AceMapper Installation Instructions

Select a Supported System Configuration

AceMapper can work with SQL Server or a locally installed SQL Server Express (version 2014 or later). There are three supported configurations to choose from:

1. A standalone PC with SQL Express and AceMapper on the same machine (single-user configuration)

2. A standalone Windows Server with SQL Express and AceMapper installed using RDS access for multiple users

3. A standalone Windows Server with SQL Server and one or more PCs (on the same LAN) with AceMapper locally installed on each PC

SQL Express Option:

1. Download Microsoft SQL Express and SQL Server Management Studio Express (SSMS) from https://www.microsoft.com/express/Database/↗ (using the “Database with Management Tools” dowload link). The 64 bit version is preferred and should be SQL2014 or newer.

2. Install SQL Server Express and SQL Server Management Studio Express using the default options.

3. Restore the provided database with at least several GB of free space. The space required depends on the size of the application files. Use SSMS to restore as discussed in this article and skip to step 7.

4. Run SQL Server Management Studio Express. You will be prompted to connect to a server. Enter (local)/SQLExpress as the server.

5. Right Click on the Databases folder and select Attach.

6. On the Attach dialog, click “Add”. Browse to locate and select the AceMapper.mdf file.

7. Click OK. The database should be attached. Exit SQL Server Management Studio.

Enterprise SQL Server Option:

1. Have your database admin restore the supplied database to SQL Server as AceMapper (or other convenient name). This can be done using SQL Server Management Studio. If the database was supplied as a backup (.bak) format, Use SSMS to restore as discussed in this article.

AceMapper Client Installation

1. Run AceMapper setup.exe on the client.

2. Start AceMapper. You will be prompted to register. Complete and submit the registration with your provided Key. (If you need to register manually, run “AceMapper Registration” from the WIndows Start menu.)

3. If you are using a local SQL Server Express, logging into the database should be automatic. If you have trouble, make sure the Connection tab shows (local)\sqlexpress for the Server and Use Integrated Security is selected. The database named above should show in the Database dropdown. If you are using an enterprise SQL Server, you will be prompted to log in. Select the Server (type it in if the server name doesn’t appear in the dropdown). Check “Use Integrated Security” unless your SQL Server administrator provides you with a username and password. Then select the AceMapper database. Ordinarily, this will be called AceMapper, but it is possible to rename it. It’s also possible to have more that one AceMapper database attached to the server and switch between them.

4. Register Part Types. Select Administration – Register Part Types from the main menu and select the desired part types to register. This step is not available if you purchased an unlimited part types license.

Access Database Provider

Some Windows versions do not include the necessary drivers to read Access database files. If you get a message when loading the VCdb that the “database provider” is not available, follow the instructions here to download and install the driver appropriate for the version of AceMapper you have installed (32bit or 64bit).

Setup a Backup Procedure

It is very important to create a backup/restore process that is scheduled, automatic and verifiable. Please check with your dba to make sure any AceMapper databases are in the backup rotation. See the related articles for backup options and best practices.