Install AnalyticsCreator and start your data warehouse

Open the latest AnalyticsCreator release and create the warehouse design that will use Northwind. The settings you save here describe the work; they do not load the warehouse yet.

Keep the tested server, reserved database names and server-side storage folder from Northwind and warehouse preparation in your setup record. Have your AnalyticsCreator account ready. To arrange one, use trial registration or your organization's account process. AnalyticsCreator support can help with access.

Install and open AnalyticsCreator

1. Choose the official application download for your client setup. Use the 64-bit application for this guide's main Windows route.

   Official download	Choice
   AnalyticsCreator 64-bit	The main choice for this tutorial's 64-bit Windows computer.
   AnalyticsCreator 32-bit	Use when your supported client setup requires the 32-bit application. It needs the matching 32-bit provider; the x64 Driver 19 installer on x64 Windows supplies both driver bitnesses.

   The application choice does not change the separate 64-bit SQL Server engine or Integration Services loading program.

2. On the selected download page, check the release and publisher, AnalyticsCreator Solutions GmbH. Use the latest displayed release. Have the required .NET Framework components available and allow access to the AnalyticsCreator service over HTTPS port 443.
3. If that latest release is already installed, open it and continue to Sign in and set the database location. Otherwise, select Install, run the downloaded setup.exe and complete the required components and application installation. Follow your organization's software-installation process.
4. Open AnalyticsCreator and record the installed application's release and installation date. If an older installed copy opens, close it and open the latest one. A component file version can differ from the installed application's release version.

Sign in and set the database location

5. In the startup Login dialog, enter your AnalyticsCreator Login and Password. These sign in to the application; the SQL Server account is configured next. If already signed in with the recorded server and paths, go to Create your warehouse design. To change startup settings, save open work, close AnalyticsCreator and start it again.
6. Expand Settings and select SQL Server Settings. In SQL Server to store repository, enter the server reserved for the warehouse settings. A repository is the database that holds these saved settings.

   Account you tested	What to select
   Windows authentication	Integrated under Security.
   SQL Server login	Standard, with the tested account in SQL user and its password in SQL password.

   Keep the Trust server certificate choice from the successful SQL connection test. Enter passwords directly in AnalyticsCreator; keep them out of the setup record.

7. Open Paths and enter or check these settings:

   Setting	Value for this tutorial
   AnalyticsCreator files path	A local folder your account can write, such as C:\ACGettingStarted. Create it in File Explorer if needed.
   SQL Server database path	The folder on the database server recorded during preparation. Use Try to get path where available and check its result. This is not the local folder for generated files.
   Repository database template	repo_{RepoName}
   DWH database template	dwh_{RepoName}

   For the design name NorthwindTutorial, these patterns give repo_NorthwindTutorial and dwh_NorthwindTutorial. The separate deployed destination remains NorthwindWarehouse, or the unused alternative in your record.

8. Click OK to sign in. Resolve any login, connection or path error before creating the design. The main AnalyticsCreator window should open with your prepared settings.

Create your warehouse design

If this tutorial design already exists, use Open your existing tutorial design instead. New creates another design; it does not open an existing one.

9. Choose File → New. In New repository, enter NorthwindTutorial in Enter name, or the unused design name from your setup record. Enter the design name without the repo_ prefix.
10. Click OK. If AnalyticsCreator says the database exists and offers to delete it, decline. Open the existing tutorial design if it is yours, or choose a different unused name and update the recorded settings/design names. Do not replace another person's work.
11. Wait for creation to finish and read its result. After successful completion, click OK in the creation dialog.
12. In SSMS, refresh Databases on the settings server and confirm that repo_NorthwindTutorial, or your recorded settings database, exists. Keep the name with the design and deployed-warehouse names in the setup record.

Result: your warehouse design is open and its settings database is initialized. Northwind has not yet been connected to this design, and no business data has been loaded into the deployed warehouse.

Open your existing tutorial design

1. Choose File → Connect. In Connect to repository, select the recorded tutorial design from Enter name and click OK.
2. Confirm the opened name before changing anything. Reuse only the design created for this tutorial; check its existing connections and tables before adding duplicates.

If installation or startup fails

1. Save the first displayed error, release number and time, excluding passwords.
2. For download/service errors, check HTTPS access and your organization's proxy. If Windows or endpoint protection blocks installation, ask IT to review the official installer through the normal process.
3. For database or path errors, compare the server, sign-in and server-side folder with the setup record. Ask the SQL administrator to confirm the agreed creation and access permissions.
4. If creation stops partway through, keep any database already created and the error details. Use another unused tutorial design name after checking its storage and permissions; do not approve deletion to force a retry.