Provider: System.Data.SqlServerCe.3.5 is not installed

Question

Hi I am trying to use LINQ with SQL Server CE. I generated the dmbl file with SqlMetal, added it to the project, and also added a reference to assembly System.Data.SqlServerCe.dll

My app is WPF based on .NET4.0 and is built as x86.

On my PC SQL Server CE is installed.

I tried the following code:

const string connStr = @"Spiri_SQL_CE_DB.sdf";
var dataContext = new Spiri_SQL_CE_DB(connStr);
var testNicks = dataContext.TestNick;

But I get this error:

Cannot open 'C:\Users\Jan\Documents\Visual Studio 2010\Projects\C#\Pokec_Messenger_Project\Pokec_Messenger\DB_TEST\Spiri_SQL_CE_DB.sdf'. Provider 'System.Data.SqlServerCe.3.5' not installed.

What am I missing? A reference to some assembly, or something else?

IF I RETARGET APP ON .NET3.5 IT WORKS GOOD !

Answer 1

You need Microsoft SQL Server Compact 3.5, see here for download links: http://www.microsoft.com/sqlserver/2005/en/us/compact.aspx

Usually, this database just works with x-copy deployment, so once you've installed it on your dev machine, you can just copy it over your work environment directory.