Installing SQL Server Express 2012 for use with SellerDeck Business Plus

[G.W.Green]

SellerDeck 2014 onwards is now compatible with SQL Server 2012 Express edition (SQL Server 2014 Express is not supported at this time). It is recommended that you use SellerDeck’s installation service to ensure a successful implementation.

Instructions to install Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Express:

Before starting, it is recommended that you ensure your computer is fully up to date via Windows update otherwise the installation may fail. To do this go to 'Start | Control panel | Windows update'. After installing updates, check once again to see if there are more and install then, repeat this process until there are no updates remaining.

1. Download Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Express from the Microsoft website: http://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/downl....aspx?id=29062
2. You will be asked to choose the download you want. The files you need depend on if your PC is 32 or 64 bit.
   So for example, if you have a 64-bit PC, select the files “ENU\x64\...”. If you have a 32-bit PC, select the files “ENU\x86\...”. Select all the files in the list for required type.
3. Once the files are downloaded, run “SQLEXPR_x64_ENU.exe” or “SQLEXPR_x86_ENU.exe”, depending on which files you have downloaded.
   
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   If you get an error message:
   
   This version of is not compatible with the version of Windows you’re running…
   
   you have downloaded the incorrect files for your operating system.
   Go back to step 1), and download the 64 bit or 32 bit files that you have not downloaded yet.
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4. Select “New SQL Server stand-alone installation or add features to existing installation”.
   
   
   
   
5. Accept the terms and conditions and click “Next”.
   
   
   
   
6. If a window “Product updates” appears, click “Next”.
   
   
   
   
7. On the feature selection window, just select “Next”.
   
   
   
   
8. On the Instance configuration screen, either accept the defaults and click “Next”, or change the “Named Instance” if you wish.
   
   
   
   
9. On the “Server configuration” screen, ensure the startup types are set to “Automatic”, then click “Next”.
   
   
   
   
10. Next you will see the ‘Database Engine Configuration’ screen.
11. First, select ‘Mixed Mode’ in the ‘Server Configuration’ tab (This mode provides the most successful installation).
12. Now enter a password for the built in SQL Server administrator account, and make a note of it. You will need it later. The built in username is ‘sa’ (lowercase).
13. Click the ‘Add Current User’ button to add yourself as an administrator by default.
14. Click “Next.
    
    
    
    
15. Click “Next” in the “Error reporting” window.
16. Installation will now continue, this will take a long time.
17. When the installation is complete, click “Close”.
18. You are now ready to open SellerDeck, and connect it to the SQL server.

Instructions to configure SellerDeck with Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Express:

1. In SellerDeck, go to 'File | Sites | Database setup' (If you do not see a button "Database setup", this will be because your license key needs to be for 'Business Plus').
   
   
   
   
2. In the "SQL Server" field, enter the computer name and name of the SQL server that you entered during the installation process in this format:
   
   COMPUTERNAME\SQLSERVERNAME
   
   For example:
   
   SELLERDECKPC\SQLEXPRESS
   
   If you accepted the default options during installation, the name will be "SQLEXPRESS"
   
3. Select the "Database User" radio button.
4. Enter the username and password for your SQL server database. The built in username is ‘sa’ (lowercase). The password will be the password you entered during installation which you should have noted.
   
   
   
   
5. Click "OK" to save the settings. If no errors occur, this means SellerDeck is now configured correctly.

How to license a new SQL server site in SellerDeck:

1. Once the database setup above is complete, Open your SellerDeck software and click ‘License New Site’.
2. Under "Database Type" choose "MS SQL SERVER".
   
   
   
   
3. Click "OK".
4. The "SQL Server" field should already be populated with the details entered into Database Setup. If you have more than one SQL Server instance installed, and you wish to use a different instance for this site, make sure this field is completed with the correct SQL Server instance.
5. Under "Server Administration User Details" these details should again be pre-populated, depending on your Database Setup details.
6. Under "New User For New Databases", choose whether you want the site licensed with Database User or Windows User. If you choose Database User, enter a Username and Password. (It is recommended you select "Database User", this makes licensing new sites easier)
7. Under "New Databases", these fields show be pre populated. You can leave these are default or change them. These are the databases that will be created for your new site, you will be able to view them in MS SQL Server Management Studio once complete.
8. Press "OK" to start the Database creation.
   
   
   
   
9. Once finished, you will see the new site listed in the site list as normal. You can click "Activate" to open your new SellerDeck site with an SQL database.

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To check the your new site has been created with an SQL server database, go to 'Help | Troubleshooting | Support Tools | Version of Catalog Database'. It should say 'Microsoft SQL Server 2012'
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SQL Server Management studio Express:

It is also recommended to install "SQL Server Management studio Express", so that you can create and restore SQL database backups. To do this, see instructions below:

1. Run the file "SQLManagementStudio_x86_ENU.exe" or "SQLManagementStudio_x64_ENU.exe" which you downloaded earlier and accept all the defaults.
2. During the installation, when you get to the "Installation Type", select the "Add features to an existing instance of SQL Server 2012".
3. On feature selection, tick the tick boxes "Management Tools - Basic" and "LocalDB".
4. Complete the installation selecting the defaults.

[Jan]

Great article, thank you.

Just a note to say that the default database name to use with SQL server management studio

localhost\SQLEXPRESS

took me a while to figure that out so thought I would share here just in case others need it.

Kind regards,