Installation Instructions for Models and Tools

There are two installation options to download and install our Models and Tools: Microsoft Installer packages (.MSI files) or self-extracting compressed archives (.EXE files). We recommend the MSI file installation since this method will create program groups and allows you to manage the installation using familiar Windows tools.

The self-extracting compressed archives make sense if you simply want to have an easy way to access the individual template files. See the below sections for specific instructions for either method.

You will first need to download the installation package file to download directory on your desktop or network. You should select a directory that is easy to access for later package installation.

Installing using Microsoft Installer Packages

Simply save the .MSI file to a known directory by clicking the link from the download page and clicking the 'Save...' button (see Figure 1). Select you directory to save the file in the Save As window and click 'Save' (Figure 2). Once the download is complete, open an Explorer window pointing at that directory: for example D:\downloads where D is a local or network drive.

Select the .MSI file for the downloaded model or tool (for example, the Binomial Stock option valuation model is named 'binomial-model.msi'). Double-click this file in the Explorer window using your mouse or other pointing device; the installation tool will open. Simply follow the prompts and the package will install a Program Group and a link on your desktop.

When the installation is complete. You should now open Excel and set your Macro security level to Medium following the instructions provided on our support page.

After you have set macro security, simply go to your Start menu and open the program group. Select the Excel template to open and start using your tool. You will need to 'Enable Macros' to allow the tool to function.

There is also a link to the documentation in the Start menu program group created during install. Please refer to this document if you have any questions on how to use the tool, description on how the tool functions or details on the calculation methods.

Figure 1. Download file to your local machine. Click the 'Save' button to prompt you to select a directory to save the installation package.

Figure 2. Specify a directory to save the file and click the 'Save' button to start download to the selected directory.

To un-install the software, simply use the Control Panel 'Add/Remove Programs...' option just like any other Windows software package (we recommend backup of all files prior to deletion).

Self-Extracting Compressed Archives

Simply save the .EXE file to a known directory by clicking the link from the download page and clicking the 'Save...' button (see Figure 1). Select you directory to save the file in the Save As window and click 'Save' (Figure 2). Once the download is complete, open an Explorer window pointing at that directory: for example D:\downloads where D is a local or network drive.

Select the .EXE file for the downloaded model or tool (for example, the Binomial Stock option valuation model is named 'binomial-model.exe'). Double-click this file in the Explorer window using your mouse or other pointing device; the file extraction tool will open. Simply select a directory to save the files in the package (see Figure 3). The extractor will simply copy the files in the archive to the specified directory including the stored sub-directories.

When the installation is complete. You should now open Excel and set your Macro security level to Medium following the instructions provided on our support page.

Figure 3. Specify a directory to extract the contents of the archive and click the 'Start' button to copy the files in the package to the selected directory.

To un-install the software, simply find the directory that the files have been extracted to and delete that directory and all of the files in Explorer (we recommend backup of all files prior to deletion).

Additional Help is Available

Should you need additional support, we can establish a support agreement for you to provide specific technical assistance. We can also provide dedicated consulting services to to support you with your stock valuation implementation. This includes helping companies develop their assumptions for expected volatility, term and forfeitures, and assisting in the determination of the expense to be recorded by period. Please contact us at consulting@procognis.com for details.