how properly deploy WPF app with sqlite database using ClickOnce

Question

I tried to use ClickOnce but database is not included.

When I change database property "build action" to content then it is visible in Publish files properties.

https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/kzy0fky2.aspx

Unfortunately in such case i receive following error:

Error 2 Problem generating manifest. The process cannot access the file 'H:\Repos\InstalmentsManagement\Installments.Wpf\Database\installments.sqlite' because it is being used by another process. Installments.Wpf

My connection string is:

  <connectionStrings>
    <add name="installmentsEntities" connectionString="metadata=res://*/InstallmentsModel.csdl|res://*/InstallmentsModel.ssdl|res://*/InstallmentsModel.msl;provider=System.Data.SQLite.EF6;provider connection string=&quot;data source=|DataDirectory|\Database\installments.sqlite&quot;" providerName="System.Data.EntityClient" />
  </connectionStrings>

Moreover I did following on startup in order to detect datadirecory:

    protected override void OnStartup(StartupEventArgs e)
    {
        string executable = System.Reflection.Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly().Location;
        string path = (System.IO.Path.GetDirectoryName(executable));
        AppDomain.CurrentDomain.SetData("DataDirectory", path);

        base.OnStartup(e);      
    }

Answer 1

If you are getting “The process cannot access” a local data file, you are probably opening it yourself and not closing it.

ClickOnce defines |DataDirectory| as the installer data folder. If your connection string is |DataDirectory|\Database\installments.sqlite then you need to mark your project's Database folder, not the installments.sqlite file, as the data file. Or you could change your connection string to|DataDirectory|\installments.sqlite

SetData does not “detect” DataDirectory, it replaces it. Do not call SetData as that will replace ClickOnce's value. If you need to know the installer target data folder you can call AppDomain.CurrentDomain.GetData("DataDirectory"), but if you are using ADO.NET you do not even need to do that; ADO.NET will replace |DataDirectory| in connection strings with the path to the installer data folder.

You probably just need to remove your OnStartup method; that's what is wrecking things.