When I build my software, is it possible for me to incorporate everything from the solution with the software installer (perhaps using InstallSheild?)
The software I am writing at the moment uses a database with SQL, and is written in C# 5.0, so how would I install the database, SQL, C#, .NET etc. onto my clients computer when installing the software?
Yes, you can do that with an installer. InstallShield would do it but is quite pricey. Wix Toolset would do it and it's free, but it's not the friendliest installer I ever worked with (though it does work very well once you get the hang of it).
Both of those allow pretty straightforward installation of the .NET framework. You will need to work a bit at getting SQL installed.
While you could install SQL Server Full or Express this way it would be MUCH easier to use SQL Compact. I can't remember the license, but I'm pretty sure you can deploy the SQL Compact DLLs with your project and don't need to actually install it.
Yes you can deploy SQL database and the .Net frame work with your installation package. You could achieve this with Windows Installer as well.
Deploying Sql database with MSI
You have to first add your sql script file with your msi package script should have necessary steps to create database schema when its being executed on the SQL database. You can use SMO(Sql server Management Object) library to execute this script content on sql database. Check my other thread where I have posted working method to read the file content and execute on SQL database to create the database during deployment.
Execute sql script on SQL server using C#
Deploying .Net Frameowrk
Go to MSI Project > Properties > Prerequisites > Download prerequsites from the same location as my computer.
When you build you MSI project with this configuration your will get an extra exe file dotNetFx40_Full_x86_x64.exe which can deploy .Net framework on client machaines. You can execute this MSI when your application being installed.
Related
I want to create a setup file from a C# project in Visual Studio 2015 that attaches a SQL server database, and I want to run that setup file on another system and run without Visual Studio and SQL server
You are have two solutions
You should develop your application with SQL express on .NET framework or after develop with SQL Server change connection string from SQL Server to SQL express and rebuild it, be sure you create initialize DbContext class to set some data for run your application at first time with base and default data. [Such as application users and rolls and groups].
You should develop your application with dependency injection pattern [Microsoft Unity, IoC] then modify or replace one interface to change your developed application database.
Then Right click on project in solution explorer and publish it and give to customer.
The customer server has to run some kind of SQL Server if you want the SQL data to be accessed somehow. One thing you can do is to deploy your C# project with Visual Studio, export all needed tables (including their data if you want that) from whatever server you are using (for example MySQL) into a .sql file and pack everything, including instructions on how to install the sql server and your application, into a zip file and ship it to your customer.
What I do with my website application is, that I include a .bat that fetches everything from my git repository, deploys my web application on an existing IIS-Server on the current computer (with 'aspnet_compiler -f -c -u -errorstack -v /web -p "source directory" -d "target directory"' and 'iisreset /noforce') and automatically imports the SQL tables to an existing MySQL Server (with mysql --host=localhost --user=user --password=password --database=database < Backup.sql).
Sorry for that general answer, but you're question really wasn't that precise.
If you want to create a setup of your project then,
Click on Build on the top of visual studio tab and then click on Publish "yourprojectname" click on it and your setup file will be ready.
Hope this helps you
Use LocalDB,
(no need to at least open sql server management studio)
When you create Setup file add prerequisite
.net framework version
sql server (2012 -2019) express localdb
Add connection string correctly!
So from what I can gather you are looking for an easy way to distribute your database schema to clients, is that correct? If so then I don't see how you could intend to run the setup without SQL Server (without VS is fine though).
Assuming my assumption is the case then I think you need to think about a solution that will handle schema upgrades as your project develops, in which case it's essential that you move to Database Projects in Visual Studio as it will handle upgrading the schema automatically, and allow you to run change scripts for the things it can't do automatically (like when you've changed a column type or removed a column etc).
Here are some links to get you started:
Working with Database Projects (MSDN)
Introducting Database Projects for Visual Studio (youtube)
Using the knowledge that CSPROJ files are just MSBUILD scripts at the end of the day you can now publish the database project during whatever your installation/upgrade system is using msbuild which is included in the .NET framework i.e. you don't need Visual Studio.
This is by far the most robust and reliable way of dealing with database deployment. I would advise staying well clear of automated tools like Redgate, they do a great job for small projects that maybe get used in an office etc but for professional software development you need more guarantees and control.
You can try this, with Octopus deploy.
Or, you can try with Code First migration
Have you already existing database, or development starts now?
Can ClickOnce or InstallShield setup or configure SQL Server or SQL Server Express specifically adding an sa password, enabling named pipes, granting permission to read from folders, adding primary database (.mdf files) needed for my client application.
Or do I need to hard-code those functions from my client app?
Can ClickOnce do it?
Yes, but...... ClickOnce can install dependencies like this, but due to the nature of the SQL Server install I personally would avoid doing it that way. It's not a task for those in a hurry or who don't like dealing with weird problems when things go wrong. To show how non-trivial this can be you can check the posts How to deploy SQL Server 2008 Express as a prerequisite with ClickOnce and ClickOnce Prerequisites: where is SQL Server Express 2014 LocalDB?.
Can InstallShield do it?
Yes, but there can and probably will be curveballs. You could do it as:
a chained install. This whitepaper talks about how to use a chained MSI.
including the InstallShield SQL Server Express prerequisite package in your installer (as mentioned here)
Personally wouldn't approach it either of these ways - instead I would write a custom action that invokes the SQL installer and passes in the parameters gathered (i.e. install location for SQL, passwords for initial logins, etc.). The SQL install is also not strictly transactional - it can fail during the install and some changes will not be reversed.
Should you manage to put this together as an installer bootstrapper, be aware of issues like Can't install SQL Server by using InstallShield or bootstrapping application.
I would also advise you to offer the user the option of installing SQL Server as they may already have an instance available - try not to install it always.
What about database creation and configuration?
This can be done in a variety of ways, but doing it all within the MSI installer is starting to get horribly complex - it can be far simpler and quicker to write a simple configuration utility for the end user, or to build the functionality into your application.
How you go about creating the database and configuring the SQL instance is heavily dependent on your requirements, which you haven't specified in your question.
I developed a c# windows form application with a MySQL database.
I follow the following steps when I install the application on clients machines.
I install MySQL server.
I upload manually the database of my application to the MySQL server.
I run my C# application.
I need to pack all the 3 steps on one setup file which install the MySQL server and upload the database and then the user can run the C# application.
Over the years I have used a few installbuilders, and feel pretty happy with the one I am currently using: WiX.
If you want a pure .msi-based solution, then WiX is it. Especially if the MySQL guys have a msi merge module (.msm) available that you can merge with your installer.
The downside of WiX is that you are forced to focus on the finer details of things. The upside is that you can focus on the finer details. The learning curve is a bit steep, but once you have your initial installer going it won't require much maintenance and it integrates neatly with your Visual Studio solution file. msbuild and tfs support out of the box (just remember to install WiX on your build server).
I'm working on a C# project for windows mobile 6.5 and as of this morning I'm getting "Reference package not found. Device Connectivity Component" whenever I try to deploy.
It builds without errors and was working up until today. I did a bit of looking around and only found dead ends online. As far as I can see there are no clues about that component or package this is a reference to. I think it may be related to Windows CE SQL Compact but that's based on nothing. I've rolled back to an earlier version of my code and cleaned a few times. I'm stumped.
I would greatly appreciate any help even diagnosing this a bit further. I'm using Visual Studio 2008 3.5 SP1
Update: When I disable "Deploy latest version of the .NET Compact Framework (including Service Packs)" it does deploy but then throws errors related to the SQL database which worked previously. assumedly because it doesn't have access to the correct SQL packages.
Update: I also get the same error with the emulator, it builds, the emulator starts but can't deploy, giving the same error.
Update: I think this might have something to do with it. Note the double slashes in the path. I keep removing them. It keeps coming back.
Update/Correction: I can now deploy to the emulator, I had a problem before but it seems to be ok now. I still can't beploy to the device, same error.
For anyone who was pulling their hair out like me. I couldn't figure out what was wrong although I still suspect it was something to do with the .NET compact package. Eventually I created a new project, set up the references and copied and pasted the code over. It's not a nice solution but it worked after days of being stuck.
HA! I found it! This may not be your solution, but this was how I did it.
See this REF: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa983326(v=vs.90).aspx
Since Microsoft is bad about deleting their old info, I'm going to post it here, too. But basically, if you select a Private Deployment, then Microsoft Updates will not influence your project or update your 3.5 databases to ...whatever the newest stuff from Microsoft is.
How to: Deploy a SQL Server Compact 3.5 Database with an Application
You have two deployment options for applications that contain SQL Server Compact 3.5 databases. The method of deployment you choose depends on the servicing requirements of your application and whether your users will need administrative credentials on the computer on which the application will be installed.
Following are the deployment options for SQL Server Compact 3.5 databases:
Traditional Microsoft Windows Installer (Microsoft setup technology)
Users need administrative credentials to install the application.
SQL Server Compact 3.5 will be serviced by Microsoft Update.
Can use ClickOnce deployment.
-or-
Private file–based deployment (deploying the SQL Server Compact 3.5 DLLs as part of the project)
Users do not need administrative credentials to install the application.
SQL Server Compact 3.5 will not be serviced by Microsoft Update.
Can also use ClickOnce deployment.
Traditional Windows Installer
Traditional Windows Installer technology is used in both standard Setup and Deployment projects and in ClickOnce deployment. When you deploy a SQL Server Compact 3.5 database, ClickOnce deployment provides an option that automatically installs SQL Server Compact 3.5 if it is not detected on the target computer. For this reason, ClickOnce is the preferred method of deployment for applications that include SQL Server Compact 3.5 databases (as opposed to creating a custom action in a Setup and Deployment project).
ClickOnce deployment has been updated so that it automatically includes the SQL Server Compact 3.5 runtime as a prerequisite for applications that include SQL Server Compact 3.5 databases. It also recognizes .sdf files as data files and sets these to the correct publish status.
Creating a ClickOnce deployment for an application that contains a SQL Server Compact 3.5 database consists of configuring the proper publish information in the Project Designer.
To use Windows Installer technology for ClickOnce deployment of an application that contains a SQL Server Compact 3.5 database
To open the Project Designer, in Solution Explorer/Database Explorer, double-click My Project if you are working on a Visual Basic project (or Properties if you are working on a C# project).
Click the Publish tab.
Click Application Files and set the .sdf file to Data File (Auto). (This setting notifies the installer to treat this as a local data file and to put it in the Data Directory.)
Click Prerequisites and select SQL Server Compact 3.5. (This setting notifies the installer to check whether the SQL Server Compact 3.5 runtime exists and to install it from the Internet if it is not found.)
Creating the Installer After the publish information is configured, create the installer.
To create the installer
In the Publishing Location box, type the Web site, FTP server, or file path to publish the installer to.
Click Publish Now to create the installer.
The application is ready to be installed. Go to the location you published to, and install the application to verify.
Private File-Based Deployment
Private file–based deployment refers to the process of including the required SQL Server Compact 3.5 DLLs as files in the project (as opposed to a reference to DLLs already on the target computer). If you include the necessary DLLs with the application, the requirement to install SQL Server Compact 3.5 is removed. Therefore, the administrative credentials are no longer needed.
You can use ClickOnce deployment technology for private file–based deployment. If you do, you must remember to clear the SQL Server Compact 3.5 prerequisite so that the Setup program does not install it.
To deploy a SQL Server Compact 3.5 database by using private file–based deployment
To open the Project Designer, in Solution Explorer/Database Explorer, double-click My Project if you are working on a Visual Basic project (or Properties if you are working on a C# project).
Click the Publish tab.
Click Prerequisites and then clear the check box for SQL Server Compact 3.5.
Close the Project Designer.
Go to the directory that contains the SQL Server Compact 3.5 DLLs. These are located in C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server Compact Edition\v3.5.
Select the seven SQL Server Compact 3.5 DLLs and copy them:
sqlceca35.dll
sqlcecompact35.dll
sqlceer35EN.dll
sqlceme35.dll
sqlceoledb35.dll
sqlceqp35.dll
sqlcese35.dll
Paste the DLLs into the project in Solution Explorer/Database Explorer.
Select all seven DLLs in Solution Explorer/Database Explorer and open the Properties window.
Set the Copy to Output Directory property to Copy if newer. (This will replace any earlier DLLs in an existing application with the newer ones if the application is updated.)
Click the Show All Files button in Solution Explorer/Database Explorer.
Expand the References node.
Select System.Data.SqlServerCe.
Set the Copy Local property to True. (Because your development computer has the SqlServerCe DLLs in the global assembly cache, you must configure the application to use the DLLs in the output directory.)
Right-click the project in Solution Explorer/Database Explorer and select Publish to open the Publish Wizard.
Complete the wizard to publish the application.
The application is ready to be installed. Go to the location you published to, and install the application to verify.
I had the same problem. I got it to work by closing visual studio, renaming the directory:
C:\Documents and Settings\\Local Settings\Application
Data\Microsoft\CoreCon
Then reopening visual studio and the deploy worked.
I have spent several days trying to solve this problem with no luck and my requirements are really simple - I want to make an application with database which will work on most PCs (without DB server installed) and I want to use LINQ. For the compatibility reasons I want to use .NET framework 3.5 (every Windows 7 machine has it).
I have tried 2 ways: SQL Server CE and SQLite.
SQL Server CE
Although Visual Studio does not support LINQ for Compact Version of SQL server, I have found simple workaround - generating .dbml file using metal.exe tool from Visual Studio and then dragging it into project. My application works fine on my machine, but when I copy it somewhere else, it crashes. I have copied all dlls from C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SQL Server Compact Edition\3.5 and tried 4.0 too. I think problem is that my app is not looking for dlls (references) inside its directory. I managed to get it work using DataSets (without LINQ), where I manually add reference to SQLServerCE and check CopyLocal to true. BUT when I use LINQ, there is no reference to SQLServerCE in project references and it is working. I don't know how to change it. Or is there a problem somewhere else?
SQLite
After long messing with SQL Server CE, I have tried SQLite. I am very disappointed how poor is SQLite support in .NET. I had to download older version of ADO.NET provider (newer versions does not add SQLite Database into my Visual Studio 2010 - I don't understand why but I googled that it is normal and I have to install old version and then replace it with newer). Then I downloaded dblinq (I have discovered that this project is dead later) and after some messing with dbmetal and dlls I get rid of errors in Visual Studio and compiled my application. But I can't run it, it always crashes on error 40 - like there was no SQLite server. Of course I have copied all dlls. I can't run it even on my development machine.
I am very surprised that it is nearly impossible to create simple database application in C# .NET which will not bother client with servers etc.
Please is there anyone who made SQL CE work with LINQ and mainly who made his app distributable?
I would suggest you try using the nuget Entity Framework for SQL CE package. It will download all the required assemblies to make it work.
http://nuget.org/packages/EntityFramework.SqlServerCompact/