SQL Server Setup

The Catalyst SQL Server back-end database files are installed in the Catalyst application path during program installation. In a multi-user network environment, the back-end database files need to be moved to a shared folder on the server machine. If you do not already have SQL Server® installed on the server machine, you will need to do so before continuing with the setup. The sections below provide instructions on how to attach the Catalyst database files to SQL Server and establish the necessary SQL Server security and protocols. Prior to linking to the SQL Server database from a client PC, you will also need to create a DSN connection to SQL Server as described in the Establish DSN Connection help topic.

Select Server Authentication Mode
Catalyst can use either Windows authentication or SQL Server authentication. It is highly recommended you use Windows authentication unless you are not using domain controllers. To allow either connection option, ensure the Server authentication setting for your SQL Server instance specifies mixed mode (SQL Server and Windows Authentication mode) on the Security page of the Server properties.

Attach SQL Server Database Files

1. Open SQL Server Management Studio by right-clicking the shortcut and selecting 'Run as administrator'.
2. In the Console Root, expand your SQL Server group, right-click the Databases folder, and select Attach from the shortcut menu. On the Attach Databases screen, select the Add button to search for the Catalyst .mdf file on your server. Select the file and click the OK button to return to the Attach Databases screen.
3. Click the OK button to attach the selected database. If an error occurs, verify you have the appropriate SQL Server permissions to perform administrative functions. After the database has been attached to SQL Server, you can now link to it from within Catalyst using the Relink Company Database screen.

Create SQL Server Logins

1. In SQL Server Management Studio, open Object Explorer and expand the folder of the server instance in which to create the new login.
2. Expand the Security folder and the Logins folder to view the current logins.
3. Either open the properties for an existing user or create a new user login by right-clicking the Logins folder and selecting New Login.
4. For a new login, if using Windows authentication, enter the name of a Windows user or group in the Login name field. If using SQL Server authentication, enter a login name and password.
5. On the Server Roles page, select the 'sysadmin' server role.
6. On the User Mapping page, select the Map checkbox adjacent to the Catalyst database. In the 'Database role membership' frame, select the 'db_owner' and ''public' roles.
7. Click OK.

Verify SQL Server Protocols

1. Open SQL Server Configuration Manager.
2. In the SQL Server Services folder, verify that the SQL Server Browser service is running and set to start automatically.
3. In the SQL Server Network Configuration folder, select the SQL Server protocol used by Catalyst and verify that Shared Memory and TCP/IP protocols are enabled.
4. In the SQL Native Client Configuration folder, select Client Protocols and verify that Shared Memory and TCP/IP are enabled. Note: for Catalyst versions prior to 5.15, select the SQL Native Client Configuration (32-bit) folder.