Installing/Deploying Windows App with SQL Server 2005 CE

I am a little bit confused about making an installer/deployer.

I have an application using SQL Server 2005 CE (I have just updated to the most recent version Jan 2007). It will run on a new desktop PC (windows XP) if I install the SQL CE runtime and then copy the .EXE and the .SDF database file. This is great but my client wants the whole thing to install as one operation. I thought click once could do this but it seems that is only for Pocket PC targets? Can anyone point me to a method to make an appropriate installer please?

Pete

I am using the following:
SQLServerCE31-EN.msi - installer for SQL CE server runtime
SSCE31VSTools-ENU.exe - installed over VS 2005 SP1.Have you tried publishing it? - I have no problem doing this for standard apps.

In Brian Noyes' book "Smart Client Deployment with ClickOnce' there are several small sections on how to deploy CE

P235 "An example is the SQL Server 2005 CE CTP that is available at the time of this writing. You can download the .msi file to do and install of SQL Compact and you can also download the Bootstrapper Manifest needed to add SQL Compact to your Bootstrapper. If you are provided the Bootstrapper files, all you need to do is place the files in the right location."

I can recommend this book - written in a logical straightforward manner. Also covered is Deploying a (sic CE) Client Database with your Application (starting P 167)

Here is the video link from Steve Lasker's blog on CE deployment http://blogs.msdn.com/stevelasker/archive/2006/07/06/SQLServerEverywhereDeploymentOptions.aspx|||If you use something like Inno Setup you can just have the installer copy the SQL Server Compact Edition dll files to the application's folder. Then you won't have to worry about using the MSI file. Check the SQL Server Compact Edition Books Online for more.

Or, (still using Inno Setup) add the MSI file to the setup project and run it with the necessary options to install it right before the installation ends.
|||Great responses guys! I'll try everything you suggest and feed back here.

Pete|||Ok, thanks for the references to Steve Laskers blog. The screencast of deployment options gave me the information I needed. I have ended up using the VS Setup project to install the SQL CE dlls into the app folder and the GAC. That is great for me (I didn't want publish/deploy). I am sure Inno would have done the same but I don't have time to learn another setup app now (I've used NCIS as well in the past). Anyway, kudos to all of you and Steve Lasker and the MS Virtual PC people without which I would need 2 PCs to test all this...

Pete|||I should mention that it looks like just copying SQL Server Compact Edition's DLLs is not a way to do it anymore. I remember seeing it in the SQL Server Everywhere Edition Books Online but it seems to have been removed from the SQL Server Compact Edition Books Online. Just thought I shouldd mention this for anyone else who reads this thread.

Installing sqlxml for a .NET app

Hi,
I have created a .NET client application that uses the managed SQLXML
components. I now need to create a installer for my app. I wnat to a void
having to run sqlxml.msi separatly. Is there an easy way to avoid this?
Is there a merge module I can use? if not what files ect. do I need to
include?
Thanks
Steven EvansWe only package SqlXml in msi's and there are no seperatate mergeable
installers.
"Steven Evans" <Steven Evans@.discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:348E0FD8-3158-4AD8-A577-EF7F4E872D06@.microsoft.com...
> Hi,
> I have created a .NET client application that uses the managed SQLXML
> components. I now need to create a installer for my app. I wnat to a
> void
> having to run sqlxml.msi separatly. Is there an easy way to avoid this?
> Is there a merge module I can use? if not what files ect. do I need to
> include?
> Thanks
> Steven Evans

Installing sqlxml for a .NET app

Hi,
I have created a .NET client application that uses the managed SQLXML
components. I now need to create a installer for my app. I wnat to a void
having to run sqlxml.msi separatly. Is there an easy way to avoid this?
Is there a merge module I can use? if not what files ect. do I need to
include?
Thanks
Steven Evans
We only package SqlXml in msi's and there are no seperatate mergeable
installers.
"Steven Evans" <Steven Evans@.discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:348E0FD8-3158-4AD8-A577-EF7F4E872D06@.microsoft.com...
> Hi,
> I have created a .NET client application that uses the managed SQLXML
> components. I now need to create a installer for my app. I wnat to a
> void
> having to run sqlxml.msi separatly. Is there an easy way to avoid this?
> Is there a merge module I can use? if not what files ect. do I need to
> include?
> Thanks
> Steven Evans
sql

installing sql server express 2005

hi friends!!!

to install sql server express 2005, do i have to install the windows installer 3.0. when i run the setup, after extracting the files, there is a message displaying such that to continue installation, you need to install the windows installer 3.0.

is it so?

regards.,

sekar
Hi,

.Net 2 is enough to install SQL2005 Express. Refer the below link to know the installation requirements of SQL Expres.


|||

what is the OS on this box? This error is about Windows Installer not .net Framework. Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 and Windows XP Service Pack 2 both include Windows Installer 3.0. For all other operating systems, you must first download and install Windows Installer 3.0.

Madhu

Installing SQL Express - XP Home

Hi,

We're creating an installer package for SQL Express 2005 and I'm using the built-in setup project in VS 2005 to create my MSI.

Everything appears to be working well, excpet that on Windows XP Home the SQL Express package is exiting with an error code 70002. I've googled for several days now and simply can't find any help on the 70002 exit code. Can anyone help ?

The command line arguments (I've split them onto seperate lines for clarity) we're passing to "sqlexpr32.exe" are : -

/qn

INSTANCENAME=OurInstance

SAPWD="OurPassword"

ADDLOCAL=SQL_Engine,SQL_Data_Files,Client_Components,Connectivity

SQLBROWSERAUTOSTART=1

SQLACCOUNT="NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM"

SQLBROWSERACCOUNT="NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM"

AGTACCOUNT="NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM"

ASACCOUNT="NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM"

RSACCOUNT="NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM"

SECURITYMODE=SQL

DISABLENETWORKPROTOCOLS=0

SQLAUTOSTART=1

Are you getting an error in the logs? Can you search your log folder for the text string "value 3" and post the 10 or so lines above it? This should give a more helpful message.

Thanks,
Sam Lester (MSFT)

Installing SQL 2005 Workgroup failing

I am trying to install SQL 2005 WorkGroup on a machine that falls within the hardware specs, but the installer says that it dosn't make it..

Hardware

Celeron 1g with 760m ram, installing on SBS Standard 2003 SP1.

Anyone have any ideas how to move forward.

Hi,

try to look in

C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\90\Setup Bootstrap\LOG

to see what error occured during the install process.

HTH, jens Suessmeyer.

|||

Glenn,

Go ahead and file a bug with http://lab.msdn.microsoft.com/productfeedback/ and include the log files from %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft SQL Server\90\Setup Bootstrap\Log\Files. Also include all relevant information about your hardware and what OS you are installing on. I'll look at the log files and get back to you.

-Jeffrey