Connect to the Databases

The following demonstrates how to connect to the demo database or company database over two modes of connection: Connect to the Demo Database and Connect to the Company Database.

 

Connect to the Demo Database

This part of the discussion demonstrates how to connect to the demo databases, Demo Company US, Demo Company UK or Demo Store through LAN or internet. If you have yet to set up your company database, connecting to the demo databases is necessary to access the New Company Wizard.

Via Local Area Network

After Connected Business is installed, a default configuration for the demo databases is pre-installed with the same configuration on the server machine where the database is located. With the default configuration, you can leave the connection as it is. However, if the demo database you will connect to be installed in a server or machine connected to your network, you will need to specify the connection to the demo databases using the Configuration Tool. To do this, follow the steps:

  1. From the Configuration Tool window, select the demo database to connect to (whichever component is installed). You may select from the Demo Company UK or demo Company Us that uses LAN Connection as default.

  2. Set the Connection Protocol as LAN Connection Only or both – Use LAN or Internet Connection.


  3. Click on the ellipsis button inside the Company Database field. The Database Connection window will display.
    1. By default, the connection for the demo databases connects to the server installed in the local machines.

    2. If the demo databases are installed in the local machines, leave the Server Name as it is. If installed in a server machine over the local area network, point to the server in the remote server. The database connection would look like the image below:


  4. You can switch from using the offline cache database by clicking on the Cache Enabled / Cache Disabled option from the Company Database field.


  5. When clicked, the Company Database connection settings will appear. If the cache database is not used then it means that the Company Database would be used for offline caching.


  6. Test the connections by clicking on the Test buttons for each database.


  7. If the connection is successful, you may now be able to sign in to the Connected Business application.

Over the Internet via Web Services

Before attempting to connect to the remote database, make sure that your SQL server allows for remote client connections.
To connect to the demo database over the internet via web services,

  1. Go to Programs > Microsoft SQL Server 2005 > Configuration Tools > Surface Area Configuration. The Surface Area Configuration window will display.


  2. In the options for Configure Surface Area for Localhost, select Surface Area Configuration for Services and Connections.


  3. Click on the Database Engine node and make sure to select Remote Connections. Under this option, make sure that the third option, Using both TCP/IP and Names Pipes is selected.


  4. Click on Apply button to apply the new settings.


  5. Then, restart the server. Under the Database Engine node, click on the Services. Click Stop then Start to restart the server.


To connect to demo databases from a remote server via the internet,

  1. Select the Company Database to connect (whichever is the installed component)
    1. Demo Company UK – UK-based Demo Database; uses LAN as default connection.


    2. Demo Company US – US-based Demo Database; uses LAN as default connection.


    3. Demo Store US – installed along with the eCommerce edition and uses Internet as default connection.
  2. If you are connecting to the Demo UK or Demo US databases, set the connection type as Internet Connection Only or both – LAN or Internet Connection. Internet connection is already specified in the Demo Store database.


  3. Test the validity of the web service by clicking on the Test button inside the Business Service URL field. Make sure that the web service URL follows the format: http://localhost/virtualdirectory/businessservice.asmx


  4. When connecting to the remote database, you can leave the Company Database Connection settings as it is. The Cache Enabled option is set for internet connection since caching is required for working over the internet.


  5. You may now sign in to the Connected Business.

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Connect to the Company Database

This part demonstrates how to connect to your company database in the server installed in your machine, installed in a server in your local area network or in a remote server away from the office.

Note that after completing the New Company Wizard, Connected Business creates the connection setting for your company using the company and database name you provided in the creation and the connection setting you used in the Demo Database you are in. When bringing up the Configuration Tool, you will find the configuration for your company database (applies only to the system that created the new company).

Via Local Area Network

After creating a new database using the New Company Wizard, a default configuration is created (applies only to the machine that created the database.)

To connect to the company database,

  1. Sign out of the demo database you are using. Click File > Sign out.


  2. Open the Configuration Tool. Click on the Change button found on the Sign in panel.


  3. Click on the New button from the menu options. A new configuration is created in the Company Setting List. Rename this with your company name or database name.


  4. You will find the default configuration created for your new company. You may rename the configuration as you like.


  5. Set the Connection Protocol to LAN connection or both (LAN and Internet Connection).


  6. Click on the ellipsis button in the Company Database and Offline Database fields to display the Database Connection window. Then Test the connections before clicking Ok to close.


  7. Click Save to retain the database connection settings. Your settings are saved into a configuration file, InterpriseSuite.exe.configthat you can import and apply to newly installed systems to get them up and running quickly.


  8. You may now sign in to the Connected Business.

Over the Internet via Web Services

Before attempting to connect to the remote database, make sure that your SQL server allows for remote client connections. To connect to the company database over the internet via web services, follow these steps:

  1. Go to Programs > Microsoft SQL Server 2005 > Configuration Tools > Surface Area Configuration. The Surface Area Configuration window will display.


  2. In the options for Configure Surface Area for localhost, select Surface Area Configuration for Services and Connections.


  3. Click on Remote Connections and make sure that Local and Remote connections option is selected. Under this option, make sure that the third option, Using both TCP/IP and Named Pipes is selected.


  4. Click on Apply button to apply the new settings.


  5. Restart your server. Under the Database Engine node, click on the Services. Click Stop then Start to restart the server.

To connect to a remote database through internet via web services,

  1. Sign out of the demo database you are in.


  2. In the Sign In panel, bring up the Configuration Tool by clicking on F2 button. You will find that Connected Business has created a default configuration for your company database. The default connection for this is LAN.


  3. To connect via web services, set the Connection Protocol as Internet Connection Only or both – Use LAN or Internet Connection.


  4. Check for the validity of the web service by clicking on the Test button. Make sure that the web service URL follows the format: http://localhost/virtualdirectory/businessservice.asmx

  5. You may now sign in to the company database.

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  • Wednesday, 29 August 2012