Gradience Pro / Enterprise - Move from Standalone to Server-Client While Going from Optima to Gradience

Go from running the program on a single computer as a standalone to running it on multiple computers sharing the same database while also upgrading from Optima or MyBiz to Gradience version 12

STOP! Please print these instructions first!

When you click to download the installation file, you will be taken away from these instructions. By printing out these instructions, you can follow the steps below once you are on the web page where you will be downloading the installation tile.

--IMPORTANT-- The current version will look and feel nearly identical to your old Optima or MyBiz software and it [should] be able to read your original data. We moved away from Optima and MyBiz in late 2006. That said, the database for the data is too old to be transferred over to our latest version of Gradience. We unfortunately do not offer support for this and apologize for the inconvenience.

Find your Database File and Copy it:

1. At the computer where you used Optima or MyBiz, open the Hrware.ini file. This file will tell you where your database file is located.

• On an XP computer or a 2003 Server the Hrware.ini file will be located at C:\Windows.

• On all newer operating systems, the Hrware.ini file will be located at C:\ProgramData\Gradience

--NOTE-- The Programdata folder may be hidden. You may go online to see how to unhide this folder on your operating system.

Near the top of the Hrware.ini file, you will see three lines as shown here…

[HRWARE]

PATH=

SERVER=

2. The last item in the PATH line; (hrware.gdb) refers to the database.

3. Go to where it resides and copy it.

4. Paste a copy of this folder into a neutral place where it can be retrieved later. 

Download the installation file to the Server:

1. To install version 12 please click here. It is not until you actually begin to install it that you may select the specific software title(s) that you need.

Installing on the Server:

1. Run the installation and be sure to select Server when prompted as shown here...

2. When given the option, check the software title(s) for which you have a license and then click Next.

3. Go to that neutral location where you pasted a copy of the original database file and copy it again.

4. Go to the new server and use the copy of the original database (Hrware.gdb) to replace the new, blank one that was created by the installation process.

Open Gradience on the NEW Server:

1. Open the order confirmation email that you received from our company and copy the 32-character product key for the 2017 license. Then minimize but do not close that email. 

2. At the NEW server open a Gradience software title and when prompted, paste in the product key for that specific software title. Once in, you can click a tab for another Gradience software title that you may have installed and then enter the specific product key for that title. 

3. Verify that you see all of your data and then click Help > About to verify the software version number. 

Install the new software on a NEW client workstation:

If you find that you must update Gradience on your old computer follow these steps...

1. Move a copy of the installation file to the desktop of the old computer.

2. Run the installation there and select Standalone when prompted. Do not select Client or Server.

Turn the old standalone into a Client Workstation:

These steps are only valid if you were fortunate enough to have gotten Optima or MyBiz to run on a Windows 7 or newer computer. (Highly Unlikely) 

1. Go to the New server and go to C:\Programdata\Gradience and copy the Hrware.ini file and then paste that copy into a neutral location where you can retrieve it later.

2. While still at that neutral location, open the copy of the Hrware.ini file and take note of the 3rd or 4th line down where you see SERVER= as shown below.

3. Change Localhost to the name or the IP Address of the NEW server. DO NOT change the PATH= line.

4. On the original computer go to C:\Programdata\Gradience. The Programdata folder may be hidden.

5. Use the copy of the Hrware.ini file that has just been changed to replace the original one.

If you encountered any troubleshoot connection issues visit this ARTICLE.