Hi! i developed a mini payroll system with VB.NET using Visual studio 2008 professional edition and Microsoft Access as the back end and it run perfectly when i debugged. I then, deployed it to a DVD and installed it in another system and when i loaded it and tried to login, it showed error; cant find the path/location to the database/server. its trying to frustrate me. please help me because am not really tight yet. My number; 07031557301

Are you certain that when you deployed your application, you updated the connectionString for your Database?, you know, Domain Name, log in, etc?

@Kobojunkie

Its a windows application. I don't know how its updated. Please help me. I'm new into this and deployment is my problem now. I would be glad to hear from you again.

i have tried including the neccessary files in the prerequisites under the publishin property of the project and it brings much error. i was asked to specify a valid UNC path which i don,t know what it means . i have tried browsing but no success yet. please help if you can. i just need, if possible, a nice tutorial on deployment.

Possible issues you

a) ConnectionString is not formatted correctly for the machine you have deployed to. Here is a link to a website to help you update your connection if that is the problem. If you built the application yourself, you should know where the connection string in stored. I can't help with that from here .

http://www.connectionstrings.com/access-200730

b) You do not have access installed on the machine you have deployed your db to. You may want to check event viewer to get a better idea of the exact error that your application might be throwing. If you do not know how to do this, please google for answers.

I've finally deployed it by changin the connection string so the database will be in drive c of any computer but another problem while runnin it is that the reports can't load. This is really stressful.

This issue has been discussed countless times here. The first problem is you assume if you have C drive in your development computer everyone should have C but I could have Z drive on my computer so you should ask yourself how do you go about it. You don't need to worry about if the target computer is running on C drive or D drive infact you should not have anything like C:\ or D:\ referencing a path in your code, just copy your resources to the same deployment folder as your exe  and call System.Windows.Forms.Application.StartupPath in your code to get the fullpath of where your program is residing on the system.

for example declare a global variable
Dim db_path As String = System.Windows.Forms.Application.StartupPath & "\" & "access.mdb"
change access.mdb to your access database name, the file should be in the same folder as the exe. Use Microsoft Jet Library as your connection string e.g

dim provider as string ="Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0;Data Source=" & db_path & ";User Id=admin;Password=;"

To test System.Windows.Forms.Application.StartupPath in your IDE put the db file in your bin/debug folder or bin/release folder of your project.

This should make your project deploy-able to any Windows O/S

^
The bin is the wrong place to put (users might run into permission and write issues), Asp.NET has special folders. It should go in App_Data, it has the right security and permissions pre set up.
The debug folder is well out of the question, because release builds should be deployed for all sorts of reasons, especially security. You don't want to write the whole World a letter revealing vital info about your local file paths in your pdb's. Your pdb's should be release versions.

For those new to .NET, the Asp.NET has special folders are:

App_Code Folder
Bin Folder
App_Data Folder
App_Theme Folder
App_Browser Folder
App_WebReference Folder
App_LocalResource Folder
App_GlobalResource Folder

this thread is talking about vb.net windows application not asp.net applications.

Guys I'm impressed with your replies. yes, i am talking about windows application and not web. So, why is it that after deploying an application, the crystal doesn't find the path to its source. how can the data source string be changed in design view if you discover this? In fact, you guys are opening my head. Thank you all. Thumbs up! @DELL_NET

What do you mean by crystal?
what type of data connection are you using? ADO, ADO.NET, OLEDB

Sorry, i mean crystal report. I'm using oledb. Thank you.

A simple was to view your report


       

Dim SQL As String = "SELECT * FROM accounts" 'change to proper sql statement
        Dim conStr As String = "Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0;Data Source=" & db_path & ";"
        Dim myOleDbConnection As OleDb.OleDbConnection = New OleDb.OleDbConnection(conStr)
        Dim adp As System.Data.OleDb.OleDbDataAdapter = New System.Data.OleDb.OleDbDataAdapter(SQL, myOleDbConnection)
        Dim dataset As New DataSet
        adp.Fill(dataset, "accounts" 'change to real table

        Dim rpt As New CrystalDecisions.CrystalReports.Engine.ReportDocument
        rpt.Load(System.Windows.Forms.Application.StartupPath & "\customer.rpt" 'change to real file
        rpt.SetDataSource(dataset)
        CrystalReportViewer1.ReportSource = rpt

@dell_net
Bros You're too much. You're of great assistance. I apply the codes and with little modifications, they work for me. Programming is just interestin wit you guys. Pls assist me wit any book on developing complex projects. I'll be very grateful. Thanks and God bless.

Usually at the end of some pedagogy text there are some real life applications to deal with,,,I can't point you to any text but the best practice is you come up with what you want to develop, collect information from those in the application's industry and just build it,,,We will be of help to assist you through if you get stuck.

@dell net
thanks for the reply. Please, i seem to be having little problem in the report creation. I did everythin and included the codes with the necessary modifications but the error message is :fail to load report. Its been so hard to succeed in i creating at least, one simple report. Thanks for your concern.

put the report in the same folder as your .exe

Bros thank you. But i tried it by copyin the report from the bin folder to the same folder with the set up. The same error message, "fail to load report". I just wish i could send it to you to do it for me. I really appreciate your assistance. Its actually my final year project i'm battlin with like this. Thanks broo

If you can successfully view the report in your development environment i.e. running from IDE and you are testing your application on Windows Vista and above then I suspect you are having UAC issue. What you need to do is change the level of execution in your application manifest.

To get to your application manifest in visual studio, click project-> * properties. In the editor window Click Application->View UAC settings. In the file that show, change the line <requestedExecutionLevel level="asInvoker" uiAccess="false" /> to <requestedExecutionLevel level="requireAdministrator" uiAccess="false" />

Note: the instruction is there in comments (in green). If it still fails then I have to look at your code.

* = name of your project

dell_net:

this thread is talking about vb.net windows application not asp.net applications.

Damn! My bad.

@Poster, you need to have better error reporting. I am not certain if moving your files will solve this since I assume you were able to get them working on another machine in the way they are now. Are you able to check event viewer on the server machine? If yes, pLease look for detailed info on the exact exception message.

@dell_net
I've done it as you directed and published again, it still can't load the report as it gives the same error. Would you like to see the codes? I would love it if you can publish it for me and tell me what you did. If possible Pls write to me on valvurn@yahoo.ca let me attach the source code and send to you or if you wouldn't mind, give me your email here. Thanks for your concern. Honestly, the stuff is frustrating.

@kobojunkie
you know i'm a newbie here and honestly, some of the things You're talkin about, i don't understand. My report can't load after publishing the project. That's my problem. Pls help

@dell net

Pls i'm still waiting for your reply.

seem you don't read your email.

Bros sorry for the delay, i have been choked up with tight lectures and assignments. i have sent the source code to your mail as i could not send it through the file sight you provided. i am so grateful for your assistance.

@dell net
the payroll database password is "jaypee"

The payroll database password is jaypee

there is nothing in my mailbox from you.

I compressed it to .rar and attached. Let me send again then. Thanks and take care.

@Dell net
Hope u've got it. You're really of great help to us. I had to use my partner's email to send you the file since yahoo did not support the file. Thanks for everything.

I sent an exe back to your partners box,,,