RFMS Program Update Instructions

This article contains both a basic listing of instructions as well as detailed instructions (with screenshots) of steps for installing updates to the RFMS Program (click on titles below to expand each section).

Please read through all steps before proceeding, and ensure all of these procedures have been completed or attempted before contacting RFMS Support for assistance.

• RFMS recommends having your local IT Professional run all updates.
• We highly suggest these procedures be run on a non-production (PRACTICE) RFMS database before applying the update to live data.
• The update must be run directly on the server that houses your RFMS program folder/files. Attempting to run it across the network can result in an incomplete installation of the update. If you do not have direct access to the program server, please consult with your local IT Professional.

WARNING:

Please check your Windows Operating System before installing this update. 

Windows Server 2012 and Server 2012 R2 are NOT compatible with RFMS starting with version 25.2. 

We strongly recommend against updating RFMS if using these OS versions as it can result in unexpected consequences, including inability to restart your RFMS Services.

Please consult with your local technician if you do not know your server's operating system. Follow this link for our current RFMS System Specifications (Requirements/Specs)   
 Updating to the current version of RFMS, while on unsupported versions of Server/Workstation Operating Systems or SQL, may lead to unforeseen compatibility issues. 

Pre-Update Best Practices Checklist

While the following items may not seem important to check before each update, please be aware there is no way to predict when a system failure could happen. If uncertain how to proceed with any item on the checklist, please contact your local technician for assistance. 

Pre-Update Best Practices Checklist
	Is your RFMS program folder/drive being backed up regularly and are the backups working correctly?
	Are your SQL Database Backups running as scheduled and working correctly?
	How large are your RFMS database (MDF) and Transaction Log (LDF) files? Note: If running SQL Express be aware of database size and memory handling limitations.
	Is your Transaction Log (LDF) file size more than 10% of your database (MDF) file size? If so, click here for: SQL Transaction Log File Shrink Process
	Before proceeding with the update, have you run a backup of your SQL database? Click here for : How to Make a Manual Backup of a SQL Database
	Have you confirmed the general health of the server, and specifically the hard drive location of RFMS and SQL?
	Is there enough space on the server(s) for running the update on the program and database? Note: RFMS recommends having a minimum of 5-10 GB of free space on the server/drive to run an update.
	Are the server and workstation Operating Systems and SQL versions up-to-date and currently supported? Click here to review the RFMS Recommended System Specifications
	Do you have any unique programs/issues with your server that may need to be addressed by your local technician with regard to the update? For instance, does the Operating System or SQL need updates installed?
	Have you confirmed all users are completely out of RFMS before proceeding with the update?
For further recommended checks, follow this link to: Best Practices for Performance, Backups, and Data Integrity

Basic Instructions

1. Review recommended Pre-Update Best Practices Checklist (see above)
2. Make sure you have a good backup of the database before running the update.
   Click here for instructions on how to make a manual backup of the database.
3. Have all users completely exit RFMS and shut down their workstations.
   Note: shutting down workstations is not necessary, but is recommended.
4. Reboot all servers
5. Download the update file from https://portal.rfms.com/.
   Note: Make sure to download the file onto the server where the RFMS folder is located. The update cannot be run across a network.
   Please note, until futher notice, the update file can be downloaded by clicking the version link within the "Attention" window, as indicated by the red arrow in the screenshot example below. 
   
6. Open Services and stop any of the following services that are present on your system. These services MUST be stopped before installing the update. 
   • CCA Data Exchange
   • CCA Store Data Exchange
   • Gateway
   • MeasureOrderEntry
   • RFMSB2BService
   • RFMSDataEndpoint

   • Sales Force Integration. 

     IMPORTANT: Services do not stop instantaneously; allow time for them to fully stop. After stopping the services, and before running the update, go to Task Manager and confirm the services are NOT listed. Failure to stop these services could result in the program not being correctly updated to the new version.

7. On the server, go into Control Panel > Admin Tools > Computer Management > Shares > Open Files and close any RFMS files showing open there.
8. Open the Task Manager and verify all users are logged off.
9. Verify E-Commerce is not running on the server. To do this, open RFMS to the Navigator screen and select E-Commerce to open the module. Once open select File > Exit (do not click the “X” to close this module).
10. Run the update. When you get to the window requesting the Destination Folder, verify the path to the RFMS folder is correct. If not, click the "Change" button, navigate to the correct location and select the path by clicking "OK."
    IMPORTANT: The update must be run directly on the server that houses your RFMS program folder/files. Attempting to run it across the network can result in an incomplete installation of the update.
11. Near the end of the update, a "Notice" window will open letting you know the update will be making changes to the database, and to make a backup of the database if not already done. After the Navigator window opens, make sure to close it in order for the update to complete the database changes.
12. When the update has completed, reboot the server again. Then open RFMS on the server to verify you can access the program and all module versions match.
13. Check to make sure all stopped services have restarted, or restart them if necessary (refer back to listed services Step 6). 
14. Restart all workstations.

Detailed Instructions with Screenshots (click images to view larger)

  Step 1: Pre-Update Checklist / Best Practices

Review recommended Pre-Update Best Practices Checklist (see above).

  Step 2: Download the Update File

1. Go to the website: rfms.com and click on My Account
    

   

2. Log in using your RFMS Customer Number as Username
    

   

   If you have forgotten your username or password, please call the RFMS Business Office at 1-800-701-7367 to have it reset.

3.  Click on the Current Version button.

   

4. Scroll down to the Category RFMS CORE and click the link for RFMS Update.
   Please note, until futher notice, the update file can be downloaded by clicking the version link within the "Attention" window, as indicated by the red arrow in the screenshot example below. 
   
   

   IMPORTANT: While scrolling, make sure to read all RED NOTES posted above the RFMS Update link. These notes are required prerequisites related to current updates. Please verify these prerequisites to your system BEFORE running the update.

   Additionally: For a copy of the Update Document detailing changes in the current version, click Documentation.
   For a listing of all related Release Notes, click Release Notes.

5. Download and Save the file.
   DO NOT attempt to run the update directly from the internet. The update must be saved and run on the server that houses your RFMS program folder. Attempting to run it across the network can result in an incomplete installation of the update.
   Helpful tip: Save the update file to the desktop to make it easy to find after downloading
    

   

  Step 3: MUST DO's Before Running the Update

Make sure the following items are done prior to running the update. Failure to do so can result in incomplete installation of the update, unforeseen compatibility issues or loss of data. If uncertain about any of these steps please consult with your local technician before proceeding. 

1. Make sure all users are completely out of RFMS (shut down all workstations if necessary)

2. Reboot all servers

3. On the server, go into Control Panel > Admin Tools > Computer Management > Shares > Open Files and close any RFMS files showing open there.

4. Open the Task Manager and verify all users are logged off.

5. Open Services and stop any of the following services that are present on your system. These services MUST be stopped before installing the update. 

   • CCA Data Exchange

   • CCA Store Data Exchange

   • Gateway

   • MeasureOrderEntry

   • RFMSB2BService

   • RFMSDataEndpoint

   • Sales Force Integration. 

     IMPORTANT: Services do not stop instantaneously; allow time for them to fully stop. After stopping the services, and before running the update, go to Task Manager and confirm the services are NOT listed. Failure to stop these services could result in the program not being correctly updated to the new version.

6. Verify E-Commerce is not running on the server. To do this, open RFMS to the Navigator screen and select E-Commerce to open the module. Once open select File > Exit (do not click the “X” to close this module).

7. Again - make sure you have a good backup of the database before running the update.

  Step 4: Locate the Path to your RFMS Program Folder / Drive

1. On the Server Desktop, right-click on the RFMS Icon and select Properties. Make a note of the information in the "Start in" field. This is the path to your RFMS Program Folder/Drive that you will need when running the update. 

   

  Step 5: Running the Update

This section will walk you through running the update. If you are uncertain about any of these steps, please consult with your local technician before proceeding.

1. On the server, navigate to the location of where you saved the downloaded Update File. Right-click on the file and select “Open” or double-click on the file to begin the installation process.

   

2. Welcome: Verify the correct version and select Next.
    

   

3. License Agreement: Select the appropriate response and Next to begin, or Cancel to exit the update wizard.

   

4. Verify services are stopped: This is a reminder to stop all the services before running the update. When you have confirmed they are stopped select Services are stopped and select Next to continue (see Step 3, #5).

   

5. Destination Folder: Click the Change button to select the correct path to your RFMS Program Folder/Drive (this is the path you noted back in Step 4, #1).
   Verify the path is correct, then click Next to continue.
   IMPORTANT: The update must be run directly on the server that houses your RFMS program folder/files. Attempting to run it across the network can result in an incomplete installation of the update.

   

6. Ready to Install: Verify all information is correct, the click Next to continue. 
   Note: If the information is not correct, click Cancel to exit the update wizard.

   

7. A final DATABASE BACKUP WARNING message will appear - do not ignore this warning.
   If you have a CURRENT backup of your database click OK to continue. If you DO NOT have a CURRENT backup of your database, click Cancel and run a database backup before attempting to run the update again.
   Click here for instructions on running a manual backup of your database. Make a Manual Backup of a SQL Database

   

8. After clicking OK to verify you have a CURRENT backup of your database the update installation will begin to run.
   If at this point “Please Close These Applications“ displays, it indicates either all users have not logged out of the system, RFMS related services have not been stopped, or all Open Files have not been cleared. Click Done and revisit the items in Step 3: MUST DO's Before Running the Update.

   

9. When the update begins to run, a progress bar will show the installation process.

   

10. When the NOTICE window is displayed, read the information and select “OK” to continue. At this point the database Schema Changes will be made then the Navigator will open.
    IMPORTANT: After the Navigator opens, you MUST click "EXIT" to close the Navigator window in order to complete the update installation. 
     

    

11. Once the update has completed a PDF of the Current Update Documentation will open. Review this document for details on the latest changes and enhancements to RFMS.

    

12. To complete the update, reboot the server.

13. After the server has fully restarted, open RFMS on the server to verify that you can access the program and that the module versions match.

14. Restart RFMS related services stopped previously (refer back to service listing in Step 3, #5).

15. Have users open RFMS on their workstations.

16. Your installation of the RFMS update is complete.

Troubleshooting

1. Error message stating, "This update cannot be used to update software prior to version 10.1."
   This error can indicate one of two things:
   • The correct folder path was not selected in the "Select Destination Folder" window.
     • To resolve: rerun the update and click the "Change" button to select the correct path to the RFMS Program folder. 
   • Attempting to run the update from a network location.
     • To resolve: make sure the RFMSGeneralReleaseUpdate.exe file is downloaded directly onto the server where the RFMS program folder is located, and run the update on that server. If you do not have access to the server, please consult with your local technician. 
2. Error message stating, "Connection Failed: SQL State: '08001'..."
   This error indicates the update is not able to connect with the database.
   • To resolve: verify the existence and formatting of the dbconnect.xml file. 
     Click this link for instructions: Format of dbconnect.xml (needed to maintain SQL connection during update)
3. Connection Error message(s) when trying to open RFMS on workstation after update.
   Use the links below for details about some types of Connection Errors.
   • Problem Connecting to [servername\instance]
   • Problem Logon Information
   • Create Database Connection / Server and Database Window
   • Connection Failed: SQL State: 'S1T00' / SQL Server Login Window
   • Connect Workstations (use for troubleshooting workstation connection issues not listed above)
   • Also, search knowledgebase for information on other errors not listed here.

Please review all sections of this document and ensure all of these procedures have been completed or attempted before contacting RFMS Support.