Because the Needles database is an Advantage database, special steps need to be taken to access and convert it.

 In this article we will...

• Copy the Needles database from the Needles server
  
• Install and run SAP Sybase SQL Anywhere on your migration workstation
  
• Convert the Needles database to MS SQL Server format using Full Convert
  
• Create the Universal Database using Universal Migrator

Copy the Needles database from the Needles server

Connect to the migration workstation provided by your client using TeamViewer.  From the migration workstation, use RDP to connect to the server that is running Needles. 

In order to copy the Needles database, you will first need to stop the SQL Anywhere - Needles service.

WARNING: The firm's access to Needles will be disrupted until the service is restarted.  Be sure the firm is aware of this prior to proceeding.

From the server open services.msc and find the service named "SQL Anywhere - Needles".  Right click and choose "Stop"

Copy the Needles.db database file to a handy location on your migration workstation.  It's typically located at the path shown below, but it may be in a different location.

C:\Needles\Needles.db

Install and run SAP Sybase SQL Anywhere on your migration workstation

Go to this URL:

https://www.sap.com/products/technology-platform/sql-anywhere/trial.html

And download SQL Anywhere for your OS. You will have to create a free account and log in to download.

Alternatively, you can also use this direct download link:

https://d5d4ifzqzkhwt.cloudfront.net/sqla17developer/bin/SQLA17Developer.exe

Run the installer and then run the database server application: (path shown below)

C:\Program Files\SQL Anywhere 17\Bin64\dbsrv17.exe

For the database, indicate the file you copied from the Needles server.  Give the server a name.  The name doesn't matter but remember what you entered as you will need it in future steps.

Once the SQL Anywhere server is running, you will see a log screen similar to below. Make note of the port number.  It's often 2638, but it may be something different.

Convert the Needles database to MS SQL Server format using Full Convert

Open Full Convert and click the New database copy project button.

Select Sybase SQL Anywhere (ASA) as the source database

Fill in the following fields.

Host: localhost:{portnumber} - substitute with the port number you noted earlier.

Username: dba

Password: sql

Server name: the name you selected earlier.  test in my example below

Database name: Needles

Click Next

For the Target database, select SQL Server.

Server: localhost

Database: Needles

Click Next

Click START CONVERSION

Create the Universal Database using Universal Migrator

Launch Universal Migrator.  Click Backup

Select the Needles extractor.  You can search using the box at the top to find it quickly.

Click Next

In the top section (green box); this is where you will select the name of the Universal Database that will be created on your local instance of SQL Server running on your migration workstation. We recommend keeping the default name.

In the lower section (red box); this is where you will select the name of the Needles database you created in the previous step.

Click next

Universal Migrator will create the Universal Database.  This will take a few moments.  Then you will be able to select the datapoints you would like to extract from the Needs database.  We recommend extracting everything, which is the default.

Click Next and the backup will begin.