Setting file persmissions for vista

Question

I have a .NEt 3.5 C# program written using VS2008 that uses a SQL Server CE database. I also have an installer for the program which I have created using the Visual Studio setup project type.

Within the program designer, the database file is included as type "content".

Within the installer program, the output for "content files" is the application folder.

This works fine on XP, but under Vista an error occurs when attempting to run the program. The error is that the program does not have permission to access the database file.

How do I fix this? Is there "proper" way to set this up in the installer project? Or do I need to write additional code in the application project? Do I need two different installer projects, one for XP and one for Vista? (Or 3, one for XP and one each for 32 and 64 bit Vista...).

And what about Windows 7, is that different again?

I am finding this very frustrating, as I only have an XP machine on which to develop and test.

T.I.A.

Don · Answer

Hi Kirtan I've given up on trying to do this the proper way ie without administrative rights required since nobody either at microsoft or elsewhere seems to know how that is supposed to be done. My friend was able to run the program successfully when running it as administrator. So if you would be so kind please help me with having the program run as administrator programatically.

Don · Answer

I read about deployment. The answers I seek were not in the microsoft documentation. This seems to be the norm. I tried the following changes: In the application I load the datacontext from the common applicaton data folder instead of the porgram files folder: db = new FDDB.FDDB(Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.CommonApplicationData) + \ + Application.ProductName + \FDDB.sdf) In the setup project I created a custom folder on the target machine with the following properties: DefaultLocation = [CommonAppDataFolder]\[ProductName] Property = COMMONAPPDATAFOLDER I then attempted to run my program on my XP machine with a user who is only a member of the users group. The application fails when database access is attempted. The error is access to the database is not allowed. So the only folder that seems even remotely correct according to the microsoft documentation still doesn't work. Is anyone able to provide a concrete answer to this other than telling me to refer to documentation that doesn't exist?

Sam Hobbs · Answer

I suggest that you read about deployment. I have spent time learning about deployment in VS 2005 but I have not become familiar with deployment in VS 2008 and it is apparently improved for VS 2008. The following however might help. Visual Studio: Deploying Applications and Components .NET Framework Developer's Guide: Deploying .NET Framework Applications Visual C#: Deploying C# Applications SDK: Windows Installer Also see Special Folders and Custom Folders and Environment . SpecialFolder Enumeration . Also Inside Windows 7:Introducing Libraries appears relevant.

Don · Answer

I'm aware of the concept of least privileges but I don't see another solution here or elsewhere. I have discovered the common app data folder but even this is apparently not writeable under windows 7! How would you suggest I make this file writeable for any user on the machine? Is there another special folder to use?

Sam Hobbs · Answer

Use of Administrator rights must be avoided unless there is a good reason to use it. Your customers will likley not accept a product that requires Administrator rights when it is not needed. Software security experts will explain to you the concept of least privileges; developers need to develop software that uses the least privileges required to do what it does. Perhaps you need to get a book about software security; there are not many but there is at least one. Don't try to ignore security and just use Administrator rights to bypass the issure.

Don · Answer

I will indeed do so but I will have to wait for my friend with Vista to reply as to the outcome. I'll get back to you! :)

Kirtan Patel · Answer

basically if automation is needed of Running Program as Admin rights it can be done !! programatically :) no need to do it manually every time . . but you confirm on vista machine that what i have told works for you or not .. ? then we can move ahead to the next step according to problem you are facing ..

Don · Answer

No I haven't. I don't have a Vista machine myself. I will ask someone to try that. However this is a program meant for retail. There must be a way to do this without having tell all users to do this... or do people regularly have to do this on Vista with all their programs?

Kirtan Patel · Answer

in vista after installation have you tried to run your program using Righ_Click >>> Run as Administrator ?? hope it can solve your problem .