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Who should use this article? Solution 7 is often used by multiple people across a single company. Use this Admin Install and Setup page if you are the Solution 7 administrator for your company or if you are the only user of Solution 7 at your company and will act as the administrator. 

What is the purpose of this article? This article was written to help administrators install and setup Solution 7 for themselves and their company. 

• To download the latest editions of Solution 7, please select the correct edition under Downloads & Releases > Edition Downloads (NetSuite, IRIS, Dream).

Steps for Install & Setup

Step 1: Install Solution 7

Solution 7 can be hosted in the cloud using services such as Microsoft Azure and Amazon Web Services. It can also be centrally installed onto a shared network service running Citrix or Windows Terminal Services. For details, see the Windows Administrator, Terminal Services and Citrix installation section below.

1. Close any open copies of Microsoft Excel.
2. Download the Solution 7 installation executable from this link.
3. Run the downloaded installer executable, by any of the following:
   • Running the executable directly from within the browser.
   • Finding the installer in Windows File Explorer.
   • Running it from the command line (see the Command Line Installation section).

4. Choose your NetSuite Edition, agree to the licence terms and conditions, and click Install. (See "Should I install OneWorld or Standard?" if you are unsure which edition to choose.)

   

5. The software will now install. This can take up to several minutes.
6. If you see a setup error, close all open copies of Excel and click Retry. If the error persists, click Abort, reboot the PC, and restart the installation.
7. Once installation is complete, click Close.

8. On success, the Solution 7 tab appears in Excel. If you don't see it, enable the add-in from the Solution 7 Add-in Manager found in your Windows start menu.

   

   

Should I install OneWorld or Standard?

When installing Solution 7 you must choose either the NetSuite OneWorld or Standard edition. If you report by subsidiaries within NetSuite, choose the OneWorld option - otherwise choose Standard.

The Solution 7 Add-in Manager

The Solution 7 Add-in Manager is a tool for managing the Solution 7 add-in within Excel. It is installed automatically with Solution 7 and can be found in your Windows Start Menu.

The tool has just two buttons: click the appropriate button to Enable or Disable Solution 7 across all Excel versions installed on the computer.

Step 2: Install Suite Analytics Connect (ODBC)

SuiteAnalytics Connect (ODBC) is a module which allows you to connect Excel and other reporting tools directly to your NetSuite data. This means that you have the flexibility and control to create reports you need, when you need them, for anyone in your business without losing the immense power and structure of your core NetSuite database.

Enabling SuiteAnalytics Connect in NetSuite

Before you can use the ODBC driver, the SuiteAnalytics Connect feature must be enabled on your NetSuite account.

1. Log in to NetSuite using an Administrator role.
2. Go to Setup → Company → Enable Features.
3. Click the Analytics tab.

4. Select SuiteAnalytics Connect.

   

5. Click Save.

Establishing which ODBC version to download

Solution 7 supports both 64-bit and 32-bit Microsoft Excel. The ODBC driver version you install must match your Excel version — not your Windows version. This is the single most important thing to get right during setup.

To check which version of Excel you have:

1. Start Microsoft Excel.
2. Go to Solution 7 → About.

3. The 'About Solution 7' dialog shows which version of the ODBC driver (64-bit or 32-bit) to download and install.

   

Downloading the ODBC driver

1. Log in to NetSuite using the 'Solution 7 Reporting' role or a different role that has SuiteAnalytics Connect permission.
2. On the NetSuite Home page, go to the Settings portlet and click the Set Up SuiteAnalytics Connect link.
3. 
4. From the list of available downloads, click the ODBC DRIVER Download link that corresponds to your Microsoft Excel version (64-bit or 32-bit).
5. 

Installing the ODBC driver

Once the driver has downloaded:

1. Run the downloaded installation executable — either from within your browser or by finding the EXE in your Documents.
2. Choose your language. If unsure, select English (United States).
3. On the Welcome screen, click Next.
4. On the License Agreement screen, click I accept.
5. On the Choose Destination Location screen, click Next to accept the default location, or click Change… to save it elsewhere.
6. On the Ready to Install the Program screen, click Install.
7. When installation is complete, click Finish.

Step 3: Install Bundle in NetSuite (Admin Only)

The Solution 7 bundle in NetSuite is required for Solution 7 to operate correctly. Follow the steps in this guide to install the bundle in your NetSuite account and check who is using Solution 7 at your company. This step will require a login to NetSuite.

Bundle contents

Installing the bundle

1. Log in to NetSuite using an Administrator role.
2. Select Customization → SuiteBundler → Search & Install Bundles.
3. In KEYWORDS, enter Solution 7 Excel Financial Reporting and click Search.

4. Select the Solution 7 - Excel Financial Reporting bundle (ID 297018).

   

5. Click Install.

Viewing Solution 7 users and license usage

To see who is using Solution 7 over time, you can view license usage through the contents of the 'Solution 7 Sessions' custom record type.

1. Log in to NetSuite using a role that has the 'Solution 7 Sessions' Custom Record Type permission enabled.
2. Select Customization → Lists, Records & Fields → Record Types.
3. Expand FILTERS and select bundle ID 297018 in the FROM BUNDLE drop-down.
4. Click List on the 'Solution 7 Sessions' custom record type in the search results.

Provide Roles in NetSuite to All Solution 7 Users

User access to NetSuite is governed by roles and permissions. Solution 7 is also bound by NetSuite’s roles and permissions to ensure that Solution 7 users can only see the data their NetSuite role allows. When configuring roles and permissions for Solution 7, Administrators can either utilize the 'Solution 7 Reporting’ role, add permissions to existing NetSuite roles, or create new roles.

Step 4: Configuration

Solution 7 stores everything needed to connect to NetSuite — including the Account ID and NetSuite data center URLs — in a Solution 7 Configuration File. This is an XML file with a .CON extension.

The file can be created per user and copied to each machine, or shared centrally by storing it on a network server or a cloud file-sharing service such as Box, Dropbox, or Microsoft OneDrive.

How to configure Solution 7 to connect to NetSuite — configuration files, connection and advanced settings, licensing, adapters, features, email, and protection.

Configuring for the first time

When installing Solution 7 for the first time, a new configuration file must be created.

1. Go to Solution 7 → Configure.

2. On the System Configuration screen, click Change File.

   

3. Create or select a shared network folder or local folder to store the file.
4. Enter a file name (e.g. Solution 7 Config.con).

5. Click Open to enter the details (see Configuration Settings below).

   

Selecting an existing configuration file

When installing on multiple machines, a configuration file can be shared by copying it to each machine, storing it on a network drive, or using a cloud storage service.

1. Go to Solution 7 → Configure.
2. On the configuration screen, click Change File.
3. Browse to the folder containing the configuration and select the .CON file.
4. Click Open to enter the details (see Configuration Settings below).

Switching between Production, Sandbox and Release Preview

To switch easily between account types, create a separate configuration file per account. A clear naming convention makes them easy to identify:

• NetSuite (Production).con
• NetSuite (Sandbox).con
• NetSuite (Release Preview).con

For multiple sandbox accounts:

• NetSuite (SB1).con
• NetSuite (SB2).con

Configuration settings

After creating a configuration file, set the following values:

Advanced settings

1. Go to Solution 7 → Configure → Advanced and set:

Configuring Sandbox accounts

Managing the file location via Group Policy (IT admins only)

To configure Solution 7 via Group Policy Objects, install the Solution 7 administrative template and configure the specific policies you wish to set.

License maintenance

Solution 7 issues license keys as part of the support and maintenance contract. License keys can only be obtained from Zone & Co and are not valid if received from a third party.

To import your license key:

1. Save your license key to your computer.
2. Select Solution 7 → Configure.
3. Select the License Maintenance tab.
4. Click Import License.

5. Browse to the license file sent to you by Solution 7 and click Open.

   

6. Click OK.
7. Click Activate.

Save the License Key First

Adapters

Adapters are files, or groups of files, that extend Solution 7's core functionality with new objects including Lists, Functions, Drill-down columns, and PivotTables. They can be added by referencing a single adapter file (.XDFX extension) or a set of adapter files in a local or shared folder.

Managing adapters

To add an adapter:

1. From the Configuration screen, select the Adapters tab and click Add.

2. Select Add File.

   

3. Locate the file, then click Open.
4. Click OK.
5. Restart Microsoft Excel.

To change the location of an adapter file:

1. From the Adapters tab, click Change.
2. Select Change File Path.
3. Locate the file, then click Open.
4. Click OK.
5. Restart Microsoft Excel.

To remove an adapter, click Remove.

Relative file paths

Sometimes an adapter is stored in a location that differs on each machine — a common example is an adapter stored in a user's profile. To reference an adapter by its path relative to the configuration file:

1. From the Configuration screen, select the Adapters tab and click Change.
2. Select Set as Relative Path.

Adapter load sequence

To change the order in which adapters load, use the Move Up and Move Down buttons.

Features

Features can be optionally enabled or disabled per configuration file. The following can be toggled:

• Automation
• Zero Suppression
• Budget Upload
• Accounts
• Developer Tools

• Lock Formula Values

  

Email (SMTP) configuration

To distribute workbooks by email using the Solution 7 Automation feature, the SMTP server settings must be configured. The values depend on your email provider:

SMTP settings for common providers

Settings for common email clients are below. If your provider isn't listed, speak with your IT team or refer to your provider's documentation.

For all providers, tick Specify Credentials and enter your email address as the User Name and your email password as the Password.

Protection

Applying a password prevents end users from switching to a different configuration file or editing an existing one.

1. From the Protection tab of the Configuration screen, tick Password Protect this File.
2. Enter and confirm the password.
3. Click OK.
4. Restart Microsoft Excel.

Step 5: Install License

Solution 7 issues a license after contracts are signed. If you haven't received your license information yet, please reach out to your account team. 

License files cannot be opened directly but must be saved to your computer and then imported into the License Maintenance tab of the ‘System Configuration’ dialog. 

Importing a licence file

1. Save your licence file to your local computer or to a shared network drive.
2. Start Excel and select Solution 7 → Configure.
3. Select the Licence Maintenance tab.
4. Click the Import button.
5. Browse to the licence file saved in step 1 and click Open.
6. Check that the details under Current Licence are correct.
7. Click OK.

Your Solution 7 licence is now installed and you may start using Solution 7.

Troubleshooting

Use the following guides to help troubleshoot any issues during install and setup. 

1. Firewall & Proxy Guide: A firewall protects your network or computer from unwanted internet traffic. Its primary function is to let good traffic pass and block unwanted or bad traffic. This document explains the firewall and proxy settings necessary to allow Solution 7 to successfully communicate with NetSuite.
2. Troubleshooting Guide: This document provides guidance for resolving some common issues you might encounter.