How to convert server based database to local database(MDF to SDF) C#?

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Hello! Windows application c# cannot connect to database without SQL server installed. I created a windows form application in visual studio(2013) c#, for customers info. Created database with SQL and then imported to visual studio with data sources.
But its not working without SQL server install. May be i need some sort of MDF to SDF conversion, but do not need a server database just local database is required.

What I have tried:

Have not idea what to do? I searched alot but may be not lucky to find a suitable answer. Please help me out.

Posted 7-Oct-17 0:08am

Member 13450729

Updated 7-Oct-17 0:46am

Richard MacCutchan

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Richard MacCutchan 7-Oct-17 6:34am

You should use SQL CE or Express rather than SQL Server. Go to the SQL website and see what options are available.

Member 13450729 7-Oct-17 8:08am

ok so creating database by using SQL CE OR Express, can i access my database from my application without having sql.

Richard MacCutchan 7-Oct-17 8:27am

No, you will still need one of the single user SQL libraries to be installed.

VR Karthikeyan 7-Oct-17 6:35am

If your data is limited, then go for SQLite.

Member 13450729 7-Oct-17 8:10am

Yeah my data is limited to just one or two tables. but wants to access it by my application without sql installation after deployment.

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OriginalGriff · Accepted Answer · 2017-10-07T00:46:00

SQL Server is a multiuser system - and requires installation.
If you are planning on using your DB for more than one user, you should have SQL Server installed and use it.

If you are only ever having a single user - no data sharing at all - then SQL Server is a heavy beast for such apps, but you will have to change your code to eliminate it.
At that point, you can choose which database to use instead: SqLite, Sql Express, or even Access. You will need to modify your code to use the appropriate Connection, Command, and DataAdapter classes for your selected DB, but it will all go pretty smoothly provided your code is written well, and doesn't do anything fancy with the DB. "Standard" SQL commands are generally fine, but few single user systems support stored procedures for example.