Lading Manager

Professional Bill of Lading Software

Lading Manager runs on Windows 7/8/8.1/10 machines. Windows 7 or above is required.

You must perform all of the funtions, in order, on EACH of the download sets and instructions below. Please take your time and do not skip any steps.

Download Set 1: Microsoft® SQL Server Express

Lading Manager uses Microsoft SQL Server as its database. For standalone installations, you will need the standalone version of SQL Server 2005 or above. If you want a network version, please contact Support for instructions.

If SQL Server Express has already been installed on your PC, and you know the access password and instance name, then you may skip this step. (If you are not sure, check to see if you have a c:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server folder.)

You must log onto the PC as the PC's administrator.

Installation instructions for SQL Server Express may be found on the ALMSys, Inc. website by clicking here.

Upon successful installation of SQL Server Express, please continue to the next download set.

Download Set 2: Lading Manager Programs

Click here to download Lading Manager program files.

Run the download. This will launch the Lading Manager installation program. Press the Immediate Installation button. (Please note that this will install into the c:\Program Files\Lading Manager folder. If you are upgrading from an earlier version, this WILL NOT HARM your existing data.)

This will get the program installed and short-cuts created.

DO NOT USE THE LADING MANAGER SHORT CUTS UNTIL ALL OF THE FINAL INSTRUCTIONS IN THE NEXT SECTION HAVE BEEN COMPLETED.

Final Installation Instructions

Now that you have performed the initial installation, here are the final steps to configure the Lading Manager and its database.

As a result of the installations, a menu was created for you under Start - Programs - Lading Manager. The next steps will run some of the items from that menu.

Note: You will need full security access to the c:\program files (x86)\lading manager folder. Please make that security change before proceeding.

Instance Name Change

When you installed SQL Server Express, the instance name displayed should have been "SQLExpress." If your instance name differs from that, you will need perform the following steps:

1. Open "My Computer" and navigate to the c:\program files (x86)\lading manager folder.

2. Double-click on the LadingConnect.ini file. This will open a notepad edit session.

3. Change the "ServerName=" line to reflect the instance name. It should be in the format of ServerName=.\LADINGMANAGER. If needed, change the  "LADINGMANAGER" part to match the instance name. (For example: ServerName=.\LadingManager2 )

4. Save your edits (File - Save) and close the notepad edit session.

Initialize Database

Select "Initialize Database" from the Lading Manager menu. Follow these steps:

1. When you installed SQL Server, you specified a password for the "sa" login. Please type this password in both password fields and press the Update INI File button.

2. Press the Proceed with Initialization button.

3. The program will go through the steps indicated on the screen. When finished, it will tell you that the Lading Manager is ready to run. If you get any other message, stop here and contact Support.

4. Close the program.

And Finally ....

The Lading Manager is now ready to go! When you run the program, it will take you into the help topic, "Getting Started / Main Menu." Please read this topic as it goes through some additional system setup instructions.

64-bit Windows Note: If you are installing on a 64-bit version of Windows, then you may need to correct the "Tools - Defaults - Folders" to read C:\Program Files (x86)\Lading Manager\Query. (The program should detect this and correct itself.)

When your registration payment has been processed, you will be sent registration information. See help topic, "How to Register" for more information.