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.Net Application Installation 2012 with database

I have built a Windows Forms application using Visual Studio 2012 and MSSQL 2008. I need to deploy this project using InstallShield Limited Edition.
While running this application on my pc, it does nto work well when I use the following connection string or .//SQLEXPRESS.
I need the installer to find the exe file of the application on other uer's pc with the database file. Where do I need to put my database files in the deployment files folder? What should my connection string be?

i use .//SQLEXPRESS it doesnt work as well
DO NOT use .//SQLEXPRESS as datasource name in the connection string.
Recommended way is to menthion Instance Name if your application is to be deployed in different environments(especially OS). I ran into trouble when I had the Datasource as .dot which worked in Win 7 not in WinXP. Either one of the following approach works fine.
(local)\SqlInstanceName
(ComputerName)\SqlInstanceName Ex: CD-SJHONES\SQLINSTNACE
In certain cases i had to include the computer name, So during the application deployment i get the computer name and update the connection string accordingly.
where i need to put my database files in deployment files and folder
and what should be my connection string
Connection string
I have already answered connection string releated question above.
Database files
What do you mean by database file. how database is created in the client machine ? do you create a database during application deployment or users manually create it with script ? There is nothing to worry about the database fine as long as your application have right connection string to point to your database.
Application files and folders
Again this doesn't really matter where application files and folders resides in the client machine. It's upto the users to decide where he/she likes to install the application.

You cannot install from backup. Also in your scenario, you should force end user t install Sql Express, what If it has already installed. So You need considering , scripting of entire database. You can create another exe / look for option in Installshield to execute that Script incase the database server is found else, force user to download the Sql Sever Express or Embedd it into setup and execute the script over there. But that will make your Setup Size more than 100's of MB.

Deploying C# application with SQL database

I have developed a C# application with SQL database, now i want to package it with the database and deploy it on some other machine which does have sql installed. How should i go with it.
What should be the connectionstring for the project, currently i am using "initialcatalog".
Pls Help

I am not sure, if I understand the question well.
If this is a C# class library only, you can get the dll and deploy in the required application.
If this is a web application, you can either create a web deployment package or publish the site.
For SQL migration, you can used the database publishing wizard from microsoft.
http://www.microsoft.com/en-in/download/details.aspx?id=5498
I hope my answers helped you.

Make .bak file of your SQL database.
Publish c#.NET application.
In the folders where you programmed this application, you will find published setup of your application.
Complete wizard in that publish setup folder.
upload database backup file(.bak) where you want to install application.
In this way you can deploy your application.

there are some install maker tools like install shield, which you can make a setup for your application,
About your connection string if your sql server is on your local computer you should set the "DataSource = . "
somthing like this : "Data Source=.;Initial Catalog=yourDBName;User ID=sa;Password=1"
the dot means local computer.
to create your data base on the target computer you can right click on your database and select task\generateScript and follow the wizard to make your database script the run that script on the target computer.

It's a common practice to include mdf or sdf file directly in solution (at least that's how are a lot of MS examples like Northwind/AdventureWorks are done). So you need to detach your db and then simply reattach it to other db server. You can read more here http://goo.gl/0FV1N

You can create a set of SQL Scripts to build the database via T-SQL or you could create a script to attach a new database to the server using the MDF/LDF files you include with your project.
Examples:
C# use script to create database
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307283
Regardless of how you do it, you'll first need to establish a connection to the SQL Server with rights to create a new database. You might want to prompt for these values during install or on the first launch of your program.

What's the Concept of local database of sql server in .net

Let's suppose I made an application in .net using sql server as database.
So if I want to deploy my application to some another PC i have to instal sql server
but I want that i should not install the sql server and my database should be automatically installed
i just want to make sure that is the concept of Local Database can fulfill my requirement
if so then how is it possible for me
thanks

You can use App_Data folder in the visual studio to store your .mdf files.Once you transfer your solution to a different system , the db file will be transferred automatically.
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ex526337.aspx

You should run your SQL server on a separate computer (server) to avoid having to install SQL server on all client computers. This way all PCs running your application can share a single instance of SQL Server.
If you want a single user DB per application instance I would recommend using SQL Compact edition instead

You can use SQL2012 Express Edition LocalDB. This uses a self contained file for your database, and can be installed as a prerequisite. When your application installs, you can install a blank database file, and connect to it.

SQL Server is not a small application that will be installed automatically and will require setup and configuration. You can however use it remotely. Or consider using an embedded database. But if you want to use a local database, you can use your mdf file of the database as a local database.

Transfering ASP.Net Website Project From One Computer To Another

Ive been working on a project on my computer and i want to transfer it to my laptop. The project is an ASP.Net Website Project in C#. I'm using SQL Server 2012 to hold my database and the Asp.net user management tables in my database also.
What's the easiest way to do this, as i have backed up my database and copied the ASP.net website folder onto my laptop and changed data source, but I'm getting a few errors, especially on the asp.net configuration page it has also removed my roles due to the transferring.

If i understood you correct, what you need is to deploy the ASP.NET Membership Database to the new project location. There are set of tools and commands that you need to use.
You would need to construct a command-line like the following:
C:\Program Files\IIS\Microsoft Web Deploy\msdeploy.exe" -verb:sync
-source:dbfullsql=" [your connection string] "
-dest:dbfullsql="c:\temp\InsertIntoAspNetDB.sql
Again the exact path and command will depend on your local configuration.
You may get more detailed information from MSDN - How to: Deploy a Database With a Web Application Project

service based database

I have one problem with service base database, I have used it in one of my application but I dont know if user who'll use it need to have something installed to be able to run application (like you need to have installed NET framework for c# applications)
Note: This is windows application

It depends on what database engine you're using. SQL Server/SQL Express/Oracle/MySQL require you install the application on the machine before it'll work. databases engines like SQLite and Firebird are just Dll's, so you can include then in your project.
If the file is an MDF that's a SQL Server file - you need to install SQL server, or SQL express.
You can include it with your app and do it silently:
http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/forums/en-US/sqlsetupandupgrade/thread/7180e4dc-5c1e-4501-83d7-6882abb1f04e/

You will need to install the relevant database engine with the correct service name, and create the database and relevant objects on installation.