Navigating Through SQL Servers: Tips and Strategies for Efficient Browsing

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Registration
• Using Advanced Installer
  • GUI
  • Working with Projects
  • Installer Project
    * Product Information
    * Resources
    * Package Definition
    * Requirements
    * User Interface
    * System Changes
    * Server
    * Internet Information Services Page”)
    * ODBC
    * SQL Databases
    * Database server
    * SSRS Deployments
    * SQL Operations
    * SQL Database Browse
    * SQL Server Browse
    * SQL Test Connection
    * SharePoint Page
    * Silverlight Page
    * Custom Behavior
  • Patch Project
  • Merge Module Project
  • Updates Configuration Project
  • Windows Store App Project
  • Modification Package Project
  • Optional Package Project
  • Windows Mobile CAB Projects
  • Visual Studio Extension Project
  • Software Installer Wizards - Advanced Installer
  • Visual Studio integration
  • Alternative to AdminStudio/Wise
  • Replace Wise
  • Migrating from Visual Studio Installer
  • Keyboard Shortcuts
  • Shell Integration
  • Command Line
  • Advanced Installer PowerShell Automation Interfaces
• Features and Functionality
• Tutorials
• Samples
• How-tos
• FAQs
• Windows Installer
• Deployment Technologies
• IT Pro
• MSIX
• Video Tutorials
• Advanced Installer Blog
• Table of Contents

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SQL Server Browse

SQL Server Browse feature retrieves a list of PCs on the local network which are running MS SQL Server and gets information about the instances such as server name, instance name, if server is part of a cluster and version.

Browse type

Advanced Installer supports three types of SQL browsing:

• Network SQL Browse - Browses the network computers for SQL Servers and instances.
• Domain SQL Browse - Browses the domain computers for SQL Servers and instances.
• Local SQL Browse - Browses the local computer for SQL Servers and instances.

Verbose

The “Please Wait…” message box for SQL Server Browse will be shown. Also, if an error occurs when connecting to the SQL Server, a dialog box will be shown containing the error response.

Output

Advanced Installer dumps the result of the browse operation (the SQL Servers list) in one of the following locations:

Display the result into a ListBox or CheckList control

Specify the installer property associated with a ListBox orCheckList control which will be populated with the available SQL servers.

Click here

Display the result into a ComboBox control

Specify the installer property associated with a ComboBox control which will be populated with the available SQL servers.

Put the result into a property

A flat, comma separated list of the available SQL servers (names only) will be dumped into the specified installer property.

The browse operation also dumps the result into our predefined_SERVER_PROP_ property and populates any combo box or list box control associated with SERVER_PROP property. It happens because this is the associated property of “Server” field from our predefined “SQLConnectionDlg” dialog.

Output text format

Configure how the items will be shown in the ListBox, ComboBox controls or how they will be enumerated in the flat property. Each item can include one (the location) or all of the following information in the output list:

• Location
• Instance
• Clustered
• Version

Output value format

This is the selected item value format when outputting to ListBox or ComboBox controls. The user will see the Output text format but when selecting an item, the Output value format will be stored in the control’s associated property.

Execution

SQL Server Browse can be triggered by scheduling the associated action in the Wizard Dialogs Stage or by directly invoking the action with a published/init event on a dialog.

Run in UI sequence

Enabling this option will trigger the SQL Server Browse operation when an associated custom action will be executed in the installation sequence. To configure the custom action in the Custom Actions Page , press on the Scheduled Action link button.

Attached to an event

Enabling this option will trigger the SQL Server Browse operation when an event is published by a control on a dialog. To configure the event in the Dialog Editor Page , select the dialog and the control and press Control Event link button.

Troubleshooting SQL Browse problems is described in the SQL Frequently Asked Questions article.

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