Question: How do I install Act! Pro or Premium v18?
Product Details:
Product Family: Act!
Product: Act! Pro, Act! Premium
Version: v18
Answer:
Pre-install Information
NOTE: Starting with Act! v17.1, the full install of Act! comes with Microsoft SQL Server 2014. If you are upgrading from a previous version, it is recommended that you read the following knowledgebase article before proceeding:
Frequently Asked Questions about using Act! v17.1 and later with Microsoft SQL Server 2014
Answer ID Frequently Asked Questions about using Act! v17.1 and later with Microsoft SQL Server 2014
System Requirements:
Prior to installing Act!, please view the Act! System Requirements here: http://act.com/products/system/v18/
64-bit Operating System Compatibility:
Before proceeding with the installation, please see the following Knowledgebase article for important information regarding the compatibility of Act! with 64-bit operating systems:
Understanding Act! Compatibility with a 64-bit Operating System
Answer ID: Understanding Act! Compatibility with a Microsoft® 64-bit Operating System and Microsoft Office® 64-bit
System Permissions and Settings:
Before installing Act!, you will need to ensure that you are logged in to the computer as a Local Administrator and that File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft® Networks is installed as a service for the Local Area Connection.
Upgrading from Earlier Version:
If you are upgrading from an earlier version of Act!, please refer to the following Knowledgebase Answer:
How to upgrade to Act! v18 from a previous version
Answer ID How to upgrade to Act! v18 from a previous version
Software Installed with Act!:
Act! v18 automatically installs Microsoft SQL Server® 2014 Express, Microsoft .NET 4.0, and Windows Installer 4.5 components. These components are installed for you if they are not already on your computer.
If you would like to check for the components before installing Act!:
Windows Installer: Through Windows Explorer, browse to the location C:\Windows\System32, locate file MSI.DLL, right click on the file, select Properties, and check the Version tab.
Microsoft .NET Framework: In XP, this will be listed under the Windows Add/Remove Programs screen. In Windows Vista and later, this can be found in the Programs and Features option by selecting Turn Windows Features On or Off. Act! v18 integrates with Microsoft Outlook®, Word, and Excel®. If you plan to use the integration features, ensure Outlook, Word, and Excel are installed and working correctly before you install Act! v18.
If you plan to have two or more Act! users, all connected to the same database, and the database is on a separate server, you do not need to install Microsoft SQL Server Express on every computer. However, be aware that SQL Server Express is needed to create or synchronize a database. If you opt to skip the SQL Server Express install and your organization needs to synchronize or cut remote databases, make sure that SQL Server Express is installed on the computer that will host the database.
Act! installs its default database folder under the currently logged in user's My Documents folder. If you are logged into Windows® as the user named Administrator, you may want your database folder located in a more secure folder on your server.
Downloading Act!
You will find your Act! download link in the email that was sent to you after you purchased. If you are unable to locate your download link, contact your sales rep or call our sales department at 866-873-2006.
Once you click the download link, follow the steps below depending on your web browser.
Note: Some firewalls may block you from downloading the software. It may be necessary to temporarily disable your firewall in order to complete the download.
Downloading in Internet Explorer
Downloading in Chrome
Downloading in Mozilla Firefox
Installing Act! Pro/Premium v18
Warning: You may be prompted to reboot multiple times during the installation. If so, please click Yes to allow the installer to reboot. When you log back into your computer the installation process should continue
Product Details:
Product Family: Act!
Product: Act! Pro, Act! Premium
Version: v18
Answer:
Pre-install Information
NOTE: Starting with Act! v17.1, the full install of Act! comes with Microsoft SQL Server 2014. If you are upgrading from a previous version, it is recommended that you read the following knowledgebase article before proceeding:
Frequently Asked Questions about using Act! v17.1 and later with Microsoft SQL Server 2014
Answer ID Frequently Asked Questions about using Act! v17.1 and later with Microsoft SQL Server 2014
System Requirements:
Prior to installing Act!, please view the Act! System Requirements here: http://act.com/products/system/v18/
64-bit Operating System Compatibility:
Before proceeding with the installation, please see the following Knowledgebase article for important information regarding the compatibility of Act! with 64-bit operating systems:
Understanding Act! Compatibility with a 64-bit Operating System
Answer ID: Understanding Act! Compatibility with a Microsoft® 64-bit Operating System and Microsoft Office® 64-bit
System Permissions and Settings:
Before installing Act!, you will need to ensure that you are logged in to the computer as a Local Administrator and that File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft® Networks is installed as a service for the Local Area Connection.
Upgrading from Earlier Version:
If you are upgrading from an earlier version of Act!, please refer to the following Knowledgebase Answer:
How to upgrade to Act! v18 from a previous version
Answer ID How to upgrade to Act! v18 from a previous version
Software Installed with Act!:
Act! v18 automatically installs Microsoft SQL Server® 2014 Express, Microsoft .NET 4.0, and Windows Installer 4.5 components. These components are installed for you if they are not already on your computer.
If you would like to check for the components before installing Act!:
Windows Installer: Through Windows Explorer, browse to the location C:\Windows\System32, locate file MSI.DLL, right click on the file, select Properties, and check the Version tab.
Microsoft .NET Framework: In XP, this will be listed under the Windows Add/Remove Programs screen. In Windows Vista and later, this can be found in the Programs and Features option by selecting Turn Windows Features On or Off. Act! v18 integrates with Microsoft Outlook®, Word, and Excel®. If you plan to use the integration features, ensure Outlook, Word, and Excel are installed and working correctly before you install Act! v18.
If you plan to have two or more Act! users, all connected to the same database, and the database is on a separate server, you do not need to install Microsoft SQL Server Express on every computer. However, be aware that SQL Server Express is needed to create or synchronize a database. If you opt to skip the SQL Server Express install and your organization needs to synchronize or cut remote databases, make sure that SQL Server Express is installed on the computer that will host the database.
Act! installs its default database folder under the currently logged in user's My Documents folder. If you are logged into Windows® as the user named Administrator, you may want your database folder located in a more secure folder on your server.
Downloading Act!
You will find your Act! download link in the email that was sent to you after you purchased. If you are unable to locate your download link, contact your sales rep or call our sales department at 866-873-2006.
Once you click the download link, follow the steps below depending on your web browser.
Note: Some firewalls may block you from downloading the software. It may be necessary to temporarily disable your firewall in order to complete the download.



Installing Act! Pro/Premium v18
Warning: You may be prompted to reboot multiple times during the installation. If so, please click Yes to allow the installer to reboot. When you log back into your computer the installation process should continue
- Click Install Act! Pro/Premium on the Installation DVD Screen
- If not present, the InstallShield Wizard will install the Microsoft Visual C++2005 SP1 Redistributable Package (x86)
- If Internet Explorer® 7 or higher is not detected on the computer, you will be prompted with a dialog box to install the prerequisite before the Act! installation will continue
- If you do not have Microsoft .NET Framework 4.0 installed, you will be prompted to install it
- You may be prompted to reboot your computer if any of the following conditions are met:
- Microsoft .NET is being installed during the Act! installation
- Windows Installer 4.5 is being installed during the Act! installation
- You have just uninstalled a previous version of Act! prior to installing Act! v18
- If none of the previous conditions apply, you can skip the reboot step. If any do apply, click Yes to reboot
- When you log back in, the InstallShield Wizard will continue with the installation
- You may be prompted to reboot because of Microsoft SQL Server installation. If you are, please do so
- When you log back in, the InstallShield Wizard will continue with the installation
- Select the appropriate country in the Regional Version screen and click Next
- Read the License Agreement and select Accept if you agree to it
- Choose your installation type:
- Typical: Default settings, follow on screen instructions, then proceed to step 19
- Custom: Custom settings, proceed to the next step
- If you want to install SQL Server Express, leave the box checked. If not, uncheck it and click Yes to confirm
- Click Next to accept the default directory. You may click the Browse button to install Act! or the SQL Server Express (if applicable) into a different location if desired, however, this is not recommended
- Enable the appropriate Specify who can use Act! on the computer option:
- Anyone who uses this computer - all users that log onto the computer will be able to use Act! (recommended)
- Only me - only the current user logged into Windows will be able to use Act!. The Select Program Folder dialog box appears
- Click Next
- Take note the Program Folder name. Although you can enter a different folder name or choose from a list of Existing Folders, it is recommended that you simply note the default folder and click Next
- Should the installation recognize an e-mail database from a previous installation of Act!, you will be prompted with the options to save a copy or do not save a copy before conversion. Choose the desired option and click Next
- Enable the options that are best for you (defaults are recommended) on the Act! Icons dialogue box and then click Next.
- SQL Server installation will begin
Note: If you had previous version of Act! installed using SQL Server 2005, and the ACT7 SQL Server instance is still present on the computer, the Act! installation process at this step will upgrade the instance from SQL Server 2005 to SQL Server 2014
- Once SQL Server is successfully installed, a progress indicator will appear and the Act! portion of the installation will proceed
- When the installation is near completion, the following message appears: "Act! is finalizing installation"
- When the installation is completed, the Act! Install Complete dialog box will appear
- Check the desired options and click Finish to complete the installation process. When the installation menu reappears, you can choose to install other Act! applications or click Exit to close the installation menu