I'm working on a program that will work very nicely with a database structure and using mysql. I could easy do this with a common server and common database. However I'm looking for a way to have my client(s) use the program on an offline machine without having to install any database managing software.
Basically I want the installation to set up the necessary tables on their machine and have them fill in the database with information relevant to them. Before I start though I wanted to know if this was possible to connect to and manage a database through a C# application with out installing sql software.
You could consider using SQL Server Compact Edition.
SQLite is another option.
Both of these can be deployed with your application and need no separate configuration.
Yes. It is possible. How to do it exactly depends on the database connection approach you're using. For example, this approach shows how to use DataReaders. That's a very old approach. Modern approaches are recommended to use LINQ to SQL, which can be configured to access remotely by setting up a DataContext to point to an external resource.
Basically, wherever you can define a connection string to connect to a DB, you can make that string point locally or externally. An external resource must obviously be available through some URL in order to connect, of course.
You can not connect to a mysql database without installing mysql.
However you can use in process database like sqlite or Compact SQL. They are not traditional server, but rather a library that keeps the database in a local file.
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My Application was moved to a shared Network to offer the Clients a Folder with the Program. In this Folder is the SQLCE Compact Database too.
I only need to read from a Database. In my Opinion should the standalone in read-only mode not beeing blocked from the current User, but it is. This blocking access is in my opinion only useful if multiple users try to write...
Is there a way to get a SQLCE Compact Database ready to run for multi-user over a Network?
Unfortunately The short answer is no. SQLCE is single user/instance by design. However you can create a service that load your db and allow your program instances to read and write in the db through the service. The other option is to modify your app to create a local copy of the db and sync the changes using a SQL server. what doesn't make any sense since your app is in a shared folder, so why don't migrate to a true DB like sql server?
SQLCE and SQL server are full compatible, basicaly you just need to change the connection string.
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.
I have a nice program idea, it will be a very simple application that will save your username and password on a sql server database file, i know how to do it, but the problem is i don't want the client to install sql server in order to add or remove a record in database, besides i want my database file embedded into the application so the user have a single .exe file, i heard about a library called sqllite or something, it`s function is not to let the user install sqlserver to make the application work.
You can use SQLCE and search for SQLCE private deployment, basically it is a light weight of MS SQL on client side. With privatedeployment you just need to copy related DLLs to your project folder without installation.
You are looking for SQL Server Compact edition.
You need to use a file based SQL database.
There are several - most popular are:
SQLite
SQL Server CE
See this SO question - Free portable database.
As you mention, Sqlite is an option. It's a compact and file based database. No need for installing anything. The full database resides in a file. You'll need to reference the Sqlite database engine for connecting to it, however.
I probably wouldn't use SQL at all if you are only going to create one table with a few (< 100) rows. Its way to much overhead for that small amount of information.
I would save the username and password in a file, then use the Enterprise Libraries Cryptography Application Block to secure the file.
You also most likely don't want the storage engine embedded into the exe, then your passwords are tied to that specific application on that specific computer. You will have to implement an import/export program anyway to move your info to another machine.
Check out http://keepass.info/
Yes , you can implement it by
SQLite ,
SQL Server CE ,
Or Xml
And also , in my last project , the application call the webservice when need to access DataBase.
So , there are lots of ways to avoid install SQL Server on client PC .
I am starting an application (c#, .net) that will interact with a Microsoft SQL database. I need the ability for multiple clients to access the data concurrently so I an going to use a service based database (.mdf). Is it possible to develop the application using a local database (.sdf) and then easily switch it over to a service based database when it comes time for deployment? Is that how this type of development it typically done?
You can control the data source by providing connection string to your database in .config file.
You can even create Debug and Release versions of your .config file with different connection strings. Debug can point to your local machine and Release to production.
Development shops vary, but it is pretty common to develop apps using SQL Express locally and then use a full installation of SQL Server for the production environment.
The only thing I would advise is make sure that the DB you chose for your dev environment supports the same features as what you expect in production. For example don't use SQL Express on your dev box when you expect to use Oracle in production.
If the database schema in both backends is exactly the same than the only thing you will need to do is change the connection string when you are ready to move to the service based database.
Be aware that the slightest change in the schema can (and probably will) cause problems.
You want to use SQL Compact Edition (as you said database file extension is .sdf), right? You can use MSSQL Express Edition instead, as it acts more like full MSSQL Server, and is still free and not so hard to install on developer's machine (I personally prefer this option). There are differences between the two (as explained here: http://blog.sqlauthority.com/2009/04/22/sql-server-difference-between-sql-server-compact-edition-ce-and-sql-server-express-edition/). If you don't want features like triggers/procedures/views in your database, you can still use CE, though.
If you have multiple clients then you should use SQL Server Express (.mdf file) - SQL Server Compact (.sdf file) is useful when you are building an application that is going to be deployed on client machines and will run standalone, e.g. windows forms application with a local database. SQL Server Compact is just an alternative for MS Access .mdb files or SQLite, the so called "embedded databases", while SQL Server Express is a real database server (albeit with some limitations to render it unsuitable for large commercial applications) and should be used in the cases where multiple clients use central database, e.g. web applications and smart client apps (the latter could also make use of a local embedded database though).
I need to access and download data from a MySQL database without connecting to the database during development in VisualStudio. Is there a way to program it blindly (since I know what the database looks like) like its done in PHP?
Alternatively, can I use download the database schema and use it in Visual Studio?
What do you mean?
Even if you can't connect to the live database during dev time, you can create your own local testing MySQL database and connect to that.
You could write sql and use sql connection, and just mock out the database so that your testing will still work, as long as your mock returns what is expected.
Though I agree that creating your own local database would be best.