Comments on: LINQ with SQL Server CE 3.5

By: Michael Morrison

Michael Morrison — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 20:07:57 +0000

Unfortunately, this host only allows Access (or MySql) for free. I am not aware that SQL Express can be run as a “file-mode” DB like Access could, and must be installed. Am I mistaken?

By: Matt

Matt — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 17:01:17 +0000

Hi Michael, The scenario I described in this article will not work for Web applications. The DLL libraries I mentioned for xcopy are not .NET assemblies; they are C/C++ binaries used to run the SQL Server Compact Edition engine directly. What you want is SQL Server Express Edition. Most Web hosts support SQL Server Express, and it is very easy to learn how to use it in your Web projects, include MVC applications. Good luck!

By: Michael Morrison

Michael Morrison — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 16:07:21 +0000

After hours of searching on the web, I finally came across your article and thought, “voila, there’s the answer I need”. Well, I followed the instructions and copied all my files over to my host (asp.net mvc app). But it still isn’t working. It just gives an unspecified error. here’s the stack trace, any clue?:
at System.Data.SqlServerCe.SqlCeConnection.ProcessResults(Int32 hr) at System.Data.SqlServerCe.SqlCeConnection.Open(Boolean silent) at System.Data.SqlServerCe.SqlCeConnection.Open() at System.Data.Linq.SqlClient.SqlConnectionManager.UseConnection(IConnectionUser user) at System.Data.Linq.SqlClient.SqlProvider.Execute(Expression query, QueryInfo queryInfo, IObjectReaderFactory factory, Object[] parentArgs, Object[] userArgs, ICompiledSubQuery[] subQueries, Object lastResult) at System.Data.Linq.SqlClient.SqlProvider.ExecuteAll(Expression query, QueryInfo[] queryInfos, IObjectReaderFactory factory, Object[] userArguments, ICompiledSubQuery[] subQueries) at System.Data.Linq.SqlClient.SqlProvider.System.Data.Linq.Provider.IProvider.Execute(Expression query) at System.Data.Linq.DataQuery`1.System.Collections.Generic.IEnumerable.GetEnumerator() at LakeviewMVC.Controllers.SaleController.Index()

By: Matt

Matt — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 14:31:35 +0000

You’re welcome, Dan. Thank you for the added tip!

By: Dan

Dan — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 15:01:39 +0000

Thanks for this, saved me heaps of hassle! As a side note, if you’re running SP1 for SQLCE 3.5 then you need to change the version to 3.5.1.0.

By: Matt

Matt — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 03:25:39 +0000

Glad it helped!

By: Michael

Michael — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 06:54:50 +0000

Thanks a lot for this, I was already pulling my hair over this problem for 2 days.

By: Matt

Matt — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 03:09:23 +0000

I’m glad this helped!

Actually, I could not find this particular scenario documented even before SP1. Perhaps, the topic was overlooked in favor of merge modules and now only the MSI. Either way, this is viable and should be updated in the documentation. Maybe in the next release; we’ll see.

By: Daniel stolt

Daniel stolt — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 22:08:53 +0000

Thank you so much for explaining this! This post is a real lifesaver!

It seems the sections about xcopy deployment have mysteriously disappeared from the SQL CE 3.5 Books Online as of SP1, and now it seems that only the MSI is supported… that made me very upset until I found this post. Wonder why they do not consider this solution viable enough to support and document it…

By: Matt

Matt — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 22:27:33 +0000

@Omid

You are quite welcome! I’m glad that helped. It was very difficult to figure out, and I would not wish the ordeal on anyone.