3.0 How to Install Softbase 3.0

Client Install

1.  Login to the Customer Portal at https://support.softbasedev.com and in the lower left hand corner it will have an option to download the latest version.

2.  Choose the appropriate Operating System (Windows or Mac) you would like to run the Softbase application on.

-  To determine if you are running a 64 or 32 bit Windows Operating System go to; Start -> Control Panel -> System and Security -> System.  The System Type should indicate if you are running a 64 or 32 bit operating system.  

3. Once downloaded, choose to run the setup and follow the instructions to install the Softbase Application on your computer.  

- Here is an initial screen that will you will see when running the install to accept the License Agreement of the Application.  

4.  Once completing the install of the Softbase Client Application you will need to add a Config file into the Application directory so that it will know how to communicate with the SQL Server following the setup of the ODBC Data Source below.  To create the config file we recommend the following;

- Navigate to where the Softbase Client Application was installed.  This should be "C:\Program Files\Softbase"

- Create a new Text file and save as "Softbase.cfg"

- In the Text file you would include the following lines;

SQL

SoftbaseDB, Softbase Business

- Line 1 above indicates we are using SQL as the Database.  

- Line 2 above (and subsequent lines) indicates the ODBC Name we will use (the value before the comma) and then the description of what Softbase Database you will pick from the login menu to access.  

Here is an example of what it would look like. 

**Note** The config file is not needed if the ODBC connection below is setup to connect to a ODBC name of SoftbaseDB, which is the default ODBC connection the client looks for.  

ODBC Install

1.  Once you have installed the Softbase Client Application from the above steps you will need to setup the ODBC drivers to allow the Softbase Client to communicate with the Softbase Database.  

2.  Go to Start in Windows and search for "ODBC".  You should see the following options

- Make sure you choose ODBC 64-Bit if you installed the Softbase Client Application for Windows 64-Bit.  If you happen to be running a Windows 32-Bit machine then ensure you choose that version.  The version of the ODBC Drivers should match the version of the Softbase Window Client you installed.  

3.  Once you open up the ODBC Data Source, go to the "System DSN" Tab and choose the Add Button.  

4.  Once selecting Add, you will select the "SQL Server" option from the below list, to begin to create a new Data Source

5.  After selecting "SQL Server" you will enter the Name, Description and Server you are looking to connect to.  

- Name - This is the name of the connection from the Softbase.CFG file you created from above. We recommend using SoftbaseDB

- Description - This is the Description of the connection. You can enter whatever you would like or leave blank.

- Server - This is the Server name of where the Softbase SQL Database is located at. Contact your System Administrator or look at this setup on another user's computer that is running Softbase to get this information. Note... You will need the SQL Username and Password as well to access the database.

6.  Once you populate the above information and choose next you will be taken to the next screen.  

- Change the Radio button to the option to authenticate with SQL Server authentication, not Windows NT.  

- Then provide the Login ID and Password for the Softbase SQL Server Database and choose next.  This will authenticate the Login and ensure you can access the database.  If not you will be provided with an error message and need to contact your System Administrator or Softbase Support.  

7.  Once you authenticate in SQL you will need to ensure that the Default Database dropdown option on the below form is selected to be your Softbase SQL Database.  

8.  Following choosing Next from the above screen  you will see the below screen and can choose Finish.  

9.   After selecting Finish you will see the below screen and you can choose the "Test Data Source" button to ensure the connection is good, otherwise you can choose OK to complete the setup and login to Softbase.  

10.  If you choose to test the Database Source you would see the following screen which would run the test and show you the results.