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Great Plains Support on MSDE and SQL Express: crossing 2GB or 4GB limits

Historically Great Plains Software introduced Great Plains Select, which was available on Pervasive SQL 2000 and Ctree database platforms, not on Microsoft SQL Server. Later on, when Microsoft acquired Great Plains Software, it decided to switch from Pervasive and Ctree to newly introduced Microsoft SQL Server Desktop Edition or MSDE. MSDE, which is scaled down Microsoft SQL Server 2000 placed the limit on its database size to be 2GB. Then in 2004, Microsoft Business Solutions came out with incentive to allow Great Plains Standard 7.5 users to obtain registration key for running GP on SQL Server 2000 platform free of charge. If you are crossing 2GB DB limit on MSDN, you should consider the following actions:

1. Purge Transaction History and then rebuild database. Good idea to work on file rebuilding level. Purging transaction history, however might not be a feasible option, especially if your Great Plains users have to look up into historical data for your customers, vendors, employees, salespeople, etc. Good idea is also check the size of company DB transaction log.

2. Migrate to Microsoft SQL Server 2000 or 2005. If you are on GP version 7.5 – likely that this option is not available – you will have to obtain new reg key from Microsoft Business Solutions. If you are on Great Plains Standard 8.0, you will need to migrate to Microsoft SQL Server 2000. If you are on Dynamics GP 9.0 or 10.0 you can either migrate to SQL Server Select edition or SQL 2000 or 2005 Standard or Enterprise. Microsoft Business Solutions recommend you simply to reattach existing Dynamics and company databases files to newly installed SQL Server

3. If you do not have support contract with Microsoft and not sure who is your existing Great Plains VAR. All written above is definitely cool for those who are current in Dynamics GP annual enhancement program, which allows you to have access to your Customer Source, where you can get your new Great Plains version reg key. If you lapsed in annual enhancement, you will have to select Great Plains Reseller or consultant, sign Change VAR form to your new GP Partner, and then your new VAR will have access to your historical Great Plains Registration Keys

4. From MSDE 2000 to SQL Express 2005. In SQL Express you have 4GB DB limit, which is good postponing option, however please know that you will need to upgrade to at least Great Plains Dynamics GP 9.0. Last warning. If you are subscriber to MSDN or Microsoft TechNet – you may have access to all Dynamics GP versions CD images, however these subscriptions are for evaluation only – do not use these CDs for upgrade purpose, if you do not have reg key for targeted version of Dynamics GP

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