PDXpert PLM Software
On-line Help Guide

This help topic describes the current PDXpert PLM release. Earlier releases may be different. To view your release's version of this topic, open PDXpert and press the F1 key or select the Help menu.

Change the database server

By default, the PDXpert Application Server installs its own Microsoft SQL Server database instance. If you wish, you can specify a different SQL Server instance.

Back up your database before changing the SQL Server instance.

The SQL Server instance you select must be compatible with your existing SQL Server database files. For example, if your database is using a SQL Server 2019 instance, then you must select SQL Server 2019 or newer for the replacement instance. You may not select an older instance, such as SQL Server 2017.

The selected SQL Server instance must exist on the current computer. Do not select a SQL Server instance on a different computer.

The PDXpert service expects it has full control of the instance, which may include restarting it. This can affect other applications that share the same instance.

Do not make new objects within the PDXpertDB database, since unrecognized objects may interfere with proper operation or be deleted.

All users must be logged out of the PDXpert client application.

On the PDXpert Application Server window:

  1. Select the Manage page.

  2. In the System changes area, click on the Change Database Server... button to open the SQL Server Selector dialog.

  3. Select or enter a Database engine (instance) name, and click the OK button to save your selection. The connection uses the form .\instancename, like .\PDXPERT.

    This change simply specifies which SQL Server instance manages your database. The database and library files are not moved; they remain in the original data directory. You can move the database and library files using the Change Data Directory... button.

    When you need technical support for your system, include details about your database instance as shown on Information.

  4. Reset service connections by doing one of these:

    • Restart the Windows server computer; or

    • In the Administrator Tools > Services window: Restart the PDXpert Server service. If you are asked, allow the PDXpert Filter service to restart.

Downgrading the database server §

This procedure deletes your database and library files. Before using this procedure, back up the database and the library files.

Downgrading does not convert a higher-level SQL Server database to the lower-level SQL Server version. The database that you restore in the last step must be compatible with the lower-level SQL Server engine.

If you must change to a lower-version SQL Server (for example, because an incorrect SQL Server instance was selected above):

  1. Back up both database and library. See the Reset the database and library help topic.

  2. In the System changes area, click on the Change Database Server... button to open the SQL Server Selector dialog.

  3. Select or enter the original SQL Server instance, and click the OK button to save your selection.

    The system normally shows an error message that the current database is incompatible. You can ignore errors like The database 'PDXpertDB' cannot be opened... and A downgrade path is not supported. These will be fixed in the next step.

  4. Click the Reset System button. This loads a new starting database that is compatible with the selected SQL Server version, and verifies the database connection.

  5. Restore the database and the library files. See the Restore data from a backup help topic.

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