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Hello Everyone,
Please i need help on how i could bundle my Visual Basic 6.0 Application, SQL Server 2005/2008 Express Edition, Crystal Report 9.0 Components and Microsoft Windows Installer/.Net Framework so that my Clients can install all from just one CD Installation.
Please anybody!
Thank you
Thread moved.
Hi,
You could try inno-setup to create the setup program. I doubt the Package & Deployment Wizard can package the files from 2005/2008 editions.
One of the handicaps to using either SQL Server Express or the .Net Framework is that they can be clumsy to deploy. The main reason for this is that they are both designed to be installed by users (or admins) as distinct pieces of software, and cannot be easily included in standard setup packages as components.
The simplest approach is probably to include your application setup and the other setups on your CD within folders. Then have another "main setup" in the CD's root that sequentially runs each sub-setup in the proper order.
Some packaging tools may do just this for you, assuming you supply the right directives or manually write the install script.
As I have mentioned before, Microsoft provides some basic guidance on this. Read through articles such as Embedding SQL Server Express into Custom Applications and Use the Visual Studio 2005 Bootstrapper to Kick-Start Your Installation.
I'm very surprised we haven't heard anything from others who actually use those two large chunks of software. One reason may be that most individual developers who use them don't deal with deployment issues. Perhaps they are either hobby developers or corporate developers who rely on IT staff to perform administrative installs to get these things into place on servers and desktops.
There are few ISVs I know at this time who are willing to risk the support headaches of .Net and SQL Server Express.