Hi There,
I know that this might sound like a foolish question but... I'm new to this programming so please bear with me
Here Goes...
If I want to develop a client/Server application, like say a front end to look at a large database and deploy it out to many clients across a LAN (not an Internet solution) then can I do this with VB 2005 Express edition
I know that the SQL Express edition cannot be deployed on the network server but If I were to develop the APP in VB Express could I then use SQL 2005 Standard edition or would I have to rewrite my code to connect this app up...
or to put it another way, say I was to develop an application USING VB2005 express and SQL Express if I then wanted to deploy this app to a Client Server environment would I be looking to do the impossible...
The answer to this will help me to make up my mind to go for the VS Professional Addition, Which If I read the literature correctly will allow me to do what I require... Am I correct many Thanks Folks..

Network Applications with VB2005 Express a few simple questions????
willis
Thanks for the comments guys, i suppose its because I am using the sql express qnd the VB Express on the one PC at the moment,,, I got so wrapped up in the petty detail that i had not tried deploying the sql express across a lan , based on your advise sjw i'll give it a shot and let you know what happens::::: after christmas though
you see i had tried talking to a sql 2000 server across the lan and it did not work with vb2005 express so i was a bit concerned
i'll let you know
merry xmas
Sher J
Hi All,
There is indeed a limitation with Visual Basic Express; you can only connect to local data. If you look at the Data Explorer, you can only see databases on your local machine.
As SJWhitely pointed out, however, it is possible to build and test your app against a local SQL Express database, and then change the connection string to point to a networked SQL Server database once the app is deployed.
I'm not sure about SQL Express, but I believe it does give you a limited license to run from a server, with a restriction on how many connections you can have (5 ). Perhaps someone more familiar with SQL Express can jump in here.
Steve Hoag
Visual Basic Express
Jules730
Captain 2005, you say the database is large Does it already exist, in that case If it does, why not just try connecting to it
You could start off with a SQL Server 2005 Express database on your client accessable server, and if performance (at the clent end) starts to suffer, or you need or clients, you can upgrade it to SQL Server 2005 Standard Edition. Really depends on what you mean by a 'large' database.
Bottom line is that VB Express can connect to the database. If or when you upgrade, you won't have to modify the clients - and hopefully they'll see better performance.
Sorin Varzaru
Hi SJWhiteley
Looks Like A Cloudy Day For SJ
.... Maybe Tomorrow Will Be A Sunny Day For SJ
....
Merry Christmas
Cheers
Bronco Billy
"Beer and Fast Women are Ok... No Cigarettes or Hard Liquor Allowed"
Blackice
db is 1m lines plus and growing- so its bbbbiiiigggg - but this question really relates to the plans that i have for future apps because ther was no way at all to connect to the sql 2000 db from the vb2005 express !!!! I tried everything for days -
Im pretty sure that if i i upgraded to the pro edition that i could connect to the sql 2000 at development time, maybe someone could cleqr this up for me , just need to be sure before i take the plunge:::: we cant get the trial versions in europe yet:::
many thanks for your comments
GopinathK
Hi SJWhiteley
Maybe If You Say It Enough Times It Will Become True!!!!!
Cheers
Bronco Billy
"Beer and Fast Women are Ok... No Cigarettes or Hard Liquor Allowed"
Stef_T
Hi There
http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/products/compare/default.aspx
The Express Editions are Client/ Server Generation Challenged... They Will Not Generate Local/Remote Networks Out of the Box....
The Express Editions are SQL Report Writing Challenged... No Report Writer.....
http://forums.microsoft.com/MSDN/ShowPost.aspx PostID=173657&SiteID=1
I don’t know the Answers to the Rest of your Questions.... Some of Them I don’t Even Understand......
Cheers
Bronco Billy
"Beer and Fast Women are Ok... No Cigarettes or Hard Liquor Allowed
Gert Drapers - MSFT
That doesn't make any sense. Of course you can create client/server applications. There's nothing in the 'compare' link that indicates othewise.
And from a practical point, I've not experienced any problems connecting remotely (over a network) to an SQL Server (MSDE, 2000 Standard, 2005 Express). Works great!
rezord
Hey Captain
How's Tenelle Doing
.Sunny Day For Bronco.....
Cheers
Bronco Billy
"Beer and Fast Women are Ok... No Cigarettes or Hard Liquor Allowed
Bob Morley
Beatriz Costa - MSFT
Captain 2005 -
Yes, you can connect to a SQL 200 database using the Professional Edition of Visual Studio 2005, and this is really the way to go. Visual Basic Express was designed primarily for beginners and non-professional programmers; that's why only local data is supported.
Clent server development is by definition professional development, and the Professional edition is aimed at, as it implies, professionals. Although it may be possible to develop your client-server app in Express and then move it to a server, it really isn't designed for that; it will be much easier using Pro.
Steve Hoag
Visual Basic Express
Doc Bodkins
many thanks you have saved me a bit of trouble
Michael Tissington
You could do everything you want with just the express editions.
Specifically, you could create your VB (Express) client that connects to a networked SQL Server (Express) Database.
But I would ask you why you think an SQL Server Express edition cannot be deployed to a network server Did I miss something in the license agreement
Either way, you could use it for testing, to make sure your clients work, and use a full SQL Server in deployment. Unless there is a feature in the Visual Studio 2005 Professional that you require, you will be able to just use the Express edition.
You won't need to rewrite anything to connect to SQL Standard or SQL Express. There's a web page somewhere outlining the differences between the two, but connectivity isn't one of them.
Hope that helps.
SJW
dbough
What have you tried when you try to connect What Error do you get I'm assuming you aren't using any of the intrinsic controls, but accessing the server directly from code, such as:
Dim conn As New SqlClient.SqlConnectionconn.ConnectionString =
"Server=THUNDERBIRD4\SQLEXPRESS;Integrated Security=SSPI;Database=Test2005;Application Name=Test Application A"conn.Open()
Does that work Is it an SQLExpress database If so, how are you getting data into it, if you are having trouble connecting to it
ah, I just read that it's an SQL 2000 Db, Sorry...how about this...
Dim conn2 As New System.Data.OleDb.OleDbConnectionconn2.ConnectionString =
"provider=sqloledb;Server=THUNDERBIRD4;Database=Vibration;UID=sa;PWD=bubadodaddy5;"conn2.Open()
(That uses mixed mode authentication, but I'm sure you know how to configure your connection string).
Does that help any
Edited:
Since the Express edition doesn't appear to restrict access to the .NET framework, you can use any and all objects it provides - specifically the oledb namespace, in this case.