Creating a chained installation using Visual Studio - c#

I have created a Windows Forms C# application. But I am facing problems in creating a setup for my application.
My problem is
I want to install the prerequisites as a chain of installers with a common progress bar.
.NET Framework 3.5
SQL Server Express Edition SP2 (optional, that is, install only if SQL Server is not installed)
Crystal Reports redistributable package.
All these prerequisites must be embedded in the setup file. I have created a bootstrapper to install the SQL Server Express Edition if it not already installed.
After installation, it should update the exe.config file with the connection string datasource with the SQL Server Express Edition instance.

You can get WiX 3 to bootstrap prerequisites quite easily. Here is an explanation showing how to do it for .NET 3.5 and Windows Installer.
You should be able to use the same principle for SQL Server Express Edition and Crystal Reports.

Related

Deploy application using installshield

I have developed an WPF application using .Net 4.0 framework. I have installed SQL 2012 Express edition on my machine .
My application performs basic CRUD operations on this database using appropriate connectionstring. I am very new to deployment. so my question is How can I deploy my mdf files at the client end ? I cannot install ~130MB of software at client end just for my 4MB of mdf files it doesn't make sense. Also while deploying project I saw this pre-requisites screen
My questions are:
(I think if i check SQL Server 2008 Express SP1 it will download it at client end) But I have SQL 2012 Express Edition Installed so how can I go with it ?.
Also is it possible If I give client seperate exe of my SQL 2012 Express edition ? (There is no need for management studio at clientside.so what should be given to client so it that installs only those software which are required to run .mdf file )
To answer your first question,
1. You will require a .prq file for SQL server 2012. Either you can create it or you can download it from web. You can add/edit '.prq' file from 'Redistributable' section.
For your second question,
2. You can pass the setup of aql 2012 express to your client with specific instructions to only install server and not the management studio.
You need SQL Server Compact most probably

How to package and deploy a C# desktop application with a SQL Server 2012 database in Visual Studio 2010?

I have created a database application using C# in Visual Studio 2013. It uses SQL Server 2012. I don't know how to package my database in the .msi package for this application. Please help me in writing a script to create the database and setup its connection strings. So that I can install and run the app using SQL Server on any other PC besides my own computer where I am developing the app.
The way I saw it in a commercial project was:
Create an msi installer for your own application using WiX.
Get the msi package for SQL server installation.
Create custom installer in wix or in a programming language you know. It will use Deployment Tools Foundation to run SQL msi and your app msi.
Pack it all into nsis package so you have a single Installer.exe file as an output.
Also check:
http://wixtoolset.org/documentation/manual/v3/bundle/
google for "unattended sql server install"

Export SQL Server to SQL Server Compact 4.0 with VS Express

I have created a C# application that connects to a Microsoft SQL Server Express Edition (64-bit) database. However, I want to transition the project from SQL Server to a local database and convert the .mdf file to a .sdf file.
The best solution I have found is SQL Server Compact Toolbox written by ErikEJ also pointed out by this post. When attempting to install the add-in to Visual Studio I receive an error:
This extension is not installable on any currently installed products.
even though the installer recognizes that Microsoft Visual Studio Express 2012 for Windows Desktop is installed. I believe this is only targeted for Professional and above.
I have also attempted to use the standalone tool. However, the option I want is grayed out and it's for version 3.5 instead of the current version 4.0.
I have also looked at trying to export/convert from Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio 11.0.3128.0. However, I have had no luck.
Is there a solution for VS Express Edition, or am I out of luck?
Just use the standalone edition for SQL Server Compact 4.0, available here: https://sqlcetoolbox.codeplex.com/releases/view/104096

What all is required for SQL server compact 4.0 to be used on another system when it is merged with windows form in .net

I have an Demo Application made on windows form in c# and I have used Sql Server Compact 4.0 as its database. Now I need to use the same application on another system which doesn't have visual studio or Sql-Server installed in it. Now what all I need to install on that system so that my application runs effectively ?
I don't want to install visual studio or SQL-server in it and for that only i have used SQL-server compact 4.0 but its asking for visual studio service pack-1 to be installed.
I have already installed .net framework and sql server compact 4.0 in it.
Please help me with solutions and any suggestions will also be heartly accepted.
Thanks in advance.
All you need is to deply the SqlCompact database file to the other system.
Make sure that the path is correct.
You don't need SQL Server to be installed for SQL ServerCompact to work.
You also don't need Visual STudion. Just need the .Net Runtimes.

What Order to Deploy .NET Application with SQL Server 2008?

I have created an Windows application.
I used
FRONT END : C# (VISUAL STUDIO 2008)
BACK END : MICROSOFT SQL SERVER 2008
.NET FRAMEWORK : 3.5
Now after deployment when I am installing the application in my Clients machine is it necessary to first install .Net Framework, VisualStudio2008 and Sql Server 2008 before installing Application?
And in which module of building my set up file(FileSystem Editor, Registry editor etc..) should I attach the DataBase?
This is my first application of deployment so please help me out with tips and tracks for deployment?
Thanks in advance!!
You customer will not use Visual Studio, so you don't need to install it.
You will need to install SQL Server manually. You cannot have your setup project install it automatically. Just install SQL Server 2008 (SP1 or higher). I believe this will install all or most of .NET 3.5 for you. If not, then when your setup is run, it will install any other parts of .NET that are needed.
BTW, be sure to test the installation steps on a clean system of your own (maybe on Virtual PC) before trying it on your customer's site!
It depends if you want every client to have SqlServer installed locally (usually, on an Enterprise scenario, you have already a server box with Sql Server running, and you just need to deploy your database there).
If having Sql Server running locally is a requirement, you might want to take a look at this thread which will help you: How to install a custom desktop application database to SQL Express?
You should install SQL Server manually before installing your application.
You just need to install you application, you do not need visual studio. If you use a setup project to do this it should detect that it requires the .Net framework and give the user the option of installing it.
You don't have to install the Visual Studio. For running .Net applications, you only require .Net Framework. And for SQL 2008 also .Net required. And for Database, either you have to run SQL Script or you may need to restore the database. Running SQL Script is better I think, you can do it via a Batch file.

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