Using MSDE in stand-alone Windows Forms projects

[Aroogala]

I'm a veteran web apps developer who is now interested in building more desktop-oriented apps using C#/.NET, since it provides such an elegant framework for doing so. I'm quite experienced in using sql server in all types of web applications with all types of technologies, however, what I'm not so familiar with is using MSDE as an alternative to access in stand-alone windows apps. What I'm looking for are some "beginners" guides on how this is done. How do I package a sql server database into an MSDE db and then package it up with my desktop apps so they're "stand-alone" from a database server? How do I transfer an existing sql server database into an msde db and use it separately from a database server? I've only so far been able to find very vague examples on the web on how to do these things. Thanks in advance!! -v **************************** V. Jenks www.scientifik.com

[nullpointer 0]

emm... If you are familiar with MS SQL, then msde is not a trouble for you, except you does not have GUI interface to manage it... but the best thing is you can always use MS SQL Enterpise Manager to manage it.:wtf: knowledge is power

[Rob Graham]

MSDE IS Sql server, just with fixed tuning optimized for about 5 users, 2GB limit on Database size, no replication publication, no OLAP, etc. and no GUI tools. The MSDE redist will install SQL server on your clients machine. The silent install has a lot of assumed defaults (C:) so you may want to study how to modify the redist install scripts to customise the installation. Aroogala wrote: How do I package a sql server database into an MSDE db and then package it up with my desktop apps so they're "stand-alone" from a database server? How do I transfer an existing sql server database into an msde db and use it separately from a database server? MSDE database == SQL database (same data files...): You can create databases with SQL developer (or any other "full" edition), detach them and have your install process attach them to the new server, aternatively you could export scripts and create the client db by reading the scripts during your install (osql is included with MSDE). Restoring a backup also works... Some ideas are so stupid that only an intellectual could have thought of them - George Orwell