Monday, August 15, 2011

Major update to SQL Server Compact 3.5 SP2 available

A major update to SQL Server Compact 3.5 SP2 has just been released, disguised as a “Cumulative Update Package”. Microsoft knowledgebase article 2553608 describes the update. The update contains the following product enhancements:

Support for Windows Embedded CE 7.0

The update contains updated device components. This expand the supported device platforms to this impressive list: Pocket PC 2003 Software, Windows CE, Windows Mobile 5.0, Windows Mobile 6, Windows Mobile 6.1 , Windows Mobile 6.5 Professional, Windows Mobile 6.5 Standard, Windows Embedded CE 7.0

Support for Merge Replication with SQL Server “Denali” CTP3

The update contains new Server Tools, that support Merge Replication with the next version of SQL Server, codename “Denali”. The replication components also work with Windows Embedded CE 7.0.

For a list of fixes in the Cumulative Updates released for SQL Server Compact 3.5 SP2, see my blog post here.

It is nice to see that the 3.5 SP2 product, with it’s full range of device support and synchronization technologies is kept alive and kicking.

NOTE: Currently, the only download available is the desktop runtime, I will update this blog post and tweet (@ErikEJ) when the other downloads are available.

2 comments:

Rod Mac said...

Hi Erik,

Apologies this is off topic!

I was interested to read of SQL Server LocalDB but I still don't think MS have hit the nail on the head. I think LocalDB and Compact should be one and the same. The impression I'm getting is that only Compact 4.0 can be posted onto a shared server and just run, LocalDB can't be accessed by multiple users.

I just want to create one database. Sure if it's not running in 'server' mode I don't have the cool things like stored procedures. But I should just be able to add these via a script (or they run/don't run if there's no server) and one runs the exact same file under Express (or of course SQL Server) - no fancy migration software.

I believe Access/Jet still offers a better story for local vs. shared server portability and the SQL Server story is still not what it should be.

Thank you.
Rod Mac

ErikEJ said...

Hi Rod,
LocalDB is single process only and SQL Server Compact is single machine (max 256 connections). In addition, there are huge difference amongst the two - and LocalDB requires admin access to be installed - see my blog post here: http://erikej.blogspot.com/2011/01/comparison-of-sql-server-compact-4-and.html