DDEX, Vista (64-bit), Firebird, Visual Studio 2005
Some months ago I was writing about installing DDEX provider for Firebird to Visual Studio (DDEX and Firebird .NET Data Provider). There is described the “old style” method of using it. It’s still working, but you need Visual Studio SDK, and so it’s not so direct.
But DDEX for Firebird is able to work without this SDK too (not so long like with SDK, but it’s not brand new stuff). Because I installed on my new laptop Vista 64-bit, I need to install the DDEX interface to Firebird too. Some new cool stuff was introduced with Vista, but some things stopped working, so I was little bit scary how the privovider will work. So let’s look at it – it’s not tricky, everything is in readme, but you know …. [Note: This procedure is applicable to both 32-bit and 64-bit systems as well to WinXP.]
I have VS 2005 Prof. with SP1 and Vista SP installed. The I build DDEX provider on my old laptop (but you can download binary package). Install/Copy dll files to you favourite place. Then prepare FirebirdDDEXProviderPackageLess64.reg file (or FirebirdDDEXProviderPackageLess32.reg if you have 32-bit system). You need to change %Path% “variable” to your installation path (remember backslashing backslash), so the path should look i.e. C:\something\somethingelse\FirebirdSql.VisualStudio.DataTools.dll. Then import this file into registry, double-click does this (you will need administrator’s permissions). OK. Next step. Verify that you have FirebirdSql.Data.FirebirdClient in GAC (gacutil /l FirebirdSql.Data.FirebirdClient should return you at least one item). If not, use gacutil to add it to GAC (gacutil /i <Path To Your FirebirdSql.Data.FirebirdClient assembly>). The info that you get from gacutil Copy’n'Paste to some place (or just don’t close console window). Now find machine.config files (there are two on 64-bit systems; one on 32-bit) [note: To only make Visual Studio to work with DDEX you can modify ony 32-bit version of machine.config. But i.e. factories in your 64-bit apps will not be able to use FB.]. Modify it, as described in readme. You have to substitute %Version%, %Culture%, %PublicKeyToken% “variables” to your real data – you can find it in the output from gacutil (yes, now you can close console 
). Save these files. Open Visual Studio, Server Explorer and try to add connection to FB server.
First you have to see FB provider in list – if not, the registry file isn’t imported right.
Second when you type something in the next dialog and it closes, the most common reason is, that the FirebirdClient assembly cannot be loaded. Verify whether it’s in GAC and whether assembly info in machine.config is same as in GAC.
Well, nothing painfull, isn’t it? DDEX, Vista (64-bit), Firebird, Visual Studio 2005; everything works fine.
To prove, I’m not cheating 
look (ok you can say, that it’s mounting, but I’m not so patient to do this):
There's 20 Comments So Far
December 31st, 2007 at 20:32
Jiri:Thank you for your interesting post; I was completely lost trying to install the DDEX with VS 2005.There some observations to be made:1) If you download the DDEX binaries, then you must use the config line (version, culture, PublicKeyToken) AS IS from the Readme.txt or ReadmeDDEX.txt file not whatever GACUTIL says.2) For those of us not familiar with adding stuff to the GAC by hand, the path usually is:C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\SDK\v2.0\Bin>3) The command to check if the DDEX is already loaded is:gacutil /l FirebirdSql.VisualStudio.DataTools4) The command to manually add the DDEX is:gacutil /i “C:\Program Files\FirebirdClient\FirebirdSql.VisualStudio.DataTools.dll”Watch the PATH, if you installed DDEX to a different path you need to change the previous command. (The quotes are needed otherwise you get an error.)Happy New Year!Jerry Elizondojerry AT elizondo-family DOT net
December 31st, 2007 at 20:53
Hello,1> it’s not true (coupled with next mistakes), in fact it’s wrong2> this isn’t path to GAC, it’s path to SDK binaries3&4> you don’t need DDEX libs in GAC, you need only FirebirdClient
February 17th, 2008 at 02:43
sadsadasda
February 17th, 2008 at 02:43
sadasdasdsad
November 14th, 2008 at 00:25
How to install Firebird database engine and DDEX extension for VS2008 step by step…
November 14th, 2008 at 09:25
Read the ReadMe.txt file.
March 21st, 2009 at 18:39
I still can’t find gacutil… I have installed Visual Studio 2008 but is no here “C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\SDK\v2.0\Bin” neither other directory. I have look for it in all my computer. Any help please? I only find “gacutil.exe.config” an inside is only writted:< ?xml version ="1.0"?> Thank you very mucho for your help.
March 21st, 2009 at 18:43
Just open the VS Command Prompt and you’ll get all needed paths presetted. Then you can just call gacutil.
March 21st, 2009 at 19:25
Thank you for you answer!I have 3 links to command prompt and I have opened all with this results:—1.- Visual Studio 2008 Command Prompt:Setting environment for using Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 x86 tools.c:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 9.0\VC>And here I don’t have gacutil2.- Visual Studio 2008 x64 Cross Tools Command PromptSetting environment for using Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 Beta2 x64 cross tools.WindowsSdkDir not foundC:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 9.0\VC>Something Wrong…3.- Visual Studio 2008 x64 Win64 Command PromptSetting environment for using Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 Beta2 x64 tools.WindowsSdkDir not foundC:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 9.0\VC>Something Wrong…—So, do you think my installation is not completed? When I installed it finished successfully. And after I installed the SP1. The fact is that I readed that with this VS2008 SP1 is not needed to install .NET Framework SDK but maybe it is needed?I’m just a student of Computer Science that what to program a very simple interface for Firebird with VS2008…Thanks a lot for your comments.
March 21st, 2009 at 19:33
The first one is correct. If you’re not able to run gacutil there, then something is wrong. And considering errors in next items, I think you will do better to reinstall VS 2008 completely.
March 21st, 2009 at 20:53
Ok, thank you very much!In the first one I’m not able no run gacutil because fisicaly there isn’t such file…One question, before reinstalling (that is long time) I have tried something…I installed Firebird Server and Firebierd Client (only resting this DDEX, but I have the folder with the dll!) So, in visual I have gone to “choose toolbox items” and in the .NET tab I have added the libraries: “FirebirdSql.Data.FirebirdClient.dll” from “mypath\firebirdclient” and also the library “FirebirdSql.VisualStudio.DataTools.dll” from “mypath\DDEX” (this “FirebirdSql.VisualStudio.DataTools.dll” I can’t). And know when I try to add conection appears “Firebird Data Source (.NET Framework Data Provider for Firebird)” so somethis is working althoug not all because after choosing *.FBD is show me an error that say: “unable to find the requested .Net framework dataprovider. It may not be installed.”This is maybe because I edited the file of the registry and added to it?Ok, sorry for this. I will try to install all againg.But thank you very much!
March 22nd, 2009 at 10:37
Read the http://firebird.svn.sourceforge.net/viewvc/firebird/NETProvider/trunk/DataDesignerExtensibility/ReadMe.txt.
March 22nd, 2009 at 14:25
Hello, finally I fixed: http://channel9.msdn.com/forums/Coffeehouse/205281-Where-is-GACUTIL/?CommentID=461998This readme that you send me (thank you) is the same I have in the folder of FirebirdDDEX and I have some doubts.Is really necesary do this: “You need to change %Path% “variable” to your installation path (remember backslashing backslash), so the path should look i.e. C:\\something\\somethingelse\\FirebirdSql.VisualStudio.DataTools.dll”I think that with “%PATH%” is ok, because it takes the value of path in which is located the file. Or not?Also in the readme is writted “There are also files in “withSDK” directory” but I dowloaded the version 2.0.4 from firebirdsql.org and this folder is empty. Must I have something there?The last doubt is, for what is “FirebirdSql.VisualStudio.DataToolsUI.dll”. We don’t have to write any path for this file, or install it in Visual Studio…Thank you very much, you are very kind.
March 22nd, 2009 at 14:29
Yes, you have to change reg file. The %PATH% has nothing to do with same “variable” in reg file, it’s just a placeholder.The withSDK directory is non-empty for VS2005.FirebirdSql.VisualStudio.DataToolsUI.dl> Yes, that’s OK. You just need it with VS SDK.
March 22nd, 2009 at 19:25
Dear jirka, finally I got it!. I was happy when I saw add connection -> Firebird… after I had problems to connect but finally I have got connect with the example database of the FirebirdServer (EMPLOYEE)! yuhuuu!Now comes the hard work, make my own interface to manage this database… do you know any tutorial? I have only this: http://firebirdsql.org/firebirdtutorial/index.htmlThank you very much for your help.Just comment:- withSDK folder is empty, I downloaded again from firebirdsql.org and empty…- “C:\Program Files\Microsoft SDKs” and “C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 SDK”. Diferences? I read other of your posts (http://blog.cincura.net/id/7471/) and I see that both are needed. First comes with VS and second you say that is needed to be downloaded and installed separately. One is for “FirebirdSql.VisualStudio.DataTools.dll” and the other for “FirebirdSql.VisualStudio.DataToolsUI.dll”?
March 22nd, 2009 at 21:20
Firebird .NET provider is standard ADO.NET 2 driver. So follow MSDN.The post you’re linking is pretty old. And couple of things changed. If you wanna to discuss DDEX further join the list.
March 23rd, 2009 at 10:23
Ok, Which list I must join?
March 23rd, 2009 at 11:49
What about to try the official site? http://www.firebirdsql.org/index.php?op=lists
March 23rd, 2009 at 13:16
OK, thank you very for all!
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