application with setup file with out SQL Server database - c#

I have a windows application which is uses SQL Server as its database. For this application I want to create a setup file for other desktops, but I don't want to install SQL Server on each and every client.
Can you please suggest how to create Windows application with local storage setup file without installing any databases or framework libraries?

You can use SQL Server Compact. The database is stored in a file that you carry with the product rather than requiring a database server.
If this is just for "settings" then consider storing it in the user's application data as a simple XML file.

You don't need to install SQL Server on each client - you can simply install it on a central server then all the clients can connect to and use the same instance.
If this is not a good option because each client must have its own storage locally then you can look to use something like SQL Server Compact, which is a very cut down version of SQL Server that doesn't require installation and runs inproc.

Related

C# connect to MSSQL .mdf DB without Server

How can I ran x86 .net 3.5 Windows Forms app with .mdf database on the computer without SQL Server (for example, XP of common user).
I have found few samples of connection strings, but all of them are contains something like Data Source=.\SQLEXPRESS
Doubt, that user will be having SQLEXPRESS on his computer. I want something like work with Access db - so user could work without even knowing, what's server, only with local file
MSSQL I have chosen instead of Access, because in the future I can add publish DB on server, but not now.
Maybe, I should use SQLLite, but how in that case?
Thanks.
How can I ran x86 .net 3.5 Windows Forms app with .mdf database on the computer without SQL Server?
This question has very simple answer - you can't!
You must distribute and install some version/edition of SQL Server with your application, otherwise the .mdf file will be nothing more than waste of disk space. You can install SQL Server along with your app. For more information you can see Install SQL Server from the Command Prompt and Install SQL Server using a configuration file. If this is a simple app working locally on a single workstation, you may want to consider using SQL Server Express LocalDB.
Another option is to use different database engine, which has easier deployment and embedding - SQLite, Firebird Embedded, etc. Pick one that you like. Most of these solutions require only to distribute one DLL/assembly with your application. You will not get the full power of SQL Server, but for most apps, it isn't needed anyway.

Do I have to install sql server on each client to use my disk top application?

I have a disk top application made by c# visual studio. My question is do I have to setup SQL server on each client to use my application? or there is another way to attach my database with my application and compress it as one and send to each client and those just extract that file and use the application correctly?
On a real scenario, your database should be placed on a remote server and the clients should only access the database through your API (that will need to support authentication or any other identity based systems).
If your application only needs to store some local information (relevant only for your client app), then you can just use LocalDB or AppSettings, depending on your data structure.
Otherwise, if your application contains more complex features, then you will need an API and a remote DB managed only by you.
To conclude, you only need to setup Sql Server once, when you want to create the design of it (tables, columns, links). The clients will only have to connect to it and pull their data. And this task can be done without installing SqlServer. This link shows you that you only need System. Data assembly to connect to a Sql Server DB.
Yes you need to instal SQL server on each machine or if you go for LocalDB then also u need to instal SQL server engine ,and you have a better option u need to buy sqlserver from AZURE (it's free for one month try if want click here AZURE)

How can I run an application that depends on a SQL database on another machine with SQL Server?

I have created a CRUD application that is running really well. It connects to SQL on the same machine. I want to publish my C# app and install it on another PC does not have SQL.
Is it possible to run it on that PC, without installing SQL Server on it? If so, how do I do this?
Is it possible to run it on that PC?
Without a database your application is "dead".
You have two options.
Install a sql server it this PC.
Connect to a sql server isntalled in another PC.
It's your choice.
If your project is a small one and the database is less than 4GB and you are not going to install SQL Server on every machine and your client do not have access to a Server with SQL Server then you may want to use SQL Server compact
In this case your database would be an single sdf file and you will connect to it using its path on the machine. Then the connection string would be like this:
Data Source=MyData.sdf;Max Database Size=256;Persist Security Info=False;
For more on connection string see this.
Here is the download link

C# Sql-server on every client

I want to build an application that needs a sql database on every machine that uses the application.
Isn't it true that Chrome and Firefox store cookies in a SQL database? I did not remember installing anything like a SQL server while installing Chrome, so my question is: does every user has to install a SQL Server if my app uses one?
The best thing for your purpose is to use database servers, which will be started with your application, like SQLite or Sql Server Compact. That means, you application host the database it self and you have access over ADO.Net. This is a very smart kind of storing local data and very easy.
Do not try to install complex database systems like mssql, sybase or mysql on every client.
For example, SQLite can be delivered with a few assemblies in your product.
This answers gives a nice overview: Lightweight SQL database which doesn't require installation
In order to store information for a client application, you can use SQL Server Compact, or some other solution, like SQLite (with a library to access it).
There are other alternatives, but these two are the most common and stable.
It's true that Firefox stores cookies in a sqlite database. However, that's not the same thing as SQL Server.
If your app needs to communicate with a database, you can a) bundle a sqlite database with it, b) require an existing database on startup (Wordpress does this; you can pass it details for a mysql database to get it to use an existing installation), or c) bundle a full database (like SQL Server Compact) with your application.

Connecting to sql server database mdf file without installing sql server on client machine?

I am creating a window application that need to use sql server database.
I want to install this application to client machine without installing sql server so that my application can still connect to a database i.e mdf file that i will be providing at client system.
How can i connect to a database(mdf) on client machine through my window application without installing sql server. ?
I dont know is it possible or not.
If possible what will be the connection string in that case. Database need not be used in network.
Client mahine dont need any installation. Every thing needs to be run through pen drive
.mdf files are SQL Server database files. No other application can understand, read or update those files. If you need to open and mdf, you need a SQL instance. That instance can be local, can be an Express edition, or can be a remote one, doesn't matter. If your application needs a local SQL instance for it's own use then it can install SQL Server Express Edition when deployed.
You can try Sql Compact Edition or SqlLite. I think these are just a file based solution.
In that case you must have a server machine where your database files are stored. For that reason you have to use SQL Express Edition 2005 or 2008 in one machine and SQL server management studio to manage your database. Those are all free from Microsoft. The client machines will be connected through the connection string. Those machines don't need SQL instance or SQL server installed.
Regards..
You can search your MS-VS CD for SQLEXPRESS (please note the capital letters) and include it in your software when you create the set-up and your problem will be solved.
You don't have any other way except to use another database like access.
This database doesn't need its software.

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