SQL Express or MDB - opinions please

[Miro]

Ok I have been slowely - and ever so slowely teaching myself VB.net

Currently I have created an MDB file by code, and added fields to the MDB
file by code.
I like this solution because, ( im assuming ) if I create an EXE and I load
an MDB file, I can
see if certain fields are there, and if not add them.
Kinda like an Update that is imbeded into the EXE, so you dont always have
to create an Install shield.

So... Lets say my goal is to have an application that I would like people to
install somewhere.
Why choose SQL Express over a simple MDB file? ( i have never tried SQL
Express )

1. As I am assuming...SQL express is a second install that a user would
have to install ontop of my
application install ?

2. MDB files would be easier to work with because everyone till now has
been working with
MDB files so any help required is easier to get to ?

3. People have told me MDB files will slowely be processed out and SQL
Express will take its place.
Is this true ?

So if you were to write an application from scratch. Would you still go
with SQL Express ?

I am knocking my head back and forth on this. And would like to know how i
will create my db's before i start
trying to code an app.

Thank You,

Miro

 

[Cor Ligthert [MVP]]

Miro,

In the newsgroup general and adonet is this often asked.

See here one thread of those, it gives you direct the entree to more if you
want.

http://groups.google.com/group/micr...8538e22101f/141eca691cf65511#141eca691cf65511

I hope you get an idea by this discussion.

Cor

 

[Miro]

Thank you Cor,

That is what I needed.

A good read for everyone who is thinking the same thing.

I personally will try now to install SQL Server and see what happens from
here, or how hard it is to learn

Thank you again.

Miro

 

[Michel Posseth [MCP]]

1. As I am assuming...SQL express is a second install that a user would

have to install ontop of my
application install ?

well a lot of people nowadays have a sql express or MSDE instance running
without even knowing it

2. MDB files would be easier to work with because everyone till now has
been working with
MDB files so any help required is easier to get to ?

if you know for sure all people have Jet oledb installed ( this is not
standard annymore in MDAC since version 2.6 )
okay having office installed will also work

3. People have told me MDB files will slowely be processed out and SQL
Express will take its place.
Is this true ?

In my opinion yes , you could also go for the firebird DB engine wich has
a verry nice .Net API is completely free ( without anny restrictions , and
has even an embedded version ) http://firebird.sourceforge.net/ however
it is not as "friendly" to start with as MSSQL

So if you were to write an application from scratch. Would you still go
with SQL Express ?

This depends on the project for me .

Why would i choose Access ( i prefer the 2000 db ) above sql express
1. small ( i should say smaller ) footprint
2.deployable to all Windows versions inclusive win 9.x
3. security and then i mean the possibility to secure so no one else except
you can access the database
while still having the posibility to use indexes etc etc on the data (
this is done with a workgroup information file , using this technique you
can add user roles and encrypt the database )

by the way i believe the best database there is at this moment is MS SQL
2005 ( SQL Express ) it is only a shame that they forgot that even a
administrator of a system should be restricted access from a db from a
programmers point of view in some situations

Hope to have given you some ideas

regards

Michel Posseth [MCP]

 

[Cor Ligthert [MVP]]

it is only a shame that they forgot that even a administrator of a system

should be restricted access from a db from a programmers point of view in
some situations

LOL

 

[raibeart]

I think you have it backwards from the Administrator's point of view.

Programmers should always be restricted.

 

[dbahooker]

mdb is crap.

spit on anyone that uses it or tells you to use it.

sql server 2005 express friggin rocks!!!

-Aaron

 

[Guest]

If I read your comment correctly, if I have MSDE installed, then I can
install an application that uses SQL Express...is this correct? Also, is
MSDE installed with Windows XP Professional automatically? Thanks for any
info you can provide as I am considering switching to SQL Express.
--
Dennis in Houston

1. As I am assuming...SQL express is a second install that a user would
have to install ontop of my
application install ?

well a lot of people nowadays have a sql express or MSDE instance running
without even knowing it

2. MDB files would be easier to work with because everyone till now has
been working with
MDB files so any help required is easier to get to ?

if you know for sure all people have Jet oledb installed ( this is not
standard annymore in MDAC since version 2.6 )
okay having office installed will also work

3. People have told me MDB files will slowely be processed out and SQL
Express will take its place.
Is this true ?

In my opinion yes , you could also go for the firebird DB engine wich has
a verry nice .Net API is completely free ( without anny restrictions , and
has even an embedded version ) http://firebird.sourceforge.net/ however
it is not as "friendly" to start with as MSSQL

So if you were to write an application from scratch. Would you still go
with SQL Express ?

This depends on the project for me .

Why would i choose Access ( i prefer the 2000 db ) above sql express
1. small ( i should say smaller ) footprint
2.deployable to all Windows versions inclusive win 9.x
3. security and then i mean the possibility to secure so no one else except
you can access the database
while still having the posibility to use indexes etc etc on the data (
this is done with a workgroup information file , using this technique you
can add user roles and encrypt the database )

by the way i believe the best database there is at this moment is MS SQL
2005 ( SQL Express ) it is only a shame that they forgot that even a
administrator of a system should be restricted access from a db from a
programmers point of view in some situations

Hope to have given you some ideas

regards

Michel Posseth [MCP]

Ok I have been slowely - and ever so slowely teaching myself VB.net

Currently I have created an MDB file by code, and added fields to the MDB
file by code.
I like this solution because, ( im assuming ) if I create an EXE and I
load an MDB file, I can
see if certain fields are there, and if not add them.
Kinda like an Update that is imbeded into the EXE, so you dont always have
to create an Install shield.

So... Lets say my goal is to have an application that I would like people
to install somewhere.
Why choose SQL Express over a simple MDB file? ( i have never tried SQL
Express )

1. As I am assuming...SQL express is a second install that a user would
have to install ontop of my
application install ?

2. MDB files would be easier to work with because everyone till now has
been working with
MDB files so any help required is easier to get to ?

3. People have told me MDB files will slowely be processed out and SQL
Express will take its place.
Is this true ?

So if you were to write an application from scratch. Would you still go
with SQL Express ?

I am knocking my head back and forth on this. And would like to know how
i will create my db's before i start
trying to code an app.

Thank You,

Miro

 

[Miro]

I did like the point that was made that the Access mdb can have a password
so only your program can access it.

The SQL Express i am assuming cannot have a password on it so data can be
viewd from everywhere.

Maybe my solution will be to use both.

I will try SQL Express / Light... and see how it goes. Can someone please
confirm / tell me who does use SQL Express
or Light -> Is there a way to secure the DB so only the program can access
/ view the database.

Thanks

Miro

If I read your comment correctly, if I have MSDE installed, then I can
install an application that uses SQL Express...is this correct? Also, is
MSDE installed with Windows XP Professional automatically? Thanks for any
info you can provide as I am considering switching to SQL Express.
--
Dennis in Houston

1. As I am assuming...SQL express is a second install that a user
would
have to install ontop of my
application install ?

well a lot of people nowadays have a sql express or MSDE instance
running
without even knowing it

2. MDB files would be easier to work with because everyone till now
has
been working with
MDB files so any help required is easier to get to ?

if you know for sure all people have Jet oledb installed ( this is not
standard annymore in MDAC since version 2.6 )
okay having office installed will also work

3. People have told me MDB files will slowely be processed out and SQL
Express will take its place.
Is this true ?

In my opinion yes , you could also go for the firebird DB engine wich
has
a verry nice .Net API is completely free ( without anny restrictions ,
and
has even an embedded version ) http://firebird.sourceforge.net/
however
it is not as "friendly" to start with as MSSQL

So if you were to write an application from scratch. Would you still
go
with SQL Express ?

This depends on the project for me .

Why would i choose Access ( i prefer the 2000 db ) above sql express
1. small ( i should say smaller ) footprint
2.deployable to all Windows versions inclusive win 9.x
3. security and then i mean the possibility to secure so no one else
except
you can access the database
while still having the posibility to use indexes etc etc on the data (
this is done with a workgroup information file , using this technique you
can add user roles and encrypt the database )

by the way i believe the best database there is at this moment is MS SQL
2005 ( SQL Express ) it is only a shame that they forgot that even a
administrator of a system should be restricted access from a db from a
programmers point of view in some situations

Hope to have given you some ideas

regards

Michel Posseth [MCP]

Ok I have been slowely - and ever so slowely teaching myself VB.net

Currently I have created an MDB file by code, and added fields to the
MDB
file by code.
I like this solution because, ( im assuming ) if I create an EXE and I
load an MDB file, I can
see if certain fields are there, and if not add them.
Kinda like an Update that is imbeded into the EXE, so you dont always
have
to create an Install shield.

So... Lets say my goal is to have an application that I would like
people
to install somewhere.
Why choose SQL Express over a simple MDB file? ( i have never tried
SQL
Express )

1. As I am assuming...SQL express is a second install that a user
would
have to install ontop of my
application install ?

2. MDB files would be easier to work with because everyone till now
has
been working with
MDB files so any help required is easier to get to ?

3. People have told me MDB files will slowely be processed out and SQL
Express will take its place.
Is this true ?

So if you were to write an application from scratch. Would you still
go
with SQL Express ?

I am knocking my head back and forth on this. And would like to know
how
i will create my db's before i start
trying to code an app.

Thank You,

Miro

 

[Michel Posseth [MCP]]

Well here we go again


what if the data makes the value for your program ???

in my previuous job i was a catalogue programmer for the Automotive
aftermarket

http://www.nohausystems.com/ ( company i worked for )

you also have

http://www.tecdoc.com

http://www.alldata.com/

http://www.aldoc.nl/main.html

etc etc etc

They all do basicly the same thing , hundreds of people are gathering this
information worldwide for different company`s
they difference by the quality of there gathered data ( it is nice to see
that a ordered part actually fits on the right car )

So you understand that no one should be able to see the internall data
structure etc etc , this is giving the actuall value to the program that
is why thousands of shop`s buy these programs ( believe me this is big
business ) .

So no , i did not make a mistake sometimes you want data to be accessible
only by your program ( all the above company`s protect there data ,,
believe me i tried )


regards

Michel Posseth

 

[Michel Posseth [MCP]]

Hi Miro ,

All "reall" RDBMS systems have there security based on the local system
rights
i.o.w. an Administrator hass all rights so he can grant rights to the
database so anyone can view the data

With Access i am able to create a database that does not allow the
administrator or anyone else to open, view , or modify the data
i can simply create my own user with my own password ( that does not have to
exist on the system where the program is running )
and can thus open my database through my program with these user credentials

an option in SQL would be to use encryption on the data level , however
this will result in poor performance

regards

Michel Posseth

I did like the point that was made that the Access mdb can have a password
so only your program can access it.

The SQL Express i am assuming cannot have a password on it so data can be
viewd from everywhere.

Maybe my solution will be to use both.

I will try SQL Express / Light... and see how it goes. Can someone please
confirm / tell me who does use SQL Express
or Light -> Is there a way to secure the DB so only the program can
access / view the database.

Thanks

Miro

If I read your comment correctly, if I have MSDE installed, then I can
install an application that uses SQL Express...is this correct? Also, is
MSDE installed with Windows XP Professional automatically? Thanks for
any
info you can provide as I am considering switching to SQL Express.
--
Dennis in Houston

1. As I am assuming...SQL express is a second install that a user
would
have to install ontop of my
application install ?

well a lot of people nowadays have a sql express or MSDE instance
running
without even knowing it

2. MDB files would be easier to work with because everyone till now
has
been working with
MDB files so any help required is easier to get to ?

if you know for sure all people have Jet oledb installed ( this is not
standard annymore in MDAC since version 2.6 )
okay having office installed will also work

3. People have told me MDB files will slowely be processed out and
SQL
Express will take its place.
Is this true ?

In my opinion yes , you could also go for the firebird DB engine wich
has
a verry nice .Net API is completely free ( without anny restrictions ,
and
has even an embedded version ) http://firebird.sourceforge.net/
however
it is not as "friendly" to start with as MSSQL


So if you were to write an application from scratch. Would you still
go
with SQL Express ?

This depends on the project for me .

Why would i choose Access ( i prefer the 2000 db ) above sql express
1. small ( i should say smaller ) footprint
2.deployable to all Windows versions inclusive win 9.x
3. security and then i mean the possibility to secure so no one else
except
you can access the database
while still having the posibility to use indexes etc etc on the data (
this is done with a workgroup information file , using this technique
you
can add user roles and encrypt the database )

by the way i believe the best database there is at this moment is MS SQL
2005 ( SQL Express ) it is only a shame that they forgot that even a
administrator of a system should be restricted access from a db from a
programmers point of view in some situations

Hope to have given you some ideas

regards

Michel Posseth [MCP]





"Miro" <[email protected]> schreef in bericht
Ok I have been slowely - and ever so slowely teaching myself VB.net

Currently I have created an MDB file by code, and added fields to the
MDB
file by code.
I like this solution because, ( im assuming ) if I create an EXE and I
load an MDB file, I can
see if certain fields are there, and if not add them.
Kinda like an Update that is imbeded into the EXE, so you dont always
have
to create an Install shield.

So... Lets say my goal is to have an application that I would like
people
to install somewhere.
Why choose SQL Express over a simple MDB file? ( i have never tried
SQL
Express )

1. As I am assuming...SQL express is a second install that a user
would
have to install ontop of my
application install ?

2. MDB files would be easier to work with because everyone till now
has
been working with
MDB files so any help required is easier to get to ?

3. People have told me MDB files will slowely be processed out and
SQL
Express will take its place.
Is this true ?

So if you were to write an application from scratch. Would you still
go
with SQL Express ?

I am knocking my head back and forth on this. And would like to know
how
i will create my db's before i start
trying to code an app.

Thank You,

Miro

 

[Michel Posseth [MCP]]

The answer is Yes if you mean if they can run side by side

MSDE installed with Windows XP Professional automatically? Thanks for any
info you can provide as I am considering switching to SQL Express.

Well i do not no that for sure however a lot of the server functionality
uses MSDE in the background ( IIS for instance ) so it wouldn`t suprise me

regards

Michel Posseth [MCP]

If I read your comment correctly, if I have MSDE installed, then I can
install an application that uses SQL Express...is this correct? Also, is
MSDE installed with Windows XP Professional automatically? Thanks for any
info you can provide as I am considering switching to SQL Express.
--
Dennis in Houston

1. As I am assuming...SQL express is a second install that a user
would
have to install ontop of my
application install ?

well a lot of people nowadays have a sql express or MSDE instance
running
without even knowing it

2. MDB files would be easier to work with because everyone till now
has
been working with
MDB files so any help required is easier to get to ?

if you know for sure all people have Jet oledb installed ( this is not
standard annymore in MDAC since version 2.6 )
okay having office installed will also work

3. People have told me MDB files will slowely be processed out and SQL
Express will take its place.
Is this true ?

In my opinion yes , you could also go for the firebird DB engine wich
has
a verry nice .Net API is completely free ( without anny restrictions ,
and
has even an embedded version ) http://firebird.sourceforge.net/
however
it is not as "friendly" to start with as MSSQL

So if you were to write an application from scratch. Would you still
go
with SQL Express ?

This depends on the project for me .

Why would i choose Access ( i prefer the 2000 db ) above sql express
1. small ( i should say smaller ) footprint
2.deployable to all Windows versions inclusive win 9.x
3. security and then i mean the possibility to secure so no one else
except
you can access the database
while still having the posibility to use indexes etc etc on the data (
this is done with a workgroup information file , using this technique you
can add user roles and encrypt the database )

by the way i believe the best database there is at this moment is MS SQL
2005 ( SQL Express ) it is only a shame that they forgot that even a
administrator of a system should be restricted access from a db from a
programmers point of view in some situations

Hope to have given you some ideas

regards

Michel Posseth [MCP]

Ok I have been slowely - and ever so slowely teaching myself VB.net

Currently I have created an MDB file by code, and added fields to the
MDB
file by code.
I like this solution because, ( im assuming ) if I create an EXE and I
load an MDB file, I can
see if certain fields are there, and if not add them.
Kinda like an Update that is imbeded into the EXE, so you dont always
have
to create an Install shield.

So... Lets say my goal is to have an application that I would like
people
to install somewhere.
Why choose SQL Express over a simple MDB file? ( i have never tried
SQL
Express )

1. As I am assuming...SQL express is a second install that a user
would
have to install ontop of my
application install ?

2. MDB files would be easier to work with because everyone till now
has
been working with
MDB files so any help required is easier to get to ?

3. People have told me MDB files will slowely be processed out and SQL
Express will take its place.
Is this true ?

So if you were to write an application from scratch. Would you still
go
with SQL Express ?

I am knocking my head back and forth on this. And would like to know
how
i will create my db's before i start
trying to code an app.

Thank You,

Miro