I am going to write a database program using VB 2005 Express. I assume I am better off using the SQL database (which I've never used) rather than Access (which I've used before).

So to start constructing an SQL database, the only way I can see is to add an SQL database item to my VB application. Is there a stand-alone external method to create an SQL database or to add/modify/delete data without going through the VB express application?

And finally, I do not want to use data binding controls. With the help of others here, I can connect my current access database through code, create a dataset, and perform the control I need.

Since I've now created an SQL database, I see that there is a myTest.mdf and myTestDataSet.xsd files now in my application. It seems this takes care of the connection part of it for me. What do I need to do to access this dataset directly, for example, something like:

intRowCount = myTestDataSet.Tables(0).Rows.Count

Thanks.

Greg