Chapter 11: Database Programming with .NET

A SQL Server and ADO.NET Primer

For those of you who have had the pleasurable experience of using a relational database as a data repository, this chapter will bring back exciting coding memories. For that majority, allow me to say that you will love this chapter. I am certain that you will find the few mainframe analogies to be useful. The information in this chapter will leave you feeling empowered and ready (again) to query every database that you can get your hands on.

For the few of you who have yet to experience relational database programming, welcome aboard! The ride will be fun and informative. I include enough information in this chapter to get you off to a solid start ”a start sure to whet an insatiable appetite. The chapter's discussion does assume familiarity with basic SQL query syntax. The references at the end of the chapter in the "To Learn More" section will assist those in need of a review.

In this chapter, I begin the discussion with an overview of Microsoft's SQL Server 2000 product, ^[1] with a focus on the developer-friendly tools bundled with the product. Following the SQL Server 2000 ^[2] discussion, you will explore the topic of ADO.NET . Combining these meaty topics into one chapter was a challenge. Nonetheless, as with all of the other "meaty" chapters in this book, the time you spend reading this chapter should prove to be time well spent.

Note  

To get the full value of this chapter's discussion, you'll want to have access to the Microsoft SQL Server 2000 database product. In particular, you'll want to have access to the SQL Server 2000 client-side tools. As with most of Microsoft's server products, you can easily obtain a free, fully functional 120-day trial version from the Microsoft Web site ( http://www.microsoft.com ). Optionally, an evaluation kit for SQL Server 2000 is available from the Microsoft Web site. The SQL Server Evaluation Kit includes the 120-day trial version product and lots of extras (demos and so forth). You'll need to pay a small shipping and handling charge to have the Evaluation Kit mailed to you. Visit the following Web address for more details: http://www.microsoft.com/sql/evaluation/trial/default.asp.

^[1] Microsoft's SQL Server product has a Relational Database view and a Data Warehousing and Online Analytical Processing (OLAP) view. I limit this discussion to the relational database topics.

^[2] The functionality and features discussed in this chapter could apply equally to the previous version of Microsoft's SQL Server product (i.e., SQL Server 7.0). Nevertheless, as with most products, upgrading brings new possibilities. For example, SQL Server 2000 offers support for XML.