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Question: How do I
create the ExpressMaintenance database if I am already running Microsoft
SQL Server on my computer?
Answer:
ExpressMaintenance comes with the MSDE (freebie version) of Microsoft
SQL Server. If you are already running a version of MS SQL Server,
you should not install the version that comes with ExpressMaintenance.
If you do not already
have a version of MS SQL Server installed on your computer, you should
install the version that is delivered with ExpressMaintenance. If
you install the version that is delivered with ExpressMaintenance, the
program can automatically create the database as it will know where the
SQL Server resides, where to place the database files and the
administrative password. These things must be know in order to
create a database in SQL Server.
If you are already
using aversion of SQL Server, it is highly unlikely that
ExpressMaintenance will be able to automatically create the database
because it will not know the information required. Therefore, we
recommend you do the following to create the database manually.
Creating the ExpressMaintenance Database on a running SQL Server
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Make sure you are
logged into the computer with Administrative rights.
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On the new
server, make sure you have installed ExpressMaintenance but not ran
it and not yet created the database.
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If you are
transferring the data from another server computer, locate the two
files that make up the ExpressMaintenance database on the old
server. The file names are ExpressMaintenance_Data.mdf and
ExpressMaintenance_Log.ldf. For SQL Server 2000, the default
data folder is C:\Program Files\MSSQL\Data. For SQL Server 2005 the default
data folder is C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.1\MSSQL\Data.
You will know the correct folder if it contains master.mdf and
mastlog.ldf files. Copy the two files from the old server to
the ExpressTech folder on the new server.
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At this point, if you
are running SQL2000, you can run ExpressMaintenance and have it
create the database. It will use the files from the
ExpressTech folder as a model and create your new database with your
existing data. If running SQL2005, you must follow the
remaining steps to manually attach the database.
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On the new
server, click on Start /
Programs and look for you program group for Microsoft SQL Server.
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Determine if you
have the SQL Server Management Studio Express installed on the
computer. If you do, skip to step 8 below.
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To install SQL
Server Management Studio Express, go to the following Microsoft link
to download and save the install on your computer:
click here to download
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After downloading
the SQL Server Management Studio Express, run the file downloaded to
install the program.
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Once the program
is installed, run the SQL Server Management Studio Express.
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When you run the
SQL Server Management Studio Express, you will be prompted for the
SQL Server name and login information. If you are not
prompted, click on File / Connect to be prompted to connect to the
server. You must enter this information correctly to connect
to the SQL Server and create the new database. If you do not
have this information, you must obtain it from your IT people or the
correct source. The Express Technology support personnel do
not have this information.
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Once you connect
to the the SQL Server, a tree will be displayed in the left panel
listing the server and databases. You will use this section to
create the database.
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Before creating
the database, you must determine in which folder you want the
database files to reside. We recommend putting them in the
default folder for the SQL Server. The default folder varies
with each version of SQL Server and the selections made during the
install.
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Go to My computer
and attempt to locate the default data folder for your version of
SQL Server. For SQL Server 2000, the default data folder is
C:\Program Files\MSSQL\Data. For SQL Server 2005 the default
data folder is C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.1\MSSQL\Data.
You will know the correct folder if it contains master.mdf and
mastlog.ldf files. The ExpressMaintenance database files do
not have to reside in this folder. You can place them wherever
desired.
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Once you
determine the desired location for the ExpressMaintenance database,
go to the ExpressTech folder where ExpressMaintenance is installed.
Locate the two files that will serve as the model for the
ExpressMaintenance database. The files names are
ExpressMaintenance_Data.mdf and ExpressMaintenance_Log.ldf.
This may be the files you placed from a prior installation of
ExpressMaintenance from a different server computer.
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Select both the
ExpressMaintenance_Data.mdf and ExpressMaintenance_Log.ldf files and
copy them and then paste them in the desire data folder where they
will reside as outlined in step 12 above.
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Next, return to
the SQL Server Management Studio Express and right click on the
Databases word in the tree in the left panel.
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When the menu
appears, left click on Attach.
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When the Attach
database dialog appears, click on the Add button and locate the
ExpressMaintenance_Data.mdf file in the folder where it was pasted
in step 12 above.
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Next click the Ok
button and the program will attach the new ExpressMaintenance
database.
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In the left
panel, right click on the Databases word and left click on Refresh.
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Open the
Databases tree and you should see the ExpressMaintenance database
listed.
These steps seem
lengthy but they really only take a few minutes. They are necessary in
a case where the SQL Server is already installed and ExpressMaintenance
is not at liberty to create the database automatically or if things are
installed on other drives, etc.
If you have trouble
creating the database, email us at
support@ExpressTechnology.com outlining the steps you have taken and
the exact error being received. Most likely the problem will be
something related to security and permissions.
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