Migrate a data store

If you are retiring a server or simply want to transfer data from one server to another, you must migrate any active data stores to ensure that user and group information is retained.

Prerequisites:

  • The Data Store Administration Tool must be installed on the old server and connected to the old data store.
  • Install the Data Store Administration Tool on the new server.
  • Ensure you are using the most recent version of the Data Store Administration Tool on both servers (download the latest installation file from MyCaseware).
  • If you're migrating your data store to hardware running a higher version of Windows Server, you can migrate it using the backup and restore feature rather than the methods provided below.
  • If you intend to use a data store on a new server that has a different database ID from the data store your firm's engagements are currently connected to, contact Caseware Support.

To migrate an xBase or SQL data store:

  1. On the new server, open the Data Store Administration Tool and create a data store with the same database ID and security ID as the data store on the old server.

    Note: You can verify these IDs in the old data store on the Settings tab of the Data Store Administration Tool.

  2. On the old server, open the Data Store Administration Tool and click Maintenance | Export.
  3. In the Export Users and Groups dialog, click Browse... and navigate to the folder where you want to save the export files. Click Select Folder, then click OK.
  4. The files are exported to the specified location. Click OK.
  5. On the new server, open the Data Store Administration Tool and click Maintenance | Import.
  6. In the Import Users and Groups dialog, click Browse... and navigate to the folder where you saved the old server's export files. Click Select Folder, then click OK.
  7. The files are imported into the new data store. Click OK.

The data store is migrated to the new server. You can verify its new location and status from the Create/Connect tab, and other settings from the Active Directory and Settings tabs.

After completing the migration, you can create a new connection file for your users to connect to. Users can verify their connection status in Working Papers from File | Options | Data Store.

Migrate an xBase data store

If your organization only uses xBase data stores, you can simplify the migration process by detaching the stores from the old server, then attaching them to the new server.

To migrate an xBase data store:

  1. On the old server, open the Data Store Administration Tool and click the Create/Connect tab.
  2. Verify the location of the existing data store, then click Detach. The data store is disabled.
  3. Navigate to the location of the data store and copy the entire folder (containing the .cws file) from the old server to the new server.
  4. On the new server, open the Data Store Administration Tool and click Create/Connect | Attach. The Data Store Connection Wizard displays.
  5. Select xBase Data Store and click Next.
  6. In the Descriptor File field, click Browse... and navigate to the data store folder that was copied to the new server. Select the .cws file and click Open. Click Next, then click Finish.

The data store is migrated to the new server. You can now create a new connection file for your users to connect to. Users can verify their connection status in Working Papers from File | Options | Data Store.