install sql server database with my application c#

Question

I have written a C# application that uses a SQL Server database. The intended users of this program will be running SQL Server 2008 R2. I have created a setup program (deployment project in visual studio) that installs my program but I would also like it to install the database. How do I go about accomplishing that?

simply create sql scripts and integrate those scripts in setup as setup install you get the scripts too on that system then run those scripts on that system it will create your database,tables,stored procedure etc etc. — Emaad Ali
– Emaad Ali, Commented Mar 7, 2011 at 9:34
Are you saying that your users will have SQL Server 2008 already installed on the machine, but you just want to copy/attach, or otherwise add a new database to the instance? — Damien_The_Unbeliever
– Damien_The_Unbeliever, Commented Mar 7, 2011 at 9:37
@Emaad: I thought about this, and this should work assuming I do this under a sql account that has the appropriate permissions, right? Any pitfalls to this approach? — BeYourOwnGod
– BeYourOwnGod, Commented Mar 11, 2011 at 22:04
@Damien: Yes, the SQL Server will already exist and I would like to create a new db and some stored procs. — BeYourOwnGod
– BeYourOwnGod, Commented Mar 11, 2011 at 22:05

Darin Dimitrov · Accepted Answer · 2011-03-07 09:33:59Z

2

You could write a custom install action. Take a look at the following article.

answered Mar 7, 2011 at 9:33

Darin Dimitrov

1.0m275 gold badges3.3k silver badges3k bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

4 Comments

TomTom Over a year ago

NOT recommended, total violation of best practices. You do NOT chain MSI installs with custom actions. Actually you can not install a MSI while another install is in progress.

TomTom Over a year ago

On top, the article linked is irrelevant. It talks about installing a database - NOT about installing the database SERVER.

Damien_The_Unbeliever Over a year ago

@TomTom - given that its possible to read the question as asking about how to install a database (not a server), it's not unreasonable that this answer has been provided. It's currently unclear whether the OP is seeking to install a DB or DBMS.

BeYourOwnGod Over a year ago

@TomTom: I dont want to install the server, just a database and some stored procs.

Haid · Accepted Answer · 2011-03-09 10:20:47Z

2

simply you have to add deployment project in your developed project. say named it proj_deploy then right click on this project (proj_deploy) and choose properties being in VS 2008 / 2010 then go to prerequisites and select which items you want to be installed on client machine when someone install your developed project.

prerequisites are bootstraps by which you can install third party tools and etc.

answered Mar 9, 2011 at 10:20

Haid

1111 gold badge2 silver badges10 bronze badges

Comments

Can Gencer · Accepted Answer · 2012-01-02 08:16:37Z

It is better that you let the users install SQL Server 2008 themselves. This gives better flexibility with regards to versions of the database server, and also gives them the possibility to install it on a different machine if they need it. SQL Setup lately also has gotten quite complex and not very straightforward. If you need an embedded SQL Server then you can use SQL Server Compact instead.

Within your application you can create the necessary DB on SQL Server 2005+ using the following code. Keep in mind it requires SA privileges on the SQL server. You need to replace %db_name% with the actual name of the database.

IF NOT EXISTS (SELECT name FROM master.dbo.sysdatabases WHERE name = N'%db_name%')
BEGIN
DECLARE @data_path nvarchar(1024), @db_path nvarchar(1024), @log_path nvarchar(1024)
EXEC master.dbo.xp_instance_regread N'HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE', N'Software\Microsoft\Microsoft SQL Server\Setup', N'SQLDataRoot', @data_path OUTPUT    
SET @db_path = @data_path + N'\Data\%db_name%_Data.MDF';
SET @log_path = @data_path + N'\Data\%db_name%_log.ldf';
EXECUTE (N'
    CREATE DATABASE [%db_name%]  ON (NAME = N''%db_name%_Data'', 
     FILENAME = N''' + @db_path  + N''',
     SIZE = 3, FILEGROWTH = 10%) LOG ON (NAME = N''%db_name%_Log'',
     FILENAME = N''' + @log_path + N''',
     SIZE = 3, FILEGROWTH = 10%)
     COLLATE SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS')
END

TomTom · Accepted Answer · 2011-03-07 09:35:20Z

0

You dont. Well, what you normally do is that your setup msi file has a bootstrapper, a .exe program that triggers install of the MSI. This one will ALSO check prerequisites and trigger installs of those if needed and available.

Check http://wix.mindcapers.com/wiki/Bootstrapper for a more detaoled explanation and some examples of what is available to you.

answered Mar 7, 2011 at 9:35

TomTom

62.4k11 gold badges95 silver badges152 bronze badges

Comments

Tobias Schittkowski · Accepted Answer · 2011-03-07 09:45:26Z

0

If it is a client/server application then the SQL Server most likely will already exist and won't be on the same pc as your application.

If it is a single-user database application, I would recommend using SQL Server Compact. Then the "installation" consists of just copying some dlls.

answered Mar 7, 2011 at 9:45

Tobias Schittkowski

2,2612 gold badges16 silver badges25 bronze badges

1 Comment

BeYourOwnGod Over a year ago

Thanks Tobias, in this case, and I wont bore you with the details, I could not go the sql compact route. The server already exists, I just want to add my apps db installation to my deployment package.

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

install sql server database with my application c#

5 Answers 5

4 Comments

Comments

Comments

Comments

1 Comment

Your Answer

Linked

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

5 Answers 5

4 Comments

Comments

Comments

Comments

1 Comment

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Linked

Related