tax-Aide Extranet under the Technology Software tab, TaxWise Desktop Version group. Version 8 of the FL1 Clone Tools was developed for cloning stand-alone installations of TaxWise. Version 10 provides full support for TaxWise client/server networking, as well as for stand-alone TaxWise installations. If you are using the FL1 Clone Tools, their author strongly recommends that you use Version 10, and NOT Version 8, of those tools whether or not you are using TaxWise client/server networking. Rationale: The setup program requirement for assigning a TaxWise workstation number interferes with the correct operation of the Version 8 clone tools, but does not affect the operation of the Version 10 clone tools. Users of the FL1 Clone Tools should read, study, and rely on the FL1 Clone Tools Version 10 User Guide for guidance regarding TaxWise workstation numbers and TaxWise setup. Since CCH provides no support for FL1 Clone Tools installations, you should be cognizant that changes in configuration as a result of TaxWise technical support assistance may require adjustment of clone configurations. For example, suppose the required fix modifies the setup.0 file. If you are using the FL1 clone, the file, once modified per CCH specifications, should then be copied to the setup.xxx file in all of your UTSICONS directories. AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Page 5 of 5