SQL Coding

I'm totally confused by SQL at this point. I downloaded the Free one offered on MSDN, so now, what do I do?

Do I copy and paste that code?

I'm very lost. Personally, this is the most difficult thing I've encountered.

Does that SQL download turn my computer into the server?

Can someone walk me through what to do to:

a) get my database to update
b) get my software to update automatically

I have no idea where to even begin as far as coding is concerned.

also, does the SQL programming have to be in a different form or can it be in my main form?

I think you are a bit confused my friend. SQL coding is usually used to access/modify a database of some sort. Did you download SQL Server Express? If so, this is so you can create a database to store the information.

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Originally Posted by jre1229

I think you are a bit confused my friend. SQL coding is usually used to access/modify a database of some sort. Did you download SQL Server Express? If so, this is so you can create a database to store the information.

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Yes, I did that, now I'm trying to find it on my computer.

You also need to download Management Studio - for a link see the last post in the SQL Server 2005 sticky thread in the Database forum.

You might wanna check this out...

http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/ex...g/default.aspx

conflix - maybe some "top-level" discussion about this will help.

First - you selected MS SQL SERVER - that's a good thing. It's a true client/server database. By this I mean there is an EXECUTABLE that will run on your workstation now called SQLSERVER.EXE - you can find it in TASKMGR. It sits there listening for "SQL" statements on certain ports and then responds to them. Having a single EXECUTABLE running to handle data requests means it can be solely responsible for sharing and locking - this is a good thing.

Other SQL-like DB's don't run in a true client/server fashion. For instance - ACCESS does not have an EXECUTABLE running on the machine to serve the data requests. Instead each client really talks to the database individually and sharing/locking is handled in a different way.

Now - as Si mentioned - you need a GUI to interact with MS SQL - there is a free version of MANAGEMENT STUDIO available - that's a good start. Basically this GUI will allow you to create tables and other objecst in the DB - load data for testing - stuff like that.

But in the long run you need to learn the SQL language. This is a language that allows you to type "english like" statements and manipulate the database. Things like "SELECT * FROM SOMETABLE WHERE SOMECOL=123" or "UPDATE SOMETABLE SET SOMECOL=123 WHERE OTHERCOL='ABC'"

Good luck!

ok, i have the management software now. what i don't see is how to access it i'll re-read your post and look for it again. now what i don't understand is, does my own computer work as a server so to speak?

Having the SQLSERVER.EXE running as a service on your own computer in a way makes it behave like a server. Other workstations on your network/domain (if you have one) can access the SQL database on your own computer just like it being a server.

The only real difference between a workstation and a server is the O/S it's running.

how do i set that up?

Set what up?