Install the HotDocs Template Hub API
The HotDocs Template Hub provides an API to
manage HotDocs Template Package Files. The Template Hub enables you to:
- Store HotDocs Template
Package Files in a database
- Organise the Template Package
Files into Groups
- Manage user access to Groups
- Version control the Template
Package Files
HotDocs stores all Template Package Files and associated metadata (user
access, template Groups) in a database.
System Requirements
- Internet Information Services 7 (IIS)
or later
- Microsoft .Net Framework 4.6 or later
- SQL Server 2012 or later
Install Microsoft .Net Framework
Before the Template Hub API can be installed, you must
install and configure the Microsoft .Net
Framework.
To Install the HotDocs Template Hub API
To install the HotDocs Template Hub API, you must have
the installer files. If you do not have these files, please contact your
HotDocs Sales Representative.
- Extract files from the installer zip onto your server machine.
- Right click installAPI.bat
and select Run as Administrator.
- Click Next.
- Optional: you can select which components
and settings of the Template Hub UI to install. However, it is recommended
to install all of the components and settings.
- Template
Hub Web Files – the web application files.
- Optional: click Browse
to select the installation directory. If you skip this step, HotDocs
uses the default installation directory.
- Click Next
and then click Install.
- Click
Finish.
HotDocs has now installed the Template Hub API and opens the Configuration
Wizard. Click Next.
- Select the relevant Database
option, either I want to use
an existing database that has already been created or I want the installer to create the database.
Then enter the following information:
- Database Server – type the name
of the machine where the database is installed.
- Name of Database – type the
name of the database for the Template Hub
- Select
an authentication type – the type of authentication the Template
Hub uses to connect to the database. Select either:
- Windows
authentication credentials of current user– uses the
login credentials of the current user to log into the database.
- SQL
Server authentication using the Login ID and password below
– uses the supplied Login ID and Password to log into the
database:
If you choose to use SQL Server authentication
you cannot use the login ID "sa" in your authentication
details.
- Enter a Login
ID
- Enter a Password
- Click Next.
- Select the appropriate option to install the application in IIS,
either:
- I
do not want the application to be installed in IIS – the
application is not installed in IIS
- I
want to install the application under the following Website in
IIS – HotDocs installs the application under the default
website in IIS.
- If you choose to install the application in IIS, click
Default Web Site drop-down
menu to change site.
- Choose to Use the following
AppPool (click DefaultAppPool
drop-down to change AppPool) or Create
a new AppPool.
- If you choose to create a new AppPool enter the following
information:
- Pool Name –
the name of the new Application Pool.
- Domain for Application
Pool – the domain under which the new Application
Pool runs.
- Login for Application
Pool – the login for the new Application Pool.
- Password for Application
Pool – the password for the new Application Pool.
- Click Next.
- Select how the application connects to the database. Either:
- I want to use the app pool
identity to connect the application to the database – uses
the AppPool identity to connect to the database.
- I want to enter SQL credentials
for the application to the database – uses the supplied
Login ID and Password to log into the database:
If you choose to use SQL Server authentication
you cannot use the login ID "sa" in your authentication
details.
- Enter a Login ID
- Enter a Password
- Click Next then click Finish.
The Template Hub API is now ready to use.
Silent Install
To silently install the Template Hub, use
the supplied .msi file.
- Open the Windows Command Prompt
as an Administrator.
- Change the directory to the location
of the installer.
- Type msiexec /i, the name
of the msi file, and the /quiet option for silent installation.
The full command is msiexec /i TemplateHub_Setup.msi /quiet.
- Enter any additional parameter information.
You can see the parameters available to use in the section below.
- Press Enter. The installation
begins.
Parameters
You can use the following parameters during
a silent install to change the installation settings.
File Location Parameters
- TARGETDIR —
the root directory for the installation. The default value is *C:*.
- INETPUB —
the name of the IIS public folder. The default value is inetpub.
- IISROOT
— the name of the IIS root folder. The default value is wwwroot.
- INSTALLFOLDER — the name of the folder to which the
Template Hub installs. The default value is TemplateHub.
You should use the parameters
above in combination. For example, the default values install the Template
Hub to C:\inetpub\wwwroot\TemplateHub.
Database Parameters
- SQLSERVER — the name of the SQL Server where HotDocs
created the Template Hub database. The default value is (local).
- SQLDATABASE — the name of the database used by
the Template Hub. The default value is HDToolboxTemplateStore.
Using Parameters during Installation
When performing a silent install using msiexec,
add parameters to the msiexec command. For example:
msiexec /i TemplateHub_Setup.msi /quiet
SQLDATABASE=TemplateHub
Log the Installation Process
You can also add logging to the installation
process:
msiexec /i TemplateHub_Setup.msi
/quiet /log C:\log\install.log