From an ISV standpoint, is there an automated way to deploy UDF's to a client's server short of scripting the compilation and creation of the assemblies? Is there a possibility of chicken/egg situation when attaching a DB with reference to assembly prior to creation?

Donnie,

Are you looking for answer's around deploying SQL UDF's in that case you might want to post this question to the SQL Server forums.

http://forums.microsoft.com/MSDN/ShowForum.aspx?ForumID=86&SiteID=1

If you are looking to develop some Excel UDFs here's more information:

http://forums.microsoft.com/MSDN/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=261526&SiteID=1&mode=1

http://blogs.msdn.com/johnrdurant/archive/2006/02/20/vba_where_it_belongs.aspx

VBA Forums: http://forums.microsoft.com/MSDN/ShowForum.aspx?ForumID=74&SiteID=1