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How to install Firebird database engine and DDEX extension for VS2008 step by step...

1. Download proper Firebird distribution from Firebird page (download the installer as well as the embed version).

2. Install Firebird. Remember, the main user and password is sysdba/password and you can change it using gsec -user SYSDBA -password masterkey -modify sysdba -pw blahblah

3. Download and install the Firebird .NET client

4. A little tricky part here: You have to find the proper "gacutil.exe" file for your .NET distribution. The one you can find in c:\windows\microsoft.net\... ISN'T the right one, it's for .NET 1.x framework. I've found the proper one in c:\program files\Microsoft SDK's\Windows\v6.0A\Bin\x64 (Vista 64bit). So - with this gacutil do this:
gacutil.exe /l FirebirdSql.Data.FirebirdClient

You have to get something like this:

Microsoft (R) .NET Global Assembly Cache Utility. Version 3.5.21022.8
Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
The Global Assembly Cache contains the following assemblies:
FirebirdSql.Data.FirebirdClient, Version=2.5.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=3750abcc3150b00c, processorArchitecture=MSIL
Number of items = 1

There are two interesting info we'll need soon: Version number and PublicKeyToken. Write it down now.

5. Download the Firebird DDEX provider and unzip the whole archive to the common accessible directory (D:\prog\firebird for me).

6. Modify machine.config file (it resides somewhere in the c:\windows\microsoft.net\framework\V2.xxx... directory - don't worry there is "v2", it's valid for .NET3.5 too). Do these changes:

• Immediatelly BEFORE the tag </configSections> insert this line:

  <section name="firebirdsql.data.firebirdclient" type="System.Data.Common.DbProviderConfigurationHandler, System.Data, Version=2.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089" />

• Immediatelly BEFORE the tag </DbProviderFactories> insert this line:

  <add name="FirebirdClient Data Provider" invariant="FirebirdSql.Data.FirebirdClient" description=".Net Framework Data Provider for Firebird" type="FirebirdSql.Data.FirebirdClient.FirebirdClientFactory, FirebirdSql.Data.FirebirdClient, Version=2.5.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=3750abcc3150b00c" />

  (replace the PublicToken and the Version by the values from step 4) Pay attention here - the </DbProviderFactories> may be hidden on the end of the line!

Modify the 32bit version is enough, but you can modify the 64bit version of machine.config too.

7. Edit the proper XXX.reg file for your system (located in the DDEX archive (step 5) in the reg_files folder). Replace the %Path% with the path to the DDEX files (I've d:\\prog\\firebird - don't forget the double backslashes! Import this .reg file to the register (just double click on it.)

That's it! Start the Visual Studio and try to add Firebird data source.

More info: Firebird tutorial
Jirka's tutorial
Older tutorial for Vista64 and VS2005