Running AC 7 Locally on Windows 7

[kwikstand]

I would like to run AC 7 on my local machine using Windows 7 so that I can experimentn with themes, layout etc.

What is the best way to accomplish this?

Thanks,

Scott

[dgoranov]

it is quite easy:

1. Download and install Microsoft Web matrix : http://www.microsoft.com/web/
2. From Web matrix install : IIS7.5, MSSQL 2008 Express, ASP.NET 4.0 - Web Matrix will automatically include and install any additional components that might be required.
3. Place a copy of AbleCommerce root folder under separate folder. The folder must have Write/Modify permissions for IIS_IUSRS set. If you do not know how to set IIS permissions just place the
AbleCommerce install under C:\inetpub\wwwroot

4. If you have a development or production AC license and would like to run AbleCommerce locally using a valid license.
- Create new site in IIS pointing to the AbleCommerce root folder created in Step3.
- Set site Binding in IIS to the domain name assigned to your AC license and assign an IP address. If you are using home network with home network router the IP will be private IP assigned
by your router DHCP and will look something like 192.168.1.2.

5. Add entry in your local computer "hosts" file with the exact domain name and IP address set in IIS bindings. Detailed instructions on how to change the local hosts file are available here :

http://blog.drundo.com/how-to-previewte ... s-updates/

6. Follow AbleCommerce install instructions: http://help.ablecommerce.com/installati ... sp.net.htm

If you are still experiencing issues reply to this thread and I will be glad to assist further.

[kwikstand]

Thanks a lot.

Do I need a developer's license?

Thanks,

Scott

[dgoranov]

If you just need to test AC7 locally and have not purchased a license yet, you can use the 30 day demo key option in Step 2 :

http://help.ablecommerce.com/installati ... sp.net.htm

[kwikstand]

I already have an AC store. I want to redesign it. Try out new themes and page layouts and controls. I would like to experiment with it locally before scewing up my real store.

You can see it needs some work to look more professional: http://www.contractors-solutions.net

[kwikstand]

I went ahead and installed WeMatrix but it won't run Able. I can successfully run my blog, which is a .NET app (BlogEngine), but I keep getting this error when I try to run AC
http://www.contractors-solutions.net/Image1.jpg

[dgoranov]

Hi Scott,

If you are using Web Matrix to run Ablecommerce make sure the Net Framework version is being set to .NET 4.0 (Integrated) under Web matrix site settings. I have not tried AbleCommerce with IIS Express from Web Matrix, but I do not see any reasons why it should not work. If you are able to run BlogEngine with no issues AC should also run fine.

[jmestep]

You can use your normal store license for the site if you set it to demo mode before you run an install. In the first line of the App_Data/ablecommerce.config file add demoMode="true"

<application connectionStringName="" maintenanceInterval="360" viewStateWarning="0" readOnlyInstance="false" checkoutRetries="100" demoMode="true">

Any orders you place will show demo, demo for the name and address and charge card payment gateway won't work, but everything else should be OK.

[kwikstand]

Thanks for your help, but it still won't run.

Here is error I get now [urlhttp://www.contractors-solutions.net/Image2.jpg][/url]



I am running AC7.0.7 and set WebMatrix for .NET2 (Integrated)

[dgoranov]

Hi Scott,

If you are running AbleCommerce 7.0.7 the .NET Framework version must be set to 4.0 in WebMatrix configuration settings.

[kwikstand]

Ooops! I meant I am running AC 7.0.6

I am waiting for the guys at Able to install the 7.0.7 update. When they do, I will copy the files to my local machine.

I hope this will solve the problem, but I doubt it.

[kwikstand]

OK, so I screwed around with it a bit more including copying webconfig from my live store and overwriting the one on my local machine. I also set WebMatrix to .NET 2 (Classic). I can now get the install screen!!

Great, but now I am confused about the database. I checked "Use supplied SQL Server 2005 database" and I get: The specified database connection could not be opened.

Connection String: Data Source=.\SQLExpress;Integrated Security=True;AttachDbFileName=|DataDirectory|\AbleCommerce.mdf;User Instance=true;

How do I set up the database?

Thanks in advance,

Scott

[kwikstand]

I now started over from scratch. My website just got uograded to 7.0.7, so I downloaded AbleCommerce 7.0.7 SR1 Full to my local computer and am attempting a fresh clean install. I still can't get past the database issue. It tells me "The specified database connection could not be opened.

Connection String: Data Source=.\SQLExpress;Integrated Security=True;AttachDbFileName=|DataDirectory|\AbleCommerce.mdf;User Instance=true; "

I am quite sure that SQL Server 2005 Express was installed when I downloaded WebMatrix. I have a folder Microsoft SQL Server in my C:\Program Files (x86) folder.

What needs to be done to get the databse thing working?

Any help would be greatly appreciated,

Scott

[DG433]

Have you verified that the SQL service is running? Do you have the SQL administrative tools in which you can log in and verify databases?

[kwikstand]

No. I don't anything about databases.

I don't know how to verify that it is running. I downloaded SQLManagementStudio and I don't know what I am supposed to do with it.

[kwikstand]

I now have the SQL Server Configuration Manager up and it says that SQL Server (SQLEXPRESS) is running.

What else needs to be done?

How do you specify a database? Use supplied SQL Server 2005 database obviously doesn't work.

What is used for the Name, User & Password?

Any help would be appreciated,

Scott

[dgoranov]

Hi Scott,

Please find step by step screenshots with instructions on how to create MSSQL database and set all required permissions.

1. Login to SQL Server using SQL management Studio



2. Create new SQL Server Login name. Since this is a local windows environment uncheck "Enforce password policy"



3. Create new Database instance.



4. Go back to user properties for the database user created in step 1 and assign db_owner permissions for the database created in Step 3



5. Initiate new AbleCommerce commerce install and select Specify database. For server name use the exact server that appears in SQL Management
studio login dialog Step 1. Enter User name and database names created in step 2 and 3.



AbleCommerce install will automatically create the required database schema and will update the SQL connections string in database.config

[kwikstand]

Thank you very much for the help so far.

I can't get passed the Log-in screen. What is the Login and password? When was that ever set up? I mean the very first time I try running this thing it's asking for a login and password. I never reached a point where I needed to set that up.

Trying to find help on the Microsoft site is about like reading the Health Care act, which incidentally, still nobody knows all of what is in it,

I must be missing something here. I don't know why it has to be so damned complicated. So far, I have wasted countless hours on this and have absolutely NO results.

I don't suppose copying my live store files over will work either, will it?

[dgoranov]

The mssql server has default user/password :

User: sa
Password: sa

You can also login using Windows Authentication. From the Authentication Dropdown list select Windows Authentication and then click Connect.

[kwikstand]

Thanks. It still doesn't work. Why doesn't it say anywhere that there is a default password and login?

Also, on the server name, I used LOCALHOST\SQLEXPRESS, just like your picture shows. Nobody says anything acbout that either.

Anyway, I get "Microsoft SQL Sever, Error: 18456"

I get the same thing when I try Windows Authentication

Thank you very much so far,

Scott

[DG433]

Your error is an authentication one.

To use the SA as authentication, the SQL server would have had to been installed and configured for SQL authentication (which is NOT the default). Typically the administrator account has access, I would use your windows administrator and password combination.

If that doesn't work, I would manually remove and reinstall SQL server express. When it comes to the authentication portion of the installation, play close attention to the configuration of the security section, and enable SQL authentication, and set your SA password to something you will remember.

[kwikstand]

Thanks a lot for your help. I just got a half step closer. I used my Windows password and now I get:

TITLE: Connect to Server
------------------------------

Cannot connect to LOCALHOST\SQLEXPRESS.

------------------------------
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

A connection was successfully established with the server, but then an error occurred during the login process. (provider: Shared Memory Provider, error: 0 - No process is on the other end of the pipe.) (Microsoft SQL Server, Error: 233)

For help, click: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink?ProdName ... nkId=20476

------------------------------
BUTTONS:

OK
------------------------------

I will try to unistall it an re-install it , ......again. It wil be at least the third time.

[kwikstand]

By the way, why doesn't "Use supplied SQL Server 2005 database" work?

[kwikstand]

This install process is highly technical. It gives me all kinds of options that I know nothing about. It is now asking me for account name. Am I supposed to make something up or use the drop down selections?


TITLE: Message Details
------------------------------

The specified credentials that were provided for the SQL Server service are not valid. To continue, provide a valid account and password for the SQL Server service.

------------------------------
BUTTONS:

OK
------------------------------

How about "Statup Type"?

And a host of other things. like "Instances" What the heck is that?

I haven't even gotten to Athentication yet. I can't get that far I guess.

[kwikstand]

Well, I uninstalled just about everything I installed over the last couple days and reinstalled WebMatrix, which automatically installs SQL Server. It doesn't ask for any options, it just installs it all.

Within WebMatrix, I tried to make a connection with about every combination of settings possible. Here is a screen shot of just one such attempt:



I went to Control Panel > Administration Tools and foud SQL Server to be running.

I still can NOT get a connection to the database.

I have also tried with Vusual Web Developer.

I know this can be done.

Does any body know how?

Any help would be greatly appreciated,

Scott