Simplified Instruction on How to Setup Primavera P6 Pro 18 Standalone Database [2019] - PART 1

If you're a Civil Engineer and your task is in line with project planning and management, you need to take advantage of Primavera Software as it will make your project planning, resources allocation, project and budget monitoring more efficient especially in complex engineering projects. If you're a student, it's also the best choice to have a basic knowledge and full understanding of planning software like the Primavera P6 so you have to tap this knowledge in the future whenever it's needed.

Software Installation
Unlike any regular software installation, Primavera P6 installation is a tricky one. Even after you installed the main Primavera P6 application, it won't run until you have a properly configured database to store your data. There are three types of databases that you can create to run Primavera P6 Standalone application: the Oracle XE Database, Microsoft SQL Server and SQLite Sandbox.

Oracle XE - when you install a Standalone copy of Primavera P6, it also installs a copy of Oracle XE as its default database. But it doesn't go as smooth as you might think. If you are not an expert in database management, you will find it very complicated to setup Oracle XE database. I also could not set it up at first but I still managed to do it even without an extensive knowledge in database management. It was a long tedious process. My advise, just leave database management to your IT expert and just learn the basics of setting up a standalone database only for your personal use. As alternatives to Oracle XE database, you can use either a Microsoft SQL Server Database or an SQLite Sandbox database. For this blog, I am going to show you how to link your Standalone Primaver P6 to a Microsoft SQL Server 2017 Database. This method is the easiest and the most advisable for starters and Primavera students.

How to Setup Microsoft SQL Server for your Primavera P6?

The following is a simplified steps in installing and configuring Microsoft SQL Server 2017 database for your Standalone Primavera P6 Professional 18:

[A]. Install a copy of Microsoft SQL Server 2017 Express Edition. Download it from this link.

[B]. Setup SQL Server TCP/IP Port

[C]. Open Database Setup Tool to Setup you Database.

[D]. Connect the Database Setup tool to Your SQL Express Database Instance.

[E]. Create a Database.

[F]. Connect Primavera P6 to the database you just created.

Although the idea is so simple, the process to achieve it is quite long and to avoid any clutter, the steps will be split in two blog posts. Just understand the steps one (A) to five (F) [as listed above] and you'll not encounter problems later.

[A] Installing Microsoft SQL Server 2017
1. Run the

installer.
2. Choose Basic Installation and Accept the License Terms and Privacy Statement.

3. Leave the default installation location and hit the Install button.

4. The installation will take a few minutes [depending on the speed of your internet connection] as it downloads the necessary files while installing the software.

5. In the SQL Server Installation Center dialog, click on the " New Server Stand Alone Installaion..etc" option.

9. In the Features Selection dialog, uncheck the SQL Server Replication and Machine Learning Service andd click Next >

10. In the Instance Configuration go with the default Named Instance : SQL Express and click Next >

11. In the Server Configuation dialog, go with the default and click Next >

12. In the Database Engine Configuration go with Mixed Mode (SQL Server authentication and Windows authentication). Create and confirm a password: Take careful note of this password because you will need this later. Click Next > to proceed.

13. The Microsoft SQL Server Express 2017 will begin installation on your system. The installation process may take several minutes depending on your hardware specifications.

14. When the process is complete, click Close button and go back to SQL Server Installation Center. Click on the Install SQL Server Management Tools. [This tool is optional, if you want to install it, just go ahead]. After clicking Install SQL Server Management Tools, you will be directed to the official Microsoft download page.

[B] Setting up the SQL Server TCP/IP Port

In order to properly use the newly installed Microsoft SQL Server on your local computer, you need to topen the TCP/IP port for your database as this is not done by default during the SQL Express database setup.

1. Open SQL Server 2017 Configuration Manager. [Click the Windows Start Button and type "SQL Server..."

2. In the SQL Server Configuration Manager, click on the SQL Server Network Configuration option and select Protocols for SQLEXPRESS. Right Click on the TCP/IP option and choose Enable.

3. When prompted click OK and you can restart later after completing the succeeding setup procedures.

4.Once TCP/IP is enabled, right click on the TCP/IP option and choose Properties.

5. In TCP/IP Properties, click on IP Addresses. Scroll to the bottom of the list and under IPA11, enter a TCP Port of 1433. Click OK to apply the setting and close the dialog.

6. Click OK in the warning message.

7. Back to the SQL Server Configuration Manager, click on the SQL Server Services option and then Restart the SQL Server (SQLEXPRESS) instance for your changes to take effect.

8. Close SQL Server 2017 Configuration Manager.

READ THE CONTINUATION HERE: https://www.tokitechie.com/2019/01/simplified-instruction-on-how-to-setup-primavera-p6-p2.html