What's covered

• Install SQL Server 2005 Express Edition
• Create and configure RoboSource Control Database
• Add a RoboHelp 8 Project to Version Control
• Open a project from Version Control

To use RoboSource Control 3 Server when you don't have access to an instance of a SQL Server database, install the free SQL Server 2005 Express Edition. Download the SQL Server 2005 Express Edition to your server machine from http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/express/sql/

SQL Server 2005 Express Edition requires the .NET Framework 2.0.

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Install SQL Server 2005 Express Edition

1. Locate the file that you downloaded (SQLEXPR.EXE) and double-click it to start the installation process.
2. Follow the instructions for installing Microsoft SQL Native Client and Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Setup Support Files. Both of these applications are prerequisites for installing SQL Server 2005 Express Edition.
3. Follow the instructions in the Microsoft SQL Server Installation wizard.
4. Continue the instructions to complete the installation.

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Create and configure RoboSource Control Database

To create and configure a new database, do the following:

1. From the menu of installed programs on your server's Start menu, select RoboSource Control 3.1 > Server > RoboSource Server Database Configuration.
2. Click Create.
3. Click Continue
4. Complete the fields in the dialog using the following guidelines.

• Name: Enter a name for this database (for example: Robo Version Control).
• Database Instance: If you are using SQL Server Express Edition, enter(local)\SQLExpress. If you are using the database instance installed with Business Contact Manager for Outlook, enter (local)\MICROSOFTSMLBIZ. If you are using a local SQL Server or the default MSDE database instance, enter (local).
• Database name: This field is completed for you using the same name that you entered in the Name field. Adobe doesn't recommend changing it.
• Connection String: This field is automatically completed for you; do not change it.
• Embed files in Database: If you select this option, all the RoboHelp project files are embedded within the database itself. If you are using an MSDE database instance, this option is not recommended because the database is limited to a file size of 2 GB. Also, if you intend to manage large files, this option is not recommended. 
• Current File Storage Path: Only available if you chose not to select the Embed files in Database option. Select a directory on the server in which the RoboHelp project files are stored.
• History File Storage Path: Only available if you did not select the Embed files in Database option. Select a directory on the server in which the previous versions of the RoboHelp project files are stored.

5. Click Create.
6. Browse for a folder to store the SQL Server database (MDF, NDF, and LDF) files.
7. Enter the name of an Admin user (the default of "Admin" is fine).
8. Enter and confirm a password that the Admin user uses to open the database.

 To view the Adobe Captivate demo for RoboSource Control 3.1, visit http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/511/cpsid_51163.html

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Add a RoboHelp 8 Project to Version Control

To add a RoboHelp 8 Project to version control, do the following:

1. Open the project in RoboHelp HTML.
2. Choose File > Version Control > Add to Version Control. The Select the Version Control Provider dialog box appears.
3. Select your version control provider (either RoboSource Control 3.1 or a third-party version control package) and click OK. The Configure Source Control dialog appears.
4. From the Connection drop-down list, select Create. The Open RoboSource Connection dialog appears.
5. If your RoboSource Control 3 Server software and database is located on your own computer, you can select the database connection from the list on the left. If (as is more likely) the software is located on a separate server machine, then do the following:

• Connection Name: This name can be any name that you would like to use to identify the database from RoboSource Control 3 Client. You could choose to use the same name that you entered when you created the database itself.
• Server: Enter either the IP address or the unique name of the server on your local network.
• Database: Enter the name of the database exactly as you typed it into the first Name field on the Create Database dialog box.

6. Click the Create and Connect button. The RoboSource Login to Robo Version Control dialog appears.
7. Enter the password that you assigned to the Admin user in the Configure New Database dialog box. The Configure Source Control dialog box reappears with the Connection name showing.
8. Click the browse button beside the Root Path field.
9. If prompted, again enter the password for the Admin user. The Browse RoboSource Node dialog box appears showing your empty database
10. Click the root node ($) to select it, and then click OK. A message appears asking if you want to create and select a new subfolder within the RoboSource Control database.
11. Click Yes to create a folder for your RoboHelp project within the database.
12. Click OK to close the Configure Source Control dialog box. If your screen appears to be frozen, use Alt+Tab to switch to the Login dialog box. Enter the password for the Admin user.

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Open a project from Version Control

To open a project directly from RoboSource Control, do the following:

1. From the RoboHelp Starter tab, choose Open. The Open Project dialog appears
2. In the toolbar at the top of the dialog, click the Version Control (lock icon) button. The Select the Version Control Provider dialog appears.
3. Select RoboSource Control 3.1 and click OK. The Configure Source Control dialog appears.
4. Click the browse button "..." beside the Root Path field.
5. If prompted, enter your user name and password again. The Browse RoboSource Node dialog appears.
6. Click the plus (+) sign to expand the root node, select the folder containing the required project, and click OK.
7. Click the browse button beside the Get to Local Path field. The Browse for Folder dialog appears.
8. Browse to the folder in which you want to create a local copy of the project and click OK. (If required, you can make a new folder.) 
9. In the Configure Source Control dialog, click OK. The RoboSource Login to RoboSource Control dialog appears. It's possible that it is hidden behind the Open Project dialog. If your screen appears to be frozen, use Alt+Tab to switch to the RoboSource Login to RoboSource Control dialog.
10. Enter your user name and password again and click OK. The project files are copied from the database into the local folder that you specified, and the files are shown within the Open Project dialog.
11. Select the project (.xpj) file and click Open. You can now view and edit the project in RoboHelp.

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Products affected