Software update guides

The following guides cover updating each component of the Apteco software suite. Follow them in the order listed for a full system update.

FastStats Configurator¶

To install the latest FastStats Configuration utility on your FastStats Servers:

Note

Depending on your server configuration, this may be two or more installations.

Use Add or remove programs to uninstall the FastStats Configurator.
Open the WebService.zip file and browse to the WebService\Configuration Utility folder.
Run the FastStats Configuration x64 Setup.msi file.

To confirm the update on each machine:

Launch the FastStats Configurator.
Check the version information returned from Help > About.

Note

For 32-bit machines, use FastStats Configuration Setup.msi. If you have a 64-bit operating system, you shouldn't use the 32-bit installer.

FastStats Designer¶

Install or update FastStats Designer on the machines you use to build FastStats databases.

To install FastStats Designer, run the FastStats Designer x64 Setup.msi from the Designer.zip folder.

Note

The installer automatically uninstalls any previous version so there is no need to uninstall FastStats Designer before updating.

Note

If you see a 'no valid licence found' error, uninstall FastStats Designer, delete C:\Program Files\Apteco\FastStats Designer\FastStats Designer.exe.config, and reinstall.

Info

If you have multiple Apteco software applications installed on the machine, it's quicker and easier to uninstall each of them at this point. If you do this, please ignore any subsequent 'uninstall' steps.

Note

FastStats Designer x64 Setup.msi is a 64-bit installer. The 32-bit installer is available on demand from Apteco.

FastStats system databases¶

Note

The Q2 2024 release upgrade process creates additional SQL Server Logins to keep single and multiple database configurations consistent. Creating these logins requires 'sysadmin' permission when running these update scripts for the first time.

To update any FastStats system databases:

Launch the FastStats Configurator running on the FastStats Server, then select Database Management.
Select the Database Update Wizard, then select Start Wizard.

The Update Database Wizard opens.
Select Edit and define a connection string to connect to your Configuration database (usually named 'FS_Config').

Note

If you are using an SQL Server Express edition, you probably need \SQLEXPRESS on the SQL Server name. The default faststats_service account typically used for the FastStats Service and FastStats Web Service isn't sufficient for this. The script includes system-level changes, such as altering database recovery settings.
Select Browse.
Highlight the configuration you wish to update, then select OK.

This returns you to the Update Database Wizard.
Select Next.
Select the databases to update, then select Next.
Select Run Scripts.

Note

Selecting View Notes gives you the ability to copy the script to view its contents. Each Update Database script then runs, with a progress bar showing completion status. A View Log button becomes available for each script as it runs.
If errors occur, the same column shows them alongside 'Complete' and 'Running'.

Warning

Use the Restart button to restart the wizard for each configuration you have defined in your configuration database.
Select Finish when you have updated each configuration defined in the configuration database.

FastStats Web Service¶

Before you begin, make a note of the website that the FastStats Web Service is currently installed in.

To install the latest Web Service:

Use Add or remove programs to uninstall the FastStats Web Service.
Run the Setup.exe Web Service installer from the WebService\WebServer\Web Service Installer folder.
Choose the website to install to, together with the name of the virtual directory to create.
Choose the physical directory to install the FastStats Web Service into.
Select Next and then Install.

Note

Since the Q3 2015 release, the FastStats Web Service installer automatically creates a 'FastStats App Pool' Application Pool to run the FastStats Web Service. If you wish to run the FastStats Web Service using a different application pool, adjust this manually afterwards.

FastStats Service¶

Use the FastStats Configurator to update the FastStats Service on each of your FastStats Server machines.

Note

The FastStats Configurator ships and fully manages the FastStats Service.

To update the FastStats Service:

Open the FastStats Configurator, then select FastStats Services.
Highlight each service (either individually or hold Shift and select multiple), then select Update.

This process installs the new FastStats Service program files into each registered instance of the FastStats Service.

Note

In future releases you will be able to use Choose Version to determine which version of the service to install. The FastStats Configurator currently only contains one version of the FastStats Service.

Notice that the above dialogue shows both the current version of each FastStats Service, together with the version that it can be upgraded to.
Select Upgrade. You should see a message showing the services that upgraded.

If necessary, use the FastStats Configurator to review your FastStats Service configuration.

Apteco FastStats¶

Note

Although you may install Apteco FastStats locally on each machine, it's typically delivered through the 'Apteco Launcher' from the web server. The latter is the preferred method as you can simply update the server rather than uninstall and reinstall on each user's PC.

The FastStats Launcher requires .NET Framework 4.6.2 or later and supports Transport Layer Security (TLS) 1.3 and later. The mechanism to deliver executable 'binaries' from the server has changed. These binary files are now held in a new Configuration database, allowing easier updates and greater flexibility.

FastStats local¶

To update a local Apteco FastStats copy:

Use Add or remove programs on the client machine to uninstall FastStats Discoverer.
Run FastStats64Setup.msi from the FastStatsLocal folder.

Note

FastStats64Setup.msi is a 64-bit installer. The 32-bit installer is available on demand from Apteco.
Repeat the previous two steps for each Discoverer Local user's machine.

FastStats web server launcher¶

To update Apteco FastStats delivered through the Apteco Launcher mechanism:

Open the FastStats Configurator on the Application server. This avoids having to install the application on the Web Server.
Select Web Service and either:
- Enter a valid connection string to your FastStats Configuration database.
- Select Edit to create one.
Select OK.
Select Client Binaries.
Highlight the Binaries configuration you wish to update, then select Update.
Highlight which package to update the Binaries with, then select OK.

Note

The Choose Package dialogue shows the version of the FastStats Discoverer software shipped within the FastStats Configurator.
When the binaries finish updating, select OK. You can now close all FastStats Configurator windows.

Apteco PeopleStage¶

Note

Although you may install Apteco PeopleStage locally on each machine, it's typically delivered through the 'Apteco PeopleStage Launcher' from the web server. The latter is the preferred method as you can simply update the server rather than uninstall and reinstall on each user's PC.

The mechanism to deliver PeopleStage executable 'binaries' from the server has changed to match FastStats. These binary files are now held in a new Configuration database, allowing easier updates and greater flexibility.

PeopleStage local¶

To update a local PeopleStage copy:

Use Add or remove programs on the client machine to uninstall Apteco PeopleStage.
Run PeopleStage64Setup.msi from the PeopleStageLocal folder.

Note

PeopleStage64Setup.msi is a 64-bit installer. The 32-bit installer is available on demand from Apteco.
Repeat the previous two steps for each PeopleStage Local user's machine.

PeopleStage web server launcher¶

To update Apteco PeopleStage delivered through the Apteco Launcher mechanism:

Open the FastStats Configurator on the Application server. This avoids having to install the application on the Web Server.
Select Web Service and either:
- Enter a valid connection string to your FastStats Configuration database.
- Select Edit to create one.
Select OK.
Select Client Binaries.
Highlight the Binaries configuration you wish to update, then select Update.
Highlight which package to update the Binaries with, then select OK.

Note

The Choose Package dialogue shows the version of the PeopleStage software shipped within the FastStats Configurator.
When the binaries finish updating, select OK. You can now close all FastStats Configurator windows.

Plugins¶

Online mapping¶

If you use the online mapping module, use the following steps to apply the shape files to the binaries:

Create a zip file containing all the shape files.
Use Add to apply the zip file as a package.
Choose binaries\maps as the location.

For more details, see the Online mapping installation guide.

Storyboard¶

Typically, you enable the Storyboard plugin by using the FastStats Configurator on your server to change the Client Configuration. The FastStats Launcher reads this configuration when starting FastStats.

To enable Storyboard:

Open the FastStats Configurator and select Web Service.
Select OK to confirm the connection string for your FastStats Configuration database. The connection string is normally already in place but masked. You can select the connection string to see it, or select Edit to change it.
Select Client Configuration.
Select your Discoverer configuration and select Edit.

Note

The client name for Apteco FastStats is Discoverer.
Select the Storyboard checkbox on the Plugins tab to enable Storyboards in FastStats.
Select OK and close each of the windows in turn.

If you aren't using the normal FastStats Launcher, use the DiscovererConfigurator.exe application to enable Storyboard on FastStats Discoverer Local Edition. You'll find this application in the same folder as FastStats Discoverer.

Note

There is no Start menu icon for this configuration application. Navigate to the folder using File Explorer and double-click DiscovererConfigurator.exe to run it.

To enable Storyboard in FastStats Local:

Choose File > Open and navigate to open the Discoverer64.exe.config (64-bit) or Discoverer.exe.config (32-bit) configuration file.
Select the Storyboard checkbox on the Plugins tab.

FastStats Excelsior¶

You install FastStats Excelsior locally on each user's machine.

To update FastStats Excelsior:

Use Add or remove programs on the client machine to uninstall Excelsior.
Run Excelsior64Setup.msi from the Excelsior folder.

Note

Excelsior64Setup.msi is a 64-bit installer. The 32-bit installer is available on demand from Apteco.
Repeat the previous two steps for each Excelsior user's machine.

FastStats Email Response Gatherer¶

To update the FastStats Email Response Gatherer utility (FERG):

Use Add or remove programs on the server that runs the FERG utility to uninstall the FERG.
Run EmailResponseGatherer64Setup.msi from the DigitalIntegration folder.

Note

EmailResponseGatherer64Setup.msi is a 64-bit installer. The 32-bit installer is available on demand from Apteco.

If you run more than one FERG instance, copy the installation directory's contents to each custom installation of the Email Response Gatherer. Exclude the EmailResponseGatherer…exe.config file.

The Email Response Gatherer is typically installed in either:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Apteco\FastStats Email Response Gatherer
C:\Program Files\Apteco\FastStats Email Response Gathererx64

If you are unsure of this update process, please contact Apteco Support.