Can't bind to SQL Server Express Data Source

Hi everyone,

I am experimenting with Visual Basic 2005 Express Edition and SQL Server 2005 Express.

I have a local copy of SQL Server running, and have created a sample database on it. The SQL Server service is running, and accepting connections. I can connect to it using ODBC and the Native Client libraries.

However, when I go to bind the SQL Server database as a data source, it is not available.

My only options are to bind to an Access (.mdb) file or a SQL Server Database file (.mdf). There is no option for me to bind to the database without having access to the db file itself. I know I've gotten this to work before, but the relevant option seems ot be missing from my Add Connections wizard. Any ideas

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Can't bind to SQL Server Express Data Source

jhcrafts
Hi Steve,

I think SQL Server Express can be configured to accept remote connections but this is not a default installation. http://blogs.msdn.com/sqlexpress/archive/2005/05/05/415084.aspx

I was hoping Visual Basic Express could use remote connections with SQL Express if this was done.

GS
VBA Derks
Hi Vadim,

Is the database that you are trying to connect on your local machine, or on a network One limitation of Visual Basic Express is that it only supports local data - you can't access a database over a network.

Hope this helps,
Steve Hoag
Visual Basic Express
Mike Hildner
Ahh, then that makes perfect sense. The database is on my local machine, but I was trying to access it via the IP loopback interface. I am able to access the database file on my local machine directly.

The only werid thing is I thought I got it to work the first time I played around with VB Express, but it's very likely (in fact, based on what you explained it seems certain) I was accessing the DB using the DB file.

Thanks for your help!
Can't bind to SQL Server Express Data Source

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