How to install Microsoft SQL Server
Introduction
This article describes how to install Microsoft SQL
Server Express edition for use with Contract
Eagle.
If you are installing SQL Server for the purpose of conducting a
trial then you might consider using the "Microsoft Access" database
option, which will enable you to set up your trial more quickly
(However Microsoft SQL Server is the technically superior
option).
Summary
The installation of Microsoft SQL Server Express
is described here as a two-stage process:
Stage 1 - Install the Web
Platform Installer
This stage of the installaiton process installs the "Web
Platform Installer", which is a package provided for free by
Microsoft to help with the installation of software products.
It is possible you may already have the "Web Platform Installer"
on your computer, in which case you can proceed
to paragraph 1.5.
1.1 Go to the Microsoft Website
Go to http://www.microsoft.com/express/Database and
then click on the "Install" link.
After this point one of two things will have happened.
- Either you will be taken to another
page, asked to "Get the Microsoft Web Platform" (Under the
heading "Almost There"). In which case you should GO TO paragraph
1.2.
- Or you must already have the "Web Platform
Installer". Therefore you should GO
TO paragraph 1.5.
1.2 Dowload the
web platform installer
Click "Get the Microsoft Web Platform", as per the graphic
below.
1.3 Accept the Download
Having clicked the "Get the Microsoft Web Platform" button in
the step above you will, depending on your web browser, have to
confirm you wish to download it.
The "accept the download" process has been documented for the
following browsers:
Accept the Download - Internet
Explorer
Microsoft Internet Explorer will show a confirmation dialog
entitled "File Download". You can click on the "Open" button to
start the installation of the web platform installer.
Accept the Download - Mozilla
Firefox
Mozilla Firefox will show a confirmation dialog. You should
click "Save File"...
...the file will then be downloaded and saved to your computer.
Double-click the downloaded file to launch th web platform
installer.
Accept the Download - Google
Chrome
Google Chrome will show an alert in the bottom left of the
window. You should click "save" to save the file...
...and then click the file name to install the web platform
installer...
1.4 Proceed through installation of the web platform
installer
The installer will not prompt you for anything, except
(depending on your version of WIndows) you may be asked to accept
that the installer be opened or run. You will need to accept
any such requests.
The web platform install whilst running will look something like
the image below. It will not tell you when it finishes, it
will simply close itself. When it has finished you must
proceed to step 1.5 to run the web platform installer for SQL
Server.
You will now need to return to the same page you first went to
at the Microsoft Web Site, which is: http://www.microsoft.com/express/Database
...and then click the "Install" button again. If
taken back to the "Almost There" page you will need to click the
"Finish your installation" link in order to launch the web platform
installer.
1.5 Launch the Web
Platform Installer
Having clicked the "Install" and "Finish your installation"
buttons you are now launching the "web platform installer"
program to install Microsoft SQL Server Express.
This will result in you being prompted for approval to
begin the installation. The following browsers are documented:
Launch Web Platform Installer -
Internet Explorer
Click the "Allow" button, as per the picture below.
Launch Web Platform Installer -
Firefox
Click the "Ok" button, as per the picture below.
Launch Web Platform Installer -
Google Chrome
Click the "Launch Application" button as per the picture
below.
Stage 2 - Install Microsoft SQL
Server Express
2.1 Click Install
Having clicked the "Install" or "Finish Installation" link the
Web Platform Installer will open up with the following screen.
Click "Install" to continue.
2.2 Accept Features
The installer will show you what features are to be installed.
There aren't any real choices here. You should click "Accept" if
you wish to continue with the installation.
2.3 Confirm Security Mode
The installer will now say "We have detected that you are
installing SQL Server Express". Hooray for that!
- Choose "Mixed Mode Authentication"
- Make up a password and enter it twice. Once in the "Password"
box and once in the "Confirm Password" box. The password should be
at least 8 characters long, contain a mixture of upper and lower
case letters, numbers, non-alphanumeric characters.
- Click the "Continue" button to continue.
2.4 Installation Progress
The installation will progress. If you don't have some
prerequisite software components you may be asked to restart
windows, in which case you should perform the restart and login
again for the installation to resume automatically.
2.5 The End - Resume Setup of Contract Eagle
Once Microsoft SQL Server Express has installed you will be able
to return the the Contract Eagle Setup Assistant and click the
"Create a New Database" button, which is available within the
"Database Connection" step.