deploy a database application?

[Ugojallas]

pls how can i deploy a database application with microsoft access using visual studio 2010

 

[jmcilhinney]

The fact that it's a database application using Access is fairly irrelevant because it doesn't affect how the application is deployed. So that begs the question: do you know how to deploy an application without a database? You have two choices in VS: you can publish your project to create a ClickOnce installer or you can add a Setup project to your solution. There's information about both in the MSDN Library so you should do some reading on the subject and then post back with specific questions. Note that C# Express only supports ClickOnce.

clickonce deployment - MSDN Search
setup project - MSDN Search

 

[Ugojallas]

yes i know how to deploy without software. after i deploy the application it showed me error message that it can't find the microsoft access file in a particular location.so what am asking is how do i include the file into the application

 

[jmcilhinney]

If by "deploy without software" you mean what is commonly termed XCOPY deployment, i.e. you simply copy the files onto the user's machine using Windows Explorer, then you simply copy the Access data file that way too. If the application couldn't find the data file in the location it looked at then either:

1. you didn't deploy the data file; or
2. you deployed the data file to the wrong place; or
3. the application is looking for the data file in the wrong place.

Which is it?

 

[Ugojallas]

the application is looking for the data file in the wrong place

 

[jmcilhinney]

Then that would imply that your connection string is wrong. What does your connection string look like? Is it stored in your config file or is it hard-coded into the app.

 

[Ugojallas]

it is stored in the config file

 

[jmcilhinney]

Well, the value you have in the config file is obviously wrong but, as you failed to show me what it looks like when I specifically asked, I can't tell you why it's wrong

 

[Ugojallas]

pls how can i send you the application to you so you look at it pls.(thanks for your time and your guide)

 

[jmcilhinney]

I don't want you to send me the application and you don't need to. All you need to do is post your connection string, which I've already asked for twice now.

 

[Ugojallas]

i don't have connection string.i use add New data source from data menu in visual studio

 

[jmcilhinney]

You do have a connection string. If you didn't then you wouldn't be able to connect at all. The Data Source wizard creates the connection string for you and offers to display it to you. It also asks you whether you want it stored in the config file, which it is by default. Unless you unchecked that box, you can find your connection string in the config file, as well as on the Settings page of the project properties.

 

[Ugojallas]

<add name="WindowsFormsApplication1.Properties.Settings.Computer_EngineerConnectionString"
connectionString="Provider=Microsoft.ACE.OLEDB.12.0;Data Source="C:\Users\jallasSQL\Documents\Computer Engineer.accdb""
providerName="System.Data.OleDb" /> this is my connection string

 

[jmcilhinney]

This is your conection string:

Provider=Microsoft.ACE.OLEDB.12. 0;Data Source="C:\Users\jallasSQL\Documents\Computer Engineer.accdb"

So, presumably that is the folder that contains the data file on your own development machine. The reason that the connection string is placed in the config file is specifically so that it can be edited after deployment in case the the database is in a different location. The user needs to edit the connection string to use the path of the data file on their machine.

The alternative is to use a location and connection string that will work on all systems. The way local data files are usually handled is to add the file to the project, so that the original is in the source folder with all the other source files, and then let the IDE copy it to the output folder when you build. That has several advantages. First, it means that you can use |DataDirectory| for the folder path in the connection string and then it will work without modification on all systems. Second, it means that your source database is not polluted with test data so each user receives it in pristine condition.