Microsoft SQL Server is one of several database options supported by FCS Express for hosting your security system. This option is ideal if your organization already has an SQL Server installation and has experience with it. To configure FCS Express to use SQL Server, please follow the following instructions.

 

1. Create a database in the SQL server instance. This will be the database that FCS Express will use.

 

2. Set up a file containing the connection information to the database, in the same folder as the FCS Express configuration file. This file can either be stored in plain text, or encrypted.

a. If you want to store the database details and login credentials in a plain text file, create a text file called FCSEDB.ini and start editing it in notepad.

i.In the first line, type [MSSQLConnection]

ii.In the second line, type ConnectionString=

iii. The connection string itself will be placed immediately at the end of the second line (without any spaces following the = sign)

b. If you want to encrypt the database details and login credentials, run the program FCSEDBIniFileEditor.exe. You will find this program in the same folder as FCS Express.exe

i.A window will appear with fields for entering the connection string, and the password.

 

3. Create a connection string, and enter it into the appropriate place in either the text file or the field in FCSEDBIniFileEditor. The connection string includes information about the type of connection to create, the server where the database is located, the name of the database, and user id / password details.

 

Sample connection string if you will be using an ADO connection:

 

Provider=SQLOLEDB.1;Integrated Security=SSPI;Persist Security Info=False;Initial Catalog=<database>;Data Source=<database host>\<database instance>

 

Modify the text above so that it uses your database information.  <Database> should be replaced with the name of database you created in step #1 above. <Database host> should be replaced with the IP address or path to your SQL Server instance. <Database instance> will be the instance on the database host, and may not be required, depending on your database installation. Note that this connection string assumes integrated (ie Windows login) security.  If you would prefer to set it up with a named user, update the text above so that it includes the user name and password, and removes the Integrated Security value. For example, it might look like:

 

Provider=SQLOLEDB.1;Initial Catalog=<database>;Data Source=<Database Host>\<Database Instance>;User ID=<user name>;Password=<password>

 

 

Sample connection string if you will be using an ODBC connection

 

Provider=MSDASQL.1;Persist Security Info=False;User ID=<user name>;Password=<password>;Data Source=<Data Source Name created with ODBC Manager>;Initial Catalog=<database>

Modify the text above so that it uses your database information.  <User name> should be replaced with the username, <password> replaced with the password. <Data Source Name created with ODBC Manager> should be replaced with the ODBC connection name and <database> should be replaced with the name of the database you created in step #1 above.

 

4. After you have entered the connection string, save the file.

a. Select the menu item File->Save in either notepad or the FCSEDBIniFileEditor. Then navigate to the same folder where your configuration file is stored, and enter a file name.  

b. If you are using a plain text file, the file name must be FCSEDB.ini. If you are using the FCSEDBIniFileEditor, the file name must be FCSEDB.cini .

 

 

Please note:  when creating the connection string in the .INI file, the "<>" are not needed and should not be included.  They are being used in this text to denote a placeholder for a custom value that needs to be entered by the user or administrator.

 

When FCS Express starts, it will read the information in the file,  connect to your database, and automatically create all the required tables and indices.  FCS Express will not create a database.  A database needs to be created ahead of time for this process to occur.