Installation Guide for Windows Client

How to connect Standard Time® Windows Client to SQL Server across networked workstations. Estimated completion time: 2 hours. Covers SQL configuration, firewall rules, ODBC credentials, and multi-workstation deployment.

Applies to: On-premise Windows Client users connecting to a corporate SQL Server or SQL Express database. Not required for cloud site users.

1. Server Prerequisites

Ensure your server meets these minimum requirements before beginning:

2. SQL Server Preparation

  1. Open SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS).
  2. Connect to your target server instance (e.g., SQLEXPRESS).
  3. Right-click the top-level item and select Properties.
  4. Click Security.
  5. Select "SQL Server and Windows Authentication mode".
  6. Click Connections.
  7. Choose "Allow remote connections to this server".
  8. Click OK.
  9. Right-click the top-level item again and select Restart if prompted.
Pro Tip: Use Windows Authentication only. SQL Authentication is less secure as it involves storing passwords in connection strings.

3. SQL Server Configuration Manager

  1. Run SQL Server Configuration Manager (SQLServerManager16.msc).
  2. Expand SQL Server Network Configuration.
  3. Click SQLEXPRESS or SQLSERVER.
  4. Right-click TCP/IP and select Properties.
  5. Set Enable to Yes.
  6. Click Apply.
  7. Click the IP Addresses tab.
  8. Scroll to the bottom and enter 1433 in the IPAll TCP Port field.
  9. Click OK.
  10. Click SQL Server Services.
  11. Right-click SQLSERVER and select Restart.
  12. Right-click SQL Server Browser and select Properties.
  13. Set service startup to Automatic.
  14. Right-click SQL Server Browser and select Start.

4. Windows Firewall Configuration

Open port 1433 (TCP) and 1434 (UDP) to allow network connections to SQL Server.

TCP Rule (Port 1433)

  1. Open Windows Firewall.
  2. Click Advanced Settings.
  3. Click Inbound Rules.
  4. Click New Rule.
  5. Select Port and click Next.
  6. Choose TCP.
  7. Enter 1433 in the Specific local ports field. Click Next.
  8. Select "Allow the connection". Click Next.
  9. Check all profile options. Click Next.
  10. Name the rule SQL TCP 1433. Click Finish.

UDP Rule (Port 1434)

Repeat the above steps selecting UDP and port 1434.

5. Create "Standard Time" Database

  1. Return to SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS).
  2. Right-click Databases.
  3. Select New Database.
  4. Enter Standard Time as the database name.
  5. Click OK.

6. Create SQL Login

  1. Expand Security and Logins in SSMS.
  2. Right-click Logins and select New Login.
  3. Create a login named st with password st (lowercase).
  4. Set the default database to Standard Time.
  5. Click User Mapping.
  6. Check the Standard Time database.
  7. Assign db_owner rights.
  8. Click OK.
Pro Tip: Windows Authentication logins are more secure than SQL Server Authentication. Use Windows Authentication when possible to avoid storing passwords in files.

7. Create Credentials File (ODBC DSN)

The credentials file (Standard Time SQL.dsn) tells Standard Time® how to connect to your database.

  1. Open Control Panel > System and Security > Administrative Tools.
  2. Open Data Sources (ODBC).
  3. Click the File DSN tab.
  4. Click Add.
  5. Choose SQL Server driver and click Next.
  6. Name it Standard Time SQL and click Next.
  7. Click Finish.
  8. Select your correct server and instance. Click Next.
  9. Choose Windows authentication or SQL Server authentication. Enter credentials with db_owner rights. Click Next.
  10. Check "Change the default database to" and select Standard Time. Click Next.
  11. Click Finish and test the connection.
  12. Click OK.
  13. Locate Standard Time SQL.dsn in your Documents folder.
Pro Tip: If using SQL authentication, open the .dsn file in Notepad and add: PWD=yourpassword. Windows Authentication avoids exposing cleartext passwords.

8. Connect Standard Time® to SQL Server

  1. Install Standard Time® on the client workstation.
  2. Copy the credentials file to the workstation's Documents folder.
  3. Run Standard Time®.
  4. Select File > Database (optional menu).
  5. Click the "..." browse button.
  6. Navigate to the Documents folder.
  7. Select Standard Time SQL.dsn.
  8. Verify connection with no errors. Click OK.
  9. The application restarts and connects to SQL Server.
  10. Confirm the title bar displays: "SQL Server: Standard Time".

9. Copy Credentials to Additional Workstations

  1. Open the Documents folder in File Explorer.
  2. Find Standard Time SQL.dsn.
  3. Copy it to the Documents folder of each additional workstation.
  4. Install Standard Time® on each workstation and repeat Step 8.
Pro Tip: The credentials file can also be placed in a shared network folder so all workstations reference the same file — simplifying updates.

10. Install the BC Barcode Client

  1. Copy Standard Time SQL.dsn to the workstation's Documents folder.
  2. Navigate to: C:\Program Files (x86)\Standard Time\Utilities\
  3. Copy the entire BC folder to the workstation's desktop.
  4. Double-click bc.exe to run.
  5. Verify no errors appear at startup.
Pro Tip: Place the credentials file in the same folder as the BC executable or a shared server location to simplify credential management.
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