.NET new executable

[Wendy Elizabeth]

Questions about creating an .net ‘executable’ 2005 that will not remained
installed once a user enters some data into the application. I also want this
applcation to not require any previous software installed on a users
workstation.
I basically want to setup an application for new users when they are
applying for insurance. This application would preferably be a run as a
windows desktop application versus on the internet. Once the user enters the
save or submit button, I want the application to send the data back to be
processed on a Sql server 2000 or sql server 2005 database.
I have Visual Studio.net 2005 currently and would like suggestions on how
to do steup this type of an application using Visual Basic.net 2005.

Thanks!

 

[Scott M.]

If you are not interested in having any remains of your application left on
the client after using the application then this needs to be an ASP .NET web
application.

If you don't want to require any software on the client, then this needs to
be an ASP .NET web application.

If all you are trying to do is send some data to your SQL server, then this
needs to be an ASP .NET web application.

It sounds like you simply need a web page that collects data and populates a
SQL table.

 

[Wendy Elizabeth]

Scott M.:

I do not have access to a web server, that is why I want a Windows
application.
Do you think a second alternative would be, to save the data to an FTP site
so that I would still have access to the data?

Thanks!

 

[Leon Mayne]

Questions about creating an .net ‘executable’ 2005 that will not remained
installed once a user enters some data into the application. I also want
this
applcation to not require any previous software installed on a users
workstation.
I basically want to setup an application for new users when they are
applying for insurance. This application would preferably be a run as a
windows desktop application versus on the internet. Once the user enters
the
save or submit button, I want the application to send the data back to be
processed on a Sql server 2000 or sql server 2005 database.
I have Visual Studio.net 2005 currently and would like suggestions on how
to do steup this type of an application using Visual Basic.net 2005.

If you don't have access to a webserver then you're going to have problems
getting the data back to your database. As Scott mentioned, the best option
is to just use a web page to collect the info. If you really want it to be a
winforms application then the best way to get the data back is to make the
application call an XML web service on your server to input the data.
Trouble is, this would also require a web server!

Can you not install IIS on the database server? If you wanted your app to
directly access the database then you'd have to make the database server
publicly accessible and leave it running constantly anyway, so you may as
well just use it as a webserver instead.

 

[Norman Yuan]

Then, how the users are getting your application? Are they on the same
private network (LAN,WAN...) or are they not networked at all (except the
Internet)?

You need to decide the application type based on availabe infrastructure -
networked privately, or the Internet only, or not networked at all...

It seems web application would be the best, as Scott pointed out. You could
also use Windows app with ClickOnce (you then still need a web server to
distribute the ClickOnce app, if the user is not on a LAN, and how about
database access: where the database is and how the windows app access the
data via the Internet?). In an extreme case where no network access
avaialble, you could send your app to your user via email, then user runs it
on his computer, save data to a file, email back to you; then you update the
data into database. I would not imagine this is what you want.

You need to describe who the users are, where are they and what kind of
network is available, where the database is..... before a
meaningful/useful/concrete answer could be made.

 

[Wendy Elizabeth]

Norman Yuan:
Since there is no network access avaialble, I want to send my app to each
user via email, then user runs it on his computer, save data to a file, email
back to you; then you update the data into database.
The app that I send to the user to run, I do not want it to permanently
install on their workstation. I am trying to figure out a way to write this
app so that it will:
1. not permanently install on their workstations, and
2. not require any specific software to be installed on their workstation
for the exe to run.

Thanks!

 

[Cezary Nolewajka]

An alternative would be to use a self hosted WCF server.

Then the communication does not require a web server and data can be sent to
the server application (not Web server).

Still, it requires .Net 2.0 and 3.0 installed on the client machines but the
application as such does not require installaiton then.

Best regards,
Cezary Nolewajka

Consultant | Microsoft Services | Microsoft | Poland

 

[Leon Mayne]

Norman Yuan:
Since there is no network access avaialble, I want to send my app to each
user via email, then user runs it on his computer, save data to a file,
email
back to you; then you update the data into database.
The app that I send to the user to run, I do not want it to permanently
install on their workstation. I am trying to figure out a way to write
this
app so that it will:
1. not permanently install on their workstations, and
2. not require any specific software to be installed on their workstation
for the exe to run.

In that case you're better off making the app as a winforms application
which saves its output to an XML file which the user can then email back to
you (or make the app email it automatically), and you can write an import
application which will read in the XML files and import the data into your
database.

If you don't want the users to install the application, then they will need
the .NET framework installed (so probably best to target v2.0 rather than
3.5), and don't use any external libraries. You can then zip up and email
the compiled .exe to them and they should be able to run it directly.

 

[Scott M.]

Most email clients and/or servers will filter any executable files out of
emails for security purposes.

Again, this is not a good design for your application.

 

[Leon Mayne]

Most email clients and/or servers will filter any executable files out of
emails for security purposes.

Yes, they would have to zip the exe up. So there's another client
requirement (for people running windows < XP)

Again, this is not a good design for your application.

All the good designs require a web server.
Wendy: Can you not buy a bit of hosting space for a web application? ASP.NET
hosting is quite cheap nowadays. The web app could still email you the
user's responses if that's how you want to enter the data into your
database.

 

[Rory Becker]

Hello Leon,

Yes, they would have to zip the exe up. So there's another client
requirement (for people running windows < XP)

All the good designs require a web server.
Wendy: Can you not buy a bit of hosting space for a web application?
ASP.NET
hosting is quite cheap nowadays. The web app could still email you the
user's responses if that's how you want to enter the data into your
database.

About 7 years ago I had a project with similar requirements.

Back then broadband here in the uk didn't really exist and technical knowledge
in our target userbase was about as realistic.

The best solution anyone had for our app at the time was offline data transmission.

Can anyone say "Floppy Disks"

It was hideous.

 

[Scott M.]

Yes, they would have to zip the exe up. So there's another client
requirement (for people running windows < XP)

Even .zip files that contain executables are also filtered out.

Again, this is not a good design for your application.

All the good designs require a web server.

Wendy: Can you not buy a bit of hosting space for a web application?
ASP.NET hosting is quite cheap nowadays. The web app could still email you
the user's responses if that's how you want to enter the data into your
database.

I'd say forget about emailing application's and results around. You are
just asking for trouble.

This really calls for ASP .NET design here and hosting for this can range
from FREE to less than $10 p/month for lower need applications
(http://alentus.com).

 

[Wendy Elizabeth]

"Scott M.":

Do you know where I could have a secure web hosting for a reasonable price?

Thanks!

 

[Leon Mayne]

I'd say forget about emailing application's and results around. You are
just asking for trouble.

True, but straight ASP.NET hosting can be quite cheap. Add a SQL Server
database into the equasion and you can look at doubling your costs.

 

[Scott M.]

http://www.alentus.com

"Scott M.":

Do you know where I could have a secure web hosting for a reasonable
price?

Thanks!

 

[Scott M.]

If you want to use MySQL, it can be less expensive. If you want to use an
Access database (only for small apps. that don't require rigorous
performance demands), it's free.

 

[Leon Mayne]

If you want to use MySQL, it can be less expensive.

Yes, in fact sometimes free.

If you want to use an Access database

Ew!

 

[Scott M.]

If you want to use an Access database

Ew!

For small scale apps. with few users, this solution deserves a second look.
I always felt the same way as you about this until Access 2003, which gave
this scenario a better chance at actually working.

For the type of app. that the OP is talking about, this may just be the best
solution.