User's Guide to

Installing SLIMSuite 8.1

By QSM, Inc.

Quantitative Software Management

QSM, Inc.
2000 Corporate Ridge, Suite 900
McLean, Virginia 22102
1 (800) 424-6755
(703) 790-0055
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without charge. This warranty does not cover defects arising from
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SOFTWARE WILL OPERATE IN COMBINATION WITH OTHER THIRD
PARTY SOFTWARE OR HARDWARE SELECTED BY YOU OR THAT THE
SOFTWARE WILL MEET YOUR REQUIREMENTS. NO ADVICE OR

INFORMATION PROVIDED BY QSM WILL CREATE A WARRANTY. YOU

ASSUME TOTAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY AND ALL RISK ARISING
FROM YOUR USE OF, OR INABILITY TO USE, THE SOFTWARE OR ANY
RELATED MATERIALS.
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PROVIDED ABOVE, IS YOUR SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE REMEDY FOR ANY
AND ALL CLAIMS AGAINST QSM ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION
WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR RELATING TO ANY PRODUCT, WHETHER
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WHETHER BASED IN CONTRACT OR TORT OR OTHERWISE, IN NO
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OR OTHER CONSEQUENTIAL, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, PUNITVE,
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LOST SAVINGS OR LOSS OF BUSINESS), ARISING OUT OF OR IN
CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT, THE PERFORMANCE OF THE
SOFTWARE OR QSMS PERFORMANCE OF SERVICES OR OF ANY
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conveyed under these terms, it must negotiate with QSM to determine whether
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the parties in order to convey such rights beyond those set forth herein. For
purposes of the FAR, the Products will be deemed to be unpublished and
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Sixth Edition

Contents
SLIM-Suite 8.1 Installation

Minimum System Requirements

Overview
Overview
Before you install
License Information
Running Version 8.1 in Parallel with Previous Versions of SLIM-Suite
Deciding Between Network and Local Installation
Sharing Workbooks and Databases
The Installation Process, Step by Step
Installing SLIM-Suite 8.1 to a Network
Why Choose the Network Install?
Network Setup
Workstation Setup
Managing Network Licenses
What Gets Installed
Application Files
License Files
License Updates
Accept the License Terms
Customer Information
Enter Activation Codes
Select Components to Install
Maintaining SLIM-Suite 8.1
Uninstalling SLIM-Suite 8.1

Technical Support and Training

What's Available?
QSM Training
Free E-mail and Telephone Support
QSM Consulting Services
Contacting QSM
If you need to contact us:

User's Guide to Installing SLIM-Suite 8.1

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Contents i

SLIM-Suite 8.1 Installation

Minimum System Requirements

To install and run SLIM-Suite 8.1 you will need:

Microsoft Windows XP, Vista, Windows 7, or Windows

8.

200-810 MB hard disk space, depending upon which

applications are installed. As SLIM-Suite applications
require additional disk space to store and work with
your files, we recommend keeping at least 100 MB
free space on your hard disk at all times. For the
approximate disk space required to install each
application, see Disk Space on page Error!
Bookmark not defined..

At least 128 MB RAM for Windows XP systems, 512

MB RAM for Windows Vista, Windows 7, or Windows
8 systems. Having more memory than the minimum
required will result in better performance.

A monitor capable of displaying at least 1024 x 768

with 256 colors and 96 dpi fonts (default small fonts).

Internet access or CD-ROM drive for installation. The

SLIM-Suite setup file may be downloaded from the
QSM Downloads page. If you are unable to download
the setup file, please call (800-424-6755) or email
QSM Support to request an installation CD.

User's Guide to Installing SLIM-Suite 8.1

SLIM-Suite 8.1 Installation 1

Overview
The SLIM-Suite 8.1 setup file contains installation information
and supporting files for the following applications:

SLIM-Estimate. This estimation tool helps you create

project estimates and sanity checks them against your
history and industry benchmarks.

SLIM-DataManager. SLIM-DataManager helps you

create a database to store your project estimates, inprogress projects, and completed projects.

SLIM-MasterPlan. SLIM-MasterPlan rolls up

individual task estimates and in-progress tasks to
create a summary view of multi-release program
scenarios or your entire development portfolio.

SLIM-Metrics. QSM's metrics analysis and

benchmarking tool helps you create custom queries,
export database subsets, and discover trends hidden
in your data.

SLIM-Control. SLIM-Control helps you track and

manage software projects during the development
cycle. In Control you can track project actuals against
the plan, prepare forecasts to completion, and create
management scoreboards.

During setup, you will have the option to install only those
applications for which the program detects valid activation
codes.

2 SLIM-Suite 8.1 Installation

User's Guide to Installing SLIM-Suite 8.1

Overview
Before you install

Disable any anti-virus programs you may have running.

Virus protection software can interfere with the setup
program.
Make sure no other applications are open. Check the
taskbar and close any programs you may have running.
Decide where you wish to place the applications. Setup
will suggest c:\Program Files(x86)\QSM\Tools81\ as the
default application directory but you may override this if
you wish and install to a different directory or folder.
Check to make sure you have enough hard disk space
free on the drive where Windows is installed. If you plan
to install all five applications, you will need approximately
810 MB of free disk space. To install and run a single
application, you will need anywhere from 90-150 MB of
disk space.

To complete setup successfully, you must have permission to

modify the local system registry. This requires that you log on
with Administrative rights. If you do not have a user account
with administrative rights, contact your network administrator
and request that you be added temporarily to the local
Administrator's group.

License Information
For information about your SLIM-Suite tools license, see the
QSM Customer Hosted License Agreement in your license
email.
Registration and activation codes are transmitted via email in
most cases. If you have requested a product CD by mail, this
information may be conveyed in the cover letter that
accompanies your product CD. You should receive a
Registration Code and one or more Activation codes in your
license email or letter. You will need these codes to complete
installation of your SLIM-Suite 8.1 Tools. Once SLIM-Suite has
been installed, your license activation information can be
viewed in the ReadMe.txt file located in your application
directory (usually <drive letter>\Program
Files(x86)\QSM\Tools81).
If you have any questions regarding your license or product
activation codes, please contact your Account Manager at 1800-624-4755.

User's Guide to Installing SLIM-Suite 8.1

SLIM-Suite 8.1 Installation 3

Running Version 8.1 in Parallel with Previous

Versions of SLIM-Suite
If not everyone in your organization is upgrading to the latest
version at the same time, it may make sense to run SLIM-Suite
8.1 in parallel with earlier versions of SLIM. Running both
versions in tandem will allow users who dont wish to upgrade
in the middle of working on a project to maintain a consistent
baseline. In this case, version 8.1 users may want to exchange
files with users who have not upgraded to the latest version.
Once upgraded, SLIM-Suite workbooks are not backwards
compatible with prior versions of SLIM. For this reason, we
have made it possible to run multiple versions of SLIM-Suite
on the same machine. Each application runs from its own
directory (\Toolsxx) and maintains its own set of supporting
files. When you are ready to switch over to SLIM-Suite 8.1
exclusively, you can uninstall previous versions of the Suite
using any of the following methods:

Clicking Uninstall SLIM-Suite 8.0 from the

Windows Start | All Programs | QSM Tools 8.0 or
desktop shortcut folder

Running Add/Remove Programs or Programs |

Uninstall a Program from the Windows Control
Panel.

Once you uninstall any version of SLIM-Suite, workbook files

that were originally installed with the removed version will no
longer be available, but workbooks and data files created after
the applications were installed will remain. For more
information on uninstalling SLIM tools, see Uninstalling SLIMSuite 8.1 on page 25.

Deciding Between Network and Local Installation

One question we often get from SLIM users is, Whats the
best way to deploy SLIM-Suite tools in a distributed
environment? The answer to that question will depend on two
factors:
1. How you intend to use the applications
2. The needs of your user community.
SLIM applications can be installed on individual local machines
(a standalone configuration) or over a network (the network
install). You may also choose a hybrid configuration (i.e., users
run the tools over a network when at work, but use the
standalone copy when they are on the road).
There are advantages and drawbacks to each type of
configuration:

4 SLIM-Suite 8.1 Installation

User's Guide to Installing SLIM-Suite 8.1

Standalone mode: runs faster because workbook

files are opened and saved locally. You wont have
the problem of multiple users possibly overwriting
each others changes in the same file. This can be a
problem in a network environment. Although no two
users can open and modify the same file at the same
time, there is nothing to prevent User 1 from
modifying a file just after User 2 has saved changes
to that file and closed it. Standalone installations are
also more convenient for laptop users who travel
frequently or work at home. Even with a VPN, users
will generally find the applications perform more
snappily if the applications are installed locally.

Network installations, on the other hand, are easier

to maintain when it comes time to administer annual
license updates, product upgrades, or patches. For
this reason alone, large corporations with many
users may find a network configuration more
practical.

Hybrid or dual installations allow users the

flexibility of staying on a consistent platform when
updates must be pushed out quickly while giving
them the freedom to travel and work at home. The
Network copy can be updated easily when upgrades
or patches become available. Local copies of SLIMSuite may then be upgraded in a more leisurely
manner.

Sharing Workbooks and Databases

A related question deals with file storage: where is the best
place to keep various types of SLIM files? The important
considerations are:

Who needs to update the data in the file?

Who needs access to the file?

Do users truly need access to the original data (and do you

want multiple users updating it)? Or would it be better to have
one person manage the file and make reports available to
other users? The following example may make this clearer.
Often, clients want to place their central data repository (a
SLIM-DataManager database) on the network and allow
distributed users to add projects to it remotely without any
centralized oversight. The hope is that their data repository will
grow swiftly and everyone will benefit from having immediate
access to the data. But this practice does not support data
integrity.
Newly submitted project data is rarely completely accurate in
its first iteration. For this reason, it is advisable to appoint a
database administrator to validate all incoming project data.
Distributed users submit their data to the administrator for

User's Guide to Installing SLIM-Suite 8.1

SLIM-Suite 8.1 Installation 5

validation. At periodic intervals, the administrator publishes

updates to the central repository on the network. This way,
only complete and accurate data will be used for validating
estimates and benchmarking. When each new database is
published, the administrator can send out a message asking
all users to update the files on their local machines with the
newest version.
It is often advisable to keep smaller, specialized databases on
local machines for individual use during estimation or
benchmarking analysis. These databases can be created
using the query functionality in SLIM-Metrics by exporting a
database subset from the File menu. Ultimately, where a file is
stored really does depend upon how the file is to be used, who
needs access to the data in the file, and which data (and in
what form) they require access to.

The Installation Process, Step by Step

To help you understand your options as you proceed through
setup, this section provides an in-depth view of the setup
process. To begin installing SLIM-Suite, run a downloaded
copy of QsmTools81.exe or (if you requested a physical CD)
insert the SLIM SUITE setup file into your CD-ROM drive.
Instructions, URLs, and password information for downloading
the setup program are included with your license email.
If you are running setup from the CD and setup does not start
automatically, click the Start button on your taskbar, then
select Run. Type in D:\Setup.exe (substitute the correct drive
letter for your CD-ROM drive if needed) or browse to
QsmTools81.exe on the product CD. If SLIM-Suite 8.1 is
already installed on your machine, setup will display a
Maintenance dialog. See Maintaining SLIM-Suite 8.1 on page
22.

Installing Required Library Files

If the setup file does not detect the required libraries on your
machine, you will be prompted to install them before Setup
continues. Click Install to complete this step.

6 SLIM-Suite 8.1 Installation

User's Guide to Installing SLIM-Suite 8.1

Welcome Screen
The Welcome Screen begins the installation process. Press
Next to proceed to the next screen.

Accept the License Terms

Read the License Agreement screen. To accept the License
Terms, click the I accept the terms of the license
agreement radio button and press Next to proceed to the
next screen. If you are feeling defiant, choose I do not accept
the terms of the license agreement (if you do not accept) to
exit Setup.

User's Guide to Installing SLIM-Suite 8.1

SLIM-Suite 8.1 Installation 7

Enter Customer Information and Registration Code

Enter your Company Name and Company Location exactly
as they appear in the license email you received from QSM.
You will also need to enter the registration code from your
license email.
Typically, the license information will look something like this:
Company Name:

QSM, Inc.

Company Location:

McLean

Registration code:

26SUKKKFFRO96ALXN50

Activation Code 1:

23U4XVSO7ZM4Q6NP

This license information is valid for 363 days beginning

7/20/2013.
If you received license information via email, you can copy and
paste this information into the Setup dialog to reduce the
possibility of transcription errors, taking care not to capture and
paste in leading or trailing spaces. Note that this information
must match your license email exactly. If Setup detects a
mismatch, you will see a Checksum error. In most cases,
checking and re-entering the customer information and
registration code will resolve the error. If you require
assistance, email QSM support.

Once you have completed the requested information, press

Next to proceed to the next screen.

8 SLIM-Suite 8.1 Installation

User's Guide to Installing SLIM-Suite 8.1

Choose a Destination Location

Choose a destination folder for your application files. The
default folder on most Windows systems is C:\Program
Files(x86)\QSM\Tools81. Select an alternate destination
folder if desired, then click Next to continue.

Enter Activation Codes

Enter all activation codes provided with your license email or
letter. If you received license and registration information via
email, you may want to copy and paste the license information
to reduce the possibility of transcription errors. In most cases,
there will be only one activation code. Select Next to proceed
to the next screen.

Select Components to Install

On the Select Features screen, you will be presented with a
list of applications you are licensed to install. Only checked
items will be installed.

User's Guide to Installing SLIM-Suite 8.1

SLIM-Suite 8.1 Installation 9

You have the option to install Sample, Template, and trend

files for each application individually. As you select each item,
descriptive text will appear to the right of the list box. Be sure
to review the items carefully before going on.
ATTENTION NETWORK ADMINISTRATORS
If the SLIM-Suite is being installed to a network server, make
sure the Workstation Setup component is checked.

Standalone PC Installations: if you plan to run the

applications from a standalone PC, leave this
option unchecked. You should choose the
standalone installation if you need access to the
applications when not connected to a network or
wish to maximize application performance.

Network Installations: if you are installing the

applications to a network file server, you must check
the Workstation Setup component. This option
creates a Workstation Setup folder under the
application directory on the server. After the server
setup is complete, each workstation user must run
the Setup program from the Workstation Setup
folder. Press Next to proceed to the next screen.

Please note that only applications you are licensed to install

will appear in the checklist of features. As you select/deselect
features to install, the amount of disk space required on the
drive may change.

10 SLIM-Suite 8.1 Installation

User's Guide to Installing SLIM-Suite 8.1

Select a Program Folder

This screen allows you to select a name and location for the
program shortcuts folder. The default name for the folder is
QSM Tools 8.1, but you may type in a different name.
Shortcut icons will be placed on the start menu and on your
desktop in a folder named QSM Tools 8.1 (assuming you
accepted the default program folder).

Selecting an existing folder from the second list box will place
shortcuts under the selected folder in your Start menu. Use
the Next button to continue setup.

Start Copying Files/Review Settings

Review the choices you have made so far. To make a change,
press Back; otherwise, press Next to continue. The actual
copying and installation of files will take a minute or two
depending on the options selected and the speed of your
machine.
Once you see this message, youre ready to begin using your
SLIM-Suite applications!

User's Guide to Installing SLIM-Suite 8.1

SLIM-Suite 8.1 Installation 11

Installing SLIM-Suite 8.1 to a Network

Why Choose the Network Install?
SLIM-Suite tools can be run in standalone mode from a local
workstation or deployed over a LAN (local area network). Your
deployment strategy should reflect the needs of your SLIM
users. If they travel or need to use the applications when the
network is not available, a standalone (local) installation is
usually the best option. On the other hand, deploying the
applications over a network makes it easier to push out
product upgrades and license extensions.
For information on network usage restrictions, see the QSM
Customer-Hosted Software License Agreement in your license
email or letter. Your license email contains information about
which tools are licensed, the license expiration date, and the
number of licensed users for each application. It will also
include registration and activation codes.

Network Setup
To install SLIM-Suite to a network computer, simply run Setup
and the Workstation Install program as described below. To
ensure access to the workstation setup program, the
applications should be installed to a shared directory or folder.
Once the application files are installed on the server, each
user will need to run a separate setup program from the
Workstation Setup directory found in the application directory
on the server (<drive letter>:\Program
Files(x86)\QSM\Tools81, if you accepted the default
application path during setup).
To complete network and workstation setup successfully, both
the installer must have permission to modify the local system
registry. Whether you are running the network or workstation
install programs, this requires that you log on with
Administrative rights. If you do not have a user account with
administrative rights, contact your network administrator and
request that you be added temporarily to the local
Administrator's group.

12 SLIM-Suite 8.1 Installation

User's Guide to Installing SLIM-Suite 8.1

To begin the network install:

1. Insert the SLIM SUITE product CD into your CDROM drive or run the setup file (QsmTools81.exe)
you downloaded from the Internet. When running the
setup program from the product CD, setup should
start when the CD is inserted into the CD-ROM drive.
2. If you are running setup from the product CD and
the Install program does not start automatically,
click the Start button on your taskbar, then select
Run. Type in D:\Setup.exe (substitute the correct
drive letter for your CD-ROM drive if needed) or
browse to and run QsmTools81.exe on the product
CD.
3. If you previously installed SLIM-Suite 8.1 onto your
machine, setup will display a Maintenance dialog.
See the section Maintaining SLIM-Suite 8.1 on page
22.
4. Setup will copy the selected application, template,
sample and common system files to the network
server and create a \QSM\Tools81 folder under the
Program Files (x86) directory. Sample workbooks,
templates, historic trend data and user guides will be
copied into separate subfolders located under the
Documents folder of each local workstation (the
default location is, <drive letter>\<user
profile>\Documents\QSM\Tools81):
Samples
Templates
Master Plan Templates
Documentation
Historical Trends
PDF copies of the SLIM-Suite user documentation can
be found in the Documentation folder. If you are
running the tools over a network, these folders
should be shared or copied to a shared directory.
5. During the Workstation Setup, shortcut icons will be
placed on the start menu and on the desktop of the
local workstation in a folder named QSM Tools 8.1
(assuming the default program folder was used during
setup).
To view more complete, step by step installation instructions,
see The Installation Process, Step by Step on page 6.

Workstation Setup
Once the applications have been installed to the server, each
workstation user should navigate to the application directory

User's Guide to Installing SLIM-Suite 8.1

SLIM-Suite 8.1 Installation 13

(<NetworkShareName>\Workstation Setup), open the

Workstation Setup folder, and run Qsm81Workstation.exe.
The Workstation setup program creates application shortcuts
and a few registry entries on the workstation, activates
licenses for the workstation, and installs common system files
required to open and manipulate SLIM-Suite workbook files.
To complete network and workstation setup successfully, both
the installer must have permission to modify the local system
registry. Whether you are running the network or workstation
install programs, this requires that you log on with
Administrative rights. If you do not have a user account with
administrative rights, contact your network administrator and
request that you be added temporarily to the local
Administrator's group.

Granting Access to Workstation Setup

To provide workstation users with access to the workstation
setup program, you have two options:

Share both the application (\QSM\Tools81) and

Workstation setup folders. This option is easiest
for the user as it allows setup to discover the path
to the application and license files on the server.
During network setup, sample workbooks and
templates were copied into various subfolders
named \Samples, \Templates, \Doc, and \Master
Plan Templates. PDF copies of the user
documentation can be found in the
Documentation folder. If you are running the
tools over a network, these folders should be
shared or copied to a shared directory.

Share only the Workstation Setup folder. This

option requires you to provide each workstation
user with the path to the application folder on the
server. Since the application folder is not shared,
setup will not be able to detect the location of the
application/license files when workstation setup is
run from the client machine. The user will need to
type in the path manually during setup.

Managing Network Licenses

Before distributing Workstation Setup information to network
users, take a moment to review the Readme.txt file located in
the application (Toolsnn, where nn represents the SLIM-Suite
version) directory. This file contains information on which tools
are licensed and the number of licensed users for each
application.
This information should be distributed to workstation users if
necessary. If your organization has the same number of
licensed users for each application, no special arrangements

14 SLIM-Suite 8.1 Installation

User's Guide to Installing SLIM-Suite 8.1

are necessary. If, however, you have a multi-user license

for some tools and a single or limited license for one or
more tools, you should provide each user with a list of the
tools they are licensed to install along with the
Workstation Setup directions.
Each user should install only those SLIM applications for which
they have specific license files.

What Gets Installed

Application Files
The default application folder is <drive letter>:\Program
Files(x86)\QSM\Tools81\. The Tools81 folder contains
application executables, help files, prototype run files, and
application support files.
Sample workbooks and templates will be copied to various
subfolders named \Samples, \Templates, and \Master Plan
Templates located in the QSM folder under the local My
Documents directory. PDF copies of the user documentation
can be found in the \Documentation subfolder. If you are
running the tools over a network, these folders should be
shared or copied to a shared directory.

SLIM-Estimate 8.1
Files in the application folder:

SEstimat.exe - application executable

SEstimat.run - prototype run file template

SEstimat.chm - help file

SEstimat.tlb a type library file used for OLE

automation

QsmSecurity.dll application support file

Files in the Samples and Templates folders (under

QSM\My Documents\Tools81):

Excel Sizing templates (.xlt files)

Excel Sizing spreadsheets (.xls files)

Sample workbooks (.sew files)

Template workbooks (.sew files)

Files in the Doc folder (under QSM\My Documents):

:

User's Guide to Installing SLIM-Suite 8.1

SEstimat81.pdf (Estimate manual)

SLIM-Suite 8.1 Installation 15

SLIM-DataManager 8.1
Files in the application folder:

SDataMgr.exe - application executable

SDataMgr.run - prototype run file

SDataMgr.chm - help file

SDataMgr.tlb - a type library file used for OLE

automation

QsmSecurity.dll application support

Files in the Samples and Templates folders (under

QSM\My Documents\Tools81):
Sample databases (.smp files)

Template workbooks (.smp files)

Files in the Doc folder:

SDataMgr81.pdf (DataManager manual)

SLIM-Metrics 8.1
Files in the application folder:

SMetrics.exe - application executable

SMetrics.run - prototype run file

SMetrics.chm - help file

QsmSecurity.dll application support

Files in the Samples and Templates folders (under

QSM\My Documents\Tools81):
:

Sample workbooks (.smw and .smp files)

Template workbooks (.smw and .smp files)

Files in the Documentation folder:

SMetrics81.pdf (Metrics manual)

SLIM-MasterPlan 8.1
Files in the application folder:

SMaster.exe - application executable

SMaster.run - prototype run file

SMaster.chm - help file

QsmSecurity.dll application support

Files in the MasterPlan Templates folder (under QSM\My

Documents\Tools81):
Sample workbooks and templates (various .sea, .scw,
and .sew files)

16 SLIM-Suite 8.1 Installation

User's Guide to Installing SLIM-Suite 8.1

Files in the Doc folder:

SMaster81.pdf (MasterPlan manual)

SLIM-Control 8.1
Files in the application folder:

SControl.exe - application executable

SControl.run - prototype run file template

SControl.chm - help file

SControl.tlb a type library file used for OLE

automation

QsmSecurity.dll application support

Files in the Samples and Templates folders (under

QSM\My Documents\Tools81):
Sample workbooks (.scw files)

Template workbooks (.scw files)

Files in the Documentation folder:

SControl81.pdf (Control manual)

License Files
Before the applications will run, your license information must
be activated. Once setup is complete, there may be times
when it becomes necessary to update the license information.
This can happen if your license period is extended, you add or
subtract tool licenses, or the number of authorized users
changes.

License Updates
If it becomes necessary to update your license information
after installation, you will receive new registration/activation
codes and support text from QSM (via fax, phone, email or
printed form).
The procedure for updating the license files is as follows:
Note: Only a standalone or network server installation can
have its license files updated. It is not possible to update
license files from a workstation installation.
From the Windows Control Panel, choose Add / Remove
Programs or Programs | Uninstall a program Scroll down
until you see the entry for QSM Tools 8.1, then click the
Change button or right click the QSM Tools 8.1 list entry and
select Change from the popup menu.

User's Guide to Installing SLIM-Suite 8.1

SLIM-Suite 8.1 Installation 17

This will bring up the QSM Tools 8.1 - InstallShield Wizard.

Leave Modify as the selected choice and click Next.

Accept the License Terms

Read the License Agreement screen. To accept the License
Terms, choose the I accept the terms of the license
agreement button and press Next to proceed. Choose I do
not accept the terms of the license agreement (if you do
not accept) to exit Setup.

18 SLIM-Suite 8.1 Installation

User's Guide to Installing SLIM-Suite 8.1

Customer Information
Enter your Company Name and Company Location exactly
as they appear in the license email or letter you received from
QSM. You will also need to enter the registration code
supplied with your license information. If you received license
renewal information via email, you may want to consider using
copy and paste to reduce the possibility of transcription errors.
Click Next to continue.

User's Guide to Installing SLIM-Suite 8.1

SLIM-Suite 8.1 Installation 19

Enter Activation Codes

Enter all activation codes provided with your installation
packet. If you received your installation packet via email, you
may want to use copy and paste to reduce the possibility of
transcription errors. Click Next to proceed to the next screen.

There may be only one activation code. Click Next to proceed

to the next screen.

20 SLIM-Suite 8.1 Installation

User's Guide to Installing SLIM-Suite 8.1

Select Components to Install

On the Select Features screen you will be presented with a
checkbox list of the applications you are licensed to update
and any components that have already been installed. There is
no need to alter the default settings unless you do not wish to
install all of the applications.
Note: If you are modifying an already installed version of SLIMSuite 8.1, unchecking any of the components in this list will
cause those components to be uninstalled.

Click Next to continue. When the installation modification

process has completed, you will be notified of any license
updates that occurred.
If you are unable to update your license or you receive an error
message regarding your license files, contact QSM for
assistance at 800 424-6755.

Sample Files
Sample workbooks for each application along with SLIMEstimate sizing spreadsheets are installed in the
QSM/Tools81/Samples folder under My Documents. Sample
files are for inspection or demo use and include data.

Template Files
Templates contain all the common settings (environment and
life cycle settings, custom metrics, chart and report outlines,
etc.) needed to get you up and running quickly with estimates,
project tracking and forecasting, or sizing a new project. SLIM-

User's Guide to Installing SLIM-Suite 8.1

SLIM-Suite 8.1 Installation 21

Estimate, SLIM-Metrics, and SLIM-Control templates and

sizing templates are contained in the Templates folder.
SLIM-Suite templates will be located in the
\QSM\Tools81\Templates or \MasterPlan Templates folders
under My Documents. SLIM-MasterPlan templates are
contained in the MasterPlan Templates folder.

User Documentation
SLIM-Suite User Guides in .pdf format will be installed to the
\QSM\Tools81\Documentation folder under My Documents.

Maintaining SLIM-Suite 8.1

Once you have installed SLIM-Suite, you may wish to add or
remove applications from your computer or repair damaged or
missing files. To do this, use the Repair portion of the
installation. To access the Maintenance screen, use the
Programs or Add or Remove Programs utility in the
Windows Control Panel.
Windows XP users should see something like this:

Click the Change button to make modifications to your

installation.

22 SLIM-Suite 8.1 Installation

User's Guide to Installing SLIM-Suite 8.1

Windows Vista, Windows 7, or Windows 8 users will see this

dialog:

Right click the QSM Tools 8.1 list item and select Change
from the popup menu. The Welcome dialog will appear.

Use the Repair option to restore missing or modified files. If

you select the Repair option and click Next, setup will
immediately begin restoring the installation to the condition it
was in when the installation was last completed. Note that
setup will not over write any executable or support files that
have been updated.

User's Guide to Installing SLIM-Suite 8.1

SLIM-Suite 8.1 Installation 23

The Remove option completely removes SLIM-Suite 8.1 from

your computer. Workbooks created after the software was
installed will not be deleted.
The Modify option adds or removes components or updates
your SLIM-Suite 8.1 license files. If you click the Next button
when the Modify option is selected, you will see the License
Agreement screen. The next screen is the Customer
Information screen it should have the same information that
was entered the last time the install program was run.
Note: If you are using the Modify option to update your SLIM
license files, you may need to enter the new registration code
that was supplied with your license update packet. If you want
to change which applications are installed, you will need
to verify that the registration number matches the
information in your installation packet.
Once your customer information has been entered correctly,
click Next to advance to the Enter Activation Codes screen.
Enter the activation codes from either your license update
packet or your installation packet. Click Next to advance to the
Select / Deselect Features screen.

Note: When running setup in Maintenance mode, the check

marks indicate features that are already installed and features
that will be installed as a result of changes in your license
agreement. If you uncheck any of the features on this screen,
those features will be uninstalled during the update process.

24 SLIM-Suite 8.1 Installation

User's Guide to Installing SLIM-Suite 8.1

Uninstalling SLIM-Suite 8.1

To uninstall SLIM-Suite from your machine, use the Programs
or Add or Remove Programs utility in the Windows Control
Panel.
You can find the
Control Panel by
clicking on Start ->
Settings -> Control
Panel or in the My
Computer folder on
your machine.
Select QSM Tools
8.1 from the list of
programs, then click
the Remove button
(Windows XP) or
right click the list item
and select Uninstall
(later versions of
Windows)
Add/Remove Programs dialog in Windows XP.

Uninstall or change a program dialog in Windows 7

The installation program will prompt you for confirmation
before uninstalling the SLIM tool suite. Only files that were
originally installed with the suite will be removed your data
files will remain intact after you remove SLIM-Suite from your
machine. You may also use this utility to remove the training
files from your computer.

User's Guide to Installing SLIM-Suite 8.1

SLIM-Suite 8.1 Installation 25

Technical Support and Training

What's Available?
Once you begin using your SLIM tools, you may wonder what
options are available when you need assistance. The good
news is that free technical support is included with your SLIM
tools license. In addition to the User's Guides and Online
Help, there are several options available to you as a licensed
SLIM user:

QSM Training

Free e-mail and phone support

QSM Web Site articles, templates, FAQ's, and more.

Free upgrades during your license period

QSM Deployment Consulting Services

User's Guide to Installing SLIM-Suite 8.1

Technical Support and Training 27

QSM Training
At QSM, training is an important way to make sure you receive
maximum value from your investment in SLIM tools. We know
that our clients are smart people looking for better ways to do
their jobs. If we provide the right tools, (and show our clients
how to use them effectively) they become better problem
solvers and achieve extraordinary results. Training is the key
ingredient that allows excellence in any line of work.
Our 2-Day Software Estimation and Control Course
focuses on building practical skills that you can apply as soon
as you return to your business. Class sizes are deliberately
kept small in order to provide students with individual
coaching. We often work with students to analyze their current
projects. The SLIM-Metrics course is a half-day seminar,
usually offered in conjunction with the Estimation and Control
course.
Our instructors are professionals in the software measurement
industry with many years of problem-solving experience. They
understand the complexities of building software products and
know how to adapt QSM tools to a wide range of
environments. With each SLIM tool license, a specified
number of free training seats are included.
To find out how you can take advantage of SLIM training,
contact QSM at 800 424-6755 from Monday Friday, 9 a.m. to
5 p.m. EST. Training schedules, course outlines, and
additional information are also available on the QSM Web site
at http://www.qsm.com/training.html.

28 Technical Support and Training

User's Guide to Installing SLIM-Suite 8.1

Free E-mail and Telephone Support

Even with the best training, manuals, and online Help we can
provide, most people will have questions from time to time.
That's why QSM offers free e-mail and telephone support as
part of your annual license.
Free Telephone and
E-mail Support

Free Online Support

Technical support representatives are available

from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Eastern Standard
Time, Monday Friday (except holidays).
Faxes, e-mails, and voice mail messages will be
answered the same day under normal
circumstances.
Phone:

1 800 424-6755

E-mail:

[email protected]

Fax:

1 703 749-3795

The QSM web site, www.qsm.com, is another

resource for both new and experienced SLIM tool
users. Support resources include:
The Support page: one-stop shopping for FAQ's, templates,
links to other resources

A searchable Frequently Asked Questions section to provide

support outside of normal business hours and serve as an
additional reference. This area is for QSM clients only - you
can register for access passwords on the main support page.

A code counters page with links to

automated code counting utilities.
A collection of useful downloads including
industry trend line updates, code counters,
training files, and sample files.
A searchable resources page containing
articles and white papers on productivity
assessment, estimation, project control, and
research from the QSM database.
The QSM Blog: keep informed on the latest
research and happenings at QSM.

User's Guide to Installing SLIM-Suite 8.1

Technical Support and Training 29

QSM Consulting Services

In addition to free technical support, QSM also offers a full line
of consulting services to help you get a head start. QSM has
helped hundreds of organizations execute successful projects.
We accomplish this goal by helping our clients explore
practical alternatives and make intelligent decisions that
minimize risk.

Acquisition and Program Management - Our Project

Management Institute (PMI) certified Project
Management Professionals (PMP) can assist you with
every step of the project management process to
include initiating, planning, executing, monitoring and
controlling and closing. We use SLIM-Estimate for
initiating and planning, SLIM-Control for monitoring
and controlling and SLIM-Metrics for closing. We can
also help manage multiple projects at the program and
portfolio level using SLIM-Master Plan.

Benchmarking and Process Improvement - We use

our SLIM-Metrics tool to compare your projects with
similar projects in our benchmark database. We also
provide process improvement recommendations to
help you improve productivity and other core metrics.

Independent Bid Assessment / Alternatives Analysis We use our SLIM-Estimate tool to perform an
independent estimate and compare various solution
alternatives based on your business and technical
requirements.

Independent Verification and Validation (IV&V) - An

extension of our project health check service, we
perform a detailed, independent review of the project
throughout the lifecycle. This includes inspections of
planning, requirements and design documents, source
code inspections, and independent testing and
reliability modeling.

Project Health Check and Forecasting - We use our

SLIM-Control tool to compare planned vs. actual
metrics and run a forecast to complete. We can often
provide an early warning that a project is at risk of
meeting its cost, schedule and/or quality goals and
provide recommended corrective action.

Expert Witness Services - We have been hired as an

expert witness in cases involving the valuation of a
software portfolio in mergers as well as contract
disputes regarding individual software projects. In
these cases we leverage our benchmark database
and extensive experience of our consultants.

30 Technical Support and Training

User's Guide to Installing SLIM-Suite 8.1

QSM also offers a variety of other consulting services. To

download brochures or find out more about QSM consulting
services, visit http://www.qsm.com or call 1 800 424-6755.

Contacting QSM
If you need to contact us:
General

Main Phone: 1 703 790-0055

Toll Free number: 1 800 424-6755
Fax: 1 703 749-3795
QSM Web Site: http://www.qsm.com
E-mail: [email protected]

Sales, Training, and

Product Information

Sales Information: 1 800 424-6755

Fax: 1 703 749-3795
E-mail: [email protected]
Web Site: http://www.qsm.com

Technical
Support

Technical Phone Support: 1 800 4246755

E-mail: [email protected]
Web site:
http://www.qsm.com/support.html

User's Guide to Installing SLIM-Suite 8.1

Technical Support and Training 31