Installing the 64-bit version of IBM Cognos for Microsoft Office

The default installation directory that is used by IBM® Cognos® for Microsoft Office depends on the version that you install. The default paths that are used for the 64-bit installation are different from the default paths that are used in the 32-bit installation.

When you install applications on a x64 (64-bit) Windows system, the program files for 32-bit and 64-bit applications are installed into different directories as follows:

  • 64-bit applications are installed to C:\Program Files
  • 32-bit applications are installed to C:\Program Files (x86)
For example, if you select the default installation location when you install either version of IBM Cognos for Microsoft Office, the program files are installed in the following directories:
  • x64 default directory: C:\Program Files\IBM\cognos\Cognos for Microsoft Office
  • x86 default directory: C:\Program Files (x86)\IBM\cognos\Cognos for Microsoft Office
Consider the following conditions and limitations when installing either the 32-bit or 64-bit version of the product:
  • You can run 64-bit and 32-bit Microsoft Office on a 64-bit Microsoft Windows.
  • The version of the product that you are installing must match the Microsoft Office version that is installed on the same computer. For example, if you installed 64-bit Office, install the 64-bit version of IBM Cognos for Microsoft Office.
  • If you installed 32-bit Office, on a 32-bit or 64-bit Windows, install the 32-bit version of IBM Cognos for Microsoft Office.
  • The 64-bit version of IBM Cognos for Microsoft Office does not run on 32-bit Office that is installed on 64-bit Windows.
  • If you are an Excel power user working with large amounts of data and need to work with file sizes greater than 2 GB, the 64-bit Office is better able to utilize more memory. If not, use the 32-bit Office 2010 as the default installation on both 32-bit and 64-bit Windows. You will have compatibility with existing 32-bit controls, add-ins, such as IBM Cognos for Microsoft Office, and VBA. 32-bit Office applications on 64-bit Windows are able to open, edit, present documents, and switch among applications faster than on 32-bit Windows.

No special steps are required to install the 32-bit version of IBM Cognos for Microsoft Office in a Microsoft Windows x64 environment. There is support for the 32-bit application to run seamlessly on 64-bit Windows using Windows-32-on-Windows-64 (WOW64). WOW64 is provided with the operating system and you do not have to explicitly enable it. The 64-bit Windows system detects that the program being installed is a 32-bit application and automatically installs it into the WOW64 space.