[wix-users] Installing SQL database

[John Cooper]

It all depends.

1) You can use SqlExtensions against an existing Sql Server, Sql Express, or Sql LocalDb (I've done all three).  The limitation is that SqlExtensions has limitations when installing to default instances.  But it works just fine otherwise.

2) You can write custom actions to deploy using SqlPackage and the SDDT to an existing Sql Server, Sql Express, or Sql LocalDb.  This method does not have the limitation on default instances.  But it is quite complex.

3) As an intermediate approach, you can have your sqlproj generate the deployment script and use the SqlExtensions to deploy it.

I've done all three, but I've invested a lot of time and effort into two.

--
John Merryweather Cooper
Senior Software Engineer | Integration Development Group | Enterprise Notification Service
Jack Henry & Associates, Inc.® | Lenexa, KS  66214 | Ext:  431050 |JoCooper at jackhenry.com



-----Original Message-----
From: wix-users [mailto:wix-users-bounces at lists.wixtoolset.org] On Behalf Of Phill Hogland
Sent: Friday, October 9, 2015 1:14 PM
To: WiX Uses (wix-users at lists.wixtoolset.org) <wix-users at lists.wixtoolset.org>
Subject: [wix-users] Installing SQL database

The e-mail below is from an external source.  Please do not open attachments or click links from an unknown or suspicious origin.

The confusion that reigns in my mind, probably prevents a coherent question, but I will appreciate any advice.

I have been asked to create some setups (bundle/msi) for a client and server application which shares a database.  The developer/business is not clear on the specification and is asking me basically what is possible.  I have seen several posts about installing SqlExpress.  I downloaded it and started to write a bundle/ ExePackage to do some testing.  I have also done some reading on WixSqlExptension, and am left with some questions.  And I saw Rob's comment here:
http://windows-installer-xml-wix-toolset.687559.n2.nabble.com/Burn-SQL-Express-Install-Fails-0x84b40000-td7391182.html
"PS: When you discover the correct set of parameters, let us know here.
There is a plan afoot to "pre-bake" the silent install of a bunch of well known redists so you can use them by just doing PackageGroupRef Id="x" at the correct place in your Chain. "

So if I want to create a SQL db do I just use WixSqlExtenstion and SqlDatabase element or do I also need to install SQLExpress first?
Or do I install SqlExpress and not use SqlDatabase element.  I am not clear on how they relate to each other.

Thanks.
Phill

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