ADO help required

These are are good questions, but this is generally onsidered the VB
"Classic" database newsgroup. Not sure why there wasn't one for .Net, but
microsoft.public.dotnet.framework.adonet is where most of these questions
land.

One solution to your first issue is to code the Connection string and use a
variable for the server name:

Dim strConnString As String = "data source=" & OurServerName & ";" & _
"initial catalog=WinMatrix;integrated security=SSPI;"

Check out the following links for your MSDE install issue:

<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;281983" target="_blank">http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;281983</a>
<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.microsoft.com/sql/downloads/2000/sp3.asp" target="_blank">http://www.microsoft.com/sql/downloads/2000/sp3.asp</a>
<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=/support/servicepacks/SQL/2000/SP3ReadMe.asp" target="_blank">http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=/support/servicepacks/S...2000/SP</a>


"David" <david.RemoveThis@orbitcoms.com> wrote in message
news:Xh6zc.19937$sj4.15653@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
 > I have been going around in circles trying to understand the method of
 > creating a database in VB.Net 2003 and distributing that application and
 > database.
 >
 > It seems if I use the Server Explorer to create the pledbConnection etc,
 > the link to the database works ok on the local machine but when the
 > application is distributed, the program points to the original path (which
 > of course
 > is different to the target system). Is there any way to maintain the
 > relative path to the database when you distribute the application.
 >
 > Secondly, the tutorials I have point heavily to using a SQL server
instead
 > of oledB . I found MSDE 2000 and downloaded it but cannot install it. The
 > dialog indicates it needs a strong SA password and I am not sure what
 > this is and how to apply it.
 >
 > Also, if I eventually managed to install MSDE, can it be installed with
 > the application or does the user needs to install this separately ?
 >
 > Thanks in advance.
 >
 ><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: ADO help required 

The VB.Net group suggest I post it in the database group.

This is adatbase orientated al\fterall, so I expect this is the correct
forum for this request ???

I do not understand your motivation. If you do not have or am not wiilling
to offer any constructive advice then that is fine, you need not ansrwe the
post. For those who DO have the
relevant experiance with database connectivity (an this IS a database
related forum), then I look forward to your response.

Thanks


"Steven Burn" <pvt RemoveThis @noyb.com> wrote in message
news:OkOijgaUEHA.1020@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...
 > You need to post this in a VB.Net newsgroup......
 >
 > --
 >
 > Regards
 >
 > Steven Burn
 > Ur I.T. Mate Group
<font color=purple> > <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.it-mate.co.uk</font" target="_blank">www.it-mate.co.uk</font</a>>
 >
 > Keeping it FREE!
 >
 >
 > "David" <david RemoveThis @orbitcoms.com> wrote in message
 > news:Xh6zc.19937$sj4.15653@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
  > > I have been going around in circles trying to understand the method of
  > > creating a database in VB.Net 2003 and distributing that application and
  > > database.
  > >
  > > It seems if I use the Server Explorer to create the pledbConnection etc,
  > > the link to the database works ok on the local machine but when the
  > > application is distributed, the program points to the original path
(which
  > > of course
  > > is different to the target system). Is there any way to maintain the
  > > relative path to the database when you distribute the application.
  > >
  > > Secondly, the tutorials I have point heavily to using a SQL server
 > instead
  > > of oledB . I found MSDE 2000 and downloaded it but cannot install it.
The
  > > dialog indicates it needs a strong SA password and I am not sure what
  > > this is and how to apply it.
  > >
  > > Also, if I eventually managed to install MSDE, can it be installed with
  > > the application or does the user needs to install this separately ?
  > >
  > > Thanks in advance.
  > >
  > >
 >
 ><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: ADO help required 

 > Secondly, the tutorials I have point heavily to using a SQL server instead
 > of oledB . I found MSDE 2000 and downloaded it but cannot install it. The
 > dialog indicates it needs a strong SA password and I am not sure what
 > this is and how to apply it.


I believe the installer takes command line arguments by which you pass
the desired SA Password.

<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;810826" target="_blank">http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;810826</a>

<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;814463" target="_blank">http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;814463</a>



D.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: ADO help required 

I didn't mean to sound condescending or patronising.......

--

Regards

Steven Burn
Ur I.T. Mate Group
<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.it-mate.co.uk" target="_blank">www.it-mate.co.uk</a>

Keeping it FREE!


"David" <david RemoveThis @orbitcoms.com> wrote in message
news:RPezc.26665$sj4.2568@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
 > The VB.Net group suggest I post it in the database group.
 >
 > This is adatbase orientated al\fterall, so I expect this is the correct
 > forum for this request ???
 >
 > I do not understand your motivation. If you do not have or am not wiilling
 > to offer any constructive advice then that is fine, you need not ansrwe
the
 > post. For those who DO have the
 > relevant experiance with database connectivity (an this IS a database
 > related forum), then I look forward to your response.
 >
 > Thanks
 >
 >
 > "Steven Burn" <pvt RemoveThis @noyb.com> wrote in message
 > news:OkOijgaUEHA.1020@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...
  > > You need to post this in a VB.Net newsgroup......
  > >
  > > --
  > >
  > > Regards
  > >
  > > Steven Burn
  > > Ur I.T. Mate Group
<font color=green>  > > <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.it-mate.co.uk</font" target="_blank">www.it-mate.co.uk</font</a>>
  > >
  > > Keeping it FREE!
  > >
  > >
  > > "David" <david RemoveThis @orbitcoms.com> wrote in message
  > > news:Xh6zc.19937$sj4.15653@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
   > > > I have been going around in circles trying to understand the method of
   > > > creating a database in VB.Net 2003 and distributing that application
and
   > > > database.
   > > >
   > > > It seems if I use the Server Explorer to create the pledbConnection
etc,
   > > > the link to the database works ok on the local machine but when the
   > > > application is distributed, the program points to the original path
 > (which
   > > > of course
   > > > is different to the target system). Is there any way to maintain the
   > > > relative path to the database when you distribute the application.
   > > >
   > > > Secondly, the tutorials I have point heavily to using a SQL server
  > > instead
   > > > of oledB . I found MSDE 2000 and downloaded it but cannot install it.
 > The
   > > > dialog indicates it needs a strong SA password and I am not sure
what
   > > > this is and how to apply it.
   > > >
   > > > Also, if I eventually managed to install MSDE, can it be installed
with
   > > > the application or does the user needs to install this separately ?
   > > >
   > > > Thanks in advance.
   > > >
   > > >
  > >
  > >
 >
 ><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: ADO help required 

Hi,
what type of application are you planning on distributing ? I'm assuming
you're doing a 'stand-alone' db app. If so, then distributing a Database
Server (SQL) with your app is probably a bit much
Depending on your requirements consider going with MS Access or similar
instead.
As regards the relative path information, one option would be 'udl' files
which can be distributed with your app.
-->Create a new text file (preferably in the same directory as the
Executable)and change the extension to .udl
--> doubleclick and setup the connection information for your database file
(Access mdb for instance)

In your app you can now use the udl file as such ..

Private _Conn As New OleDbConnection("file name=..\.myDatabase.udl")

hth,
Dave

"David" <david DeleteThis @orbitcoms.com> wrote in message
news:Xh6zc.19937$sj4.15653@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
 > I have been going around in circles trying to understand the method of
 > creating a database in VB.Net 2003 and distributing that application and
 > database.
 >
 > It seems if I use the Server Explorer to create the pledbConnection etc,
 > the link to the database works ok on the local machine but when the
 > application is distributed, the program points to the original path (which
 > of course
 > is different to the target system). Is there any way to maintain the
 > relative path to the database when you distribute the application.
 >
 > Secondly, the tutorials I have point heavily to using a SQL server
instead
 > of oledB . I found MSDE 2000 and downloaded it but cannot install it. The
 > dialog indicates it needs a strong SA password and I am not sure what
 > this is and how to apply it.
 >
 > Also, if I eventually managed to install MSDE, can it be installed with
 > the application or does the user needs to install this separately ?
 >
 > Thanks in advance.
 >
 ><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: ADO help required