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Migrating a Project to SQL Server Introduction
AutoCAD Plant 3D 2011 and AutoCAD P&ID 2011 both use a file-based (SQLite) database. You can convert existing AutoCAD Plant 3D 2011 and AutoCAD P&ID 2011 projects from the default (SQLite) to Microsoft SQL Server with the PnPSQLServerConverter.exe conversion utility. This document describes converting an existing project to use SQL Server. If you want to create a new project that uses SQL Server, or need to modify connection settings in the DCF file, see the whitepaper Creating a Project that uses SQL Server. You can use the following versions of SQL Server in conjunction with the conversion utility: Microsoft SQL Server (2005 or 2008) Microsoft SQL Server Express (2005 or 2008)

Please note: The conversion utility does not support conversions of projects created with previous releases of AutoCAD Plant 3D and AutoCAD P&ID. For projects created in older versions, first migrate them to 2011, and then use this utility to convert the database to SQL Server. The user converting the project must have Create Any Database service permission. After the database has been created, the database public role is granted database Control permission. SQL Server should be set up to Allow Remote Connections. If you are using SQL Server Express, you can use SQL Server Configuration Manager to start the SQL Server Service and SQL Server Browser Service automatically.

You can also use SQL Server Configuration Manager to enable TCP/IP protocol. You may need to change windows firewall settings to allow connections.

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Converting a Project to SQL Server

You may need to change windows firewall settings to allow connections.

Before You Convert

Prior to conversion, please do the following: Back up your existing project files. If the project is from an earlier version, migrate your project to AutoCAD Plant 3D 2011 or AutoCAD P&ID 2011. Install SQL Server or SQL Server Express. To download and install a version of SQL Server, please refer to the Microsoft web page here: http://www.microsoft.com/sqlserver/2008/en/us/ Use SQL Server Configuration Manager in SQL Server or SQL Server Express to verify that service is running.

Convert Project to SQL Server Database

1. Navigate to one of the following: C:\Program Files\Autodesk\AutoCAD P&ID 2011 C:\Program Files\Autodesk\AutoCAD Plant 3D 2011

2. Run PnPSQLServerConverter.exe.

3. In the Convert Project to SQL Server Database dialog box, under Please Select a Project XML File, click the [...] button to browse to location of the project file you want to convert. Exclusive access to the project is required during conversion. 4. In the Open dialog box, navigate to the project you want to convert and open Project.xml. 5. In the Convert Project to SQL Server Database dialog box, under Server Name, enter a server name or select one from the drop-down list. Note: If you do not see any servers listed, you may not have a server available with open ports. Click the Test Connection button to confirm connection to the server.

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Converting a Project to SQL Server

6. In the Connection Succeeded dialog box, click OK. 7. In the Convert Project to SQL Server Database dialog box, enter a Database Name Prefix (for example: the project name). This value will be used to create the database names (for example: SampleProject_PnId, SampleProject_Piping). 8. Click Convert. The Conversion Log window displays the progress of database file conversion. 9. In the Project Successfully Converted dialog box, click OK. You can now open your converted AutoCAD Plant 3D or AutoCAD P&ID project. Project users will not see any difference in the project other than better scalability.

After You Convert

After a successful conversion, the following new SQL database links are created in the project folder. <database name prefix>_Iso.dcf <database name prefix>_Ortho.dcf <database name prefix>_Piping.dcf <database name prefix>_PnId.dcf

Backup files of the default (SQLite) database (*.dcf.bak) are created in the project folder. If you have problems with the conversion, or wish to convert again using different settings, you can revert back to the default (SQLite) format by renaming the .bak.dcf files to .dcf. This must be done before making any modifications to project drawings. Following conversion, the project database is stored in a different folder (for example: C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL10_50.SQLEXPRESS\MSSQL\DATA) and possibly on a different computer. Backup the project database at the same time you back up the project. For information on moving a project from one place to another after conversion, or to modify connection settings in the DCF files, see the whitepaper Creating a Project that uses SQL Server.

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Converting a Project to SQL Server

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