SQL Server Express 2008 Now Available for Download

Version 10.00.1600.22 of SQL Server Express 2008 was released today.

Downloads:

• SQL Server Express 2008
• SQL Server Express 2008 with Tools

Latest SQL Server Updates (December 2008)

• Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Service Pack 3
• Feature Pack for Microsoft SQL Server 2005 - December 2008
  A collection of standalone install packages that provide additional value for SQL Server 2005.
• SQL Server 2005 Books Online
  
• Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Data Mining Add-ins for Microsoft Office 2007
  This package includes two add-ins for Microsoft Office Excel 2007 (Table Analysis Tools and Data Mining Client) and one add-in for Microsoft Office Visio 2007 (Data Mining Templates).
• Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express Edition Service Pack 3
• Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express Edition with Advanced Services Service Pack 3
• Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio Express Service Pack 3
  Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio Express (SSMSE) is a free, easy-to-use graphical management tool for managing SQL Server 2005 Express Edition and SQL Server 2005 Express Edition with Advanced Services.

Latest SQL Server Express Releases

Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Express with Advanced Services a version of SQL Server Express that includes a graphical management tool and powerful features for reporting and advanced text-based searches.

Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Express with Tools a version of SQL Server Express that includes graphical management tools.

Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Report Builder 2.0 provides an intuitive report authoring environment for business and power users. It supports the full capabilities of SQL Server 2008 Reporting Services. The download provides a standalone installer for Report Builder 2.0.

The Lowdown on SQL Server 2008 Express

Destination.NET has published a concise article by Ty Anderson introducing the features and capabilities of the free SQL Sever 2008 Express Edition. In summary:

SQL Server 2008 Express is an easy-to-use database for learning and building small server applications while also providing a seamless upgrade path. It is a solid database intended for real-world applications, and provides most of the security and manageability features available in the full version of SQL Server. The main caveat is that these features come with built-in performance limitations:

• Max CPUs Supported: 1
  
• Max RAM: 1 GB
  
• Max Database Size: 4 GB

More SQL Server Fixes

FIX: SQL Server 2005 Express Edition cannot pass the Windows logo certification when you install an ISV application on a Windows Vista-based computer or on a Windows Server 2008-based computer.

FIX: When you update more than one row in a table that is joined to another table in SQL Server 2005, some rows are not added.

Product Focus: SmartForm ADP

When you work with Access Data Projects (ADPs), the native Access form wizard - even in Access 2007 - is very basic:

With my SmartFormADP Form Wizard, you can easily build a smart elegant auto-filter form based on any SQL Server table or view in a matter of seconds using only mouse-clicks:

SmarfFormADP for ADPs/ACCDPs comes bundled with SmartForm+ for MDBs/ACCDBs and is available for immediate download for only US$29.95.

New Video Series: SQL Server 2005 Express Edition for Beginners

Getting Started with SQL Server Express Learn the basics of how to create, manage, and connect to SQL Server Express databases with this series of 9 hours of video-based instruction that walks SQL Server beginners through the steps of learning about SQL Server databases to actually connecting a SQL Server database to a Web application. From MSDN.

Introduction
Learning Video 1: What is a database?

Designing Tables
Learning Video 2: Understanding Database Tables and Records
Learning Video 3: More about Column Data Types and Other Properties
Learning Video 4: Designing Relational Database Tables

Database Functions
Learning Video 5: Manipulating Database Data
Learning Video 6: More Structured Query Language
Learning Video 12: Creating and Using Stored Procedures
Learning Video 13: Enabling Full-Text Search in your Text Data

Creating and Using Reports
Learning Video 10: Getting Started with Reporting Services
Learning Video 11: Embedding, Packaging and Deploying SQL Server Express Reporting Services

Database Security
Learning Video 7: Understanding Security and Network Connectivity

Database Management
Learning Video 9: Using SQL Server Management Studio Express

Publishing to the Web
Learning Video 8: Connecting your Web Application to SQL Server 2005 Express Edition