diff --git a/PROMS/VEPROMS User Interface/frmRODbProperties.cs b/PROMS/VEPROMS User Interface/frmRODbProperties.cs
index aeae059e..81b27130 100644
--- a/PROMS/VEPROMS User Interface/frmRODbProperties.cs	
+++ b/PROMS/VEPROMS User Interface/frmRODbProperties.cs	
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ using System.Windows.Forms;
 using System.IO;
 using VEPROMS.CSLA.Library;
 using DevComponents.DotNetBar;
+using Volian.Base.Library;
 
 namespace VEPROMS
 {
@@ -70,9 +71,25 @@ namespace VEPROMS
 			_origFolderPath = (_roDbInfo == null) ? null : _roDbInfo.FolderPath;
 			_origSQLConnect = (_roDbInfo == null) ? null : (_roDbInfo.DBConnectionString == null || _roDbInfo.DBConnectionString == "" || _roDbInfo.DBConnectionString == "cstring") ? null : _roDbInfo.DBConnectionString;
 			// Disable the OK button when initialized.  Enable it if the user makes changes
+			ppBtnTestSQL.Visible = ppBtnTestSQL.Enabled = CanMigrateRoAccessToSql(roDbInfo);
+			ppTxtSQL.Visible = ppTxtSQL.Enabled = CanMigrateRoAccessToSql(roDbInfo);
+			ppLblSQL.Visible = CanMigrateRoAccessToSql(roDbInfo);
 			ppBtnOk.Enabled = false;
 		}
+		private bool CanMigrateRoAccessToSql(RODbInfo rODbi)
+		{
+			// C2017-003: This method is used to determine whether the sql server version can be used & if there is data.
+			// A command line argument 'RoInSql'. For now, this argument must be used to allow code to run for ro->sql.  Later
+			// this will be changed so that if argument is used, the program does NOT include test button & text box to allow
+			// entry of sql server connection string
+			if (!Volian.Base.Library.VlnSettings.GetCommandFlag("RoInSql")) return false;
 
+			// The following conditions must be true in order to migrate the set the connection string.
+			//	1) the user must be an admin 
+			UserInfo ui = UserInfo.GetByUserID(VlnSettings.UserID);
+			if (!ui.IsAdministrator()) return false;
+			return true;
+		}
 		private void ppBtnFldrDlg_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
 		{
 			FolderBrowserDialog dlgROFolder = new FolderBrowserDialog();
@@ -108,7 +125,25 @@ namespace VEPROMS
 				{
 					// C2017-003: ro in sql.  'cstring' in connection string represents using MS Access database
 					// if connect string is null, set connect string to "cstring" otherwise, use what user typed in:
-					roDb.DBConnectionString = (ppTxtSQL.Text == null || ppTxtSQL.Text == "") ? "cstring" : ppTxtSQL.Text;
+					// first check if connection can be made to what was entered:
+					bool canconnect = false;
+					try
+					{
+						using (SqlConnection connection = new SqlConnection(ppTxtSQL.Text))
+						{
+							try
+							{
+								connection.Open();
+								canconnect = (connection.State == ConnectionState.Open);
+							}
+							catch (SqlException) { }
+						}
+					}
+					catch (Exception ex) {}
+					if (canconnect)
+						roDb.DBConnectionString = (ppTxtSQL.Text == null || ppTxtSQL.Text == "") ? "cstring" : ppTxtSQL.Text;
+					else
+						MessageBox.Show("SQL Connection failed, connection string won't be saved.", "Cannot save connection data");
 				}
 				if (_origFolderPath != ppTxtPath.Text)
 				{