License, costs and installation

Is there a Mac version of Topshare?
What does a license entitle me to do?
What are the ongoing costs?
Confused about a Topshare startup message saying your subscription has expired?


Is there a Mac version of Topshare?

There’s not a native Macintosh version, however you can install Windows on the Mac, and then run any Windows program, including Topshare. This doesn’t interfere with Mac programs. You do this via “Virtual Machine” software like Parallels from Apple, or the free Virtualbox. You’ll need a Windows distribution disk.

What does a license entitle me to do?

The Topshare license gives you the perpetual right to use the software, on up to 5 separate computers, provided the same portfolio database file is used on each computer. For example, installing Topshare on a desktop and a laptop, with both installations accessing a database file “MyPortfolios.TSD3” with 3 portfolios “John”, “Mary” and “John and Mary Superfund” would be within the terms of the license. But having the desktop’s Topshare connected to “JohnPortfolio.TSD3”, and the laptop connected to “MaryPortfolio.TSD3” would require two licenses.

Your license is for the current version of Topshare (at present, V3). Minor upgrades (eg, V3.1, v3.2) are provided at no cost. Upgrading to the subsequent major version will be substantially discounted compared to the value of a new license.

What are the ongoing costs?

Your Subscription must be renewed each year, at a cost of $99. The first year’s subscription is included with your license – therefore, your first renewal will be due 12 months after you purchase your license.

If your subscription lapses, you can continue to use Topshare. However you will not get access to the Subscription EOD Data, and phone or email support will be limited at our discretion. There will also be regular popup reminders urging you to renew your subscription.

Confused about a Topshare startup message saying your subscription has expired?

When opened, Topshare will now remind you if your subscription has expired. The Subscription is an annual cost, of $99, which provides completely automatic official EOD data, and entitles you to full phone and email support.

In previous versions of Topshare, it was possible to purchase the license without the EOD data subscription, so it is possible that you may never have had one. And, it was (and remains) possible to use Topshare without your data subscription being up to date, so a subscription may have expired some time ago and you may never have known.

We have found that many users either do not know of the benefits of a subscription, or have unwittingly let it lapse. Accordingly, we now provide these reminders on startup. Without your subscription, you won’t get access to our server’s database of official EOD prices. And if you have problems or questions, we don’t guarantee to be able to help you (you can, of course, still use our Forum).

Note (1): The Subscription is not your license. The license to use Topshare is perpetual, and only needs to be paid once for each major Topshare version (discounted when upgrading from one version to another). Provided your own name and address are displayed on Topshare’s main form, your license is properly registered.

Note (2): The Subscription does not affect the share prices that are downloaded via “Import Pre-close Prices”. These are available regardless of your subscription status. See this link for more about the two sources of price data in Topshare.