First Time Installation

Owned by Heidi Adams
Last updated: Feb 01, 2023
3 min read



First Time Installation

An AWS technician will assist with all software installations.


SQL Server Express

Interact version 7 uses Microsoft SQL Server Express as its basis for a database. SQL Server Express is part of the Interact installation routine. An existing SQL Server can be used to host the database. Please contact AWS technical support for additional information.

Starting Interact

The Interact icon should appear on the Desktop after installation has been completed. Double click the icon to start Interact. The Login window appears.


Creating a new database

After Interact is installed, a database needs to be created to store information about the accounts, jobs, materials, etc. you want to track. The first time you open the application (after registering it), you are prompted to create a database. Click the  Add button to the far right of Database Selection. If you are not prompted to create a new database. A window similar to the following appears.

  • Connection Name - The connection name can be used to give the database a more meaningful label. This name may contain spaces
  • Server - Select the SQL server where the database will be stored. Click the Refresh button to refresh the list of available SQL servers. Click the drop-down arrow to display the list of available SQL servers.
    • Using Windows Authentication
    • Test Server Connection
      • SQL Server Test Succeeded
      • A network-related or instance-specific error occurred while establishing a connection to SQL Server.
  • Database - Enter a meaningful database name. Click the Save button. This name may not contain any spaces. 
  • The database name is added to the Database Selection list. Use the mouse to select it from the list.
  • Enter the Username in the login field.
    • All new databases are created with an 'admin' username. Enter 'admin' in the Username login field, there is no password, and press 'login' to start Interact with the selected database.
    • The admin user login account may have been altered for an existing database. A password may have been added. Always try 'admin' with no password. If an error occurs, you will need to contact someone at your company who may know the password. 

Database Conversion

The following message will appear if Interact 7 finds an Interact.ini file in C:\Windows on the computer from Interact 5 or older.  The message may also appear if the Interact 7 database connection is pointing to an existing database from Interact 6.0.x, which cannot be converted like Interact 6.1 or newer databases can. 


  • Click the Create new database button. A window similar to the following appears.

  • If you would like sample data in your database for testing, check the Load With Sample Data box. If you are ready to start building your own database, leave this box unchecked to create an empty database.
  • Click the Create button. 
  • The message "Working - please wait" will appear.

Warning

A sample database will be deleted and replaced with an empty database when you are ready to build a database with only your company information. Do not build your database with the sample database loaded. It is difficult to remove data from the sample database.

  • A window similar to the following will appear when the database has been successfully created.

  • Click the Continue button to start Interact.


Related Links