I am working on a application that uses Microsoft SQL Server 2k. I want to be able to offer a demo application that will run on the desktop using MSDE. I have been trying top find some documentation on how to install MSDE and the databases. I have found some information which seems to be scattered about. I am wondering if any of you could provide me with some contiguous information or point me in the right direction.

I would like to have one installer file (.msi) using Visual Studio installer.

Thanks in advance for your help.



Larry Asher

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Larry Asher

It it comes down to it you may be able to run some ADO command object with the script that either creates a database or loads a database from a backup file. Look up the code to run in Books on Line.

In theory it should work.



Sal

I do a very similar thing in an app I have written. I just have my code execute batch files. Here's a sample:

@echo off
C:
cd database
osql -S %1 -d master -U %2 -P %3 -I < script1.sql > script1.log
osql -S %1 -d master -U %2 -P %3 -I < script2.sql > script2.log
osql -S %1 -d master -U %2 -P %3 -I < script3.sql > script3.log
osql -S %1 -d master -U %2 -P %3 -I < script4.sql > script4.log
@cls

The .sql files are just the SQL commands to create the tables and set up the relationships. This way is good, because it is pretty much version/platform independent, ie you can use the .sql files for SQL Server or Oracle or MySQL etc. Another alternative (again using batch files) is to restore a backup of the database in raw form. This is much faster, but doesn't survive upgrades etc. as well.

As far as installing the MSDE, there are .MSM's (merge modules) that you can just incorporate into your installer, and it will install everything in one shot, with your one big .MSI file. The only problem with this is that the MSDE and your app are now tied together. There may be instances where it is nicer to just install the MSDE separately.

Mike

I really appreciate the feedback from you both. I am going to take a look at this over the next few days.

Thanks again,



Larry Asher