System Requirements

LightBox - Report Writer is an application which combines Microsoft Word and Excel with an online database. The following are general guidelines for the system requirements:

System Requirements

• Microsoft .NET 3.5 Framework (This is necessary for creating the auto comparable map components)
• Microsoft Office (2021 or newer) - 32 or 64 bit | Learn how to upgrade, here.
  • We strongly recommend Office 365
• Microsoft Windows (Windows 10 or Newer) with full account-level administrative privileges (Particularly for installation)
• Engine Component: 45.66 and 46.00 Engine Users | Access to port 3306 & server host: 184.106.249.99 (n1db1.exactbid.com) | TLS 1.2 Encrypted
• Engine Component: All Users | Access to port 1433 & server host: 104.130.33.204 (n1db2.exactbid.com) | SQL TLS 1.2 Encrypted 
• Authentication Component: 46.02 Engine Users | Access to port 8443 & server host: 162.242.206.68 | HTTPS TLS 1.2 Encrypted 
• An active internet connection
• At least 8 GB of RAM recommended.

Report Writer is designed and tested against personal computers. Report Writer is not supported for mac users at this time. 

Required file types

• Microsoft Office file types that support VBA/Macros are .xlsm for Excel and .doc for Word.
  • .xlsx will remove all macros in the workbook and will not work with the Desktop software
  • .docx does not support macros and will not work with the Desktop software

Remote Desktops and File Share Services

• Remote Desktop use is not supported at this time i.e. LogMeIn.
• SharePoint and OneDrive are not supported at this time. Read more on this topic, here.
• Box IS supported. For instructions, refer to Using Box as a Repository for Workfiles. 
• Suggested solution for shared work files: https://app.box.com

Suggested Browser

The web database is best experienced in Chrome or Chromium.

Antivirus/Malware Programs 

Some security programs have been identified that are not supportive of desktop add-ins. LightBox does not recommend the following programs:

• Avast Antivirus
• AVG Antivirus
• BitDefender
• MalwareBytes

PDF Creation Programs

Some PDF add-ins have been found to have direct interference with the Prep process in Excel. LightBox does not recommend the following programs:

• Foxit PDF
• Kofak PDF