POWER STUDIO

Configuration Tool

The Power Studio Configuration Tool is used for three important tasks:

  • Configuring the database connection for the local computer.
  • Creating or updating the Power Studio database schema.
  • Applying prepared configuration transforms.

Run the Configuration Tool at least once after installing Power Studio on a computer.

Configure The Database Connection

  1. Start the Power Studio Configuration Tool as administrator.
  2. Click Configure.
  3. Enter the database server name.
  4. Use localhost when PostgreSQL runs on the same computer.
  5. Use the server computer name or DNS name when PostgreSQL runs elsewhere.
  6. Leave the port at 5432 unless PostgreSQL was installed on another port.
  7. Enter the Power Studio database name from the license information.
  8. Enter the database username, often postgres.
  9. Enter the PostgreSQL password.
  10. Save the connection settings.

Initialize Or Update The Database

Click Update to create or update the Power Studio database tables.

For a new installation, this creates the database structure. For an application update, it upgrades the existing database to the version expected by the installed Power Studio build.

Only one computer in a shared Power Studio environment needs to update the database for a new version. After the database is updated, all Power Studio clients should be updated to the same application version.

Use An Alternative Database Connection For Updates

The Configuration Tool contains a Use alternative database connection option. Use this when the normal Power Studio database connection uses a restricted user, but database updates need a user with schema or DDL permissions.

Recommended workflow:

  1. Keep the normal Power Studio connection configured with the regular application database user.
  2. Start the Configuration Tool as administrator.
  3. Select Use alternative database connection before clicking Update.
  4. Enter the update/admin database user for the migration.
  5. Run the update.
  6. Leave the normal saved Power Studio connection unchanged.

This lets daily Power Studio operation use fewer database privileges, while controlled database updates can still create or change database objects when required.

Apply Configuration Transforms

The Configuration Tool can apply prepared configuration transforms to PowerStudio.exe.config. This is mainly used for controlled installation scenarios, such as preparing a secondary Power Studio instance on the same computer with a different configPostFix.

Transform profiles are shown in the Transform configuration dropdown. The tool looks in the Power Studio installation folder and the Power Studio settings location for transform profile files named like PowerStudio.exe.<profile name>.config. The profile name shown in the dropdown is the part between PowerStudio.exe. and .config. For example, PowerStudio.exe.Studio 2.config appears as Studio 2.

To apply a transform:

  1. Place the transform profile where the Configuration Tool can find it.
  2. Start the Configuration Tool from the Power Studio installation or instance folder that should be changed.
  3. Select the profile in Transform configuration.
  4. Click Transform.
  5. Review the log output before starting Power Studio.

If no transform profiles are available, the dropdown is disabled. When a transform is applied, the tool first creates a backup of the current PowerStudio.exe.config. If the backup cannot be created, the transform is not applied.

Transforms use the standard XML Document Transform format, with additional helper transforms supported by the Configuration Tool. This is powerful enough to add, replace, remove or merge configuration sections. Use only transform profiles that were prepared for the exact Power Studio version and installation scenario.

Advanced Connection String Properties

The database connection dialog contains an advanced button that opens the full PostgreSQL connection string properties. This can change additional connection properties beyond server, port, database, username and password.

Treat these settings as an advanced support function. Do not change them during normal installation or maintenance unless Power Studio staff specifically instructs you to do so. Incorrect connection string properties can make the application fail to connect, behave differently from other workstations, or make database troubleshooting much harder.

When Not To Use Update

For a temporary location set that uses a restored copy of the on-air database, you normally do not need to run Update after restoring the database if the restored database already matches the installed Power Studio version.