By default, SQList stores all replication configurations (referred to as the SQList Profile) in a SQL CE database stored in the following file:
C:\ProgramData\AxioWorks\SQList\AxioWorks.SQList.ProfileDB.sdf
The advantages of using a SQL CE database is that there is no need for you to do any configuration, SQList will automatically create and initialise the database.
For most cases, this database is more than sufficient to handle all SQList requests; however, if you run large replications of hundreds of sites and/or thousands of lists, a SQL CE database may struggle to handle the large amount of data and transactions and affect the performance of SQList.
Furthermore, with the release of SQList ver. 8's multiple instances option, the SQList Profile is accessed by multiple processes concurrently, in which case a more robust database engine is more indicated.
Starting with SQList ver. 8, it is possible to store the SQList Profile in a SQL Server database.
Note: that we strongly recommend this option if you run multiple instances of SQList on the same machine.
This article describes the steps to migrate your SQList Profile to a SQL Server database.
1. Ensure SQList is up-to-date and SQList Service is not running.
Start SQList Manager and ensure you are on version 8 or higher; if not, then upgrade SQList to the latest version. The version number is shown in the bottom-right corner of the window.
Select the "Service Monitor", press the Stop SQList button and ensure all instances are stopped successfully or already stopped.
Finally, exit SQList Manager.
2. Create a new SQL Server database to host your SQList Profile
Create a new SQL Server database that will be used to store your SQList Profile, ensure that you configure credentials with dbo permissions and that there are no firewall or security policies that would stop SQList from connecting to it.
In the example below, we created a database in a SQL Server Express instance with the following properties:
- server name: localhost
- database name: AxioWorks_SQList
- authentication method: SQL Server
- username:user1
- password: password1
3. Point SQList to the new database
Using a plain text editor (e.g. Notepad), open the following file:
C:\Program Files\AxioWorks\SQList\connections.config
Note: because this file is located in the Program Files folder, the text editor must be launched "As Administrator" in order to be able to save the changes.
The file should look like this:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<connectionStrings>
<add name="ProfileDB.ConnectionString" providerName="System.Data.SqlServerCe.4.0" connectionString="Data Source=C:\ProgramData\AxioWorks\SQList\AxioWorks.SQList.ProfileDB.sdf;Max Database Size=4091;Persist Security Info=False" />
<!--
<add name="ProfileDB.ConnectionString" providerName="System.Data.SqlClient" connectionString="server=localhost;database=Axioworks_SQList;User Id=user1;Password=password1;" />
-->
</connectionStrings>
You will notice two sections beginning with <add name= and that the second one is between the tags <!-- and --> which means it is commented.
To point SQList to the new SQL Server database, you will need to:
- comment the first section;
- un-comment the second section;
- replace the placeholders for server, database, User Id, and Password with the details of the database you created in the previous step.
The final file should look like this:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<connectionStrings>
<!--
<add name="ProfileDB.ConnectionString" providerName="System.Data.SqlServerCe.4.0" connectionString="Data Source=C:\ProgramData\AxioWorks\SQList\AxioWorks.SQList.ProfileDB.sdf;Max Database Size=4091;Persist Security Info=False" />
-->
<add name="ProfileDB.ConnectionString" providerName="System.Data.SqlClient" connectionString="server=Your_Server_Name;database=Your_Database_Name;User Id=Your_Username;Password=Your_Password;" />
</connectionStrings>
Once you have made the changes, save the file and close the editor.
3. Start SQList Manager and migrate your current Profile
Start SQList Manager, at first launch SQList will create the necessary tables in the empty SQL Server database.
In SQList Manager, you will notice that you have no replications; you now need to migrate your Profile form the SQL CE database to the new SQL Server database.
Select the "Migrate database" tab on the bottom-left of the window, this will open the migration pop-up.
Click the Click here to migrate data button and follow the prompts to complete the migration.
Once done, close the pop-up and select the tabs to your "Database Connections", "SharePoint Connections", and "Replications" to check that your Profile has been migrated.
At this point SQList is ready for use.