Issue:

 

Upgrading Renaissance Learning software with the auto-update feature.

 

Reason:

 

Renaissance Learning software runs the most efficiently when the program files are installed locally on each individual workstation.  In older versions, this meant installing the update on every workstation using the CD-ROM.

 

Accelerated Grammar & Spelling, Accelerated Grammar & Spelling High School, Accelerated Math 2.0 and higher, Accelerated Reader 5.12 and higher, Accelerated Vocabulary, Accelerated Writer, MathFacts in a Flash 1.x, STAR Early Literacy 1.x, STAR Math 1.2 and higher and STAR Reading 2.1 and higher all allow newer versions to install using a more efficient update process called auto-update.

 

Resolution:

 

To install using the auto-update feature in any of the compatible products, please follow the steps below.

 

Windows

 

1)     Have everyone exit the Renaissance Learning application you will be upgrading and make a backup of your existing data location.

 

2)     Select one workstation that you typically use for administration and running Data Doctor.

 

3)     Run the Renaissance Learning application Data Doctor. Once Data Doctor completes successfully, continue with step 4.

 

4)     Download the appropriate upgrade file for your program from http://download.renlearn.com and decompress** it or place your upgrade CD-ROM in the CD-ROM drive and view it’s contents.

 

5)     Locate the UpdateW folder and copy it to your Renaissance Learning software data location, in the specific product sub-folder.  For Example: If you were updating Accelerated Reader, you would copy the UpdateW folder from the location where it was decompressed or from the Accelerated Reader CD-ROM to the AccReadr folder in your Accelerated Reader data location (R:\apps\ALSData\AccReadr\UpdateW). 

Note: Delete the previous UpdateW folder, before pasting the new one in its place.

 

6)     Once you have the UpdateW folder copied into the product data location, at the same administration workstation, open the management application.

 

7)     You should receive a message “This program will update {Your Renaissance Learning product} to version XX. This update will require all computers connecting to this data location with {Your Renaissance Learning product} to be updated.” Click [OK]. NOTE: Some Renaissance Learning applications may present the user with a wizard (Windows) or assistant (Macintosh); make the appropriate selections for each workstation you are updating.

 

8)     Once the update completes, restart this workstation.

 

9)     Open the management application a second time once the workstation is booted back up.

 

10) Press any key or click your mouse.

 

11) You will receive a message “Your database was created in an older version of {Your Renaissance Learning program}. It will now be updated to be compatible with the updated version. Previous versions of {Your Renaissance Learning program} will no longer be able to access this data location. Do you wish to continue?” Click [Yes].

 

12) Continue logging into your program.

 

13) At this time, you can allow the remaining workstations to open the student or management application. The remaining workstations will need to follow steps 7 through 10***. Once their workstation has been restarted, they can start using their program again.

 

Macintosh

 

Note: If you are using Macintosh Manager, refer to KB Article #3721929 before continuing with the section below.

 

1)     Have everyone exit the Renaissance Learning application you will be upgrading and make a backup of your existing data location.

 

2)     Select one workstation that you typically use for administration and running Data Doctor.

 

3)     Run the Renaissance Learning application Data Doctor. Once Data Doctor completes successfully, continue with step 4.

 

4)     Download the appropriate upgrade file for your program from http://download.renlearn.com and decompress** it or place your upgrade CD-ROM in the CD-ROM drive and view it’s contents.

 

5)     Locate the Update Mac folder and copy it to your Renaissance Learning software data location, in the specific product sub-folder.  For Example: If you were updating Accelerated Reader, you would copy the Update Mac folder from the location where it was decompressed or from the Accelerated Reader CD-ROM to the AccReadr folder in your Accelerated Reader data location (Server:apps:ALSData:AccReadr:Update Mac).

Note: Trash the previous Update Mac folder, before copying the new one in its place.

 

6)     Once you have the appropriate folder copied into the product data location, at the same administration workstation, open the management application.

 

7)     Depending on the Renaissance Learning application you are installing, the installation process may differ slightly.  In some applications, you will need to click [Continue] on the Splash screen, others will verify you want to continue with the update.  Follow the prompts for your specific application.

 

8)     Once the update completes, you will receive a message “Installation was Successful”, click on the [OK] or [Quit] button.  Restart this workstation.

 

9)     Open the management application a second time once the workstation is booted back up.

 

10) Press any key or click your mouse.

 

11) You will receive a message “Your database was created in an older version of {Your Renaissance Learning program}. It will now be updated to be compatible with the updated version. Previous versions of {Your Renaissance Learning program} will no longer be able to access this data location. Do you wish to continue?” Click [Yes].

 

12) Continue logging into your program.

 

13) At this time, you can allow the remaining workstations to open the student* or management application. The remaining workstations will need to follow steps 7 through 10***. Once their workstation has been restarted, they can start using their program again.

 

*If you are auto-updating from Accelerated Reader 6.12 to 6.2 on Macintosh workstations, you must use the management application to auto-update all of your workstations.

 

Note: If you have both Macintosh and Windows workstations, you will need to copy both the UpdateW folder and the Update Mac folder into the same product data location.  The UpdateW folder will only update Windows workstations.  The Update Mac folder will only update Macintosh workstations.

 

**For additional instructions decompressing files:

 

Windows:

 

1)     Once you have the appropriate program .exe file downloaded to your workstation, double click on it to execute the file.

 

2)     Click on the [Browse] button, select Desktop from the list and click [OK].

 

3)     Click on the [Unzip] button, click [OK], and then click on the [Close] button.

 

4)     This should have created an UpdateW folder on your workstation’s desktop.

 

Macintosh:

 

1)     Once you have downloaded the appropriate program .SEA to your workstation, double click on it to extract the information.

 

2)     Click [Continue].

 

3)     Click on the [Desktop] button and then click [Save].

 

4)     Click [Quit].

 

5)     This should have created an Update Mac folder on your workstation’s desktop

 

Click http://www.renlearn.com/cdrequest.asp to have this product update delivered to you on CD-ROM.

 

***If you have upgraded to the latest version of your product already and would like to add additional workstations, you will need to follow the steps below for each additional workstation.

 

1)     Install your specific product to the local drive of the new workstation using the most recent CD-ROM.

 

2)     Open the Management application from that workstation, select to “Register this product using a previous installation”, and select your existing data location on your server – you should receive a version error on one or more files.

 

3)     Close out of the program after setting the data location and navigate to your product data location through My Computer or Windows Explorer (Windows) or the Macintosh Share (Macintosh).

 

4)     Open the specific product folder in the data location (for Accelerated Reader, it would be the AccReadr folder).

 

5)     Open the UpdateW or Update Mac folder in the specific product folder.

 

6)     Double-click on the .EXE file located in the UpdateW folder, or the Installer file located in the Update Mac folder.  This manually runs the update installation.

 

7)     Follow steps 7 through 10 above for your specific platform.

 

8)     Choose to “Register this product using a previous installation” once again and select your existing data location on your server.