SQL Server 2005 Express Edition Overview

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	Build Flexible and Reliable Data-Driven Applications
	Enable Dynamic Web Sites
	Create Reports Faster
	Simplify Deployment and Servicing

Build Flexible and Reliable Data-Driven Applications

More than ever developers are leveraging relational databases to provide a rich end-user experience. SQL Server Express helps developers build robust and reliable applications. Too often database systems are overly complex for building simple applications. Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 and SQL Server Express reduce this complexity by providing a simple but powerful development environment for building data-driven applications. Developers can design schemas, add data, and query local databases, all inside the Visual Studio 2005 environment. If developers need more advanced database features, SQL Server Express can be seamlessly upgraded to more sophisticated versions of SQL Server.

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Enable Dynamic Web Sites

In today's fast changing world even the most basic Web sites need to be interactive. SQL Server Express and Visual Web Developer provide a simple integrated platform for building dynamic and reliable Web sites. Together these two products provide the tools necessary to build, deploy, and manage Web sites.

SQL Server Express includes many features attractive for Web development. It uses the advanced query optimization engine of SQL Server 2005 to deliver fast performance. Full-text search is included to provide powerful query capability over textual data. In addition, databases can easily be loaded into a hosted environment through the XCopy feature. Native XML support inside the database ensures that your Web environment can easily interoperate with other applications through Web services.

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Create Reports Faster

Creating reporting applications is often a cumbersome process. SQL Server Express simplifies this process with SQL Server 2005 Reporting Services, a complete, server-based platform for creating, managing, and delivering traditional and interactive reports. Developers can easily create sophisticated reports with tables, charts, and graphics, and then embed them in applications.

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Simplify Deployment and Servicing

Supporting and maintaining software is a huge expense for application software developers. An embedded database helps reduce this cost by providing automated tuning and management, automated patching and servicing, and support for embedded setup and installation. SQL Server Express was specifically designed with these goals in mind.

Using the SQL Server 2005 database engine, SQL Server Express can be configured to dynamically tune database parameters to respond to changing usage characteristics. Additionally, software developers do not have to worry about directly deploying database updates because SQL Server Express uses Microsoft Update to directly deliver updates to end users. For enterprise users, SQL Server Express easily plugs in to most enterprise management environments.

SQL Server Express also provides support for either silent installs or GUI-based setup and installations. This gives the software developer ultimate control and flexibility over the installation and setup of the embedded database.

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