Visual Database Browser
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Hello,
I am a web developer who has traditionally used Access for the small databases related to the websites I build. I recently downloaded MSDE 2000 and I want to begin using it in place of Access for my ASP.NET sites (to allow future upgrades to SQL server). However, I am running into a problem:
Access made it easy to visually browse the structure and data in a database, just by double-clicking the access .mdb file. However, with MSDE I can't seem to find a simple way to browse the database structure and data rows.
I'm in the process of learning to use the differences between Access and SQL Server (MSDE), like stored procedure T-SQL and login permissions, but I would like an easy way to verify that the procedures I write are working correctly (by manually inspecting the data).
Does MSDE come with a system for this? If not, could someone point me to the location of a 3rd party system that might work for what I need?
Thanks,
BobTHJ
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No it itself does not. But you could download the 120-day trial of SQL which includes Enterprise Manager and Query Analyzer and use both to connect to the msde copy. Just install the client tools only not the SQL server. Not sure if the client tools follow the trial expiration which I think is for the SQL engine alone. If you have a full version of SQL you can use the client tools from there for sure.
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You ought to be able to use Access as well to link tables from the MSDE. I know I've done this with SQL Server databases and it should be the same.
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You can actually use MS Access as if the tables were in Access, although they are from MSDE. This is not like linking the tables thru ODBC. This method uses SQL-DMO, this gives the same interface as if you were working within the Enterprise Manager.
Create a MS Access Project (Existing Data) and use the data link editor to connect to the MSDE instance and select the database. That's it.
Now you can do things that you were doing as if the tables were in MS Access.
Hope this helps.
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I don't know about Visual Studio .Net but Visual Studio 6 had a "Data View window where we could add several Data Connections to multiple Databases, enabling us to design or open tabels, querys and other stuff. Even debug stored procedures.
You can also use SQLExecMS from http://www.laplas-soft.com/. It's a great product.
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You can use QALite (Query Analyzer Lite), it's pretty good, although I have found some bugs. It was programmed using .NET. The retrieval time is almost exactly similar as Query Analyzer in the full blow SQL Tools...although this is free.
http://www.rac4sql.net/qalite_main.asp
Also, there is some free source code to an ASP.NET Project which connects to SQL Servers and implements almost all of the features of the Enterprise Manager. On this page you'll find a link to the Source Code.
http://www.aspenterprisemanager.com/
Both of the above are free...so you get what you pay for
I myself love using Enterprise Manager to design my databases using the "Diagrams". Think of this as what Access used to call "Relationships" except that you can actually design the Tables in this view. It's great for building the tables along with the Relationships in one Shot! You can also do this in the .NET IDE...
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I like msSQLed available free or for $15 to get rid of an annoying pop-up at http://www.mssqled.com/DesktopDefault.aspx. YOu can also get a free web-based data admin tool from Microsoft for SQL Server which will work with MSDE as well at http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=F0D03472-5E6C-459E-A6D8-6745A729C3C9&displaylang=en
Jack Corbett
Consultant - Straight Path Solutions
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ok, before I downloaded anything, I thought I would start by trying to bring in the MSDE tables via Access External data. However, when I try to set up MSDE as an ODBC Data Source, I'm getting a SQL server does not exist or access denied error. Can anyone help me?
I'm not quite familiar with all the SQL Server access permissions yet.
Thanks,
BobTHJ
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Create an Access project (ADP) based on an existing database. You should get there just fine.
You mentioned "external" which to me sound like you are using an MDB, which will require you to create a DSN for you MSDE.
From an MDB, you won't be able to directly edit the database objects, such as tables, views, stored procedures, etc, you need to use code "Alter table...". If you are in an Access project, you can manipulate the database objects similarly like enterprise manager.
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Well, if you're going to use an Access Data Project...make sure you choose "Project using Existing Data...". This will allow you to choose the SQL Server. However, if you're designing a New Database, choose "Project using New Data..." which will still ask for the same info. You do NOT go through ODBC at all!
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Thanks a lot for everyone's help! That worked great.
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