How do I install and configure the Act! Network Sync Service?

Question:  How do I install and configure the Act! Network Sync Service?
 
Product: 
Product Family:  Act!
Product:  Act! Premium
Version: 2005 and higher
 
 

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Answer: 
 
The Act! Network Sync Service (only available in Act! Premium) allows you to perform synchronization without having to have the Parent database open on the Server. This type of synchronization is designed for remote users that are connected to the Publisher database via a Local Ara Network (LAN), Wide Area Network (WAN), or Virtual Private Network (VPN). With this service running in the background, your remote users will be able to synchronize whether Act! is open or closed. Follow the steps below for instructions on installing the Act! Network Sync Service:
 
Important Notes:

• Network synchronization is only available with Act! Premium
• All Act! users must be using the same edition and version of Act! in order to successfully synchronize
• Act! uses a Publisher – Subscriber (or Remote) relationship. Remote databases can only be created from the Publisher database. The Subscriber database will initiate all synchronization, and can only synchronize with the Publisher database from which it was created.
• The Act! Network Sync Service does not need to be installed on the Subscriber computer

 
Installing the Network Sync Service

1. Ensure all applications are closed and disable any firewall or anti-virus software on your machine
2. Browse to the location where the Act! install files were extracted (Default is C:\Act!_Premium_XXXX, or C:\Act!_Premium_Web_XXXX, where XXXX is the version number or year, depending on the version of Act!)
3. Open the ACT Network Sync Folder, and double-click Setup.exe to begin the installation


Note: If you installed from a disc, insert the disc into the drive and browse the disc for the ACT Network Sync Folder. From there, double-click Setup.exe


4. When the InstallShield Wizard Welcome dialog box appears, click Next
5. In the Customer Information screen, enter the requested information, then click Next
6. In the Choose Destination Location screen, choose Destination Folder for the installation (if desired), then click Next
7. In the Select Program Folder screen, click next to accept the default Program Folder
8. In the Start Copying Files screen, review the settings, then click Next to begin the installation
9. When the installation completes, check the Launch Act! Network Sync (if desired), then click Finish

 
Configuring and Starting the Act! Network Sync Service
 
For instructions on configuring the Act! Network Sync Service, refer to the following knowledgebase article:
 
How to manage the Act! Network Sync Service