deploy a. Net 2005 winforms application with a remote server

[steve_rm]

Hello,

I have a windows application that uses a sql server remote database.

Which is the best method to deploy an application that has to connect to a remote server on an another computer, that is part of the LAN Network.

I have been told that during installation the connection will be setup.

Thanks in advance,

Steve

[randem]

Well, you did not give enough information to decide anything. Are you using ODBC or a DSN-Less connection? Are you asking about installers? What?

[steve_rm]

Hello,

At the moment I am using the sqlclient connection. I have my connection string in the app.config.

Well as I have never deployed, I will never know what is best.

Give you could give a short example, i would be most grateful.

Thanks in advance,

Steve

[randem]

What does your connection string look like?

[steve_rm]

Hello Randem,

I this is my connection string

connectionString="Server=dev01;database=ServiceMaster;Integrated Security=True"

I have this in the app.config file.

Thanks,

Steve

[randem]

app.config file. Is this .Net?

[steve_rm]

Hello Ramden,

I am using visual basic 2005, with sql server 2005.

The application will be installed on a client machine, and the sql server will be on another computer connected to the LAN.

So when they install in the application they should all be able to access to the sql server database.

I think they want to be able to select the server on the install that they want to connect to.

I hope you understand,

Thanks for your help,

Steve

[randem]

All this info would have been helpful in the first post and in your title for the thread so that the proper person answers the questions. I am not familiar with .Net but now that the information is out there someone will be able to answer your questions.

[steve_rm]

Ok, thanks for the advice and help.

Hopefully someone will get back to me,

steve

[RobDog888]

Perhaps there may be something in the two articles/tutorials on .NET installations in the Application Forums FAQ - http://vbforums.com/showthread.php?t=315829 that may help.

[steve_rm]

Hello,

Thanks for you reply, but I have looked at the websites, but can't seem to find anything.

If you have any idea how to do this, please let me know.

Thanks,

Steve

[RobDog888]

When you state "Remote server" are you meaning web/internet access connections? If so then your sql server needs to be configured differently for that type of connection.

If its just a server on your network then just use the config file like your using. Are you running Express or Pro?

Express has Click Once for generating a setup installation package. Pro has a Setup Project that you can add to your project and compile both the program's exe and the setup package at the same time.

[steve_rm]

Hello,

Thanks for your reply.

When I said remote server, I mean one that is connected to the LAN.

The software I am using is Professional Visual Studio 2005 and SQL Server Developer 2005.

The connection is in the app.config file something like this:
cnn = "server=myServer; database=mydatabase; user=myuser; pwd=mypwd"

However, this will work if I know what server it is going to be used, but at present the user wants to have this choice when they install. The connection will be no good, as it could be for the wrong server.

Hope you understand my problem, I need to deploy this very soon.

Thanks in advance for any help you can give me.

Steve