Readme for Microsoft SQL Server Compact 4.0 Community Technology Preview 1 (CTP1)

The most up-to-date version of this file is available online at the Microsoft Download Center.

The SQL Server documentation team welcomes your documentation feedback. We view and investigate all documentation issues but do not answer technical support questions here. For help with technical issues not related to documentation, see Getting Assistance with SQL Server Compact. If it is possible, submit feedback to us in English.

Contents

1.0 Introduction

Microsoft® SQL Server™ Compact 4.0 Community Technology Preview 1 is a small footprint, in-process database engine that allows developers to build robust applications for Windows desktop computers and mobile devices.

1.1 Obtaining SQL Server Compact 4.0 CTP1

SQL Server Compact 4.0 CTP1 is available from the following Web download:

·         SQL Server Compact 4.0 CTP1 (32-bit and 64-bit releases).


Note: Unlike the previous versions of SQL Server Compact, the 32-bit version of the SQL Server Compact 4.0 CTP1 only installs on a 32-bit computer and the 64-bit version of the SQL Server Compact 4.0 CTP1 only installs on a 64-bit computer. Installing the 32-bit version of the SQL Server Compact 4.0 CTP1 on a 64-bit computer or installing the 64-bit version of the SQL Server Compact 4.0 CTP1 on a 32-bit computer results in an error.

2.0 Supported Operating Systems and Platforms for SQL Server Compact 4.0 CTP1

SQL Server Compact 4.0 CTP1 supports the following operating systems.

Windows Desktop Computers

·         Microsoft Windows XP Professional SP3

·         Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition SP3

·         Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2004 SP3

·         Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005

·         Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC Edition SP3

·         Microsoft Windows XP Embedded SP3

·         Microsoft Windows XP Professional x64 SP3

·         Windows Embedded for Point of Service SP3

·         Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition SP2

·         Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition SP2

·         Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition SP2

·         Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2, Standard Edition

·         Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2, Enterprise Edition

·         Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2, Datacenter Edition

·         Microsoft Windows Server 2003 x64, Standard Edition

·         Microsoft Windows Server 2003 x64, Enterprise x64 Edition

·         Microsoft Windows Server 2003 x64, Datacenter Edition

·         Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2 x64, Standard Edition

·         Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2 x64, Enterprise Edition

·         Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2 x64, Datacenter Edition

·         Windows Vista Home Basic SP2

·         Windows Vista Home Premium SP2

·         Windows Vista Business SP2

·         Windows Vista Enterprise SP2

·         Windows Vista Ultimate SP2

·         Windows Vista Starter Edition SP2

·         Windows Vista Home Basic x64 SP2

·         Windows Vista Home Premium x64 SP2

·         Windows Vista Business x64 SP2

·         Windows Vista Enterprise x64 SP2

·         Windows Vista Ultimate x64 SP2

·         Windows Server 2008 Standard Server SP2

·         Windows Server 2008 Standard Server SP2 (without Hyper-V)

·         Windows Server 2008 Enterprise SP2

·         Windows Server 2008 Enterprise SP2 (without Hyper-V)

·         Windows Server 2008 Data Center SP2

·         Windows Server 2008 Data Center SP2 (without Hyper-V)

·         Windows Server 2008 Web Edition SP2

·         Windows Server 2008 Standard Server SP2 x64

·         Windows Server 2008 Standard Server SP2 x64 (without Hyper-V)

·         Windows Server 2008 Enterprise SP2 x64

·         Windows Server 2008 Enterprise SP2 x64 (without Hyper-V)

·         Windows Server 2008 Data Center SP2 x64

·         Windows Server 2008 Data Center SP2 x64 (without Hyper-V)

·         Windows Server 2008 Web Edition SP2 x64

·         Windows 7 Starter

·         Windows 7 Starter x64

·         Windows 7 Home Premium

·         Windows 7 Home Premium x64

·         Windows 7 Professional

·         Windows 7 Professional x64

·         Windows 7 Ultimate

·         Windows 7 Ultimate x64

·         Windows Server 2008 R2 Foundation x64

·         Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard x64

·         Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise x64

·         Windows Server 2008 R2 Datacenter x64

·         Windows Web Server 2008 R2 x64

.NET Framework

·         .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 Client Profile

·         .NET Framework 3.5 SP1

·         .NET 4 Framework Standalone version

·         .NET Framework 4 Client Profile

·         .NET Framework 4 Client Profile Standalone version

3.0 Known Issues

3.1

The native DLLs of SQL Server Compact 4.0 CTP1 need the Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 Runtime Libraries (x86 and x64), Service Pack 1. Installing the SQL Server Compact 4.0 CTP1 using the Installer file, also installs the Visual C++ 2008 Runtime Libraries SP1. If SQL Server Compact 4.0 CTP1 is deployed privately in the application’s folder the following have to be present on the machine for SQL Server Compact to function properly:

·        Installing the .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 also installs the Visual C++ 2008 Runtime Libraries SP1

·        Visual C++ 2008 Runtime Libraries SP1 can be downloaded and installed from the location given below: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=194827

Note that installing .NET Framework 2.0 or .NET Framework 3.0 or .NET Framework 4 does not install the Visual C++ 2008 Runtime Libraries (x86 and x64), Service Pack 1.

3.2

SQL Server Compact 4.0 CTP1 does not recognize the Encrypt property of the SqlCeConnection class, and you should not use this property to encrypt database files.
 

Note:

The Encrypt property was deprecated in SQL Server Compact v3.5 release. This property was retained in SQL Server Compact 3.5 only for backward compatibility.

 

Use the Encryption Mode property of the SqlCeConnection class to encrypt SQL Server Compact 4.0 CTP1 database files. The following examples show uses of the Encryption Mode property:

·        To create a new encrypted SQL Server Compact 4.0 CTP1  database:
C#:

SqlCeEngine engine = new SqlCeEngine("Data Source=Northwind.sdf;encryption mode=platform default;Password=<enterStrongPasswordHere>;");

engine.CreateDatabase();

Visual Basic:

Dim engine As SqlCeEngine = New SqlCeEngine("Data Source=Northwind.sdf;encryption mode=platform default;Password=<enterStrongPasswordHere>;")

engine.CreateDatabase()

·        To change the encryption mode of an existing SQL Server Compact 4.0 CTP1  database:
C#:

SqlCeEngine engine = new SqlCeEngine("Data Source=Northwind.sdf;Password=<enterStrongPasswordHere>;");

engine.Compact("Data Source=Northwind.sdf;encryption mode=ppc2003 compatibility;Password=<enterStrongPasswordHere>;");

Visual Basic:

Dim engine As SqlCeEngine = New SqlCeEngine("Data Source=Northwind.sdf;Password=<enterStrongPasswordHere>;")

engine.Compact("Data Source=Northwind.sdf;encryption mode=ppc2003 compatibility;Password=<enterStrongPasswordHere>;")

·        To encrypt an unencrypted SQL Server Compact 4.0 CTP1  database:
C#:

SqlCeEngine engine = new SqlCeEngine("Data Source=Northwind.sdf");

engine.Compact("Data Source=Northwind.sdf;encryption mode=platform default;Password=<enterStrongPasswordHere>;");

Visual Basic:

Dim engine As SqlCeEngine = New SqlCeEngine("Data Source=Northwind.sdf;")

engine.Compact("Data Source=Northwind.sdf;encryption mode=platform default;Password=<enterStrongPasswordHere>;")

 

3.3

SQL Server Compact 4.0 CTP1 data types for parameters like SqlDbType or DbType should be explicitly set.

If the data types for parameters such as SqlDbType or DbType are not explicitly set, an exception will be thrown. To resolve this issue, explicitly set the data type for parameters such as SqlDbType or DbType. This is critical in the case of BLOB data types (image and ntext). A code example is given below:


C#:

SqlCeEngine engine = new SqlCeEngine(connString);

engine.CreateDatabase();

engine.Dispose();

 

SqlCeConnection conn = new SqlCeConnection(connString);

conn.Open();

 

SqlCeCommand cmd = conn.CreateCommand();

cmd.CommandText = "CREATE TABLE BlobTable(name nvarchar(128), blob ntext);";

cmd.ExecuteNonQuery();

 

cmd.CommandText = "INSERT INTO BlobTable(name, blob) VALUES (@name, @blob);";

SqlCeParameter paramName = cmd.Parameters.Add("name", SqlDbType.NVarChar, 128);

SqlCeParameter paramBlob = cmd.Parameters.Add("blob", SqlDbType.NText);

paramName.Value = "Name1";

paramBlob.Value = "Name1".PadLeft(4001);

 

cmd.ExecuteNonQuery();

 Visual Basic:

Dim engine As SqlCeEngine = New SqlCeEngine(connString)

engine.CreateDatabase()

engine.Dispose()

 

Dim conn As SqlCeConnection = New SqlCeConnection(connString)

conn.Open()

 

Dim cmd As SqlCeCommand = conn.CreateCommand()

cmd.CommandText = "CREATE TABLE BlobTable(name nvarchar(128), blob ntext);"

cmd.ExecuteNonQuery()

 

cmd.CommandText = "INSERT INTO BlobTable(name, blob) VALUES (@name, @blob);"

Dim paramName As SqlCeParameter

Dim paramBlob As SqlCeParameter

paramName = cmd.Parameters.Add("name", SqlDbType.NVarChar, 128)

paramBlob = cmd.Parameters.Add("blob", SqlDbType.NText)

paramName.Value = "Name1"

paramBlob.Value = "Name1".PadLeft(4001)

 

cmd.ExecuteNonQuery()

 

3.4

Uninstallation of SQL Server Compact runtime using command line options does not work in this CTP release.

For uninstallation of SQL Server Compact runtime go to Add/remove programs (Start->Run->appwiz.cpl), and right click on the entry ‘Microsoft SQL Server Compact 4.0 <<processor architecture>>* ENU CTP1’, and select uninstall from the menu.

<<processor architecture>> - X86 for 32 bit machines, X64 for 64 bit machines

4.0 Additional Information

This section describes how to obtain assistance and provide feedback about SQL Server Compact.

4.1 Getting SQL Server Compact Assistance

For more information, see the SQL Server Compact Forum and the SQL Server Compact Team Blog.

4.2 Providing Feedback on SQL Server Compact

To provide suggestions and bug reports about SQL Server Compact:

·         Make suggestions and file bug reports about the features or the user interface of SQL Server Compact at the MSDN product feedback Web site.

·         Send suggestions or report inaccuracies in the documentation by using the feedback functionality in SQL Server Compact Books Online.

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