ALift – Process to access the SOftbase
Standard Operating Procedure
Revision No:
Original Date of Issue
23/02/2024
Revision Date:
27/02/2024
Revised By:
LEO/Lenn/Dennis
Approved By:
Before you start: Download FortiClient VPN on the user's machine
Link > Product Downloads | Fortinet Product Downloads | Support
Run the installation and add the settings below, and save:
After that, open a ticket with the infrastructure team, requesting the creation of the user with FORTIGATE
Try to standardize the password with the one the user is already using
Send an email to Bruce Bondy > BBondy@leavitt.ca , requesting the creation of Softbase access credentials:
With these two pieces of information in hand (release of the user on FortiGate and the Softbase credentials) we are ready to install the application on the user's machine
Step 1
Now let's go to installation
1 – Download the app
https://support.softbasedev.com/portal/en/home
2 - Once downloaded, choose to run the setup and follow the instructions to install the Softbase Application on your computer.
- Here is an initial screen that will you will see when running the install to accept the License Agreement of the Application.
3. Once completing the install of the Softbase Client Application you will need to add a Config file into the Application directory so that it will know how to communicate with the SQL Server following the setup of the ODBC Data Source below. To create the config file we recommend the following;
- Navigate to where the Softbase Client Application was installed. This should be "C:\Program Files\Softbase"
- Create a new Text file and save as "Softbase.cfg"
- In the Text file you would include the following lines;
SQL
SoftbaseDB, Softbase Business
- Line 1 above indicates we are using SQL as the Database.
- Line 2 above (and subsequent lines) indicates the ODBC Name we will use (the value before the comma) and then the description of what Softbase Database you will pick from the login menu to access.
Here is an example of what it would look like.
**Note** The config file is not needed if the ODBC connection below is setup to connect to a ODBC name of SoftbaseDB, which is the default ODBC connection the client looks for.
Step 2
ODBC Install
1. Once you have installed the Softbase Client Application from the above steps you will need to setup the ODBC drivers to allow the Softbase Client to communicate with the Softbase Database.
2. Go to Start in Windows and search for "ODBC". You should see the following options
- Make sure you choose ODBC 64-Bit if you installed the Softbase Client Application for Windows 64-Bit. If you happen to be running a Windows 32-Bit machine then ensure you choose that version. The version of the ODBC Drivers should match the version of the Softbase Window Client you installed.
3. Once you open up the ODBC Data Source, go to the "System DSN" Tab and choose the Add Button.
4. Once selecting Add, you will select the "SQL Server" option from the below list, to begin to create a new Data Source
5. After selecting "SQL Server" you will enter the Name, Description and Server you are looking to connect to.
- Name - This is the name of the connection from the Softbase.CFG file you created from above. SoftbaseDB
- Server - This is the Server name of where the Softbase SQL Database is located at. 192.168.106.252
6. Once you populate the above information and choose next you will be taken to the next screen.
- Change the Radio button to the option to authenticate with SQL Server authentication, not Windows NT.
- Then provide the Login ID and Password for the Softbase SQL Server Database and choose next. This will authenticate the Login and ensure you can access the database. If not you will be provided with an error message and need to contact your System Administrator or Softbase Support. (User and password shared via Last Pass )
TIP > Remember that at this moment you have to be connected to the Alift VPN
7. Once you authenticate in SQL you will need to ensure that the Default Database dropdown option on the below form is selected to be your Softbase SQL Database.
8. Following choosing Next from the above screen you will see the below screen and can choose Finish.
9. After selecting Finish you will see the below screen and you can choose the "Test Data Source" button to ensure the connection is good, otherwise you can choose OK to complete the setup and login to Softbase.
10. If you choose to test the Database Source you would see the following screen which would run the test and show you the results.
Step 3
DONE!!!