Add *.mdf file to C# Project

Question

I\'m using Visual Studio 2005. I create a project, not Web Project, just Windows application.

I remember that Access Database File can be added into a project. I don

Answer 1

You can read from an Access file (*.mdb) in your app without any other requirements because the core Jet engine used by Access is included as part of Windows — it's built in. Sql Server is not included as part of Windows, and so you cannot use an *.mdf file in your app unless Sql Server has been installed and you have appropriate permissions for it.

It is possible to distribute either Sql Server Express Edition or Sql Server Compact Edition (recommended) with your app. Another option is SqlLite, which has a fully-managed database engine available.