I created a small application using C# winforms that uses SQL Server as a database.
Is there a way to attach the database to the exe file so I won't need to install SQL Server on all the machines that I want to run the program on?
As far as I know, that's where SQL Server Compact comes into play.
Quoting the Wikipedia article:
Unlike other editions of Microsoft SQL Server, SQL CE runs in-process with the application which is hosting it; while having a memory footprint of less than 2 MB;
in addition to sql server compact, there is also a c# port of sqlite that you could use.
Have you seen SQL Server Compact?
It's a Zero-config, single file version of SQL Server.
You can use SQL Server compact:
http://www.microsoft.com/sqlserver/2008/en/us/compact.aspx
or SQLite:
http://www.sqlite.org/
- it has a .NET library that you can download and use...it's pretty fast and compact
You can included it as part of the app installer. See this article
Related
We are trying to deploy a demo version of a program, which uses a relational database.
However, we have an issue:
If we use SQL Server Express as a backend database server, then clients have to download the SQL Server Express install file, which is huge and not desirable.
So my question is: Is there any alternative way of deploying the demo database, and then get the application running at the client's side without SQL Server?
Thanks in advance.
Use SQL Server CE, it's only 1 dll (that you can distribute together with your application) and you can have your DB as a file.
Use Access.Access is a local light weight database.
I have already finished a desktop application using Visual Studio 2010 and SQL Server 2008.
it's working perfectly on my machine (i have a SQL Server 2008 and 2005 ).
the database is local and unchangeable,
i want this application to be run successfully on the machine that doesn't have SQL Server installed.
my Connection string is:
Data Source=.\SQLEXPRESS;AttachDbFilename=|DataDirectory|\KBank.mdf;Integrated Security=True;User Instance=True;Connection Timeout=300
I want to know the best and simplest way to make it. thanks
The simplest way would be to create a setup for your application that states SQL Server 2008 as a prerequisite. That's it.
For further help you would have to supply more information on how you use the database in your application and if you have a way to host a public sql server instance to which your application will connect.
If you're using the AttachDbFilename=|DataDirectory|\KBank.mdf;User Instance=True approach, then you have no choice but to install SQL Server Express (and no other edition!) locally on that / every machine that is supposed to use your application.
This approach is severly flawed in my opinion, and it limits your flexibility.
What I'd suggest is to use the real server approach: put your database onto a server (both on your development environment, and in production) and then you have the flexibility of having either a SQL Server instance on every user's machine (if that makes sense), or you can have a centralized server which the clients only connect to (no local database server installed).
If the database is "local and unchangeable" how about the compact edition? That way your clients dont need to install a full sql server instance
I agree with Nick. if you dont want to install SQL Server on the machine then SQL server compact edition would be one of the option. Syntax is pretty similar to SQL Server but it comes with limitations. like you can not have a stored procedures in compact edition and few more.
You might want to visit SQL CE Tutorial as a development resource.
This might sound a silly question but I've really spend hours in trying to find a solution...
I have a local database on SQL Server and it is used with a C# application.. The only way I view the database is through SQL Server.. It is accessible and altered in my application when I am running the application on my developing PC, but when I run it on another PC the database is not found (obviously) .. How can I include the database sources when I am compiling the program, (so that it would be also found when I run it on other PCs) ?
Initially I used SQL Server CE and I achieved portability, but I had to include stored procedures, and this edition doesn't accept them :/ so I had to turn my attention to the latter type.
Sorry for my terrible English ! :(
Thanks in advance
How can I include the database sources when I am compiling the program, (so that it would be also found when I run it on other PCs) ?
You can't. SQL Server license prohibits distributing parts of it like that, plus there is no documented way to do that. If you need SQL Server on the box, it needs to come from the installer. You can create an installer for your own product, and your installer can install SQL Server if it's needed as a prerequisite.
Alternatively, you could look at other database options such as SQLite for a file-based database. You can distribute the components of SQLite.
If you need a local sql server on each pc where your application runs then you should look into the Express edition of MS SQL Server. It is the free with limitations version of MS SQL Server.
I made an application with SQL Compact Edition 3.5 to be used from many user but in the test I got can't connect to databse after the first one how connected !
this is an erreur in my application or probleme with many connexion in SDF file ?
and what about Compact Edition 3.5 accept 256 connexion!
Depending on how your application behaves, you might be able to replace SQL Compact with SQLite. It can really only handle one write at a time but can handle multiple simultaneous reads. Anything more than that and you should be looking at a real SQL server.
You should look at a Microsoft Locking in SQL Server CE. In a nutshell, it says multi users/application can concurrently access the SDF at the same time provided the database is not locked in a transaction.
Also, I like to mentioned that we also do not have multi user/application access to a SQL Server CE 3.1 file on a network drive. (This constraint may still be true for SQL Server CE 3.5). If you're being affected by this, you will have to ensure your SDF is being opened using a local drive reference.
Is SQL Server Compact Edition Serverless?
I mean, If I have a Northwind.sdf file in some pc without SQL server installed, can my application still use that?
Is it the same with SQLITE?
Correct.
Both of these databases do not have servers and do not require any installation for end-user.
All you need to do is include the appropriate DLL file
Answer of SLaks + Yes, SQLite is an embedded database too.
SQLite features: SQLite doesn't support RIGHT or OUTER JOIN's, complete ALTER TABLE. See http://www.sqlite.org/omitted.html.