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SQL Server Compact 3.5

Usage Scenarios

  • Learning database development

  • Developing mobile and desktop applications

  • Embedded data storage engine

  • Redistribution with embedded and mobile ISV solutions

Embedded Database for Building Client Applications

Microsoft SQL Server Compact is a free SQL Server embedded database ideal for building standalone and occasionally connected applications for mobile devices, desktops, and Web clients.

Top Features

  • Free to use and distribute

  • Supports desktops and mobile devices

  • Small footprint for easy deployment

  • Fully embeddable architecture

  • No administration required

  • Single file, code-free database format

  • Support for ClickOnce, XCopy, MSI, CAB, and non-admin embedded installation options

  • Supports all Microsoft Windows embedded, mobile, desktop, and server operating systems

  • Supports a rich subset of Transact-SQL syntax and SQL Server data types

  • Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 integration

  • Supports ADO.NET, LINQ to SQL, LINQ to Entities, and the ADO.NET Entity Framework

  • Supports multiple concurrent local connections

Download SQL Server Compact 3.5 for free!

 

Powerful

Develop high-performance, applications using an embedded SQL Server database engine that provides rich functionality in a compact footprint.

Create powerful applications

  • Develop applications that exploit a rich subset of Transact-SQL functionality and manage virtually any kind of data

  • Rich subset of SQL Server data types and Transact-SQL including:

    • JOINS and sub-queries

    • Filters, grouping, aggregates, sorting

    • CROSS APPLY and OUTER APPLY

    • BLOB/image data types

  • Build full-featured mobile and desktop client applications that support the following features:

    • Full transactional support

    • Full referential integrity including cascading updates and deletes

    • Scrollable and updateable cursors

    • ADO.NET, LINQ to SQL, and LINQ to Entities

 

Productive

Simplify development efforts and application management costs with a maintenance-free edition of SQL Server that is easy to use and is tightly integrated with Visual Studio.

Improve developer productivity

Increase developer productivity and simplify deployment efforts by taking advantage of deep integration with all editions of Visual Studio 2008:

  • Rich table and query designers

  • Full integration with Server Explorer

  • Drag-and-drop IDE support for rapidly building data bound applications

  • Designer for RAD configuration of Sync Services for ADO.NET

  • ClickOnce integration makes client deployment easy

  • Automatic CAB Deployment for Windows Mobile devices

Access you data easily

  • Connect to your SQL Server Compact databases easily from both managed and unmanaged code by using the included ADO.NET Data Provider or the OLEDB Provider

Accelerate development with LINQ support

  • Write highly effective query logic and reduce the amount of data-access code by using SQL Server Compact support for LINQ

Manage with ease

Easily interact with SQL Server Compact databases with comprehensive SQL Server Management Studio integration

  • Connect to local SQL Server Compact databases

  • Manage objects with full Object Explorer integration

  • Write, execute, and test queries with visual query plans that provide hints to tune your queries

  • Access management and maintenance options

Reduce maintenance overhead

  • Maintain and manage SQL Server Compact databases with a simple programming API that provides total database control

  • Backup and restore SQL Server Compact databases with simple file copy operations

 

 

Flexible

Build stand-alone and occasionally connected solutions for mobile devices, desktops, and Web clients. Extend enterprise data securely to end users and mobile devices with powerful data synchronization options.

Extend your reach

  • Create intelligent data-centric applications for Microsoft Windows operating systems running on desktops, servers, laptops, mobile devices, and even Windows XP Embedded appliances

Ease deployment

  • Decrease download times and improve the end user installation experience with less than 2 MB of files to deploy and with no dependencies on back-end services

  • Friction-free deployment can be achieved in several ways:

    • MSI deployment provides support for automatic updates

    • Seamless embedding with managed and native applications avoid the need for admin deployment

    • CAB-based deployment options for mobile devices

    • XCopy your application with SQL Server run-time files to target machines

Synchronize corporate data

  • Synchronize data automatically with SQL Server Compact support for the Microsoft next generation synchronization platform, Sync Services for ADO.NET

  • Enable centralized data to be securely extended from the enterprise to users and mobile devices easily

  • Create powerful sync-enabled database applications that can run on desktops and mobile devices while ensuring that an accurate view of enterprise data is maintained

Merge replication

  • Keep mobile and occasionally connected systems synchronized with full support for SQL Server merge replication

  • Marshal data efficiently and improve scalability and performance with support for horizontal and vertical replication filters

  • Leverage complex conflict resolutions capabilities supported by SQL Server Compact to build powerful business solutions

Additional Resources

 

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