SQLserver Compact Edition

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daicamad - 20 May 2008 20:50 GMT

Hi All,

I am looking for a Database solution that can work remotely on
PDA to communicate to central database server thru Wifi connection. So
far it appears that SQLserver Compact Edition can do that (via IIS,
according to MS website). Is this true? With this Compact Edition, can
I use OBDC to make a query on the PDA and get back result rows from
the database that sit on a PC?

Tony

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Paul G. Tobey [eMVP] - 20 May 2008 21:08 GMT

Yes, you can do that. In fact, you can do that with every version (and
name, which keeps changing), of SQL Server CE/Compact/Mobile. You don't
actually have a local database at all; you're just using the normal remote
data access to the server database. If you have to go through IIS, I think
you'll have to use RDA, which requires a lot more setup on the server side.
A search for "rda and iis" will give you various results. Here's one that
seems to talk about basically what you want to do, although it's still back
in the SQL CE/SQL Server 2000 days, so the product names are a little off:

http://www.sqljunkies.com/tutorial/1b5a2375-ef85-43cb-9516-bb3cd598cf46.scuk

Paul T.

> Hi All,
>
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>
> Tony

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daicamad - 21 May 2008 19:18 GMT

Thanks Paul and Ginny,

Paul, do you mean, on the PDA (PocketPC), I can connect to the server
database via the ODBC connection string (just like I am on a PC)?

I certainly don't want to go thru the IIS. It's just the MS website
imply that I have to.

> Yes, you can do that. In fact, you can do that with every version (and
> name, which keeps changing), of SQL Server CE/Compact/Mobile. You don't
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>
> - Show quoted text -

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Paul G. Tobey [eMVP] - 21 May 2008 20:14 GMT

I've not done that in a *long* time, but I think so, yes. It's so much
easier to do this sort of thing with C# or VB.NET and the .NET Compact
Framework that I *always* use those when doing database stuff in Windows CE.
You just use a SqlConnection class and set its connection string. A typical
connection string might be something like:

data source='servername';database='databasename';user
id='yourname';password='yourpassword';

or whatever (obviously, sending the user name and password this way isn't a
great idea). Pretty much just the regular old connection string.

Paul T.

Thanks Paul and Ginny,

Paul, do you mean, on the PDA (PocketPC), I can connect to the server
database via the ODBC connection string (just like I am on a PC)?

I certainly don't want to go thru the IIS. It's just the MS website
imply that I have to.

On May 20, 4:08 pm, "Paul G. Tobey [eMVP]" <p space tobey no spam AT
no instrument no spam DOT com> wrote:

> Yes, you can do that. In fact, you can do that with every version (and
> name, which keeps changing), of SQL Server CE/Compact/Mobile. You don't
[quoted text clipped - 27 lines]
>
> - Show quoted text -

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Ginny Caughey MVP - 20 May 2008 21:10 GMT

Tony,

SQL Server Compact is a database that can run on either the desktop or the
device. It runs in-proc with your application. So the usual scenario is for
you to move data from the central database to the device and work on it
disconnected from the central database, then sync back periodically as
connection permits. You would not use ODBC. You could use OleDb (if your app
is unmanaged code) or ADO.NET for C# or VB apps. You'd be querying the local
database in most scenarios.

There are 3 main technologies for syncing data between SQL Compact and a
central SQL Server: merge replication, Remote Data Access, and Sync Services
for ADO.NET.

More info here:
http://www.microsoft.com/sql/editions/compact/default.mspx
and here
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/sync/default.aspx

Alternatively it is also possible to communicate with a central database
directly using ADO.Net from the device. The main disadvantage - and it's not
a trivial one - is that not all WiFi or other wireless networks provide the
communication you need for this scenario all the time in all locations.
That's why occasionally connected scenarios are generally more popular.

If you have more questions, just ask.

Ginny Caughey
Device Application Developmenet MVP

> Hi All,
>
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>
> Tony

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