Connecting to a SQL Compact Database

This video shows you how to connect to a SQL Compact database from a .NET project.

Michael is a Database Administrator for large financial firm in the Tampa Bay area and the leader of the Sarasota SQL Server User Group.

Stephen on 5/11/2010

Nice. If you are running MS SQL Server Management Studio, can you still have a local copy of SQL compact edition running on local box? Be a great tool for Development, non-production data storage, etc.

Chandresh on 5/11/2010

really its all videos are very useful... :))

Chandresh on 5/11/2010

really its all videos are very useful... :))

Michael Wells on 5/12/2010

Stephen, yes you can connect to a SQL Compact database with Management Studio just like you would a typical SQL database. You just need to change the Server Type in the connection box to SQL Server Compact Edition. And keep in mind that the database isn't actually running until you connect to it, either from an application or from Management Studio. Chandresh, thanks for the feedback.

Charlie Bruno on 5/12/2010

interesting. I have not done any reading on SQL Compact.

James on 5/12/2010

Thank you.:-)

Carla Gentry on 5/12/2010

Pretty good

Dennis Wetherall on 5/13/2010

Where do you get a copy of the SQL CE edition with Northwind in it?

Michael Wells on 5/13/2010

Dennis, the SQL Server Compact 3.5 Design Tools MSI file (SSCEVSTools-ENU.msi) should have been installed as part of the Visual Studio 2008 install. If so, then it will be located at %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft SQL Server Compact Edition\v3.5\Samples\Northwind.sdf.

Dennis Wetherall on 5/14/2010

Michael, Thanks for the answer. That was very informative video.

Les Weaving on 6/15/2010

So slow so get to the point, I lost interest half way through