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Administration
Details on system administration tasks such as setup and maintenance of databases and add-ons, user accounts, access rights, and migration and update procedures.
Databases
PLA 3.0 databases store all your data and also hold information such as user accounts, rights and permissions, signatures, and audit trail information. When logging in to PLA 3.0, users connect to a specific database, which sets their work environment for the session.
Database connections
You can connect PLA 3.0 to multiple databases. Since most settings in PLA 3.0 apply to individual databases, you can differentiate, for example, between production and test databases, catering to tasks that require different work environments.
Add database connections
Use the database connection management feature to create new PLA 3.0 databases, connect to existing databases, initialize databases, or import database connection profiles. You can add any number of connection profiles

Get started
Explore PLA 3.0, its key features and ongoing enhancements. Learn how it fits into your environment, and how to log in and register.
User interface
PLA 3.0 supports you in your daily work by providing a set of graphical and textual user interface elements. Learn about the different elements and how to use them efficiently.
Key concepts
Details on documents and templates, the data editors and the Content editor of PLA 3.0.
Data analysis
Data analysis add-ons offer a wide range of capabilities, ranging from analytical methods over comprehensive analysis to statistical process control. PLA 3.0 also provides a set of add-ons that support and supplement data analysis add-ons.
Data import
Use data acquisition and data import add-ons to import external response values and observation data into PLA 3.0 for further processing and evaluation.
Installation
Details on the deployment and installation of licensed PLA 3.0 versions.
Licensing
Details on the licensing solution of PLA 3.0, the available licensing options, and the activation and management of licenses.
Administration
Details on system administration tasks such as setup and maintenance of databases and add-ons, user accounts, access rights, and migration and update procedures.
- Databases
  PLA 3.0 databases store all your data and also hold information such as user accounts, rights and permissions, signatures, and audit trail information. When logging in to PLA 3.0, users connect to a specific database, which sets their work environment for the session.
  - Database connections
    You can connect PLA 3.0 to multiple databases. Since most settings in PLA 3.0 apply to individual databases, you can differentiate, for example, between production and test databases, catering to tasks that require different work environments.
    - Database connection profiles
      Use database connection profiles to connect to PLA 3.0 databases. These profiles hold all properties required to connect to a database such as the path where the database is located, the user name, and the encrypted password to access the database.
    - Profile management commands
      Use the commands at the bottom of the Manage database connection profiles dialog to manage database configuration profiles.
    - Add database connections
      Use the database connection management feature to create new PLA 3.0 databases, connect to existing databases, initialize databases, or import database connection profiles. You can add any number of connection profiles
    - Export database connections
      Export a database connection profile to distribute the respective database connection to other PLA 3.0 installations.
    - Import database connections
      Import an existing database connection profile to connect to a database using the connection parameters of the imported profile.
  - Database templates
    To enable you to create new databases more efficiently, PLA 3.0 provides a database template feature. This feature allows you to use existing SQLite databases as templates for the creation of new databases.
  - Database administration
    Use the database administration features to set up, monitor, and maintain your PLA 3.0 database system.
- Extensibility with add-ons
  PLA 3.0 consists of a framework and add-ons. The PLA 3.0 framework handles data as electronic documents. It provides the features you need to achieve regulatory compliance such as access control, data integrity, security, validation, and traceability.
- Rights and permissions
  PLA 3.0 provides the features you need to control access to your data in a sophisticated and compliant manner. It combines role-based user rights with resource-based permissions, which enables you to exercise fine-grained control over who can perform particular tasks in a given context and which tasks are allowed with particular data.
- Update, upgrade, and migrate
  Find details on how to update, upgrade or migrate your environment to work with the latest version of PLA 3.0.
Regulatory compliance
PLA 3.0 supports you in achieving compliance with regulations such as ISPE GAMP^® 5 and 21 CFR Part 11. It also provides options to validate PLA 3.0 in your environment.
PDF downloads
Download PDF guides of current and previous framework and add-on versions.
Sample lab
Meet the team of Stegmann Labs Inc. and use our sample laboratory to explore core features and functions of PLA 3.0.
Glossary
Find definitions of terms.

Add database connections

Use the database connection management feature to create new PLA 3.0 databases, connect to existing databases, initialize databases, or import database connection profiles. You can add any number of connection profiles

Note: For details on how to initially connect PLA 3.0 to a database, see the Connect PLA 3.0 to a database topic.

About this task

To add database connections, you use the Database connection management wizard. You can access this wizard from the Manage database connection profiles dialog by selecting Add…. When you start PLA 3.0 for the first time, it opens automatically.

Figure 1. Database connection management wizard

The wizard offers an express mode and a standard mode.

Procedure

Use the Express mode to create an SQLite database for the PLA 3.0 trial version and if you only have a small amount of data. The database is created in your Microsoft Windows home directory and is only accessible by you.
Use the Standard mode to create a shareable SQLite database, or a shareable Microsoft SQL Server database that also allows simultaneous use in a multi-user environment. This mode offers the following options:
- Import database connection: Import a database connection file and use the connection details from the file to connect to an existing database. For details, see the Import database connections topic.
- Connect to existing database: Connect to an existing Microsoft SQL Server or SQLite database.
- Create new database: Create a new SQLite database and corresponding database connection profile.
- Copy connection: Copy an existing database connection profile.