Hi,
I have built a windows application on vs2003 that used1) a sql 2000 server to load a database2) inbuilt crystal reports from vs2003I would like to deploy it on the client side. (There is no server to load to)
I have utilized the setup wizard functions within vs2003 to generate .exe and msi. files.
I understand from some websites I would need to install sql server on the client machine in order for the windows application to work. But when I am fiddling with some windows applications that I have downloaded from the internet, there seems to be no need for downloading of the sql server in order for it to work. All it seems to need is an external mdb file.Should I still install sql server on the client side or is putting the mdb file in the root directory of the windows application enough? Or am i missing out on something else?Really would appreciate any help in this.
MDB files are (Microsoft Office) Access databases. That is a local, file-based database platform. It is a different platform from what you have been developing with - SQL Server is a networkable, service-base database platform.
It seems that you intend to develop a Windows application that accesses a local database, rather than draw data from a common, central database. Getting your users to install a full-fledge Standard edition of SQL Server each is way too expensive (unless your users have a couple of thousands of dollars to spare per machine). What you should do is install a lite edition of SQL Server - MSDE (Microsoft SQL-server Desktop Engine) - which is free for your application's use and distribution. The deployment resource kit will teach you how to package it as part of your application setup.
The melody of logic will always play out the truth. ~ Narumi Ayumu, Spiral