How to put database on user computer

Question

i want to write an appilcation that use sql server express database i can do this with installling and configuring on my computer but.... how i must give this database to user ? how can i install it on user computer? even if install it tables are not there.

Armin Dashti · Answer

this is not bad but i want to user be comfortable , with this you said user must know about sql server , he might go and download my program and he dont know how to use it since he doesnt know how to work with sql server so its little uncomfrotable for him !  Thanks.

Mukil Vendhan · Answer

Back it up, then restore it on the other computer.

Have a look here: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc966495.aspx

There's a lot of stuff there, but essentially, right click on the database, Tasks > Backup. Fill in the options to perform a full backup to somewhere.

Once it's created it's file (one big file, by convention with a BAK extension), on the second computer, right click the Databases folder, Restore Database and follow the prompts.

You can do it as well in SQL if you wish:

Backup: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms186865.aspx
Restore: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms186858.aspx

There might be times when it's better to detach and move, but this approach always feels a bit safer!

This will copy both structure and the data in the database.