Deploying multi-user sql express database to SQL Express Server

Okay, I've read massive topics on ClickOnce, and embedded database applications, etc, etc.

I need a handful of good suggestions how I can create a deployment package, to get my sql express database onto a SQL Express server.

The database will need to be multi-user, because I am also developing a WinForms application to connect to the SQL Express database.

I'm thinking I need to use some automated scripting features, to generate scripts for the database once I am done (unless you have a better suggestion).

After that, I need to know what to do with those scripts, and how can I create a setup / deployment packages to run those scripts against a SQL Express server.

The other alterntative obviously is to copy my sql express database, and run an attach command. This will work the first time, only because this will have been the first deployment of this database.

Please keep in mind when answering this question, that I will not be embedding the database, and as far as I understand ClickOnce is a feature for use with embedded databases or user instance databases (not sure).

Daniel Crane

Ping!

Is anybody reading these posts?

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Dan,

You may find these sources useful.

SQL Server 2005 UnAttended Installations
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms144259.aspx
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb264562.aspx
http://www.devx.com/dbzone/Article/31648

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Hmmm... Thanks Arnie this information is helpful to a degree.

I was hoping to get more information on how to create an automated installation, like Microsoft does, when distributing database samples. Something I could just run on a SQL Server, and have the installation "install" the database.

Right now, if I want to do something similar with an application installation. I would create a VB.net project, write the code, test, etc. Then I would create a deployment package.

What would I do if I want to have a "database" project. Am not referring to the actual Database project in VS.NET Pro. I want to be able to create a database, probably script it out entirely, then create an "installation" package.

Right now all the info I have says buy a 3rd party tool, because Microsoft stuff doesn't give us the ability to do this, unless it's a user-instance express database (which is not the same as multi-user).

that's a bit frustrating, because I am a one man shop, and would like to be able to manage larger projects for my customers. Without having to buy Team Enterprise for Database Developers (or whatever it's called). I love Microsoft, but they seem to keep the single person, or small team from having access to the tools that we really need, unless we are willing to pay the same price as huge corporations.

I've found a relatively low cost tool called EasySql Deployment, but I was hoping to do it "the Microsoft way". Please let me know if you have any additional suggestion, because I do appreciate the input!!

Thanks again!

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OK, digging a little deeper, perhaps these are more to your needs.

Deploy Database with MSI
http://msdn.microsoft.com/msdnmag/issues/04/09/customdatabaseinstaller/

Deploy Database with Application

http://www.codeproject.com/useritems/Deploy_your_database.asp

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Thanks for that extra info! The CodeProject article really helps!