Instructions on downloading and installing Caldes Development Valuer Software

FOR WINDOWS: 2000, XP, VISTA* AND WINDOWS 7*

(Mac users will have to run Parallels with Windows installed - See bottom section)

STEP 1: DOWNLOAD USER GUIDE:

Before installing the software, we strongly recommend that you Download the PDF quick guide by clicking here.  This gives you a quick overview of how to set up a new project and will make your experience significantly easier.  Please note that this installation instructions below supersede any others found in any documentation.
  For advanced users, please download the full tutorial by clicking here.

STEP 2: PREREQUISITES:

Things you need to check before installing or purchasing:

Click here if you are using an Apple Mac

Click here if you are using Windows 7 or any Windows 64 bit platform

Click here for Windows 32 Bit (to continue to the download)

(To find out which version of windows you are using go to Start menu-> Control Panel-> System)

STEP 3: DOWNLOAD:

Both trial and full versions of the software are downloaded from the same button below, but please read these notes first.

  • EXISTING USERS - IMPORTANT.  Back up your appraisals before installing, just in case (Usually at C:/caldes/cddev/cdsave).  Also see the note below*
  • Click on the button once below and wait for the download screen.  
  • When prompted, click run. 
  • Follow the on-screen intructions to install the software.  It only takes a minute and does not require any licensing or phone calls unless you want to purchase.
  • Note that if you want to save a copy of your installation, you might consider downloading the software again and saving it to your computer as the original installation file.  You will require this if you have purchased the software and need to reinstall it again at a later date.  You do not need to do this if you have a valid support contract (included for 12 months with initial purchase.) 


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IF YOU EXPERIENCE ANY PROBLEMS THAT THIS PAGE CANNOT HELP WITH, PLEASE CALL UK +44 (0)870 420 8348 OR SEE OUR ONLINE KNOWLEDGE BASE IN THE SUPPORT SECTION OF THIS WEBSITE.

Can you trust this download? Yes, this software has been in use in thousands of property companies, was created by us, not a third party and is fully checked for viruses.  The software does not collect information nor does it interact with any online database etc.  It is not available from anywhere else.  Please call us first if you are concerned about downloading software from the Internet.

*Polite warning to existing users - If you have an old version of the software and want to upgrade to this current version, you must have a valid support agreement.  If you download this software your license will revert to a trial license and we cannot issue you with a password to unlock the software unless you have the original software that you purchased or you come back on support.

STEP 4: PURCHASE AND INSTALL A LICENSE:

To purchase a license you can either call us, or buy online

To see the licensing screen shots, click here

NETWORK VERSION ONLY:

You cannot install the network version as a trial, only as a full license.  To install a network license:

  • Install to the C drive as above.
  • Copy all files and directories in the c:\caldes folder to the network drive of your choice
  • Map the network drive on all PC's in an IDENTICAL fashion. 
  • Create shortcuts to the caldes5.exe on each desktop
  • Call us to set up the network license

    PREREQUISITES

    Things that you need to check before installing or purchasing:

    Also see the support and troubleshooting link above left.

    APPLE MAC:

    Whist this may seem a strange solution, we have had clients buy a relatively cheap PC running Windows 32 bit just to run the software. This is the simplest solution.

    If you are not happy doing this, you can run the software on a Mac but it is a bit tortuous to set up initially and we recommend that you ask someone who is an experienced Mac administrator to do this.  You need to install Parallels and Windows.  When installing Windows, keep in mind that if it is not 32 bit then you will have to do the Windows 64 Bit fix section below too.  Caldes don't have extensive mac experience and so are not able to help with this more than point you in the right direction, but we can confirm that it works.
    To confirm, go through this whole process here first, including the various fixes shown and then download and install our unlicensed trial software and get this up and running first.  Unless you have problems, you don't need to call us until the trial works correctly.

    * WINDOWS 7 32 BIT

    If possible you should install / upgrade to Windows 7 Professional or Ultimate. These versions support Windows XP mode, where as Home Premium does not.
    If you have problems running the software and it is 32 bit, try running the software in compatibility mode although you may not need to do this (by right clicking on the C:\caldes\CDDEV\CDTEMPL\caldes5 application from Windows Explorer and selecting properties. Set it to Windows XP.) 
    To download windows XP Mode (and/or Windows Virtual PC) free of charge, visit www.windows.com/buiness/downloads

    WINDOWS 64 BIT FIX:

    Server: If you are using a 64 bit server to save files to, please see the Support and troubleshooting link on the left, item 2.9.

    Client: Unfortunately Caldes Development Valuer does not work on Windows 64 bit. If you install the software and then run it you will be given the following message.

    "The version of this file is not compatible with the version of Winodws you're running.  Check your computer's system information to see whether you need an x86 (32-bit) or x64 (64-bit) version of the program, and then contact the software publisher."

    See the two work around options below.

  • Windows 7 64 Bit Option 1 - Buy windows 32 bit

    Whist this may seem a strange solution, we have had clients buy a relatively cheap PC running Windows 32 bit just to run the software.  Contrary to advice given by PC world, most computers purchased are still running Windows 7 32 bit.  (To find out, from Start menu-> Computer -> Right click for properties.) .

  • Windows 7 64 bit Option 2 - Windows Virtual PC (free from Microsoft.)

    This process will take approximately 30 minutes.  Once installed the software can be used instantly as normal.  It isn't complicated, but is a little time consuming. To explain what this does, it installs a second (virtual) copy of Windows XP on your computer, which runs in a window and then you run older software from within that window (which you can maximise to fill the screen of course.) 

    1. Uninstall Caldes from Windows 7 64 bit if already installed (From control panel -> Programs and Features.)

    2. Go to this link: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/download.aspx

    3. Choose the version of Windows you are running from the list on screen and your selected language.

    4. Download Windows XP mode and then run the installation software.  (It is best not to run this direct without downloading first because it is quite a big file.)  Windows 7 Professional or Ultimate are meant to come with XP mode installed but they still won't run XP software so you still need to do this step.  This is quite a big file and will take a while to install.)  

    5. Now install Windows Virtual PC from the same place.  (Once installed you can effectively ignore Virtual PC because it is Windows XP mode that is where Caldes is run from.)

    6. Once this is finished you are left with a ‘virtual’ copy of Windows XP running in a Window, within your existing Windows 7 screen. During this process you will be invited to create a new user and password, because this is effectively a second version of windows.  Virtual PC will then run within your Windows 7  software like any other program.  All programs running within it will run within the window, a bit like a remote desktop.

    7. Now, from within Virtual PC, you should install the Caldes software, by clicking the big red button above using Virtual PC's copy of Internet Explorer.

    8. Make sure that you can run the trial version of the software from within Virtual PC.  Do not worry about licensing it yet.

    9. If it runs OK, you will now need to call us to give you the license number for the software. When you license the software, you must use a local copy of the software, not a server version (installed to the C drive.)  You can still open server saved projects of course.

    10.  To close Caldes, use the file menu.  Then close virtual PC.

    11. To run the software on a day to day basis, go to Start -> All programs -> Windows XP Mode Applications -> Caldes Software and then right click on Caldes Deve Valuer V6 (Winodws XP Mode) and copy the short cut to your desktop.  When you run this it will automatically fire up Virtual PC and the software in one go.  You will notice that it runs a little slower than on a normal 32 bit machine.  Note that it is Windows XP mode within Windows Virtual PC that you should be running.

    VIRTUAL PC / 64 BIT FAQ'S

    Where are my saved files?  They will be within Virtual PC: C:\caldes\cddev\cdsave folder.  You will not see them in this location from within Windows 7 because they are effectively different copies of Windows.  You can copy and paste files between locations and network drives in the usual way, but you might be better off using a network location.  If you want to save to a network location, follow these steps:

  • From Windows 7 (Explorer) make sure that the drive with your files on is mapped, e.g. K drive.

  • From Windows XP mode (Explorer), you will see your Windows 7 mapped drives but they won't actually be Windows XP mapped drives, so you need to create a similar mapped drive in Windows XP.  You will then see that mapped drive in the Caldes File drive list.

  • Some clients have reported problems with opening files on a mapped network drive.  This will be due to the behind the scenes 64 bit path, which our 8 bit program has a problem with.  One way that gets around this is to create a nice short named sub folder in this directory, e.g. K:\caldes\  Try saving a new project into this new sub folder and then open it again.  If it opens OK, move all your old project files into the same folder.  The problem is not with the project files, but with the network location.  Therefore if you fix this for one user then any other users using the same sub folders will work correctly too.

  • If the above does not work then you will just have to save to the default folder and copy the files over.  If you take this route you could use some backup or synchronisation software to automate this for you.

    How do I print?  You will need someone with technical expertise to set up any network printers within Virtual PC.  You may then be able to print directly, but Windows XP is not very intuitive when it comes to networks and printing.  Alternatively, save your files as Excel format and copy them to your network then print from MS Excel.  To do this, select the spreadsheet that you want to print, select File > Export for not Caldes users and then press Yes to both messages. Then copy the shown file to Windows 7 via the clipboard.  When you print from Excel it should look exactly the same, even though it may show some previously hidden fields on screen.