Create a copy of a file with Visual Studio 2012 - vb.net

I am sorry for the bad heading, but no better came to my mind.
I am creating a program (vb.net) with a database. When I build the program the database is already in and the program is working.
If the user of the build, uses and edits the database, the changes are saved. But if I update the program the database will be overwritten and all the changes of the user are gone.
I'm searching for a solution since hours, but I can't find good keywords for searching. So maybe someone can help me.
My idea is to copy the database from the program, which is saved here:
C:\Users\<Username>\AppData\Local\Apps\2.0\XB8ZOKH5.AK0\C9NZMRPR.25M
to a permanent storage place, e.g. here:
C:\Users\<Username>\program\database.accdb
How can I do this with Visual studio?

You are on the right track. I learned a similar technique, years ago and it has worked well for small projects like yours.
Your installer should only install a "template" version of your database on the hard drive.
When your program starts up, it can try to connect to the "working copy" of the database. If the user cannot connect to the database, or there is no setting for the "working copy", the program can make a copy of the "template" (System.IO.File.Copy) and save a setting, pointing to the "working copy". Then each time the program is upgraded, your full database will be safe. Of course, it is also a good idea to have your program make a "backup" of the database (zip) often.

Related

Creating a working copy of an old Access 2010 database

I am tasked with fixing some bugs that an access 2010 database, written 10 or so years ago, has. The database has been functioning but has a few bugs in report generation that need to be fixed (ie: bugs are not impeding overall functionality).
Since I am relatively new to access 2010, I wanted to create a working copy of the entire database, VBA and all, so that I could get into the VBA code and figure out what is causing the bugs without accidentally sending some of the automatic emails or changing pertinent information in the data. I have tried saving the database with a new name, copying it in the folder and pasting elsewhere, and creating a backup and saving that elsewhere.
Each attempt yields the same issue: the VBA project not being readable. It gives the following message when I open any copy:
if included picture doesn't load: tl/dr: database cant be opened because VBA project cant be read, if "ok" is clicked vba project will be deleted..I have searched high and low, asked everyone that has used the database, nobody knows how to fix the issue and I do not feel comfortable changing anything in the live copy.
Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.
One option you might try is to create a new blank database file and attempt to import all of the database objects from a copy of your target database into the new database file using the import wizard. If that's successful it won't be an exact replica of the previous database with regards to settings, but will include all of the database objects/code at least.

"Logical file 'Movies' is not part of database"

First and foremost, I am very brand new to databases so please keep instructions simple for me. thanks!
Usually when I need to make a manual change I just back up my SQL Server Management Studio 2012 database called Movies, then upload it to my host, then use their restore feature to implement it.
I am still in a testing phase so data does not need to be kept that is acquired online, however I wanted to try keeping the data today so I used the host's backup option which created a DB_76779_test_backup.bak file for me.
I then download this and "attempted" to updated it's information into the SQL database on my machine (Movie) which I believe is where I messed everything up.
From what I remember I right-clicked my database "Movies" and selected "Tasks -> Restore -> Database", I kept everything as is, but for Source I selected Device then chose the DB_76779_test_backup.bak file and and below that selected "Movies" as the Database and hit OK.
This seemed to work fine, so I opened and edited the tables values that needed to be changed. Then as usual, I just backed it up, ftp'ed it to the host, and restored my database.
I got an error however when trying to restore and my support told me the following.
"Logical file 'Movies' is not part of database 'DB_76779_test'. Use
RESTORE FILELISTONLY to list the logical file names."
I'm afraid we only support restores of databases that contain only 1
.mdf file and 1 .ldf file with no extra partitions.
I am assuming that since the only different thing I did this time was restore my database on my computer is that somehow I broke it, or created more than 1 mdf and ldf file (no clue what those even are). All I was trying to do was keep the actual data from online, so I am not even sure if that was correct way to go about this, but regardless I am unable to restore the database on my host now..
I am hoping someone here has instantly realized what idiotic mistake I made, because I only know a basic level of databasing and not much of the "under the hood" mechanics.
Let me know if you need further details.
That SSMS dialog is a little difficult to work with some times. It looks like you want to rename your database to Movies. The problem is when you change the name field it does not update the logical names it is using for the files. IIRC simply switching to the Files "tab" on the left will update it and then you can restore fine. That or do your restore with the "old" name and then name the database after restore.

VB.NET - Local database (SQL Server Compact 3.5 database) data gone after update?

I have created an application in VB.NET (using Microsoft Visual Basic 2010 Express) with a local database (SQL Server Compact 3.5 database) to store data.
I have installed this on the users computer, and added a "search online for updates" functionallity (which can be selected when publishing)
Now i have noticed, that sometimes when i upload a new version, the data from the database gets cleared. (possibly when i opened the dtb while developing)
This is offcourse not how i want the system to behave, and the data should always remain on the users computer.
In 'Application Files' the database file (*.sdf) is currently set to 'Data File (Auto)', but i'm unsure of the exact way this works.
Could anyone help me to understand how all of this works, and tell me how i can be sure that the data in the users database will remain, even after an update?
If there is no solution to ensure this, is there a way to safely backup the data and reload it?
Thanks in advance!!
Basically, the click one install overwrites everything in the program folder that is included in your publish. So if you include the .sdf then it will overwrite it when the installer is executed. What you need to do is select "exclude" on the sdf instead. This will keep the database in its previous state.
So my recommendation would be to have 2 different publishes. One that you create that contains the .sdf which is only used on first time installation, and then in all the update ones you exclude it.
To perform updates on your tables you would have to write the SQL for it in your software. Basically do a check on all tables to see that they have the proper setup on startup. If they don't then you add the missing columns.
Hope this helps.

How do I edit an Access ADP file?

So I have this Access Database Project file that I have been tasked to edit. I have Access 2003 and 2007 installed. The ADP only supports 2003 for some reason. Anyway, the issue I have is that I can't figure out how to get to the VBA code in behind things.
The previous developers have done a very good job of locking everything down on the GUI such that the only thing I get when I open the application is a notice saying that it can't find the database on the server. (More than likely there is a problem there too, but since I can't look at code I don't know for sure.)
Does anyone know how to get around the GUI lockdown that has gone on here?
Michael
As it turns out, you can edit an ADP file that has all of the form information turned off by finding the file using Windows Explorer by highlighting the file, then hold shift, and then hit enter. You continue to hold shift until the interface is loaded.

SQL Server database recovery

I simply copied my .mdf/.ldf files to another file and suddenly my Microsoft SQL 2008 database dies. I can't open these files on another system either. Can anyone explain what's happened? Any way to recover this application's database now?
Did you stop the service or detach the files first?
You are not supposed to copy files when the server is online.
if you want to copy when the server is online, you can right click on management studio , -> detach->
then copy the files to another instance , and choose attach on new server. remember you need to know the location of the files, before you detach, also you should be knowing, also the logins need to transfer.
Have you tried moving the database files back to where they were? (Specifically, stop SQL server, move files, start SQL Server).
Whenever I do this kind of work, I make copies of the files, and rename the original ones (from, say, MyData.mdf to xMyData.mdf). Makes it easier to back out when my fatfingers take over.