Installing the Connection Suite

For the most comparable experience to the Applied Epic desktop interface, install the Applied Epic Connection Suite, which includes the Epic Extension and the Epic Connection Suite Package. While basic functionality is available without these components, they are required for full Applied Epic capabilities in the browser interface. You can only install the Connection Suite components on machines with Microsoft Windows operating systems.

Your organization can choose to allow users to install the Connection Suite themselves, or your system administrator can install the components en masse on all applicable workstations. This document provides installation instructions for both workflows. Once the Applied Epic Connection Suite Package is installed and Applied has enabled auto-update functionality for your organization, the package automatically updates each time a user signs into Applied Epic. This document provides installation instructions for both workflows. The Single-User Installation section provides standalone installation instructions for users installing the Epic Extension and Epic Connection Suite Package themselves. The Mass Installation section provides information for system administrators installing these components across multiple workstations at once. We recommend that only users with experience editing registry entries and creating and distributing script files to multiple workstations perform the mass installation steps.

Epic Outlook Add-In

The Epic Outlook Add-in is required for email functionality in the browser interface. You must also select Outlook as the Email Integration Default in Configure > Email > System Settings (if you manage this setting system-wide), or direct users to select Outlook as their default in Configure > User Options > Email (if you allow them to select their own default).

If the Applied Epic Desktop Client is installed on the same workstation where you access Applied Epic from your browser, the Epic Outlook Add-in is already installed. Installing the Epic Connection Suite Package also installs the add-in or updates your existing installation. Applied recommends closing Microsoft Outlook before installing the package to prevent errors during email workflows.  

Single-User Installation

If you want to allow individual users to install the Epic Extension and the Epic Connection Suite Package from Help > Connection Suite, they must have the Connection Suite security permission granted. Ensure that they also have the necessary permissions to install software and browser extensions on their local machines.

Use the instructions below to install the Epic Extension and the Epic Connection Suite Package on a single workstation. The Epic Extension is available for Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Microsoft Edge. You must install the Epic Extension separately for each web browser that you use to access Applied Epic. Install the Epic Extension before downloading and installing the Epic Connection Suite Package.

  1. Log into Applied Epic in a supported web browser (Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Microsoft Edge).
  2. Click Help > Connection Suite on the menubar.
  3. In the Connection Suite pop-up window, click the Install button for the Epic Extension. The extension installation varies, depending on your browser:
  1. In the Connection Suite pop-up window, click the Install button for the Epic Connection Suite Package.
  2. Once the Epic Connection Suite Package (MSI) download completes, the installation usually runs automatically. If it does not, run the MSI file from your Downloads folder and follow the prompts to complete the installation.

    During the installation of the Connection Suite package MSI file, a default Windows service called Applied Epic Connection Suite Package Installer is also installed. Once Applied has enabled auto-update functionality, this service performs future Connection Suite Package updates automatically on your workstation each time you log into Applied Epic in your browser. For more information, see the Epic Connection Suite Installer section.
  3. If prompted, enter the URL you use to access Applied Epic in the Applied Epic URL for Outlook Add-in field. This URL enables Applied Epic workflows in Microsoft Outlook.
    Note: Installing the Epic Connection Suite Package saves the local EXE file for the package to C:\Program Files (x86)\Applied Systems.
  4. If prompted, restart your computer.

Mass Installation

System administrators can perform mass installations of the Epic Extension and the Epic Connection Suite Package. If a user accesses Applied Epic from multiple browsers, you must install the Applied Epic Extension separately for each one. Install the Epic Extension before installing the Epic Connection Suite Package.

Applied Epic Extension for Google Chrome

You can install the Applied Epic Extension to workstations using Google Chrome in either of two ways. If you have a Google Admin account, you can use the Google Admin console. If not, you must edit each workstation’s registry.

Installing the Applied Epic Extension from the Google Admin console

If your organization uses Google Workspace, you must use a Google administrator account to access the Google Admin console and manage Google services or devices for a group. To learn more about managing Chrome policies from the Google Admin console, see Automatically install apps and extensions in the Google Chrome Help Center.

You must allow all of the Applied Epic Extension permissions for the extension to function; no permissions can be blocked. To learn more about the permission options, see Set app and extension policies in the Google Chrome Help Center.

  1. Sign in to the Google Admin console at admin.google.com using your administrator account.
    Note: You must have an administrator account. You cannot access the Google Admin console using a personal Gmail account.
  2. From the Google Admin console Home page, navigate to Devices > Chrome.
  3. Navigate to Apps & extensions > Users & browsers or Managed guest sessions.
  4. To apply your changes to all users and enrolled browsers, leave the highest-level organizational unit selected. Otherwise, select the child organizational unit containing the users and browsers to which you are distributing and installing the extension.
  5. Navigate to the Applied Epic Extension.
  6. Under Installation policy, select Force install.
  7. Click Save.
    Note: If you configured a child organizational unit, you may be able to Inherit or Override a parent organizational unit's settings, depending on your organization's structure. Take care to avoid any unintended changes to parent or child organizational unit settings.

Installing the Applied Epic Extension to Google Chrome by editing registry values

If your organization does not use a Google administrator account, system administrators can distribute and install the Applied Epic Extension to Google Chrome on user workstations by editing the workstations’ registries.

These instructions assume that you are already familiar with the process of creating a script file to edit the registry and distributing the file across multiple workstations. Using your preferred methods for creating and distributing the file, you must edit the parent registry key containing the Applied Epic Extension to force the installation of the extension in Google Chrome. These instructions identify the parent registry key and the format for editing it.

If you install the Applied Epic Extension using registry entries, users cannot remove or disable the extension without removing the registry key. After you have pushed out the registry changes to users, the extension will be installed the next time each user opens Google Chrome, but it may take a moment to complete.

  1. Edit the parent registry key: Software\Policies\Google\Chrome\ExtensionInstallForcelist\<n>
  2. The <n> is an incrementing numeric value representing the extension, with a value of the form <store id>;<update url>. To force the installation of the Applied Epic Extension, add the store ID for the Applied Epic Extension and the specific URL for Google Chrome:

The finished code to force the installation of the Applied Epic Extension to Google Chrome will resemble this example:

Software\Policies\Google\Chrome\ExtensionInstallForcelist\jmigehagkgopllnhcjngjgfblmjladih;https://clients2.google.com/service/update2/crx

Applied Epic Extension - Mozilla Firefox

System administrators can distribute and install the Applied Epic Extension to Mozilla Firefox on user workstations by editing the workstations’ registries. Before performing these steps, you may want to familiarize yourself with the Mozilla Policy Templates documentation on GitHub, which provides information on additional registry keys and their values, but be aware that the information is in flux. Make sure to download the latest release of the templates for the most accurate list.

These instructions assume that you are already familiar with the process of creating a script file to edit the registry and distributing the file across multiple workstations. Using your preferred methods for creating and distributing the file, you must edit the parent registry key containing the Applied Epic Extension to force the installation of the extension in Mozilla Firefox, as well as the parent registry key that controls the user’s ability to uninstall the extension.

These instructions identify the parent registry values and the format for editing them. After you have pushed out the registry changes to users, the extension will be installed the next time each user opens Mozilla Firefox, but it may take a moment to complete.

  1. Edit the following parent registry values:

If your organization has previously established a restricted policy on users’ browsers to limit extension installations, you must allow the Applied Epic Extension and the Applied Epic domain (appliedepic.com) using the following registry entry:

Applied Epic Extension - Microsoft Edge

System administrators can distribute and install the Applied Epic Extension to Microsoft Edge on user workstations by editing the workstations’ registries. Before beginning the installation, see Microsoft Edge – Policies – Extension policies for more information on the breadth of the configurable options.

These instructions assume that you are already familiar with the process of creating a script file to edit the registry and distributing the file across multiple workstations. Using your preferred methods for creating and distributing the file, you must edit the parent registry key containing the Applied Epic Extension to force the installation of the extension in Microsoft Edge. These instructions identify the parent registry key and the format for editing it.

After you have pushed out the registry changes to users, the extension will be installed the next time each user opens Microsoft Edge, but it may take a moment to complete.

  1. Edit the parent registry key: SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge\ExtensionInstallForcelist\<n>
  2. The <n> is an incrementing numeric value, starting at 1 and corresponding to a specific extension, with a value in the format <store id>;<update url>. To force the installation of the Applied Epic Extension, add the store ID for the Applied Epic Extension and the specific URL for Microsoft Edge:

The finished code to force the installation of the Applied Epic Extension to Microsoft Edge will resemble this example:

SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge\ExtensionInstallForcelist\iihgonfleoaicakimogonedhokljnalg;https://edge.microsoft.com/extensionwebstorebase/v1/crx

If your organization has previously established a restricted policy on users’ browsers to limit extension installations, ensure that all permissions are allowed for the Applied Epic Extension and/or determine the sources from which users can install extensions, using the following registry entries:

Epic Connection Suite Package

Before distributing the Epic Connection Suite Package, you must download the package. Make sure to download a version of the package that is compatible with your installed version of Applied Epic. Installing an incompatible version can result in undesirable system behavior.

Once you have downloaded the MSI file, you can distribute it using a series of PowerShell commands. For more information on running a single command on multiple machines at once, see Microsoft – about_Try_Catch_Finally.

Once the Connection Suite Package is distributed and installed and Applied has enabled the auto-update capability for your organization, the package updates itself whenever a compatible update is available, without requiring you to redeploy it. A default Windows service called Applied Epic Connection Suite Package Installer is installed with the Connection Suite package MSI file. This service performs all subsequent updates to the Connection Suite Package automatically on the user’s workstation each time they log into Applied Epic in their browser. For more information, see the Epic Connection Suite Installer section.

To prevent errors, makes sure all users are logged out and have closed all open Applied Epic browser tabs and windows. To minimize impact to users, Applied recommends installing the package outside of normal business hours.

Follow these instructions to download the Epic Connection Suite Package MSI file and invoke the PowerShell commands to distribute it across multiple workstations:

  1. Navigate to the Product Information area of the Applied Community and access Applied Epic > Download Product Updates > Applied Epic Connection Suite in the treeview. Download a compatible version of the Applied Epic Connection Suite Package Setup file.

    You can also log into Applied Epic in a supported browser, click Help > Connection Suite on the menubar, and click the Install button for the Epic Connection Suite Package to download the MSI file. The version available to download here is based on the Client Version displayed in Help > About Applied Epic.
  2. If your organization’s users previously had the Connection Suite Package installed as an EXE file, uninstall it from all workstations before proceeding.
  3. Distribute the downloaded MSI file using the series of PowerShell commands below. If you chose not to uninstall the EXE version of the Connection Suite Package in the previous step, use a reduced Windows installer (/qr) instead of a full silent Windows installer (/q) to remove it as part of the MSI installation.

    Start-Process -FilePath 'C:\Windows\System32\msiexec.exe' -ArgumentList "/i $MSI_PATH BrowserUrl=$APPLIED_EPIC_URL -l $env:TEMP\ASI.EpicConnectionSuitePackageSetup.log /qr" -Wait

The installation also creates temporary log files. Access the overall log file (ASI.EpicConnectionSuitePackageSetup.log) in the folder you specified for the installation ($env:TEMP\Applied_Epic_Connection_Suite_Package). You can review log files for each component of the package in C:\Users\YOUR_WINDOWS_USERNAME\AppData\Local\Temp.

Note: If Applied Epic is open in a web browser on a workstation with the Desktop Connector already installed, the Desktop Connection installation will fail on that station, although the other package components will install successfully. To check for a failure of this kind, do one of the following from the affected workstation:

To resolve the issue, close all active Epic Browser sessions on the workstation and retry the package installation.

Epic Connection Suite Installer

The Epic Connection Suite Package includes the Applied Epic Connection Suite Installer. This Windows service installs on your workstation along with the package and enables the package to update automatically whenever an update compatible with your current version of Applied Epic is available.

The Installer is available with version 1.38.7 and subsequent versions of the Connection Suite Package (MSI only). After the Connection Suite Package and the Windows service are installed (using the Single installation or Mass Installation workflows above) and Applied has enabled auto-update functionality for your organization, Applied Epic compares the user’s current version of the desktop connector to the minimum required version for the user’s version of Applied Epic each time they log in in their browser. If the installed version is lower than the required version, the MSI file for the appropriate version downloads and installs to their workstation automatically.

To troubleshoot issues related to Connection Suite updates with the installer service, view the log file (with a file name such as Applied Epic Connection Suite Installer20241003.log) in C:\Program Files (x86)\Applied Systems\Applied Epic Connection Suite Installer\logs\.

Once the Applied Epic Connection Suite Installer service is installed on a user’s workstation, Applied recommends denying the Connection Suite security permission in Program Access > General > General (if they have it granted). If you leave the permission granted, the user receives notifications about new Connection Suite updates and may click the Install Update button in the Connection Suite window. This manual update can conflict with the automatic updates.

If users manage their own installation of Applied Rating Services, you may want to leave the permission granted. However, make sure to educate users about the Connection Suite auto-update functionality and direct them to disregard the Connection Suite update notifications.

Excluding the Windows service installation

If you prefer to continue managing Connection Suite updates manually, you can execute the following command in a CMD prompt with administrative privileges to exclude the Applied Epic Connection Suite Installer service from the Connection Suite Package installation:

  1. Copy the folder path where the MSI file is stored on the workstation.
  2. Type the following command and press [Enter]:

    msiexec /i PATH_TO_MSI ADDLOCAL=MainFeature

    The Epic Connection Suite Package installs without the Windows service.

    Please note that if you exclude the service, an administrator must perform future updates to the Connection Suite manually by downloading and installing the updated package using the command above.

Uninstalling the Applied Epic Connection Suite Package

Because the Epic Connection Suite Package includes Print Center, uninstalling the Epic Connection Suite Package purges any existing incomplete print jobs. Make sure to complete all print jobs before uninstalling.

Before you update to version 1.38.7 or subsequent versions of the Connection Suite Package, you must uninstall any previously installed versions of the package. If you are not a Windows administrator, you will be prompted to enter an administrator's password during the uninstallation process.

To uninstall the Applied Epic Connection Suite Package, follow these steps:

For Windows 10:

  1. Click the Start button (Windows logo) in the bottom left corner of your screen.
  2. Click Settings (the gear icon).
  3. In the Settings window, click Apps.
  4. The Apps & features section lists all applications installed on your computer. Locate Applied Epic Connection Suite Package in the list.
  5. Select Applied Epic Connection Suite Package in the list and click the Uninstall button.
  6. Follow the prompts to complete the uninstallation process.

For Windows 11:

  1. Click the Start button (Windows logo).
  2. Click Settings (the gear icon).
  3. In the Settings window, click Apps in the sidebar.
  4. Click Installed apps.
  5. The Installed apps section lists all applications installed on your computer. Locate Applied Epic Connection Suite Package in the list.
  6. Click the three dots next to Applied Epic Connection Suite Package, then click the Uninstall button.
  7. When prompted to confirm the uninstallation, click Uninstall again.
  8. Follow the prompts to complete the uninstallation process.

Uninstalling the Windows service

Uninstalling the Connection Suite Package also uninstalls the Applied Epic Connection Suite Installer service. If you want to uninstall only the Windows service while keeping the package installed, follow these steps to uninstall it using a PowerShell script:

  1. Contact Applied Support to provide the PowerShell script.
  2. Open PowerShell in administrator mode.
  3. Navigate to the location of the PowerShell script.
  4. Run the following command in the PowerShell window: \Uninstall-Service-Script.ps1 Applied Epic Connection Suite Installer