AvaPA can be used with the following editions of MS SQL Server: 2005, 2008, 2008R2 or 2012 (except the compact edition which is specifically for mobile devices). MS SQL Express 2000 and 2005 have now been replaced by SQL 2008 Express, SQL 2008R2 and SQL 2012 in ascending order of release dates. The usage restrictions have been relaxed in later editions, so we now recommend use of SQL 2008 R2 Express.

An MS matrix of windows version and SQL versions is available here:

Hardware and Software Requirements for Installing SQL Server 2005

(This webpage only exists as a standard insecure webpage however you may navigate to it by pasting the following url in your address bar: http://msdn.microsoft.com/enhttps://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms143506%28SQL.90%29.aspx)

For most Agencies or Employment Banks the Express editions of these database engines will provide storage for between two and four million shifts.

Microsoft only supports SQL 2005 SP2 or higher on the Vista platform.

Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Express Edition, is a vanilla flavour edition of SQL Server 2008. It can be easily upgraded to other versions of SQL Server if it becomes necessary to store more than four million or so shifts and accommodate more than a dozen concurrent users.

If you wish to install or re-install AvaPA on a Vista, Windows 7, Windows 2008 server or Windows 2003 Server Computer, you will need to carry out the following steps: (You may also contact Ava support for guidance through this process)

Note: you may also wish to install SQL Express Management Studio and any prerequisites for these applications. There are no additional licence fees or payments associated with these installs.

Download Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Express Edition R2 from the Microsoft web site:
MS SQL 2008 R2 Express download site

Select the appropriate version 32 bit or 64 bit: the web page may well disable the incorrect OS version. If you are unsure about whether you have a 32-bit or a 64-bit version, you can right click on 'Computer' or 'My Computer' and select properties. Look for 'System Type', which will tell you whether it is a 32-bit or a 64-bit version that you are using.

Microsoft might ask you to register after you click Download, which is optional. In fact if you have registered once, we recommend you do not re-register as you will avoid mutiple junk mail messages.

When downloading has finished, double-click the downloaded file to start the installation process.

If prompted: Click Run.

If prompted: Click Continue.

Steps:

• As soon as the program loads you will be presented with the window below. You need to choose the first option titled 'New installation or add features to an existing installation' by clicking on it.

• 2. Wait for the loading process, it will take quite a few seconds when nothing appears to happen. You will eventually be presented with this window titled 'License Terms'. Read the terms and then tick the box that says 'I accept the license terms', as shown in the screenshot. Now proceed to click the 'Next >' button.

• Another loading window will open, and it might take a few seconds for it to finish loading. This window is titled 'Feature Selection'. The 'SQL Server Replication' box needs to be unticked. After you untick the box proceed to the next window by clicking 'Next >'

• The next window is titled 'Instance Configuration'. The 'Named instance' field needs to be selected instead of the default one. The name needs to be chaged to 'AvaPa', as shown in the screenshot below. After this is done, proceed to the next window by clicking the 'Next >' button.

• The next window is titled Server Configuration. This particular page should not be changed, so skip it by pressing 'Next >'

• The window you should see next is titled 'Database Engine Configuration'.

• On this page you change the 'Authentication Mode' to 'Mixed Mode (SQL Server authentication and Windows authentication)'. The next step is to create a pasword for the administrator (sa) account, type it in the neccessary fields. IMPORTANT: make a note of the password and keep it in a secure place or document. The next step is to specify SQL Server Administrators. You can do it by pressing either 'Add Current User' (which adds the user that is currently logged in to the list of administrators), or by pressing 'Add...', and then selecting the right user(s). The administrators will have unrestricted access to the Database Engine.

• IMPORTANT: Before proceeding to the next page click on the 'Data Directories' tab, where you will be able to set a path for the backup file. This is important because it is a lot harder to do after MS SQL has been installed!

• After you have finished proceed by clicking on 'Next >'

• In the next window titled 'Error Reporting' you can find links to Microsoft's Privacy Statements and read more about Microsoft Update and Automatic Update. There is no need to tick the box that says 'Send Windows...', so skip it and click on 'Next >'

Installation process will now begin. The installation process can be long depending on your system, so please be patient and wait until it finishes loading. Upon finishing click 'Finish', and your installation should be complete. Remember that if you have any difficulties with installing SQL Server 2008 R2 please contact Ava Support and we will guide you through the whole process.

Click Finish.

Make sure your settings are supported

By default, the latest version of SQL Express has "Auto close" and "Auto shrink" set to true. These both need to be set to false to be supported by Ava. Follow the guide on the page linked below for steps on how to achieve this:

Supported SQL Server settings guide