Getting started with SQL Server Mobile

I have recently upgraded to VS 2005, .NET 2.0, and SQL Server 2005 and am trying to upgrade some of my older Pocket PC 2003 apps. I am trying to educate myself but have become a bit confused about how to proceed and was hoping some of the knowledgable people in this group could point me in the right direction.

I have developed several data collection applications that used Pocket Access on the device and very easily sychronized with a custom MS Access database via Active Sync. I am slowly coming to the realization that using SQL Server Mobile will NEVER be that easy (which is a shame). My questions are......

1. If I want to upgrade to SQL Server Mobile, is there any way that I can continue to easily "synchronize" my data with a MS Access database? If so, any suggestion/links as to how to do this would be greatly appreciated!

2. If the above scenario is not possible, what is the best solution for me to create a distributable application that synchronizes into a local database on a computer that DOES NOT have SQL Server installed?

3.) Related to above, is creating a distributable SQL Server Express database the answer? Can I use the built in SQL Server synchronization tools via this scenario?

Thanks in advance!

Mike

Mike,

In terms of getting started with SQL Mobile and synchronizing data between SQL Mobile and SQL Server, a great place to start is this white paper:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/dnsql90/html/sql2k5mobile.asp

There has been quite a bit of feedback regarding the disappearance of Pocket Access in WM5 and the ease with which it could be synchronized with a server-side Access database. Microsoft heard that and to their credit is working on something I can't say much about right now, but it will solidly address this in the next 3-4 months.

In terms of the "best" solution for synchronizing data, that depends on a long list of things. The obvious options are merge replication, remote data access, and web services. I gave an MSDN web cast in March 2005 on making this decision that includes all of the criteria and even a flow chart to help you land on the right choice. http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/WebCastEventDetails.aspx?culture=en-US&EventID=1032268682&CountryCode=US.

Creating a distributable SQL Express database is an option for x86-based clients, but not for Windows Mobile devices. SQL Express can indeed be a subscriber to a merge publication in a replication relationship.

Regards,

-Darren

Getting started questions, versions, upgrading, etc.

I just attempted to upgrade to SQL Server Compact Edition (2005? 3.1?). The install appeared to go ok but I have no idea really and judging from the version numbers that appear in the references of my projects, I'd say there could be a problem. First, here is what I installed (and the order I installed it):

1) SQL Server 2005 Compact Edition (SQLServerCE31-EN.msi)
2) SQL Server 2005 Compact Edition Developer SDK (SSCE31SDK-ENU.msi)
3) SQL Server 2005 Compact Edition Tools for Visual Studio 2005 SP1 (SSCE31VSTools-ENU.exe)

The first two installs went normal and said they completed successfully. The VS Tools install was strange... it appeared to install but there was no message saying it was complete or successful. The install dialog just disappeared when it was done.

I had some projects that already had references to SQL Server Mobile 2005, so I loaded up a few of those projects, went to the references and removed the SqlServerCe reference and re-added it. I figured the version number would change but it didn't. The version number in the references dialog is 3.0.3600.0. However, the file that it's pointing to is 3.0.5300.0 (browsed to it in Explorer and looked at the properties). Does anyone know what the real version of SSCE is now?

Also, when I removed the reference to SqlServerCe and added it back, I got an application error in VS2005. This has happened every time with every project I've tried. I have to remove the reference, exit VS, reload VS and add the reference back. Which may all just be a waste of time since it doesn't look like it's doing anything.

One other small thing I noticed in the references is that the path for SqlServerCe has an extra \ between the "SDK" and "SQL Server" directories:

C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\SmartDevices\SDK\\SQL Server\Mobile\v3.0\System.Data.SqlServerCe.dll

I'm very confused at this point and hope someone can clear some of this up for me. Thanks!

Hello Rob,

I am actually having the same question.

I have however found that the compact edition installs in C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server Compact Edition\v3.1

The reference to C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\SmartDevices\SDK\\SQL Server\Mobile\v3.0\System.Data.SqlServerCe.dll is indeed the 'old' version.

Can somebody please tell us how to add the new version to VS?, I cannot figure it out!

Thanks!

|||

The SQL Server 2005 Compact Edition Tools for Visual Studio 2005 SP1 installs in a silent mode and does not show dialogs during the installation phase. Prior to installaing SQL Server 2005 Compact Edition the following should be installed:

1) Visual Studio 2005 with the Smart Device Programmability Components selected.

2) Visual Studio 2005 SP1

3) SQL Server 2005 Compact Edition Tools for Visual Studio 2005 SP1

4) SQL Server 2005 Compact Edition

The Smart Device Development components can be installed from the Visual Studio 2005 media (CD, DVD etc.) before or after updating the Visual Studio 2005 to Visual Studio 2005 SP1. If Visual Studio 2005 SP1 has been applied to Visual Studio 2005 and the smart device development components were not installed, the Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Compact Edition Tools for Visual Studio 2005 will not install. To install the Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Compact Edition Tools for Visual Studio 2005 install the Smart Device Development components from the Visual Studio 2005 media to the Visual Studio 2005 SP1 and then apply the download.

For updating the references for System.Data.SqlServerCe refer to the topic given below in SQL Server 2005 Compact Edition

http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms171951.aspx. The topic is also copied below:

"For Desktop applications, in the Microsoft .NET Framework application, add a reference to the System.Data.SqlServerCe namespace. To add the reference to the System.Data.SqlServerCe, in Solution Explorer, right–click References, and then select Add reference. In the Add Reference dialog box, click Browse, locate the %Program File%\Microsoft SQL Server Compact Edition\v3.1 folder, select System.Data.SqlServerCe.dll, and then click OK."

Regards

Ambrish

Getting started questions, versions, upgrading, etc.

I just attempted to upgrade to SQL Server Compact Edition (2005? 3.1?). The install appeared to go ok but I have no idea really and judging from the version numbers that appear in the references of my projects, I'd say there could be a problem. First, here is what I installed (and the order I installed it):

1) SQL Server 2005 Compact Edition (SQLServerCE31-EN.msi)
2) SQL Server 2005 Compact Edition Developer SDK (SSCE31SDK-ENU.msi)
3) SQL Server 2005 Compact Edition Tools for Visual Studio 2005 SP1 (SSCE31VSTools-ENU.exe)

The first two installs went normal and said they completed successfully. The VS Tools install was strange... it appeared to install but there was no message saying it was complete or successful. The install dialog just disappeared when it was done.

I had some projects that already had references to SQL Server Mobile 2005, so I loaded up a few of those projects, went to the references and removed the SqlServerCe reference and re-added it. I figured the version number would change but it didn't. The version number in the references dialog is 3.0.3600.0. However, the file that it's pointing to is 3.0.5300.0 (browsed to it in Explorer and looked at the properties). Does anyone know what the real version of SSCE is now?

Also, when I removed the reference to SqlServerCe and added it back, I got an application error in VS2005. This has happened every time with every project I've tried. I have to remove the reference, exit VS, reload VS and add the reference back. Which may all just be a waste of time since it doesn't look like it's doing anything.

One other small thing I noticed in the references is that the path for SqlServerCe has an extra \ between the "SDK" and "SQL Server" directories:

C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\SmartDevices\SDK\\SQL Server\Mobile\v3.0\System.Data.SqlServerCe.dll

I'm very confused at this point and hope someone can clear some of this up for me. Thanks!

Hello Rob,

I am actually having the same question.

I have however found that the compact edition installs in C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server Compact Edition\v3.1

The reference to C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\SmartDevices\SDK\\SQL Server\Mobile\v3.0\System.Data.SqlServerCe.dll is indeed the 'old' version.

Can somebody please tell us how to add the new version to VS?, I cannot figure it out!

Thanks!

|||

The SQL Server 2005 Compact Edition Tools for Visual Studio 2005 SP1 installs in a silent mode and does not show dialogs during the installation phase. Prior to installaing SQL Server 2005 Compact Edition the following should be installed:

1) Visual Studio 2005 with the Smart Device Programmability Components selected.

2) Visual Studio 2005 SP1

3) SQL Server 2005 Compact Edition Tools for Visual Studio 2005 SP1

4) SQL Server 2005 Compact Edition

The Smart Device Development components can be installed from the Visual Studio 2005 media (CD, DVD etc.) before or after updating the Visual Studio 2005 to Visual Studio 2005 SP1. If Visual Studio 2005 SP1 has been applied to Visual Studio 2005 and the smart device development components were not installed, the Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Compact Edition Tools for Visual Studio 2005 will not install. To install the Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Compact Edition Tools for Visual Studio 2005 install the Smart Device Development components from the Visual Studio 2005 media to the Visual Studio 2005 SP1 and then apply the download.

For updating the references for System.Data.SqlServerCe refer to the topic given below in SQL Server 2005 Compact Edition

http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms171951.aspx. The topic is also copied below:

"For Desktop applications, in the Microsoft .NET Framework application, add a reference to the System.Data.SqlServerCe namespace. To add the reference to the System.Data.SqlServerCe, in Solution Explorer, right–click References, and then select Add reference. In the Add Reference dialog box, click Browse, locate the %Program File%\Microsoft SQL Server Compact Edition\v3.1 folder, select System.Data.SqlServerCe.dll, and then click OK."

Regards

Ambrish

sql

Getting error while running upgrade advisor on remote virtual server

Hi,

While connecting remote SQL server through upgrade advisor I am getting the below errors:

Error: Unable to connect to server. Reason: An error has occurred while establishing a connection to the server. When connecting to SQL Server 2005, this failure may be caused by the fact that under the default settings SQL Server does not allow remote connections. (provider: SQL Network Interfaces, error: 26 - Error Locating Server/Instance Specified)

Pls let me know if anyone has faced this issue and know how to fix.

Thanks in advance

-Shriniwas

just go to sql server surface area configuration and choose surface area configuration for services and connections then under mssqlserver-->database engine>choose remote connections and in right side page choose local and remote connections and using named pipes and tcp or 1st option with only tcp