Coffalyser.Net can be installed and used without an internet connection. However, an internet connection is recommended for ease of use, and can also be useful during installation.
Advantages of having an internet connection and allowing Coffalyser.Net to connect to MRC Holland's servers are:
- Simplified installation because all required components can be downloaded automatically.
- Ability to download and renew your free license from within the software.
- Ability to download the latest probemix information ("sheet library") from within the software.
- Ability to retrieve additional information and self-help suggestions for common errors from our servers.
Installing Coffalyser.Net without internet connection
During configuration of Coffalyser.Net, you can choose to have Coffalyser.Net install a preconfigured SQL Server or to use your own existing (non-preconfigured) SQL Server. SQL Server is used to host the database that contains all Coffalyser.Net data. Using an existing (non-preconfigured) SQL Server is often the preferred approach if you have one available.
If you have an existing (non-preconfigured) SQL Server then you most likely do not need an internet connection during installation. If you do not have, or do not want to use, an existing (non-preconfigured) SQL Server, it is easiest to let Coffalyser.Net install one that is specifically preconfigured for Coffalyser.Net. The wizard will attempt to download the SQL Server setup file from our server, which means that without internet connection you need a workaround to obtain the setup file.
To install Coffalyser.Net with a preconfigured SQL Server without an internet connection, first download the Coffalyser.Net setup file from your account, transfer it to the target computer, and follow the installation and configuration procedures as described in the Installation Manual. During step 15 of the configuration, the wizard will notify you that it failed to download the SQL Server setup files, and will ask if you want to retry. Proceed as follows:
- When prompted to retry, click No.
- When prompted to try to download the files via your default browser, click Yes.
- Your browser will open but will fail to download the file (as you have no internet connection). Copy the URL from the address bar of your browser and save it in an accessible place. Leave the Coffalyser.Net wizard open as it is (do not click any dialog options).
- Switch to a computer with an internet connection.
- Enter the URL that you copied previously and download the SQL Server setup file.
- Transfer the file to the computer on which Coffalyser.Net should be installed (e.g. using a network share or USB drive).
- Close the browser if it is still open. You should see a message from the Coffalyser.Net wizard that asks if you were able to download the SQL Server setup file. Click Yes.
- Click OK.
- Navigate to the location of the SQL Server setup file, select it, and click Open.
- Continue with step 16 of the configuration as described in the Installation Manual.
Note that your computer should also have the latest Windows updates and a supported version of the Microsoft .NET Framework (see the system requirements), which is easier to ensure on a computer with an internet connection.
Installing or prolonging a license without internet connection
To activate your copy of Coffalyser.Net you have to install a free license. You may also periodically have to install an updated license when the license has to be renewed. The default procedure downloads the license directly from our servers from within Coffalyser.Net. If you cannot do this, you have to retrieve the license file manually from your website account (see the Installation Manual for details).
Updating the sheet library without internet connection
The properties of a probemix lot are stored in a Coffalyser sheet. The sheets for all of our products and lots are stored together in the sheet library. It is important to periodically update the sheet library to get access to Coffalyser sheets for our latest products and to benefit from up-to-date information and warnings. Without an internet connection, you have to download a sheet library package from your website account on a different computer, transfer it to the computer that runs Coffalyser.Net, and import it into the software. These steps will need to be repeated periodically. This procedure is more elaborate than an update directly from our servers (see Appendix III of the Reference Manual).
Getting self-help suggestions for errors without internet connection
It is not possible to retrieve self-help suggestions for common errors without a connection to our servers. You can find information about some common errors via the search on this help centre, or you can contact us for personalized support.