What's SQL Server about in New MSOffice update?

[George]

I'm using MS Outlook 2003 with BCM. When I clicked "check for updates",
there was a whopper-sized update available for BCM...I installed it and it
had two parts...1) Outlook and 2) SQL Server.

Then when I clicked to open up Outlook, it asked some just-installed kinds
of questions like "do you want to use BCM" (I answered 'yes' and hoped it
hadn't erased my BCM data...everything ended up fine.). Then I chose my
"existing BCM database" and it backed it up, the "converted" it. So, ...

a) What's the 3-4 main purposes/benefits of this update? BCM 'does' seem to
run much faster, lookups and saves seem to be smoother.

b) In layman's terms, what's SQL server all about? There's an icon in the
bottom-right taskbar. If moused-over, it shows "Not Connected - \\". Is
this something that does/can apply to other applications besides BCM?

Thanks,
George

 

[Guy]

Your previous version also ran on SQL Server. BCM uses the MSDE version
which is a scaled down version of the full SQL Server database. The database
itself is not contained within Outlook's default PST file (although there is
some integration) it is contained in the SQL database. In version 2 you can
share your database with others and that is why you are seeing the icon in
your tray now. Search SQL Server on the Microsoft website for more
information.

 

[George]

Thanks Guy,

Could I ask three brief follow-on questions...

-If I wanted to share with another person on my network, I'm assuming they
would need to also have BCM, right? Not just Outlook?

-The database is resident on my PC c:drive, I believe, and I believe it's
MSBusinessContactManager.mdf, sound right? (I kept the suggested generic
name). How would they access it...do they have to install something (like
SQL server something) then click something to "link" themselves to it?

-If I wanted to "move" this database to a special network storage device
(glorified name for a hard drive connected via ethernet in center of
everything so everyone can access it like a server)... How would I
"re-point" my MSOutlookBCM to this database, and also tell others to
re-point to the new location?

Thanks,
George

 

[Guy]

Answers are inline below.....

--
Guy
Forefront Business Solutions
www.forefrontbusinesssolutions.com
www.forefrontbusiness.com

-If I wanted to share with another person on my network, I'm assuming they
would need to also have BCM, right? Not just Outlook?

Yes, they would.

-The database is resident on my PC c:drive, I believe, and I believe it's
MSBusinessContactManager.mdf, sound right? (I kept the suggested generic
name). How would they access it...do they have to install something (like
SQL server something) then click something to "link" themselves to it?

As of Version 2 you can share your database. On the machine with the
database, there is a share database utilitily under the Business Tools Menu.
Now this machine would have to be running and available for others to use
the server. They would connect to it using the data file management under
tools to connect to the existing database.

-If I wanted to "move" this database to a special network storage device
(glorified name for a hard drive connected via ethernet in center of
everything so everyone can access it like a server)... How would I
"re-point" my MSOutlookBCM to this database, and also tell others to
re-point to the new location?

You would have to install SQL Server on a server and point everyone to it.
There are many who have successfully done this but I have never tried.