Non-Virtual Office / SaaS installations of FileCabinet CS (FCS) provide the option to use either the standard flat-file data format or the SQL database format. If you choose to use the SQL database format, you must have an IT Professional available to handle your SQL configuration and address any SQL errors that may come up during the life of its use with FileCabinet CS. Use the information below set up FileCabinet CS for use with SQL.
Install SQL
As of July 12th, 2022, Microsoft will end support for SQL 2012 across all operating systems. We recommend upgrading to or installing a later version of SQL.
The computer on which the data is located - running SQL Server or SQL Server Express - must be turned on for others to access the data. In addition, if this computer has a firewall, you must create an exception within the firewall for the instance of SQL Server that you are using (recommended) or disable the firewall (not recommended) to use the FileCabinet CS database. If you need help creating an exception for the instance of SQL Server you are using, please refer to your firewall's documentation.
Install SQL using one of the following methods.
- Run the FileCabinet CS SQL Setup to install SQL Express 2014. The FileCabinet CS installation comes packaged with SQL Express 2014 and you can choose to install it during step 2 of the FileCabinet CS SQL Setup. For instructions, skip to the "Run the FCS SQL Setup" section and follow the steps through the rest of the article.
- Download and install SQL Express free directly from Microsoft. For instructions, see Upgrading or installing a Microsoft SQL instance. If you choose this option, review the Configuration requirements section below. Your firm's IT professional is responsible for configuring your SQL instance.
- Purchase a fully licensed version of Microsoft SQL Server from Microsoft and follow their installation instructions. If you choose this option, review the Configuration requirements section below. Your firm's IT professional is responsible for configuring your SQL instance.
Configuration requirements
If you choose to install SQL Express 2014 by running the FCS SQL Setup, you can skip this section. If you are installing using any other method, your firm's IT professional is required to configure your SQL instance as follows:
- Use Mixed Mode authentication, not Windows authentication.
- Enable TCP/IP and Named Pipes protocols.
See SQL Server best practices for CS Professional Suite applications for more recommended configurations and procedures.
FileCabinet CS works with both SQL Express and fully licensed versions of SQL. To see all the supported versions of SQL, see FileCabinet CS System Requirements.
Run the FCS SQL Setup
Running the FCS SQL setup allows you to:
- Install Microsoft SQL Server Express 2014 (optional).
- Create a new SQL instance or link FileCabinet CS to an existing instance.
Follow the steps below to run the FCS SQL setup.
- Go to the computer/server where your SQL instance resides (or will reside, if you are choosing to use the FCS SQL Setup to create a new instance).
- Log in to the computer/server as an administrator.
- Close all open applications, including background virus protection software.
- Browse to X:\WinCSI\CABINET\sql, (where X represents the drive or network path where FileCabinet CS is installed).
- Double-click the setup.exe to start the FileCabinet CS Database Setup.
- Answer the question on the Welcome to FileCabinet CS Database Setup screen.
Be sure that you are located at the coumputer/server where the database will reside.
- Review the license agreement, and if you agree, mark the I accept the terms in the License Agreement checkbox.
- If you are promted to restart your computer with a Pending Restart Detected dialog, you can select the third option to Continue without restarting. If this prompt appears repeatedly, you will need to restart.
- When the Installation Steps appears dialog appears, click Next.
Installation Step 1, 2, and 3
The Installation Steps screen may appear several times throughout the FileCabinet CS SQL Setup.
A green checkmark next to steps 1, 2, or 3 denotes that the step is already complete. Click a step (blue link) if you want to repeat it. For example, to change the path in step 1, where FileCabinet CS is installed, or to link FileCabinet CS to a different SQL instance. If you click the Next button without completing all of the steps on this screen of the Installation wizard, the Incomplete step screen appears.
Step 1: Confirm where FileCabinet CS has been installedBecause your SQL data is located in a different location than the rest of the FileCabinet CS application files, you must use this step to link the SQL Server application to your FileCabinet CS application files.
Verify that the path is correct in the FileCabinet CS installation path field. If not, click the ellipses button and browse to the correct path. The Step 1 installation screen in the Installation wizard has more information to help you determine which path to choose.
Step 2: Configure Database ServerUse this step to choose which SQL instance to use with FileCabinet CS, or to create a new instance (which will automatically link to FileCabinet CS).
Use the SQLEXPRESS instance of Microsoft SQL Server 2014 or higher
Use an existing instance of Microsoft SQL Server 2014 or higher
Install a new instance of Microsoft SQL Server 2014 Express SP2 Edition
Microsoft places limits on SQL Server 2014 or higher Express by enforcing a maximum database size. If your FileCabinet CS data exceeds 40GB in size, you must purchase SQL Server 2014 or higher, exit the installation and repeat this step after SQL Server 2014 or higher is installed. Installing a new SQL server instance are the only options available in the Installation wizard when one is not already installed.
Step 3: Update FileCabinet CS configuration filesThis step is required to complete the setup and save any changes that you may have made during steps 1 and 2. There are no options or actions required; the update process completes automatically. If this step completes successfully, the Installation Complete screen is displayed. Click Finish to complete the installation.
Add a database data location
When you run the FileCabinet CS SQL Setup, be sure to add a data location in FileCabinet CS or, if a data location for your SQL data has already been set up, verify that you can see the appropriate data.
Use the following steps to add a data location in database format.
- Open FileCabinet CS.
Note: If you receive an SQL error when opening FileCabinet CS, or if the application hangs or crashes, see There is a problem accessing the SQL server.
- Choose Setup > System Configuration > Data Locations tab.
- Click the Add/Modify Data Location button.
- In the Data Location Format screen of the Installation wizard, click the Database format option, and then click Next.
- Use the Enter the database server where the FileCabinet CS database will reside drop-down menu to choose the database server.
- Use the Enter the database name field to change the name from the default (fcabdatadb). You can also choose an existing name from the drop-down, but do not choose a database that is associated with an application other than FileCabinet CS.
- Enter an alias for the data path.
- Click OK.
Repeat these steps for each SQL database location that you want to add. Each location must have a unique alias.
Add drawers to data location
If you need to add FileCabinet CS drawers to your SQL data location, you can either restore a backup or copy drawers from another data location to your SQL data location. If the drawers you want to copy are not already in SQL format, they will automatically be converted during the copy process - however, there are some additional steps and considerations.
Add the FileCabinet CS location to other CS Professional Suite applications
The new database data location must be selected as the print destination in other CS Professional Suite applications. To do this, open each CS application you want to integrate with FileCabinet CS. The menu where you add or modify data locations varies from program to program, but you can likely find it in Setup > System Configuration or Setup > File Locations.
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