This article will instruct you on how to install your DesignMerge SERVER software. The steps provided below are for a full installation of the software onto an existing or new computer.

NOTE: DesignMerge SERVER is a version of DesignMerge software that works only with Adobe InDesign Server. If you are looking for installation instructions for the Desktop version of DesignMerge software for use with Adobe InDesign, please click here.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED

Before you begin, you will need the following items:

1. DesignMerge SERVER Software Installer
   First you will need access to the software installer for DesignMerge SERVER. All installers are available on our Downloads Page, or our support team may send you a direct link to the installer that you need.
2. Software Activation File (mpsactivation.lic)
   Once you have installed the software, you must activate DesignMerge SERVER using the order code provided by Meadows. For DesignMerge SERVER, since there is no user interface the activation is achieved by placing a special activation file into a specific location. The name of the file is mpsactivation.lic. You should have received an mpsactivation.lic file from Meadows.

SOFTWARE INSTALLATION

To install DesignMerge SERVER software along with any Optional Modules, please follow the instructions below:

1. Quit Adobe InDesign Server.
2. Run the DesignMerge SERVER software installer and follow the default prompts.
3. Continue with the installation process until complete.

SOFTWARE ACTIVATION

Once you have completed the software installation, you must now activate the software. For this you will need your mpsactivation.lic file, as described earlier. 

1. Go to the following folder location on your system:
   
   /Adobe InDesign Server XXXX/Plug-Ins/Meadows/
   (in the above example, substitute your InDesign Server version in place of XXXX, e.g. Adobe InDesign Server 2025)
   
   
2. Copy the mpsactivation.lic file into this folder location. 
3. Start your Adobe InDesign Server software from the console. An example startup script is shown below:
   
   Macintosh
   cd "/Applications/Adobe InDesign Server 2025/"
   ./indesignserver -noport
   
   Windows
   cd \
   cd "/Program Files/Adobe/Adobe InDesign Server 2025"
   indesignserver -noport
   
   NOTES
   For Mac systems, be sure to preface indesignserver with ./ as shown above or the software may not launch properly
   For Windows systems, you must configure the InDesignServer.exe AND the startup script to run as an Administrator
   If running for SOAP communication, use the -port argument instead of -noport (e.g. -port 8083)
   
   
4. View console messages and check for errors
   The first time Adobe InDesign Server starts up after installation, you should see messages from DesignMerge software indicating successful activation. An example of these messages is shown below:
   
   INFO    [server] Activation for DesignMerge has been read from the local activation file [Order Code: EVAL-XXX-XXXX-XXXX].
   INFO    [server] The software DesignMerge has been successfully activated.
   
   Subsequent restarts of Adobe InDesign Server should indicate simply that DesignMerge Server software has loaded. 
   
   INFO    [server] MPS DesignMerge Server 20.8.9.22 plug-in loaded.

If there are any error messages displayed in the console, please contact the Meadows technical support team. At this point, the installation and activation of DesignMerge SERVER software is complete.