How to deploy SQL Server Compact Edition 4.0?
Solution 1:
i've created the solution.
SQL Server Compact Edition is comprised of 7 dlls:
-
sqlceme40.dllThe undocumented, native, flat API library (The .netSystem.Data.SqlServerCe.dllassembly is a wrapper around this dll) -
sqlceca40.dllA COM dll that implementsEngine,Replication,Errorand a few other COM objects -
sqlceoledb40.dllA COM dll that implements an OLEdb provider for SSCE (allowing the use of ADO) -
sqlcese40.dllunknown -
sqlceqp40.dllunknown -
sqlcecompact40.dllunknown -
sqlceer40en.dllunknown
The problem with trying to simply ship these dlls is that two of them are COM objects. COM object dll's need to be registered, e.g.:
>regsvr32 sqlceca40.dll
>regsvr32 sqlceoledb40.dll
The problem is that registering a COM object requires administrative privileges (using a global solution to solve a local problem). This means that your users would
- have to install your application (which you don't want to do)
- requires your users to have administrative permissions (which you don't want to do)
Fortunately, starting in 2001 with Windows XP, Microsoft solved this COMmon problem: Registration-Free COM.
First, you will declare that your application has a "dependancy" on SQL Server Compact Edition 4.0. You do this by authoring an assembly manifest:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?>
<assembly xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:asm.v1" manifestVersion="1.0">
<assemblyIdentity
version="1.0.0.0"
processorArchitecture="X86"
name="client"
type="win32"
/>
<description>Hyperion Pro</description>
<!-- We have a dependancy on SQL Server CE 4.0 -->
<dependency>
<dependentAssembly>
<assemblyIdentity
type="win32"
name="Microsoft.SQLSERVER.CE.4.0"
version="4.0.0.0" processorArchitecture="x86"
/>
</dependentAssembly>
</dependency>
<!-- We are high-dpi aware on Windows Vista -->
<asmv3:application xmlns:asmv3="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:asm.v3">
<asmv3:windowsSettings
xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/SMI/2005/WindowsSettings">
<dpiAware>true</dpiAware>
</asmv3:windowsSettings>
</asmv3:application>
<!-- We were designed and tested on Windows 7 -->
<compatibility xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:compatibility.v1">
<application>
<!--The ID below indicates application support for Windows 7 -->
<supportedOS Id="{35138b9a-5d96-4fbd-8e2d-a2440225f93a}"/>
<!--The ID below indicates application support for Windows Vista -->
<!--supportedOS Id="{e2011457-1546-43c5-a5fe-008deee3d3f0}"/-->
</application>
</compatibility>
<!-- Disable file and registry virtualization -->
<trustInfo xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:asm.v2">
<security>
<requestedPrivileges>
<requestedExecutionLevel level="asInvoker" uiAccess="false"/>
</requestedPrivileges>
</security>
</trustInfo>
</assembly>
You can place this file beside your executable (as Hyperion.exe.manifest), or you can build it into your application as an RT_MANIFEST resource.
Notice that we have a dependancy against as assembly called Microsoft.SQLSERVER.CE.4.0. We create this assembly first by creating a directory called:
Microsoft.SQLSERVER.CE.4.0
When you deploy your application, you will place all 7 dll's that comprise this "assembly" into this Microsoft.SQLSERVER.CE.4.0 subfolder, along with a special .manifest file:
📁C:\
╰──📁Users
╰──📁Ian
╰──📁AppData
╰──📁Local
╰──📁Hyperion Pro
├──📄Hyperion.exe
├──📄Hyperion.exe.manifest
╰──📁Microsoft.SQLSERVER.CE.4.0
├──📄sqlceme40.dll
├──📄sqlceca40.dll
├──📄sqlceoledb40.dll
├──📄sqlcese40.dll
├──📄sqlceqp40.dll
├──📄sqlcecompact40.dll
├──📄sqlceer40en.dll
╰──📄Microsoft.SQLSERVER.CE.4.0.manifest
In other words, the application folder contains your application, and the Microsoft.SQLSERVER.CE.4.0 folder:
Directory of C:\Users\Ian\AppData\Local\Hyperion Pro
05/29/2012 09:23 AM 1,899,008 Hyperion.exe
05/28/2012 01:46 PM 1,587 Hyperion.exe.manifest
05/29/2012 09:27 AM <DIR> Microsoft.SQLSERVER.CE.4.0
2 File(s) 1,900,675 bytes
1 Dir(s) 20,851,503,104 bytes free
The next part of your task is to define the Microsoft.SQLSERVER.CE.4.0.manifest file. Registration-free COM allows a manifest file to declare all the COM objects and their clsid's. This took a lot of reverse engineering. But the assembly manifest for SQL Server Compact Edition 4.0 is:
Microsoft.SQLSERVER.CE.4.0.manifest:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?>
<assembly xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:asm.v1" manifestVersion="1.0">
<assemblyIdentity
type="win32"
name="Microsoft.SQLSERVER.CE.4.0"
processorArchitecture="x86"
version="4.0.0.0" />
<!-- OLEDB Provider -->
<file name = "sqlceoledb40.dll">
<comClass
description = "Microsoft SQL Server Compact OLE DB Provider for Windows"
clsid="{2006C53A-C915-41EA-BAA9-9EAB3A1FBF97}"
threadingModel = "Both"
progid = "Microsoft.SQLSERVER.CE.OLEDB.4.0" />
</file>
<!-- Native flat engine library -->
<file name="sqlceme40.dll" />
<!-- Engine and Replication COM object -->
<file name="sqlceca40.dll">
<comClass description="Active SSCE Engine Object"
clsid="{68D45319-3702-4837-9F8E-DA6845D82482}"
threadingModel="Both"
progid="SSCE.Engine.4.0" />
<comClass description="SSCE Error Object"
clsid="{36228F21-B5C7-4054-8DC2-47D3E236E8B5}"
threadingModel="Both"
progid="SSCE.Error.4.0" />
<comClass description="SSCE Param Object"
clsid="{0B3A7B75-A9B0-4580-9AA5-1A7DA47AD1CB}"
threadingModel="Both"
progid="SSCE.Param.4.0" />
<comClass description="Active SSCE Replication Object"
clsid="{11D5B2D4-26A4-44F5-A48B-0FAC3A919ED8}"
threadingModel="Both"
progid="SSCE.Replication.4.0" />
<comClass description="Active SSCE remote data access Object"
clsid="{58BC9AD6-BF11-40B3-9AB1-E3F2ED784C08}"
threadingModel="Both"
progid="SSCE.RemoteDataAccess.4.0" />
<typelib tlbid="{CE4AACFA-3CFD-4028-B2D9-F272314F07C8}"
version="4.0"
helpdir=""/>
</file>
<comInterfaceExternalProxyStub
name="ISSCEEngine"
iid="{10EC3E45-0870-4D7B-9A2D-F4F81B6B7FA2}"
proxyStubClsid32="{00020424-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}"
baseInterface="{00000000-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}"
tlbid = "{CE4AACFA-3CFD-4028-B2D9-F272314F07C8}" />
<comInterfaceExternalProxyStub
name="ISSCEError"
iid="{31155A3B-871D-407F-9F73-DEBFAC7EFBE3}"
proxyStubClsid32="{00020424-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}"
baseInterface="{00000000-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}"
tlbid = "{CE4AACFA-3CFD-4028-B2D9-F272314F07C8}" />
<comInterfaceExternalProxyStub
name="ISSCERDA"
iid="{4F04F79D-1FF1-4DCD-802B-3D51B9356C14}"
proxyStubClsid32="{00020424-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}"
baseInterface="{00000000-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}"
tlbid = "{CE4AACFA-3CFD-4028-B2D9-F272314F07C8}" />
<comInterfaceExternalProxyStub
name="ISSCEParams"
iid="{A78AFF90-049C-41EC-B1D8-665968AAC4A6}"
proxyStubClsid32="{00020424-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}"
baseInterface="{00000000-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}"
tlbid = "{CE4AACFA-3CFD-4028-B2D9-F272314F07C8}" />
<comInterfaceExternalProxyStub
name="ISSCEParam"
iid="{A9876C60-2667-44E5-89DB-E9A46ED392C0}"
proxyStubClsid32="{00020424-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}"
baseInterface="{00000000-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}"
tlbid = "{CE4AACFA-3CFD-4028-B2D9-F272314F07C8}" />
<comInterfaceExternalProxyStub
name="ISSCEErrors"
iid="{C40143CA-E9F9-4FF4-B8B4-CC02C064FC1B}"
proxyStubClsid32="{00020424-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}"
baseInterface="{00000000-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}"
tlbid = "{CE4AACFA-3CFD-4028-B2D9-F272314F07C8}" />
<comInterfaceExternalProxyStub
name="ISSCEMerge"
iid="{C6EB397F-D585-428D-A4F4-454A1842CB47}"
proxyStubClsid32="{00020424-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}"
baseInterface="{00000000-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}"
tlbid = "{CE4AACFA-3CFD-4028-B2D9-F272314F07C8}" />
<file name="sqlceqp40.dll" />
<file name="sqlcese40.dll" />
<file name="sqlcecompact40.dll" />
<file name="sqlceer40EN.dll" />
</assembly>
The a final gotcha is that, in the same way we have a dependancy on an assembly called Microsoft.SQLSERVER.CE.4.0, SQL Server Compact Edition 4.0 in turn has a dependancy on an assembly called Microsoft.VC90.CRT. Fortunately your install of SQLCE ships with a copy of this assembly:
📁Microsoft.VC90.CRT
├──📄Microsoft.VC90.CRT.manifest
╰──📄msvcr90.dll
This means the final directory structure is:
📁C:\
╰──📁Users
╰──📁Ian
╰──📁AppData
╰──📁Local
╰──📁Hyperion Pro
├──📄Hyperion.exe
├──📄Hyperion.exe.manifest
╰──📁Microsoft.SQLSERVER.CE.4.0
├──📄Microsoft.SQLSERVER.CE.4.0.manifest
├──📄sqlceme40.dll
├──📄sqlceca40.dll
├──📄sqlceoledb40.dll
├──📄sqlcese40.dll
├──📄sqlceqp40.dll
├──📄sqlcecompact40.dll
├──📄sqlceer40en.dll
╰──📁Microsoft.VC90.CRT
├──📄Microsoft.VC90.CRT.manifest
╰──📄msvcr90.dll
Solution 2:
For Sql Server Ce 4.0 SP1:
Instead of tackling all the gritty stuff of deployment, I just opted to include the setup files themselves into my exe as EmbeddedResource and did this little helper:
public static class RedistHelper
{
private static readonly ILog Log = LogManager.GetLogger(
MethodBase.GetCurrentMethod().DeclaringType);
private static readonly string SqlCeRedistName64 = "SSCERuntime_x64-ENU.exe";
private static readonly string SqlCeRedistName32 = "SSCERuntime_x86-ENU.exe";
private static readonly Dictionary<string, Assembly> Assemblies =
new Dictionary<string, Assembly>(StringComparer.OrdinalIgnoreCase);
private static string SqlCeRedistName
{
get
{
return Environment.Is64BitOperatingSystem
? SqlCeRedistName64
: SqlCeRedistName32;
}
}
public static bool IsSqlCeInstalled()
{
RegistryKey localKey = RegistryKey.OpenBaseKey(RegistryHive.LocalMachine,
RegistryView.Registry64);
RegistryKey ret = localKey.OpenSubKey(
@"SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Microsoft SQL Server Compact Edition\v4.0\ENU");
return ret != null;
}
private static byte[] ReadFully(Stream input)
{
byte[] buffer = new byte[16 * 1024];
using (MemoryStream ms = new MemoryStream())
{
int read;
while ((read = input.Read(buffer, 0, buffer.Length)) > 0)
ms.Write(buffer, 0, read);
return ms.ToArray();
}
}
public static Assembly OnCurrentDomainOnAssemblyResolve(object sender,
ResolveEventArgs args)
{
Assembly dll;
var name = new AssemblyName(args.Name).Name + ".dll";
if (!Assemblies.TryGetValue(name, out dll))
{
Assembly res = typeof(RedistHelper).Assembly;
using (Stream input =
res.GetManifestResourceStream(typeof(RedistHelper), name))
{
if (input == null)
{
Log.WarnFormat("Assembly {0} does not contain {1}", res, name);
return null;
}
dll = Assembly.Load(ReadFully(input));
if (dll == null)
{
Log.WarnFormat("Assembly {0} failed to load.", name);
return null;
}
Log.InfoFormat("Loaded assembly {0}.", name);
Assemblies[name] = dll;
return dll;
}
}
return dll;
}
public static void InstallSqlCe()
{
using (Stream stream =
typeof(RedistHelper).Assembly.GetManifestResourceStream(
typeof(RedistHelper), SqlCeRedistName))
{
Debug.Assert(stream != null);
byte[] bytes = new byte[(int)stream.Length];
stream.Read(bytes, 0, bytes.Length);
string path = Path.Combine(Path.GetTempPath(), SqlCeRedistName);
if (File.Exists(path))
File.Delete(path);
File.WriteAllBytes(path, bytes);
Process process = new Process
{
StartInfo = new ProcessStartInfo
{
FileName = path,
UseShellExecute = true
}
};
process.Start();
process.WaitForExit();
}
}
}
The only thing that really gave me a headache was referencing the System.Data.SqlServerCe.dll - it simply wouldnt IlMerge, so instead I loaded it on demand, in my main:
AppDomain.CurrentDomain.AssemblyResolve += RedistHelper.OnCurrentDomainOnAssemblyResolve;