Installing Lutheran Service Builder 2.x for Advanced Users
From LSB Documentation
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This article contains descriptions and instructions of a technical nature. |
If you would prefer to use Lutheran Service Builder in a networked environment, or are a system administrator or other computer volunteer who would prefer to handle the installation of prerequisite components separately from the main install, we have created this documentation specifically for you.
Please check each section carefully to determine if the material included applies to your situation. You must have all prerequisites installed before running the Lutheran Service Builder installer.
At the end of this page, you can find a download link for the standalone version of the Lutheran Service Builder Installer. This standalone file does not attempt to install any of the prerequisites listed below, but it still will not operate without them.
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Operating System
Lutheran Service Builder requires one of the following operating system versions (or better) to install:
- Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2 (download page)
- Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2 (SP2 download | 64-bit)
- Microsoft Windows Vista
- Microsoft Windows Server 2008
Lutheran Service Builder 2.x is designed to be compatible with both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Microsoft Windows. In some cases, downloads for Microsoft component installers will be different for 64-bit systems. Please note these alternate downloads where they occur.
We recommend upgrading your operating system to the latest service pack. Currently, these are:
- Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 3 (download page)
- Microsoft Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (download page | 64-bit)
We recommend updating your operating system through the use of Microsoft Windows Update, an automated system, when possible. The files you download will be smaller and their installation will be automatic.
Lutheran Service Builder does not attempt to upgrade your operating system version for you. You must obtain the service packs in question before installing Lutheran Service Builder.
.NET Framework
Lutheran Service Builder is an application specifically written to take advantage of technologies built into the .NET Framework, a key component provided by Microsoft for installations of Microsoft Windows.
Lutheran Service Builder requires:
- Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 Service Pack 1 (direct download)
The .NET Framework 3.5 Service Pack 1 can only be installed on the following operating systems:
- Microsoft Windows XP
- Microsoft Windows Server 2003
- Microsoft Windows Vista
- Microsoft Windows Server 2008
If it is not yet installed, the Installer for .NET 3.5 SP1 requires the presence of at least version 3.1 of the Windows Installer, which can be downloaded here. If you have Windows XP Service Pack 3, Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1, or any version of Windows Vista or Server 2008, you already have Windows Installer 3.1 and do not need to upgrade.
The requirement of version 3.5 of the .NET Framework is why Lutheran Service Builder 2.0 is not compatible with earlier versions of Microsoft Windows (including Windows 2000). For future compatibility with all applications, including Lutheran Service Builder, we recommend all users upgrade to at least Windows XP at their earliest convenience.
Visual J#
Lutheran Service Builder also requires the installation of a runtime component:
The .NET Framework must be installed prior to the installation of Visual J# 2.0.
SQL Server 2008
(If you are planning on installing Lutheran Service Builder 2.0 in a networked database environment, please see the section entitled Networked Database Installations below.)
Lutheran Service Builder 1.x relied on using Microsoft Access databases for data storage, using the JET Engine to perform database operations. Unfortunately, the JET Engine is now considered a deprecated operating system component by Microsoft, and Lutheran Service Builder can no longer rely on its presence for database functionality.
Instead, Lutheran Service Builder 2.0 now uses a more fully-featured and robust database engine called SQL Server. If you already have a SQL Server instance installed on your network, you can easily install Builder's databases to that instance. Lutheran Service Builder requires:
- A SQL Server instance version 2005 or 2008
If you run the standard Installer, the prerequisite check will automatically install the latest version of SQL Server Express, which is a free version of SQL Server intended for use in small network and individual environments:
- SQL Server 2008 Express (download page)
If you choose to install SQL Server 2008 Express, or the automated prequisite check installs it for you, then you must also have installed:
- Windows Installer 4.5 (download page)
The installation of Windows Installer 4.5 requires a reboot on almost every system. Please prepare for this requirement when you install Lutheran Service Builder.
Once you have every prerequisite installed, you are ready to install Lutheran Service Builder. Remember that the Installer found on the Downloads page will automatically install every prerequisite listed on this page before installing Lutheran Service Builder!
To install only Lutheran Service Builder and ignore the prerequisite installs, please download and run this Installer:
If you wish to have auto-update capability added to Lutheran Service Builder 2.0, you must also install:
Networked Database Installations
Networking databases in Lutheran Service Builder 1.x was accomplished by sharing a folder in which several Microsoft Access databases were installed, then giving multiple users access to that folder and pointing Lutheran Service Builder in the direction of the shared folder. Because Lutheran Service Builder 2.0 now relies on SQL Server to handle database transactions, folder sharing is no longer required.
The new method of networking databases is inherently more secure and more robust. We expect far fewer instances of database corruption or other database problems with this method. However, the act of connecting additional users to the database has become significantly more complicated. This documentation will attempt to explain the process necessary to connect multiple users to the same database.
Due to this increased complexity, we recommend that only those congregations where significant collaboration between more than one office staff person prior to final service output is desired perform a networked installation.
If you have not previously installed Lutheran Service Builder on your network, you must select one computer to serve as the master database. This computer does not have to have Lutheran Service Builder installed to serve in this role. In order to prepare this computer for use as a master database, you will need to download and install the following version of SQL Server Express:
- SQL Server Express 2008 with Tools (download page)
This version of SQL Server Express 2008 contains SQL Management Studio Basic, which is required to grant other users on your network access to the Lutheran Service Builder database files.
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This documentation is currently in the process of being written or revised and is considered incomplete. |
