SQL Packager 6.4

Deploying a database upgrade with your product

The situation

Your software application incorporates a Microsoft SQL Server or MSDE database. You have upgraded the application and the database, and you want to install the upgrade to the database schema and data along with the product.

Key challenges

• Seamlessly incorporating the database upgrade with the installation of your product.

How we can solve it

1. Use SQL Packager to package your database as a .NET executable.
   1. Select the updated objects and data that you want to be deployed.
   2. Preview the SQL code that will be used to create the schema and data.
   3. Generate the package, using compression.
2. Include the SQL Packager™ .NET executable and associated DLL files as language-independent support files in your installer.
3. Set up a custom action to launch the database installation executable, using SQL Packager's command line interface, and place it in the appropriate place in the installation execution sequence.

Benefits of our solution

• SQL Packager enables you to install the upgrade to the database as part of the standard installation procedure.
• You can optionally compress the package to reduce transfer and upload times.
• You can optionally create a C# project so that you can customize the package.

Support & documentation

• Worked example: Packaging a database as a .NET executable