Updating Ares to Version 5.0: Updating the Client

Sara Juel

Updated April 13, 2022 16:07

Once your IT department has performed the Ares server update, please follow the instructions below to update your Ares client to version 5.0. Note: You will be prompted to update your password after initial login once the update has been completed.

Downloading the Ares Client Installer

If you haven't been supplied the installer file by your IT department, please contact an Atlas Systems' Customer Service Representative (support@atlas-sys.com or 1-800-567-7401 ext. #1) to obtain the download credentials. All installer files are password protected.

Send Email Request for Credentials

Go to Ares Downloads to download the Ares 5.0 Client Installer.
Save the installer files to the Desktop.

You can also perform a Silent Install.

Selecting a Client Install Method

Ares 5.0 features a new default process that allows users to install the client at the user-level without requiring the use of escalated admin privileges. This makes the client accessible at the individual Window's user account level allowing the user to have the ability to update their own client and manage their own addons. Addons are no longer installed by default and should be added to the appropriate user documents directory (default location: C:\Users\{username}\Documents) instead of the Client's application directory, which is protected and generally read-only for most users. When updating or installing the Ares 5.0 Client, users should make sure to select the instructions corresponding with the method of installation they select: a "per-user" installation, or a "per-machine" installation.

There are different considerations for each option. Please review How Default Addons are Affected by the Ares 5.0 Update to see how each method impacts your previously installed addons and installations of the 4.7 client.

Option 1: Per-User Client Install

The recommended method for installation.
Require users to select the "Install just for you" option after launching the Ares 5.0 Client installer.
Allows each individual user on that machine to install the client for themselves at the user level.
Allows each individual user to manage their own addons since they're stored in a location-specific to each individual Windows user.
Addons will need to be backed up and restored to each user's documents directory.
Will not require administrative-level privileges for Ares 5.0 update or future Client updates.
Saved, by default, in %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Apps\Ares\Client\.
Must be run for each user account that requires Client access, which may mean multiple installs per machine, if staff share workstations where Ares is used.
Older, per-machine installations of the Ares Client will need to be manually uninstalled after the Ares 5.0 per-User Client installation completes. Future updates to per-user Clients will automatically update previously-installed per-user Clients versions.
Can be run with or without administrative privileges. We DO NOT recommend running as an administrator.

Option 2: Per-Machine Client Install

Allows all users on the machine to access the client; requiring an update/install of the client only once on that machine.
Addons will need to be backed up and restored to each user's documents directory.
Require users to select the "Install for all users of this machine" option after launching the Ares 5.0 Client installer.
Saved, by default, in C:\Program Files (x86)\Ares.
Only need to run updates and installs one time to provide access for all users on a machine.
Will automatically overwrite previous, per-machine versions of the Ares Client (e.g., the 4.7 Client).
Must be run with administrative privileges.

Running the Ares Client Installer

Option 1 is the recommended option. Administrative privileges are NOT required to install the Ares 5.0 client for Per-User updates. For instructions on performing a silent install via the command line, see Silent Installation.

Option 1: Installing the Ares Client Per-User (for Individual Access)

Part A: Installing the Client

Make sure you have logged out of Ares.
Delete/remove any addons not being used.
Perform a back-up of all installed addons.
Uninstall the old 4.7 installs. Go to Windows\Control Panel\Ares Client, right-click on Ares Client, and select uninstall.
Double-click on the downloaded AresClientInstaller.msi to run the installer.
Run through the steps of the installer. In the "Installation Scope" window, ensure that the "Install just for you" option is selected.
Navigate through the remaining steps of the install wizard.
When the installer has completed, select Finish.
Delete the AresClientInstaller.msi file when complete.
Restore any addons that were previously backed-up to the addon directory. Default location: MyDocuments\Ares\Addons\Atlas directory.
1. If necessary, review the Ares addon directory and install those marked as default addons.
2. If necessary, install the Atlas Helper's Library.
You may now use the Ares 5.0 Client, but we strongly recommend you proceed with the next steps (Part B & Part C) and complete the switch from per-machine installation to per-user installation.

Part B: Setting the Location of the .DBC

As of Ares 5.0, the Atlas SQL Alias Manager may be set to run without prompting for administrative privileges, if the user uses the "Open" button to locate and resave a copy of the .dbc file to a directory that does not require administrative privileges and selects "Set Default (Current User)."

Please note: Even if you install the Client at a per-user level, you may prefer to have a system administrator open the Atlas SQL Alias Manager, select the .dbc file, and click "Set Default (Local Machine)" to set the default connection options for all Ares Client users on a machine.

For an explanation about the relationship between the SAM and the DBC file, see Atlas SQL Alias Manager.
For instructions on creating a new DBC connection, see Creating a new DBC File.

Part C: Uninstalling Previous Versions of Ares

Previous versions of the Ares Client will not be uninstalled as part of a per-user Client install.

Navigate to Document\Ares\Addons and delete addons that are not being used.
Save a copy of all remaining files in a new location that is outside of the Documents\Ares folder, where they will be unaffected during the deinstallation of older versions of the Ares Client.
Use Windows' Add or Remove Programs wizard to uninstall any previous versions of Ares left on the machine.

Option 2: Installing the Ares Client Per-Machine (for All Users on a Machine)

Make sure all users have logged out of Ares.
Delete/remove any addons not being used.
Perform a back-up of all installed addons.
Double-click on the downloaded AresClientInstaller.msi to run the installer.
Run through the steps in the installer. In the "Installation Scope" window, change the radio button selection from "Install just for you" to "Install for all users of this machine" and click "Next."
Navigate through the remaining steps in the install wizard.
When the installation has completed, select Finish.
Delete the AresClientInstaller.msi file.
Restore the addons from the backup location to their respective user-specific documents folder.
1. If necessary, review the Ares addon directory and install those marked as default addons.
2. If necessary, install the Atlas Helper's Library.