SQL Management Studio Editions

SQL Management Studio comes in two flavours:

1. SQL Management Studio

This edition comes with all versions of SQL Server 2005 except SQL Server 2005 Express Edition. This edition has various advanced features like import data from other database systems, export data to other databases etc.

2. SQL Management Studio Express

SQL Management Studio Express is part of SQL Server 2005 Express Advanced edition. You can download Management Studio Express as a separate tool also. Some of the key features like Import data, export data etc are missing in the Express edition of Management Studio.

For learning purposes and development purposes, the express edition serves the purpose. After all, it is FREE !

The non express edition of the management studio is also free when you purchase non express editions of SQL Server 2005, but you have to pay several thousand dollars for the SQL Server license.

What is SQL Management Studio?

As you already learned, the core part of SQL Server system is the 'server' which runs as a service. The service is a hidden application that runs in the background and it is hard to deal with this service directly.

SQL Server 2005 comes with a tool called 'Management Studio' which will help you manage your SQL Server. SQL Management Studio allows you to perform various actions on SQL Server including:

1. Create/Delete databases
2. Backup/restore databases
3. Attach/detach databases
4. Design tables and edit data
5. Execute queries against any database

SQL Management studio has a lot more features than explained above. Some of the main functionalists mentioned above are explained in coming chapters.

SQL Management Studio allows you to manage multiple instances of SQL Server installed on same computer or different computers. To manage a specific instance of SQL Server, you have to first connect to the instance using appropriate login and password. You need to install management studio only once even if you install multiple instances of SQL Server.

Limitations of SQL Server Express

SQL Server Express is a free, easy to use, redistributable version of SQL Server 2005 designed for building simple data-driven applications. SQL Server Express has most of the features offered by SQL Server full version, but with certain limitations. This makes SQL Server Express a good choice for small and medium scale applications.

Most of the limitations of SQL Server Express edition will not affect the small/medium scale applications.

Limitations of SQL Server Express Edition

1. Number of CPUs supported

SQL Server Express uses only one CPU at a time. It can be installed on a server with multiple CPUs, but it will use only one CPU at a time.

2. Maximum memory used

SQL Server Express uses a maximum of 1 GB memory for it's data buffer. So, if your server has severaql GB memeory, SQL Server Express cannot take advantage of it.

4. Database size limit

Maximum database size is limited to 4 GB (log file size is not counted)

5. Profiler in SQL Server Express

Profiler tool is not included with SQL Server Express editions.

6. Job Scheduler

Job Scheduling service is not available with SQL Server Express.

7. Import/Export

Data import and export feature is not available with SQL Server Express.

A complete feature comparison of various editions of SQL Server can be found at the Microsoft web site - http://www.microsoft.com/sql/prodinfo/features/compare-features.mspx

SQL Server 2005 Express

SQL Server Express is a free, easy to use, redistributable version of SQL Server 2005 designed for building simple data-driven applications. Developers can design schemas, add data, and query local databases, and perform most of the features supported by SQL Server 2005. If developers need more advanced database features, then SQL Server Express can be seamlessly upgraded to more sophisticated versions of SQL Server.

Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express Edition (SQL Server Express) is a database platform that is based on Microsoft SQL Server 2005. It is also a replacement for Microsoft Desktop Engine (MSDE).

SQL Server Express comes with a graphical user interface to manage the database system. It is called 'SQL Server Management Studio Express".

SQL Server Express and Management Studio Express are free to download and distribute. If you like to upgrade SQL Server Express databases to full version of SQL Server, it is very straight forward. Just install SQL Server 2005 and your databases and code will work without any changes.

You can download SQL Server Express and Management Studio Express from Microsoft website.

If you are looking for a free, powerful database system for your application, SQL Server Express if the way to go!