What's SQL Server express got over Access?

[matthew stuart]

I have recently found out that there is a free version of SQL server called SQL Server Express, and I wondered if anybody here uses the express version.

What has it got that beats Access? What benefit can I get from using it over Access? Does it have any benefits over MySQL?

Also, does it have a user interface or is it command line based?

Any help and advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Mat

[Newsgroup_User]

Between Access and SQL Express I would chosse SQL Express every time.

It is more scalable, robust and quite simply is not a 'pretent' database. It
uses the same database engine as the full-blown SQL Server product and not
the lightweight Jet engine that Access uses. But hey, that's just my
opinion. It all boils down to what you are actually going to be using it
for. Take a look at the below:

http://www.sqlmag.com/Article/ArticleID/49623/sql_server_49623.html


"matthew stuart" <webforumsuser@macromedia.com> wrote in message
news:fo9dqr$1qh$1@forums.macromedia.com...
>I have recently found out that there is a free version of SQL server called
>SQL
> Server Express, and I wondered if anybody here uses the express version.
> What
> has it got that beats Access? What benefit can I get from using it over
> Access?
> Does it have any benefits over MySQL? Also, does it have a user interface
> or
> is it command line based? Any help and advice would be greatly
> appreciated.
> Thanks. Mat
>

[Newsgroup_User]

matthew stuart wrote:
> I have recently found out that there is a free version of SQL server called SQL
> Server Express, and I wondered if anybody here uses the express version. What
> has it got that beats Access? What benefit can I get from using it over Access?
> Does it have any benefits over MySQL? Also, does it have a user interface or
> is it command line based? Any help and advice would be greatly appreciated.
> Thanks. Mat
>

The main difference is that it's a server, unlike Access which is file
that the webserver connects to. It comes with Management Studio software
that allows you to connect to the sql server.

If you own your own or rent a Windows webserver then you can happily
install SQL express, but if you don't, your host will have to offer it
to you as an add on, just like they have to offer MySQL as part of your
hosting package.

Access is really a desktop application that can work on a website, but
its not a "proper" sql server like MS SQL or Oracle or any other other
big boys out there.

You don't need to know SQL to use it, but if you opt to learn SQL, even
just the basics, then it will all make sense and will be beneficial to you.

Steve

[matthew stuart]

Ah, that's interesting.

So, this may be a stupid question, but I need to ask! Can I create more than one database with SQL Server Express?

And, does it have a GUI?

Thanks

[Newsgroup_User]

matthew stuart wrote:
> Ah, that's interesting.
>
> So, this may be a stupid question, but I need to ask! Can I create more than one database with SQL Server Express?
>
> And, does it have a GUI?
>
> Thanks

Yes you can create many databases, but I think they have an individual
database size restriction of 4Gb.

the GUI is the Studio Management software, you have it on your desktop
and providing you have the server and your firewall setup correctly you
can connect and control it. This used to be called the Enterprise Manager.

Steve

[Newsgroup_User]

Management Studio Express is the tool you need to manage the databases. You
can download from MS site.

--
Jules
http://www.charon.co.uk/products.aspx
Charon Cart
Ecommerce for ASP/ASP.NET

[Newsgroup_User]

Another difference between Access and MSSQl is performance. On a
decent size database Access will be far less efficient, that means
slooooow

[Newsgroup_User]

"matthew stuart" <webforumsuser@macromedia.com> wrote in message
news:fo9dqr$1qh$1@forums.macromedia.com...
>I have recently found out that there is a free version of SQL server called
>SQL
> Server Express, and I wondered if anybody here uses the express version.
> What
> has it got that beats Access? What benefit can I get from using it over
> Access?
> Does it have any benefits over MySQL? Also, does it have a user interface
> or
> is it command line based? Any help and advice would be greatly
> appreciated.

along with the other good info people have given, I do believe that an
Access database, when online, is limited to a max of 25 concurrent
connections. You won't have such a limit with SQL Express.

[Newsgroup_User]

> along with the other good info people have given, I do believe that an
> Access database, when online, is limited to a max of 25 concurrent
> connections. You won't have such a limit with SQL Express.

Though do note that you'll have a really tough time finding a web host that
supports SQL Express.

Not a huge deal if you plan ahead, though, and just migrate your SQL Express
DB into MS SQL at that time.

-Darrel

[Newsgroup_User]

"darrel" <notreal@nowhere.com> wrote in message
news:fo9th8$hos$1@forums.macromedia.com...
>> along with the other good info people have given, I do believe that an
>> Access database, when online, is limited to a max of 25 concurrent
>> connections. You won't have such a limit with SQL Express.
>
> Though do note that you'll have a really tough time finding a web host
> that supports SQL Express.

not tough at all - Verio supports SQLExpress in their Windows hosting plans.

[Newsgroup_User]

> not tough at all - Verio supports SQLExpress in their Windows hosting
> plans.

Do they? That's a rarity, from what I've seen.

Good to know, though.

-Darrel

[Newsgroup_User]

"darrel" <notreal@nowhere.com> wrote in message
news:foagfq$8v0$1@forums.macromedia.com...
>> not tough at all - Verio supports SQLExpress in their Windows hosting
>> plans.
>
> Do they? That's a rarity, from what I've seen.
>

yep, I have an ecommerce customer that I have setup with a SQL express
database there.

[Newsgroup_User]

There's a 4 Gig limit on SQL Express. There may also be CPU and RAM limits.
Generally, this is OK for development and maybe OK if one had a dedicated
server. But, I wouldn't have thought it unsuitable for shared hosting. In
fact, I'd be worried if they offered it, they should be using the full
version!

--
Jules
http://www.charon.co.uk/products.aspx
Charon Cart
Ecommerce for ASP/ASP.NET


"darrel" <notreal@nowhere.com> wrote in message
news:foagfq$8v0$1@forums.macromedia.com...
>> not tough at all - Verio supports SQLExpress in their Windows hosting
>> plans.
>
> Do they? That's a rarity, from what I've seen.
>
> Good to know, though.
>
> -Darrel
>

[matthew stuart]

I am a bit confused here due to lack of experience with SQL Server Express.

I think have read on tinternet that you can build a DB in SQL Server Express, and upload it to the full SQL Server. Is that not the case?

With the full SQL Server, can I do a dump of the live DB and then load the data and structure into my local SQL Server Express? That's what I do with MySQL. My clients obviously work on the live DB through the website, and from time to time, I will dump the data to an SQL file and then reload my local MySQL server so that my PC is running with the most up-to-date content. Can I do the same thing between SQL Server and SQL Server Express?

Mat

[Newsgroup_User]

>I am a bit confused here due to lack of experience with SQL Server Express.
>I
> think have read on tinternet that you can build a DB in SQL Server
> Express, and
> upload it to the full SQL Server. Is that not the case?

That's true, but not quite as simple as it sounds ;0)

> Can I do the same thing
> between SQL Server and SQL Server Express? Mat

I believe so, but, again, probably not quite as simple as you can via MySQL.
I believe you'd have to do a backup of the live DB, download it, then
restore it into SQL Express. I'm not entirely sure that will grab Stored
Procs, though.

I'm still trying to catch up in regards to the whole SQL Express/VS 2005
environment. Alas, SQL Express, while a great idea, doesn't seem to be
implemented in the most intuitive way.

-Darrel