c# - Migrate project from .MDF database to .SDF -

i ran stupid problem.

i started developing windows forms application in c# must stand-alone (work absolutely no installation) , needs database. being genius didn't read , used sql server express .mdf database.

now works perfectly, linq , it's perks (data context, designer , on) didn't know client machine need sql server installed work database. program potentially deployed 200-250 pcs , installing sql server on of pcs not option.

is there way use sql server ce database instead of .mdf? or have rewrite half program?

first, read sql localdb. still requires installation , requires administrator rights installation. it supports silent installs, installer size 33mb, , supports majority of features of full-blown sql.

if cannot afford any installs @ all, yes, sql ce might option you. whether you’ll need rewrite half program depends on how use database. if rely on stored procedures, views, raw sql, other advanced features yes, might need rewrite half of program. if use linq2sql simple queries, might fine , need rewrite db initialization code. remember last visual studio supports sql ce tools 2012.

if can’t install @ all, , rewriting half of app — remember there’re many embedded databases days.

you instead prefer sqlite: it’s cross platform, extremely popular, sql language.

or esent: there’s no sql has tables/schema/indices/transactions, part of windows wince win2k, performance good, 10-100k requests/seconds normal.