Attaching a Database

As a Touchstone user, you may periodically receive a database to attach for various business reasons. You may receive an exposure database, a results database, or a CEDE database. You can use any of the following three ways to attach a database to use in Touchstone.

Touchstone databases include two files, an .MDF and an .LDF file. Copy the files into the default Database folder on your SQL Server. After the files are copied, you can use the Data Source Manager to attach the database.

Note:

To find the location of the database folder, open SQL Server Management Studio, right-click on the server name and select Properties, and then select Database Settings in the left panel. The Data field in the Database default locations area specifies the MDF folder path and the Log field specifies the LDF folder path. If you only have an MDF file (no LDF file), you can only attach the database through SQL Server Management Studio; after attaching it, you can register the database through Data Source Manager. The attached database is available for register by default. If you receive an "Access Denied" message, you may have to fix inherit permissions on the file. If you are unsure, contact AIR Support who can add inheritance to folder permissions to resolve the access issue.

The status is "ONLINE".

Procedure

To attach a database via Data Source Manager:

  1. Launch Touchstone.
  2. Access the Data Source ManagerManaging Data Sources.
  3. Click in the Database Name field of the blank row with the white Add icon.

    The field becomes editable.

  4. Enter a database name.
  5. Select the database type (RES for Result or EXP for Exposure).
  6. Click in the MDF Path field, click the Browse for File or Browse for Folder icon, and then navigate to the database server containing the database that you want to attach.
  7. Select the MDF file and then click Open.
  8. On the ribbon, click Attach and then press Enter.

    The database you attached moves to the next row.

  9. Click Refresh.
    Note:

    APIs

    AIR provides APIs that enable you to automate the process of attaching databases. For assistance with these APIs, contact AIR Support.

    Note:

    AIR-Provided Scripts

    For technical SQL users, AIR provides scripts that can be used to attach databases. Documentation about the scripts is available on AIR's AIR Client Portal. The scripts enable you to create, register, attach, unregister, detach, and upgrade databases. For assistance with these scripts, contact AIR Support.