Best database choice?

I am wondering what the consensus is on choosing a database solution for a windows forms application when developing for the following criteria:

1. For applications that need to be deployed with their database on target computers (nothing complicated like oracle or ms SQL).

2. small amounts of data...( say...less than 500 mb of data [basically only need to persist small amounts of data between application executions ])

What kinds of storage media are easiest to develop and deploy
Is it best to use something like access, dbase, an xml file, or something else

Thanks

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Best database choice?

Tim Weaver
Hi,

It might be worth you checking out http://www.elevatesoft.com as they do an excellent database that can be used as stand alone or client-server. The current release is not ADO compatible but it has an ODBC driver and there are 3rd party ADO drivers available from http://www.contextsoft.com/

They are also due to release an ADO compatible version this month.

Chris Holland
Diirewolf
Hi,

I would recommend MS Access Database. Upto 500 MB is too big a data for XML file.

Regards,
Vikram
Carlos G. Sarmiento
I know it may be a bit taboo on these forums (I've not been reading them for too long), but have you considered MySQL It's reasonably easy to set up in Windows, and it works fine with the ODBC ADO.net classes (however you do need the ODBC driver for MySQL for Windows, which is also easy to install). It is a server, but it's not particularly resource intensive, at least not in my experience.

A plus for MySQL is there is an enormous amount of support for it on the Internet...
Rahul.Net
And here is the details on FireBird:

http://firebird.sourceforge.net/

Firebird is a relational database offering many ANSI SQL-99 features that runs on Linux, Windows, and a variety of Unix platforms. Firebird offers excellent concurrency, high performance, and powerful language support for stored procedures and triggers. It has been used in production systems, under a variety of names since 1981.

Download for Windows:
http://firebird.sourceforge.net/download/prerelease/win32/Firebird-1.5.3.4842-0_RC1-Win32.exe

Regards,
Vikram
Raymundo Chapa G
Firebird is an excellent choice. Let's say you want to have a 'lite' version and a 'pro' version due to the size of the data - you should be thinking about this. You could use firebird in the lite scenario and sql server express in the 'pro' scenario. Firebird is very easy to use as an embedded db - no need for a server and if you chose Firebird over Access you can have more commonality between the two providers while Access will require a much different interface. Firebird has SP's and there a number of tools that work with Firebird (SqlManager.net). My suggestion is you create your db in Access and then import into Firebird. Good luck.
-Aaron S.
You definitely have to check out Firebird. A good database with *copy&paste* setup which eliminates all sort of problems.
jazure
The more i look into FireBird, the more i read about features that seem to make it a good solution. However, i find it very difficult to get started with. The documentation for the firebird .net data provider is useful. but it is very hard to find out exactly what files i need to download, where to put them, and I haven't been able to find any code examples that show how you setup and asp.net or windows forms application to use FireBird (either embedded or server).

It has been my opinion in the past that open source projects tend to be very hard to use because of the lack of documentation and examples.

the only concise example i could find was located here.

Also, I can't find User Forums to ask my questions in...
Kishmir L. Burke
With your senerio I would choose MS Access for support/scaleability/reliability/portability...

It is easily setup, easy to use, and easy to maintain!
Eric Wolz - MSFT
<plucky>One more question about Access, is the client required to have Access installed to use my application </>

no Access client neccessary...just need MDAC (2.8)and your app
BSSWinnipeg
I think FoxPro is a good choice.
Peter Richard
Thanks for the reply GregD,

So you recommend when working with firebird (in my case), to use Access' interface to design my databse...then import to FireBird And then use SQLManager.net to make changes to my schema from there on out

What i'm getting at is ... What do i use to create tables, alter tables, stored procedures, etc... I don't have to do it programatically do i Or does SQLManager allow me to do that

I'm looking for an equivalent to MS SQL Enterprise Manager to maintain my firebird databases. If it is difficult to maintain my database, i'd almost prefer the interface that access profides...even if it isn't hardly similar to MS SQL.

thanks,
JP
Darren Thurman
Thanks for all the info. One more question about Access, is the client required to have Access installed to use my application

I have read up on Firebird a bit and it appears that it is not a portable database that can be easily deployed with an application. It's more like MS SQL where it has to be installed as a server.

I'm looking for a relational database that is easily installed with an application ...like access.

Also, what do you guys think about using FoxPro
thanks
Jmoyano

Hi,

If this is your scenario, then I would definitely choose Acces (MDB). This is beacause its light and the most important, relational. xml file tend to be slow when your data reaches 500 mb.

cheers,

Paul June A. Domag
uAli
Actually the embedded version can run just from the dll's you deploy (either in a web app or windows form). One of the firebird support people (Artur) has been helping dotnetnuke users with this very point over @ http://forums.asp.net/ShowPost.aspx PageIndex=4&PostID=1027430#1027430 , theres some good information there that clarifies this.

Cathal
Best database choice?

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