How To: Remove Northwind & Other Samples From Serene/StartSharp

If you forgot to uncheck certain features during project creation, or if you just wanted to keep sample modules as a reference initially, you may want to remove the modules and their artifacts from your application before deploying it to production. Here's how to do that:

Please note that, as Serenity and Serene/StartSharp are updated frequently, some of these instructions may become out of date. If you notice any changes that need to be made, you can edit this document at https://github.com/serenity-is/docs/blob/master/howto/how_to_remove_sample_modules.md and send a pull request.

Removing Northwind, Basic Samples, and Advanced Samples Modules

Advanced Samples and Basic Samples depend on the Northwind module, so you can't remove Northwind without also removing the others.

Removing the Assembly Registrations in Startup.cs:

Edit the Initialization\TypeSource.cs or Startup.cs file to remove the assembly registration for these modules:

typeof(Serenity.Demo.Northwind.CustomerController).Assembly,
typeof(Serenity.Demo.BasicSamples.BasicSamplesController).Assembly,
typeof(Serenity.Demo.AdvancedSamples.AdvancedSamplesController).Assembly,

The lines that start with typeof are there so that the feature modules can register their navigation items, and other stuff.

You may not see the <if:Northwind> style of comments there unless you used serin to create the project.

Removing the Connection String for Northwind:

Edit the appsettings.json file and remove the Northwind connection string:

"Northwind": {
    "ConnectionString": "Server=(localdb)\\MsSqlLocalDB;Database=MyProject_Northwind_v1;...",
    "ProviderName": "System.Data.SqlClient"
}

You may also want to delete the YourProjectName_Northwind_Default_v1 database from (localdb)\MsSqlLocalDB.

Removing the Northwind Bundle from appsettings.bundles.json:

Remove the following section from appsettings.bundles.json file if exists:

"NorthwindLookups": [
    //...
]

This is a bundle definition for Northwind-related lookups.

Remove Northwind Aggregates from the Dashboard

If you did not modify DashboardPage.cs file, you may have something like the following there:

public ActionResult Index(
    [FromServices] ITwoLevelCache cache,
    [FromServices] ISqlConnections sqlConnections)
{
    if (cache is null)
        throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(cache));

    if (sqlConnections is null)
        throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(sqlConnections));

    var o = Serenity.Demo.Northwind.OrderRow.Fields;

To remove the Northwind aggregates from the dashboard, replace the entire block with the following:

[PageAuthorize, HttpGet, Route("~/")]
public ActionResult Index()
{
    return View(MVC.Views.Common.Dashboard.DashboardIndex, 
        new DashboardPageModel());
}

Just make sure not to delete any of your code!

Also, edit DashboardIndex.cshtml and replace the lines that look like the following:

<a href="~/Northwind/Order?shippingState=0" 
    class="card-footer">More info 
    <i class="fa fa-arrow-circle-right"></i></a>

with:

<a href="" class="card-footer">More info 
    <i class="fa fa-arrow-circle-right"></i></a>

Removing Sample Navigation Items

Edit NavigationItems.cs file to remove the following:

[assembly: NavigationSection("MyProject/Demo Modules",
    Include = new[] { "Northwind", "Basic Samples", "Advanced Samples", "Theme Samples" })]

Removing Northwind Migration-Related Code

Edit the DataMigrations.cs file and remove the lines that reference Northwind:

    , "Northwind" // remove this

if (databaseKey.Equals("Northwind", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase))
{
    migrationNamespace = typeof(Serenity.Demo.Northwind.Migrations.MigrationAttribute).Namespace;
    migrationAssemblies = new[] { typeof(Serenity.Demo.Northwind.Migrations.MigrationAttribute).Assembly };
}

Removing the Package References

Edit the project file (YourProjectName.Web.csproj) and remove the following package references:

    <PackageReference Include="Serenity.Demo.Northwind" Version="6.4.3.1" />
    <PackageReference Include="Serenity.Demo.BasicSamples" Version="6.4.3.1" />
    <PackageReference Include="Serenity.Pro.UI" Version="6.4.3.2" />
    <PackageReference Include="Serenity.Demo.AdvancedSamples" Version="6.4.3.2" />

Removing Typings

If you have any of the following folders, delete them:

typings/serenity.demo.advancedsamples
typings/serenity.demo.basicsamples
typings/serenity.demo.northwind

Please note that if you are using ES-modules, e.g. any project that is created from 6.4.3+, you don't need the typings folder at all as it is only used for the old Namespaces style code. You can safely remove the whole folder.

Rebuild the Project

As of this point, there should be no artifacts related to Northwind and sample modules in your project. Rebuild, and run your project to see if it works properly.

Removing Other Pro Features

Removing DataAuditLog

Please make sure you are not using Data Audit Logging functionality, and don't have any [AuditLog] attributes on your entities before removing it.

Delete the following lines from Initialization\TypeSource.cs or Startup.cs file:

typeof(Serenity.Pro.DataAuditLog.DataAuditLogController).Assembly,

Delete the Migrations/DefaultDB/DefaultDB_20180513_2014_DataAuditLog.cs file.

Delete the following lines from AdministrationNavigation.cs file:

[assembly: NavigationLink(9100, "Administration/Data Audit Log", 
    typeof(Serenity.Pro.DataAuditLog.DataAuditLogController), 
    icon: "fa-history premium-feature")]

Remove the following package reference from the project file:

<PackageReference Include="Serenity.Pro.DataAuditLog" 
    Version="6.4.3.2" />

Removing DataExplorer

The DataExplorer should only be removed if you don't use the dynamic data explorer page or any of its components.

Remove the following lines from the Initialization\TypeSource.cs or Startup.cs file:

typeof(Serenity.Pro.DataExplorer.DataExplorerController).Assembly,

services.Configure<Serenity.Pro.DataExplorer.DataExplorerConfig>(
    Configuration.GetSection(
        Serenity.Pro.DataExplorer.DataExplorerConfig.SectionKey));

Delete the following lines from AdministrationNavigation.cs file:

[assembly: NavigationLink(9200, "Administration/Data Explorer", 
    typeof(Serenity.Pro.DataExplorer.DataExplorerController), 
    icon: "fa-database premium-feature")]

Remove the following package reference from the project file:

<PackageReference Include="Serenity.Pro.DataExplorer" Version="6.4.3.2" />

Removing EmailClient

The EmailClient should be removed if you don't use the IMAP email client sample.

Remove the following lines from the Initialization\TypeSource.cs or Startup.cs file:

typeof(Serenity.Pro.EmailClient.MailboxController).Assembly,

Remove the following package reference from the project file:

<PackageReference Include="Serenity.Pro.EmailClient" Version="6.4.3.2" />

Removing Serenity.Pro.UI Package Reference

If you removed the EmailClient, you may also remove this package reference as it is only used by that:

<PackageReference Include="Serenity.Pro.UI" Version="6.4.3.2" />

Removing EmailQueue

If you are not using the email queueing functionality, e.g. putting the emails into a mail queue before getting sent, and retrying sending them if they fail the first time, you may remove the EmailQueue.

Delete the following lines from Initialization\TypeSource.cs or Startup.cs file:

typeof(Serenity.Pro.EmailQueue.EmailQueueController).Assembly,

backgroundJobManager.Register(ActivatorUtilities
    .CreateInstance<Serenity.Pro.EmailQueue.EmailQueueJob>(app.ApplicationServices));

Delete the Migrations/DefaultDB/DefaultDB_20170211_1527_Mailing.cs, and the DefaultDB_20210522_1623_MailSerializedMessage.cs files.

Delete the following lines from AdministrationNavigation.cs file:

[assembly: NavigationLink(9300, "Administration/Email Queue", 
    typeof(Serenity.Pro.EmailQueue.EmailQueueController), 
    icon: "fa-envelope-o premium-feature")]

Remove the following lines from the appsettings.json file:

  "EmailQueue": {
    "Enabled": true,
    "AutoUse": true,
    //...
  }

Remove the following package reference from the project file:

<PackageReference Include="Serenity.Pro.EmailQueue" 
    Version="6.4.3.2" />

Removing OpenIdDict

If you are not using JWT / Open ID connect authentication, e.g. connecting to your services via mobile applications, you may remove the OpenIddict integration.

Delete the following lines from Startup.cs file:

var openIdSection = Configuration.GetSection(...)
services.Configure<Serenity.Pro.OpenIddict.OpenIdSettings>(...);
var openIdSettings = openIdSection.Get<...>();
if (openIdSettings.Enabled)
    services.AddOpenIddictLocalServerWithDefaults(...);

var openIdSettings = app.ApplicationServices.GetService<...>>().Value;
if (openIdSettings.Enabled)
    app.UseOpenIddictSchemeFor(...);

Delete the Migrations/DefaultDB/DefaultDB_20220629_1515_OpenIddict.cs file.

Delete the Modules/Administration/OpenId folder.

Remove the following lines from the appsettings.json file:

  "OpenIdSettings": {
    "Enabled": false,
    "Applications": [
      //...
    ]
  },

Remove the following package reference from the project file:

<PackageReference Include="Serenity.Pro.OpenIddict" 
    Version="6.4.3.2" />

Removing Meeting

The Meeting module should be removed if you don't use any of the meeting pages under Pro Features/Meeting.

Remove the following lines from the Initialization\TypeSource.cs or Startup.cs file:

typeof(Serenity.Pro.Meeting.MeetingController).Assembly,

Delete the Migrations/DefaultDB/DefaultDB_20161126_2100_Meeting.cs file.

Delete the "Meeting" from the following lines in NavigationItems.cs file:

[assembly: NavigationSection("MyProject/Pro Features",
    Include = new[] { "Meeting", "Organization", "Work Log" })]

Remove the following package reference from the project file:

<PackageReference Include="Serenity.Pro.Meeting" Version="6.4.3.2" />

Removing Organization

As the Meeting module depends on the Organization module, it should only be removed if you removed the Meeting module and don't use any of the organization pages under Pro Features/Organization.

Remove the following lines from the Initialization\TypeSource.cs or Startup.cs file:

typeof(Serenity.Pro.Organization.BusinessUnitController).Assembly,

Delete the Migrations/DefaultDB/DefaultDB_20161126_2000_Organization.cs file.

Delete the "Organization" from the following lines in NavigationItems.cs file:

[assembly: NavigationSection("MyProject/Pro Features",
    Include = new[] { "Organization", "Work Log" })]

Remove the following package reference from the project file:

<PackageReference Include="Serenity.Pro.Organization" Version="6.4.3.2" />

Removing WorkLog

The WorkLog module can be removed If you are not using the time tracking / work log pages.

Remove the following lines from the Initialization\TypeSource.cs or Startup.cs file:

typeof(Serenity.Pro.WorkLog.WorkLogController).Assembly,

Delete the Migrations/DefaultDB/DefaultDB_20210824_1546_WorkLog.cs file.

Delete the "Work Log" from the following lines in NavigationItems.cs file:

[assembly: NavigationSection("MyProject/Pro Features",
    Include = new[] { "Work Log" })]

Remove the following package reference from the project file:

<PackageReference Include="Serenity.Pro.WorkLog" Version="6.4.3.2" />