Installing the Repository Desktop Client

The Laserfiche Repository Desktop Client installation package includes several features, products, and components. Some of these must be installed together, and some can be installed separately. This page explains what each element of the installation is and when and where they can be installed.

Laserfiche Windows Client

The Windows client can be used to access your repository and work with entries. Most repository functions (such as adding, modifying and deleting documents, performing searches, applying metadata to documents, and so on) will be performed by users in either this Windows client or in the Laserfiche web client (which is a separate licensed product and installation). Because it is a desktop installation, the Windows client should be installed on every workstation on which it will be used. There is no license required to install the Windows client and no limit to the number of times it may be installed. A single Laserfiche Windows client installation can access multiple Laserfiche Servers and repositories. The Windows client stands on its own and does not need to be installed alongside any other components, although optional components may be installed with it.

Laserfiche Office Integration

The Laserfiche Office Integration allows users to easily send Microsoft Office documents to their repository and work with Office documents already in their repository. If you do not work with Office documents in your repository, you may choose not to install this component. The Office Integration cannot be installed on its own, and must be installed alongside the Windows client.

Laserfiche Administration Console

The desktop Administration Console provides tools for managing your repository in Laserfiche. Using the Administration Console, you can create users and groups, manage metadata types such as templates and fields, monitor repository activity, work with your index catalog, and perform other administrative tasks. You should either have at least one desktop Administration Console installed, or install the Web Administration Console along with your Laserfiche Server. A single Administration Console installation can access multiple Servers and repositories. The Laserfiche Administration Console stands on its own and does not need to be installed alongside any other components.

Repository Creation Wizard

The Repository Creation Wizard allows you to create repositories on your Laserfiche Server. It only needs to be installed on workstations from which you will be creating new repositories. The Repository Creation Wizard cannot be installed on its own, and must be installed alongside the Laserfiche Administration Console.

Laserfiche Snapshot

Snapshot is a Laserfiche product that allows you to print electronic files as imaged documents. Laserfiche Snapshot may be installed anywhere, but it can only send documents to repositories hosted by Laserfiche Servers that are licensed for Snapshot. Laserfiche Snapshot stands on its own and does not need to be installed alongside any other components.  However, if it is installed on the same computer as the Laserfiche Windows client, it can be used to process documents already stored in the repository.

Snapshot Shared Printer

The Snapshot Shared Printer component allows you to install Snapshot as a shared network printer. You should select this option if you will be using Snapshot as a shared printer. Note that installing this component on a Windows Server operating system will prevent you from using Snapshot locally on the computer on which it is installed. If you want to use Snapshot as a local printer, do not select this component. The Snapshot shared printer cannot be installed on its own, and must be installed alongside Laserfiche Snapshot.

Laserfiche Scanning

Scanning is a Laserfiche component that is used to scan and configure document and then send them to your repository. Scanning should be installed on every workstation that you will use to scan documents. Laserfiche Scanning cannot be installed on its own, and must be installed alongside the Windows client.

OmniPage OCR

Optical Character Recognition, or OCR, is a component that reads "reads" image pages and generates searchable text from them. OCR is not required for the Windows client, but workstations on which the Windows client is installed but OCR is not will not be able to generate searchable text from image pages. Because it is a large and resource-intensive component, you may choose not to install it on workstations that will never need to generate text. OCR cannot be installed on its own, and must be installed alongside the Windows client.

Language Packs

Language packs provide support for English, French, Italian, Arabic, Portuguese (Brazilian), Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional) and Spanish. By default, the Windows client is installed in English and in the language you ran the installation in. You can also choose to install other languages in this option. Language packs cannot be installed on their own, and must be installed alongside at least one other

Installation Procedures

To install the Laserfiche Windows Client

  1. From a workstation, insert the Laserfiche Installation DVD, or open the Laserfiche installation directory. A menu displaying Laserfiche installation options should appear. If it does not, run Autorun.exe, located in the root folder of the Laserfiche installation.
  2. Click the Install Windows Client option. The Laserfiche Windows client 10.4 setup will launch.
  3. In the Language Selection step, select how you want the installation to be displayed. This language setting only affects how the installation is displayed.
  4. The installation will launch and the Welcome step will appear. Click Next to continue.
  5. In the Prerequisites step, review the prerequisites that will be installed. Click Install to continue.
  6. From the License Agreement step, read the license agreement. Accept it by selecting the I accept the terms in the license agreement option. Click Next to continue.
  7. From the Setup Type step, select one of the following setup types:
    • Typical Install: The Laserfiche Windows client will be installed with all features, including Laserfiche Scanning, and Snapshot.

      Note: While you can install the Snapshot printer even if your Server is not licensed for it, Snapshot will not be able to save documents to a Laserfiche repository whose Server is not licensed for Snapshot.

    • Administrator: The Windows client will be installed with all features. The Laserfiche Administration Console and Repository Creation Wizard will also be installed.
    • Custom Install: Allows a custom installation of the Windows client. This option allows you to choose which features will be installed with the Windows client, and to specify a destination for the installation. It also allows you to specify an installation directory other than the default.

      Note: By default, Laserfiche Snapshot will be installed as a local printer. In Custom Install, you can choose to also install Snapshot as a shared printer.

  8. If the Custom Setup option was selected in step 7, the Custom Setup step will appear. If you chose another option, skip this step. Click on a feature to determine how it will be installed. Repeat for each feature you want to customize. In the Install directory options, type or browse to the location you want to install to. Click Next.
  9. If you currently have Microsoft Outlook or any other Office application running, the Files in Usestep may appear. Close all applications listed and click Retry to continue with the installation.

    10. Note: The Ignore option will exclude the ability to send documents directly from an Office application to a Laserfiche repository until you reboot.

  10. On the Ready to Install step, select Create Desktop Shortcuts if you want to place shortcut icons for the Windows client and, if you are installing it, the Administration Console on the desktop. (Start Menu links will always be included.) Click Install to begin the installation process.
  11. The installation process will run, displaying the product or feature currently being installed and the status of the installation. When the installation is complete, click Next to continue.
  12. On the Installation Complete step, select the Show the readme file option if you want to display the readme file. Click Finish to close the wizard.