Question: What are some frequently asked questions about using Act! v17.1 and later with Microsoft SQL Server 2014?
Product:
Product Family: Act!
Product: Act! Pro, Act! Premium
Version: v17.1 and later
Environment:
Engine: Microsoft SQL Server 2014
Answer:
Q: When I install Act! v17.1 or later, will it also install Microsoft SQL Server 2014?
A: Beginning with Act! v17.1, Act! is compatible with both Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 and Microsoft SQL Server 2014. However, if you are installing Act! on a machine that has never had Act! installed or does not have an existing Microsoft SQL Server (ACT7) instance, and if you are you are using an operating system that is supported by Microsoft SQL Server 2014, the Act! full installation process will install Microsoft SQL Server 2014 Express. To determine whether your operating system is supported for use with Microsoft SQL Server 2014, refer to Microsoft.com.
Q: If I have an existing Microsoft SQL Server (ACT7) instance, and I install Act! v17.1 or later, will the instance be upgraded to Microsoft SQL Server 2014?
A: The Act! installation process will not upgrade any existing version of the Microsoft SQL Server (ACT7) instance. If you have an existing Microsoft SQL Server (ACT7) instance, and you wish to use Microsoft SQL Server 2014, it will be necessary to uninstall the existing Microsoft SQL Server (ACT7) instance prior to upgrading to Act! v17.1 or later, or if you have already installed Act! v17.1 or later, you can uninstall the existing Microsoft SQL Server (ACT7) instance, then manually create the Microsoft SQL Server 2014 (ACT7) instance. For instructions on uninstalling Microsoft the Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 (ACT7) instance and manually creating the Microsoft SQL Server 2014 (ACT7) instance, refer to the following knowledgebase articles:
How to Uninstall the ACT7 Instance from Microsoft® SQL Server® 2008 R2
Answer ID How to Uninstall the ACT7 Instance from Microsoft® SQL Server® 2008 R2
How to manually create the Microsoft SQL Server 2014 (Express Edition) ACT7 Instance
Answer ID How to manually create the Microsoft SQL Server 2014 ACT7 Instance
Q: How can I use Act! v17.1 or later if I’m installing to a machine that has a version of Windows that Microsoft SQL Server 2014 does not support?
A: If you are using a version of Windows that is not supported for use with Microsoft SQL Server 2014, and you do not already have a Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 (ACT7) instance, you can install Act! v17.0 (Download: Act! Pro, Act! Premium, Act! Premium access via web), which will install the Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 (ACT7) instance. Then you can upgrade to Act! v17.1 or later. The applicable update can be downloaded by going to our download center, then selecting the release that applies to you.
Alternatively, you can manually create the Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 instance prior to installing Act! v17.1 or later. If you are using a machine that Microsoft SQL Server 2014 does not support, and you are upgrading from an Act! version 2010 or older, you must uninstall the existing Microsoft SQL Server (ACT7) instance from the Control Panel prior to manually creating the Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 (ACT7) instance, and then installing Act! v17.1 or later. For information on manually creating the Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 (ACT7) instance, refer to the following knowledgebase article:
How to Manually Create the Microsoft® SQL Server® 2008 R2 (Express Edition) ACT7 Instance
Answer ID How to Manually Create the Microsoft® SQL Server® 2008 R2 (Express Edition) ACT7 Instance
Q: If I have configured remote synchronization in an environment where all machines use Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2, then introduce a new machine to my synchronization set up that is using Microsoft SQL Server 2014, will my remotes still synchronize?
A: Act! v17.1 and later can be used in mixed Microsoft SQL Server version environments, as long as the machine acting as your server has the lowest version of Microsoft SQL Server supported by Act!. For example, if your server has Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2, and your workstation has Microsoft SQL Server 2014, you can continue to synchronize as normal.
Q: If I have upgraded my server to Microsoft SQL Server 2014, and my remote users are using Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2, can I downgrade the server back to Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2?
A: Once upgraded to Microsoft SQL Server 2014, and the database has been opened with it, you cannot downgrade it. It will be necessary to upgrade the remote users to Microsoft SQL Server 2014 as well in order to keep synchronizing. Alternatively, if you do not wish to upgrade the remote users machines to Microsoft SQL Server 2014, or you are not able to due to system requirements restrictions, you can create a backup of the main database and send it into our Database Services team to be downgraded back to Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2. For more information, refer to the following knowledgebase article:
Act! Database Maintenance, Troubleshooting, Repair, and Conversion
Answer ID Act! Database Maintenance, Troubleshooting, Repair Services, and Conversion
Once you have created a backup of the database and sent it in to Database Services, you can uninstall Microsoft SQL Server 2014 from the Control Panel, then manually create the Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 (ACT7) instance.
Q: What versions of Act! is Microsoft SQL Server 2014 capable of upgrading?
A: Microsoft SQL Server 2014 is capable of updating databases that were created and used in Act! versions 2007 and later. Since Act! versions 2005 and 2006 ran on Microsoft SQL Server 2000, it is necessary to update these databases to v17.1 or later by using Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 prior to using them with Microsoft SQL Server 2014. For more information on Microsoft SQL Server 2014 upgrade compatibility, refer to Microsoft.com.
Product:
Product Family: Act!
Product: Act! Pro, Act! Premium
Version: v17.1 and later
Environment:
Engine: Microsoft SQL Server 2014
Answer:
Q: When I install Act! v17.1 or later, will it also install Microsoft SQL Server 2014?
A: Beginning with Act! v17.1, Act! is compatible with both Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 and Microsoft SQL Server 2014. However, if you are installing Act! on a machine that has never had Act! installed or does not have an existing Microsoft SQL Server (ACT7) instance, and if you are you are using an operating system that is supported by Microsoft SQL Server 2014, the Act! full installation process will install Microsoft SQL Server 2014 Express. To determine whether your operating system is supported for use with Microsoft SQL Server 2014, refer to Microsoft.com.
Q: If I have an existing Microsoft SQL Server (ACT7) instance, and I install Act! v17.1 or later, will the instance be upgraded to Microsoft SQL Server 2014?
A: The Act! installation process will not upgrade any existing version of the Microsoft SQL Server (ACT7) instance. If you have an existing Microsoft SQL Server (ACT7) instance, and you wish to use Microsoft SQL Server 2014, it will be necessary to uninstall the existing Microsoft SQL Server (ACT7) instance prior to upgrading to Act! v17.1 or later, or if you have already installed Act! v17.1 or later, you can uninstall the existing Microsoft SQL Server (ACT7) instance, then manually create the Microsoft SQL Server 2014 (ACT7) instance. For instructions on uninstalling Microsoft the Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 (ACT7) instance and manually creating the Microsoft SQL Server 2014 (ACT7) instance, refer to the following knowledgebase articles:
How to Uninstall the ACT7 Instance from Microsoft® SQL Server® 2008 R2
Answer ID How to Uninstall the ACT7 Instance from Microsoft® SQL Server® 2008 R2
How to manually create the Microsoft SQL Server 2014 (Express Edition) ACT7 Instance
Answer ID How to manually create the Microsoft SQL Server 2014 ACT7 Instance
Q: How can I use Act! v17.1 or later if I’m installing to a machine that has a version of Windows that Microsoft SQL Server 2014 does not support?
A: If you are using a version of Windows that is not supported for use with Microsoft SQL Server 2014, and you do not already have a Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 (ACT7) instance, you can install Act! v17.0 (Download: Act! Pro, Act! Premium, Act! Premium access via web), which will install the Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 (ACT7) instance. Then you can upgrade to Act! v17.1 or later. The applicable update can be downloaded by going to our download center, then selecting the release that applies to you.
Note: You will only find updates and service packs in the download center. If you intend to use a later year's release (for example, instead of v17 you will be using v18) you will need to refer to the download link sent to you when you purchased the later version.
Alternatively, you can manually create the Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 instance prior to installing Act! v17.1 or later. If you are using a machine that Microsoft SQL Server 2014 does not support, and you are upgrading from an Act! version 2010 or older, you must uninstall the existing Microsoft SQL Server (ACT7) instance from the Control Panel prior to manually creating the Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 (ACT7) instance, and then installing Act! v17.1 or later. For information on manually creating the Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 (ACT7) instance, refer to the following knowledgebase article:
How to Manually Create the Microsoft® SQL Server® 2008 R2 (Express Edition) ACT7 Instance
Answer ID How to Manually Create the Microsoft® SQL Server® 2008 R2 (Express Edition) ACT7 Instance
Q: If I have configured remote synchronization in an environment where all machines use Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2, then introduce a new machine to my synchronization set up that is using Microsoft SQL Server 2014, will my remotes still synchronize?
A: Act! v17.1 and later can be used in mixed Microsoft SQL Server version environments, as long as the machine acting as your server has the lowest version of Microsoft SQL Server supported by Act!. For example, if your server has Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2, and your workstation has Microsoft SQL Server 2014, you can continue to synchronize as normal.
Q: If I have upgraded my server to Microsoft SQL Server 2014, and my remote users are using Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2, can I downgrade the server back to Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2?
A: Once upgraded to Microsoft SQL Server 2014, and the database has been opened with it, you cannot downgrade it. It will be necessary to upgrade the remote users to Microsoft SQL Server 2014 as well in order to keep synchronizing. Alternatively, if you do not wish to upgrade the remote users machines to Microsoft SQL Server 2014, or you are not able to due to system requirements restrictions, you can create a backup of the main database and send it into our Database Services team to be downgraded back to Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2. For more information, refer to the following knowledgebase article:
Act! Database Maintenance, Troubleshooting, Repair, and Conversion
Answer ID Act! Database Maintenance, Troubleshooting, Repair Services, and Conversion
Once you have created a backup of the database and sent it in to Database Services, you can uninstall Microsoft SQL Server 2014 from the Control Panel, then manually create the Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 (ACT7) instance.
Q: What versions of Act! is Microsoft SQL Server 2014 capable of upgrading?
A: Microsoft SQL Server 2014 is capable of updating databases that were created and used in Act! versions 2007 and later. Since Act! versions 2005 and 2006 ran on Microsoft SQL Server 2000, it is necessary to update these databases to v17.1 or later by using Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 prior to using them with Microsoft SQL Server 2014. For more information on Microsoft SQL Server 2014 upgrade compatibility, refer to Microsoft.com.