Frequently Asked Questions

Click here Device Requirements

Microsoft Windows 10 prior versions are not supported by SoloAssist.

Ensure your Windows 10 or 11 settings have the correct Date, Time Zone, Regional Formats, and Language for Australia (English). Incorrect settings can cause SoloAssist to not work correctly.

For devices using Microsoft Windows 10, use the steps below.

To setup dual screens in Windows 10, follow the steps below.

For device specifications, see our Requirements page.

To setup your Apple Mac for SoloAssist, follow the steps below.

Although you can use Apple Boot Camp or VMware Fusion, we recommend using Parallels. Its our customers preferred choice.

SoloAssist is not designed to be installed or run directly from a central server. SoloAssist is designed to be installed through your devices User account not an Administrator account. However, you should not have a problem file sharing from a central server with using SoloAssist to access and save the files. E.g. SoloAssist Quote Files (.quo), Plans (.pdf)

By default, SoloAssist saves your quote files to Documents ► SoloAssist folder on your computer. To share your quotes or jobs between multiple devices / users, you will need to save your quote files, plans, and any other documentation to the same central share folder location. You will also need to share your SoloAssist Databases folder location.

Option 1 - Use a shared network folder, located on your computer or server.

Option 2 - Use an offsite (cloud-based) sharing application such as: OneDrive, SharePoint, Dropbox, Google Drive

SoloAssist Databases

After the central shared folder location is setup, ensure all devices with SoloAssist installed are setup to the same Databases Folder Location as shown below.

From the computer with the most up to date SoloAssist databases, copy the Databases folder from the SoloAssist folder in Documents ► SoloAssist and paste it into the new shared folder location. Then on each device, go to the SoloAssist Home menu ► Options ► Databases ► Databases Folder Location and select Change, then browser your folders to select and re-setup the Database File Location path to the new shared folder location. All your devices need to show the same location in this field.

If you require assistance, please contact your local IT technician.

Note: If you're reinstalling SoloAssist, ensure you've copied your SoloAssist Home menu > Options screen. It shows where your folders and files need to be connect back to after reinstalling. (IMPORTANT)

Uninstalling

Go to the Windows Start menu, select Settings ► Apps ► Apps & features, scroll down then select SoloAssist in the list, click Uninstall and follow the prompts.

Uninstalling SoloAssist only removes the software from your computer, it doesn't remove any of your existing work folders, jobs or database files.

If you require assistance, please contact your local IT technician.

1) Read How do I install or uninstall SoloAssist? (above for more information).

2) Ensure you have a screenshot or copied your SoloAssist Home menu > Options screen/page. This shows where your SoloAssist folders and files need to be connect back to.(IMPORTANT)

3) Uninstall SoloAssist, then reinstall again. Read How do I uninstall SoloAssist above.

NOTE: It's not necessary to backup your work before reinstalling. Uninstalling SoloAssist does not remove any of your existing work folders, job or database files. Also, you do not require a new Activation Key when reinstalling to the same computer.

Go to the SoloAssist Contact Us page and select the form to request a new download link & product key. We will then send you an email to the details we have on account with your new SoloAssist download link and product key. Typically, the request is processed within 24hrs (excluding weekends, public & festive holidays).

Once you received the new download link and product key, then uninstall SoloAssist from the previous device/s.

Each time you open SoloAssist, it automatically checks for updates over the internet. You may be required to open and close SoloAssist a few times to activate the update.

Some anti-virus and firewall software can block SoloAssist from downloading updates. You may need to temporarily disable these applications or add an exception rule into the conflicting application to allow SoloAssist to update successfully.

In the SoloAssist Home menu, select Add-Ons. Then in the XERO or MYOB Connection boxes, select the Learn More button. This will explain all you need to know about the XERO or MYOB connection. To learn more, click below.

Go to our XERO Connection page.

Go to our MYOB Connection page.

When printing reports from SoloAssist, select the Microsoft Print to PDF printer option, then select Preview. After reviewing the document, select print to save the report to PDF which you are then able to attach to an email.

SoloAssist quote files can be saved to anywhere on your computer.

By default, SoloAssist saves your quotes to Documents ► SoloAssist ► Quotes & Jobs ► Quotes Open folder. Go to the SoloAssist Home (menu), select Open Existing Quote, then the Open Quote window will open for you to locate the quote file.

If you cannot find your quotes in this folder, then you may have saved them to a different folder on your computer. You can search your computer using File Explorer and typing *.quo into the search field.

Open Microsoft Excel ► Open New Blank workbook ► Go to the Data tab ► Select From Text/CSV (Get & Transform Data) ► then find & open the CSV file you're wanting to view or edit ► File Origin 1252: Western European (Windows) ► Delimiter Comma ► Select Load

If you require assistance, please contact your local IT technician.

If you have a touch-screen device with a digital pen, you can digitally sign any PDF documentation saved from SoloAssist.

SoloAssist is designed to always include GST into all end Totals. However, it will always show the GST amount and the exclusive GST amount above the Total inclusive GST. Always check the fields you are entering your rates or quotes into are either (ex. GST) or (inc. GST).

Remember, your user license number is not your product key.

If you have multiple SoloAssist user licenses, open the SoloAssist menu, select License and it will show your Registered Name, License #, and Expiry Date. If no license number is showing e.g. License #1, License #2, License #3, then it means you only have a single user license.

If your SoloAssist 'User Renewal' is not paid by the expiry date shown in your SoloAssist Home (menu) ► About ► Subscription or shown on the User Renewal Invoice as the due date. Then a grace period of 30 days will be given from the expiry date before your user access is deactivated. This means you will not be able to use SoloAssist Estimating or Plans after this period to open or view previous quotes or jobs. However, once your 'User Renewal' has been paid, your access will be reestablish. In the event this happens, you will not lose any of your previous data e.g. quotes, Jobs, takeoffs, etc.

Please read our Software Terms of Use for more information.

Please use the SoloAssist website Contact us page for all user account questions. We have automated forms for you to submit for all types of questions. From receiving your submission, we will reply the same or next business day.

The SoloAssist website contact us page has an option under Accounts to submit your business change of details. Optionally, it can be change and submitted combined with your user renewal through the SoloAssist website User Renewals. This request is processed the same or next business day.

Note: Account changes cannot be made over the phone.

The SoloAssist website Contact page has an option under Accounts to request a new Activation Key and download link. Typically this request is processed within the same business day. This request cannot be made over the phone.

You can renew your SoloAssist user subscription from the SoloAssist website > Pricing (page) > Renew User. It allows you to pay via credit card or direct bank transfer.

SoloAssist will email you a User Renewal invoice 30 days prior to your annual expiry date. You will then have up to 30 days after your expiry date to make payment before your service is deactivated. The SoloAssist software will also remind you with popup banners 14 days before your expiry date to 30 days after your expiry date. Check your email inbox and or spam/junk mail for our emails.

To fix the problem, try the following.

Option 1

If your device pops up with a window named Opening setup.exe saying Save File or Cancel, select Save File. Then open File Explorer and go to Downloads. At the top of the list you should see a setup Application file approx. 790KB. Double left click on the setup file, this should start the SoloAssist installation process with a window prompting you to select Install.

Option 2

Another application on your computer has modified the registry settings, preventing SoloAssist from installing or updating. To fix the problem, try the following.

Read all options below first, then try the appropriate option to resolve the issue.

a) Check your Internet connection is stable.

b) Check your Activation Key is entered correctly from the email we sent you.

c) You may need to add SoloAssist to the allowed applications list of the anti-virus / firewall protection software. Or temporarily disable any anti-virus or firewall protection software which could interfere with the SoloAssist activation process.

d) Remember, you have 2 device activations only per user Activation Key. Have you already activated SoloAssist on 2 other devices? If so, you'll need to submit a user request from the SoloAssist website Contact page > User Request > Change Devices, New Activation Key. We will then reset your device activations and send you a new Activation Key.

e) This issue is common.

If you've installed SoloAssist onto a new computer, reformatted your device, or newly installed a Microsoft Windows O/S. Then your Microsoft O/S Windows 10 or 11 regional settings could be set incorrectly. To check this, go to your Windows Start menu ► Settings ► Time & Language ► Date & time ► Region & language. Then ensure the following Windows Settings have been set correctly. See below. After changing any of the settings below, restart Windows for them to take affect.

If you require assistance, please contact your local IT technician.

Try the following to resolve the issue:

In the event, SoloAssist keeps asking to reenter your Activation Key. After opening a job file (.quo) from File Explorer directly, and when open the same job file it works correctly through SoloAssist Open Job. Then the following steps should fix this issue:

Step 1) Close SoloAssist

Step 2) Open File Explorer, right-click on a SoloAssist job file (.quo), and select Properties from the menu.

Step 3) In Properties ► General tab ► go to Opens with: ► click Change.

Step 4) Select the default app as: ClickOnce Application Deployment Support Library, then select Save or Set default.

If when opening SoloAssist it keeps asking for your Activation Key, you may need to manually clear the old Activation Key from your device.

Try the following to resolve the issue.

If SoloAssist is not opening after selecting its desktop icon, then try the following:

If the above steps didn't work, try Option 2.

If SoloAssist is not opening when you click on its desktop icon. Then the issue might be caused by your device user permissions not allowing SoloAssist to open. Try the following steps to resolve the issue.

If SoloAssist is not opening when you click on its desktop icon. Then try the following to fix the issue.

To fix the problem, try the following.

If your computer has been disconnected from an additional screen or monitor, your computer could still be trying to open Plans on the disconnected screen. In this case, open SoloAssist, go to Home menu, select Options, go to Default Layout and select Reset. Then close and reopen SoloAssist.

To fix the problem, try the following.

See the SoloAssist Home menu ► Troubleshooting.

This means your SoloAssist user settings aren't saving. Your SoloAssist user settings folder is saved to: This PC ► Documents ► SoloAssist ► Settings

Use the column header dividers to widen or shorten each column width.

If you are unable to adjust the column widths using the heading bar dividers, go to the Home (menu) ► Options ► Default Layout ► select Reset. Then adjust the heading bar dividers to suit each column's content.

If your SoloAssist Suppliers.sdb and PriceList.sdb files are set to open with the wrong application type. E.g: Adobe Acrobat / Reader or other? This means somebody or another application on your device has changed the application Type used for the file association.

To fix the problem, try the following.

If your quote file (.quo) won't open SoloAssist when you double click on it, or it opens the SoloAssist Terms & Conditions to 'I Agree' and asks you to enter the Product Key again. This problem is caused by a file association problem on your device.

To fix the problem, try the following.

This problem is typically an incorrect file association. This means that in the past, somebody on your device has tried to open a SoloAssist quote file with another program such as 'Adobe' and reset the file association. To fix the problem, try the following.

Your computers' regional settings are incorrectly set. Go to Windows Start menu ► Settings ► Time & Language ► Date & time ► Region & language. Ensure all the 'Australia' and local settings are selected.

Your computer's display settings are incorrect. Go to Windows Start menu ► Settings ► System Display. Ensure your Scale and layout is set to 100% (Recommended).

Ensure each computer's database has the same folder location set up in SoloAssist.

The default location for the supplier's database file can be found in Documents ► SoloAssist ► Database. To share this database file with other computers, copy the file to a shared location. Go to the SoloAssist Home (menu) Options, then go to Databases and select Browse and change the Databases Folder Location to the new shared location. Restart SoloAssist for changes to take effect.

If you are using files saved to OneDrive, Dropbox, SharePoint, Google Drive, etc, you will be able to log into your account and find the file version history to restore it back to a previous version before the problem started.

NOTE: Each time you close SoloAssist it will automatically create another backup copy that overrides 1 of the 5 time spaced backup files. Take care to not override the backup copies with the incorrect or corrupted file. Always fix any file problems as they arise and resave the incorrect file with a different file name to prevent it auto-saving over a good backup file. This way the SoloAssist time spaced backups will not override the original backups.

See Auto Save Backups to learn more

If you require assistance, please contact your local IT technician.

Sorry, no you cannot. You need to have an active SoloAssist license to view any previous quotes or jobs.

It's good practice to save all Quotes, Jobs, Purchase Orders, Variations, Sales Invoices, etc, into PDF's as you go. This helps you keep a good history log which can be viewed at any time in the future without an active SoloAssist license.

If you need to renew your SoloAssist license, just go to the SoloAssist website Pricing page, and select Renew License.

If a message window is showing (1) of the below messages. It's probably created by your devices user permissions. To fix the issue, try the following steps.

Unable to save Settings Location.

Access to the path 'C:\ SoloAssist \ Settings.xml is denied.

or Access to the path 'C:\ Program Files \ SoloAssist \ Settings.xml is denied.

or Access to the path 'C:\ Program Files (x86) \ SoloAssist \ Settings.xml is denied.

Mmmm, something fishy is happening on your computer.

Try the following, to resolve your issue.

Step 1 - Close SoloAssist

Step 2 - Open File Explorer

Step 3 - Go to This PC, then open Windows (C:)

Step 4 - Check to see if you have a SoloAssist folder in (C:). If not, then create a new folder called SoloAssist.

Step 5 - Try opening SoloAssist again.

If SoloAssist is showing an error message saying:

To resolve the issue, try the following.

If you see the error:

SoloAssist could not open the selected file.

OR

File may not exist, maybe corrupt, or may not be a quote file?

This indicates, it may not be a SoloAssist quote file, or the quote file has been corrupted. This may have been caused by a system crash, power failure, virus, etc.

To recover a backup file, check the automatic time spaced backups in: (C:) Documents ► SoloAssist ► Quotes & Jobs ► Backups folder. Additionally, if you are saving files into OneDrive, Dropbox, Sharepoint, GoogleDrive, etc. Then you should be able to log into your account, find the file and restore it to a previous version.

For more information, see How do I recover a backup of my quote/job files?

SoloAssist automatically creates time spaced backups while you work. These backups are stored in Documents ► SoloAssist ► Quotes & Jobs ► Backups folder on your computer.

To recover a backup quote file, open File Explorer and navigate to the above location on your computer. In this folder are backups of each SoloAssist quote (.quo) file. Each quote file will have a timestamp attached to the end of its name e.g: 100 Pineridge Rd_15min or 100 Pineridge Rd_v1850.

If you were working on an unsaved quote, look for files with the name Untitled.quo. Once you have located the correct file, open the quote file and check the data is correct. Select Save As in the menu and save the file over your original file.

Warning: Do not work on quote/job files from inside the SoloAssist Backups folder. Save the files back into your job folder before using them in SoloAssist.

This is not a SoloAssist software problem.

This 'Unhandled exception' (error message) is caused by the file path location (directory length) exceeding the maximum number of characters allowed to open or print a file. By default, your Windows 10 operating system is set to a maximum of 260 characters for a file path location (directory length) to open or print a file. This error message indicates the (directory length) of sub folders to the save location of your file/s is too long.

In some cases, if your (directory length) is on the edge of the maximum number of characters, you'll be able to open your file, but not be able to print a report. Some files you'll be able to open and some files you will not be able to open.

To fix the problem, try the following.

Shorten the file path location (directory length) to the save file location. Make it under 248 characters. It seems you have gone a little overboard with setting up a long directory of sub folders to save your files into. It's time to simplify your folders and filing system.

Keep it simple.

If you require assistance, please contact your local IT technician.

Please note, this is a OneDrive issue not a SoloAssist issue.

If your SoloAssist quote or database files are duplicating in OneDrive, it could be caused either by 2 or more people using the same file at the same time, or it could be a OneDrive Cached Credentials issue.

How to refresh your OneDrive Cached Credentials

If a file is duplicating in your OneDrive with your computer name added to the filename, it could be time to refresh your credentials. Follow the steps below to refresh your OneDrive cached credentials. Hopefully this will stop the issue in the future, but if the following steps do not resolve your issue or remove the duplicate files, then you will need to remove the duplicate files manually.

1) Select Start, type into the search field 'credentials' then select Credentials Manager.

2) Select the Windows Credentials tab/box.

3) Under Generic Credentials, look for any entries containing 'OneDrive Cached Credentials' and remove them.

4) Log out of OneDrive then log back in, then check it's behaviour.

If you require assistance, please contact your local IT technician.