SQL Server Express: Anybody Using It?

[(PeteCresswell)]

I skimmed the MS spiel at http://msdn.microsoft.com/sql/express, and noted the
part about "all inside the Visual Studio 2005 environment".

Do the older SQL server tools for security and stored procedure editing work
too?
--
PeteCresswell

[Lyle Fairfield]

Re: SQL Server Express: Anybody Using It?

I am using it.Access 2003 ADPs can do some editing of an SQL Express db
design, but not everything; TTBOMR table design is not modifiable with
Access 2003 ADPs; Stored Procedures are, but we are warned that they
are not. But the various .Net technologies come with a very nice
utility for editing tables, stored procedures etc in SQL Express; since
it's a lot slicker than the Access utility, I don't miss the Access
capability at all.
I don't know about security. I have noticed zero difference, but then,
I have't looked at this topic.

[(PeteCresswell)]

Re: SQL Server Express: Anybody Using It?

Per Lyle Fairfield:[color=blue]
> But the various .Net technologies come with a very nice
>utility for editing tables, stored procedures etc in SQL Express; since
>it's a lot slicker than the Access utility, I don't miss the Access
>capability at all.[/color]

So, if I install the .NET development environment on one of my boxes, I should
be good to go....

BTW: Can SQL Server Express be run on one machine and used by apps on another
machine? i.e. Could I offer it as a functional alternative solution to .MDB
based apps where 5-10 users share the same back end over a LAN connection?

If so, it would seem like the better path to take instead of using a .MDB as
long as the administrative part isn't too daunting for a regular LAN-type
person.
--
PeteCresswell

[Lyle Fairfield]

Re: SQL Server Express: Anybody Using It?

I haven't done this (used SQL Express on Machine A from Machine B on a
LAN (hmmmmmm .... maybe I have, but I'm away right now and can't
check).

Be advised that connecting to SQL Express after it is installed can be
challenging. MS didn't choose to make it useable out-of-the-box, so to
speak. Fortunately it's so challenging that there are multiple posts to
newsgroups about the problems that arise and solutions for them.

[Anthony England]

Re: SQL Server Express: Anybody Using It?

"Lyle Fairfield" <lylefairfield@ aim.com> wrote in message
news:1140449417 .410542.74750@g 47g2000cwa.goog legroups.com...[color=blue]
>I haven't done this (used SQL Express on Machine A from Machine B on a
> LAN (hmmmmmm .... maybe I have, but I'm away right now and can't
> check).
>
> Be advised that connecting to SQL Express after it is installed can be
> challenging. MS didn't choose to make it useable out-of-the-box, so to
> speak. Fortunately it's so challenging that there are multiple posts to
> newsgroups about the problems that arise and solutions for them.[/color]


I did this a few months ago just to have a look around. The bit I remember
getting caught with was the deafult WinXP SP2 firewall which stopped me
connecting to the database. Although I spent over an hour looking at other
things before I worked that one out. Doh!

[Darryl Kerkeslager]

Re: SQL Server Express: Anybody Using It?

"Lyle Fairfield" <lylefairfield@ aim.com> wrote
[color=blue]
> Be advised that connecting to SQL Express after it is installed can be
> challenging. MS didn't choose to make it useable out-of-the-box, so to
> speak.[/color]


Works fine for me:
------------------------------
Dim cnxn As ADODB.Connectio n
Set cnxn = New ADODB.Connectio n
cnxn.Connection Timeout = 1
cnxn.Connection String = "Provider=sqlol edb;" & _
"Data Source=.\SQLEXP RESS;" & _
"Initial Catalog=mdfFile Name;" & _
"Integrated Security=SSPI"
cnxn.Open
-------------------------------

I would also note that SQL Server Express without Visual Web Developer
Express is like Jet without Access.


--
Darryl Kerkeslager

[Lyle Fairfield]

Re: SQL Server Express: Anybody Using It?

Then
SQL Server Express with Visual Web Developer
Express is like Jet with Access?

[(PeteCresswell)]

Re: SQL Server Express: Anybody Using It?

Per Anthony England:[color=blue]
>I did this a few months ago just to have a look around. The bit I remember
>getting caught with was the deafult WinXP SP2 firewall which stopped me
>connecting to the database. Although I spent over an hour looking at other
>things before I worked that one out. Doh![/color]

I've been nailed by my firewall (another brand...) a number to times just using
SQL Server Developer's Version/MSDE.

Can't remember how many times... but eventually it soaked in and I update the
firewall's list by habit now.
--
PeteCresswell

[Darryl Kerkeslager]

Re: SQL Server Express: Anybody Using It?

"Lyle Fairfield" <lylefairfield@ aim.com> wrote[color=blue]
> Then
> SQL Server Express with Visual Web Developer
> Express is like Jet with Access?
>[/color]

Um, no, not exactly .. bit of a logic error, there.

However, the following three (free) MS products, combined, offer more than
Access/Jet:

Visual Web Developer Express 2005
SQL Server 2005 Express
Visual Basic 2005 Express

- Development for a sever database and desktop database can be done
identically - no need to be concerned about having to upgrade/replace the
desktop app at some point

- The VB.Net language can be used for console, web, and database apps, a
slight improvement over VBScript, VBA, and VB (although VB.Net does not do
Office apps).

- Web development is integral, without ADP or ASP.

- performance of SQL Server vs. Jet - both are so fast on a single desktop,
that it doesn't even matter.

It would take someone who is an expert in both Access/Jet/VBA and
ADO.Net/SQL Server/VB.Net to truly compare the RAD power of both - but I
would say the combination of these three products (all currently free) have
so many strengths, that Access now has serious competition for the first
time for developers who want to work independently and develop great
standalone database products.

The last adverb for that sentence would be "quickly" - but I don't know
about that, and I'm not sure there are enough true experts in both to know.

Disclaimer: All of this is IMHO, is not intended to ignite flames, and is
based on as yet limited fiddling with the above three tools.


--
Darryl Kerkeslager

[Lyle Fairfield]

Re: SQL Server Express: Anybody Using It?

Darryl Kerkeslager wrote:[color=blue]
> However, the following three (free) MS products, combined, offer more than
> Access/Jet:
>
> Visual Web Developer Express 2005
> SQL Server 2005 Express
> Visual Basic 2005 Express[/color]

I've done some of this; it's as fast or faster to develop than Access;
it's as powerful or more powerful than Access; it's far easier to
deploy than Access.
Access is over, done, finished, dead!

[(PeteCresswell)]

Re: SQL Server Express: Anybody Using It?

Per Lyle Fairfield:[color=blue]
>I've done some of this; it's as fast or faster to develop than Access;
>it's as powerful or more powerful than Access; it's far easier to
>deploy than Access.[/color]

Can 10 different PC's concurrently connect their MS Access front ends to a
single instance of Access Express running on some other PC?
--
PeteCresswell

[Lyle Fairfield]

Re: SQL Server Express: Anybody Using It?

Access Express?

[David W. Fenton]

Re: SQL Server Express: Anybody Using It?

"(PeteCresswell )" <x@y.Invalid> wrote in
news:97vjv19se4 tm7iokkr1o7vrvd eucb8cfpf@4ax.c om:
[color=blue]
> Per Anthony England:[color=green]
>>I did this a few months ago just to have a look around. The bit I
>>remember getting caught with was the deafult WinXP SP2 firewall
>>which stopped me connecting to the database. Although I spent
>>over an hour looking at other things before I worked that one out.
>> Doh![/color]
>
> I've been nailed by my firewall (another brand...) a number to
> times just using SQL Server Developer's Version/MSDE.
>
> Can't remember how many times... but eventually it soaked in and I
> update the firewall's list by habit now.[/color]

It would be better to change your SQL Server to use a nonstandard
port and unblock *that* port. Then, only exploits that scan all
ports would be able to attempt a connection to it. If you use
default ports, it's just an open invitation to nefarious interests.

--
David W. Fenton http://www.dfenton.com/
usenet at dfenton dot com http://www.dfenton.com/DFA/

[David W. Fenton]

Re: SQL Server Express: Anybody Using It?

"Darryl Kerkeslager" <kerkeslager@co mcast.net> wrote in
news:UIWdnaoAao 0EmGfenZ2dnUVZ_ vydnZ2d@comcast .com:
[color=blue]
> However, the following three (free) MS products, combined, offer
> more than Access/Jet:
>
> Visual Web Developer Express 2005
> SQL Server 2005 Express
> Visual Basic 2005 Express[/color]

And is the result hosted in a web browser?

If so, it just isn't comparable.

--
David W. Fenton http://www.dfenton.com/
usenet at dfenton dot com http://www.dfenton.com/DFA/

[Darryl Kerkeslager]

Re: SQL Server Express: Anybody Using It?

"David W. Fenton" <XXXusenet@dfen ton.com.invalid > wrote[color=blue]
> And is the result hosted in a web browser?
>[/color]

Could be; doesn't have to be.

I don't have all the answers - I'm just looking into a lot of this and
trying it out, myself - but it does seem pretty promising.

You can write executables - no "runtime version" required.

I see no reason in the documentation why you shouldn't be able to use it
over a LAN (and since the documentation mentions concurrent users, I guess
that would logically follow).

I have 80 users connected to my Access db now - maybe 40 concurrent - could
I also do 40 concurrent users with SQL Server Express with the 1 GB RAM
limit - I have no idea.

I'm certainly not worried about the 4GB data file limit.

Can I develop software as quickly with .Net as with Access? Don't know that
either - but I will say that I have coded a heck of a lot of VBA in Access,
and Access isn't the magical RAD tool I once thought it was. So I'm willing
to give something else a shot.


--
Darryl Kerkeslager