Upgrade or install a Microsoft SQL Server instance

Learn how to install a newer version of Microsoft SQL Server, necessary when Microsoft ends support for a SQL Server version that a Thomson Reuters application is using.

Discontinued support for SQL Server 2014

important
As of July 9, 2024, Microsoft is ending support for SQL Server 2014. You'll need to upgrade to SQL Server 2016 or higher on the machine where SQL Server is installed.
July 9, 2024 officially ends the lifecycle of this SQL Server version and Microsoft will no longer provide technical support or security updates. Go to Microsoft's Lifecycle Policy page for more details on Microsoft's lifecycle policy and to search for the planned or past support dates of other Microsoft products.
Also on July 9, 2024 Thomson Reuters will no longer support SQL Server 2014 for our SQL-based applications: Accounting CS, FileCabinet CS, Practice CS, and Workpaper CS. After July 9, 2024, there will be:
  • No support for errors opening SQL-based applications in SQL Server 2014 or earlier.
  • No support for installing, uninstalling, or re-installing SQL-based applications in SQL Server 2014 or earlier.
  • No support for any application issue that may be affected by SQL Server 2014 or earlier. In these cases, our support experts will make the determination about whether the SQL Server version is affecting the application and whether updating is an appropriate troubleshooting step.
You should upgrade so that you have full use and support of your applications. If you don't upgrade from SQL Server 2014:
  • You can't retrieve application updates. This means no fixes for known issues, no new application features, and no compliance updates.
  • You won't be able to integrate with other CS Professional Suite applications.
  • You won't receive security performance enhancements.
This article gives basic instructions on how to upgrade or install a SQL Server instance. The following steps may vary depending on the SQL Server version involved. Any other questions about SQL Server should be directed to your firm's IT professional or Microsoft.
tip
We often suggest installing a new instance of SQL Server rather than upgrading an existing instance. This limits any potential compatibility concerns, such as conflicts that may be created if there are other databases outside of the CS Professional Suite that use the existing instance.

Find out your SQL Server version and edition

If you're using SQL Server 2016 or later, you don't need to take any action at this time.
If you're using SQL Server 2014 or earlier, continue the process to move to a newer version of SQL Server.

Back up your data

  1. Create a backup folder and a database restore folder.
  2. Have all staff close the application. Staff will not be able to access the application while the SQL Server update is happening.
  3. Open the application and choose
    File
    , then
    Backup
    .
  4. In the
    Backup file
    field, browse to the location of the backup folder you created in step 1.
  5. Select
    OK
    .
  6. If you're installing the new SQL Server instance on a different machine, copy all backup files from the backup folder to the restore folder.

Update to a supported version of SQL Server with the application installer

Work with your IT professional to determine which version and edition of SQL Server is right for you. The process you use depends on which version and edition of SQL Server you decide to use, but our applications come with the Express (free) edition of SQL Server.
If you want to upgrade to a Standard or Enterprise edition of SQL Server, work with your IT professional. After upgrading, uninstall the application's shared files and re-install the application.
To install or upgrade SQL Server Express using the Thomson Reuters application installer:
  1. Make sure that you have the latest Accounting CS, Workpapers CS, or Practice CS web download. The default location for the folder is the C: drive of the machine where the download last happened. If you don’t have the latest version, go to the My Product Downloads page and download it.
  2. Use an account with full administrative rights to sign in to the machine where the new SQL Server instance will be installed.
  3. Go to the Accounting CS, Workpapers CS, or Practice CS web download location and run Setup.exe.
  4. Perform
    Step 1: Select where the Shared Files reside
    .
  5. Perform
    Step 2: Configure Database Server
    , even if there's already a green check mark. After you select Step 2:
    • If you want to use an existing SQL Server instance that was separately upgraded or installed, select
      Use an existing instance of Microsoft SQL Server
      . On the next window, select your SQL Server instance and select to
      Connect using Windows authentication
      . If you're prompted about selecting a different instance than what was previously selected, select
      Yes
      to proceed.
    • If you want to create a new SQL Server instance, select
      Install a new instance of Microsoft SQL Server 20yy Express Edition
      . When prompted, enter a name for the new SQL Server instance. We recommend naming this instance SQLEXPRESS20yy (such as SQLEXPRESS2022) and keeping the default location for the SQL Server Data Folder.
    note
    If the machine you're installing SQL Server on is a Windows Domain Controller, you may get a message that says you're unable to install Microsoft SQL Server.
  6. Perform
    Step 3: Install
    on this computer.

Update to a supported version of SQL Server outside of the application installer

Use the Microsoft Download Center  to search for and download SQL Server outside of the Thomson Reuters application installer.
From the search bar, enter the SQL Server version to find the right download page.
Search for
Microsoft SQL Server 2022 Express
and use the official Microsoft download page.

Upgrading an existing instance of SQL Server

Once you've downloaded the SQL Server Express installation package, open it to begin the installation. This takes you to the SQL Server Installation Center window.
note
  • Before upgrading an existing instance, consider potential compatibility concerns, such as conflicts that may be created if there are other databases outside of the CS Professional Suite that use the existing instance.
  • Older versions of SQL Server offered either a 32-bit or a 64-bit version. Starting with SQL Server 2016, there's only a 64-bit version. You can't upgrade SQL Server from a 32-bit to a 64-bit version. In that situation, you'll need to install a new instance of SQL Server.
  1. Select
    Installation
    on the left and then
    Upgrade from a previous version of SQL Server
    .
  2. At the next screen, the installer will search for any product updates. Select
    Next
    .
  3. At the
    License Terms
    screen, mark the
    I accept the license terms
    box and select
    Next
    .
  4. The
    Select Instance
    screen will list any existing instances and let you to select which instance to upgrade. Select the instance you want to upgrade and select
    Next
    .
  5. The installer will automatically upgrade the instance, leaving you with the same features installed with the original instance.
  6. Review the
    Upgrade Rules
    screen for any rules that failed. If you have any failed messages, select the
    Failed
    link for instructions on how to resolve the issue.
  7. The installer will then complete the upgrade process.

Installing a new instance of SQL Server

Once you've downloaded the SQL Server Express installation package, open it to begin the installation. This takes you to the SQL Server Installation Center window.
  1. Select
    Installation
    on the left, and then
    New SQL Server standalone installation or add features to an existing installation
    .
  2. At the next screen, the installer will search for any product updates. Select
    Next
    .
  3. At the
    Installation Type
    screen, select
    Perform a new installation of SQL Server
    and select
    Next
    .
  4. At the
    License Terms
    screen, mark the
    I accept the license terms
    box and select
    Next
    .
  5. At the
    Azure Extension for SQL Server
    screen, clear the
    Azure Extension for SQL Server
    checkbox and select
    Next
    .
  6. At the
    Feature Selection
    screen, select
    Select All
    and select
    Next
    .
  7. At the
    Instance Configuration
    screen, select
    Named instance
    and enter a name for your new instance.
  8. At the
    Server Configuration
    screen, make sure the default selections for the
    Account Name
    and
    Startup Type
    for each service are correct.
  9. At the
    Database Engine Configuration
    screen, select
    Mixed Mode
    .
    note
    Choosing Mixed Mode is required for the new SQL Server instance to be available during Step 2 of the installation of Thomson Reuters applications.
  10. Enter and confirm a SQL Server administrator password and select
    Next
    .
  11. The installation will complete.
  12. Go to
    Start
    ,
    All Programs
    ,
    Microsoft SQL Server
    ,
    Configuration Tools
    , and then
    SQL Server Configuration Manager
    .
  13. Expand SQL Server Network Configuration and select Protocols for INSTANCE (where INSTANCE is the name of the SQL Server instance) to confirm or turn on the correct protocols (for Shared Memory, Named Pipes and TCP/IP).
  14. Run Step 2 of the appropriate application's installer in order to connect to the new instance and create the required user account.

Disabling old versions of SQL Server

If no other applications are using old instances of SQL Server, we recommend disabling those instances. This will free up resources and improve performance of the database server. If other applications are using SQL Server, don't disable any of the services that are used.
To disable a SQL Server instance:
  1. Open the
    Run
    window at the machine where the SQL Server instance resides. You can do this by accessing the Start menu and searching for Run, or by pressing the Windows key + R.
  2. In the
    Run
    window, enter
    services.msc
    and select
    OK
    .
  3. In the list of services, locate any services that include the name of the prior instance of SQL Server. Look for
    SQL Server (INSTANCE)
    and
    SQL Server Agent (INSTANCE)
    , where INSTANCE is the name of the SQL Server instance.
  4. Double-click each item you found to open its
    Properties
    window.
  5. On the General tab, if the
    Service status
    indicates that the instance is
    Started
    or
    Running
    , select
    Stop
    and wait for the
    Service status
    to change to
    Stopped
    .
  6. In the
    Startup type
    field, select
    Disabled
    .
  7. Select
    OK
    to save your changes.
note
Choosing to uninstall an old version of SQL Server rather than disabling the services may have unintended consequences. Contact your IT professional if you're considering uninstalling SQL Server.