How can I access SQL Server Compact Edition with SQL Server Management Studio Express?

Hello,

I just installed SQL Server Compact Edition, since I am considering using it instead of SQL Server Express for a local database in my application. The documentation mentioned that I could use SQL Server Management Studio Express to connect to the Compact Edition and create and manipulate databases.

To try to connect, I run Management Studio and bring up the "Connect to Server" dialog. Unfortunately, the pull-down list of "Server name"s does not include the SQL Server Compact Edition server. I do not know how to type in the server name manually, so I cannot connect.

To install Compact Edition, I downloaded it and ran "SQLServerCE31-EN.msi". This installed, and I assume registered, a number of DLLs in "C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server Compact Edition\v3.1\".

Is there perhaps an additional step that I left out to complete the installation?

Might I need an upgrade to some other components? My Management Studio Version is:

- Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio Express 9.00.2047.00

I would appreciate any help you can provide.

Thank you,

WTW

The support for SQL Server 2005 Compact Edition was added in Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio Express (SSMSE). SSMSE is available for download at:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=C243A5AE-4BD1-4E3D-94B8-5A0F62BF7796&displaylang=en

SSMSE shipped with SQL Server 2005 SP2. SQL Server 2005 SP2 information is at

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sqlserver/bb426877.aspx#3

Regards

Ambrish

|||

WTW,

I've written a blog post about this, you can see it at http://arcanecode.wordpress.com/2007/04/11/create-a-sql-server-compact-edition-database-using-sql-server-2005-management-studio/ . I've also written an article that describes all the components you'll want to install to make everything work right, http://arcanecode.wordpress.com/2007/04/24/sql-server-2005-compact-edition-important-component/ .

You might also want to check the Arcane Lessons page for more SSCE tutorials.

Arcane

|||

Thanks for your reply. I uninstalled SSMSE and downloaded and installed it again. However, I still cannot access a SQL Server 2005 Compact Edition database.

When I bring up the "Connect to Server" dialog, the "Server Type" is fixed at "Database Engine", and I cannot determine how to change it. I've tried most of the menus and buttons, and I cannot find a setting for this.

I am missing some other component or configuration option?

Thanks for your help.

WTW

|||

Thanks for your very helpful reply. Thanks to your blog, I now have all of the proper components installed to make Compact Edition work properly. Your blog was the only place where I have found a complete list of all of the necessary components.

I have even purchased the E-book that you recommended, and it is very helpful.

However, I still am not able to access a Compact Edition database through SQL Server Management Studio Express. When I bring up the "Connect to Server" dialog, the "Server Type" is fixed at "Database Engine", and I cannot determine how to change it to Compact Edition or something similar.

The E-book demonstrates how to access a Compact Edition database through Management Studio. However, it shows a "Connect" menu in Management Studio that does not exist on my version. According to the E-book screen shots, the "Connect" menu should allow you to select "SQL Server Mobile", which will then bring up a "Connect to Server" dialog that shows a "Server Type" of "SQL Server Mobile". The next line allows selection of a "Database file" instead of a "Server name".

My version of Management Studio does not have the "Connect" menu. I even tried reinstalling Management Studio from the Microsoft website. However, I discovered that I already had the latest version, 9.00.2047.00.

I would appreciate any additional help you can provide.

Regards,

WTW

|||In typical microsoft style, the documentation is horrible on this. I was only able to get it to work by installing SP2 of SSMSE (of which there is no mention on the regular SSMSE download page) at:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=6053C6F8-82C8-479C-B25B-9ACA13141C9E&displaylang=en

and the SQL CE SDK found at:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=E9AA3F8D-363D-49F3-AE89-64E1D149E09B&displaylang=en

You will know you have SP2 of SSMSE installed if you version is 9.00.3042.00
|||

SP2 did the trick. Thank you so much.

Regards,

WTW

Hot Backup

Someone told me should backup the live data files (files with
extension MDF and LDF) instead of the backup files (file with
extension BAK) in hot backup. I don't think it work in the case I need
to restore these data files from tape backup. Am I correct?That person might be thinking about the various type of snapshot backup products that exists. This
type of backup uses some technique to "freeze" the I/O for some period of time and then use some
journaling to keep track of the modifications performed while the backup is running (while you are
copying the files). There's some information in SQL Server 2005 Books Online, search for instance
for "VSS Writer" (which is the service in SQL server to assist these types of backup programs).
But in general you are right. You don't want to just "grab the database files".
--
Tibor Karaszi, SQL Server MVP
http://www.karaszi.com/sqlserver/default.asp
http://sqlblog.com/blogs/tibor_karaszi
<viet@.rocketmail.com> wrote in message
news:2341c184-ec8b-42d7-b250-3e5acd594e49@.w8g2000prd.googlegroups.com...
> Someone told me should backup the live data files (files with
> extension MDF and LDF) instead of the backup files (file with
> extension BAK) in hot backup. I don't think it work in the case I need
> to restore these data files from tape backup. Am I correct?|||On Apr 24, 6:47=A0pm, "Tibor Karaszi"
<tibor_please.no.email_kara...@.hotmail.nomail.com> wrote:
> That person might be thinking about the various type of snapshot backup pr=oducts that exists. This
> type of backup uses some technique to "freeze" the I/O for some period of =time and then use some
> journaling to keep track of the modifications performed while the backup i=s running (while you are
> copying the files). There's some information in SQL Server 2005 Books Onli=ne, search for instance
> for "VSS Writer" (which is the service in SQL server to assist these types= of backup programs).
> But in general you are right. You don't want to just "grab the database fi=les".
> --
> Tibor Karaszi, SQL Server MVPhttp://www.karaszi.com/sqlserver/default.asph=
ttp://sqlblog.com/blogs/tibor_karaszi
> <v...@.rocketmail.com> wrote in message
> news:2341c184-ec8b-42d7-b250-3e5acd594e49@.w8g2000prd.googlegroups.com...
>
> > Someone told me should backup the live data files (files with
> > extension MDF and LDF) instead of the backup files (file with
> > extension BAK) in hot backup. I don't think it work in the case I need
> > to restore these data files from tape backup. Am I correct... Hide quoted= text -
> - Show quoted text -
If the intention is to backup the database before tape backup . You
can always schedule the db backups online before tape backup and
the .bak files can be backed up on tape.
If the database size is very large you can use the tools like
Litespeed which will help you to save on time.
Thanks
Ajay Rengunthwar
MCTS,MCDBA,MCAD