Install Roadsoft – New Users

How to Install Roadsoft for the First Time

This installation guide is for new Roadsoft users only. If you already have Roadsoft installed, please refer to Existing Database – Before Installing or Updating for more information.

These instructions are for setting up a local instance of Roadsoft to run on a single computer. If you wish to share the Roadsoft database, complete the steps below and then see Set up SQL Express Sharing for instructions on how to share the database to other computers on your network.

Determine agency needs:

Option 1 is for customers who do not have a license for Microsoft SQL Server 2016 or greater.

Option 2 is for customers who do have a license for Microsoft SQL Server 2016, or greater, and who want to set up the Roadsoft database on that server.

Option 1 - Customers who do not have a license for Microsoft SQL Server 2016 or greater

To set up Roadsoft on a local machine (not shared, also called “client machine”) as a stand-alone database, save the FWVersionInfo.dat file that was provided on the computer and complete the following steps:

Download the Roadsoft installer (SetupRoadsoft202X.X.exe) from our website https://roadsoft.org/Downloads and save the file on the local machine.

Right-click on the SetupRoadsoft202X.X.exe file that was saved (202X.X represents the Roadsoft version number – ex. SetupRoadsoft2026.4.exe) and select Run as Administrator.

Follow the prompts. When the Installation Result window is reached, select the Install SQL Express radio button, and then select the Finish button.

If the SQL installation step above is missed or incomplete, rerun the Roadsoft installation and select the option. If there is a problem or a new SQL installer is needed, contact Roadsoft technical support at roadsoft@mtu.edu.

Set up a new Roadsoft database:

Double-click the Roadsoft program icon to start the program

Select the Options… button from the Login window

Select Create New Database….

Select the drop-down arrow on the Server field and then select <Browse for more…>

Select the server name from the list on the Local Servers tab (select the Network Tab if nothing is found on the Local Servers tab)

The server name will be the name of the machine followed by TDG or TDG 20XX (20XX indicates version year of SQL– ex. my-machine-name/TDG2025).

Select the OK button.

In the Database field, enter a name for the database. The database name defaults to "Roadsoft."

Customers may enter an alternative name, but it must begin "RS_" or “Roadsoft” (ex. RS_Agency or Roadsoft-Agency).

Select the Create Database button.

Select the OK button.

A default admin userid and password will automatically be created

User ID: Admin and Password: Admin.

Select the OK button to log in with the default password

The Change Password window will appear:

Enter a new password and select OK

Accept the default password by selecting the Cancel button

The Roadsoft Framework Data Required window will appear

Select the Load From File button to browse for the FWVersionInfo.dat file that was provided. Contact Roadsoft Technical support at roadsoft@mtu.edu if an FWVersionInfo.dat file was not received previously.

Locate and select the FWVersionInfo.dat file, and select the Open button.

Select the OK button to confirm the framework download.

Roadsoft should open to the expected jurisdiction and setup is complete.

Option 2 - Customers who have a license for Microsoft SQL Server 2016 or greater and want to set up the Roadsoft database on that server.

Roadsoft/SQL Server requirements:

•SQL Server must accept mixed-mode authentication

•The SA account must be enabled and have a password set

•Remote connections must be enabled

•SQL server service must be run as "NTauthority\system user"

•TCP/IP and named pipes must be enabled

Once the SQL Server is configured to accommodate RoadSoft, place the FWVersionInfo.dat file that was provided on the server and complete the following steps:

Download the Roadsoft installer (SetupRoadsoft202X.X.exe) from our website https://roadsoft.org/Downloads and save the file on the local machine.

Right-click on the SetupRoadsoft202X.X.exe file (202X.X represents the Roadsoft version number – ex. SetupRoadsoft2026.4.exe) and select Run as Administrator.

Follow the prompts. When the Installation Result window is reached, make sure the Install SQL Express radio button is unchecked, and then select the Finish button.

Set up a new Roadsoft database on the SQL Server:

Double-click the Roadsoft program icon to start the program

Select the Options… button from the Login window

Select Create New Database….

Select the drop-down arrow on the Server field and then select <Browse for more…>.

Select the Network Servers tab and select the SQL server where the Roadsoft database will be hosted

Select the OK button.

In the Database field, enter a name for the database. The database name defaults to “Roadsoft.”

Customers may enter an alternative name, but it must begin "RS_" or “Roadsoft” (ex. RS_Agency or Roadsoft-Agency).

Select the Create Database button

Select the OK button

A default admin userid and password will automatically be created

User ID: Admin and Password: Admin.

Select the OK button to log in with the default password

The Change Password window will appear:

Enter a new password and select OK

Accept the default password by selecting the Cancel button

The Roadsoft Framework Data Required window will appear

Locate and select the FWVersionInfo.dat file, and select the Open button.

Select the OK button to confirm the framework download.

Roadsoft should open to the expected jurisdiction and setup is complete.

If you wish to share the Roadsoft database, see Set up SQL Express Sharing for instructions on how to share the database to other computers on your network.

Connect Additional Computers to the Database

Start Roadsoft on each connecting machine

Select the Options… button

Select Change Server/Database....

Select the drop-down arrow on the Server field and then select <Browse for more…>

Select the Network Servers tab and locate the hosting machine name where the Roadsoft database was created previously

Select the OK button

Select the drop-down arrow on the Database field and then select <Browse Server for DBs>

Locate and select the database name that was created previously

Select the Connect button.

Agencies using their own licensed SQL Server may be a prompted for the sa password to connec to the SQL server. This will need to be obtained from the agency IT department. Agencies using a Roadsoft provided SQL instance (eg – \machine name\TDG2025) should automatically open the Roadsoft login window. Log in using the administrator password that was created and the expected jurisdiction should open in the application. It is advised to create individual user profiles for networked database users (rather than all using the administrator access).