After your blank SQL database has been created, you will need to add and fill the database tables.
You will need to make sure the latest client is downloaded and installed from our website. It needs to be on a computer that has access to both the new SQL Server database and the existing Access database.
First, you will launch the MGR program. Once the login screen is visible, you will hit the ‘F8’ key on your keyboard to launch the database maintenance tool. The new version will have a number of database updates that have not been applied yet. You’ll start by ensuring that the backup database option is checked and click the ‘Run Database Updates’ button.
Next, you’ll go to the database tools tab on the left and click the ‘compact and repair database’ button. If the delete MSysCompactError Table becomes enabled, please call AgWare at 605-791-4872 for assistance and do not continue with the conversion.
Next, you’ll click on the last tab in the list ‘Convert to SQL’. Make sure that you are on the ‘connect’ tab and enter the server name and database name. Then, click connect. If you are successfully connected, you will automatically be moved to the next tab ‘initialize database’ and you should see a message similar to the one shown in the screenshot below. If it is unsuccessful please double check the server name and database name and try again.
Now you will need to initialize the database. First, make sure that the current table count shows zero. Then, click the initialize database. This will create the needed tables. Once it is successful, you will see a message similar to the screen below and be moved to the third tab – convert database.
Lastly, you’ll click the start conversion button on the convert database tab. This will load the data in the currently open Access database into the SQL Server database that you entered on the connect tab. This process may take several hours depending on the size of your existing database and the network speed between MGR and the SQL Server. You will see several progress bars and information messages as the conversion is being run. This is copying the data from the Access database into the SQL database. No changes are being made to your Access database. Once the conversion is complete, you will see a message that says ‘Database Transfer Complete Finished Access –> SQL’ similar to the image below.
Next, you’ll move on to create the mgr-sql link file.