Deploying WPF Application with database - c#

I have made a Wpf application and i am using linq to SQL classes also i have made my database in SQL server 2012 so is there any way that i can deploy my application in such a way that it will run on other PC's?

Check your app.config file. Make sure your connection string contains:
valid DataBase address
Valid credential for the db
As your update:
whenever i make setup file and run on another pc it give me exception
because sql server isnt installed on that pc
Either you need to deploy a database in internet, accessable by your app. Or you have to use an embedded sql db (e.g. add a db.mdf to your solution). I think this suit you better.

Related

Search for SQL Server database installed on machine

I'm deploying a wpf application and I'd like to know how is the best way to connect to a database.
For example after I install my application I need to set a connection string to connect with a SQL Server Express.
I read a thread that told it's possible to find SQL Servers installed on a machine, so after I find it, how do I connect it programmatically?
An another thing I thought is, there is a file which I can read an write a connection string as web.config in asp.net?
I know that there is an app.config file but after I deploy it I guess it became inaccessible!
Nothing wrong with putting SQL Server, especially Express, on the same machine if it's a smallish application. There's also the 'localdb' feature.
Anyway, this bit of code will find all instances of SQL Server on your network. You can then build a window to display the results, let the user pick a server, and construct a connectionstring from the results. Note that firewalls etc on the server can get in the way of this process - typically you get the server name returned but no other info. You can fix this by adding exceptions to the firewall.
private DataTable FindServers()
{
System.Data.Sql.SqlDataSourceEnumerator instance = System.Data.Sql.SqlDataSourceEnumerator.Instance;
DataTable dt = instance.GetDataSources();
return dt;
}
These days database layer should be separated from application by DataService or MicroService. Which would be the data access layer.
If you dont need that level of separation and still thinking about application that connects to database directly, I would suggest to use configuration to store connection strings as you probably like to cover scenario where database is not located on same server as WPF application.
The configuration file for non-web application is called app.configand is exactly the same as web.config for web applications.
Problem with auto-finding installed sql server instaces is simple: what if there are two instances installed on machine where you start your app? How the app will know which to use?

Visual Studio 2012 move local .sdf file to server computer

here is the problem I am facing now. I have created an application that uses local database (this was created by Add -> New Item -> Local Database. Afterwards I have added tables under this .sdf database.
Then I have connected to this database using Add -> New Item -> ADO.NET Entity Data Model.
Everything works like a charm, unless I was asked to move this database to a place, where multiple people could access this database and work with it.
Therefore, as I have no previous experience with databases, I have treated this .sdf file as any other file (let's say Excel workbook) and I thought that I could simply take already existing database, copy it on server computer (e.g. \Server001\Database\Database1.sdf) and simply change connection string under app.config.
However the problem is that this does not work. As I didn't know how to change connection string, I created new application, where I have tried to connect to this database located on a server computer; however I received the following error:
SQL Server Compact does not support opening database files on a network share.
I already have fully functioning program, but I have no idea how to make it work with multiple users. I have tied to google for solution, but all I could find is how to create local database, not how to make it accessible by placing it in server computer.
Could you guys please help me? If you need more details, please let me know!
P.S. This is WPF application, .NET 4.5, created using Visual Studio 2012 Professional.
Thank you!
The error message pretty much sums up the problem: SQL Server Compact does not support opening database files on a network share.
SQL Server Compact (aka "local database") is to be consumed by a local application; even if it was a web app serving many requests, the application itself is local.
If you want to have multiple remote connections (i.e. centralized DB, distributed app), you should look at using an instance of SQL Server (any SKU would probably work, even SQL Server Express). Those will use MDF files instead of SDF files, so you might want to refer to Convert .sdf database to .mdf database. You'll probably also need to set up a user identity for your connection string, so check out this link on CREATE USER and Difference between a User and a Login in SQL Server to understand how that can be configured.

Installing C# Windows Form Application with Database on another system

I have developed a winform application in C#.net and using SQL Server 2008.
My application inserts and updates values into database.
Is it possible to install the application on a another system which doesn't have sql server on it?
Imagine using sql azure. Cloud based sql server. The database is never on the same physically computer. It's all down to the connection string.
With an on premise database you need to make sure the database allows external connections, maybe opening up firewall etc. then make sure the connection string is set correctly on the application to talk to external database.
You can even configure to change the connection string as required pointing at different databases depending on the individual requirements.
Scott
Yes, you can. You can access the DB remotely by referring remote DB server in connection string.
It is possible, if you are looking to run the application on machine that is running on the same Domain as the SQL Server and has privileges to the SQL Server.

Publishing application along with the databse with no need of ms sql on client side c#

I am new here to this forum so mind if I am asking a question already answered somewhere.
I have made an application in windows form, now I want to implement it onto another client PC. I published it and I can install it somewhere else fine, but the problem is that when there is a database involved I just cannot get it to work. I have tried everything I know, I attached the DB with the setup using the setup wizard creator but I cannot get it to work.
My main question is: How can I publish an application successfully, along with its DB and everything in working condition, without installing MS SQL on the client PC, if possible?
Typically, when using SQL Server, you are running in a client-server scenario, and SQL Server is the server portion. The connection string stored in app.config would point to the SQL Server, and the user would never need to know anything more about the database.
If your application is designed to be run outside of the network (i.e. 3rd party), you have a couple of options. First, if you want to use a full version of SQL Server, you can make a client installer and server installer. The server installer would be for setting up the server side (including the installation of SQL Server), and during the client setup, they would need to enter the name of the database server.
If the client has SQL Server Express installed, you can supply the database file, and do a direct connection to it rather than installing it inside SQL. However, if the client does not already have Express installed, this won't work.
Finally, SQL Server Compact Edition is designed for running on the client. You can do a "bin deploy" - that is, copy the SQL CE .dll files with your application, rather than installing the software, and the client can use the supplied database. If you haven't written the application for CE, this would require some rework.
you can also use sqlLite , it just need a bit of modification as it stated by Dave Simione

Connection String in C# windows application

I am developing C# windows application first time.
Que 1 - ) I have developed my windows application which uses SQL server 2008 using below connection string..
Data Source=myMachineName;Initial Catalog=myDataBase;User Id=myUsername;Password=myPassword;
But When I created setup of my application and installed it to another computer then it is throwing error of could not establish connection with SQL server..
I guess this error is because of my connection string as it is specific to my computer and installing it to another computer will not work..
Hence How can I make my connection string which will work with any computer..
Que 2 - Do I need to attach schema file with my setup as How my database will be created into the other computers??
This might be silly qustion but as I am doing this first time , i dont know about this all.
Regards,
Mahesh
You should place your web config in app.config file which is in xml format.
And read it from your code.You can easily change app.config file through notepad according to machine.
Yes must have your schema script in setup if you want to create it from setup.Otherwise you create database manual on client machine.
If you've used SQL Server on your development machine, it has to be installed on every computer that will be using your app. There are several options to resolve this issue:
If your app doesn't need access to a central sql server (for example your app just keeps track of users DVDs), use SQL Server Compact Edition instead and embed it to your app
If your app needs some kind of a centralized data, get a dedicated SQL server first, install there everything you need and in your app change your current myServerAddress to the address of the server. Note that the server needs to be accessible from remote locations (some restrict access to localhost!).
Que 2 - Do I need to attach schema file with my setup as How my
database will be created into the other computers??
Again, multiple options. For instance, you can export your database to a .sql file (Right click on the db in your DB explorer and select option Publish to provider) and then import it using a sql manager on other computers. Or maybe you can create a .cs installation script, that will do the same job using C# code.
Edit based on OP's comments:
Example links for solutions:
question1: Embedding SQLServer CE in an installer
question2: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307283
Okay that's fine but will my current Connection string work in that case as the DataSource
is my specific machine name
Of course not, you'd have to change it to point to the SQL Server CE database file. Probably the best way is to not hardcode it, but use a relative path to the database. It looks like this for instance:
Data Source=|DataDirectory|\MyDb.sdf, where |DataDirectory| points to the App_Data folder of your application.
Also plese see the error screen map i have attach with the question..
Your error is quite clear - there was a problem establishing a connection to your database. It either doesn't exist or isn't accessible from your current machine.

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