Table of Contents

Installation Instructions

Eric Updated by Eric

When installing software you must have administrator rights.

Single-User Installation

To install software on a stand-alone personal computer follow these steps:

  1. Download the software installer from the CFS Software Download Page.
  2. Run the software installer.
  3. Since we will be installing to this computer, choose "To this computer as a single user" and click Next.
  4. When prompted to "Choose the Destination Location", it is recommended to install to the default location. Click Next.
  5. A Windows desktop shortcut for the software is automatically created by the software installer. Launch the program by double-clicking on the desktop shortcut.
    1. If you see this prompt, Windows is confirming you want to run the program.
  6. Run the software, then when prompted, log in with your email address and your firm's CFS Customer ID.
    Each user should use their own email address.
  7. When running the software for the first time you may be prompted for your firm's information. Firm information entered here will appear on printouts generated by the software.
Firm information entered must match CFS records. To look up your firm information on the CFS website please log into your MyCFS Account.

Network Installation

A typical network installation is performed using one of the workstation computers (e.g. "Workstation 1" depicted below). The installer is run on Workstation 1 and it puts necessary files on the server (see First-Time Setup below. Then, it is installed to additional workstations (see Additional Workstation Setup at the end of this article).

First-Time Setup

Example First-Time Network Setup (shown above): A network consisting of 3 workstations and 1 server. A first-time setup is completed on Workstation 1. 

The first-time setup will establish a network location for client data files and ensures the workstation performing the first-time setup can run the software.

Follow the steps below to perform a first-time software setup on a network:

  1. Download the software installer from the CFS Software Download Page
  2. When the download is complete run the software installer.
  3. Since we will be setting this up for use on a network, choose "To a multi-user network (Requires valid network license" and click Next.
    If you have not yet purchased the network license, please visit www.taxtools.com to place an order.
  4. On the next screen, there are two Browse buttons. One is for Program location and one is for Client data location.
    1. Program Location: it is recommended to leave the Program Location as the default (C:\Program Files (x86)\CFS Tax Software Inc\...)
    2. Client Data Location: This is the network location where all workstations will access the same client data. Click Browse and use that dialog to select the network location, then click OK.
      If other CFS software is already on your network, we recommend choosing that existing location. Typically with most CFS software installations a folder named \CFSLIB is used for data storage and in some cases software storage. The software installer will automatically create data sub-folders inside the \CFSLIB folder.
  5. A Windows desktop shortcut for the software is automatically created by the software installer.
    IMPORTANT. At this point you can either launch the program and import clients (recommended) or skip ahead to the Additional Workstation Setup (WSSETUP) section to install to other workstations.
  6. Use this shortcut to run the software. 
    1. If you see this prompt, Windows is confirming you want to run the program.
  7. When prompted, log in with your email address and your firm's CFS Customer ID.
    Each user should use their own email address.
  8. When running the software for the first time you may be prompted for your firm's information. Firm information entered here will appear on printouts generated by the software.
    Firm information entered must match CFS records. To look up your firm information on the CFS website please log into your MyCFS Account.
  9. The first-time setup is complete. The program can now be installed to other workstations. See "Additional Workstation Setup (WSSETUP)" below.
It is recommended that prior-year clients are imported before additional workstations are set up.

Additional Workstation Setup (WSSETUP)

Example Workstation Setups (shown above): After the software had been installed on Workstation 1 and a client data folder selected on the Server, a workstation setup (WSSETUP) is performed on Workstation 2 and Workstation 3.

After the first-time setup (above) is completed the software can easily be installed on additional workstations by completing a workstation setup (WSSETUP) on each additional workstation that needs access to the software.

Follow the steps below to perform a workstation software setup (WSSETUP) on a network:

  1. Using Windows File Explorer navigate to the folder selected on the network during the first-time setup step 3 (above).
  2. Open the \WSSetup folder, then locate and run the setup.exe application. The workstation installer will automatically install the software on the local workstation and use a network location to store client data.
Software files are located here: C:\Program Files (x86)\CFS Tax Software Inc
Client data files are located in the network location selected during the first-time setup step 3 (above).
  1. A Windows desktop shortcut for the software is automatically created by the software installer. Use this shortcut to run the software.
  2. Each user can use the shortcut and, when prompted, login with their email address and the firm's CFS Customer ID.
    1. If this prompt is displayed it is Windows confirming the user wants to run the program.
Each user should use their own email address.
Firm information entered must match CFS records. To look up your firm information on the CFS website please log into your MyCFS Account.

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